We are planning our first trip to Lauterbrennan this March, flying into Venice first. Was looking at Bernina but I now realize that getting from Venice to Tirano to Chur to take the Bernina Express will be impossible to do in one day so I’ve given up on that.. What is the best/fastest (and most scenic) way to get to Lauterbrennan from Venice. I’ve looked and it’s confusing me :( I would appreciate your help.
Thank you
Posted by
Nashville, TN
1197 posts
The most direct route with least changes and shortest time — Leave on the 11:48 Venezia to Milano Centrale > Spiez > Interlaken Ost > Lauterbrunnen arriving at 6:56 pm. It’s 7 hours 8 minutes.
If you want to get to Lauterbrunnen in daylight and do the more scenic route, it takes an extra 90 min.
The 5:39 am to Milano Centrale > Lugano > Luzern > Interlaken Ost > Lauterbrunnen arriving at 2:26 in the afternoon. — Total of 8 hrs 47 minutes
Use the SBB app or website SBB.ch/en for times and tickets. Make sure you spell “Lauterbrunnen” correctly when looking. The Venice train station is called Venezia S.Lucia
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
36314 posts
Going via the Bernina route and then the Brünig is an extremely scenic way to do it, but not the fastest or cheapest because it really needs an overnight with the shortish days in March.
Venezia Santa Lucia to Milano Centrale (high speed), to Titano and the bottom of the Bernina Express route. If you want the most convenient times take the regional trains - same time, same route, same views, every hour - if the fancy Bernina Express times or amenities don't work out or are not appealing. Then up to Chur, possibly overnighting in Pontresina, then to Luzern then the scenic Brünig via Meiringen (of Sherlock Holmes fame) to Interlaken Ost and then up the hill to Lauterbrunnen.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you so much!
Posted by
Green Bay
23046 posts
Best/Fastest. Most scenic. They are different.
wanderweg already gave you the best (fewest changes)/fastest via Milan/Spiez. Also a suggestion to go via Milan/Luzern for the scenic Luzern-Interlaken Express. There are other scenic routes, but they all add time and extra changes.
On the Milan/Spiez route, you could also get off at Brig and take the scenic "Loetschberger" train to Spiez. It uses an older more scenic route that uses a shorter tunnel than the main line Loetschberg Base Tunnel that goes completely under the mountains. That will add about 1 hour.
On the Milan/Luzern route, you could also change trains at Belinzona and take the "Treno Gottardo" to Luzern. Instead of taking the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which is a 20-mile tunnel completely under the Aps, it uses an older more scenic route with a shorter tunnel. That will also add about 1 hour.
All of these will get you to Lauterbrunnen in one day.