Bernina Express Holidays

H eading north to south across the Alps and connecting the mountains of German-speaking Graubünden with the palm-fringed lakes of Italian-speaking Ticino, this is a truly unique and spectacular scenic train journey.

Aboard the Bernina Express, there is a choice of standard or first class accommodation. There are very limited catering facilities on board but the timetable from Chur conveniently allows a lunchtime stop in Tirano before your return journey (if you are travelling both ways). The difference in the classes is really about space and comfort. Both classes offer the high panoramic windows for which the train is famous.

Between mid-February and late November, you can extend your Bernina Express journey with a stunning road trip aboard the Bernina Bus from Tirano to Lugano. Also worth noting is the addition of open scenic carriages (with no windows) during the summer months, so you can get a full panoramic experience along with plenty of fresh mountain air!

Factbox

Terminus stations: Chur/ Davos and Tirano. You can also take a Bernina Bus extension to Lugano during the summer.

Journey time: The full train route takes around 4 hours.

Highest point: 6,670 ft (2,033 m) at the Oberalp Pass.

History: The Albula line was constructed between 1898 and 1904, the connecting Bernina line between 1908 and 1910. Both lines were jointly declared a World Heritage Site in 2008.

Seasonality: Open all year round (including Christmas Day)