We will be staying in Bellagio from June 11 – 16 and would like to travel to St Moritz, and may be staying a night near St Moritz (Chesa La Veglia Margna - Via Chalchera 9, 7505 Celerina), and return to Bellagio the next day.
We may bus from Menaggio to St Moritz and bus back to Menaggio, or
do a one way train from St Moritz back to Tirano - Varenna
Should we book bus / train tickets in advance, or to check the weather forecast when we arrive on June 11, then book at the station?
Hope to find out how long is the journey to and from St Moritz, and the ticket prices, and schedule by bus and train.
Your help would be highly appreciated.
Posted by
Green Bay
21356 posts
Schedules are at http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html and click on "fare/buy" and enter no reduction to get the price. Right now, it is best to look at a day in the near future to see the price.
From Menaggio (via Mazzini), there is just one bus per day at 12:55, requires a reservation and is showing 67 CHF and takes about 3 hours.
From Varenna-Esino, there is an all-rail route every 2 hours taking about 3 3/4 hours with a single connection at Tirano, cost 38 CHF. No reservations required.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Thanks for the info, Sam. We'll most probably take the train from Varenna-Esino with more departures. Is this the regional train to St. Moritz, and not the Bernina Express? Do we book the tickets from Travel Agent?
Posted by
Green Bay
21356 posts
That is using the regular regional trains. For Bernina Express, look at Tirano to St Moritz for trains marked "BEX", then a train from Varenna to Tirano that will connect with it at http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en.
Posted by
Rock Hill, SC
57 posts
I took the Bernina Express from Tirano to St. Moritz in June 2015. Saw snow and it was fairly cold...so make sure you pack appropriately. In the summer, it's quiet.
The highlight for me was definitely the train ride. Alp Grum, one of the stops, was beautiful.
I purchased my Bernina Express tickets in advance, but the car I was in was almost empty except for 2 other people. I got the 1st class tickets. But, I think the regular class would had been perfect. I booked in advance because I was worried about seating. On the way back....I took the regular train and it was just as nice.
If you take the train from St. Moritz back to Tirano and then to Varenna, that's a great route and lots to see. Weather is typically good that time of year. I will say that I did a one day trip as well.....from Milan to St. Moritz and most of the time was set in travel.
I had very little time in St. Moritz and basically walked around, visited the local grocery store and restaurants and that's about it. I wished I had more time and had planned things to do...like taking a cable car or seeing some of the glaciers.
It appears that the area is perfect for day hiking and bike riding....tons of folks were doing that.
As Americans...we go half way around the world and try to fit in a whole country into our travel plans...hitting churches, museums, all the check marks...while these Europeans are spending a month hiking and biking in the Swiss Alps....enjoying the slow life.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Will confirm staying a night near St Moritz and train/bus to Milan. Appreciate the information.