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Itinerary Thoughts and Advice Needed

I love Switzerland and am thinking about traveling there again in summer 2018 (late June/early July).

I have a list of places and things I would like to do. Most will be new experiences for me but I am wondering if I can get some help or advice on a possible order of seeing these places that makes sense. I plan on using public transportation.

I cannot depend on the Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano as I know it is often sold out in the summer. Lugano is one of my most favorite places in the world, so leaving it off the itinerary is not an option.

Bern (up to 2 nights)

Neuchatel (to see a friend; does not have to be an overnight)

Chur (1 night)

Bernina Express
-with stop for a night at
The Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl

Lugano (2 nights)

Annecy, France (2 nights)
-Annecy is accessible via Geneva

Other things I would like to include if possible:

-Ice Pavillion Saas Fee
(Near Zermatt and Visp)
-Mount Rigi
(Near Lucerne)
-Aventicum
(Near Bern and Neuchatel; might be something I could do with my friend)
-Ornithological Institute Visitors Centre
(Near Lucerne)

I try to avoid excessively touristy type places and open to suggestions.
I am open to taking a low cost airline flight if it is much easier than the train in a certain situation. Thank you in advance!

Posted by
17422 posts

Alternate ways to get to Tirano from Lugano for the Bernina Pass train:

---Regular bus from Lugano to Menaggio; ferry across to Varenna (15 minutes travel but you may have to wait); train Varenna to Tirano (1.5 hours travel time but they only run every 2 hours. An overnight in Varenna would be nice here.

---Train from Lugano to Milan; transfer to train to Tirano. May take as long as the above option and not as much fun.

Posted by
238 posts

Thank you, Lola. I would be going from Chur, Switzerland to Muottas Muragl

Muottas Muragl to Tirano.
So...going North to South.