Train Travel into Italy, Lake Como from Switzerland

This is a very workable journey. It will take about 6.5hrs with 3-4 train changes. There is a train station underneath the Zurich airport main terminal. From there, you change trains at the Zurich main station (Zurich HB) and go to St. Mortiz. You will change trains again along the way (most likely in Chur). At St. Mortiz, make sure you book tickets on the Bernina Express to Tirano. From Tirano, you take the train to Varenna.

If you plan on staying overnight along the way, I would suggest St. Moritz and not Chur. You will have one ticket for each train you are on. I would double check on the Bernina Express ticket. If it hasn't been punched, it may be good the next day. Still, I would double check. Once in Italy, your train ticket from Tirano to Varenna is on a Regionale train and that ticket is good for 60 days as long as you don't validate it. Once validated, it's good for 6 hours.

According to the Swiss rail site, sbb.ch, if you want to take the actual Bernina Express route (rather than a bus connection via Colico), it will take longer than 6 hours. The shortest time seems to be via Samedan and Pontresina, and takes 8 hours with 4 changes. Cost for the trip is 96 CHF.

A faster, more economical, and nearly as scenic an option would be to buy a discounted advance purchase ticket from Zürich to Milan for 30 CHF (on the sbb.ch website) and then purchase a 5 euro ticket to Varenna when you get to Milan. Travel time is a little over 5 hours if you make the right connection. This is the Gotthard route which we did in July and enjoyed very much.

Thanks so much to Larry and Lola, You both gave very helpful information which has helped me get to the next steps of planning. What wonderful kindness you have extend by sharing your expertise. Thanks, Jane

Hi Jane---I hope I didn't sound like I am trying to discourage you from taking the Bernina Express. It is reputed to be the most scenic trip in Switzerland, and you could overnight on the way if you want to spend more time soaking in the mountain scenery of the Swiss alps. If you want to do this, consider Pontresina as well as St. Moritz----it is less glitzy and less expensive. Either St. Morita or Pontresina is a 4-hour (or less) train ride from the Zürich airport.

It's really a matter of balancing your time and money---the Bernina Express route will take more $$$ and time than the Zürich---Milan---Varenna option, but it it well worth it.

I looked into this thoroughly for our trip last June. I decided that for 4 of us, with time in Italy a top priority because we have been to Switzerland several times already, the Bernina route was too expensive and took too long. But I would have loved to go that route, and stay overnight at this little Gasthaus in Val Bever, a request stop on the train route:

http://www.spinasbever.ch/d/index.asp

If you are feeling adventurous and want to experience rural Switzerland instead of a city, you might look into it.

On the other hand, if cost is a major priority, the discounted Zürich to Milan tickets are a real boon. I saved 496 CHF on our family trip by going that route, which made it a little easier to give up my hoped-for night in Val Bever.

Hi, we will in Luzerne for a wedding then taking the train to Venice. Any suggestions on what is the best route? Are hoping for scenery. Will probably want to leave Luzerne on Sunday morning. Also how long should we expect the trip to take?

Jeanette----it might be best to start you rown thread if you want a lot of suggestions. The quick answer is the fastest (but still scenic ) route goes Luzern to Arth-Goldau to Milan to Venice, and takes about 6.5 hours. This will go through the alps via the Gotthard route, which goes along the lakes and then up into the mountains, with a few tunnels on the way. The down the other side through Lugano and on into Italy.

You can see the schedules and book the entire journey on the Swiss rail stie, www.rail.ch (for English). For mid-September, you may be able to get a discounted "special offer" ticket for 104 CHF per person, instead of the normal 139 CHF. that includes mandatory seat reservations. You can print out the confirmation at home and use that to pick up your tickets in Switzerland.

Hi Lola,
I took a look at the Gasthaus in Val Bever. It looks like it would be lots of fun to poke around the area, but I am afraid we will have limited time.

I do have a question about how to go about getting a discounted special offer for train travel, like you mentioned to Janette's post. Any insight with this would be appreciated.
Jane

Jane---the discounted "special offer" tickets are available (in limited quantities) for certain runs---mainly the Zürich to Milan InterCity train. You buy them on the SBB website. Put in your itinerary for your actual day of travel, and if the tickets are still avaliable they will show up when you go to "Fare/Buy". I picked a random date in mid-September and they were still avilable, for 30 CHF. You will have to register on th ewebsite to actually complete the purchase, but it is easy.

In your case this will only work if you go via the Gotthard route (Zürich to Milan direct train, via Lugano). They aren't available for the Bernina Pass route (via Chur, St. Moritz/Pontresina, and Tirano).

Also, for some reason if you include Varenna in your itinerary, it costs more for the special offer ticket (45 CHF instead of 30 CHF, when I tried it). So I would suggest you just purchase as far as Milan, and then buy your 6 euro ticket from there to Varenna from the machines at the Milano Centrale station. But be warned, this can take longer than you expect, and it may mean you miss the next departing train for Varenna, and have to hang around the station waiting for another. So it's your call whether it is worth the extra 15 CHF (per person) to skip the stress of ticket-buying at the Milano Centrale station.