Our group of 5 had originally planned to travel from Interlaken to Chur (spend one night) and then take the Bernina Express to Torino and then onto Como. Unfortunately, the Bernina Express is fully booked. This is part of a 10 day trip starting in Zurich.
Original Schedule:
8/2: Travel to Chur from Interlaken
8/3: Travel to Como and check into Airbnb
Does anyone have any recommendations on alternative travel? Now that we can't take the Bernina Express, is there another city/town you would recommend as a stop instead of Chur? Or should we just go to Chur and take a bus to Como? Would love any recommendations! So bummed about the express.
Posted by
Ottawa
233 posts
You could take the regional train from Chur to Tirano, no need for reservations.
Posted by
Green Bay
20143 posts
Yes, same scenery. You will have to change trains once or twice along the way, but it is all part of the plan. Plus you will not have to pay the rather expensive (26 EUR) seat reservation fee.
Alternate: 8/2:Travel to Luzern then 8/3: Gotthard Panorama Express to Lugano that includes a cruise on the lake from Luzern to Fluelen, then 1st class panoramic train using the old high Gotthard Tunnel. From Lugano take a connecting train to Como S. Giovanni station, then bus and/or ferry to your destination on Lake Como.
Posted by
Paris
6905 posts
I am truly surprised to see that the Bernina Express trains are fully booked over a month ahead! This is going to be a busy summer...
But as the others said, you have hourly regional trains on the same route, with only one extra connection in St. Moritz (or sometimes 2 short ones in Samedan and Pontresina), so the inconvenience is minor, and the money saved will pay for a very nice picnic!
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you everyone for your replies. @Sam - I took your advice and have booked the Gotthard Panorama Express. No need to go all the way to Chur since the Bernina Express was booked. We are going to spend a night in Lugano after the train ride and then take a local train onto Como.