What's the best and most efficient route to go to Rome via Lake Como? Should we take the train from Lugano OR Zermatt? We plan to take a night train.
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Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
It depends on which part of Switzerland you begin this journey. The Swiss have very fast "tilting" trains (they lean into the turn) that run from Zurich HB (main station) to Milan and Florence. The CIS 13 departs Zurich at 7:01am and the CIS 15 departs at 9:01am. These runs have very few stops along the way (8 for the CIS 13 and 6 for the CIS 15 but two of them are Lugano and Como S. Giovanni. You will change trains in Milan or Florence for the remaining trip to Rome.
Question: Are you intending to take a day train to Rome, get off at Lake Como for awhile and then get back on a later train? If yes, plan your tickets carefully as your ticket from Zurich to Rome doesn't permit getting off anywhere during the run. You would need to purchase tickets from Zurich/Lugano or Zurich/Como S. Giovanni and then purchase a second set from that location to Rome. Be cautious.
Finally, there is a great night train that runs from Zurich HB to Rome. It's the 313 Luna. This train run goes nowhere near Lake Como. In fact, it only stops in Bologna and Florence-Campo di Marte in Italy on the way to Rome. The run takes 12.0hrs.