We have 5 days to spend in Switzerland leaving from venice and ending up in Milan. I hear Bernina Express is a wonderful train ride. Where can we spend those 5 days that is doable?
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
The Berner Oberland is beautiful. The train from Venice to interlaken ost (via Milano Centrale) takes between 6.5 - 8.0 hours. From there it's a 20 minutes ride into the Lauterbrunnen Valley with the stunning vistas and alpine villages of Murren and Wengen sitting on either side. That's where I would go for sure!
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1043 posts
Diane,
Yes the Bernina Express is wonderful trip and definitely worth doing and you could easily fit it into a 5 day trip. I would suggest you consider entering Switzerland on the Bernina Express and travel to St. Moritz. From there you could then join the Glacier Express and head to Zermatt. And from Zermatt you could backtrack to Brig and pick up a non stop EC train directly to Milano.
This is very doable within five days without too much pressure and leaves plenty of time to relax along the way. I'd suggest you plan on staying two nights in Zermatt so you have a good chance of seeing the Matterhorn, it will take your breath away! Over the years I have taken many people to Zermatt and I have yet to find someone who was not impressed by it.
If you were to decide to spend some time at St. Moritz, then I would suggest a day trip to Arosa. You could do a short hike around their lake, have a meal etc and catch an evening train back.
Posted by
OP
Tuckahoe, New York
85 posts
Jim,
I am working out travel from Varenna-St. Moritz on Monday, September 21st. Figuring we will stay there overnight and travel to Zermatt and stay there for 2 days per your recommendation. and then travel from Zermatt-Milan on Thursday, September 24th.
What trains would make more sense and what types of connections would we have to make? I'm getting mixed reviews if we do regional trains vs Bernina Express or Glazier.
HELP!
Diane
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Diane,
The Bernina Express and the Glacier express travel along the same lines as the 'normal' regional trains, and you see the same mountains out of the windows. Unless you want a meal on board, I would choose whichever train has convenient times.
You can look up times on: www.sbb.ch
Posted by
OP
Tuckahoe, New York
85 posts
Want to check with all of you seasoned travelers if this itinerary seems over the top crazy. After two weeks in Italy we will arrive
Sunday September 20 in Varenna
Monday - travel Varenna - Pontresina
Tuesday - travel Pontresina-Zermatt
Wednesday - Zermatt
Thursday - travel Zermatt - Milan
We are not sure if we will use regional trains or Bernina Express/Glazier Express. But hear the rides on either are spectacular.
Looking forward to responses!
Thanks,