Zurich

Consider taking your return flight home from Milan instead of backtracking to Zurich. Naturally it depends on the cost of the multi city arline ticket versus a round trip ticket. Visited Tirano last month. From there I traveled a small segment of the Bernini route. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

I’d rethink your plan to just stay in Zurich. Yes, you can do a lot of day trips but it’s an international banking city, it’s not the most charming part of Switzerland by any stretch. How much time do you have and what do you want to see and do? There may be better options than Zurich.

Switzerland is not about the cities. Unlike some other countries the main large city is not the prime tourist destination. Basing yourself in Zurich means that you will spend more money on accommodation and transport, and less time enjoying the things Switzerland is known for.

Switzerland has a nationwide mass transit network, so you do not need to stay in Zurich. What are your interests? What do you want to see?

Stay in Lucerne instead of Zurich. It is small, more charming and closer to the mountains.

If you cannot change your return flight to Milan and must come back to Zurich, consider this:

Take the Gotthard Panorama Experience by boat and train from Lucerne to Lugano. You can meet the BerninA Express bus there and ride it to Tirana for the Bernina train ride. Spend the nights in Lugano and Pontresina.

Or, from Lugano, take a local train the short distance to Milan and overnight there if you prefer. Then take the direct train to Tirano from Milano Centrale to meet the Bernina Express train going north.