European Rail Travel - Swiss scenic train help

I am travelling this summer via Eurail and I am trying to plan a day on the scenic trains through Switzerland. I will be coming from Ljubljana on Saturday night and I arriving in Paris on Monday morning. I am trying to figure out how to maximise the mountain views on Sunday.

I was planning on taking an overnight Saturday from Ljubaljana to Innsbruck and then an overnight Sunday from Milan to Paris, but that is flexible. I would really love to take the Bernina Express, but I am confused about the schedule (http://www.rhb.ch/Timetable-Summer.1878.0.html?&L=4), because the different train numbers stop in different locations. Are some trains better than others? If I take the overnight to Innsbruck, I won't be able to get on the Bernina Express at Chur. If I get on later, how much am I missing?

There are so many scenic trains in Switzerland and I am having trouble choosing. Obviously I only have one day, which is not ideal, but any suggestions on how to maximise the scenery would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I recommend that you stay with the Bernina Express. I have taken 4 Swiss scenic train rides and this is by far the best, IMO. The others (in descending order of "scenic-ness" were the train to Jungfrau, the Golden Express (I think that's the name) and the Glacier Express.

I can't help with the schedule as these were a few years ago when I had some weekends to kill in Switzerland, so I spend some of them riding trains. A lot of trains.

If your going through Milan and need to get to Paris, I wouldn't take the overnight train. You can get a train from Milan to Tirano (Italian train, ~$10), grab the Bernina Express up to Chur than another train over to Zurich. Next day you could get a train to Paris.

I'd highly recommend the Bernina Express

Thanks. I think I will definitely do the Bernina Express then, I'm just not sure how I'll swing it.

Sorry for being unclear; I'm coming from Slovenia, not from Milan. I was going to end the Switzerland day in Milan to take an overnight to Paris from there, but that is not necessary as I am not planning to spend any time in Milan.

I don't think I can easily get from Ljubljana to Tirano to do the trip the other way around either, unfortunately.

Do you know which part of the Bernina Express is best in case I can't figure out how to make the whole thing?

Keep in mind the Berninia express route is served by hourly trains (if not more frequent). A few trains a day are advertised as the Berninia express tourist service, but you can take any train and it will follow the same route. If the timing doesn't work out to get the official train, just take one of the other local ones. The local services will probably require you to change trains somewhere, but that's not a big deal the stations are small/convenient. The local trains are perfectly fine and will likely be much less crowded. Full schedules are on sbb.ch.

So what is different on the Bernina Express, it's just guided? Are you saying that any train from Chur to Tirano is that route?

Also, what do you think of the Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugaro?

There are so many scenic trains in Switzerland and I am having trouble choosing. Obviously I only have one day, which is not ideal, but any suggestions on how to maximise the scenery would be much appreciated.

You may want to check out European Rail Travel Forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/european-rail-travel-654/) under our Destinations Section (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/destinations-704/).

You may want to check out European Rail Travel Forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/european-rail-travel-654/) under our Destinations Section (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/destinations-704/).

Excellent idea. I am moving this thread to the European Rail Travel Forum.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Excellent idea. I am moving this thread to the European Rail Travel Forum.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Thanks!

So what is different on the Bernina Express, it's just guided? Are you saying that any train from Chur to Tirano is that route?


Bernina Express (and GoldenPass, Glacier Express) has nicer windows to look out at than the normal trains.

You can go to rail.ch for the rail schedule.

I have never done Bernina but personally I go GoldenPass, Glacier then Jungfrau. Jungfrau had too many tourists and it's not covered by an AG....

Bernina Express (and GoldenPass, Glacier Express) has nicer windows to look out at than the normal trains.

You can go to rail.ch for the rail schedule.

I have never done Bernina but personally I go GoldenPass, Glacier then Jungfrau. Jungfrau had too many tourists and it's not covered by an AG....

On some of the trains running St Moritz - Tirano, they were using fairly modern equipment with large windows for the local service which I thought were nearly as good as the Bernina express cars. Other trains had much older cars that weren't as nice, but you could open the windows which made them better for photography.

If the schedule of the Bernina express doesn't work for the OP, I don't think he should have any concerns about taking some of the other local trains. The local trains will likely be much less crowded, which is worth something as well.

I'd prefer the better windows if possible..

One Bernina Express leaves from Chur in the morning. I'd have to take a night train with multiple middle-of-the-night transfers to get there in time. Another Bernina Express leaves from St. Moritz late morning. I could get there more easily. Am I missing a lot to do St. Moritz-Tirano rather than Chur-Tirano?

Has anyone done the Bernina Express bus from Tirano-Lugano?

Other trains had much older cars that weren't as nice, but you could open the windows which made them better for photography.


+1 Completely agree. The older trains with windows that open are much better for taking photos.

The Bernina Express route is very scenic--but so are lots (and lots) of the other routes in Switz. The Eurailpass is NOT valid on many of the really nice mountain railways (Zermat, Jungfrau for example). The Swiss railway system has integrated the schedules of the SBB and private lines in a very efficient way, which means you can cover lots of ground (especially in the summer, when the days are longer). Some other routes to consider:
(1)Bellinzona (on the Gotthard line from Milan) to Locarno to Brig (via the Centovalli line--line of 100 valleys), to Spiez, you can connect to the Golden Pass line going to Montreux (or Luzern, in the opposite direction)
(2)Milan to Brig (on the Simplon line) to Spiez to Luzern to Vitznau (by boat) up to Mount Rigi (valid with EP) and return by Arth-Goldau (or cable car to Weggis) and boat back to Luzern.
At www.sbb.ch/en you can plan schedules to minimize connecting times between trains.
PS: Almost any route in Switzerland will be scenic--but some are (much) more scenic than others.