My wife and I have three days to travel from Basel to Lucca this September. We would prefer to spend the two nights in the same place, to give a decent day of sightseeing where we stay. Taking a Bernina Express (or a regional train that uses the same route) as part of the trip would be nice. Does anyone have suggestions for a place to break the trip? We hope to take a train from Basel to somewhere, spend the two nights, and then go on to Lucca the third day. Is this timetable unreasonable? Would we need to make train reservations for any portion of the trip, say the leg from Milano to Firenza?
Thanks for any help!
Dave R
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11876 posts
A 2 night stay in Varenna ( or somewhere on Lake Como) might be worth looking into. I certainly enjoyed my 2 nights there, and more would have been great
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml--- this might help with planning the trains
For a 400 mile journey, it seems quite reasonable
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
"Would we need to make train reservations for any portion of the trip, say the leg from Milano to Firenza?"
For fast trains in Italy (and Milano to Firenze would be on a fast train), you need a reservation. However, if you are buying a ticket, whether in advance or last minute, online or at a station, discount or full fare, the reservation is included. You only need a separate reservation if you are using a rail pass (not recommended for Italy, as it's very hard to make a pass pay off).
For trains in Switzerland, except for some of the named scenic routes like the Bernina Express, no reservations are required. If you are taking the regional trains on a scenic route, you do not need reservations (only for the actual named trains).
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
If you want to stay in the mountains along the route of the Bernina Express, then the first day's travel to Pontresina or Samedan takes under 4.5 hours with 2 connections and the later travel to Lucca can be done in 9.5 hours with 3 connections (9:00 departure).
If you complete the Bernina route (via Chur and Tirano) and continue to Varenna on the same day, then that day is done in 8 or 9 hours and the next leg is shorter.
Total travel time would be shorter and more direct if your interim stop were at Stresa on Lake Maggiore; Lugano, Switzerland; or even Luzern (8 hours to Lucca).