Milan-Interlaken: best scenic and fastest routes?
VicH is planning a trip from the UK to the winter Olympics in February and wants advice on the best routes to reach Interlaken from Milan. They are seeking both scenic and speedy journey options.
- For the quickest route to Interlaken from Milan, take a Eurocity train to Spiez, then switch to a train to Interlaken; seat reservations are mandatory on the busy Eurocity trains.
- If you prefer a scenic journey, consider taking the RE80 train from Milan to Locarno, and then the Treno Gottardo to Luzern; sit on the right for the best views and don’t change seats at Meiringen.
AI-generated summary-
I am planning a trip to the winter Olympics in Feb from the UK and would like suggestions on the best routes to Interlaken from Milan. Ideas for both scenic and or speed welcome. Thank you!
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Hello VicH
Welcome to MySwissAlps
The Quickest Route
Normally the quickest route from Interlaken to Milan is to take any train for the short ride to Spiez, and then catch a Eurocity (EC) trian train from Spiez to Milan via the Lötschberg base tunnel, Brig and Domodossola.
In normal circumstances the Eurocity trains (which have come from Basel via Bern) run three or four times a day, and take two hours and fifty minutes to get from Spiez to Milan.
Just be warned of two things. Firstly the EC train is likely to be very busy, and seat reservation is compulsory.
Secondly, between 2024 and 2027 Italian Railways are doing a lot of engineering work on the line from Domodossola to Milano. So it is just possible that this work will disrupt your journey.
Highly Scenic Route which I would recommend most strongly.
The times I give below may be slightly different in 2026, but I would not expect a major change.
Catch the 09 04 Luzern-Interlaken Express to Luzern, arrive there 10 55. (Luzern is the German name for Lucerne.) For the best views sit on the right in the direction of travel, and do not change your seat when the train changes direction at Meiringen
From Luzern catch the brown painted ‘Treno Gottardo’ leaving Luzern at 11 18. This train takes the OLD Gotthard railway line opened in 1882. It does NOT go through the world’ s longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel opened in 2016.
Stay on the Treno Gottardo to its final destination, Locarno, situated at the north end of Lake Maggiore. You reach Locarno at 14 27.
Have a short brake in Locarno. Then catch the 15 22 RE80 train bound for Milano Centrale, arriving there at 17 17 (just as it is getting dark!)
Seat reservations are not required on any of the three trains. All three are ‘workaday’ trains which take people to work, school, shops, appointments, sports events, leisure activities like hiking and skiing etc. etc.
(NB I am British. Swiss public transport- and not just the trains – is way better than British.)
Best wishes
Roger
Sorry VicH
Very sorry, but I misread your original thread. I now see that you want to go from Milan to Interlaken!
However, my basic points remain the same.
If you want the fastest and most direct route, take a Eurocity to Spiez via Domodossola, then any train to Interlaken. Reservation compulsory on the (very busy) Eurocity trains.
If you want a very scenic route take an RE80 train from Milan to Locarno; these trains run hourly, leaving Milano Central at 43 minutes past each hour.
Take a break at Locarno, and then catch a northbound Treno Gottardo. These train again run hourly. However, if you leave Locarno at 08 33, 10 33, 12 33 etc. you will have to change at Arth-Goldau to get to Luzern. Those at 09 33 11 33 etc go direct to Luzern.
The Luzern-Interlaken expresses leave Luzern at 06 minutes past each hour. For the best views sit on the right in the direction of travel leaving Luzern. Do not change seats when you get to Meiringen. To be sure of finishing the trip in full dalight, leave Luzern no later than 15 06.
Very best wishes
Roger
Hi VicH,
The Swiss timetable changes for 2026 will take place in December 2025. So for up-to-date timings, best to wait till then but as Roger mentions , there ought not be too much of a change compared to the current timings.
Also, the Luzern-Interlaken Express that Roger recommends, is part of the GoldenPass route. You can read more about this route in the link below, there’s a video too, that you can watch:
More about the Treno Gottardo, which operates on the same line as the Gotthard Panorama Express train, is here:
And all about travel options from/to Milan:
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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