What is the Glacier Express Excellence Class?

Known as the most sought-after seats in Switzerland, the Excellence Class on the Glacier Express was introduced in early 2019 as a “super-first” class on board what is one of Europe’s most popular rail journeys.

The experience is unlike any other, offering an amazingly enhanced environment from which to enjoy what is dubbed the “World’s Slowest Express Train”.

Glacier Express Excellence Class Boarding Experience

Each passenger checks in at a welcome desk at the station prior to boarding, where your larger cases (if you have them) are conveyed for you to the storage units within your Excellence Class carriage.  There is a carpet laid outside the door to your carriage to add to the enhanced experience from the outset! You are then in the hands of your concierge, who welcomes you aboard and is at your beck and call throughout the journey.

Seating in Glacier Express Excellence Class: Layout & Comfort

The first difference you will notice when boarding is that there are far fewer seats in the carriage than you would normally expect in a First Class carriage.  In fact, there are only 20 seats, arranged in ten pairs of tables for two, meaning that everyone has a window seat guaranteed.

Onboard ipad and infotainment in Excellence Class

Each passenger is provided with a complimentary tablet and headphones as a digital guide. As you travel, it highlights landmarks and point of interest and provides commentary on the surrounding regions, history, people and culture. 

Exclusive access to the Glacier Bar

At the end of the carriage you will find the very impressive Glacier Bar.  This is for the exclusive use of the (maximum) 20 passengers in Excellence Class, and offers an array of refreshing beers, Swiss wines and ornate cocktails served by an experienced bartender.

Dining in Glacier Express Excellence Class: Food & Drink Experience

All-day catering is provided, commencing with an aperitif and amuse-bouche. During the ride a 5-course regional meal is served, accompanied by wines.  Later in the afternoon, tea service is offered with special treats. Complimentary snacks, soft drinks and juices are provided throughout the ride. Food is freshly prepared using local, Alpine ingredients in the on-board kitchen.

• Coffee, juice, champagne and brioche
• Aperitif and amuse-bouche
• Seasonal, regional 5-course menu including wine accompaniment
• Coffee and digestif with a coffret of chocolates
• Tea time in the afternoon with regional sweet treats
• Soft drinks and fruit juices
• Snacks available throughout the day

Everything is served at your seat, turning the journey into a wonderful dining experience.

The Glacier Express r0ute

The Glacier Express route runs between Zermatt and St Moritz, travelling past dramatic Alpine scenery, lakes and mountains.

Highlights include views of the famous Matterhorn mountain, the Rhine Gorge, commonly known as the Swiss Grand Canyon and the Oberalp Pass. The train passes over the Landwasser viaduct and through the towns of Brig and Chur.

What do you need to travel in Excellence Class?

Firstly, you need to have a First Class railpass or Swiss Pass to cover the journey, or a point-to-point ticket in First Class.  Then, you need a reservation for Excellence Class which comes at an additional supplement.

Excellence Class is designed as an upgrade to First Class, a more prestigious and all-inclusive way to travel. The personalised service, fine dining, guaranteed window seating and access to the Glacier Bar makes this eight hour journey an exclusive, premium experience.

With only 20 seats available per journey, availability is very limited, booking well in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak travel periods.

Glacier Express Excellence Class rail holiday: Suggested itinerary

We have put together a first class rail holiday including the full Excellence Class experience from Zermatt to St Moritz, with luxurious 5* hotels in both destinations.

The itinerary begins with a Eurostar from London in Eurostar Plus with first class travel through France and Switzerland. We’ve included stops in Lausanne on the way and Strasbourg on the return. The holiday can be tailored to include more time in any of these destinations, extra stops or additional scenic train journeys in Switzerland.

Start planning your Glacier Express journey today.

Call us or enquire online to check availability and build your Glacier Express Excellence Class itinerary.