Lake Como to Interlaken - is it possible?

Yes it is possible, but how much time do you want to spend on this trip? The basic journey, going Varenna to Milan to Brig to Interlaken takes a bit over 5 hours. You could vary that to include part of the GE but it will add considerable time. The best alternate journey I can imagine would include part of the Bernina Express as well but would take 2days.

Kris, Interlaken and the GE tracks are really on the opposite sides of a mountain range. No real direct path. But, there is a way to see some of the GE run (not the highest or best) if you have the time and you don't mind the many transporation changes. From Varenna, either take the ferry across the lake to Menaggio or down the lake to Como-San Giovanni. Next, if you chose Menaggio, take the short bus ride (11 twisty miles) to Lugano. If you chose Como, take the train to Andermatt. The same train stops at Lugano 36 minutes later. The train will take you to Goschenen where you transfer to a train to Andermatt. About 2hrs for the train part to Andermatt. With either the ferry/bus or just the ferry, you will probably be approaching 4 hrs when you reach Andermatt. Now, you have two choices. First, head west to Brig from Andermatt. This is a 2hr train ride. Second, if you want to see a better part of the GE run, take a 2.5hr roundtrip from Andermatt to Disentis. This will take you to one of the highest points (Overlap Pass). From Brig, you will take the train to Spiez and from Spiez you will take the train to Interlaken. On balance, from Varena to Interlaken via the best route, and without the GE, it will take you almost 5hrs. You can now decide if you want to include the run up to Andermatt. BTW, the view on the train ride out of Andermatt up to the Overlap pass is just spectacular.

This is what I was looking for - thank you! One more question: We knew this would be a long day of travel and had thought we would stay in Interlaken before heading up to Murren for a couple of days. If we decide to do the run to Disentis, can we do all this in one day and would we be smarter to stay in Brig instead of trying to go on to Interlaken? We could then go to Murren the next day. Thanks in advance!

Larry's suggestion is another good 2-day option. And yes, I would suggest staying in or near Brig (rather than Interlaken) to make your day more pleasant, instead of going all the way to Mueren that day. Instead of Brig, you might consider the short backtrack to Betten (10 minutes) and then take a cablecar up to Bettmeralp. This is another car=free village, similar to Muerren, but wit views across the Rhone Valley into Italy, and west to the Matterhorn. It is little-known topeople on this board, but it is one of our favorite places in Switzerland. www.bettmeralp.ch Check out the photos. You can see the mighty Aletschgletscher by either riding a cable car up the Bettmerhorn, or hiking the short distance to the top of the ridge behind the town. A perfect thing to do after a long train ride.