Glacier Express tour prices from Zurich, extras included
Three guided days from Zürich HB ride the Glacier Express or its tracks, and their prices sit far apart. The cheapest, at ~$377, never boards the panorama train, while the private day costs ~$926 for one traveler. Below are the three side by side, then the costs the fares leave out.
Three days from Zürich HB side by side
The table shows each tour's regular "from" price per person. The figure on the booking page can shift with the date you pick, so read it as a starting point rather than a quote.
| Tour | From | Length | Start | Glacier Express section | Class | Lunch | Group | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TripsSource, Glacier Express and Lucerne (our pick) | ~$436 | 10 h | 10:00 am, under the clock tower in the main hall | Chur to Andermatt, about 3 h | Not stated; check your booking | The listings disagree; check your booking | Up to 15 | Free up to 24 h before |
| TripsSource, UNESCO views and St. Moritz | ~$377 | 8 h | 10:15 am, under the clock tower | None; regular trains on the Albula line | Not stated | Not included, buy it in St. Moritz | Not stated | Free up to 24 h before |
| SwissTravelGuide.ch, private round trip | ~$926 for one | 10 h | 8:20 am, tourist information in the main hall | Chur to Brig, about 4 h | 2nd class | Lunch and drinks on board | Private | Non-refundable |
All three fares include a rail pass for the day and a guide. Tours 1 and 3 also include the compulsory Glacier Express seat reservation, which you would otherwise book and pay for separately.
Our pick costs ~$436, a little more on Viator
TripsSource's Glacier Express and Lucerne day from ~$436 is the middle fare. That is the GetYourGuide price, where the operator appears as Tours of Switzerland; the same tour costs a little more on Viator.
For that money you get about three hours on the Glacier Express between Chur and Andermatt, crossing the Oberalp Pass. A guided walk through Lucerne's Old Town fills the afternoon. Our guide to the Chur to Andermatt stretch covers what you see from the window.
Viator travelers give it 4.5 from 300+ reviews. On GetYourGuide it sits at 3.9 from 39 reviews, and those reviewers score the guides 4.2 of 5 but the value for money only 3.1, so the price is the most common complaint.
The panorama train, then Lucerne's Old Town
TripsSource's 10-hour day pays for your rail pass, the Glacier Express seat reservation and a guide from Zürich HB and back. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
The cheapest fare skips the panorama train
TripsSource's St. Moritz day at ~$377 carries Glacier Express in its name, yet the whole ride happens on ordinary Rhaetian Railway carriages over the Albula line. Those are the same tracks the Glacier Express uses past the Landwasser Viaduct, without the panorama cars.
The price covers your rail passes and the guide. You get about an hour in St. Moritz, then roughly three hours back to Zurich by road. It holds 4.5 from 70 reviews on Viator, and our St. Moritz guide explains who it suits.
The private day: less per head in a group
SwissTravelGuide.ch's private round trip from ~$926 is the price for one traveler. The rate depends on group size and falls per person once two or more of you travel together.
It buys the longest ride of the three, about four hours of Glacier Express between Chur and Brig in 2nd class. Lunch and drinks on board are included. The fare cannot be refunded or changed once booked. The private Chur to Brig guide walks through the whole day.
What you pay on top
Lunch is the first open question on tour 1. Viator's listing says you buy it on board by card, but on GetYourGuide the description speaks of a hot meal served at your seat. Read what your own booking confirmation says.
- Lunch on tour 1, unless your booking lists it
- Lunch in St. Moritz on tour 2, which the listing leaves out
- Drinks and snacks for a 10-hour day, beyond what tour 3 serves on board
- Coffee at the stations, best paid in Swiss francs or by card
- Tips, which are up to you; the listings either exclude them or say nothing
Our seats and lunch guide covers the meal on board in more detail. If you prefer to bring your own, the packing list for a 10-hour day has ideas.
After a missed connection pushed one GetYourGuide reviewer on tour 1 onto a later train, the provider asked for 150 Swiss francs more. It is a single review, and the provider said it would look at the charge, but it shows why the delays guide is a useful read before you go.
Cancelling and changing a booking
Tours 1 and 2 cancel free until 24 hours before the start, and tour 1 lets you reserve now and pay later. Plans can shift on a long rail day, so that flexibility has real money value.
Tour 3 is non-refundable and allows no changes, and the operator confirms within 48 hours. Book it only when your dates are fixed, and consider travel insurance for the full amount.
Where each fare gives the most for the money
Tour 1 is the only one that pairs the Glacier Express with a guided town at the end. If you want the train itself and a short taste of Lucerne in one day, its fare is the one we would pay.
Tour 2 saves money but trades the panorama cars for the Landwasser Viaduct and an hour in a resort, then a long drive. Tour 3 makes sense for a couple or a small family who want the longest ride with their own guide. Our comparison of a guided day and your own tickets shows what you would spend going alone.