The St Moritz Station: Your Starting or Ending Point on the Bernina Express
The Bernina Express begins and ends its Swiss journey at St Moritz railway station, known locally as Bahnhof St. Moritz. This is the only stop the train makes within St Moritz itself, so there is no need to guess or plan around multiple local halts. The station sits right in the heart of the town, just a short walk from the main shopping street Via Serlas and within easy reach of the lake promenade. If you are arriving by the Bernina Express from Tirano in Italy, this is your final stop. If you are heading south, this is where you board.
The station is part of the Rhaetian Railway network, a UNESCO World Heritage route that the Bernina line shares with the Albula line. Trains on the Bernina Express route are operated by Rhaetian Railway (RhB), and the panoramic cars with their large windows are the signature feature travelers come for. Seat reservations are required for the Bernina Express panoramic coaches, and they are highly recommended well in advance, especially in summer and around the winter ski season. A standard rail pass covers the fare, but not the reservation fee.
St Moritz station has luggage storage facilities, which is genuinely useful if you want to explore the town for a few hours before or after your train. The station building is relatively compact but functional, with ticket counters and basic amenities. Taxis and buses connect directly from outside the station to the wider Engadin valley and the surrounding ski resorts.
If you are planning a broader Swiss rail adventure, the Swiss Alps train tour from Zurich with the Glacier Express pairs beautifully with the Bernina route, giving you two of Switzerland’s most iconic scenic railways in a single trip.
What to Do Around St Moritz Before or After Your Train
St Moritz is one of those places that rewards a slower pace. Even if you are only passing through for the Bernina Express, give yourself at least a few hours in town. The frozen lake in winter hosts horse racing and polo on ice, while summer brings hiking trails above 2,000 meters with views that genuinely stop you in your tracks. The Segantini Museum, dedicated to the 19th-century alpine painter Giovanni Segantini, is a short walk uphill from the station and well worth the 30-minute visit.
For food, skip the tourist traps on the main drag and head to one of the bakeries near the station for a coffee and a fresh Nusstorte, the walnut tart that is an Engadin specialty. It travels well and makes for a good snack on the train.
Travelers coming from Italy have a couple of practical options. You can take the Bernina Express directly from Tirano, which crosses the border at Campocologno before climbing through Poschiavo and Ospizio Bernina at 2,253 meters above sea level. That high-altitude crossing is the dramatic centerpiece of the whole journey. For those approaching from Milan, the Bernina Red Train day trip from Milan is a well-organized way to cover the route without the logistics of overnight stays. Alternatively, a private Bernina train tour from Milan or St Moritz gives you more flexibility and a tailored experience at your own pace.
Whatever direction you travel, St Moritz station is straightforward to navigate. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before departure, have your reservation ready, and find your assigned panoramic car. The views start almost immediately after the train pulls out, so keep your camera accessible from the moment you sit down.
