Glacier Express
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The Glacier Express is run jointly by two private Swiss railways, the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) and the Rhätische Bahn (RhB), who also operate the hourly local trains over the same route. In 2017 they formed a separate company to operate the Glacier Express, Glacier Express AG. During my March trip staying in Lucerne and skiing Andermatt, I did not have the time nor the logistics to support the full Glacier Express ride. However, I got to experience a 40-minute ride hourly ride operated by MGB when we skied from Andermatt to Sedrun and took the train back to Andermatt. The ticket of the train was included in the standard lift ticket and my teenage son who had an epic pass did not have the train ticket included. We boarded the train at the remote location of Dieni where there was no one to provide guidance on where, times, and purchase of the train. However, the station is well marked and information made it easy to figure out and there is a screen indicating the times which ran about every hour. We boarded and there was a train attendant to who we paid the $11 franks for my son. Locals at the station said we could buy directly through the app, but our phone did not work making that non-option. We were in the local car, 2nd class non-reserved seating. The train attendant advised we should change seats to the other side of the car for the best views. The windows were regular and not the ones that wrap around the roof, which still provided a great experience. We had snacks and beverages and set up gopro for the beautiful scenery where we went from the greenest valley at 1,500 meters up the Oberalpass The train was at over 2,000 meters and it was all snow at the end of March. The ski season in this area ends Mid-April yearly. If you want the full experience, book direct or consider the hourly trains.
billpsu92
00
Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz Visited on 20/8/2019 The train track is not within the train station building where tickets are sold. Since there is still plenty of time before the train arrives, we just check out the small supermarket, which sells snacks, pastries, simple hot food and coffee. Glacier Express is a misnomer, because the train does not pass through any glacier, and it is the slowest express train in the world. The journey takes about 7 and a half hours from Zermatt to St. Moritz. Glacier Express used to run once a day, but recently it introduces the more luxurious Excellence Class, and adds another trip in the morning. We takes the afternoon run, after spending the morning visiting another tourist spot Aletsch. The train has big glass windows, and transparent ceiling, which enable travellers to enjoy the scenery. Our group almost occupy the whole carrier in the first class. The seating is comfortable, stylish, and we have plenty of room to stretch and relax. It is a glorious sunny day, which can be a disadvantage. The sun shines through the ceiling, and can be rather glary and warm, despite the carriage being air-conditioned. The rolling green valleys and rivers are very picturesque. However, after an hour or so, the novelty wears off, and it can be rather boring. Some members start to fall asleep. I am not sure whether there is a change in meals option. Dinner is not included in the first class ticket, and has to be ordered and paid for. We are "rationed" with a packet of biscuit. At Chur, many of us get out of the train and stretch our legs, and some go to get so some beer and snacks from the train station subway. Glacier Express changes direction at Chur. The sky is still bright, but not for long. We have our little party, and visibility outside the train is getting from to worse, partly due to the fog, and mainly the dim light. The trains enters a tunnel, and outside is pitch black. By the time it gets out, there light intensity of the valleys is just the same. We are so looking forward to cross the spectacular curved Landwasser viaduct, but it is a total disappointment, because outside the window is complete darkness. The train finally arrives at St. Moritz. We are hungry, tired and feeling rather miserable.
Sin Fong Chan
00
We chose this for our travel day from St Moritz to Zermatt. We went back and forth because it’s a super long day and quite expensive and part of the ride is the same as the Bernina Express which we had done a few weeks ago. We just decided to do it last minute because we didn’t want to switch trains five times. We also chose to do a first class reservation and a two course lunch. We used our Swiss Travel Pass and received the ride for free only paying the difference for first class and for the first class reservation. The service was awesome! They came around several times offering drinks (which you pay for) and set the table for lunch. The seats were comfy and we met some lovely people. The WC was clean. We couldn’t visit the bar car with windows that go down but the panorama windows were cool. They also had souvenirs but never offered them. We have been traveling all summer and I’ve been sending postcards to my nieces regularly and I would have liked to send them one from the train but since we couldn’t visit the shop they supposedly had in the bar car, I completely spaced. Not the biggest deal but…. The train stops a few times and you can get out however the stops aren’t scenic in our opinion. I think it would be great if they chose some of the cooler view places to stop but I’m sure there’s a reason they do it the way they do. We also weren’t fans of eating lunch at 11:30. We all said we wouldn’t have eaten breakfast if we had known we’d be eating a couple hours after getting on the train. And then you go 5 hours without anything. We should have brought snacks I guess. I think we are glad we did it but wouldn’t do it again on a return visit to Switzerland.
