The Bernia Express

It's a 1.1hr train ride on the EuroCity (EC) fast train from Milan to Lugano. Very easy. It's also easy to take the train from the Malpensa airport to the Milan Centrale train station where you would change to the fast train. As a side note, the Bernina Express actually originates in Tirano, Italy which is on the border with Switzerland. From Lugano, you will be taking a combination of trains and buses to get there. It's a 3.0hr. journey from Lugano just to get to the origination point for the Bernina Express in Tirano.

thanks. I also read about taking the train to Varenna and then catching a ferry to Bellagio- would that be an option?

Yes, You can take the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna, walk or taxi down to the ferry dock, and head to then you would return by ferry to Varenna to pick up the train to Tirano to catch the Bernina Express.

sandra, I travelled that route last year, and it's very easy. I'm assuming you're planning to spend a night or two in Lugano prior to taking the Bernina Express? It's a beautiful city! While it's possible to travel by train from Milan / MXP to Lugano, I often find that it's just as easy to take the Malpensa Shuttle (Bus) from the airport to Milano Centrale. The trip is about an hour or so (depending on traffic). Current fare is €7.50 PP. From Milano Centrale to Lugano, the trip is about one hour, and the current second class fare is €21.20. There are regular departures, so you shouldn't have any trouble connecting with a train. The trip from Lugano to Tirano is also very easy, via the Bernina Express Bus (it's bright yellow with "Bernina Express" written on the front, so you can't miss it). As I recall, there's a short walk from the Bus depot in Tirano to the rail station, but not difficult. The trip on the Bernina Express is incredible, so I'm sure you'll enjoy it. The only slight "issue" that I had is that it's difficult to get good photos through the windows (even if they are a large panoramic style), due to the glare on the glass. When you arrive in Chur, are you planning to stay a night, or continue on? Happy travels!

thanks. we would stay in Lugano for the night and then get the bus to connect to the Berninia Express. Since I tend to loose cameras or have them stolen- I am not so worried about the pictures. We would stay in Chur one night and then go on to Zurich. We plan to catch the Glacier Express to Zermatt and then end up in Geneva.
From there we will make our way to Paris. I know this is pretty ambitious. I've read so much about those two train trips that I really want to experience them.

sandra, As the Bernina Express doesn't arrive in Chur until early evening, I found that staying at least one night there is necessary. I decided to stay two nights so that I could explore a bit.

If I were to make any suggestions about the Bernina Express route - I tend to use the normal local trains rather than the touristy ones. That's so that the windows open and I miss the glare (until the carriages are replaced), and I can get to the window in the doors, too. I would go north (Chur) to south (Tirano). I would sit on the right hand side. Why? The Landwasser Viaduct, what you will have seen in photos, is where the track goes sharply right and then plunges straight into the middle of a cliff. Also, I think going north to south down to the loop and then looking up is really cool. All bits of that route in both directions are really good, just those two bits I believe are best.

Ken, I see no reason for people take a shuttle bus to Milano Centrale for MXP now that direct trains run from Malpensa Airport to Milano Centrale as well. I keep seeing this recommendation for the shuttle bus here, and don't understand why. It made sense when there were no trains MXP - Milano Centrale that didn't involve a transfer to subway, but now there are direct (no transfer) trains and the shuttle bus doesn't justify itself, IMVHO.

Sandra, if you want to take the Glacier Express you can do that from Chur. Zurich would be a detour. That is fine if your goal is to spend time in Zurich, but not if you just want to catch the Glacier Express.

Nigel, windows that open are so 1950. I'm glad the Swiss are changing their train carriages to highly efficient insulated ones. They also greatly reduces noise.

