We will be finishing our Best of Switzerland tour in Bern in late September. We will then be on our own for a week afterwards and will be spending most of it in the Dolomites of northern Italy. What is the best way to get from Bern to Bolzano Italy? And then from Bolzano back to Zurich? Any suggestions are much appreciated!
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
The title is "Bern to Innsbruck", but your text says "Bern to Bolzano . . . . then from Bolzano back to Zurich?". Which do you want?
Bern to Bolzano is complicated.
Fast route: South to Milan, east to Verona, north to Bolzano.
For example ( these times are from the SBB website: https://www.sbb.ch/en Note Italian train times are currently only available to June):
Bern dep 08:06, IC 8 806, Brig arr 09:11 6
Brig dep 09:44, EC 37, Verona Porta Nuova arr 13:28
Verona Porta Nuova dep 13:47, ES 8512, Bolzano/Bozen arr 15:14
Scenic route (see map here: https://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/infrastruktur/trafimage/karten/karte-sts-pass-gueltigkeit.pdf ): Across Switzerland by trains to Zernez (bottom right of map), bus to Mals/Malles, train to Merano, Bolzano.
For example:
Bern dep 08:32, IC 1 709, Zürich HB arr 09:28
Zürich HB dep 09:37, IC 3 563, Landquart arr 10:41
Landquart dep 10:50, RE 1233, Sagliains arr 11:51
Sagliains dep 11:55, R 1933, Zernez arr 12:06
Zernez, staziun dep 12:15, Bus 811, Mals, Bahnhof/Malles, stazione arr 13:46
Mals/Malles dep 14:20, R 120, Merano/Meran arr 15:43
Merano/Meran dep 15:46, R 23808, Bolzano/Bozen arr 16:26
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
For the return leg ending in Zurich, the route via Innsbruck is fastest. Similar connections also available with a 7:30 a.m. departure but a shorter transfer time in Innsbruck:
Bolzano/Bozen dep 10:34, EC 88 Direction: München Hbf
Innsbruck Hbf arr 12:36
Innsbruck Hbf dep 13:48 RJ 162 Direction: Zürich HB
Zürich HB arr 17:20