Train travel from Zurich to N. Italy via the alps

Francesca, how much time do you have for this journey? The most convenient routes to Florence from Zurich go to Milan and from there to Florence. You do not go through Austria. The fastest train route from Zurich to Milan has a change in Bern and goes through two looong tunnels under the Alps, so you don't see much of them. The direct Zurich to Milan train, via Gotthard Pass, takes 15 minutes longer and goes through a few shorter tunnels and is quite scenic. We have been this way a couple of times and enjoy the trip. Once you get to Milan,the onward journey to Florence takes 1 hr. 45 minutes, so overall travel time is under 7 hrs., including the wait/ change time at Milan. You can but deeply discounted tickets from Zurich to Milanon SBB.ch about 60-90 days in advance. If you stretch the trip over two days, you could take the most scenic route of all, the Bernina Pass route. This starts at Chur and you can either take it as far as Tirano and change there for a train to Milan, or stayon the Bernina Express bus portion to Lugano and head to Milan from there. Either way you would want to spend the night somewhere on the way to break up the long journey. Mthere are several good options for that.

What do you think of this itinerary?
http://www.railbookers.com/blog/2011/06/zurich-to-verona-via-the-arlberg-and-brenner-passes/

To those who have been so kind to respond... My husband and I are mostly looking for a beautiful journey through the Alps to get us from one place to another, perhaps spending the night somewhere between Zurich and Florence. Actually, the details are these: because our daughter lives in London, we were planning on flying from DC to London so that we could spend a few nights with her. We were going to train from London to Florence, but decided we didn't want to take the time to do that. Also, since my husband has never seen the Alps, and loves taking scenic train rides, we thought we'd fly from London to someplace and take a train from there to Northern Italy. As we are just beginning to plan, we have a bit of flexibility as to where we fly into and where we end up. Of course, we want to train during the daylight hours, and would be happy to break up the journey, spending a night somewhere along the way. We plan to begin the journey in early September. Thanks again for your thoughtful suggestions. Francesca

no reason to go via Austria. It is a straight, scenic, easy journey straight south. I haven't looked at your attachment but there is a simple easy train south.

Francesca, to echo Lola, how long will this train trip be? I can do it in a few hours but the link you provided is a loooong one. Is the ride for scenery or to get you from place to place?

Hi Francesca-I looked at that blog you mentioned, describing the route through Austria. It seems the author was taken with the experience of traveling first-class on the train from zurich to Innsbruck, and the novelty of heading into Italy in a place where they still spoke German (the Sud-tirol region). The author did not really say all that much about the scenery. I have been that route twice, heading form Zurich to the dolomites, and I don't recall spectacular peaks and glaciers that you would see on the other (shorter) routes I mentioned. From zurich heading east you go through rolling hills, and then enter a tunnel, popping out at St. Anton. At Innsbruck you change to a southbound train that follows the Brenner Pass route, mostly in a valley with green mountains, not icy peaks, on both sides. At least that is how I remember it. More recently we have traveled the Gotthard Pass route I mentioned above, which is the shortest and quickest way to Milan. It was nice and there were glimpses of peak, hanging glaciers and waterfalls here and there, as well as a stretch along the lake. You could make a nic little mountain adventure of this route by going from Zurich to Luzern, boat ride to Weggis, cablecar to rigi kaltbad or rigi Kulm to spend the night. Next day, continue down th eother side of Rigi by cogwheel train and meet the main zurich-Milan train at Arth-Goldau. You'll traverse the pass on this day before you get to Bellinzona and drop down into Italy. tbc. . .

But my top recommendation for scenery would be the Bernina Pass route. I have always wanted to do this but just haven't made tiem for it in our trips. From Zurich airpport, head to St. Moritz or Pontresina, between 3 -4 hours by train. Spend the night there and the next day travel over the Bernina Pass and down via a steep grade with no tunnels. At Tirano you can either head straight to Milan via Varenna on Lake Comoo, or complete the Bernina Express trip by taking the bus to Lugano. This would take extra time and personally I would go via Varenna, expecially if you are continuing on to florence that same day. Tirano to Milan is 2.5 hours by regional train; Milan to florence is 1.75 hours by fast Frecciarossa train. If you have a second night to spend on the way, Varenna is beautiful.

Having ridden the Bernina Express in April this year, this would be the way to go. Amazing scenery. We took the Bernina Express bus to Lugano from Tirano. If you can spare a day or two in beautiful Lugano before heading on to Milan this would be the ideal solution for you.

Absolutely I echo the recommendations for the Bernina Express from Chur to Locarno, Lugano, Tirano, etc., in northern Italy! And despite the name, it's not, as far as i recall, a "special" once a day train. I based in Chur for several days on a solo trip to view the Swiss Alps and day hike, and I took the regular hourly train south from Chur several times. I think one departure each day is called the Bernina Express, but I took the same train on the same route at multiple departure times on multiple days with the same stops both directions with nothing but my Swiss Pass! Not even a seat reservation, and it was summertime! On any of the trains, you can hop on and hop off, provided you have the right tickets or passes. And there are easily walkable footpaths between several pairs of stops, so you can take the train from Chur to point A; get off; walk to point B; get on the next one; and continue to your destination. You could get off one place, stroll through the forests, along the streams, and even sit on benches beside the tracks and watch as the next red-engined train passes into and then out of one of the famous corkscrew tunnels where it makes a 360 degree curve INSIDE the mountain! I have pictures to prove it! Do it!

Tom is correct. There are numerous regional trains on the route between Pontresina and Tirano. The one designated "Bernina Express" connects with a special bus that transports passengers from Tirano to Lugano in Switzerland, all on one ticket (but separate reservations are required for the train and bus portions). The other regional trains do not have reservations and one can indeed hop off somplace interesting, such as alp Grum or th etop of the pass, and then board a later train (but this might be a pain with luggage).

Thanks again for your helpful suggestions. As I own a Bernina sewing machine, it seems that I should look into the Bernina train!

Look under "Switzerland" in the "plan your Trip" section of this website, and you will find an article called "Switzerland's Sceniec Rail Jounreys." there is a description of the Berninia Express route (going the other direction) that may whet your appetite. Just remember you do not have to take the officially designated Bernina Express train; the other trains use the same tracks! (And may suit your schedule better).

Two years ago my husband and I stayed in Lucerne. We then took the William Tel boat/train trip to Lugano. We stayed in Lugano for five nights. We took day trips to Milan, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. Then we boarded a bus and train and did the Bernina Express through the Alps. We finished in Zurich. Both train trips were so beautiful. We stayed in alovely hotel in Lugano. When we departed our trian, we took a very short funicular ride. When we got off the funicular, we were at our hotel. It was the Hotel Dante Center. It was a lovely hotel. We were served a delicious breakfast everyday, in the lovely dining room. The picturesque lobby looked out onto the cobble-stoned street. The Alps are beautiful.

If your goal is to see some rail scenery, then travel on the Chur-St. Moritz-Tirano (Italy) line.

Yes. That is the one we are referring to as the Bernina Express route.