June: Lake Como, Lugano and Lucerne by train
A traveler is planning a trip from Italy to Switzerland in mid-June, starting in Rome and ending in Lucerne. They are looking for advice on train passes to use and suggestions for places to visit, including the Gotthard route and activities around Lucerne.
- Buy a ticket for the short train journey from Chiasso to Lugano if you’re not using the Swiss Travel Pass yet.
- The Treno Gottardo and Gotthard Panorama Express travel the same scenic route, but be sure to confirm if you want to take a boat too.
- In Lucerne, don’t miss visiting Mt. Pilatus and other nearby attractions like Rigi and picturesque lakeside villages.
AI-generated summary-
Hi everyone,
Visiting Italy and Switzerland this summer (mid June). Starting from Rome then make my way up to Switzerland, train away from Lake Como to Lugano. FYI, I will be getting Swiss Travel Pass and Eurail Itali Pass.
A sneak peek of my “not-yet-final” itinerary:
1. On my last day in Italy, my plan is taking a train from Lake Como to Lugano. Considering I will be staying overnight in Lugano, I dont intent to activate my Swiss Travel Pass yet on that day, but the next day instead. Can I finish my journey from Italy to Lugano using Eurail Italy Pass….?
2. Does Trenno Gottardo Train travel the same route as Gotthard Panoramic Express route (train and boat)…?
3. I am thinking of spending a couple of days in Lucerne, paying visit to Mt. Pilatus. Any recommendations for other interesting places within vicinity of Lucerne…?
Many thanks in advance.
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The border between Italy and Switzerland on the Gotthard route is between Como (Italy) – Chiasso (Switzerland). The border station is Chiasso, so an Italian rail ticket is valid as far north as Chiasso. From Chaisso the railway is in Switzerland so Swiss railway tickets and passes are valid. If you don’t want to use a pass for the short trip between Chiasso and Lugano you will need to buy a ticket for that short (about 20 minutes) leg.
To reach Luzern you can either take a Tremo Gottardo train all the way (from Lugano you need to change trains in Bellinzona) to Luzern, or alight at Fluelen and take the next available lake boat to Luzern
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The Lake Luzern area is full of things to do (too much to do in a couple of days)
amongst many other attractions, you have:
Pretty lakeside villages (this year’s newly crowned World Champion downhill skier is from Buochs – one of those lake side villages)
Altdorf (William Tell)
Rutli meadow, the historic birthplace of the Swiss confederation
Engelberg/Titlis (although Titlis is a bit like Disneyland…)
@1960man
Thank you so much for sharing your insights.
In respond to your suggestion that I could buy a short ticket from Chiasso to Lugano, how do I do that..? Buying this ticket in advance online, please share me the link ..? or do I need to get off in Chiasso, getting the appropriate ticket then hop back on the next train to Lugano..?
In order to replicate the GPE route, getting on Trenno Train I will have to get off in Fluelen and take a boat to Luzern, right..? I am still playing around with my itinerary in terms of places to stay and visit. I am keen on an idea to stay in Locarno instead of Lugano then spending an hour or two visiting Bellinzona before continuing my journey all the way to Luzern. Where can I get information about Trenno Train Timetable..?
Thanks for sharing other point of interests in nearby Luzern. I believe those places are worth visiting, but sadly enough I won`t have sufficient time to fit them all into my itinerary, so I will do some “detective” work to filter out those places. Really appreciated your sharing.
Is there any other public transport other than train I could use after midnight, particularly from Zurich Airport..? My return flight is booked via London. Depending on flights availability, I could potentially start my trip from Zurich then continue to Italy (or vice versa).The problem is my arrival at LHR airport is at 17:30PM… so, most likely I will be arriving in either Zurich or Rome just before midnight. My concern is would there be any other public transport other than train I could use after midnight, particularly from Zurich Airport..? bus or taxi ..?
Thanking you in advance.
Hello YOM77,
Welcome to MySwissAlps!
Thank you for sharing your plans. I hope you find the below helpful.
1. I think your journey from Como or Lecco (both on Lake Como) to Lugano would be covered by your Eurail Italy Pass. These routes are covered by the Eurail Global Pass: https://www.myswissalps.com/eurailglobalpass/validity so I assume they are free with the Eurail Italy Pass too. If this is the case, you wouldn’t need additional tickets from Chiasso to Lugano. We are not specialized in this pass, so please double-check to make sure.
