Glacier Express Review｜How to Book & Best Section

The Glacier Express is one of Switzerland’s most famous scenic trains, often called the slowest express train in the world. Crossing the Swiss Alps, the full journey takes around eight hours. This article shares my real experience riding it in summer, including how to book, seat classes, route highlights, and my honest review — to help you decide if this iconic rail trip is worth adding to your itinerary.

Best Section of the Glacier Express

The Glacier Express runs approximately 291 kilometres between Zermatt and St. Moritz, with the full journey taking around 8 hours.

If time is limited, the Andermatt to Chur section covers the scenic highlights in under 3 hours, without missing anything essential.

• Summer recommendation：Andermatt – Chur
• Highlights：Landwasser Viaduct, Rhine Gorge, and the most varied valley scenery.

How to Book the Glacier Express – Using STP or the Half Fare Card

The Glacier Express requires mandatory seat reservations with assigned seating. It’s best to book 2–4 weeks in advance. Even if you have a Swiss Travel Pass （STP） or  Swiss Half Fare Card , you still need to pay a reservation fee. The difference is whether you also need to purchase a base ticket.

Seat Reservation Fees:

• Excellence Class: CHF 420 (includes ticket and meal package)
• First Class / Second Class: CHF 44 (short trip); CHF 49 (long trip)

Glacier Express Step-by-Step Booking Guide

1. Go to Glacier Express Official Website
2. Click “Book Now” in the top-right corner, then choose 1st Class, 2nd Class, or Excellence Class
3. Enter your departure/arrival stations and travel date (e.g.Andermatt → Chur）
4. Select your preferred departure time
5. Choose your seat
6. Choose whether to pre-order meals
7. Enter passenger details
8. Under the Discount Cards section, select the type of pass or ticket you’re using. Common options include:
   • No Discount
   • Swiss Half Fare Card
   • Swiss Travel Pass (choose either 1st or 2nd class)
9. If you are using a Swiss Travel Pass (STP)
   • tick the box that says: “This passenger only needs a seat reservation”
   • This tells the system to waive the base fare and only charge you the seat reservation fee
10. If you are selecting “No Discount” or using a Half Fare Card but have not yet bought your train ticket
    • leave the box unchecked
    • The system will automatically add the appropriate ticket price plus the reservation fee
11. Click “Configure Journey” review the price, then “Checkout” to pay.
    • You’ll receive a confirmation email.
    • On the travel day, you must show both this confirmation and your valid travel pass (STP or Half Fare Card) to the conductor when boarding

Summer Glacier Express Experience – Route & Class Choice

Our trip ended in Zermatt, so we chose to board the Glacier Express from the starting point.

I booked two weeks in advance and found only two seats remaining, in separate rows.
So if your dates are set, book early. During peak season especially, this matters.

Once on board, I noticed the Zermatt to Andermatt section was surprisingly quiet.

A member of the train staff told us the second group of passengers would only join at Andermatt, and that we were welcome to sit together until then.

So for the first half of the journey, I sat next to my companion, watching the green hillsides and valleys pass slowly outside.

That said, I am not someone who normally gets motion sick, yet I felt mildly unwell through the first half. The carriage was warm, and the slow climb brought noticeable pressure changes that left me feeling a little off.

By June the snow had long melted, leaving mostly green slopes and woodland outside the window. The scenery was pleasant but not striking, and felt less open and refreshing than the GoldenPass.

At Andermatt, tour groups boarded. My companion packed up early, returned the neighbouring seat to its original state, and went back to his assigned place.

After everyone had settled, the seat next to me stayed empty. Someone had likely cancelled, or a reserved seat went unused.

In that moment I quietly laughed to myself. Whatever good fortune had accumulated somewhere along the way, it meant we ended up sitting together all the way to Chur without having to separate at all.

Once the train left Andermatt, everything changed.

Tall larches, spruces and pines lined both sides of the valley, forming a long green corridor around the train. Sunlight filtered through the branches and shifted across the window as we moved.

Approaching the Rhine Gorge, the dense forest suddenly gave way to open space. The river wound far below, catching the light, and the air felt noticeably cooler and cleaner.

That was the moment I finally felt like I was inside one of those postcard photographs.

So if you ask me which section of the Glacier Express is most worth riding, my answer is Andermatt to Chur. Without hesitation.

Onboard Dining

I was glad I had not pre-booked a meal. During the first half I felt too unwell to eat, and during the second half the scenery made it impossible to look away from the window.

From what I observed, tour groups tend to pre-order the set menu, while most independent travellers order a drink or a snack and leave it at that. That felt like the right approach.

Read More：

• 【GoldenPass vs Glacier Express – Which Swiss Scenic Train to Take?】
• 【GoldenPass Express Switzerland – How to Book, Passes & Views】