Train ride Milan to Zurich: scenic routes with overnight stay
A traveler named Georgia is planning a scenic trip from Milan to Zurich with an overnight stay along the way. She wants to know how to use the old Gotthard railway route without spending too much on tourist trains.
- Take the RE 80 train from Milan to Locarno, and consider staying overnight there for a lovely experience.
- Use the IR26 or IR46 trains from Locarno to Zurich, which follow the scenic Gotthard route and take about three hours and twenty-two minutes.
- You can break up your journey at attractive spots like Fluelen or Brunnen near Lake Lucerne for overnight stays.
- Interrail passes are valid on the regular trains mentioned, but reservations are required for the luxury Gotthard Panorama Express.
AI-generated summary-
Hi ! We’re travelling from Milan to Zurich (then onto Paris) and would like to take a day or 2 to do this. We’re hoping for a scenic trip but don’t necessarily want to spend a fortune on tourist trains if the standard train will suffice. I understand we want to use the ‘old’ gotthard railway route but can’t work out how to do this. We’d like to split the journey and take an overnight stay on the way. Any ideas /suggestions for the best way to do this?
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Hello Georgia
Welcome to MySwissAlps
Do NOT Use Eurocity Trains.
The fast EC trains go through the Gotthard BASE tunnel, 57 kms (35 miles), where all you see is the walls of the world’s longest railway tunnel.Use the RE 80 Milan to Locarno Trains
These trains leave Milano Centrale at 43 minutes past each hour and head northwards via Monza, Como, Chiasso (the frontier station) Lugano and reaching Locarno at 38 minutes past the hour one hour and and 55 minutes after leaving Milan.
Locarno is the obvious place to take a break, perhaps even stop overnight. It is delightful town at the north (Swiss) end of the stunningly beautiful Lake Maggiore.
Use the IR26 or IR 46 Treno Gottardo Locarno to Zurich
These trains leave Locarno at 33 minutes past each hour and take the old Gotthard route opened in 1882. The journey Locarno to Zurich takes three hours and twenty-two minutes. The journey passes through Bellinzona, Biasca, Faido, Airolo (then the old 1882 tunnel just 15 kms long), Goschenen, Erstfeld, Altdorf, Fluelen, Brunnen, and Schwyz to Arth-Goldau.
Now if you leave Locarno at 07 33, 09 33, 1133, 13 33 etc., the train is an IR26. These trains are bound for Luzern and Basel. For Zurich you change at Arth-Goldau. If you leave at 08 33, 10 33, 12 33 etc., the train is an IR46 and after Arth-Goldau the train goes on to Zug and then Zurich. (If you want Luzern or Basel, you change at Arth-Goldau!)
Other places for an overnight stay.
Except for Goschenen (which I will come back to) you could break your journey overnight at all the places I have mentioned. Fluelen and Brunnen are particularly attractive, as they are on Lake Luzern/Lucerne.
Nowadays, there must be little or no accommodation at Goschenen. However if you get off there, and walk to the other side of the station building, a small red train will be waiting to go up to ANDERMATT, in winter a sizeable ski resort, in summer less busy! So that is another possibility.
Kind regards
Roger
Hi Georgia,
Helpful advice from Roger. I agree with Roger, Locarno would be a lovely town to stay to break up the journey. Thereon you can make tracks to reach Zurich.
You can read more about Locarno in our guide below. Lots of tips on things to do and accommodation suggestions too:
Bellinzona is also another option, known for its three medieval castles.
As Roger explains, the scenic Gotthard Panorama Express route can also be enjoyed by taking regular trains. More on this route, scroll to ” Other train options to travel on the same route” for more details.
You can research the train journeys by using the Swiss timetable:
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thanks for both replies to this – super helpful. Do you know if you’re able to use interail passes on these trains?
Hello Georgia
Regarding Interrail passes they are valid on all the trains mentioned in my reply. The RE80 and Treno Gottardo trains are ordinary workaday trains taking people to work, school, shops, medical appointments, sports fixtures etc. Seat reservations not required.
The Gotthard Panorama Express is a luxury tourist express (first class only) which runs once a day in the summer season. Even if you have a first class Interrail you will need to reserve a seat AND pay a supplement.
KInd regards
Roger
Hi Georgia,
When you have a moment, if you read through the Gotthard Panorama Express link in my reply, you’ll be able to read all the necessary regarding traveling this route and the respective rail passes that cover this route.
If you fancy a treat, you can take the Gotthard Panorama Express train itself, which as Roger also explains, you would need to pay for a seat reservation and a 1st class ticket (which you can upgrade to, if you have a 2nd class Interrail Pass).
More on the Interrail Pass and all the inclusions in Switzerland in the link below. You can download the coverage map and view all the routes that are covered:
Have a lovely trip ahead.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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