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Venice - Zurich Scenic Train Route/Itinerary Help

Hi all, my mom and I have 2 days/2 nights to spend getting from Venice to Zurich to then take a fast train to Paris. (We're spending 8 days in Italy first, this is our first trip to the region as well). We'd love to take a scenic train through the alps but not sure of the best route. I have read a lot about the Gotthard Panoramic Express to mixed reviews. Seems the Bernina Express is much more scenic but it would be much more difficult to do in the time we have. I'm thinking we go Venice - Milan - Lugano, spend the afternoon/night in Lugano. Then we can take the Gotthard Panoramic Express the following day and spend the late afternoon/evening in Lucerne. Then we can do Lucerne - Zurich - Paris the following day.

My question is, is this the best use of our time? Is there a better way to think about this route or other options? It feels like a lot of traveling to not do much. Our hope is to enjoy a scenic train ride and to get a taste of Switzerland during our stay. Otherwise, we would just take a plane and fly from Venice to Paris and add on more time in Paris. Please let me know of any ideas, that would be so helpful! Thank you in advance!

Posted by
19630 posts

Not a very satisfying answer, but it is worth it to you if it is worth it to you. Totally subjective and there is no way I, or anybody else can decide what any given experience is worth to you. You are on vacation and spending your time as you see fit. Any expenditure of your time doing anything means you are not doing something else. Making choices is something you are doing every day, whether you realize it or not.

Posted by
16024 posts

The last time we went to Venice, we chose to fly into Zurich so we could ride the Bernina Pass route (not necessarily the so-called Bernina Express). We went from Zurich to Samedan, making sure we used the route via Chur so we would cross the scenic Landwasser Viaduct. The journey was under 4 hours. Spent 2 nights there (so we could do some hiking), then rode the regional train over Bernina Pass to Tirano, changing there to a TreNord train to Varenna on Lake Como. After 2 nights there we continued by train from Varenna to Milano Centrale ( 1 hour) and changed there to a fast Freccia train to Venice. It was a great way to get to Venice ( we prefer to arrive there by train rather than plane; just an idiosyncrasy of mine).

This could work for you in reverse, with one night each in Varenna and Pontresina ( instead of tiny Samedan).

I have never been a fan of Lugano as a stop in Switzerland. To me, it feels like Italy with Swiss prices. So I’d rather be in Italy!

Posted by
4613 posts

I agree with Lola. Lugano just felt like a city on the lake with expensive shops. Reversing her route would be a great option.
Safe travels!

Posted by
2 posts

Awesome, thank you all! We'd really like to see Lucerne still so I think instead of staying in Lugano we'll stop at Como and take a ferry to Bellagio for the afternoon/evening. That way we can still get back to Lugano to do the Gotthard Express the next morning and end in Lucerne. Let me know if that sounds like a bad idea or if there's anything we should be aware of!! Thanks again!

Posted by
16024 posts

Or stay in the little village of Gandria, right on the lake about 10 minutes outside of Lugano itself. Specifically at this little hotel:

https://www.elvezialago.ch/

Friends of mine loved it here. was afraid they had closed for good due to the pandemic, but it appears they re-opened in May.