From St. Moritz, the Bernina line drops 1,345 m through alpine passes and Italian valleys to Tirano. Take the Red Train any time, or board the panorama Bernina Express. Spend a few hours in Tirano and return — a perfect day trip with mountain coffee at altitude.
Both trains run on the exact same tracks across the Bernina Pass. The scenery is identical. The difference is comfort, frequency, and whether you can change your plans on the day.
Regional train, no reservation needed
Panorama train with mandatory reservation
Honest note on prices: We always recommend booking direct with Rhätische Bahn (RhB): it's the official operator, the price is the lowest possible, and the booking site is available in English, German, Italian and French. The GetYourGuide link below is offered for travellers who want to pay in EUR, get an app voucher, and have free cancellation up to 24 h before — at a noticeably higher price.
Just south of Pontresina, the train passes the Morteratsch tongue and the Piz Bernina massif (4,049 m). Sit on the right side from St. Moritz for the best view.
The summit of the line. Glacier-fed Lago Bianco mirrors the sky on one side, the dark Lej Nair on the other — they sit just metres apart at the European watershed.
The first stop on the descent into the Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo. A small mountain restaurant if you want to break the trip and catch a later train.
A long descent through Italian-Swiss villages, vineyards, and the turquoise Lago di Poschiavo. Sit on the right side from Poschiavo down to Le Prese for the lake view.
Just before reaching Tirano, the line spirals down through an open stone viaduct to lose altitude. One of the most photographed bridges in the Alps.
Time to step into Italy — espresso, gelato, and the 16th-century Madonna di Tirano basilica are all within a 10-minute walk from the station.
Red Train departures run all year on a fixed pattern. The Bernina Express runs daily in summer (2 May – 25 October 2026) and on a reduced winter schedule.
| Train | Departure St. Moritz | Alp Grüm | Poschiavo | Arrival Tirano |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R 1622 | 08:48 | 09:33 | 10:23 | 11:02 |
| R 1632 | 10:48 | 11:33 | 12:23 | 13:02 |
| R 1642 | 12:48 | 13:33 | 14:23 | 15:02 |
| R 1652 | 14:48 | 15:33 | 16:23 | 17:02 |
| R 1662 | 16:48 | 17:33 | 18:23 | 19:02 |
| Train | Departure St. Moritz | Alp Grüm | Poschiavo | Arrival Tirano |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE 971 | 09:17 | 10:06 | 10:54 | 11:32 |
| PE 973 | 13:17 | 14:07 | 14:53 | 15:31 |
| PE 977 | 16:14 | 17:00 | 18:00 | 18:39 |
Bernina Express requires a mandatory seat reservation (separate from the ticket). The Red Train does not — board with a valid ticket and take any seat. Schedule subject to change; verify on the day at rhb.ch.
Tirano is in Italy, St. Moritz in Switzerland. Carry your passport or national ID — random border checks happen on the train, especially in summer.
For the best views of Morteratsch Glacier, Lago Bianco, the descent into Val Poschiavo, and the Brusio Spiral — sit on the right going south.
The 10:48 Red Train gets you to Tirano at 13:02 — perfect for lunch. The 16:48 back arrives in St. Moritz around 19:00. Trade Swiss precision for Italian timing — at least for a few hours.
Tirano is in the eurozone. Cafés and gelato spots take cards, but a few small lunch spots prefer cash. Swiss francs work in some tourist places but at unfavourable rates.
Round-trip Red Train tickets don't tie you to a specific train. Catch any Red Train back to St. Moritz. The Bernina Express does require a reserved seat for the specific train you book.
Take the Red Train to Alp Grüm (2,091 m), have coffee with a glacier view, and catch the next train. With the all-day ticket this costs you nothing extra — only on the regional train, not the Bernina Express.
Book a flexible Red Train round-trip ticket and take any train back. Or reserve a panorama seat on the Bernina Express with RhB direct.
Or book the Red Train in EUR with free cancellation via GetYourGuide →
