Day trip to Switzerland from Varenna , Italy

Will you have a car?

Without a car:

• Plan A: train to Tirano then to St Moritz (Bernina Pass Line). If you have to go and come back, a long day.
• Plan B: ferry to Menaggio, local bus to Lugano.

Two very different experiences of Switzerland.

Lugano is an easy Bus ride from Menaggio. I have done it 2x. 20- 30 min pleasant ride.
Nice place to visit walk see church, the lake have a meal with views of lake.

betty,

The ferry to Menaggio and bus ride to Lugano is probably the best option, although train to Monza and then to Lugano will probably be about the same in terms of travel time. As you'll be entering a different country, you might want to take your Passport.

I've done the ferry from Varenna to Mennagio, then the bus to Lugano. It was a nice daytrip. How long will you be in Varenna?

Bus to Lugano, another city on a lake where they speak Italian and the price of everything is double what it is in Italy. Or go over the Alps to St Moritz and view alpine splendor. Return by bus over the Maloja Pass before getting the train from Chiavenna to Varenna. Prices in St Moritz will still be twice what they are in Italy.

If you'll have a car you can drive over the Splügen Pass to Via Mala canyon and the Roflach gorge.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splügen_Pass

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viamala

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roflaschlucht