We (4 adults) are planning a day trip from our rental apt. in Varenna, Italy to St. Moritz. Trying to figure out the best most efficient way to plan and enjoy the day. We considered train travel but would like more flexibility returning from St. Moritz. Also noticed it takes much longer by train than by car. We will not have a rental car. Does anyone know if it's possible to find a private driver once we're in St. Moritz (maybe from one of the hotels)?
Another question: if we take the train from Tarino to St. Moritz can we get off at any point along the way and get back on? If so, where should we get off to see the most beautiful views/towns?
Thanks,
Andrea
Posted by
11159 posts
We have used a driver based in the city of Como several times to get from MXP to Bellagio.
Contact davide@davideguerrera.com. Very reliable and fairly priced.
I would, however, advise you to skip St. Moritz and visit charming nearby Pontresina., only a few miles away. St. Moritz is not attractive, filled with ugly concrete buildings. Pontresina is full of beautifully decorated traditional buildings.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1529 posts
The train runs the Bernina itinerary, very panoramic. By car you pass through the Bregaglia valley, a very narrow and steep valley, where a lot of Italian speaking Protestants took refuge in 16th and 17th century so the tiny villages became centers of Bible printing, up to the Maloja pass, a few miles from St. Moritz. The Maloja pass has the rare feature of being extremely steep on the south side and almost flat on the north side, so it is not as panoramic as the Bernina but much shorter.
There should be a bus linking St. Moritz to Chiavenna, that has a train to Colico where you can take back a train to Varenna, so if you want you can have a circular itinerary. But you won't have much time to stop along the way.
Posted by
Rock Hill, SC
57 posts
I took the train from Varenna to Torino and then the Bernina Train to Pontresina for one night in the summer of 2015.
The train ride was wonderful. Great views.
I left early in the morning of day 1 and came back midday the next day. It was nice, but I didn't have enough time to do a lot. Pontresina is a very small village and in the summer, it's very quiet. I walked around and visited a few bars. Ate at a good restaurant and had a $25 hamburger lunch near the train station. I was alone and I didn't find many english speaking folks.
All in all, it was nice. The train ride was the best, but that area seems to have a lot more outdoor sports type tourism. (hiking and biking in the summer seem to be huge.)
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1529 posts
Well, Swiss villages in summer make you wonder: where are all the people gone?