We'll be in Milan in 3 weeks and we're hoping to stay overnight in Tirano in order to take the Bernina Express. We will need to return to Milan - does this overnight in Tirano make sense? Any other thoughts or suggestions on how to make this happen since we are coming from Milan?
Thank you.
Returning to Milan means you are doubling back. Except, there is one bus daily from St Moritz to Lugano, leaving St Moritz 12:20, reservations needed. Using this bus, you can do a very scenic circular route Milan - Tirano - Bernina Railway - St Moritz - Lugano - Milan and avoid doubling back on yourself.
I would then recommend doing your overnight stop in St Moritz, it is much better scenery than Tirano, and is in the middle of the circuit. Disadvantage is that hotels and everything else will be more expensive in St Moritz.
The bus timetable is here: http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_pdf_fields/2016/90.631.pdf or you can look up the times for trains and buses on the Swiss Railways site: http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
It would be possible without spending an overnight. If you want to take the actual Bernina Express do the following.
Take the 7:20 Regionale train to Tirano arrive 9:52, walk across the piazza to the RHB station and get the Bernina Express departing 10:03, arrive St Moritz at 12:36. You can have some lunch or walk around St Moritz. There is a continuation on standard train to Thusis at 57 past the hour and will follow the route of the "long" Bernina Express on the Albula Rail line which makes a lot of spiral turns as it descends to Thusis, passing over the famous Landwasser Viaduct. From Thusis, you get a bus that meets the hourly train and takes you over the San Bernardino Pass to Bellinzona where you take the EC train back to Milan. That will get you back to Milan at 19:35 if you spend an hour and 20 minutes in St Moritz, later if you spend more time there.
Remember, you do not have to take the actual Bernina Express. There are hourly regional trains that follow the same tracks over the pass. No Panorama cars, but the windows open for better photos and no "reservation fee". Look at the weather forecast and try to do it on a sunny day.
Thank you Chris F. and Sam for your advice. I think we may try to do this in a day trip - happy not to carry our bags with us.
I know weather is an important consideration - can we wait until the day before we go to book a ticket on the Regional train? We are going to go in the middle of the week to avoid the weekend crowds.
I know how to purchase the train ticket from Milan to Tirano. Will there be a ticket machine in Tirano for me to purchase the regional train ticket? And to purchase the bus ticket - I can do that through the ticket machine also or should I use the web site?
Thanks again for the advice. We are looking forward to this experience.
Maureen
mcathregan, you never have to book seats on Regional trains in advance, it is not even possible. And you never have to book seats on any Swiss trains. You just buy a ticket.
There will be a manned ticket desk at the RhB Tirano station (opposite the FS station where you will arrive from Milan). If you explain what you want, they should be able to sell you tickets for the complete round trip, trains and buses.
Except, both the St Moritz to Lugano bus I suggested (timetable: http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_pdf_fields/2016/90.631.pdf ) and the Thusis to Bellinzona bus on the longer circuit Sam suggested (bus 171, timetable: http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_pdf_fields/2016/90.171.pdf ) require reservations. See the "R" in a box on the timetables.
You should be able to do these reservations at Tirano RhB station when you arrive, but there is a risk the bus will be full.
And, all this will take time, you don't want to miss your train from Tirano.
In this case I suggest you buy all your Swiss tickets in advance on the Swiss railways website ( http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html ) and book the bus seats at the same time, then you are sure you will get a place on the bus.
