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Five days in Switzerland late April-early May best areas to explore arriving from Milan, Italy?

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My family and I are traveling from Milan, Italy to Switzerland the last part of April for 5 days. I was thinking taking the more scenic longer train to reach the Berner Oberland and Lauterbrunnen area for the best scenery. However, we are not major hikers but more interested in all the Swiss natural beauty, food, history and people. I realize that the last part of April and early May is off season, will there be housing open or should I plan to stay a larger city? I also realize from being in Varrena, Italy last year in mid-April, the weather can be cold and rainy, so I was wondering about the smaller areas to stay and the weather conditions. We also need to end up flying out of a bigger city to reach the US for easier connections.

Since we are seasoned Italy travelers, and our adult children have not seen Northern Italy, I was also thinking of nearby places near Northern Italy, but in Switzerland. However, I hate to be so close to seeing more beautiful sites in Switzerland and missing out with the country being smaller and the great trains there, I hate to miss out on prettier areas. Just unsure how to plan the trip. I sure would appreciate some suggestions. I would also like to get a scenic rail journey in the mix for our 5 day trip too. I would appreciate your help. Thank you in advance.

Posted by
631 posts

One good thing about Varrena is that it is actually very well located to enter Switzerland via Tirano and the Bernina Pass. And if you want a scenic rail journey this is one of the best! There is a tourist train called Bernina Express (Youtube it) but regular ordinary trains run several times a day, and the Bernina Express has ordinary cars without the supplement at the front as far as Pontresina or St Mortitz. The Bernina Line and the connecting Albula Line are actually included in Google Streetview, they strapped a camera and operator to an open freight car at the front of trains! https://www.rhb.ch/en/panoramic-trains/bernina-express (the section Lugano-Tirano on the map is a bus connection you don't need, there are regular regional trains from Varenna to Tirano)

Check out the canton of Graubuenden https://www.graubuenden.ch/en - if you have no specific reason to go to teh Benrer Oberland this would be much easier for you.

I'd suggest Pontresina for a few nights. Good base for trips, close to the more expensive St Moritz.

For onward travel you can take the Albula Line to Chur and connections to Zurich, or the Post Bus from St Mortiz via Maloja to the Italian railway station of Chiavenna (most hours) to come back to Milan.

Posted by
4 posts

Bern may be a good option for your group-
• The old town of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and thanks to its 6 kilometres of arcades - the locals refer to them as 'Lauben' - boasts on of the longest weather-sheltered shopping promenades in Europe.
o BundesPlatz-26 Fountains
o Bear Park-Famous Bern bears in a zoo like setting
o Einstein House
o Cathedral Tower – Spectacular roof top views, 340 steps to the top

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you so much for your suggestion on Bern. We have modified our plans a bit due to the tighter schedule to leave from southern Italy--Sorrento-train to Milian, spend the night there to see the Duomo in the afternoon, dinner and out the next morning to end up in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland for 2 nights, enjoying the beauty there before heading to Luzern to spend 2 days there, leave late in the afternoon and spend the night near the airport in Zurich before getting a flight back to USA the next morning. We will only have April 25 for travel and arrival in Lauterbrunnen, April 26 & 27 there and April 28 & 29 in Luzern, train late to Zurich and then home on April 30. I wish we had more time in Switzerland but this is all the time we can do this trip. Does anyone have suggestions on apartments, Airbnb or hotel for a family of 4 adults? Love to hear other suggestions on what to do during this short time there. I am open to ideas on the trains, lodging and what to do in these areas.
Thank you in advance for your help.

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