There seem to be varying opinions on whether this trip, except for the Lake Lucerne part, is actually very scenic. We’re thinking of doing it from Lucerne to Lugano and were then going to take the Centovalli Express two days later.
But now the Centovalli isn’t running due to a landslide (there’s a bus instead), so I wonder if it’s even worth doing the GPEX at all. Has anyone done it and loved it?

Well since the new Gotthard base tunnel opened trains now go under the great Alpine scenery they formerly saw so not dramatically scenic. I would not go out of my way to do it but only if utilitarian to your plans. What is your overall Swiss itinerary - if doing those types of trips be sure to get a swiss Travel Pass - check www.swisstravelsystem.com for lots of info on scenic trains - general info BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

From Lucerne consider doing the Golden Pass scenic train via Interlaken and Spiez to Montreux.

I don't think that you will go to Bellinzona, Lugano and Locerno because of the 2 mentioned trains only. These 3 places have a lot to offer (3 medieval castles, botanical gardens and cog railways, rope railways and gondolas to stunning viewpoints included) and are all very scenic.
The boat from Locarno to Stresa is more scenic than the Centovalli thing anyway. Direct trains from Stresa to Brig - Geneva/Basel.
BTW: Centovalli Express will run again in July.

There seem to be varying opinions on whether this trip, except for the Lake Lucerne part, is actually very scenic>

Boat trips can be done on regular boats as day trips from Lucerne - like getting on and off - William Tell boat part of Gotthard Express costs a lot extra - includes meal I think - but again where are you aiming to go eventually? If just taking those two trains for awesome scenery there is better IMO on trains in places like Jungfrau area or going to Chur and taking Bernina Express to Tirano, Italy with bus connections to Lugano as a part of official Bernina Express. Would take a couple of days but Bernina train line the most scenic IMO in Switzerland.

We have previously been on the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express and the Golden Pass routes. This trip I thought we’d try other trains. Yes, we will be buying Swiss Travel Passes.

My understanding is that the GPEX doesn’t go through the new tunnel. It goes through the old tunnel. I’ve read that some people think it’s worth doing and others don’t.

It isn’t certain that the Centovalli will run again in July. I’ve been told that it actually won’t start running until October, which is too late for us.

I’m rethinking our itinerary and instead of the acentovalli we may do the Palm Express bus from Lugano to St Moritz and then the Glacier Express to Brig.

The GEX is a long at times tedious ride thru nice but often not awesome scenery - the best of which is St Moritz to Reichenau and Brig to Zermatt.

For scenic bus ride take GEX to Andermatt then buses that go over thrilling Alpine passes to Meiringen and onto Interlaken.

Palm Express bus is great.

Officially, the Centovalli Express should run in July again. But with Italy, nobody knows.....
The boat ride to Stresa, followed by train to Domodossola and Swiss postbus via Simplon pass to Brig would be a exxcellent alternative, however.

Other scenic itineraries:
Martigny - Gd St-Bernared Express - Orisieres - bus - Gd St-Bernard Pass ( 1 1/2 hrs stop) - Aosta - Courmayeur - Chamonix - Mont Blanc Express - Martigny;
Meiringen - Postbus - Grimsel Pass - Nufenen Pass - Airolo - Gotthard Pass - Andermatt - Susten Pass - Meiringen;
Lucerne - boat - Fluelen - Postbus - Klausen Pass - Linthal - train - Uznach - Voralpen Express - St. Gallen;
St. Moritz - train - Zernez - postbus - Ofen Pass - Umbrail Pass - Stelvio Pass - Tirano - train - Colico - boat - Menaggio - bus - Lugano;
Chur - Postbus - Viamala Gorge - Spluegen Pass - Chiavenna - Maloja Pass - St. Moritz

Switzerland's iconic postal buses are great rides - here's a thread I started and many conributed to about some of them:

Switzerland's Iconic Postal Buses...A Whole Different Switzerland!

I have been thinking that we may go from Lugano to St Moritz on the Palm Express, but when I look at the timetable it shows that it isn’t one bus that is used, but either two buses or two trains and a bus.

Why is it called the Palm Express if it actually uses different modes of transport? I don’t want to be changing buses/trains with luggage if at all possible.

Jacooper: I believe the Palm Express only uses a bus.

Palm Express - Swiss PostBus Scenic Coach Tour from St Moritz to Lugano - Through Italy over Maloja Pass via Menaggio
https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holida...e/palm-express

You may be looking at a route that uses the scenic rail line that goes over the Bernina and ends in Tirano and then continues with a bus.

neckervd, this is great...I particularly liked the last option you mention, having last year travelled from Sils Maria to Gera Lario, I would be very interested in the Spluegen Pass route but I just tried the Postbus timetable using Chiavenna as starting point, wanting Spluegen as a stop, then on to Chur or Thusis and it shows a via St Moritz on bus 4 which isn't an option I want. (I tried a date of end June when postbus pass routes seem open). Any tips for working this out (not revisiting Switzerland until June next year, but your post got me thinking of adding more bus routes in the mix).

Sorry to hijack thread...but adding to above....had more luck on sbb than postbus site, I see there are more bus options between Thusis and Spluegen than Spluegen and Chiavenna which restricts timings and there is no daily service.
Still... something to consider

https://www.postauto.ch/en/excursion...gen-pass-route

check timetables here.

When I took Palm Express Lugano-St Moritz I did not have to change buses to my recollection - no trains involved. And a really sweet ride up the Maloja Pass.

Anyway check schedules:

https://www.postauto.ch/en/excursion...gen-pass-route

Note that reservations for bus are required before boarding according to bus site and should be made by 8:30am same day - I made mine at Lugano train station day before.

Thanks, Pal, we did the Maloja Pass 3 times that trip, those bus drivers are incredible.
I tried the timetable, with a dummy date of 18 June, could potentially have a night or 2 in Chiavenna after Sils Maria, then take a 7:50 am to Spluegen, many more options there back to Zurich. Nice to return on a different route, even though we loved the train ride Thusis to St Moritz too.
And yes, reservations mandatory I see, good reminder.

Thusis-St Moritz one of most dramatic mountain climbing railways in Europe - Albula spiraling railways a UNESCO World Heritage Site for circa-1900 prodigious railway building in a mountainous region - as you know but for others after Filisur the line loops like a coiled snake up and over the Albula Pass just before Samedan and St Moritz. Part of the Glacier Express/Heidi Express and Bernina Express (extention to Chur) routes. No matter how you go sweet dramatic train or bus thru awesome Alps.

I did St Bernadino Pass bus once from Bellinzona to Splugen (I think) and was also awesome. Many folks go to Switzerland and never think of taking a postal bus but would love the rides.

I remember acknowledging your postbus thread on my TR, Pal, fabulous info for travellers looking for something apart from a BO and Lucerne trip.
Thanks for your help.

Thank you!

SPLUEGEN BUS, runs form June 9th until Oct 21st
Chiavenna dp 07.50 - Chur ar 10.45
Chiavenna dp 14.40 - Chur ar 17.50
Chiavenna dp 16.40 - Chur ar 19.50
change bus at Spluegen Dorf

PALM EXPRESS (direct bus, of course!)
Lugano dp 11.45 - St. Moritz ar 15.45, runs from June 12th until Oct 22nd; connecting bus from Silvaplana to Julier Pass - Chur ar 17.53
St. Moritz dp 12.20 - Lugano ar 16.30, runs from June 11th until Oct 21st

Ah, depend on neckervd to always come up with the schedules needed!