Hello. I need opinions on whether or not this itinerary is too much for one day.
Arrive in Zurich from Atlanta around 8:30am. Would like to take train to Chur then board Bernina Express to Tirano. Would then need to take another train to Milan where we will spend the night before taking train to Venice the following morning. That is a lot of traveling by train in the first 24 or so hours. Trying to save from having to use a night in Chur or Tirano. We have 14 days to see the Alps, most of Italy and Santorini, Greece. Please give opinions and advice and alternative ideas for travel plans. Dates we are looking at are May 26-June 9, 2020.
Thanks.
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
You have the plane tickets already?
The Bernina leaves from Chur at 8:32 am daily once a day.
Posted by
OP
Georgia
8 posts
Thanks for sharing that info. I guess we will need to spend the night in Chur then take train at 8:32. What is best way to get to Venice from Tirano? My husband will not take a bus so that’s out. Looks like we could take a train to Milan then back across to Venice? Trying to go from Venice to Florence to Rome then over to Greece. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated?
Second time in Europe First for my husband
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
You can look up trains on how to get places at
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml
or at
rome2rio.com
You would have to fly to Greece from Rome
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
There are many other trains that you could take on the same route as the Bernina Express, with the same views...but it's a ten-hour train journey so resting in Chur is a good call.
As for Tirano to Venice, it goes via Milan where you change trains.
Also, I hope you're not trying to see "most" of Italy in ~10 days
Posted by
OP
Georgia
8 posts
What about train from Zurich to Milan? Any thoughts on Gotthard Express?
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
Yes, the Gotthard Panorama Express is also very scenic, and easier to do than Bernina from Zürich. It involves two sections:
- Boat from Luzern to Flüelen --> In 2019 schedule, leaves Luzern at 11.12 AM so would require to spend the previous night in Luzern.
- Panoramic Train from Flüelen to Lugano --> in 2019, leaves Flüelen at 2.10 PM so you could catch it from Zürich on arrival morning (less than 2 hours from Zürich airport to Flüelen by train).
Once in Lugano, there are plenty of onward connections to Milan.
Look at the SBB (Swiss Railways) website for schedules and info.
OR, you can travel the same route, without the constraints of the single daily departure of the Panorama Express. It involves 4 trains as follows (exact transfer points may vary):
1. Zürich Airport --> Zürich HB
2. Zürich HB --> Erstfeld
3. Erstfeld --> Bellinzona
4. Bellinzona --> Milano
To find that route, look for connections from Zürich Flughafen (airport) to Milano Centrale and specify "Via Göschenen" (this forces a routing via the scenic railway).
Posted by
OP
Georgia
8 posts
PERFECT AWESOME THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHAT A GREAT HELP. MIND IS MORE RELIEVED NOW. THANK YOU!!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17427 posts
You could also take the once a day Gotthard Panorama Express:
From Zurich airport, take the train to Luzern (one direct train per hour, others with a change at Zurich main station.). The ride is about an hour. At Luzern, you board a boat for a relaxing ride to Fluelen, where you board the train over the Gotthard Pass route as far as Lugano, arriving there around 16:30. Change to a train heading the short distance to Milano, then ride an Italian train (Trenitalia or Italo) to Venice. You would arrive around 8 pm but will have had a nice relaxing and scenic journey.