5 Fantastic Rhaetian Railway travel experiences

When you’re on the Albula Line, it’s not just views of the scenery outside that’ll wow you. From early May to mid-October, passengers can savour exquisite meals served in classic Gourmino dining cars dating back to the 1930s, on a daily service between Chur and St Moritz. Sample a taste of the region with Graubünden classics, accompanied with Swiss wine from the Davaz winery. Specialist gourmet tours focusing on Whiskies (the Whisky Gourmet Express, complete with bagpipers) and wine (Graubünden Wine & Dine, featuring a local wine producer serving specially selected bottles) are also available.

Step back into a different era when travelling on the Rhaetian Railway’s Glacier Pullman Express. The original Pullman coaches are beautiful, invaluable reminders of rail travel in the early 20th century. And remember that nostalgia doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort: the Pullman coaches are a refined and luxurious way to travel and even feature a piano carriage to add extra atmosphere to your trip, plus two of the supremely sophisticated Gourmino dining cars mentioned above.

On the first Sunday of every month, families can travel in second class in all graubündenPASS zones for just CHF 30. The family ticket is ideal for teaming up with RhB’s combined deals and offers attractive discounts, such as visiting the popular Local Museum Bergün (which offers a glimpse into life during past centuries), roaming Adventure Park Davos (full of high wires and cycling tracks for children of all ages) or relaxing in pure mineral water in Bogn Engiadina, where RhB passengers save 20% on the admission price. When travelling with the family, look out for Clà Ferrovia, the RhB children’s conductor. Clà has wonderful stories about train journeys to captivate younger passengers, and you can also set off on the Clà Ferrovia treasure hunt with a special app, which lets families win prizes by solving puzzles when on the RhB network.

One of the undisputed highlights of the Rhaetian Railway network has to be the Landwasser Viaduct. This mighty construction, located north of Bergün, stands tall at 65 metres high and stretches to 142 metres long. With the main pillars built all the way back in 1901-1902, it’s a magnificent architectural achievement and, understandably, believed to be the most-photographed feature on the network. There’s nothing quite like gliding over the viaduct, knowing that you’re travelling over a historical landmark. Cameras at the ready!

The Rhaetian Railway contains its very own UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Albula / Bernina landscapes section. This is impressive enough when you’re travelling through it, but if you’re keen to explore further, the UNESCO World Heritage Pass will see you right. The pass allows passengers two days of unlimited travel on trains between Thusis and Tirano, meaning you’re free to experience the Albula Valley’s helical tunnels, Cavaglia’s glacier mills, the Brusio Circular Viaduct and much more. 

These are just a few of the unique and unforgettable travel experiences of the Rhaetian Railway, with so many more waiting to be discovered. Book your trip now at the official Rhaetian Railway website and start creating holiday memories that you’ll be talking about in decades to come.