Suggestion on my last 4 days in Milan.

I would suggest booking 3 nights in Varenna on Lake Como. Then do the return trip to St Moritz from there. Depart Varenna-Esino station at 8:25 am with the train to Tirano, walk across the piazza to the Rhaetischebahn station and take the Bernina Express at 10:06 am to St Moritz, arriving at 12:35 pm. Get lunch and explore St Moritz for a couple hours, then take the regular train back to Tirano at 15:25, arriving at 16:52, then across the piazza to the Trenord station and take the 17:00 train back to Varenna-Esino, arriving at 19:11.

Next day spend relaxing on the lake and perhaps a boat ride exploring the lake on scheduled ferry boats to Bellagio and Menaggio. Next day train back to Milano and spend your last day there. Get tickets for the Last Supper and see the Duomo. Next day, train to Malpensa by noon for your 16:00 flight to Singapore.

I'd forget about Turin.

Thank You Sam for the suggestion,

I sae i have to change train 3 times to vet to Varenna from Ortisei? Im fine with it :)

If you get an early start, you can make it with 2 changes, 3 if you count the bus to train change in Waidbruck.
Depart bus at Piazza San Antonio Ortisei at 7:31, arrive Waidbruck at 8:01
Depart regional train at Waidbruck at 8:10, arrive Bolzano at 8:29
Depart Freccia Rossa train at Bolzano at 8:45, arrive Milano Centrale at 11:45
Depart regional train at Milano Centrale at 12:20, arrive Varenna-Esino at 13:24

Ive checked the accomodation in Varenna is really expensive, the cheapest require a hike up a steep hill. Any alternative?

I see a few places. How many people and what is your budget in EUR?

Hi Sam,

Thank you for replying me, really appreciate your effort in helping me figuring how to get the best of Italy. From Ortisei, it will already be my 11th day, having spending 3 nights in Rome, 2 Nights Florence, 2 nights La Spezia as a base to explore Cinque Terre, 4 nights Ortisei as a base to explore Dolomites and remaining 4 nights to get the best out of Italy before leaving to Singapore on my last night in Milan. My budget for the last night is around €80 per nite. My wishlist after Dolomites are to experience Como and Bernina. All i see is basing myself in Milan is the economical approach for now.

Have you investigated the price of the Bernina Express excursion? That can be pricey as well, but there are some tricks that will save a lot of money.

I havent, but i expected it to be pricey but since it is a once a lifetime experience, i would spend for it hence i didnt want to spend much on expensive accomodation, a comfortable one for myself, wife and 2 year old son would do.

May i know how do i get a good price for Bernina Express?

First of all, the 2-yo rides free. You can do this from Milan. The round trip price from Milano Centrale to Tirano is 24 EUR per adult.

Second, do not ride the official Bernina Express Train. This train requires seat reservations which costs 26 CHF per adult. Instead, ride the regular trains that go the same route. Besides not needing seat reservations, they are much less crowded and you can move from side to side as the scenery changes. The other advantage is that they have windows you can open and get better pictures, unlike on the named Bernina Express Train.

Round trip for adults on the regular train is 64 CHF. You also pay this fare on the Bernina Express in addition to the seat reservation fee. Exactly beginning 60 days before your planned travel date, you can buy a Saver Day Pass for 52 CHF per adult. this gives you the right to ride any Swiss train for that day. You must travel on that day, so you must be sure of your plan. The prices go up as you get closer to your travel and that is why you should buy it 60 days in advance when it goes on sale for your travel date. If the price is any higher, it is not worth buying. Details:
https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/day-pass/saver-day-pass.html

If you leave Milano Centrale at 8:20, you will arrive in Tirano at 10:52. The next train to St Moritz is at 11:00 from the station across the piazza from the station you arrive at. If you do miss it, not to worry, as there is another train at 11:41. You will get to St Moritz at 13:11. There is a train back to Tirano is at 13:48, and one at 14:48. Switzerland is a lot more expensive than Italy, so I recommend you pack a lunch and snacks and water.

If you get the 13:48 return train, you will arrive in Tirano at 16:23. Trains back to Milan go at 8 past the hour and the last train is at 20:08, so make sure you are back in Tirano before then. There are a couple of pizzerias near the station and prices are reasonable if you want to stop for dinner. The train ride back to Milan takes 2 hours and 32 minutes.

Don't spend much time in Milan. We loved the Lake Como area and it's only a 45 minute or so train ride from Milan.

Thank you Sam for the reply hence i have a few things to clarify.

1. Arriving Tirano at 10:52 and catch the next train at 11:00, is the train usually punctual? That leaves me only 8mins. Do you think its suffice? Trying to get as early as i could so that i could spend more time in St Moritz.

2. I also do up a research and since there is no seat reservation i have to queue early for a best seat?

3. Theres a train back to Tirano at 14:48, is that the last train to Tirano from St Moritz, looking to spend more time in St Moritz (if theres anything to see)

4. As this would be my only chance taking the Bernina Express route, Is the journey to Chur feasible or St Moritz is good enough?

Thank yyou for your tips :)

Hi CT,

Thank you too for your inputs, will definately have one day to spend in Lake Como area. Settling my hourney on the Bernina Express tour first for a day.

1. Yes it is fast, but if you already have a valid ticket and no luggage, it is doable. But like I said, if you do miss it, there is another train 40 minutes later. You will just get to St Moritz a little later. Swiss trains are famous for their punctuality.

2. These regional trains are very lightly loaded, they go at least every hour. Nobody in Switzerland ever gets seat reservations because the trains are so frequent. Seat reservations on the Bernina Express are required and are really supplements to ride these trains with panoramic windows and extra services and they are primarily tourist excursion trains.

3. There are also trains at 15:48, 16:48 and 17:48. the last one has a short connection and arrives at 20:00 and the last train back to Milan is at 20:08 and that is indeed tight, considering that if you miss it, you are out of luck.

4. If you have the time, the continuation to Chur is worth it, in my estimation. This is the Albula Railway, which has a series of loops and switchbacks for the descent (or ascent going the other way). You will pass over the famous Landwasser Viaduct, which is featured in all the Swiss travel posters. To save some time, you do not have to go all the way to Chur. You can get off at Thusis, as at that point, you have done all the interesting sections. Take the train back to St Moritz going the other direction. There will be an hour wait in Thusis for the return train. If you get the Saver Day Pass, there is no added cost. you can ride any Swiss train all day.

Leaving Milan, there are also earlier trains at 7:20 and 6:20 if you want more time.

Thank you again for your insights Sam,

So for my trip trip to St Moritz from Milan. i should be buying 2 tickets:

1. Milan to Tirano - From shop.italiarail.com
2. Torino to St Mortiz (stopping at Thusis before returning to Tirano) - Swiss daypass

May i have the website that listed the train schedule for the train journey from tirano to chur?

Thank you.

Here is the website you can look up all the Swiss train schedules.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html

Here is the site to buy Saver Day Pass.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/day-pass/saver-day-pass.html

Thank you, more or less my day trip from milan to lake como and st moritz is done. thank you for your help.