Bernina Express: First Class or Second?
Both classes on the Bernina Express have the same panoramic windows. First class buys a wider seat, two and one across the aisle. When it is worth paying for.
For most people, no: on the Bernina Express both classes have the same panoramic windows, and first class mainly buys a wider seat and more space. It is worth it if you are riding the full four hours from Chur, travelling as a couple who want to sit together by the window, or simply value the room. For the two hours between St. Moritz and Tirano, second class gives you the same view.
What actually differs
| First class | Second class | |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | Two seats on one side of the aisle, one on the other | Two and two |
| Seats per panoramic car | 30 | 47 |
| Seat and legroom | Wider seats, more legroom and space to the seat in front | Narrower, still comfortable |
| Windows | Panoramic, to the roof edge | Panoramic, to the roof edge |
| On board | Air conditioning, sockets, Wi-Fi | The same |
Rhaetian Railway, rhb.ch, checked October 2026.
The single seats on one side of the first-class aisle are the real prize: a window to yourself with no one leaning across.
When second class is the better buy
- On the St. Moritz to Tirano stretch. Two hours goes quickly, and the view is identical.
- If you want photos. Neither class of the Bernina Express has windows that open. For that, ride a regional train, where second class is perfectly fine and the windows open.
- On a budget. The money is better spent on a stop at Alp Grüm or lunch in Poschiavo.
When first class earns its price
- From Chur. Four hours, the Albula line as well as the Bernina, and the extra space starts to matter.
- In peak summer. Fewer seats per car means a calmer carriage when trains are full.
- For a single traveller who wants a window seat to themselves.
First class on a day trip
Most day trips from Milan use second class on the regional train, and several list first class as not included. The panoramic-car days from Frigerio Viaggi, from Milan and from Lake Como, guarantee a seat in the panoramic car if you choose that option at booking; a first-class upgrade is on request only on the Milan day and not included on the Como day. If first class matters to you, book the Bernina Express direct on rhb.ch and make your own way to Tirano or St. Moritz.
On the regional trains first class also exists, and the Tirano to St. Moritz one-way or return ticket lets you choose it (the return day ticket is an unreserved seat with no class choice). There it buys a quieter carriage rather than a better view.
A Panoramic Seat from Lake Como
A coach day from Como to St. Moritz and the Bernina Express to Tirano, with a panoramic-car seat guaranteed if you choose that option. Check the date you want before you book.
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