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Post River Cruise Train to Milan

In early November my wife and I are taking our first ever cruise, on the Rhine River from Amsterdam to Basel. We are going into Amsterdam three days early and had originally planned to visit Lucerne and Zurich for a few days afterward, flying home from Zurich. After watching a number of videos and reading comments on this site about bad weather, shut down hotels, restaurants and mountain access in November, we have decided to take a train from Basel to Milan, spending 4-5 days and flying home from there. We have a short list of things to see/do in Milan, including the Duomo and the Last Supper, but would also like to take some day trips out of the city. Lake Como is at the top of that list, but I'd be interested in anything you may know about other options we haven't thought about. We have not yet booked our flights and we are both retired, money is not a concern, and neither is the amount of time we are there. I would appreciate any thoughts, suggestions or experiences you have had, not just on the day trips, but in Milan itself. I've been there once, but my wife has not at all. Thank you.

Jim

Posted by
23635 posts

After watching a number of videos and reading comments on this site about bad weather, shut down hotels, restaurants and mountain access in November

I reread all the comments on your previous post, and I don't see anything about bad weather, shutdown hotels, restaurants and mountain access in those comments. Luzern will not have any of these in November (although you can have bad weather any time of the year).

Posted by
297 posts

I would expect Luzern to be cold, damp and miserable in November. Obviously somes days it might be sunny but other it will be pouring with rain - for me Milan makes more sense.

the train part is very easy, there are convenient fast direct trains at 11:07 and 12:30 both taking around 4½hours. You will see some of the Swiss Alps and some views of Lago Maggiore in Italy. Board at Basel SBB station. Tickets from either sbb.ch (if your card will work with them!) or trainline.com SBB already have discounted tickets on sale which could save 50% over the flexible on the day price. If using that website ensure that it is set to Full Fare and not Half Fare Travelcard.

However, Basel itself is a very nice old city and worth a day. So you could leave the ship and spend time there with one night in a hotel and Milan train next morning, or there is another direct fast train at 17:30 but at that time of year the entire journey will be in darkness so no views! The overnight in Basel option means there is no worry about booking the discounted/fixed times train tickets and you can use the money saved towards the cost of the hotel.

All these trains arrrive at Milano Centrale station on the northern edge of the old centre.