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Winter trip

Posted by ( Mexico) on

Hi, fellow travelers, I am here again asking for your always useful advice.
You’ve helped me enormously in the past and I would appreciate your guidance one more time .
See, I just found ( and bought!) plane tickets for what I consider a great price West Coast - Milan round trip Dec 24 - Jan 07. 13 nights.

I usually plan my trips more in advance but this has been a very busy season and I really want to enjoy a much needed Italian time 🤩.

My husband and I ( mid 50’s) would like to go to Turin, spend very few days in Milan , probably take the Bernina Express ( or the similar train ) but beside these we don’t have a real plan.

We want very few moves, the more we can stay in a place , the better. We are looking for cute places that we can enjoy using public transportation. Probably just in the Piedmomt area.
Which places would you recommend us going that would be enjoyable during these dates?

We don’t need to see big sights ( the Egyptian museum in Turin looks very interesting)
We have been to Florence, Venice, Rome and we have no imterest in visiting them this time.

We would like to focus in the north part of Italy and have a relaxed , lovely time.
I have been searching previous information here, It’s just that I haven’t found much regarding that it will be winter season.

Hopefully I am giving enough information that alouds you to share ideas with me.

Thank you!

Posted by
22653 posts

When you say the Bernina Express, do you want to go all the way to Chur, which would really require an overnight there, or a day trip from Milan only as far as St Moritz and return?

Posted by
880 posts

I can’t comment on the weather but last October we had a lovely week in Turin and hope to return. It is small enough to explore the central area by foot (weather dependent). Lots of great eating places, beautiful piazzas and not very busy museums. Enjoy.

Posted by
168 posts

@Sam, I have the idea of only the Day trip to St. Moritz.
Thank you!

Posted by
168 posts

@Claire,Thank you for your comment !
Did you visit other cities close to Turin?

Posted by
22653 posts

If you want the actual Bernina Express train, take an early train from Milano Centrale to Tirano. The Bernina Express departs at 10 06 am. The train from Milan arrives at a station across the piazza from the RhB station for the Bernina Express. Nominally, the 7:20 am train from Milan should give you enough time to make the transfer, but taking the 6:20 train could be prudent. Extra time for a morning coffee and pastry in Tirano.

You need to buy seat reservations for the Bernina Express well in advance.
https://tickets.rhb.ch/en/pages/bernina-express

The 10:06 will get you to St Moritz at 12:35, giving you 2 hours or so for lunch. I would suggest you just take a regular train back to Tirano. It will be getting dark early, so no point paying extra for seat reservations. The 14:48 will get you back by 17:00. The next train to Milan is at 17:08, so it could be tight, but you can just relax and have some pizza and take the 18:08 getting back to Milan Centrale at 20:40.

Posted by
880 posts

Veronica, our trip to Turin was part of an Italian leg of travel that included Padua and a day trip into Venice. Our priority for that trip was Turin so we stayed there the longest. We don’t rent cars in Europe and rely on trains and buses. We had considered including a few days in Alba but in the end decided there was too much we wanted to enjoy in Turin.

Posted by
168 posts

Considering that it will be first days of January , Would any of you have an opinion whether to spend a few days after Turin, in Alba or in Stresa ( Lake Maggiori) ?

Thank you!

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