Glacier Express is one of the most scenic train rides in the world. It offers panoramic views of the Swiss Alps, valleys, tunnels and impressive bridges.
We took a train from Berne to Brig, and then boarded the Glacier Express train from Brig to Zermatt. This was only part of the 7-hour Glacier Express train ride which started from St Moritz.
The bridges, waterfalls and villages (below) were just some of the spectacular views that wowed us during the ride.
Zermatt
Zermatt lies at the foot of the famous Matterhorn. It is 1,620m above sea level. No cars are allowed in Zermatt. Only electric vans are allowed. This is part of the town’s commendable effort to protect the environment.
We stayed in a 2-bedroom apartment in Zermat called Haus La Perle which was a 10-minute walk from the train station. It had a kitchenette and enough beds for all 6 of us.
We did not expect it to snow in June, but it did and it was a real treat for us. It was my family’s first snow experience together.
In the evening, we explored Zermatt’s shopping area. There were quite a number of shops in Zermatt selling Swiss watches and other Swiss products.
NEXT DAY: See the famous Matterhorn
Our trip to Zermatt was part of our 10-day Switzerland and Paris which includes the medieval city of Bern, Matterhorn, Junfraujoch and Montreux. For tips on planning this trip, click here Planning a family vacation to Switzerland and Paris.
Hello! I am planning to travel frm Bern to zermatt and came across ur blog entry. Just to check- I understand tt for the glacier express train frm brig to zermatt require seat reservation. I will be purchasing the Swiss travel pass which will allow me to take the glacier express train at no extra cost, however I would need to make seat reservation. How should I go about reserving the seats on this glacier express train then ?
Thanks for ur advice!
Hi Jessica, Great choice on taking the glacier express and Zermatt is amazing. To make a reservation on the Glacier Express, you have three choices (1) Go through travel agent (2) Go to the ticketing office at any Swiss railway station (3) Book online at https://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/. Have fun on your trip!
HI, planning to board the Glacier Express from Brig to Zermatt, as you did. Is that possible to purchase a point to point ticket and how much was it? Thanks in advance for your tip!
Hi, We didn’t buy a point-to-point ticket but used a Swiss Pass instead. You should be able to purchase a point-to-point ticket through raileurope.com, or if you are in Singapore, try raileurope.com.sg
These will definitely be on my bucket list. Thank you for sharing. I’ll pack up a lot of clothes and jackets though.
I love the train to Zermatt. I always excited to arrive in one of my Zermatt Luxury Chalets. The trains are always on time and clean (unlike in the UK). For me, my ski holiday starts as soon as I get on that train!