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Travel from Bellagio, Italy to Lugano, Switzerland

Posted by (Wisconsin) on

My friend and I must travel from Bellagio, Italy (on Lake Como) to Lugano, Switzerland to catch the 10:00 am Bernina Express Bus in late May. We have two questions: 1) what is the best way to travel from Bellagio to Lugano and 2) how long does it take? We will be traveling with all of our luggage.

We are wondering if we should spend the night before catching the Bernina Express Bus in Lugano, rather than stay in Bellagio. We have a number of nights in Bellagio before we catch the BEX Bus.

Any insights and suggestions would be much appreciated.

Posted by
21274 posts

My insight would be to skip the bus. You can get a ferry to Varenna, just 13 minutes away and catch a train there to Tirano. Walk across the piazza to the RhB station and get the Bernina Express train there. Suggest taking the 11:24 train from Varenna, getting you to Tirano at 12:52, time enough for lunch at one of the pizzerias by the station and getting the 14:25 Bernina Express. Train to Tirano is 7.30 EUR per person, no reservations. Buy tickets at the travel agency in the station (from what I understand) or at a tabacchi in Varenna.

According to the current schedule (until May 26) there are ferries at 9:45 and 10:45 for the 13 minute trip. After May 26, likely to be more frequent departures.

Posted by
8889 posts

Do as Sam says. Just take a ferry to Varenna, and a train from there to Tirano, which is where the Bernina Express starts.
The bus is not part of Bernina Express route, it is just a feeder so you can do a round trip without having to double back.

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