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Need Clarification about Bernina Express from Lake Como area

Posted by (Cleveland, oh) on

I have been reading & reading about the BE, but just want to make sure I am understanding this correctly. I know there are tours, etc. from Milan, but it seems like there is a whole leg from Milan to Tirano that I would like to avoid (it may be pretty, but still want to avoid it - I think). Here are my thoughts, am I correct in my thinking?

We are ultimately staying in Varenna. So instead of going from Monterosso to Milan (only so we can take an overpriced tour on the BE), we suck it up and travel all the way to Varenna (the only long travel day in our 3 week stay). Settle in Varenna, & maybe (2 days later we would take the train to Tirano and catch the BE to St. Moritz. From St. Moritz, I could just take a regional train back to Tirano and train back to Varenna. Long day, but no luggage, everything waiting for us in Varenna.

Am I totally off track here? Pun intended! This would be happening around June 10th, so I can't really "book" anything yet, but trying to lay out my itinerary and book hotels. Trying to avoid 2 nights in Milan, just for the purpose of taking a tour on the BE at a lot of extra money.

Thanks for you input!

Posted by
34854 posts

There is no reason that you can't make you own way to Tirano using the TreNord regional trains. You don't need a tour group to get you there. Your choice.

You could join the train either at Milano Centrale or at Varenna, or at any stop along the way as long as you have the proper ticket.

There is no need to travel on the named Bernina Express tourist train if you want to travel on that route in Switzerland. You can if you want to, either with or without a group tour. You can just buy a ticket for yourself. Or you can take one of the normal trains which also traverse the same route, either in First or Second Class. Like all Swiss routes there is a regular train at least every hour. You can go to Sankt Moritz, or any intermediate point, or even further into the beautiful scenery, even all the way to Chur if you have a proper ticket.

Do be advised that the named tourist train calls at a few fewer stations than the normal train, but they take the same time because the line is all single track and trains have to stop at and pass at each of the stations, even if the fancy train just stops but doesn't allow passengers on or off.

It is all what you want.

The other thing -- when the Swiss name a train something Express, that is a marketing name, nothing to do with going fast. The Bernina Express (and all trains on that line, and all trains have the same views) is a very beautiful route but very slow. If you don't intend to spend the night in Switzerland be sure that the train back has enough time to connect with the last train in Tirano, and that that train calls at Varenna. It only stops in Varenna for a moment and you need to be ready to hop off, even if after dark, or you will find yourself in Lecco or Milano.

Posted by
101 posts

Nigel - thank you for the tips. I do think I want to take the scenic train because of the viewing cars. Thanks for the info about the return trip and timing. We take trains all the time, but for some reason this BE is throwing me off.

Acraven, I love that website.....but I found his info on the BE overwhelming! LOL! The more I read, the more it starts to make sense, but I just needed some solid info so I can nail down our itinerary and hotels........without worrying that I'm in the wrong place to take this scenic route. Thanks!

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