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Switzerland in May (with a Start in Bellagio)

Posted by (Portland, OR) on

Ok, I’ve been refining this itinerary for several months, am a seasoned traveler and have been reading everyone else’s posts here with similar questions and itineraries. I’ve also been scouring the Swiss rail site, tripadvisor, and the individual city websites for each location. I just wanted to preface my post with this because I’m looking for your personal experiences that might save time, provide a more scenic route, more logical routing, etc. I appreciate any and all critiques, advice and dissent on my proposed itinerary. We are foodies, so I also appreciate any must do food experiences/restaurants in these locations.

Trip dates May 17-31 (leaving the US on the 17th and arriving in Europe on the 18th)

-Land in Milan, private car transfer to Bellagio for 3 nights
-Travel to Lucern 2 nights (I am still debating on ferry to Mennagio, bus to Lugano and train to Lucern, OR transfer from Bellagio to Como and train to Lucern) Depending on weather we will do Pilatus or Rigi here.
-Train to Wengen 3 nights (Since many trails will still be closed I’m planning on doing Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn. Definitely having a fondue lunch at Hotel Oberland one day. Possible paragliding here)
-Train to Zermatt 2 nights (Again, many trails will still be closed so I want to take the lifts over to Breuil-Cervinia for lunch. Possible paragliding here)
-Train to Montreux 3 nights (day trips to Vevey, Gruyeres, and Chateaux de Chillon. And of course some wineries)
-Train to Geneva to fly home to the US

We are planning to purchase the Swiss Half Fare card for the trains. I don’t think it makes sense to do the BO pass for the short time/distances will be there, correct? I had also considered looking for super saver day passes in advance, but I really want flexibility in the days that we use those due to the weather and possibility not being able to use them on the planned days.

Thank you for taking the time to provide any feedback. Happy New Year, everyone!

Posted by
8443 posts

What about taking the ferry from Bellagio to Varenna (Varenna-Esino) and then the Bernina route up to Switzerland? Varenna is just a short ferry ride from Bellagio.

Posted by
415 posts

Männlichen is set to open up May 25th this year. If your dates coincide with that, I’d highly recommend it. Ride the cable car up for views or if you’re up for an easy and beautiful walk, continue on walking to Kleine Scheidegg where you can then do Jungfraujoch or just Train back to Wengen.

Posted by
1091 posts

Hi Stan,
I had really wanted to take the BEX for this leg but it appears to add about 3 hours to an already long travel day. Unless I’m not looking at the correct routing? Do you mean from Varenna to Tirano to Chur to Luzern? That’s a 8 hour day on the train alone. The other routes that I’m contemplating are a 5 hour day max total travel. I appreciate any corrections if I don’t understand the routing.

Posted by
16265 posts

You have the correct times for the trip. I believe the suggestion to take the Bernina Express contemplates an overnight stop in Pontresina. That would reduce your travel that day to 3/5 hours (from Varenna; I did not add the ferry from Bellagio to Varenna).

Stay overnight in Pontresina, perhaps at the charming Chesa Mulin, close to the rail station.

https://www.chesa-mulin.ch/en/

You will have the afternoon and evening to enjoy the area. Perhaps ride the funicular up to Muottas Muragli for a nice easy hike and dinner at the fine restaurant up there. The funicular runs until late for this purpose. (Or you could stay overnight at this hotel).

https://www.engadin.ch/en/activities/muottas-muragl-panorama-trail/

Then train the next day to Luzern, 4.5 hours. You could take a night from either Luzern, Wengen, or Montreux to have time for this, depending on what activities you have planned. Even with only one night at Luzern, you could head up Pilatus or Rigi the next morning before continuing on to Wengen.

Posted by
1091 posts

Wanderweg- that is great news. I hadn’t seen the opening date yet for this year for Mannlichen. That will in fact coincide with our visit!! Thank you.

Regarding the BEX route- while that sounds lovely I really don’t want to take a night from Luzern. I feel like we will have so many other scenic train opportunities that I don’t want to make a scenic route a priority over the locations, especially the only two night stops.

Posted by
16265 posts

That would be my choice as well. I only mentioned the Pontresina option as you said you originally wanted to take the BEX, and that was one way to make it work.

Posted by
2672 posts

Hi April, I just want to make sure you are clear that May 25 is the start date for the cable cars to Männlichen. This is not the opening date for the trail down to Kleine Scheidegg. That typically opens min-June. There is never an “opening” date provided in advance because this will depend on the amount of snow on the trail.

You can check for the trail opening here:

https://www.maennlichen.ch/en/summer/experiences/panorama-trail.html

Unfortunately, I doubt it will open in May when you will be there. I still find it worth going up though for the views. And the restaurant up there does open on May 25th.

https://www.berghaus-maennlichen.ch/en/gastronomy

Posted by
1091 posts

Thank you for the links Carrie. That makes more sense. I can’t wait to go back to that restaurant and enjoy that view! I usually research and bookmark all of the options that we will have in an area and then we will be ready for whatever the weather dictates for the day. So I guess an educated version of playing it by ear. 😊

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