For the best views, you should sit on the right side of the train going north to south, and the left side in the opposite direction.

For the most breathtaking views on the Bernina Express (traveling south from Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano), the right-hand side of the train is the clear winner. Sitting on the right provides the best perspective as the train crosses the iconic Landwasser Viaduct, allowing you to see the curve of the carriages as they enter the tunnel. As you climb toward the Bernina Pass, the right side offers superior views of the Lago Bianco and the sprawling glaciers of the Piz Bernina massif. On the final descent into Italy, the right side also gives you a front-row seat to the engineering marvel of the Brusio Spiral Viaduct. If you are traveling north from Tirano to Switzerland, you should aim for the left-hand side to get the same primary views. While the panoramic windows of the Bernina Express ensure that you won't miss everything from the "wrong" side, the right-hand seats (going south) are the most coveted and should be reserved as early as possible for the ultimate Alpine photography experience.