My husband, two grown daughters and myself are planning on flying into Milan, spending a couple of days in Milan, then taking a day trip on the Bernina Express and returning to Milan. We are headed to Bellagio/Varenna (Lake Como) the next day. My question is, would it make more sense to go on to Bellagio directly somehow from St. Moritz or Chur, or somewhere on the Bernina Express route? In other words, aren't we back tracking by going back to Milan after our day trip on the Bernina Express? Thanks for your help.
Posted by
Paris
7322 posts
Great question!
And indeed, on the way back you could get off at Varenna-Esino and take the ferry to Bellagio.
Make sure you travel light, otherwise you will hate handling your luggage throughout the day.
By the way, regarding the Bernina Express, there is no need to go all the way to Chur. The ride becomes much less interesting north of Tiefencastel, so you could turn back there instead.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
thanks for the reply! I don't think with 2 (24 and 23 yr old daughters) that we could handle our luggage all day so I guess we'll head back to Milan after our Bernini Express experience. You say we really don't need to go all the way to Chur... should we go to St.Moritz, then take the fast train back to Milan?
Posted by
Paris
7322 posts
Rather than going back to Milan, I would rather remove a night in Milan and leave Milan late the day before to head to Bellagio/Varenna, and do your Bernina day trip from there.
By the way, Varenna would be a much more convenient Lake Como base than Bellagio in your case.
As for your question: now that I think about it again, going beyond St Moritz towards Chur would make for a very, very long day on trains. To give you an idea, Varenna to Tiefencastel takes about 5 hours by train, and same on the way back! Therefore, even though the Albula railway is scenic, I would not recommend it.
I would turn around somewhere around Pontresina, and if you are going between June and September, there are two worthwhile excursions, in my opinion:
- Take the train from Tirano to Punt Muragl Staz, cross the river to the Muottas Muragl Funicular Railway, and enjoy the amazing views on the Engadin lakes from up there (2,500 metres a.s.l.). Short hikes also available.
- Take the train only as far as Bernina Diavolezza, and take the cable car up Diavolezza (2,900 metres) for close-up views of the Bernina massif.
At other times of the year, these mountain excursions are not available and you could instead explore Pontresina. Poschiavo is also worth a stroll if time allows.