Is the Glacier Express included in the Swiss Half Fare Card?
Answer
No
The Glacier Express is not free with the Swiss Half Fare Card, but you get 50% off. Buy a reduced ticket from the operator before boarding.
Verified · Checked todayLast verified 6 October 2026
Check your exact connectionZermatt → St. Moritz, segment by segment
- Zermatt → VispMatterhorn Gotthard Bahn50% discountReservation: Not required · Supplement: None
- Visp → Zürich HBSBB CFF FFSDiscountReservation: Not required · Supplement: None
- Zürich HB → LandquartSBB CFF FFSDiscountReservation: Not required · Supplement: None
- Landquart → St. MoritzRhaetian Railway (RhB)50% discountReservation: Not required · Supplement: None
What to buy
- TicketZermatt → Landquart · SBBBuy before boarding. Price set by the operator.Buy from SBB
- TicketLandquart → St. Moritz · Rhaetian Railway (RhB)50% off with your pass. Buy before boarding. Price set by the operator.Buy from Rhaetian Railway
Conditions
- You live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and you carry the passport or ID card the pass was issued for.
- Your pass class matches the class you travel in (this guide assumes 2nd class).
Other ways to Glacier Express
- Zermatt → St. MoritzNo, the Glacier Express is not free with the Swiss Half Fare Card, but you get a discount. Buy a reduced ticket from the operator before boarding. A seat reservation is mandatory on Zermatt → St. Moritz.Verified
- Zermatt → Visp → Olten → Chur → St. MoritzNo, the Glacier Express is not free with the Swiss Half Fare Card, but you get 50% off. Buy a reduced ticket from the operator before boarding.Verified
- Zermatt → Visp → Bern → Zürich HB → Chur → St. MoritzNo, the Glacier Express is not free with the Swiss Half Fare Card, but you get 50% off. Buy a reduced ticket from the operator before boarding.Verified
- Zermatt → Visp → Bern → Zürich HB → Landquart → St. MoritzNo, the Glacier Express is not free with the Swiss Half Fare Card, but you get 50% off. Buy a reduced ticket from the operator before boarding.Verified
Getting there
The Glacier Express panorama train links Zermatt and St. Moritz or Davos.
Official evidence
- Matterhorn Gotthard BahnStated directly by the operator
Railza’s reading: Half price on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn.
Official wording: “Yes, both the Swiss Half Fare Card (Halbtax) and the Swiss Travel Half Fare Card are valid on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. With either card, you can purchase tickets at half price.”
Open official page - Matterhorn Gotthard BahnStated directly by the operator
Railza’s reading: Individual travellers cannot reserve seats on regular Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn trains, so no reservation is needed (the Glacier Express is separate).
Official wording: “No, for the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn individual travellers cannot reserve seats.”
Open official page - SBBStated directly by the operator
Railza’s reading: Buy a reduced ticket; the reduction may be less than 50% for some tickets.
Official wording: “The Swiss Half Fare Card halves or reduces your ticket price for journeys throughout Switzerland by train, bus and boat, as well as panorama trains, mountain railways and gondola lifts. […] You can only get a Swiss Half Fare Card if your …”
Open official page - SBBStated directly by the operator
Railza’s reading: InterCity trains need no seat reservation; you can reserve a seat for a fee. Regional, RegioExpress, InterRegio and S-Bahn trains need no seat reservation (seats are reservable only on InterCity and most tourist trains).
Official wording: “Trains on which you can reserve seats are marked in the timetable with an ‘R’ (reservation possible) or an ‘R’ next to a seated person (reservation compulsory).”
Open official page - Switzerland TourismStated directly by the operator
Railza’s reading: InterCity trains need no seat reservation; you can reserve a seat for a fee. Regional, RegioExpress, InterRegio and S-Bahn trains need no seat reservation (seats are reservable only on InterCity and most tourist trains).
Official wording: “In Switzerland, most trains do not require a seat reservation. Trains on which seats can be reserved are marked with an “R” in the timetable at sbb.ch.”
Open official page - EurailStated directly by the operator
Railza’s reading: InterCity trains need no seat reservation; you can reserve a seat for a fee. Regional, RegioExpress, InterRegio and S-Bahn trains need no seat reservation (seats are reservable only on InterCity and most tourist trains).
Official wording: “Regional and Intercity trains do not require seat reservations.”
Open official page - Rhaetian RailwayStated directly by the operator
Railza’s reading: Half price on Rhaetian Railway trains.
Official wording: “The discounts listed are valid on Rhaetian Railway trains, including the Bernina Express and Glacier Express. Seat reservations on board the Bernina Express and Glacier Express must be purchased in addition to the ticket. […] GA travelcard …”
Open official page
About this answer
Railza is independent guidance, not a ticket seller or transport operator. Operator rules remain authoritative and you need a valid official ticket. This page is generated from the same verified rules as the journey checker and updates when the official sources change.