My husband and I will be based in Milan for a couple of weeks and are planning a trip out beginning in Milan the week of Easter. Below is our planned itinerary, what I want to know is whether the train stops will accommodate this or should we do Uber to make some of these stops?
Leave Milano Centrale Apr 16th morning, train to Tirano, then ride Bernina Express route
Make a stop at Alp Grum for lunch and a hike at Lagh da Palu.
Back on train to Pontresina, where we have a hotel booked for two nights. Plan to see Morteratsch glacier, St Moritz, anything else nearby.
Board train back to lakes region on Apr 18th morning. Exit at Bellano stop where we have lodging next two nights.
Plan to explore Lake Como, Bellagio, Verenna with ferry trips next two days. (hike Orrido di Bellano and other small hikes)
Board train back to Milan morning of Sunday, Ap 20th (Easter)
Is this reasonable, and can we make these stops easily? What kind of ticket is best? Purchase ahead?
We are not planning to take the more expensive Bernina Express, but the regional train on same route - but I need to find a schedule and ticket info to ensure these stops are possible?
Thank you in advance for help on these logistics.
Posted by
Green Bay
21749 posts
www.sbb.ch/en will have the schedules and all the stops. A point-to-point ticket in Switzerland is good for the day for any stop overs along the route.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34620 posts
as Sam says.
Most of those trains are hourly, so if you are counting in the very short trip from Bellano to Varenna for the ferries watch the time.
I haven't checked for Easter exceptions so well worth you doing that.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2464 posts
Yes—your itinerary is very reasonable and can be done solely by train. The hike at Alp Grum to Lagh da Palù takes a couple hours roundtrip. Same for the Morteratsch Glacier hike. I would plan on one hike each day while basing in Pontresina.
Have fun!
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1806 posts
You can also go back from St. Moritz to Chiavenna by Swiss post bus over the Maloja pass. At Chiavenna there is a shuttle train to Colico, on the main line Tirano-Milano.
Posted by
Wengen
2733 posts
Also be aware that you can travel on the Bernina Express with a normal train ticket. It is only to travel in the Panoramic cars that you need to pay the reservation surcharge. The Bernina Express trains all have a couple of normal carriages at the front, that anyone with a valid ticket for the route can use.