The journey is the adventure
Five days. Two countries. One extraordinary railway.
Fly into Zurich, sleep in Switzerland’s oldest city, cross the Alps on the Bernina Express, wake beside Lake Como and finish under the lights of Milan. This is a short European break that feels anything but small.
Cross the Swiss Alps on the Bernina Express, sleep beside Lake Como and finish in Milan with this practical five-day rail itinerary from Zurich to Italy.
Photo: Accrochoc. Bernina express Viaduc de Brusio.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0.
Check these three bookings before choosing your flights
- Check your exact Bernina Express train. Rhaetian Railway says trains 951 and 952 divert via the Vereina route from 29 October to 13 November 2026. On those dates, do not book expecting the normal Albula section or Landwasser Viaduct.
- Allow for both ticket and reservation. A seat reservation on the panoramic Bernina Express is separate from the travel ticket. Confirm both for every traveller.
- Choose your Lake Como base around the connections. Check the dated rail and boat timetables before booking a hotel. The summer ferry timetable ended on 4 October; an old screenshot is not a reliable October connection.
Keep the day after your Alpine crossing flexible. One unhurried lake outing is more enjoyable than a sequence of connections with no room for lunch or a delayed boat.
Planning update: 5 October 2026. Official information: · .
This is not simply a famous train ride. It is a beautifully connected journey from Alpine peaks to Italian lakes and one of Europe’s most exciting cities.
The clever bit is the direction. You begin in Zurich, move straight into the Swiss Alps and let the scenery build through Chur, the Landwasser Viaduct and the Bernina Pass. Then, just as the snow and glaciers have done their best, the railway drops you into Italy.
Instead of turning around and repeating the same journey, you carry on to Lake Como for two slower nights before finishing in Milan. Every day feels different, there is almost no backtracking and the trip works without hiring a car.
It is ideal for couples, friends, older children and anyone who wants a proper European adventure without taking two weeks off work.
One route. Five completely different days.
Travel from Zurich through Chur and the Bernina Pass to Tirano, slow down beside Lake Como, then finish with a final night in Milan.
Why this route works
A big adventure without the usual faff.
The route uses natural rail connections, keeps the hotel changes sensible and puts the main event near the beginning, when the excitement is highest.
Open-jaw flights save time
Fly into Zurich and home from Milan instead of wasting a day travelling back to your starting point.
The scenery keeps changing
Historic Swiss streets, high mountain railways, an Italian lake and Milan all land in the same short break.
Lake Como softens the pace
Two nights beside the lake give you a proper pause after the longest and most spectacular travel day.
It works by public transport
Stations sit close to the useful centres, so there is no car hire, mountain driving or awkward parking to organise.
The full itinerary
Five days from Zurich to Milan.
Use this as the core plan, then add an extra night in Chur, Lake Como or Milan if you want a gentler version.
01 Zurich Airport to Chur
Land in Switzerland. Be in the mountains by teatime.
Zurich Airport has its own railway station beneath the terminal, so there is no need to lose the first day navigating into the city centre. Choose the most useful onward connection to Chur for your arrival time.
Allow roughly an hour and three quarters for the journey, although the exact train and duration depend on your arrival time. Chur station is an easy walk from the compact Old Town.
Chur is often treated as somewhere to sleep before the Bernina Express. That undersells it. It is Switzerland’s oldest city, with an almost traffic-free historic centre, old squares, painted buildings and enough cafes and restaurants for a relaxed first evening.
- Stay within walking distance of Chur station.
- Explore the Old Town and Arcas square.
- Buy breakfast supplies if your train leaves early.
- Keep this first evening easy; tomorrow is the main event.
02 Chur to Tirano and Lake Como
Cross the Alps on one of the world’s great railways.
This is the day the whole trip is built around. The Bernina Express leaves Chur and travels south across the UNESCO-listed Albula and Bernina lines, using 196 bridges and 55 tunnels on its way towards Italy.
