[aaronmeli]

11 September 2025 at 20:54:50 #2790965

We are a group of travellers and will be lodging in Milan as we are going to watch a game. We are planning to visit Switzerland for a day and a half as we are then fighting back from Zurich airport. What are the recommendations to make the most out of it and avoid losing time.

Thanks in advance

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[Roger Sexton]

Reply 1 of 6 • 12 September 2025 at 16:20:38 #2790986

Hello aaronmeli

Welcome to MySwissAlps

Get out a good map of Switzerland

I assume the full day will be the day after the match in Milan.  Buy Swiss ‘Saver Day Passes’ (details on this website) for the full day you have at your disposal.  The SDP will give you the complete freedom of the excellent Swiss public transport system, but note that lines which simply go up mountains are not included   Buy the SDPs on line as soon as you can.

https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/saver-day-pass/

Milan is only 51 kms south of the Italian/Swiss frontier, which is at Chiasso.  On the full day, buy (on the day of travel) Italian Local Train Tickets  (not that expensive) from Milano Centrale to Chiasso.  Catch the RE80 train which leaves Milano Centrale at 43 minutes past each hour bound for Locarno via Chiasso and Lugano.  If you have both Italian local tickets and Swiss SDPs you do NOT get off at Chiasso.

Once you are north of Chiasso you can go anywhere you like in Switzerland on all modes of public transport – bus, boat, tram/streetcar, as well as on the trains.

Aim to finish your full day somewhere in or near Zurich.  On the half day before flying out, explore Zurich.  (It may be worth buying a one day ticket issued by the ‘Zurich Verkehrsverbund’.)

https://www.myswissalps.com/town/zurich/

Kind regards
Roger

[Anna]

Reply 2 of 6 • 12 September 2025 at 18:28:50 #2791005

Hi aaronmeli,

If you only have 1.5 day in Switzerland and you are flying out of Zurich Airport, I recommend travelling directly to Lucerne and use this city as your quick base. There is a direct train service from Lucerne train station to Zurich Airport that runs almost every hour. You can find a detail guide on Lucerne here: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/

You can find useful information about travel and ticket options from Milan to Switzerland here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland/

Regards,
Anna

[aaronmeli]

Reply 3 of 6 • 18 September 2025 at 11:47:27 #2791246

Hi Roger

Thanks a lot for your tips.

We have a slight change of plans and we are not flying back from Zurich but from Mialno Linate. Do you still recommend Chiasso or should I go up to Lugano?

We are a group of 6 adults and 2 kids. Kids are excited to see and touch the snow since we don’t get that experience in Malta. Also I am looking to make the most out of the 1.5 days that we have in Switzerland and maybe find something interesting also for the kids.

Happy to hear your thoughts.

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 4 of 6 • 18 September 2025 at 21:54:47 #2791300

Hello again Aaronmeli

Flying home from Milan Linate not Zurich is a Very Big Change of Plan.

All the advice I gave in my previous reply one was on the assumption that you would be flying home from Zurich.

I assumed that you would be spending the full day after the match in Switzerland, and then stopping the night in the Zurich area.

You will now need to get back to Milan from Switzerland!

In my reply one I wrote

Milan is only 51 kms south of the Italian/Swiss frontier, which is at Chiasso.  On the full day, buy (on the day of travel) Italian Local Train Tickets  (not that expensive) from Milano Centrale to Chiasso.  Catch the RE80 train which leaves Milano Centrale at 43 minutes past each hour bound for Locarno via Chiasso and Lugano.  If you have both Italian local tickets and Swiss SDPs you do NOT get off at Chiasso.

Once you are north of Chiasso you can go anywhere you like in Switzerland on all modes of public transport – bus, boat, tram/streetcar, as well as on the trains.

This is still correct. But

At the end of the full day after the match.

You will need to get back to Milan

You will need tickets Chiasso to Milan

You will need accommodation in Milan not Zurich.

Snow in Switzerland in the Autumn.

Not very likely unless you go up to altitudes of over 2,500 metres above sea level.

You need to do some careful thinking.

Kind regards

Roger

 

!

[Anna]

Reply 5 of 6 • 19 September 2025 at 20:31:44 #2791361

Hi Aaronmeli,

Travelling all the way to Zurich and then back to Milan in 1.5 day is going to be really tight especially with kids.

My recommendation would be to just stay in Milan and do a day trip to Lugano (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lugano/) and maybe include Locarno (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/locarno/).

Regards,
Anna

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 6 of 6 • 19 September 2025 at 21:27:33 #2791365

I would now strongly support Anna’s recommendation in her reply 5..

Regards
Roger