Andre L., I'm aware there are trains from MXP to Milano Centrale, and I did mention that in my reply. I felt it would be prudent to provide information on two of the three main methods of transport from the airport. To reiterate my statement, " I often find that it's just as easy to take the Malpensa Shuttle (Bus) from the airport to Milano Centrale". I don't mind the Bus ride and it's usually an easy and fairly quick trip to Milano Centrale. I used the Shuttle again this year, as my flight arrived at MXP T2, and I saw no reason to travel to T1 simply to take the train. I would likely use this same method from T1, as I have in the past. As the OP is going directly from MXP to Lugano, I wanted to at least mention the Malpensa Shuttle option, as that involves only a short Bus ride and then a direct one-hour train ride to Lugano. OTOH, the rail method from MXP for that same trip is a bit more complicated and lengthy, usually involving two changes at Milano Nord Cadorna and then Milano Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi and then Chiasso (for example). Of the two methods on that particular route, I would probably still use the Malpensa Shuttle, so I stand by my comments. Cheers!

Nigel is spot on about the views of the Landwasser viaduct and the loop. When I took the Bernina, I got off three times to take short, easy walks to spectacular views of both spots. Once I got to a view of the viaduct at about track level from a hill just far enough away for a photo of the entire viaduct with an entire train on it just entering the tunnel. On another hike, I got down to the streambed for a photo of the entire viaduct, looking UP. Again, I waited till I got a train in the pic too. The third time I got off just up a ways from the loop and walked down to it and waited again for the next train an hour later, to take several pics from inside the loop. On a fourth stop, I hiked along the route from one town to the next, on easy, official Swiss hiking trails, well marked the whole way. I even found a bench to rest on whileyou guessed itI waited for the next train to chug by, into and then out of one of the two corkscrew tunnels enroute. You gotta be a rail freak like I am to care about this, but if you are, it's a neat trip!

Andre L says ... windows that open are so 1950. I'm glad the Swiss are changing their train carriages to highly efficient insulated ones. They also greatly reduces noise. The noise gives character. So does the wind in the hair. People (mostly) wouldn't ride those routes if they were not there for the scenery. As mentioned above, glass reflects. Open windows and open door windows don't. As far as insulated, I've never needed air conditioning on a Swiss narrow gauge (mountain) train, and when the weather is cold I've never been cold in the train. Keep them the way they are, I say!!

Ken, just a bit of infromation to clarify the Malpensa - Lugano trip. Trains from Malpensa to Milano Centrale: 32 daily Malpensa-Milano regional trains (no transfer required in Milano Cardorna or else), fare: € 11. Trains from Milano Centrale to Lugano: 9 direct daily EC trains (no transfer required), fare: € 21,20. For some reason (glitch), if you search tickets Malpensa Aeroporto - Lugano, it will not give you the connection at Milano Centrale, but it doesn't matter because seats on the train from airport to Milano Centrale or Cadorna are not subject to reservation or possible to reserve.

@Andre L., I searched the rail connections using the Trenitalia website, and that indicated two changes for a direct trip from MXP to Lugano. Which options are available will depend to some extent on what time-of-day the traveller arrives at MXP. I suppose this comes down to a matter of "personal preference". Since I don't mind taking the Malpensa Shuttle, that's probably a method I'll continue to use in future. My suggestions in this case were based on the method I would use if travelling that particular route. Cheers!

You can take the train from Milan to Lugano. We were there two years ago. Lugano is a great spot to stay. We stayed at the River Palace Hotel, which was great and convenient. It is right at the bottm of the hill where the train arrives in Lugano. You get off the train, get on a cable car, go down the short hill and end up right in front of the hotel. We then did day trips into Milan, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. At the end we took the Bernina Express from Lugano (bus around Lake Maggiorre) and train over to Zurich. It was breathtaking.

Thank you all for the valuable information. We are flying to Zurich and will take the train down to Lugarno and from there get the Berninia Express. We are also going to go on the Glacier Express. I guess we will be on lots of trains- will get a Swiss pass- although we will leave Switzerland to go to Paris, so I'm wondering if another train pass might be better?

No, buy a train ticket for Paris as a stand-alone only. I'm not sure, but the Lugano-Tirano sector is not covered by a Rail Pass as it involves travelling almost all the way throught Italy.

I incorrectly stated that we stayed at the River Palace Hotel in Lugano. It was actually the Hotel Dante Center. I'm sorry. Elaine