2. Yes, the Treno Gottardo and the Gotthard Panorama Express follow the same route. Details of the route and also alternative route suggestions can be found here: https://www.myswissalps.com/gotthardpanoramaexpress
3. For more details on activities in and around Lucerne: https://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne/activities
Details on Locarno and Bellinzona can be found here:
In answer to your question regarding the boat, yes you would need to take a boat from Flüelen to Lucerne, or you could take a train if you wanted to forgo the boat ride. https://www.myswissalps.com/boatlakelucerne
You can find the Treno Gottardo, and other connections on this route, in the Swiss timetable. Enter “Airolo” as a via-station for the Gotthard mountain route. Otherwise the timetable may only present the quicker connections via the Gotthard Base Tunnel. This page explains how the timetable works: https://www.myswissalps.com/timetable
The timetable link will also give an idea of timings of all your intended travels in Switzerland, which leads me to your options for transportation from Zurich Airport. Unfortunately there is public transport operating between 00.45 and 05.00 so perhaps a taxi or Über would be an alternative or possibly a hotel transfer service?
Kind regards,
Yolanda
The Treno Gottardo train departs Locarno every hour through the day (departing xx.35) and Bellinzona (xx.59) arrive Fluelen at xx.54 the next hour, for example Locarno 13.35 Fluelen 15.44
I prefer Locarno to Lugano by the way
@Yolanda
Thank you for your warm welcome.
Also thank you so much for sharing those links.
In terms of Eurail Italy Pass from Lake Como to Lugano, I did check it on Eurail website, seems like the trip to Lugano is covered. But, I am not 100% sure as there is no options to select type of Pass. I have a feeling that the system would assume a Eurail Global Pass as default Pass. I will get on touch with Eurail if need to get some clarification on this.
A quick question:
If I had to use Eurail Global Pass instead, what are advantages and disadvantages of this Pass to be used in Switzerland..? Does it serve exact services/offers as Swiss Travel Pass..?
Thanking you in advance 🙂
@ 1960man
That`s awesome.
Yeah, I totally agree with you about Locarno. What I might do, head off early morning from Como, stopping by in Lugano for an hour then hopping on the train to Locarno -staying over night there. Depending on departure time, I will have to work out which is the best effective Pass shall I use on that day, considering exiting Italy and entering Switzerland.
What are your opinions on travelling with Eurail Global Pass in Switzerland instead of Swiss Travel Pass..? What are the perks between those Passes for travelling in Switzerland..?
Thank you 🙂
Eurail Pass is better for main line journeys, Swiss pass includes buses, trams, city transport many more lake boats etc.
@1960
Thank you.
It`s been troubled to find this thread of mine to continue “bombarding” you with questions 🙂 But eventually, I found it.
After reviewing some of my itinerary, I have recently made some changes on my trip. Please give me your opinion.
1. From Lake Como train away to Lugano, arriving at 08:28 AM…spend an hour or so then bus away to Tirano and spend the night there.
2. Tirano – Chur – Locarno. My question would be, what train should I take from Chur to Locarno..? Stay a night in Locarno.
3. Spend Half day exploring Locarno and Bellinzona, then head off to Luzern via Trenno Gottarno train.
4. Stay in Luzern (2 nights) : ii) Mt Pilatus and city tour. ii) Mt Rigi then head off to Interlaken .
5. Interlaken (2 nights) : fill me in with recommendation..?
6. Thinking of exploring LÖTSCHBERG MOUNTAIN RAILWAY if possible.
7. Zermat to Montreux, stay a night – flying out to London via Geneva.
Would that be possible or doable plan..? Would love to welcome recommendations.
Thank you in advance.
Hi YOM77,
Your revised itinerary is doable. From Chur to Locarno, the quickest way to travel is by Postbus and train (abt 2hrs). However the Eurail Global Pass is not valid on the bus between Chur and Bellinzona. Alternatively, you can travel via train (about 3 hours). You can check train schedules on the SBB timetable: http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable
In Interlaken, you can do boat trips on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz for free with the Eurail Global Pass. You can also plan excursions to Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Wengen (discounted with the Eurail Global Pass). You can view and download the Eurail Global Pass validity map here: http://www.myswissalps.com/eurailglobalpass/validity
For more travel tips in Interlaken: http://www.myswissalps.com/interlaken/activities
Hope this gets you going.
Regards,
Anna
Hi Anna,
Thanks for reviewing my itinerary.
FYI, I plan to get a Swiss Travel Pass instead after comparing its (+) and (-) to Eurail Global Pass.
1. Could you please expand your explanation on traveling with Postbus and Train from Chur to Locarno. I do want to get to Locarno sooner than later. If you could give me a walk through on which stations and what buses and trains should I board, would be much appreciated.
