Italy to Switzerland on scenic train?

There are quite a few connections a day Milano - Zürich. Direkt ones and also some where you change trains in Lugano but they go all thru the Gotthard base tunnel, while these are also nice you missing the high Alps views of the Bernina Express. If you have never done the Bernina one i would highly recommend it.

If your end goal is Paris there is of course also the way along the Mediterranean Sea via Genua - Finale Ligure - Ventigmilia - Monaco - Nice - Marseille.

Aside for the Bernina express, is there any other route one would suggest?

You can always travel from Florence via Milan, Zurich, Basel, Paris.

We did the Bernina Express as part of the itinerary to get to Italy (Lake Como). We landed in Zurich and took the train to Chur. We took the Bernina Express in the am to Tirano. It was a beautiful train ride. It goes over the mountains and over a handfull of beautiful bridges. BTW, you can take the Bernina Express train route on a "regular" train.

The Treno Gottardo is another train that travels (mostly) over the Alps rather than under the mountains in a long tunnel. There is still a tunnel, but it it higher and shorter than the deep Gotthard Basistunnel on the direct Milan to Zurich train. So you have the opportunity to enjoy the scenery, including small villages, mountain peaks, and a hanging glacier.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/treno-gottardo/

The route connects the Swiss lakeside town of Locarno, north of Milan, with Luzern, which offers excellent connections to Paris. If you wanted a shorter journey, you could meet the Treno Gottardo in Bellinzona, a mountain town with castles and other scenic aspects.

The route would be Florence to Milan to Locarno ( or Bellinzona) for an overnight, then catch the Treno Gottardo (which runs every 2 hours directly to Luzern). You’ll have much of the day left to enjoy the lake or other attractions around Luzern.

Awesome help! We are trying to avoid the long tunnel and go for scenery. Thanks!