Varenna into to Switzerland for a day trip

From Varenna they will have easy access to the very scenic Bernina Express train route over the Alps into Switzerland. It is a popular daytrip from Varenna.

From Varenna, take the train north to Tirano, 1.5 hours away. There they change to a Swiss train. It doesn't have to be a designated Bernina Express train; regular regional trains serve this route frequently. Riding to Pontresina will give them nice views; others may suggest a different village further along. We have friends who fell in love with Guarda which is a short distance and one train change further along. We are going to see it for ourselves in September.

Easy day trip by rail. Varenna to Tirano by train. There, walk across the street to the Bernina Railway station and take the next train to Pontresina, Switzerland. This goes over the Bernina Pass. They can connect from there the short way to St Moritz. If they want a bit more, take the connecting train to Chur on the Albula line. With return, it will be a long day, but quite scenic if the weather is good.

Well, Lugano is in the Canton of Ticino in Switzerland and is only a very short bus ride along Lake Lugano from Menaggio. A simple ferry from Varenna to Menaggio then bus to Lugano. Very easy, very scenic. Sit on the left side of the bus for the best view.

Or, take the boat from Varenna (scenic and slow) all the way down the Como arm of the lake all the way to Como and get the train from there one stop to Lugano or stay on all the way to Luzern (probably via the short connecting train between Arth-Goldau to Luzern.

Lugano, and the entire Ticino Canton, speak Italian. It is quite scenic, and if you take the funicular up the mountain San Salvatore the views can be quite magic.

There are very easy train connections all over Switzerland from Lugano. A train ride form Lugano to Luzern is beautiful as it winds over and through the passes of the Alps, crossing past the same church 3 times as it gains or loses altitude.

In Luzern the town is beautiful with an ancient (actually rebuilt after a fire) painted wooden covered bridge across the lake, passenger ships all around the Vierwaldstaettersee (Lake Lucerne) with fab views up into the Alps, a ride up Rigi (a beautiful mountain with incredible views), and up Mt Titlis which has a revolving gondola on the way up and down. All these are reachable by foot or transportation from Luzern station in just a couple of minutes. Very special. Luzern is in the German speaking part of Switzerland.

My suggestion is the same as Nigel's. Lugano would make a great spot for a day trip! Travel by train on that route would be about two hours each way (one hour to Milan and another to Lugano). As I recall, the station in Lugano is above the town, but there's a Funicular down to the main part of town.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll pass this on to her and let her decide what sounds interesting.

Thank you!