My husband and I are spending the first week of October in Varenna on Lake Como, and the last 2 weeks of the month in Tuscany. We are considering spending some time in Piedmont the second week of October. I have never been to Switzerland, and would love to take a scenic train ride. I know the weather can be an issue, but would love any suggestions considering where we will be coming from (Varenna) and going to (Piedmont). Is there a way to do this as a day trip, or should we plan to spend a couple of nights in Switzerland before traveling to Piedmont? Any suggestions welcome - many thanks!
Posted by
Charleston, SC, USA
923 posts
The Bernina Express will fit your bill except it won't get you near Piedmont. You would catch a train to Tirano at 11:24 am and link up with the Bernina Express. I am not sure it would be a good day trip, especially in October where you would spend a lot of time on the return train in the dark. You might consider spending a night or two in Switzerland. Here is a good source to help you plan.
Posted by
Green Bay
20946 posts
Yes, you can do the Bernina Express as a day trip from Varenna. You could go as far as St Moritz and return via bus over the Maloja Pass to Chiavenna to the rest of the way back to Varenna on the train. Or just turn around and back track on the train. Should get you home in daylight if you get an early start. The train may not be the exact Bernina Express with panorama cars and required supplement, but there are hourly regular trains on the route.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
When I took the Bernina Express route, it was a grey day at the end of September or early October, and I chose the regular train over the panorama car, but mountain scenery was still visible and worthwhile.
Posted by
OP
Houston, Texas
25 posts
Thanks for the suggestions. Do you think the Bernina Express route described will give me a good view of the majestic scenery? I am undecided about how to plan this part of our trip but thought if there wou,ld be a chance to have a scenic train in Switzerland sandwiched in between locations in Italy, I would love that. We could spend a couple of nights in Switzerland but need to figure out where it would make sense to do so in order to get to Turin after Switzerland. If we were to spend nights there would we be able to ride the Glacier Express? Is that preferable to the Bernina or are they comparable?
Many thanks!
Posted by
Firenze
500 posts
There is hardly a more scenic railway than the middle section of the Bernina route. The Glacier Express has some imposing sights but also hours of low valley ride. As in any high mountain trip, you should better choose a good weather day, keeping in mind that in the Alps the weather is usually better in the morning than in the afternoon. If you have several day at your start base, you should have a look to meteo locally and choose your expected best day for the trip.
The Bernina railway is very much loved on this web site - but people should remember that is a local railway, so very slow - going from the south to the north side of the Alps and so it is no use for internal Italian trips - and going from Tirano (almost in the middle of nowhere) to St. Moritz (in the very middle of Alps), so of limited use for long distance itineraries.