Finding the Bernina Express bus at Tirano
A traveler shared their experience taking the Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano. They provided detailed directions and tips, especially about finding the bus and using the restrooms at the train station. The bus ride boasts beautiful scenery, particularly near Lake Como, and the traveler commented on the bus driver’s skills navigating narrow roads.
- Make sure to use the restrooms at the train station before boarding the bus to avoid unpleasant conditions at the bus depot.
- The Bernina Express bus ride is scenic, especially around Lake Como, so consider sitting at the front for the best views.
- Check for bus schedules in advance to plan accordingly and check the connection times.
- Consider taking a day trip to Lugano for an Italian atmosphere, pizza, and wine.
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So it wasn’t quite as straight forward as this thread http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/bernina-express-bus-from-tirano would lead you to believe.
On leaving the Bernina Express train you turn right out of the station and you will see an underpass with a sign which says Bus to Lugano e Poschiavo.
Once you you get to the other side of the subway you should see the red Bernina Bus.
Pro-tip: If you need to visit a toilet before boarding the bus. Go to the one at the Station where the train arrives. The one at the bus depot leaves a lot to be desired (breathable air, toilet paper, soap, dry floor etc etc); ENTER AT YOU OWN RISK!
The Bus stops for a toilet break about half-way to Lugano. The stop was supposed to be 10 minutes but was closer to 30 mins as that’s how long the queue for the toilet took to clear. Maybe because there where two buses. The red Bernina bus and a suplementary Post bus.
The bus ride is quite scenic once you reach Lake Como and is an amazing demonstration of the bus driver’s ability to negotiate the narrow winding road. If you sit near the front of the bus you will marvel at the number of times the bus squeezes through impossible gaps
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Noting this for another trip…. Going in September, but have been accumulating ideas for trip after that (to visit Ticino region.)
Always grateful for toilet tips, too LOL 😀
Thanks for the tips sir!
Sounds like you are having a great trip – hot weather you are getting now eh?
Hi Lucas,
Just arrived Luzern from Lugano via the Gotthard Panorama. 31 degrees is pretty hot especially for a pair of Tasmanians!
Yes, hot for this Canadian as well!
I was in Luzern on Saturday for a trip to the Stanserhorn – very nice mountain and easy to get to from Luzern – will post a trip report later today. Enjoy your trip!
Hello rockoyster the Taswegian
We’re from Sydney and will be in Milan for a few days later this year and are looking at a day trip to St Moritz on the Bernina Express going up and a bus/train trip via Chiavenna/Colico back to Milan (or vice versa).
What would you recommend?
Thanks
John
G’day John,
Well I’d say you’d be in for a long day if based in Milan. You’d need to get to Tirano by 10:00 am to catch the BEX.
You’d need to check timetables but I’d guess a minimum 12 hour day travelling even if all the connections are relatively short.
I like trains – bus trips just don’t do it for me.
Ciao.
Hi John,
I just thought the Palm Express bus St Moritz – Lugano might work for you. But the connections don’t fit with the BEX.
If you were willing to overnight in St Moritz you could go Milan – Lugano – St. Moritz on day 1 (Palm Express departs Lugano 12:20) and catch 9.30 am BEX to Tirano then on to Milan day 2.
I loved Lugano might be worth a day trip their if you run out of things to do in Milan.
Ciao
Unfortunately, we’ve already booked our accommodation in Milan.
We were also looking at another day trip to Lake Como. What is there to do/see in Lugarno?
Thanks, John
Hi John,
We went up Monte Bre, did a few boat trips, visited castles at nearby Bellinzona, took a train ride to Locarno and just enjoyed wandering round the city soaking up the “Italian” atmosphere and of course eating pizza and drinking red wine followed by the ritual passeggiata along the waterfront.
If you are going to Como you can probably do without Lugano.
If you want to venture in to Switzerland and trains up mountains are your bag you could check out http://www.myswitzerland.com/ en-au/monte-generoso.html
Hello
As with all travel, the more you look, the more there is to see.
Maybe we’ll get to Lugarno on our next trip?
Thanks, John
Just adding a couple of pictures to make it a bit easier to find the Bernina Express Bus.
In the first one you can see on the right where people exit the train station on arriving in Tirano on the Bernina Express. Towards the middle there is a lady in a blue top just about to go down the steps leading to the subway which takes you over to the Bus Station. Note that if you walk to the right of the steps you will find a ramp which makes it much easier if you are carting suitcases. We only discovered the ramp once we go to the bottom of the stairs.
The second is a Google Satellite view. The yellow line leads from the train station to the subway. The red line is the route of the subway.
The bus station is run by Automobilistica Perego Spa and is on Via Calcagno.
Thanks rockoyster! I’ll bookmark this. I’ve been on the Bernina Express several times, but never taken the bus to Lugano from Tirano. I would like to do it some day though. Good to know about that ramp too!
Alpenrose
Hi rockoyster
I’m suffering from paranoia looking for the bus stop at Tirano for the BEX Bus to Lugano. In your post u had some attachments but I don’t seem to be able to open them. Is there a possibility that u may still have them?
Appreciate your assistance.
TQ
Sim
>> In your post u had some attachments but I don’t seem to be able to open them.
Are you logged in to the site? They are just simple .jpg pictures.
Alpenrose
Hi Alpenrose666
oh ok I now managed to open it. Had to log in then move out of the Forum then come in again! Got the photos as my guide. M relieved.
Tq
Sim
Hi all
We will be doing this in reverse in a week or so’s time, BEX bus from Lugano to Tirano, then BEX train, So i guess I can just reverse the instructions? Thanks.
Cheers
Ian
Hi Ian,
Yup! That should work.
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