[Fritzrab]

31 July 2021 at 15:43:22 #825990

Looking for suggestions for overnights between Luzern and Milan at Christmas time. We thought Lugano but I’m hearing on this website it is not advisable at that time of year. Other suggestions please? Or we could get to Milan earlier and spend time visiting other towns in Italy. Thanks

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[Anna]

31 July 2021 at 16:40:42 #935956

Hi Fritzrab,

There might be Christmas markets this year in Lugano and Locarno. Bellinzona also has a lovely Christmas market in December. You can check out the Christmas market list here: http://www.myswissalps.com/activities/christmasmarkets

Regards,

Anna

[Fritzrab]

31 July 2021 at 17:14:36 #935957

Thank you. We’re just hoping covid won’t shut Switzerland down and US citizens, with their shots, will be able to visit. We had this trip planned for 2020 but understandably it couldn’t happen.

[Anna]

31 July 2021 at 18:23:32 #935958

Hi Fritzrab,

I understand your concern. I too hope it won’t come to that stage again (another Christmas lockdown). For tips on planning, this link might be useful: http://www.myswissalps.com/coronavirus

Regards,

Anna

[Annika]

1 August 2021 at 4:21:29 #935959

Hi Fritzrab!

Bern would be nice as a Christmas destination: http://www.myswissalps.com/bern. An alternative route from Milan to Lucerne would be via Domodossola, Brig, Spiez and Bern. There are direct trains from Milano to Bern. If you have enough time, you could also consider the slower but beautiful RegioExpress Lötschberger route via Goppenstein and Kandersteg: https://www.myswissalps.com/lotschberger.

Bern can also be easily visited on a day trip from Lucerne, so you may still want to use the more obvious route and quicker route to Lucerne via Lugano. This page explains about the options at the Gotthard route: http://www.myswissalps.com/gotthardpanoramaexpress. Note the section onder “Regular trains versus Gotthard Panorama Express”, as the official Gotthard Panorama Express won’t be operational in November/December.

[Fritzrab]

1 August 2021 at 14:49:14 #935960

Thanks Annika, We have been to much of Switzerland but never to Brig , Spiez (although near there we have stayed in Brienz and Thun) or Domodossola in Italy . Are those lovely villages? Do you feel those are more charming than going via Lugano in December?

[Anna]

2 August 2021 at 10:12:45 #935961

Hi Fritzrab,

You can travel either way, it’s really up to you. Domodossola is a lovely town and so is Lugano. I think there’s a lot you can do in Lugano in December. Here’s a sample of a one-day excursion from Lugano that you can do to explore the Ticino region in a short time: http://www.myswissalps.com/onedayticino

If you are travelling to Milan via Brig, you can also choose to stop in Stresa, a beautiful Italian town along the shores of Lake Maggiore. For tickets to Italy, please use this link: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/italy

Regards,

Anna

[Fritzrab]

2 August 2021 at 13:26:58 #935962

Thank you again. If we are traveling, for example from Brig to Milan, and want to get off the train to visit towns in between like Domodossola and Stresa are there lockers or storage for our suitcases in the train stations so we don’t have to drag them through the town?

[Anna]

2 August 2021 at 16:13:36 #935963

Hi Fritzrab,

I’m not sure if you can find lockers at the train stations in Domodossola and Stresa. For security reasons, few Italian train stations have them. Most likely, there is a left luggage service you can use for a fee. To be sure, it’s best to contact Trenitalia direct for clarification.

Regards,

Anna