I've just signed up for Best of Switzerland in Sept 2023 after having to cancel out for 2022! This will be my first Rick Steves tour although I have traveled independently to Switzerland and Italy before. I am considering flying to Venice first for a few days and then training my way to Luzern where the tour begins. Any route suggestions? I was hoping to try the Bernina Express.
Posted by
Green Bay
20146 posts
If you want to go via the Bernina Pass, break it up into 2 days.
Day 1 Venice to Varenna on Lake Como.
Day 2 Varenna to Luzern vis Tirano and Chur. IUf you want to take the actual Bernina Express train, you leave Varenna at 11:25 to Tirano, then 1 1/2 hour break for lunch, then Bernina Express leaves at 14:24 to Chur, then train to Zurich, then train to Luzern, getting there at 20:51. That is a 9 1/2 hour day on trains. You might want to break that up as well.
Note that if you are traveling to Tirano before September 10, there is a replacement bus from Colico to Tirano while the rail line is undergoing repairs.
Posted by
OP
Michigan
75 posts
Thanks for your reply. I'll get my map out and check that route. I have planned to arrive in Luzern at least a day before the tour starts so a long day before on a train would be ok.
Another possibility is we drop Venice altogether (I've been there but my husband has not) and fly to Florence and spend a few days in Tuscany but then I'd have to rent a car to visit the hill towns.