We will be travelling by train from FLORENCE to Como on 11/9/08, and plan to explore the Lake Como area on 11/9 and 11/10. On 11/11/08, we plan to take the Bernina Express over the alps, and need to be in Zurich in time to catch our 1:00 pm flight to Amsterdam on 11/13. Would you please share your recommendations about: 1) how we get from Como to Lugano in order to take the bus to Tirano? 2)How we purchase the Bernina Express train tickets to take us across the alps? 3) where we should stay on the 11th and 12th? In Pontresina? Chur? Luzern? Zurich? Any guidance provided will be much appreciated!
Posted by
Hendersonvlle, NC
486 posts
We did the Bernina Express (and Glacier Express) back in about 2000. The Bernina Express was an ordinary train except during tourist season when some trains wre designated as "Express" (i.e. more crowded first class with bigger windows and smaller seats). We took it off-season and there was only one other person (in all of two cars) on the train. I even convinced the Italian engineer to let me stand up in the cab with him (and I spoke no Italian). Spectacular!
Buy the Bernina Express tickets from the railroad just like any other tickets.
We took the train from ??? town on Lake Como to Tirano. We then stepped out, went around the corner, walked through Swiss customs and boarded the "Express".
Posted by
Yorkshire, UK
264 posts
I can share with you what during my Swiss Trip which included the Bernina Express.
I did not do Como but I would believe there are a myriad of trains you can take. The gentleman posting previously indicated that.
We called up the railway company to make our reservations directly. With some basic german we were able to get someone who spoke good english.
Where to stay I think very much depends on what you want to see.
We ended up in Davos during the summer and it was dead. It might actually be a lot more fun at the start of the winter season.
If you are looking for more city based exploration maybe do consider a Luzern or Zurich.
From what I was told Chur is mainly a transportation hub than anything else. This is unsubstantiated though.