Start under the Matterhorn in Zermatt, ride the panoramic Glacier Express across 291 bridges and the Oberalp Pass to St. Moritz, then take the Bernina Express over the glaciers and down to Tirano in Italy, finishing in Milan. Summer and the snowy winter months are both spectacular.
Train journey route for your dates
5 days from Sat, Dec 5.
- Day 1 Zermatt
- Day 2 Glacier Express: Zermatt to St. Moritz · a day on the trainTrain from Zermatt to Glacier Express: Zermatt to St. Moritz (about 8 hours)
- Day 3 St. Moritz & the Engadin
- Day 4 Bernina Express: St. Moritz to Tirano · a day on the trainTrain from St. Moritz & the Engadin to Bernina Express: St. Moritz to Tirano (about 2.5 hours)
- Day 5 Milan
Good to know
- Reserve seats on both panoramic trains months ahead for summer; a Swiss Travel Pass covers the fare but not the reservation fee.
- The Glacier Express serves regional dishes at your seat, so there's no need to pack lunch for the eight hours.
- Zermatt is car-free; leave a car in Täsch or arrive by train.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Cogwheel train to 3,089 m with panoramas of the Matterhorn and glaciers.
Europe's highest cable car station at 3,883 m, with an ice palace.
Easy summer hike with reflections of the Matterhorn in alpine lakes.
Wooden chalets, shops and the Hinterdorf, with the Matterhorn view over rooftops.
Mountaineering history and the broken rope from the first ascent.
Underground funicular to a sunny viewpoint with the best classic Matterhorn view and a mountain lake.
Rosti, soup and local wine on the terrace of a rustic hut, with the Matterhorn in the background.
Hot tubs and saunas with Matterhorn views in an alpine spa, ideal after a day on skis or trails.
Cheese fondue by candlelight in a traditional chalet restaurant, the classic Swiss alpine dinner.
Old funicular to a terrace over the chain of Engadin lakes; walk the panoramic trail back down.
An easy trail up the valley to the glacier snout, with signs showing how far it has retreated.
Walk the lake in summer, or watch polo and horse races on the frozen surface in winter.
Domed museum of the painter of Alpine light, built around his great Engadin triptych.
Painted rooms and furniture from traditional Engadin houses.
Sgraffito-decorated village houses in Guarda and the mineral baths of Scuol.
Cable car to 3,000 metres facing the Bernina massif, with a terrace restaurant.
Gothic cathedral with 3,400 statues; walk across the marble roof among spires for city and Alps views.
Leonardo da Vinci's mural in a convent refectory; entry is by timed 15-minute slot.
Glass-domed 19th-century arcade of luxury boutiques, cafes and Prada's flagship.
Artsy cobbled streets with bookshops and a gallery of Italian masters including Caravaggio and Raphael.
Historic canals lined with bars, where aperitivo buffets come free with drinks.
Renaissance fortress with museums holding Michelangelo's last work, next to a large green park.
Saffron risotto alla milanese and cotoletta in a traditional trattoria, a classic Milan dinner.