Bernina Express — Attraction in Chur

Embarking on the Bernina Express was like stepping into a picture-perfect postcard. This iconic train journey, winding its way through the stunning Swiss and Italian Alps, left me in awe of the natural beauty and engineering marvels that awaited along the way. Here is my review of the Bernina Express, an unforgettable experience that should be on every traveler's bucket list.

The first thing that struck me about the Bernina Express was the comfort and elegance of the train itself. The panoramic windows provided unobstructed views of the awe-inspiring landscapes that unfolded before my eyes. Whether I was gazing at the snow-capped peaks, cascading waterfalls, or charming alpine villages, I felt as though I was a part of the magnificent scenery.

The journey took me through a diverse range of landscapes, from lush valleys to towering mountains. One highlight was crossing the famous Landwasser Viaduct, an architectural masterpiece that seemed to defy gravity as the train gracefully traversed its curved tracks. The experience was nothing short of exhilarating, leaving me in awe of human ingenuity and the sheer beauty of nature.

Throughout the journey, the Bernina Express showcased the incredible engineering feats that allowed it to conquer the challenging terrain. The train climbed steep gradients, passed through narrow tunnels, and navigated hairpin bends with ease. The knowledgeable onboard staff provided fascinating insights into the construction and history of the railway, enhancing my appreciation for this remarkable feat of transportation.

The Bernina Express is not just about the scenery; it's also an opportunity to immerse oneself in the local culture and traditions. As the train winds its way through charming Swiss and Italian villages, there are opportunities to disembark and explore at various stops along the route. I took advantage of this and was rewarded with encounters with friendly locals, delicious regional cuisine, and a glimpse into the daily lives of those living in these picturesque mountain communities.

One aspect that truly stood out during my journey was the exceptional level of service provided by the Bernina Express staff. From the moment I stepped aboard, I was greeted with warm smiles and a genuine passion for ensuring a memorable experience. The multilingual staff were attentive, knowledgeable, and eager to answer any questions, making the journey all the more enjoyable.

It's worth noting that the Bernina Express is a popular attraction, so booking in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak travel seasons. Additionally, if you have the flexibility, I recommend opting for a first-class ticket, as it provides extra comfort and access to exclusive amenities.

In conclusion, the Bernina Express offers an extraordinary rail journey through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Europe. From the moment you step aboard, you are treated to a visual feast of alpine wonders, coupled with exceptional service and a glimpse into local culture. Whether you're a nature lover, a photography enthusiast, or simply seeking a memorable travel experience, the Bernina Express is an absolute must. Prepare to be captivated by the beauty of the Swiss and Italian Alps as you embark on this...

(Sunday, 16th Feb 2025) The Bernina Express really lives upto the expectations - the beautiful scenery, the engineering marvel of the train climbing the height, all to be admired and a worthy trip. I have knocked off 1 star with the following comments:

The platform chaos - I think the train was fully booked, as platform was full of people. When the train arrived, people were running around like headless chickens looking for their coach/wagon. I think the platform staffs were supposed to put the coach number stands, but they only put 1 up for coach 14 from what we could see, a lot of people were asking the platform staffs where their coach was.

Panoramic windows - we specifically booked the 2nd class coaches, after viewing many YouTube videos, we can see the panoramic windows would be a problem to take photographs.

Firstly, the windows were quite dirty, with finger prints and smudges from previous travellers, these can be seem in most of my photos and videos.

The other HUGE problem was reflection, although we had a very sunny day, we still had considerable reflections from the windows (this is why we chose the 2nd class, as you can pull the windows down to take photos/videos). I guess the reflected windows would be a bigger problem if the weather was dark. If you're an enthusiastic photographer, you can probably get away with a circular polarised which should help with the glass reflection.

Due to the enclosed carriage with the panoramic windows, it got really hot during most part of the journey, you can walk to the in-between carriage part to take some fresh air, but a problem if you are jammed in by another passenger. The other problem was noise, it was unfortunate that we had a family next to us with very young child/baby who cried and screamed a lot and it was quite unpleasant within the closed carriage. Apologies, this is no disrespect to them and we fully understand the difficulties with young children.

The nice bits :

The coach staffs were wonderfully cheerful and helpful. They also gave some memorable gifts like the chocolate/biscuit(?) tin box in the shape of the Bernina Express towards the end.

USB C & A charging ports under the seats, only found this out near the end 😅.

Travelling from Chur to Tirano, we think the right side of the carriage has better view, you definitely see more where the train descends the circular track part.

Train time was about 4 hours from Chur to Tirano, however, this was due to the number of stops and been stationary anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes in some of the stations.

The best view point was Alp Grum, the train stops here for about 15 minutes, which gives plenty of opportunity for photographs or videos of the stunning views.

The highest point reached by the journey was around 2240 meters.

Overall, a very worthwhile experience and a must do in...

Synopsis: Take the note about the reduced visibility at the time of year seriously.

I want to preface this by saying I whole heartedly give MY experience 5 stars. I would without a doubt do this again at a different time of year. The guides we had (Monica and Mario) were fabulous and did absolutely everything above and beyond to make our trip spectacular!

So.. we went on a Sunday in February, the itinerary was to get the coach from Milan to St Mortiz through the mountains, have two and a half hours in St Moritz and then train back down to Torino. Just after we stopped for a comfort break we were informed that the snow in Switzerland was so severe that the police had closed the mountain roads. The company were doing everything they could to make sure the trip would still go ahead which involved an alternative road which we were told upfront was a difficult road in good conditions so would be entirely up to the driver if he wanted to take it in the snow. Understandably and honestly... Thankfully he decided not to. So the company then booked us all onto the Bernina express from Torino to St Moritz so we were lucky enough to get the train twice in the same day. The downside meant that we were reduced to having 45 minutes in St Moritz rather than 2.5 hours.

The views on the way up were spectacular. We weren't in a panoramic coach but we did have open windows and it looked like we were in Narnia. The 45 minutes we had at the top before our train back down were unfortunately quite rushed as it was very very busy and there were very long queues in the local supermarket where everyone was trying to get some food for their train journeys. This took about 30 minutes of our time so we just had enough left for a quick walk out onto the frozen lake which again was absolutely incredible.

Our train back to Torino left at 4:15pm and we were then in a panoramic carriage. Unfortunately, because of the snow, fog and it getting dark about 30 minutes into the trip, the visibility was zero so we didn't see anything at all on the way down. Therefore, we were incredibly lucky to hit the snag we did at the start of the day and have to get the train up the mountain. We all agreed we would be very disappointed if we were only due to get the train back down as it would have been a...