The route crosses the Landwasser Viaduct, threads through deep valleys, climbs towards the Bernina Pass and passes high lakes and glaciers before descending to Tirano. The morning Chur service takes around four and a half hours according to the date and timetable.
The panoramic Bernina Express requires both a valid travel ticket and a separate seat reservation. Book the exact departure and direction you need; a reservation alone is not a train ticket.
At Tirano, continue towards Lake Como. Bellano makes a practical two-night base, while Varenna gives you the famous postcard setting. Always confirm the complete connection for your chosen travel date because engineering work can affect the Italian section.
03 Bellano, Varenna and Lake Como
Slow everything down beside the lake.
After the high Alps and a full day on the move, Lake Como changes the rhythm completely. Start locally, wander the lakeside and then use the train or seasonal ferry to explore another town.
Bellano is a sensible base if you value quieter evenings, useful rail connections and a wider choice of accommodation. Varenna is the obvious first trip: colourful lanes, waterfront views and ferry links towards Bellagio and Menaggio when services are running.
Do not try to collect every famous village in one day. Choose two places, leave time for lunch and enjoy being beside the lake. The public boat timetable changes by season and sailings can be affected by weather, so check the official timetable rather than relying on an old screenshot.
- Walk Varenna’s waterfront and old lanes.
- Take a lake cruise or ferry if the timetable works.
- Keep one unplanned hour for a long lunch or sunset drink.
- Return to the same accommodation for a second night.
04 Lake Como to Milan
Trade the lake for one final Italian night.
Take a morning or lunchtime train south to Milan. Staying for one night gives the trip a strong finish and puts you closer to the airport without turning the final day into a race.
With limited time, build the afternoon around the Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the streets immediately around the historic centre. Book any rooftop, museum or guided-tour tickets in advance if they matter to you; otherwise, leave space to simply walk, eat and enjoy the city.
Choose your hotel according to the next morning. Milan Centrale is practical for trains and airport links. The Duomo area is better if atmosphere matters more than the earliest possible escape.
- Arrive early enough to enjoy the city rather than merely sleep there.
- Keep the sightseeing list short and realistic.
- Check which Milan airport your flight uses before choosing a hotel.
- Finish with one proper Italian meal.
05 Milan and fly home
Head home – or admit five days was never going to be enough.
Travel to the correct airport with plenty of time. Milan has several airports, and the journey can be very different depending on whether you are flying from Malpensa, Linate or Bergamo.
If your flight is later, keep breakfast relaxed and use your final hours for a last walk rather than squeezing in another major attraction with luggage in tow.
Want to extend the trip? Add another night in Milan, continue to Verona or Venice, or give Lake Como a third night. The five-day route works, but a sixth day removes almost all time pressure.
Make the Alpine crossing happen
Check the Bernina experience before you book around it.
Use the confirmed GetYourGuide experience to check live availability, inclusions and the date that works for your plans.
Bernina Express experience
Check the live tour page carefully so you understand the meeting point, direction, transport and everything included before paying.
- Separate seat reservation is required.
- You also need the correct travel ticket.
- Panoramic windows and an event-like atmosphere.
- Less flexibility if your flight or plans change.
- Limited luggage space, so travel light.
Regional trains
A flexible alternative using the same mountain lines. You may need to change trains, but ordinary windows can be better for photographs and you can build stops into the day.
- The same core UNESCO-listed railway scenery.
- More departures and greater flexibility.
- Possible changes depending on the chosen service.
- Optional reservations are available on some Bernina Line regional services.
- Check the complete connection in the live journey planner.
No untracked booking link: use this comparison only to decide which style of journey suits you, then return to the commissionable booking options in this guide.
Book it in this order
Turn the idea into a real trip.
Book the trip in this order so the flights, Alpine experience, overnight stops and final Milan stay work together.
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Three bases, four nights
Where to stay without making life difficult.
Location matters more than luxury on the two single-night stops. Lake Como is where an apartment, balcony or extra space can really add to the trip.
Chur
Stay close to the station or in the edge of the Old Town. You want an enjoyable evening and an easy start, not a taxi puzzle before breakfast.
