Train route options from Venice to Lucerne?
A traveler named Sanya is planning her first trip to Europe, specifically traveling from Venice to Lucerne. She's looking for advice on train routes, how to navigate train stations, and whether the Swiss Travel Pass will cover her journey from Milan to Lucerne. Sanya's excited about her trip and wants to be well-prepared.
- Check the Swiss timetable online for train schedules and connections.
- The Swiss Travel Pass covers most of the journey from Milan to Lucerne, but you'll need an Italian ticket for the section from Milan to Chiasso.
- Expect train changes at Milan Central and Arth-Goldau when traveling from Venice to Lucerne; don’t panic if you miss a connection, as frequent trains run to Lucerne.
- For a scenic route, consider stopping in Locarno; no reservations are required for this journey.
AI-generated summary-
Hi everyone!
I’m traveling to Europe for the first time and planning to go from Venice to Lucerne. I’d love some advice on routes and train travel logistics.
- Routes:
- Are there any direct trains for these routes?
- Venice → Lucerne
- Venice → Zurich
- Milan → Lucerne
- Milan → Zurich
- If not, what would be the best way to navigate these connections?
- Are there any particularly scenic routes between these cities that are worth prioritizing?
- Are there any direct trains for these routes?
- Train Timetables:
- Which resources do you recommend for checking train timetables?
- How far in advance can I check for expected timings?
- Train Travel Tips:
- Since I’ve never ridden a train before, what should I expect at train stations?
- How much time is typically needed to change trains?
- Are there any tips or advice for navigating large train stations like Zurich or Milan?
- What’s the process for handling luggage on trains in Europe? Is there enough storage space for larger bags, or should I pack lighter?
- Tickets and Reservations:
- Do I need to book tickets in advance for these routes, or can I buy them on the same day?
- Are seat reservations recommended or mandatory for these trains?
- Swiss Travel Pass:
- Will the Swiss Travel Pass work for trips like Milan → Lucerne?
I’ve read this article (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland/) but wanted to confirm if it’s feasible to travel from Milan to Lucerne.
Thank you so much for your help! I’m super excited for this trip and want to make sure I’m prepared. 😊
- Routes:
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👀🙏🏼
Hello Sanya
Welcome to MySwissAlps
Thank you for setting out your questions so clearly.
Tonight, I only have time to make a few points.
Switzerland has the best public transport system in the world.
I am sitting in my apartment in Britain. By going to https://www.sbb.ch/en I can get all the public transport times for the whole of Switzerland. And that will be for any day up to December 13th. Other countries, for example Italy and Britain, are not nearly as good. It would help if you told us the dates of your visit to Switzerland.
You will notice that I am talking about ‘public transport’. In Switzerland public transport includes trains, buses, trams/streetcars, the boats on the lakes, and the diverse forms of mechanical transport used to take people up mountains. All these forms of transport are timed to inter-connect with each other.
The Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/) is valid on all public transport in Switzerland, except that it is usually not valid on lines which simply go up mountains. On the journey from Milan to Lucerne you will need an Italian ticket for the section from Milan to the frontier station of Chiasso. Your Swiss Travel Pass will cover the rest of your journey. There is no need to get off the train at Chiasso.
Will the journey from Venice to Lucerne be your first ever train journey, or will you have been travelling on Italian trains?
Finally for today, a journey from Venice to Lucerne is likely to take about 6-7 hours, with changes at Milan Central and Arth-Goldau. In answer to ‘Are there any particularly scenic routes between these cities that are worth prioritizing?’, there is one possibility, but it will take about nine hours.
Very best wishes
Roger
Hi Sanya,
You can use the Swiss timetable to check train schedules: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/
I recommend the following connection (please see attachment) with just one train change in Milan. Seat reservation is obligatory on this connection: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland/
It is common to travel with luggage on the train: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/luggage/
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Anna
Attachments:
Hello again Sanya
It is a pleasure to try and help you, but please let us have the dates of your visit to Switzerland. We are, at the moment, having to assume that you are travelling in the next few weeks.
Now regarding the journey. You will almost certainly have to change trains at Milan Central. In Italian, this station is called Milano Centrale.
Venezia/Venice Santa Lucia, Milano Centrale and Luzern/Lucerne are all large dead-end terminus stations where the trains have to go out the same way as they came in. For passengers, this has two advantages. All the platforms are on the same level; no subways or bridges! Secondly, there is a flat area just beyond the train tracks where passengers can wait for their trains. There will be large departure boards telling you the track/platform number for the various trains. (At Lucerne if you stand with your back to the trains, you will see a bus station. The lake is just the other side of the bus station!)
