Best train from Lugano to Zurich
Sue is planning a trip through Switzerland using her Swiss Travel Pass, specifically taking the Golden Pass Line and the Gotthard Panorama Express to reach Lugano, followed by a journey to Zurich. She's looking for the best way to travel from Lugano to Zurich and wants recommendations for specific trains that enhance her experience.
- Check the SBB Timetable for the most direct route from Lugano to Zurich.
- For a scenic experience, consider taking the Bernina Express despite the longer travel time.
- The Gotthard route offers two options: the new base tunnel for a faster trip, or the old mountain route for more scenery.
- Traveling through the Gotthard Base Tunnel still offers beautiful views along most of the journey.
- Make sure to enjoy the landscapes when entering and exiting the Gotthard Tunnel, as there are still plenty of scenic spots.
AI-generated summary-
We have purchased a Swiss rail pass and are planning on taking the Golden Pass Line, then Gotthard panorama Express to arrive in Lugano. After that we are going to Zurich. What is the best way to get there? Is there a specific train/trains we should take to get the best experience?
Thank you!
Sue
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Hello Sue and Welcome to MySwissAlps,
Is your question “what is the best way to get from Lugano to Zurich”?
If so just use the SBB Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) to plan your travel. It will give you the most direct route by default. If you are not familiar with using the timetable it will pay to first read the instructions on that page.
You could also get from Lugano to Zurich via the Bernina Express if you want the ultimate scenic ride. It will take a fair bit longer than the more direct route.
Search this site for details of all the scenic trains you plan to take.
Lugano – Zurich trains run via the Gotthard route. You will already have travelled the old mountain route if you use the GPE to go south.
The other options on the Gotthard route to go back north are:
Use the new base tunnel (the longest tunnel in the world), the Intercity trains run Bellinzona – Arth Goldau non stop.
Use the old mountain route on ordinary regional trains – for this you take a train Bellinzona – Airolo – Göschenen -Erstfeld , then an IC to Zurich
You will hear people say that the Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) journey ‘removes’ all the scenery from a north – south – north train ride over the Gotthard route. In fact only 60km out of the 180km route between Chiasso and the Lake Luzern area is ‘lost’ if you go through the GBT, and you still see plenty of mountains, lakes and Alpine farmland Between Zurich / Basel / Luzern (the three main city northern origin points of Gotthard journeys) and the GBT tunnel entrance near Erstfeld, you get plenty of mountain and lake views and an awful lot of classic Swiss rural farmland scenery, and the same applies when you exit the tunnel at the south end near Biasca.
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