Trip ideas on the way back from Bernina Express
A traveler named Maomaopug is planning to take the Bernina Express from Tirano to Chur for one night and is looking for a different route back to Italy. They want to know if there’s a bus from Chur to Lugano and options for continuing to Lake Como.
- There is a bus route from Chur to Lugano, which can be combined with a train to Bellinzona for a scenic experience.
- Don't forget to reserve your seats on the Bernina Express to ensure a comfortable journey.
- Using the SBB timetable can help you find the best connections between trains and buses.
- Consider traveling via the scenic routes like Glacier Express and Gotthard Panoramic Express for stunning views.
- Explore Bellinzona for its medieval castles as a worthwhile stop on your trip.
AI-generated summary-
We would like to take the Bernina Express from Tirano to Chur where we would spend one night. However,
instead of going the same way back to Italy we are looking for a different route. Is there a bus from Chur to
Lugano and then we could go onto Lake Como? Thank you in advance for the help. PS We have been to
Switzerland before but not to Chur or Lugano.
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Hi Maomaopug and welcome to MySwissAlps.com!
According to the timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable), there are different routes from Chur to Lugano, you can also travel by bus to Bellinzona where you need to change to a train. Bellinzona is also a wonderful medieval town famous for its three castles, worth visiting: http://www.myswissalps.com/bellinzona.
If you are in Lugano you can do this city walk: http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/lugano. At http://www.myswissalps.com/lugano/activities you’ll find further tips on what to do in Lugano.
From Lugano to Lake Como (like Menaggio, Italy) it is just a short 51 min trip by bus, you’ll find it also in the timetable.
Do not forget to reserve your seats on the Bernina Express, you can do it here: http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/tickets
I hope this helps, take care,
Ildiko
More information about the Bernina Express and its route: http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/gettingthere
Hi Maomaopug,
As was said by Ildiko, there are many routes to get to Lugano. The most direct (and comfortable) would be the train to Andermatt, then switch to a train to Lugano, which would also be via Bellinzona. Both legs can be combined with the scenic train tours. From Chur to Andermatt is a part of the Glacier Express scenic train. The leg from Andermatt to Lugano is part of the Gotthard Panoramic Express. You can book reservations on either, (or just one), or, you can take the local train lines which run along the tracks. Just a suggestion. Have a great trip.
Danielsan
Hi Maomaopug
I would strongly recommend the rail route Chur – Andermatt – Bellinzona – Lugano if you like mountain scenery and corkscrew railways. At Andermatt, you would change on to a very short branch line to Göschenen. This is only about a ten minute ride, but plunges down about 1,000 feet (rather like the famous Flåm line in Norway), through an imposing river gorge. At Göschenen you pick up the main North – South old Gotthard mountain line down to Bellinzona and Lugano. Wish I was there right now!
John
Photo is of the gorge between Andermatt and Göschenen
Attachments:
Thanks for sharing John Yorks!
Regards,
Anna
Thanks Anna.
Something else for Maomaoupug –
If you search Wikipedia for ‘Göschenen’ there’s a super aerial photograph of the village, dominated by mountains and its railway station. On the left is the little train just arriving from (or returning to) Andermatt only a few kilometers and 300 metres in height difference away. One of the most exciting train trips in Switzerland, I think, but you don’t hear about it very much.
The main lines through the station run north – south and the entrance to the old (much shorter) Gotthard tunnel at the bottom of the picture lead south via the switchback railway to Italian-speaking Switzerland and Italy itself. Well worth the trip!
John
Thank you for all the information.
Hi Maomaopug,
In addition to all the ideas above, from Chur you can also travel direct to Zurich and connect to the the fast train to Lugano. Along the way, if you have time, you could make a short stopover in Arth-Goldau (and do a mountain excursion to Rigi) or in Bellinzona to visit the medieval castles as mentioned by Ildiko. The SBB timetable is useful to plan your journeys.
Regards,
Anna
From Chur to Andermatt is a part of the Glacier Express scenic train. The leg from Andermatt to Lugano is part of the Gotthard Panoramic Express. You can book reservations on either, (or just one), or, you can take the local train lines which run along the tracks.
Just to clarify this (slightly inaccurate) wording.
The railway from Chur to Andermatt is part of the narrow (1 metre) track gauge network of the Rhaetische Bahn (RhB) and Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) covering south/east Switzerland.
There are regular trains throughout the day on the route. The Glacier Express is an additional (extra fare) service with panoramic coaches but the views from ordinary trains are much the same. To reach Lugano you must change in Andermatt and take the train down the ‘Schoellenen’ gorge to Goeschenen. At Goeschenen you would change into any train on the Gotthard railway mountain section (Goeschenen – Airolo – Bellinzona – Lugano) which is the ancient mountain route served by regular hourly trains. There is little point in using the ‘special’ (extra fare) Gotthard Panorama Express as it would just add extra expense to your journey
Hi Mamoamaopug! For you and other readers: the options on the Gotthard route are explained at http://www.myswissalps.com/gotthardpanoramaexpress, under “Regular trains and boats versus the official Gotthard Panorama Express”.
In my humble opinion this page is too biased towards the Gotthard Panorama Express, and the comparison section you mention is too hidden down the page. In this case it is not relevant to the trip being suggested (Chur – Andermatt – Goeschenen – Lugano) , as only the section Goeschenen – Lugano would be covered on the GPE, so the mention of the lake steamer etc is irrelevant
Hi 1960man! The page I referred to is not only meant for Maomaopug’s trip, but also for other travelers who read this thread and may wonder about the several modes to travel this route, as multiple options were mentioned. Our Gotthard Panorama Express page is about the attraction “Gotthard Panorama Express” that includes the boat section and the panoramic train, so that’s what’s gets most attention there. In addition, we gladly mention alternative ways to enjoy this route, as we also do on our other panoramic train ride pages. We list some pros and cons and add our own opinion, and everyone’s free to choose whichever mode of traveling they like best :-).
Maybe its time to have more general pros and cons pages for all the ‘most requested’ rail routes giving a balance between extra fare ‘luxury’ options and ‘most economical options (and whatever is in between). I can contribute if you wish based on 50+ years on travelling those routes…
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