scenic train trip from Rome over the alps

great suggestions! Bernina and Glacier both sound lovely. If we have less time, could it be done with a one night stopover, second night in/near Zurich to rest before 23 hour plane flight home?

The Bernina Express route would work. From Rome, head to Milan and on to Varenna for your first night. Next day, continue on the train to Tirano and pick up the train into Switzerland there. Spend the next night at Pontresina or nearby. From there you can easily get to Zurich. You could also go from Rome to Milan and straight north to Brig. Spend the night there or in a nearby mountain village. Then take the Glacier Express route to Chur for your second night, and travel to Zurich on day 3. This route has you spending more time on trains in alpine scenery.

Yes, you could do it with one night on the way, and the second night in Luzern, which is a charming small city on a lake, just over an hour from the Zürich airport by train. I think the Bernina route route be too long for this option, but here is how I would go on the Glacier Express route: Fast ES train from Rome to Milan, 2 hours 50 minutes. In Milan, take the IC train to Brig. This goes through the Simplon tunnel so not " over" the Alps, but you will get scenery before and after the tunnel. At Brig, hop on the regionalmtrain on the Glacier Express route and ride just 10 minutes to Betten. Ride the cable car from there up 4000 feet to Bettmeralo, a pretty little carfree village with great views over the Alps and west to the Matterhorn ( a distant view). Milan to Bettmeralpmis 2.5 hours. The next day, ride the cable car down and continue east on the GE route to Andermatt, 2 hours. Change there for the train to Luzern, another 2 hours. You should arrive in time to have most of the afternoon and evening to relax. Caution: Luzern hotels are expensive, but a high standard.

This is my suggestion with one stopover 1) Day one: go from Rome to Tirano via Milano (don't bother with Varenna). Enjoy a nice dinner and a stroll in Tirano. 2) Day two: take a train from Tirano to Sankt-Moritz (Bernina Express), than take another train from Sankt-Moritz to Andermatt (Glacier Express, could be on the regular train instead of the named train - route is the same), spend a bit of time in the village, than head to Zürich Airport, booking yourself a room close to the airport. I think this is yields a much more dramatic and exotic scenario than the option of going via the Simplon Tunnel and spending time in Luzern.

thank you for these options -- all sound wonderful, hard to choose!

Andermatt is a beautiful small city in which to stay. On the Glacier Express, you come down from the Overlap Pass to a beautiful valley with Andermatt at the east end. By train from there, it's 2hrs 25min to the Zurich Flughafen (airport). As mentioned above, you don't have to ride the Glacier Express for the run from St. Moritz to Andermatt. One reason as there are only 1-2 GE runs during the day. Right now, there is one. Other Regional trains make the same run on the same tracks. And, there are several more Regional trains runs than the 1-2 GE runs. However, you will most likely change trains at Disentis with the Reginal trains and if should proceed further than Andermatt, you will change trains there as well. It's only the GE train that goes all of the way without a train change.

I agree with Andre L. that the Bernina Express route is more scenic than the Simplon route. However, the route he suggests has you spending nine hours on the train on the day before your long flight home. Also, the "most scenic" stretch of the Glacier Express is Brig to Disentis ( or the reverse) and he has you doing only a small part of that ( although it is the best part, Disentis to Andermatt). I tried to suggest a balance between best scenery and less time on the train. The overnight at Bettmeralp would more than make up for any deficiencies in the Simplon route, especially if you get there in time to walk around and ride a lift upmto see the Aletschgletscher. This beats any scenery you can see from the train. Check out photos at Www.bettmeralp.ch And BTW, did you say when this trip will take place? That makes a difference for the recommendations.

All comments are so helpful and informed. The dates would be May 6,7, and 8, which I see is still the winter season in terms of train schedules.

Hearing that the train from Andrematt to Zurich goes right into the airport and is 2 and 1/2 hours (and looking at the timetable, runs often) makes an overnight stay in Andrematt with trip to Zurich in the am, sound much better than staying overnight near the Zurich airport. And it shortens the previous day's travel time. I'm excited! thanks to you seasoned travelers! Open to further advice of course. Like decent, reasonable cost places to stay in Tirano, Andrematt, etc.

Just to clarify- the train from Andermatt to the Zürich airport will have a minimum of two changes, at Göschenen and the main Zürich station. But you can pretty well rely on the scheduled 2.5 hours. We have reached the airport from as far away as Zermatt with no problems. As long as you do mot have a morning flight out, there is no need to stay in Zürich or at an airport hotel.

Hi. Looks like we have less time than expected for this train trip, and the long flight home leaves Zurich at 1 pm, so since we're first time in Switzerland, we're more comfortable being close to airport on day of departure. So now thinking of something like this: May 6 through 8, 2012 by train: Rome (via Milano) to Tirano in morning; arrive Tirano for late aft stroll, dinner, overnight stay (May 6) Tirano to Pontresina (or St Moritz?) via Berina Express: Morning train Lunch/Walk around Pontresina or St Moritz for a few hours Train to Zurich via Chur (afternoon-early eve) Stay in Zurich hotel close to airport (May 7)
May 8: 1 pm flight home to Hawaii (23 hours) Sound do-able, enjoyable? alternate suggestions? Is Pontresina a good town to spend a few hours in? Leads on (moderately priced) places to stay in Tirano? Zurich? Is it necessary, recommended to make reservations on any/all of these trains in advance?

Its only a short(ish) journey from Luzern to Zurich airport by easy train. That's where I would stay, rather than at the airport.