Lake Como
Bellano is quieter and practical. Varenna is prettier and busier. Whichever you choose, keep the station and luggage journey in mind.
Milan
Milan Centrale is practical; the historic centre is more atmospheric. Check the airport journey before deciding which convenience matters most.
When should you go?
Four seasons. Four different trips.
The railway is dramatic throughout the year, but Lake Como opening patterns, ferry frequency, daylight and crowds change the feel of the itinerary.
Winter
The strongest chance of snow and quiet Italian towns, but fewer lake services and shorter daylight. Check every connection carefully.
Spring
A brilliant contrast between lingering Alpine snow and a waking Lake Como. Conditions can change quickly at altitude.
Summer
Long days and the fullest lake timetable, balanced by higher accommodation prices, busy trains and crowded famous villages.
Autumn
Rich colour and a calmer feel after peak summer. Watch for reduced ferries and planned railway engineering later in the season.
Know before you go
The details that stop a dream trip becoming hard work.
Most problems come from booking the wrong train, carrying too much luggage or treating seasonal timetables as permanent.
Ticket and reservation are separate
A Bernina Express seat reservation does not replace the underlying train ticket. Confirm that you hold both for the correct date, route and class.
Travel light
The Bernina Express has luggage racks, but space is limited. This itinerary is much easier with one manageable case or backpack per person.
Check every airport
“Milan” can mean Malpensa, Linate or Bergamo. Compare the actual transfer, not merely the flight price, before booking the final hotel.
Border documents still matter
You cross from Switzerland into Italy. Carry the correct passport and meet the entry requirements that apply to your nationality and travel date.
Families should protect Day 2
The scenery helps, but it is still a substantial rail day. Pack food, water, chargers and something for quieter stretches or delays.
Accessibility needs advance planning
Wheelchair-accessible Bernina Express seats are booked through RhB Railservice, and boarding or alighting assistance should be arranged in advance.
Questions people ask
Bernina Express and Lake Como trip FAQs.
Quick answers for the decisions most likely to hold up the booking.
Can you combine the Bernina Express and Lake Como in five days?
Yes. One night in Chur, two nights on Lake Como and one night in Milan creates a realistic four-night, five-day route. Add a sixth day if you prefer slower mornings or want more time in Milan.
Is Chur to Tirano the best direction?
Both directions are scenic, but travelling south works especially well for this itinerary. The landscape builds through the Alps and then naturally connects into northern Italy, Lake Como and Milan without backtracking.
Do I need to reserve the Bernina Express?
Yes for the panoramic Bernina Express. You need a separate seat reservation as well as a valid ticket for the journey. Regional trains use the same mountain route with different reservation arrangements.
Is Bellano or Varenna better for Lake Como?
Bellano is a strong choice for quieter evenings, rail convenience and potentially better value. Varenna delivers the classic visitor experience and ferry connections but is usually busier. Compare live accommodation for your dates.
Can the whole trip be done without a car?
Yes. The core journey uses trains from Zurich Airport to Chur, across the Alps to Tirano, along Lake Como and into Milan. Seasonal ferries can add lake trips, but always check the current timetable.
Is the route suitable for children?
It can be an excellent family trip, particularly for children who enjoy trains and scenery. Day 2 is long, so keep luggage manageable and carry food, drinks, chargers and entertainment. Check current child-ticket and reservation rules before booking.
How much does the trip cost?
There is no honest fixed figure because flights, dates, room type, rail discounts and Bernina reservations can alter the total considerably. Price the complete route for your dates: open-jaw flights, four hotel nights, Swiss and Italian rail, seat reservations, airport transfers and any lake or Milan activities.
Ready when you are
Mountains for breakfast. Lake Como by evening. Milan before home.
Five days is enough to turn one famous railway into a complete European adventure. Check the train first, build the stays around it and leave enough space to enjoy where the route takes you.
MAKE MORE OF YOUR DAY
Explore more places on the map
Choose what you need, then use the map to compare locations and plan the rest of your day.
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