Travelling from Milan to Lucerne, there is one train a day, at 10 10 from Milan, which is a through train – no change of train required. But at other times, for example the 17 10 departure in Anna’s attachment, you will have to change at a junction station called Arth-Goldau. The train at 17 10 from Milan arrives at platform three of Arth-Goldau station at 19 42. The connecting train to Lucerne departs from platform six at 19 49. Do not panic. There will be a lot of other people wanting to make this connection.
Follow the signs directing you to platform 6. You will have to walk through a subway under the tracks. The train departing at 19 49 is called the Voralpen Express, wlll be painted brown, and have signs showing Luzern as its destination. This train reaches Lucerne main station at 20 21.
I repeat, it is a pleasure to help you. To give you more help we need to know more details of your travel plans.
Best wishes
Roger
Hello Roger,
Thank you so much for the warm welcome and for taking the time to share such detailed and helpful information, even with your busy schedule. I truly appreciate it!
I had no idea Switzerland’s public transport system was so well-organized and interconnected—it’s fascinating to learn that it includes everything from trains and buses to boats and mountain transport. The Swiss Travel Pass seems like a fantastic option, and I’m glad to know it will cover most of my journey from Milan to Lucerne.
To answer your question, this will not only be my first time traveling by train in Europe, but also my first time in Europe altogether! I’ll be traveling from around August 4 to August 20, give or take a couple of days, and I’ll likely take the train from Venice to Lucerne as my first journey, as I will be flying into the airport in Venice. Knowing it will take about 6-7 hours with changes at Milan Central and Arth-Goldau is super helpful for planning.
I’m not sure if this is helpful, but this is my current iterinary with places that I would like to visit: Fly into Venice, take train to Lucerne, Interlaken, Montreaux, Zermatt, Lugano, Lake Como, Venice, Florence/Tuscany, Rome, and then fly back home either from Rome or Venice.
Thank you again for your guidance. I’m really excited about this trip, and your insights are making it feel much less daunting.
Hi Anna, thank you so much for the screenshot! I found it very helpful and will definitely use it as a guide when planning my trip. Im assuming since my trip is planned for August, there are aren’t many options currently for direct trains from Milan to Lucerne.
Hello Sanya
Detailed Italian timings for August are not yet available. However it is virtually certain that the ONLY DIRECT TRAIN from Milan to Lucerne will be the EuroCity train leaving at 10 10 and (probably getting to Lucerne at 13 41.
All other EC trains heading north from Milan will be bound for Zurich, and you will have to make the quite easy change at Arth-Goldau to get to Lucerne. If you were to miss the connection, DO NOT PANIC. There are three trains an hour from Arth-Goldau to Lucerne.
Are you interested in my slow but scenic route from Milan to Lucerne? It assumes you will have a Swiss Travel Pass. It would involve a change at LOCARNO, Locarno is a very attractive small town, with a small ‘dead-end’ station. For this route no reservations are required.
Best wishes
Roger
Hello Sanya
I have studied your reply 5 and I am having further thoughts which are still developing.
You are going to be doing a lot of travelling in two European countries. For journeys within Italy and between Italy and Switzerland, get a 7-day in one month FLEXI GLOBAL EURAIL PASS.
I would suggest you leave Lucerne until last.
On your first day get an Italian high-speed train from Venice to Milan. Then get an RE80 local train bound for Locarno via Lugano. Spend 2 or 3 nights in one of these towns. Your hotel will give you a Ticino Ticket -free travel on all bus and trains in the canton!
Using another day on your Eurail Flexi, travel from Lugano/Locarno to Montreux. Take the highly scenic Centovalli railway to Domodossola. From Domodossola go through the Simplon tunnel to Brig. From Brig there are fast trains twice an hour to Montreux. Spend three nights in Montreux.
Buy an eight-day Swiss Travel Pass with its first day being your first FULL day in Montreux.
From Montreux take the Golden Pass Express to Interlaken via Zweisimmen. These GPE trains are very popular, so reservation is essential. Stay three nights in Interlaken.
From Interlaken go on to Lucerne for three nights.
On leaving Lucerne going southwards to Italy your STP will have expired. So you will need to use another day on your Eurail Flexi. Take the 09 18 Treno Gottardo and stay on this train all the way to Locarno. This train will take the highly scenic OLD Gotthard railway. From Locarno take the RE80 train southwards, but get off at COMO.
WOW! We have got you back from Bellissima Svizzera to (merely) Bella Italia.
Kind Regards
Roger
.
Hi Roger, thank you for the information above. I’m glad to know that incase I miss a train Arth-Goldau to Lucerne, I can catch another bus. As for your next post, thank you so much for the iterinary, I will definitely do some more research into it! I really appreciate your guidance, especially with the trains – their timings, how often they run and the stations needed to switch trains.
Hi Sanya,
In addition to the helpful replies.
Here’s our guide to the Eurail Global Pass that Roger mentions. Lots of useful information, including a coverage map so you can see exactly the routes that are included and trusted purchase options.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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