8-Hours Train Ride from Zermatt to St Moritz With Glacier Express

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Though a trip to Zermatt might seems unrewarding one as we're unable to peek a single glimpse of the notable mountain of Matterhorn, but we'll love to return to this lovely village again someday. After spending 3 days 2 nights in Zermatt, we then on board with Glacier Express's journey, the world's slowest express train where it takes more than 8 hours to travel between Zermatt and St. Moritz.  

BASIC INFORMATION FOR TAKING GLACIER EXPRESS 

1) Advance Booking Is Required 

Glacier Express is quite popular, especially among the foreign visitors. Hence, it is advisable to purchase the tickets up to two months in advance. Thankfully, this Glacier Express journey is included in the Swiss Travel Pass, or else it's will break your wallet. However do take note that, the seat reservation is mandatory and you need to pay additional fee for it. 

You can select your preferred seat from this website. 

2) Which Side of Train Seat Is Better?

Oh well, this is kinda a tough question and it's really hard for me to justify which is better cause I personally think, both side offer exceptionally beautiful view as Glacier Express features enormous panoramic side windows with glass skylight. 

The seat configuration for 2nd Class is arranged 2+2 with a table in between whereas 1st Class car seats are 2+1. Therefore, try to grab the window seat immediately once the reservation is opened to the public for booking.    

3) Pack Food and Drinks On Board

Unless you don't mind paying the hefty price for the food and drinks served in the train, then don't forget to pack and bring some food, snacks and drinks (including beers too) before getting on board for the long journey train ride. 

4) Board The Train Early

This is because the luggage space is pretty limited and if you have huge luggages, you might find difficulty in putting your luggages if everyone is ahead you. Another perk of getting on the train early is where you can shamelessly take hundreds, or even thousands of photos of yourself without anyone photobombing it. 

5) Glacier Express Doesn't Run All Year Round

There is no Glacier Express service at all from mid of October to early of December. Fret not, you still enjoy the exact same view from normal regular regional train - just that you can't experience in the 180-degree glass view. 

TRAIN RIDE ON GLACIER EXPRESS

Now, come and join me on board together on this magical train ride across over 290 bridges and through 91 tunnels. With fascinating glimpses of idyllic mountain ranges, the train winds its way through remote valleys, past sheer rock faces and through the deep Rhine Gorge, the Grand Canyon of Switzerland. 

Details of the train display board 

Glacier Express Second Class

Free headphone is given for each passenger for audio guide and radio too

Audio guide is available in different languages such as German, French, Italian, English, Chinese and Japanese

Finally after 7 and half hours, we have reach St. Moritz but we didn't intend to overnight here. We then continue our train ride to Zurich.  

Commemorative certificate for complete the almost 8-hours train ride

(You can get this for free from the sales counter in Zermatt and St. Moritz)

My next post is about Zurich as both of us decided to skip St. Moritz. 

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Zermatt, A Car-Free Village in Switzerland

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From Interlaken, we proceeded to the next popular place of Switzerland which is Zermatt where my husband and I are going to spend 2 nights here. Besides being well-known for a car-free village, the most impressive mountain of Matterhorn is situated here in Zermatt. 

HOW TO GET TO ZERMATT

Probably the best way to get in Zermatt is by taking train since one is not allowed to drive the car around Zermatt. It takes 2 and half hours from Interlaken or Basel and more than 3 hours from Zurich or Geneva. Do take note that there is no direct train and it requires a change at Vsip. All these routes are covered under Swiss Travel Pass. In case you are driving with car, you need to park at Täsch.

#1: Zermatt, a car free village 

GET AROUND ZERMATT

The village of Zermatt is practically very small with three main streets that run along the banks of the river Vispa. Generally, it takes roughly 20 minutes walk to wander around the village. 

But if you are not fit enough, you can opt for the small solar-powered buses that will take you from one end of town to another at every 8-10 minutes. 

#2: If you are not fit to walk around Zermatt, you can take small solar-powered bus

#3: Many high-end hotels provide shuttle services using small electric cars. 

EXPLORING AROUND ZERMATT

Our main purpose of visiting Zermatt is to take the train to Gornergrat to admire the magnificent mountain view of Matterhorn. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't on our side where the mountain was so shy hiding behind the cotton cloud and it was snowing heavily throughout our visit there. And because of that, we just leisurely wandered around the main street (Bahnhofstrasse) in order to kill our time in Zermatt. 

#4: Too bad that the weather wasn't on our side and we're unable to view Matterhorn 

#5

#6: Souvenir stores 

#7: Zermatt's main street (Bahnhofstrasse)

#8: Finally we managed to try the famous Cheese Fondue 

#9: We dined-in at this Walliserkanne restaurant

#10: There are some shops and restaurants in Switzerland only accept cash 

#11: Zermatt at night 

OUR STAY IN ZERMATT

Zermatt-Residence Patricia 

Date Stayed: 2 May - 4 May 2022 (2 nights)

Room Rate: RM1,190 for Studio with Matterhorn view (Booked from Booking.com)

There is no reception and all hotel guests need to do self check-in at the machine near the main entrance. You need to pay the city tax by using card only (debit and credit cards are acceptable) and therefore, cards are very crucial when travelling to Switzerland. In other word, it's wise to bring both cash and cards cause there are some restaurants only accept cash. 

#12: The hotel guest need to pay the city tax before getting the room key 

#13: Less than 10 minutes walk from Zermatt main train station 

#14: Love the balcony with marvelous view 

Things I Like About This Accommodation: 

• A kitchenette well-equipped with basic utensils and kettle. 
• There is a coffee machine and also balcony with a scenic views of the mountain 
• A seating area with a sofa bed

Things I Dislike:

• Because there is no reception, you can't left your luggage within the property. 
• The bathroom is pretty small and there's no bathtub as advertised on the website. 

#15: If I have the chance to return to Switzerland, definitely will come back to Zermatt again for Matterhorn. 

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