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Help! Train from Luzern to the Cinque Terre via Milan

Posted by on

Hey everybody, I'm visiting Switzerland for the first time this June and need some guidance. I will have a Swiss Rail Pass.

On the 23rd of June I will be traveling from Luzern to the Cinque Terre. The research I've done so far shows me there is a train that leaves from Luzern at 8:46am and goes to Milan, but it requires a reservation if you plan to stay on for the entirety of the trip. After that, we will need to board a train to Cinque Terre (I can figure that out later).

I need clarification on what I need to do as the holder of Swiss Pass. Do I make the reservation and somehow pay for the partial Italian leg of the trip? Should I do this in advance? We are on a strict schedule and I would be pretty distraught if we waited to book at the station on the day of, only to find out they are sold out. Is that a valid concern? Any and all advice is welcome! Thanks!

Posted by
12 posts

So just to clarify, I only need to buy the ticket/reservation from to Chiasso to Milan? I don't need to by a ticket from Luzern to Milan and add a "Swiss Pass Discount" or something?

Posted by
20944 posts

I don't need to by a ticket from Luzern to Milan and add a "Swiss Pass Discount" or something?

No, that is exactly what you need to do. Click on "GA 2 cl." (assume it is a 2nd class pass). Then you will have a ticket from Luzern to Milan with a seat reservation. When the conductor comes by to check your ticket, give him/her your ticket, your valid Swiss Pass and your passport.

Posted by
7209 posts

1) go to www.sbb.ch/en
2) enter Lucerne as your starting point and Milano Centrale as your destination
3) Choose your date and time and the click the button to search for connections
4) Choose the train you want and then click the buy button, choose 1 or 2 class, and 1-way
5) proceed until it asks you for "Reduction for Switzerland" and there you will choose GA 2 Class or GA 1 Class (your Swiss Pass)
6) The system will calculate the appropriate fare which is 6 chf + 5chf for a recommended seat reservation.
7) Print at home

For Milano Centrale - your village in the CT you can buy at the train station in Milan if you want or you can buy Milano Central -> La Spezia ticket online at www.trenitalia.com

From La Spezia it's just a little regional train on to the villages.

Posted by
32318 posts

"in Milan if you want or you can buy Milano Central -> La Spezia ticket"

When you buy your ticket from Milano Centrale to the Cinque Terre, book your destination to whichever one of the five towns you'll be staying in. It makes no sense to go to La Spezia first, as that means you'll have to backtrack to your actual destination.

Unless you book a direct Intercity train from Milan to the C.T., some of the trains you'll use will be Regionale. BE SURE to validate your ticket (if purchased locally) prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or you'll risk hefty fines, which will be collected on the spot!

I'm a bit late getting into the discussion, but I would have booked trains from Luzern to the first border point in Italy using the Swiss Pass, and then booked from the border point to the C.T. using www.captaintrain.com.

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