Private Bernina Express First Class, St. Moritz & Davos Tour

The Bernina Express in first class

The Bernina Express links Chur and St. Moritz with Tirano in Italy, crossing the Alps on the Albula and Bernina lines of the Rhaetian Railway, which together have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008. Its panoramic carriages have windows that curve up into the roof, so you see peaks and glaciers above as well as valleys below. First class offers wider seats, more space and a calmer atmosphere for photos.

On this private Bernina Express tour, the section of the line you ride and the train times are agreed with you at booking, and the first-class ticket is arranged separately. Seat reservations are required on this train and sell out early in summer and around holidays, so we recommend booking well ahead. While you ride, our chauffeur drives ahead and meets you at the arrival station, so there is no waiting and no luggage to handle.

Highlights along the Bernina Express route

Depending on the section you choose, the views change dramatically. On the Albula line between Chur and St. Moritz, the train crosses the Landwasser Viaduct, a curved stone bridge 65 m high that leads straight into a tunnel in the cliff, then gains height through a series of spiral tunnels above Bergün. On the Bernina line south of St. Moritz, it passes the Morteratsch Glacier, crosses the Bernina Pass at about 2,250 m beside the pale waters of Lago Bianco and stops above the Palü Glacier at Alp Grüm.

Is the Bernina Express worth it? For most travellers it is one of the highlights of a trip to Switzerland, especially on a clear day. The best time to ride the Bernina Express is summer for green valleys and glacier views, or winter for snowy landscapes and frozen lakes; mountain views depend on the weather and are never guaranteed.

St. Moritz on its mountain lake

St. Moritz lies at about 1,820 m in the Upper Engadin, above a blue lake framed by larch forests and high peaks. It is one of the oldest winter resorts in the world and twice hosted the Winter Olympics, yet its history goes back far further, to mineral springs used since the Bronze Age. The town is known for its sunny, dry climate, which brings bright days in both winter and summer.

With your guide you see the lake shore, the old village centre with the leaning tower of a 12th-century church and the views across the valley towards the Corviglia ski area. There is time for a hot chocolate or lunch at your own expense; halal-certified food is limited in St. Moritz, and your guide can suggest suitable options. In winter the frozen lake hosts special events on the ice.

Davos in the Landwasser valley

Davos stretches along the Landwasser valley at about 1,560 m and is often described as the highest town in Europe. It grew in the 19th century as a health resort, when doctors sent patients with lung disease to breathe its clear mountain air, and grand sanatorium buildings from that era still stand on the slopes. Today it is a year-round resort with large ski areas, one of the biggest natural ice rinks in Europe and a calm lake for summer strolls.

Your guide shows you the main promenade, the lake and the best viewpoints, with time to relax before the return drive. A private Davos day trip is easy to combine with St. Moritz because the two towns are linked by scenic mountain roads through the heart of Graubünden. Food choices in Davos are wider than in small villages, though halal options remain limited.

The Engadin and Graubünden by private vehicle

Between the train ride and the two resorts, the drive itself is a highlight. Our chauffeur follows mountain roads through the canton of Graubünden, the largest in Switzerland and home to the Romansh language, past stone villages with painted facades, the chain of Upper Engadin lakes and high passes where the road climbs above the tree line. You can ask for photo stops whenever the view calls for it.

Travelling in your own vehicle means flexible timing, warm seats after the snow and a guide who can answer questions on the way. If you have been wondering how to get to St. Moritz and Davos in one day, this private format is the simplest answer: no train changes, no bus timetables and a door-to-door return at the end of the day.