Kelly Heimlich
00
8 1/2 hrs in a train with just a few good quick-passing glimpses of the Landwasser viaduct and the gorge. I would recommend that you instead rent a car and drive yourself to the sights to enjoy them as long as you’d like up close. Even the 1st class seats were uncomfortable after a few hours; remember, 8 1/2 hours. The viaduct passed by so quickly that you hardly “experienced” it. Invest the money (1st class Glacier Express is expensive) in a car rental. Having a car will also give you the option of avoiding the VERY expensive in the center of town. The documentary on the great Swiss train ride that ignited my interest to book this 11-day train trip, in my opinion, is more a marketing scheme than reality. Maybe in the winter it may be prettier to see the snow but 8 1/2 hours on a train! Never again. Oh, I also paid for a 4-course meal which was very expensive & not good. The green salad was minuscule & over-dressed, the sliced bread was VERY dry (no butter anywhere), the chicken casserole consisted of pieces of dark chicken meat (don’t the Swiss know that Americans prefer white meat), and the rest was a tasteless white rice but nice mixed vegetables (cold). I also paid for a cheese course. The “cheese course” consisted of small pieces of not unique dry cheeses, half a walnut and one thin dry cracker & a pad of butter. And if you wanted water to wash it down, you had to pay for water & coffee! Overpriced, poor quality & Disappointing. Let me attach the pics of what were the best sights of the journey. Recommendation: rent a car & do it yourself.
Hilarion Martinez
00
The Glacier Express disappoints significantly compared to its competitors, given the price and “prestige” it claims to have. I am comparing it to the unique experience I had on the GoldenPass Bella Epoque from Zweisimmen to Montreux (which is free under the Swiss Travel Pass and usually requires no seat reservation). We paid 49CHF each for a Glacier Express seat reservation from Zermatt to Chur since seat reservations are compulsory. Views are not spectacular and the reflection from the glass windows are very jarring. Shockingly, what the glass windows are good at were absorbing and reflecting UV light and heat onto the passengers. Additionally, the Panaroma bar is closed in the summer. I am in the 8.52am train on 18 July 2022. Service is extremely poor due to one particular gentleman who was managing the train at Zermatt and also handling payments for food on the way to Chur. Ask an innocent question/query and he will either ignore you or cut you off with a short answer. He provides preferential treatment to people who ordered the lunch set and I can also assume people within his racial preferences. I thanked him after he provided me the change yet he didn’t bother to respond. Instead he threw my receipt across the table. I’ve paid for the same experience as the rest in the same class. Yet I am disappointed and appalled. Do give the other train experiences a try. This gives me an impression of a tourist trap especially with the expensive price and be ready to be mistreated if you are not favourable to certain staff.
Me P
00
Please make sure you have read this review before you make your reservation. Star goes to the nice view only. The overall experience was really bad. We took the glacier express first class from Zermatt to churr. No water in the washroom to wash hand which made all passengers so inconvenient that we have to use the washroom of the next train. We ordered the three course meal which food was unexpectedly awful, salty, small portion and taste really bad! For such expensive trip 4 hour train we don’t even got a bottle of water. The guidebook said that there would be a ‘gong’ sound to notice us to put the headphones on for some tour information, however we never heard the sound or any information provided through out the whole journey. Switzerland is really good but glacier express is the worst experience here which is far below our expectations. I would never recommend glacier express to anyone. Very expensive with very bad experience. Please save your money for any other sightseeing activities. - Stop saying you are not meeting people’s expectations as the apologies. That’s really bad. Just say it again and again in each bad review and do nothing to improve. I see people complaining the food in reviews long time ago which means you never pay effort to make it better. For the technical issue you mentioned about the information provided, that is unacceptable. You should check before providing service each time to avoid such low tech problem!
Kammy LEUNG
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Nearby Attractions Of Glacier Express
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
Bahnhof, 6490 Andermatt, Switzerland
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Phone
+41 81 288 65 65
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Website
glacierexpress.ch
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Reviews
Overview
4.3
(305 reviews)
Ratings & Description
scenic
cultural
relaxation
accessibility
luxury
attractions: Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, Andermatt, Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, Snowlimit Snowboard and Ski school shop rent, Schweizer Schneesportschule Andermatt, Gütsch-Express, Alpine Sports Andermatt, Altitude Ski & Snowboard School Andermatt, Talmuseum Ursern, Chalet Swiss Andermatt, Piz Badus, restaurants: Spycher Young Gastro, Toutoune, Hotel Sonne, Pinte Pub&Club, Boutique Hotel The River House, Bäckerei Café Oberalp, L’Ambasciatore Andermatt, Restaurant Monopol, Hotel Piz Badus, Restaurant Biselli
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