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Switzerland Travel Centre · Self-guided rail journey

Bernina Express Classic

Illustration of Bernina Express Classic

Switzerland Travel Centre's Bernina Express Classic is a 3-day, 2-night self-guided rail journey from Lugano to St. Moritz, crossing into Italy and back. Day 1 is a travel day into Lugano, where you spend the first night. Day 2 covers the trip's centerpiece: the Bernina Express bus carries you from Lugano through the Valtellina valley to Tirano, Italy, where you continue on the Bernina Express train over the Bernina Pass to St. Moritz, part of a UNESCO World Heritage rail route with the highest tracks in Europe and a 180-degree loop at the Montebello curve. Day 3 is a return travel day, or you can extend your stay at a location of your choice. Hotel accommodation is priced as an example on a 3-star double room, and the package includes the Swiss Coupon Pass. This short trip suits independent travellers and rail enthusiasts who want one dramatic Alpine rail journey without committing to a longer itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotel accommodation is priced as an example based on a 3-star double room; the actual category and night allocation may vary with the hotel you choose.
  • The Lugano to Tirano leg of the journey is by the Bernina Express bus, not by train; only the Tirano to St. Moritz leg is by rail.
  • The evidence lists no current departure dates or season for this package; confirm timing and pricing for your dates with Switzerland Travel Centre.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Lugano

    Arrival and stay in Lugano

    You travel by public transport from your starting point in Switzerland to Lugano.

  2. Day 2railovernight: St. Moritz

    Ride on the Bernina Express

    You travel on the Bernina Express bus from Lugano to Tirano (IT). You then continue your journey on the Bernina Express to St. Moritz. Trip time: approx. 8 hours.

  3. Day 3

    Return journey from St. Moritz

    On the last day of your trip, public transport will take you to your destination in Switzerland. Or extend your stay at a location of your choice.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The Bernina Express bus travels from Lugano through the Valtellina valley to Tirano, Italy
  • Day 2The Bernina Express train continues from Tirano over the Bernina Pass to St. Moritz, including a 180-degree loop at the Montebello curve, on tracks that are the highest in Europe and the steepest in the world

Included

  • Digital Swiss Coupon Pass (over 100 2-for-1 experiences)
  • Travel from any starting point and back to any ending point in Switzerland
  • Bernina Express bus from Lugano to Tirano and train from Tirano to St. Moritz
  • Hotel accommodation (price example based on 3-star double room)

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From CHF 510 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $626 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?
Part of the journey is by train. The route combines the Bernina Express bus from Lugano to Tirano with the Bernina Express train from Tirano to St. Moritz.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
This is a self-guided journey. You can start from any point in Switzerland, and day 3 allows you to extend your stay at a location of your choice instead of returning right away.
Which train does this trip use?
The Bernina Express, available in 1st or 2nd class, on a route that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What hotels are included?
Hotel accommodation is included, priced as an example based on a 3-star double room; the itinerary includes an overnight stay in Lugano and an overnight stay in St. Moritz.
What is not included?
Additional activities and mountain excursions can be added to the trip but are not included in the base price.

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