[kentjulie]

4 February 2020 at 22:34:20 #825107

Hi

We are a family of 4 travelling from La Spezia to Lugano on May 25th, 2020. We are renting a car in Lugano to drive up to Interlaken.

Can anyone give me suggestions on the best way to get from La Spezia to Lugano? I am looking for the fastest way.

Thanks

julie

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[rockoyster]

4 February 2020 at 23:36:17 #929441

The fastest route by train is to Milan and on to Lugano. You could also continue by train to Interlaken via Domodossola. See http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/checking-train-timetables and http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/italy.

You may have already been round this loop but read http://www.myswissalps.com/carversustrain.

See also http://www.rome2rio.com/map/La-Spezia/Lugano and http://www.rome2rio.com/map/Lugano/Interlaken.

[Slowpoke]

6 February 2020 at 1:41:39 #929442

Here is a short version of Rockoyster’s answer.

Use the SBB timetable, It automatically gives the fastest route.

Slowpoke

[Peterli]

6 February 2020 at 21:12:58 #929443

Hello,

If I understand correctly, you are only renting your car when you get to Lugano. Is this correct ?

However, you first need to get yourselves from La Spezia to Lugano. One way would be to rent a car in La Spezia and drive to Milano and from there the short trip to Lugano. If I look at the Michelin route plannner I see that you can either go via Genoa (241 kilometres, 03h03) or via Parma (233 kilometres, 02h40). Either of these routes will cost you a little over 20 Euro in tolls (22.00 and 21.20 respectively). Instead of paying tolls on the Italian autostrade, you can use other roads which are quite decent and avoid tolls, but you said you want the “fastest way”. It should mention that the ring roads (autostrade) around the major cities (like Milano) are toll-free.

By the way, when using the Michelin route planner, it also gives you the approximate cost for the fuel you will consume for any particular trip. For La Spezia to Milano, it estimates around 23 Euro.

Without doubt, you are aware of the vignette you will need to drive on the autoroutes (for instance, the A2 north of Lugano) in Switzerland. After you know more about tolls in Italy and France, you realize what a bargain the Swiss vignette is; only CHF 40.00 and good for all of the year when you purchase it and even up to the end of January of the following year.

Are you returning to Italy after Interlaken ? If so, you might consider renting your car in Italy. I suspect you will find it less expensive. This is definitely the case when comparing Switzerland with France.

[kentjulie]

7 February 2020 at 12:51:34 #929444

Thank you for all your help.

It sounds like our best bet is just to take the train from La Spezia too Lugano. With one way drop off fees, tolls, gas etc the cost is more effective as well.

Our trip will take us from La Spezia to Lugano, where we will rent a car for 6 days. We will fly from Zurich to Amsterdam at the end of our stay.

For the train – I was using this site: rome2rio.com. Cost wise, it looks like I’ll book La Spezia to Milan, then book Milan to Lugano. Total would be about $300 CDN for all 4 of us – at least I’m hoping I’m reading that right. We would leave at 8:00 am and arrive Lugano by 2:30 pm.

Is there anything we should know about crossing the boarder? Any nuances about taking the train for that type of trip?

Thanks

Julie