In Tirano, the Italian Trenord station is located a few meters from the square of the Rhaetian Railway Station. The route our guests usually take is from Tirano, traveling through St. Moritz and if they wish, further into Switzerland and into the village of Chur. This is not an everyday experience, but a unique one that you will remember for a lifetime. The views are a perfect camera option for any photography enthusiast, so why not check out some of our iPhone travel photography tips? You’ll see iconic landmarks like the Brusio Circular Viaduct and land washer viaduct, bridge structures that take you over a valley or rivers.
If you have the choice, I would recommend doing the Bernina Express route at both times of the year! In winter, frozen lakes and snow-capped mountains will be incredibly beautiful, while in spring/summer green fields Trenino Rosso and flowery alpine meadows will be a delight. Eurail Passes are valid for the entire Bernina Express journey. Seat reservations are only required for the special panoramic train and bus from Tirano to Lugano.
Of course, it doesn’t get all the hype like quaint carriages, but you’ll travel on the same route and still with a window. The Bernina Express runs on the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway, one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. It’s a scenic train, which means the cars have windows that reach up to the ceiling and have no breaks, just a wide window, so nothing obstructs your view.
The landscape is the same, the windows are large and the changing windows are wide open for fresh air and glare-free photography. For this reason, many travelers prefer the Allegra over panoramic cars. The landscape is exactly the same, the only difference is the design of the chairs, see the photos above. As you can see, the 2nd class seats are arranged 2 + 2 across the width of the car, the 1st class seats are arranged 2 + 1.
The yellow stripe above the windows indicates 1st class, the Allegra has a 1st class section of 12 seats at both ends. However, when booking, you cannot know in which direction the wagons will be, so unfortunately you cannot reserve a seat on a specific side. But feel free to move when the seats are free, and if there are four of you, you can reserve the two window seats on either side.
The regional train that runs on this route is included in your pass. Eurail Pass holders must have a valid pass for Switzerland. Although the Bernina Express partially crosses Italy, a pass for Italy is not required. The Bernina Express is known as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world.
These have higher windows so you can enjoy the scenery even more. Not all trains on the route have panoramic cars, so check and make sure the one you want to get does. Panoramic tickets must be booked in advance, there is a small surcharge of around €14 each way.
