Lauterbrunnen to Varenna?

This is a very common question. Seems like people are always planning Lauterbrunnen (or Muerren or Wengen) to Varenna. It would be much easier to pick an intermediate stop along the way.

Simplest and quickest would be train to Interlaken, then train to Spiez, then train to Milan (there are a few direct) then train to Varenna. That way has 2 "base" tunnels under the Alps along the way, going under all the scenery. There are other, longer ways, more scenic, but more train changes taking a lot longer and costing more money. The way above takes 5 hours and 21 minutes, departing Lauterbrunnen at 1:02 pm and getting to Varenna at 6:23 pm.

Thank you! Our accommodations are already booked so an intermediary stop is not possible.
Where did you find that timetable? We are also interested in the scenic opportunity?
Thank you!

regarding your last question, just above, the last answer to your similar question in December https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/help-with-itinerary-between-zurich-and-florence-in-july gives the answers, or at least some of them.

Can we take a train to Chiasso and then a ferry to Varenna?

www.sbb.ch/en

Use Varenna-Esino as the final destination.

If you want to look at the long scenic way over the Bernina Express, but in via Chur and via Tirano with the advanced search options. Takes 10 to 11 hours.

Another way is to put in via Kandersteg to go over one of the base tunnels. Uses an older route with the old Loetschberg Tunnel.

Another way is to put in via Luzern and via Goeschenen to use the old Gotthard Tunnel route and change trains in Monza.

To get a price, just specify Milan or Tirano as destination. Milan and Tirano are connected by a (mostly) hourly regional train with Varenna-Esino in between. That is pretty cheap, about 7 EUR from either Milan or Tirano.

PS Chiasso is not on the lake, but Como is. Como S. Giovanni station is on the side of a hill and will require a bus or taxi to get to the lakeside ferry docks.

Can we take a train to Chiasso and then a ferry to Varenna?

not really. It is about 4 km to the lake and you have to cross the border first. That wouldn't be a fun walk.

Much easier if you want to arrive by boat to leave the train at Como S Giovanni which is a much shorter walk to a much busier set of piers.

The most scenic way would be the Bernina Pass route via Pontresina and Tirano. From Lauterbrunnen, you would head to Pontresina, a journey of 5 hours 53 minutes with 5 changes on the way if you depart at 8:02. You get to Pontresina at 13:55 and wait until 15:04 for the train heading South over the Bernina Pass to Tirano. There you change to an Italian train continuing south to Varenna, arriving at 18:36. ( there is a bus option that departs a bit earlier, but you have to change 3 times).

So this journey basically takes 10.5 hours.

Another way would be to head to Luzern from Lauterbrunnen in time to take the Gotthard Panorama Express, a boat + train journey using the old Gotthard Pass route instead of a deep tunnel ( but there is still a tunnel at the top). The boat takes you to Flüelen where you board the special Gotthard Panorama Express train to Lugano. ( Or you could skip the boat ride and take a train to Flüelen in time for the 14:10 train departure). You arrive in Lugano at 16:38 and have a bit of a wait for the next train heading to MIlan,where you change to a train to Varenna-Esino.

The length of this journey depends on you choices, but basically it is 2.5 hours to go from Lauterbrunnen to Luzern and 3 hours from there to Flüelen by boat, or go from Lauterbrunnen to Flüelen all by train in 3 hours 42 minutes.

Then Flüelen to Lugano is 2.5 hours, an hour or so wait time, then 2 to 2.5 hours from Lugano to Varenna. So roughly 10 hours (or more with the boat) for this journey as well.

Here is the information on the Gotthard Panorama Express:

https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/panoramareisen/gotthard-panorama-express/timetable.html

For the Bernina Pass route schedules, use SBB.ch or bahn.de to look up the schedules. Only SBB.ch will give you the fares.

I like Lola's route, but I disagree that it is the most scenic. The most scenic is the Susten Pass, Furka Pass, & Nufenen Pass, Best by car. Might be possible by bus.

I was only addressing train routes.

Thank you, we are only traveling by train.