My husband and I are planning a 3-week mostly Italy trip and wish to experience the Swiss Alps before exploring Italy. We are active almost retirees who appreciate the outdoors. Would love some thoughts and insight to help us nail down this part of our mid September trip.
*fly Seattle to Zurich (hope to arrive by midday) not booked yet -
*to Lucerne for 1 jet lag night?
*to Berner Oberland - Murren or Wengen (2 or 3 nights)
*to Chur for Bernina Express; route options from Interlaken? Might we want 1 night in Chur?
*Bernina Express to Tirano; 1 overnight at stop along route?
*to Italy's Lake region (2 nights). For a relaxed experience would folks suggest L. Maggiore over L. Como?
*off to explore Italy...
Posted by
Florida
1450 posts
I'd do 2 nights in Luzern and 2 in Murren or Wengen. Or all 4 in Murren/Wengen.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11776 posts
Do you have 8 nights?
You do not need to stop between Chur and Tirano, so that saves one change.
Luzern is certainly nice for two nights, then go to Muerren for 3 nights, On to Chur for one night then to the lake of your choice. I would go to Lake Como as the train trip from Tirano is shorter by several hours. Plus I like Lake Como better. 😉
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
OK, 2 in Luzern, then 3 in Muerren/Wengen.
Now, since you are into scenic rail trips, leave Muerren at 8:06 (or Wengen about the same time) and you can make it to Brig by 10:11, That has a few train changes along the way at Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken Ost and Spiez. You can get the 10:18 Glacier Express there, or take a break and wait for the 11:18 Glacier Express. That will get you to Samedan by 17:29, then a short train ride to Pontresina by 17:55. You could spend 1 or 2 nights there, then take the 11:17 Bernina Express to Tirano, (or a regular train if you don't want to pay the reservation fee). In Tirano, take the Italian regionale train to Varenna-Esino along Lake Como. When you want to continue your Italian section, there is an hourly regionale to Milano Centrale and then Italy is at your feet.
The Glacier Express follows the exact same route between Chur and Samedan as the Bernina Express.
Posted by
Monterey County, CA (formerly Verbania Italy-Lago Maggiore)
1641 posts
We live on Lago Maggiore, so I’m partial. But there is something to be said about visiting an area frequented less by Americans. Easy to take trains to Trains to or from Switzerland. For two nights stay in Stresa.
I’ll pm you with link on things to do around Lago Maggiore.