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Staying in a hotel near Como S Giovanni train station in Como.

We would like to go spend a day and ride the Bernina Express and some time in a town in Switzerland. We do not have a car and would like some suggestions.

Posted by
32171 posts

I'm not entirely clear on your question?

If riding the Bernina Express, that travels the route from Tirano to Chur (and intermediate points), so not exactly close to Como.

If you're staying near Como S. Giovanni, an easier visit to Switzerland would be a short 38 minute train ride to Lugano. For example, there's a direct train departing Como at 08:47, arriving at 09:25. Lugano is a very scenic and somewhat "posh" city and while there you could walk the waterfront from Lugano to Paradiso, take the Funicular up Mt. San Salvatore or Mt. Brè, visit the Casino or take a cruise on the lake.

If you don't mind a longer trip, you could travel from Como to Locarno, which is another beautiful city in Switzerland. While there you could browse the shops around the Piazza, visit the Casino, walk along the scenic waterfront, take the Funicular up the hill to the impressive Madonna del Sasso Franciscan Monastery and from there take the Cable Car up the hill to Cardada. Fantastic views of the city and lake from there! You might enjoy stopping at the restaurant / hotel that's right beside the cable car station, where you can enjoy a fine meal and a cool one on the patio while watching the Paragliders sail by.

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for your reply. We want to ride the Bernina Express. Staying in the town of Como. Not sure of the best transit connection to do this day trip.

Posted by
32171 posts

Taking a day trip on the Bernina Express would be much easier if you were staying in Varenna, rather than Como. I haven't checked boats or buses, but to travel from Como to Tirano (the departure point for the B.E.) will take at least four hours each way. I'd have to do some research to find out if there's a quicker way, but I doubt it. I'm not sure if that will be possible as a "day trip"?

OTOH, the train from Varenna to Tirano is 1H:26M each way, so a much shorter trip. If you want to use the Panorama cars on the Bernina Express, as I recall there are only a few departures each day. You could perhaps use the Panorama cars one way, and return to Tirano via "regular" train. Have a look at their website for schedules and other details....

https://www.rhb.ch/en/home

Posted by
500 posts

Lake Como is in the form of an inverted Y. Como is on the west branch of the lake, the railway line to Tirano (giving access to Bernina line) runs along the east coast of the lake. You will have either to take a ferry to Varenna or Bellano to reach the east side, or backtrack with trains to Monza (a few kms. north of Milan).

Posted by
10344 posts

Very few travelers (who post here) sleep in the town of Como. The well known "Lake Como" postcard views and discussions in Rick Steves book focus, not on the town of Como, but rather on the mid-lake area, Varenna being one of those.

Posted by
5187 posts

When will your trip take place?

You may want to reconsider your plans & stay in one of the mid-lake villages (Varenna, Bellagio, or Menaggio) as the others have suggested, especially if you want to take the Bernina Express.

Varenna would be the best option so you don't have to waste time taking the ferry from Bellagio or Menaggio to get to the train station.

If you end up staying in the town of Como, you can take a fast ferry to Bellagio then on to Varenna (travel time about one hour)

Here is the website for the ferry schedules:http://www.navlaghi.it/eng/c_illago.html

Posted by
11613 posts

I often stay in Como city, I like the Hotel Metropole-Suisse very near the ferry dock.

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for all your input. We must stay in Como, so will take a ferry to Bellagio then to Varenna.

Posted by
19637 posts

Here is a route you take without backtracking the same way.
Train from Como San Giovanni to Bellinzona. 8:12-9:26
Post Bus to Thusis. 9:40-11:25
Regional train to Tirano, this follows the Bernina Express route with regional trains, including the Landwasser Viaduct, the Albula "Merry-Go-Round", and the Bernina Pass. 11:30-15:00
One hour "lunch" break in Tirano.
Regional rain to Varenna-Esino. 16:06-17:36
Fast ferry to Como via Bellagio. 18:23-19:16
You could leave an hour early to spend an hour looking around the Swiss village of Thusis.
You could also do this route in reverse.