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Travel from Gimmelwald to Chur (or nearby) to catch Bernina Express to Tirano, Italy

Posted by on

Hi,

We have some business to do in Strasbourg, France, in July and then we're going to do some recreational travel. From Strasbourg we head to Gimmelwald. We'll be staying in Gimmelwald for 3 nights. From there we are hoping to head to Chur, or nearby, to ride the Bernina Express south to Tirano, Italy and then head from there to Venice. There are two of us traveling.

We are struggling to understand the best ways to travel- if we should buy a rail pass, and if so, which one, or if we should buy individual rides. Or rent a car?? We would like to take the most direct way from Gimmelwald to Chur, trying to keep travel time to a minimum. From what I can tell, the Bernina Express only leaves from that direction in the morning, so perhaps we need to stay where we will board the Bernina Express the night before? Then we will have a relatively long travel day on the Express to Tirana and then another train to Venice, I suppose. We were hoping to have a long travel day from Gimmelwald to Tirano, then a shorter trip to Venice for our first night there.

Or should we skip the Bernina Express, if we want to limit travel time, and head from Gimmelwald to Tirano another way, perhaps catching the Glacier Express? Or anybody have suggestions on the most efficient way to travel from Gimmelwald to Venice?

Any thoughts or suggestions welcome!
Thank you.

Posted by
3275 posts

If you want to travel from Gimmelwald to Venice all in one day the Bernina express is a long way out of the way ( and so is the Glacier Express).

You need to get to Milan to take the fast direct train to Venice. The best was to Milan from Gimmelwald is via Spiez and Brig. Take a look at a Swiss rail map and you will see the route. Google "Swiss synoptic map" to see the map. Notice that to catch the Bernina express you must detour a long way to the east! and then come back west to Milan ( that part is not on the map because it is Italian rail! but Milan is south and a bit west of Chiasso which is on the map).

Posted by
12 posts

Thanks for your reply. I see what you mean.

Just to clarify, we are planning for one overnight stay in between Gimmelwald and Venice, but not sure where that should be. We are interested in riding one of the scenic trains in Switzerland, but may decide to skip it if it just adds too much traveling.

Posted by
3275 posts

If you have an overnight on the way, then the Bernina express is possible if you don't mind two fairly long days. I'd stay in the mountains along the way, like Pontresina, or on down toward Italy, like Poschiavo or Tirano.

Posted by
21107 posts

Well, if you have a Swiss Pass, you can do Gimmelwald to Chur using the Glacier Express. Assuming this is summer when they put on extra GEX and BEX trains. Leave at 8:00 am and get to Chur at 2:34 pm. Next day, take the Bernina Express at 8:32 am, change trains at Tirano and Milano Centrale, arriving Venice SL at 6:40 pm. There are reservation fees not covered by the Swiss Pass for the GEX and BEX. Suggest a Swiss Pass because these are pretty pricey train rides.

Posted by
16895 posts

It sounds like your total travel time in Switzerland will be over 5 calendar days, so unfortunately the Swiss Travel Pass for 4 consecutive days at $268 won't cover it all. You could choose a flexipass for $255 per person to cover the 3 longest travel days (within a month) and add on the Half-Fare feature for $74 in order to get 50% off most lifts and other transportation in between those days (but only 25% off Wengen-Jungfraujoch). That extra $74 can pay off pretty quickly. (Note that in 2015, the Schilthorn cable car early- and late-ride discount is not offered between June 20 and August 23, so nice to get a different discount.)

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