Published 27 October 2026 | Updated 27 October 2026 by Kate Acaster
This Bernina Express deal from Rhaetian Railway (RhB) gets two people a return ride in the panoramic carriage, with a pizzoccheri lunch at the far end, for CHF 249. That’s about £225 for two, against about £395 for two if you buy the same Chur to Tirano trip as normal tickets and seat reservations. RhB is selling it direct from 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.
What the Bernina Express deal includes
RhB’s special offer page lists what the CHF 249 price covers.
- A return journey for two people from Chur in the panoramic carriage, to Poschiavo, Le Prese or Tirano, which is across the border in Italy.
- Lunch at a partner restaurant at your destination: a starter salad and pizzoccheri, the buckwheat pasta of the Poschiavo valley.
The timetable on that page has the outbound train leaving Chur at 8.17am and reaching Poschiavo at 12.01pm, Le Prese at 12.20pm and Tirano at 12.50pm. You’ll pay in francs, so your card’s rate decides the final sterling figure.
| Return from Chur | Normal price for two | Special offer for two | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poschiavo | CHF 404 (about £366) | CHF 249 (about £225), with lunch | About 38%, or £140 |
| Tirano | CHF 436 (about £395) | CHF 249 (about £225), with lunch | About 43%, or £169 |
The normal price comes from RhB’s own price list. A second-class return costs CHF 122 per person to Poschiavo or CHF 138 to Tirano, and the panoramic carriages need a seat reservation of CHF 40 for each person on each train in low season. The fee rises to CHF 44 in peak season, which adds CHF 16 to the normal price for two, so the comparison holds all winter. RhB doesn’t itemise the CHF 249, so the comparison assumes it covers the seat reservations the panoramic carriage needs.
Is the Bernina Express deal good value?
Yes, if you’d already planned to ride the train. The offer undercuts the normal price by about 38% to Poschiavo and 43% to Tirano, and it adds a lunch the normal price leaves out. Normal tickets and reservations cost £366 to £395 for two, so £225 with lunch is a proper saving of about £140 to £169.
What’s the catch?
It starts and ends in Chur, so flights to Zurich and the rail ticket on to Chur are extra. It’s also a long day, as the outbound journey alone takes 3 hours 44 minutes to Poschiavo or 4 hours 33 minutes to Tirano. RhB says the offer can be booked as a two-day trip on request.
- Lunch is a set menu, and drinks aren’t included.
- The offer can’t be combined with other discounts.
- Tirano is in Italy, so take your passport.
- Only cashless payment works on board.
- The voucher is non-refundable, so a cloudy forecast is your risk. Check RhB’s change terms before you pay.
If you hold an Interrail or Eurail pass, which RhB accepts on this train, the offer stops being a saving. You’d only pay the CHF 40 reservation per person each way, CHF 160 (about £145) for two. The offer costs CHF 89 (about £81) more, and that buys you the lunch.
“Nearly four hours in a panoramic carriage, through the Alps and across the border to Tirano, with a hot pizzoccheri lunch waiting when you arrive, would be a fine day out at full price. Getting it for £140 to £169 less is a proper find. If you’re anywhere near Chur this winter, I’d book it for the ride and treat the lunch as a bonus.”
Jane Robinson, Senior Editor, Flight Tribe
The verdict
Book it if you were already planning the Bernina Express this winter, or you’re in Switzerland for something else and can reach Chur cheaply. Skip it if you’d be flying out just for this, because flights and the rail leg to Chur can easily swallow the £140 to £169 saving. Pass holders are better off paying for the reservations alone. The offer runs to 31 January 2027.
How to book
Tap Check availability to go straight to RhB’s own booking page, pick your date and destination, and check the total in francs before you pay.
About the Bernina Express
The Bernina Express has been a UNESCO World Heritage line since July 2008 and runs over 196 bridges and through 55 tunnels between Chur and Tirano. It crosses the Landwasser Viaduct, and there’s free Wi-Fi on board.
More for an Alpine trip
If you’re building a longer Alpine trip, our guide to Chamonix on a budget covers the other big Alpine option. Our eSIM reviews compare data plans for Europe, and our Holiday Extras reviews cover travel insurance.
Bernina Express deal FAQs
Is the Bernina Express offer worth it?
Yes, if you’d already planned the ride. It costs CHF 249 for two with lunch, against about CHF 436 for the same Chur to Tirano trip bought as normal tickets and seat reservations.
How much is the Bernina Express special offer?
It costs CHF 249 for two people, about £225 at the 27 October exchange rate. That covers a return journey from Chur in the panoramic carriage and a lunch voucher.
When is the Bernina Express special offer available?
RhB lists it from 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027. Check your date in its shop calendar, because the offer is limited.
What does the Bernina Express lunch include?
It includes a starter salad and pizzoccheri with mortadella at a partner restaurant in Poschiavo, Le Prese or Tirano. Drinks aren’t included, and a vegetarian menu is available on request.
Where does the Bernina Express deal start?
It starts and ends in Chur, in eastern Switzerland. Getting there from the UK isn’t included.
Can you do the Bernina Express deal over two days?
RhB says a two-day version is available on request. Ask in its shop for the price.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
Editorial standards
Flight Tribe covers deals and travel advice for readers first. Affiliate links do not decide whether an offer is worth writing about.
