Milan to St. Moritz: Bernina Red Train & Swiss Alps

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Guide in EnglishFrom 28 Jul 2027

Guide in English or SpanishFrom 7 Aug 2027

Guide in English or Spanish07:15

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Guide in English or Spanish07:45

Guide in English or Spanish06:00

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The Bernina Red Train crosses the Alps in one day from Milan

You leave Milan by coach, spend a few hours in St. Moritz, then ride the bright red Bernina Train across the Alps through UNESCO-protected mountain passes, glaciers, and spiral viaducts before descending into Tirano and returning to Milan by bus. Hotel pickup is available if you select it at booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bernina Red Train and St. Moritz tour

• Depart Milan by bus to St. Moritz
• Short rest stop during bus journey
• Arrive and explore St. Moritz
• Free time for lunch in St. Moritz
• Board Red Train at St. Moritz
• Pass Ospizio Bernina station
• View Alp Grüm, Palü Glacier, Lake Palü
• Cross Brusio Viaduct and Bernina Pass
• Arrive in Tirano and enjoy free time
• Depart Tirano by bus to Milan
• Short rest stop during return bus journey

The Experience

The bus pulls out of Milan in the early morning, and for the next few hours you're watching the landscape shift: flat Lombardy giving way to foothills, then the sharp teeth of the Swiss Alps rising ahead. By mid-morning you're in St. Moritz, a town that sits in a valley like it was placed there on purpose, all clean air and expensive hotels and the kind of quiet that only happens at altitude. You get a couple of hours to walk around, grab lunch, settle in. Then the real thing starts.

The Bernina Red Train is exactly what it sounds like: a bright red rail car that climbs toward the Bernina Pass at 2,253 meters, and the windows open so you're not looking through glass at the glaciers and gorges, you're actually in them. The route is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means someone decided this particular line through the mountains matters enough to protect. You pass Alp Grüm and the Palü Glacier, cross the Brusio Viaduct (a spiral bridge that looks impossible from inside the train), and shoot through tunnels carved into solid rock. The highest station on the Rhaetian Railway, Ospizio Bernina, sits at the top, and from there the train descends into Italy, into Tirano, a town that feels like you've stepped back a century or two. You get free time there before the coach takes you back to Milan, another rest stop somewhere in between.

The whole day is about twelve hours, and it moves at its own pace, not rushed, not slow. A professional guide travels with you, and the coach is air-conditioned, which matters on the climb up and the long drive back. The train ticket is 2nd class with opening windows, so you're not sealed in. You can actually feel the air change as you climb. The itinerary can shift depending on traffic or weather (the Alps are variable that way), but the core thing, the train ride itself, doesn't move. You need a valid passport on the day you travel, and the tour runs in English every day (Spanish is not guaranteed daily, so check when you book).

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup (if selected), round-trip coach transport from Milan to St.
• Moritz and from Tirano back to Milan with a rest stop each way, a 2nd-class Bernina Red Train ticket with opening windows, a professional bilingual guide, and free time to explore St.
• Moritz and Tirano on your own.
• The coach is air-conditioned.

Days and timesDaily · 3 departure times, from 06:00 to 07:45

AgesAges 12+ · 4 to 11 years · Under 4 — Free

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it starts

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Zani Viaggi

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Swiss Alps and ride one of Europe's most famous mountain trains without arranging separate transport, train tickets, and timing yourself. The fixed itinerary handles all three, and the open-window train cars let you experience the landscape directly.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

4 to 11 years; under 4, free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the full day trip from Milan?

Around 12 hours total, including coach travel to and from St. Moritz and the train journey itself.

What class is the train ticket?

2nd class with opening windows so you can see and feel the landscape as you pass through.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is optional. You can select it at booking if you need it.

What is the highest point on the route?

The Bernina Pass and Ospizio Bernina station, both at 2,253 meters above sea level.

Do I need a passport?

Yes, a current valid passport is required on the day of travel.

What should I wear?

Practical, versatile clothing is recommended: weather in the Alps is variable, and you'll experience different conditions at different altitudes.