Everyone says the Bernina express is fantastic, but the Italian destination isn't on my bucket list... What do people generally do when they get to the end of Bernina express?
I assume you are taking it from Switzerland to Italy. You could continue on to Lake Como, easily. Or on to Milan. Then on to Venice. Or a million other places easily reached via Milan. Or head for Austria. Or Slovenia. Then Croatia…
We did the route from Pontressina, then turned around at the last Swiss top for the return trip. At the time we couldn't enter Italy because of the COVID quarantine mandates. From Pontressina, the one-way was under two hours. The scenery is so fantastic that I completely enjoyed doing the round trip!
You could get off at one of the many scenic stops and hike on the way back, if you take the regional , ( not panoramic) trains. I highly recommend using regional trains.
Safe travels in this beautiful country.
@Travel4Fun has it right. From Tiranno, you walk across the town square from the Swiss station to the Italian station, and from there catch the hourly Trenord service to Milano Centrale. You can get off at Lake Como on the way, or transfer in Milano Centrale to anywhere in Italy. Ourselves, we went on to Venice. Chur to Venice is an easy day.
I've never ridden it one-way. I've always returned to my start point, and on those trips to and from intermediate stations I've stepped off (always the local regional hourly trains, never the fancy tourist ones) to do something like walk to a glacier or have lunch, and then hopped on another. The Engadine is seriously beautiful.