3-4 nights in Lucerne, Bernina Express in March

Family with kids ages 8-16, first time in Switzerland. Arriving at Zurich airport March 24th, need to be in Milan at the end of the day on March 28th for a second part of the trip in Italy. The plan is to sleep in Lucerne for 3 or 4 nights.

Looking on feedback on how to organize the itinerary, particularly on what to pick on day 3 and what to do regarding the scenic train rides (many talk about Bernina Express and how not to miss it). Any suggestions for what not to miss and what's overrated in Lucerne are also welcome.

Plan so far:

• Arrival day - eat lunch and spend the afternoon in Zurich around old town (and/or chocolate museum), check in at the hotel in Lucerne in the evening.
• Day 2 - explore Lucerne (options: Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, Musegg Wall, Swiss Museum of Transport, Glacier Garden, Rosengart Collection).
• Day 3 - day trip on the mountain: Need to pick between Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis or Jungfraujoch. Please help.
• Day 4 was initially planned as morning in Lucerne or Zurich, train to Churn in the afternoon, with plan on March 28th to take Bernina Express in the morning and travel to Milan in the afternoon. However, Bernina Express bus does not run so it will a challenge to get from Tirano to Milan.
• Day 4 alternative plan #1: Train to Interlaken, either on day 3 or on day 4 early in the morning, take Golden Pass Express to Montreux, take train at 14:37 to Milan from Montreux after having lunch there.
• Day 4 alternative plan #2: Give up on the scenic train rides, do either one extra mountain trip (Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis or Jungfraujoch) or something else in Lucerne.

Thank you very much!

Hi Gaffesremits,

Welcome to MySwissAlps.

Thank you for sharing your itinerary.

I think it's possible to include a trip on the Bernina Express in your itinerary. From Lucerne, you can take a train to Chur, then join the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano. In Tirano, there are regular trains to Milan. There is no need to take a Bernina Express bus to Lugano. You can find useful information about tickets and travel to Italy here: www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/italy

Be sure to book your Bernina Express seats in advance: www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/tickets

On day 3, a mountain excursion to either PIlatus or Titlis in my opinion would appeal to the kids as there are lots of activities to keep them entertained. Here's a useful link about things to see and do in Lucerne: www.myswissalps.com/lucerne/activities

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Anna

Notes for Zurich ...Chocolate Museum reservations are essential, you can't just show up and hope to get in, it sells out

You might want to try a self-guided chocolate walk ... see trip report www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/15-day-family-train-only-swiss-trip-journal

Rick

Thank you, Rick.

Rerservations are needed even in March?

Thank you, Anna. I was using Google Maps for the train trip and it completely missed the Tirano-Milan direct connection. Is Bernina a lot more scenic than Golden Pass?

Hi Gaffesremits,

Bernina Express is considered one of the most scenic train routes in Europe, and maybe the world. Personally, I'd recommend it if you have the time. You can read the full description about the route here: www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/gettingthere

Regards,

Anna