I am traveling from Cinque Terra to Lauterbrunnen Switzerland the second week of May. I LOVE flowers and gardens and am considering spending two nights in either Varenna on Lake Como and taking the Bernina Express north or staying in Stresa and taking the Gothard Express north. I understand both will be long 9-10 hour train days. Any fellow garden lovers have advice for me? I do see that RS and others prefer the Bernina Express to the Gothard Express. Thank you!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17563 posts
Hi—-There are two trains that use the Gotthard Pass route, and neither one originates in Stresa. The Treno Gottardo starts in Locarno, at the other end of Lago Maggiore from Stresa, and goes to Luzern. The Gotthard Panorama Express starts in Lugano, on a smaller lake by that name, and goes by train to Flüelen on The Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne), where you catch a boat to cruise the rest of the way to Luzern.
Yes, there are lots of people here who like the Bernina Express. I like it too, but my favorite is the Treno Gottardo plus boat ride (copying the Gotthard Panorama Express route, but not in First Class and starting in Locarno rather than Lugano).
If you want to overnight in Stresa, the simplest way to Lauterbrunnen would straight north via Brig, but that trip involves either 1 or 2 tunnels. If you want to take the Bernina Espress, then you overnight in Varenna, as you know. And if you want to take the Gotthard route, you could overnight in the town of Como, or in Bellinzona, or Locarno.
I honestly have no idea which route would offer you the most opportunities to see gardens in May. I do not recall seeing any gardens in Varenna but there must be some you can visit by ferry from there. Same for Stresa.
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1682 posts
Can't help with the trains.
On Maggiore you have the islands and Taranto. Stresa itself has a nice, flowery waterfront.
In and from Varenna: Monastero, Balbianello, Carlotta, Serbelloni, Meltzi. You can't see them all: I'd skip the latter two, if flowers are your main interest.
I'd probably choose Lake Como, for Varenna and Bellagio as villages to visit.