2. What is the fastest route from Chur to Luzern..? Does it always travel via Zurich..?
3. I could potentially take route from Interlaken via Spiez over the scenic Lötschberg mountain route with the BLS Lötschberger into the Valais and on through the Simplon Tunnel to Domodossola. Continue with the Centovalli Express to Locarno. Do you have a map to show route trip with BLS Lötschberger..? Then from Locarno back to Luzern with Trenno Gottardo. Please give your opinion.
4. If I wanted to visit Zermatt , does it have to be via Montreaux ( with GoldenPass Express from Interlaken) or could I reverse the trip, Interlaken – Zermatt – Montreaux instead…? In that case which route would you recommend..?
I `d prefer to end my Switzerland trip in Geneva as I could easily fly to London from there.
Many thanks in advance.
Hi again YOM77,
1. According to the SBB timetable, the fastest way to travel from Chur to Locarno is by taking the Postbus from Chur to Bellinzona, then switch to the local train to Locarno. The Swiss timetable is a useful tool for planning trips. It will show you the fastest connection and also provides ticket and train information. There is also a mobile version that you can download. You can find the link to app here: http://www.myswissalps.com/aboutswitzerland/practical/websites
2.The fastest route from Chur to Lucerne is via Thalwil (abt 2 hrs). Again, you can use the timetable to check train schedules.
3. From Interlaken you can indeed travel to Locarno by combining trips on the Regio Lotschberger and Centovalli railway. First you’ll take a local train from Interlaken to Spiez, then switch to the Lotschberger mountain railway and travel all the way to Brig. In Brig you switch to a local train to Domodossola, where you then board the Centovalli train to Locarno. You can find useful information on how to plan this trip from the following links:
- Lotschberger mountain railway: http://www.myswissalps.com/lotschberger/gettingthere
- Centovalli railway: http://www.myswissalps.com/centovalli/gettingthere
4. The fastest way to travel to Zermatt from Interlaken is using the fast train which goes through the tunnel (about 2.5 hours). You will need to switch trains in Spiez and Visp. If you travel via Montreux on the Golden Pass train, the journey will take about 6 hrs.
Hope this gives more options to add to your itinerary.
Regards,
Anna
My wife and I are traveling to Switzerland in September and part of our trip is to travel from St. Moritz to Lake Como (Bellagio) for 2 nights and from there onto Lugano. I have had a tough time planning our train route. What train station at Lake Como do we arrive in and what station do we depart from to travel to Lugano. It has been a little confusing to me unlike the Swiss SBB, which is very clear to us.
Joejax
Hello Joejax,
The train station that you would travel through or alight, to reach Lugano, is Como San Giovanni, sometimes abbreviated to Como S. Giovanni.
For the Bellagio to Como journey, by train, it’s best you check with the italian rail offices as I believe there are additional train stations in Como that you could well arrive into from Bellagio.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Bellagio is on the ‘wrong’ bit of land for easy access from St Moritz. You need to look closely at online mapping.
St Moritz to Bellagio takes at least 4.5 hours and needs a train, buses and boats.
Route would be either:
1) St Moritz – Bernina – Tirano, then local Italian train Tirano – Varenna, then boat Varenna – Bellagio
or
2) St Moritz – Chiavenna – Colico (post bus) the train Colico – Varenna (same line as option 1)
Lake Como boat timetables are here:
Yolanda, for your information there is no railway from Como to Bellagio
Here is an other timetable showing Como – Bellagio:
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NLC_Como_Colico_I2022.pdf
Thanks 1960man and Yolanda,
So the important thing is to get from Tirano to Vareena by train, and transfer to a boat to Bellagio. Do you suppose that I will have to transfer trains in Tirano? Also, to get from Bellagio to Lugano, it sounds like I will have to travel down to Como San Giovani to travel by train to Lugano? Since there is no train connecting these 2 towns I should also try to travel by boat between these 2 towns. The other think that I will look into is to get a bus?
Thank you,
Joejax
Yes, roughly correct.
There is one railway from Milano via Monza to Lecco and Colico (up the East side of Lake Como). It divides at Colico to serve Tirano to the East and Chiavenna to the north. At Tirano, it terminates at the mainline station which is a short walk from the RhB (Bernina line) station. At Chiavenna it links with the bus from St Moritz via the Maloja pass
You can go Bellagio – Lugano using a ferry to Menaggio then bus C12 to Lugano:
I think we’ll take the Bus C12 from Menaggio to Lugano rather than go down to Como for a train. Thanks to all for your input.
Joejax
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