We did this day tour during a trip to Italy in April 2022.
This was a day trip from Milan, Italy. This is one of the most popular day trips to Swiss alps from Milan. The fascinating journey takes you along the UNESCO World Heritage route of the RhB (Rhaetian Railway).”
We had booked this trip in advance (few weeks before), through Viator.
For 2 adults and 1child (10 years old), we paid 302.5 Euros. The Tour commentary was in English and Spanish.
This was one of the beautiful day trips that we had ever done.
Milan to St. Moritz in Air-conditioned coach:
The trip was conducted by Zani Group. The trip started from Milan Visitor Centre – Zani Viaggi (Largo Cairoli, 18, 20121) around 7.15 AM (we had not opted for Hotel pickup/drop option).
The Zani Group is a collection of multiple companies operating in the tourism and transport sector. It has 2 tourist centres in Milan. You can check out in their website to book directly aswell.
https://www.zaniviaggi.com/tour/swiss-alps-bernina-red-train-and-st-moritz-full-day-trip/
We were staying in Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto which was a bit far from the pickup point. As the start time was 7.15 AM, we took a taxi from the hotel to Milan Visitor Centre and paid around 30 Euros.
As it was a fully packed day trip (almost 13 hours trip), the tour company started the trip on time. One family lost the bus as they reached the pickup point 5 minutes late. They had to ideally hire a taxi and chase the bus and managed to onboard the bus later after a few kilometres. So, ensure to reach on time.
Route plan: Milan Visitor Centre (Milan, Italy) to St. Moritz (Switzerland) in air-conditioned bus. Journey time is approximately 3 hours (around 170 kms)
St. Moritz to Tirano (Italy) in Bernina Express (the most thrilling part of the journey)
Tirano station to Milano in Bus (same bus in which we went to St. Moritz).
We had a tour guide who accompanied us throughout the trip. An audio unit was also provided during the start of the journey and the same had to be given back upon return.
Enroute, the bus to St. Moritz from Milan, the bus stopped at a cafeteria named ‘Moreschi’ (https://www.moreschichiavenna.it/) for some time in order for the tourists to have some refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.
The route towards St. Moritz is very scenic with lot of photography options. They don’t have any other stops before St. Moritz. There was no cross broder checking (immigration check) during the trip.
Enroute you can also see the St. Moritz lake.
Just as the mountains above St. Moritz draw skiers in the winter, the lake below is the focus of attention for many summer visitors.
After reaching St. Moritz, the guide gave clear instructions around:
- Places to see
- Restaurant options for having lunch
- Return trip details like where and when to come back and so on.
Then, we were left alone to explore the beautiful city of St. Moritz at our own pace.
St. Moritz, Switzerland:
St. Moritz is a luxury resort town with a small lake in the middle of the Alps, with cableways to viewpoints and glaciers. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice.
The magnificent view from St. Moritz embraces the mountains from Piz Languard in the east to Piz Julier in the west.
There are plenty of places to see and visit around St. Moritz.
In a day trip like this, you will get around 3-3.5 hours and that is more than enough time to stroll through the streets, have a lunch from some restaurant, take some beautiful photographs and grab some Swiss souvenirs and chocolates.
After seeing a few places within the city, we went to the following places:
a) Laderach to buy some chocolates:
b) Wega to buy some souvenirs
c) Galleria Caspar Badrutt to do some shopping
d) Coop to buy some snacks
Return Journey –> St. Moritz to Tirano in Bernina Express (Train Start time :13:48)
We were asked to be back at Railway station at 1:30 PM. The station is sightly at a lower elavation compared to city. There is a series of escalator that will help you to reach station easily.
The train took approximately 2 hrs 15 minutes to reach Tirano station.
(NOTE: The second-class train ticket was already booked by the tour agency, So we just had to follow the guide to the right coach (remember to reach back the station on time that is specified by the guide, else you will loose the train). There were no specific seat numbers. We could sit in any of the available seats in that coach)
Operated by Rhaetian Railway (launched in 1920), the Bernina Express, passes through the Bernina Alps of Switzerland and down into northern Italy. This is a narrow gauge train.
On the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world, the Bernina Express takes its passengers on a unique journey through a large number of tunnels and bridges.
(The actual train route is Chur (Swiss city) –> St. Moritz (Swiss city) –> Torino (Italian city). The overall journey is 4 hours (144 Kms) one way, which has 55 tunnels and 196 bridges)
The Bernina Express train winds up the mountain from an altitude of 2253 to 429. The views were very scenic. You will certainly love this train journey.
Between St. Moritz and Tirano the train runs round the famous Brusio Spiral Viaduct (single track viaduct), where most of the classic Bernina Express publicity photos are taken. It consists of a 360-degree spiral that enables the train to change the elavation. However, the viaduct is not a feat of engineering only, but an object of beauty. Nine elegant arches with a span of 10 meters made using local stones blend in seamlessly with the surroundings.
Bernina train is a voyage through nature; from the palm trees and apple orchards of Tirano, passing chestnut trees and forests of fir and larch on the way.
Tirano Railway station to Milan in Air-conditioned coach:
The same bus in which we went to St. Moritz was waiting for us at the Tirano station to take us back to Milan.
The journey time was approximately 2 hrs 15 min (167 Kms).
Enroute, they stop at a restaurant ‘Bracere Tirano’ (https://www.labrace.it/en/) for refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.
We reached back Milan city centre late evening (around 7PM). Had our dinner from a restaurant in city centre and went back to our hotel Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto in a cab (paid 30 Euros)
The trip mentioned above was operated by the tour company Zani Viaggi.
The service provided by Viator / Zani Group was excellent and well orgaized.
In some other companies itinerary, you might find them going from Tirano to St. Moritz in Bernina express and return back by air conditioned coach.
In case if you want to avoid all these tour companies and plan the trip by your own, that is also a possibility and might work out cheaper aswell.
How to book this entire trip by yourself.
(NOTE: You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements prior to border crossing. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveller)
It’s better to book the train tickets well in advance.
Always look out for the related railway websites to get a clarity on the timings and rates.
Onward Journey:
You can book Milan to Tirano train here –> https://www.trenord.it/
Book the 06:20 -09:05 Train
Have your breakfast at/near Tirano station
Leave the Tirano train station and walk across the square to the Bernina station.
And book the Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express
Book the 10:06-12:35 Train (33 Euros)
NOTES:
1) The Bernina express train coaches are designed in a way that you get great views, as they have large panoramic windows. So please feel free to book any seat.
2) You can plan for a second class ticket one direction and a first class ticket in the opposite direction. (First class tickets are costlier).
In second class, there are 4 seats (2+2) in a row and in the first class, there are only 3 seats (1+2). The seats are more comfortable (leather) and bigger in first class and there are chances that the first class will be less crowded.
The first-class coach is at the last. So, you get to enjoy seeing the train itself traveling through the mountain.
3) There are rest rooms available within the coaches
4) Seat Reservation is mandatory in Bernina express.
5) Children under 6 can travel free. Children aged 6 to 16 pay half the fare.
6) There are special seats available on the Bernina Express for passengers with impaired mobility who cannot leave their wheelchair
7) Dogs are allowed on the Bernina Express and do not require a reservation. Depending on the size of the dog, a dog ticket is required. Please check their website for details.
8) On the Bernina Express, you can use the InfoT(r)ainment free of charge on your own smartphone.
9) There is also a Bernina express bus available from Tirano to Lugano. It’s a 3 hours / 90kms journey and does not operate in Winter. Please check the company website to know more details.
You can spend 3 – 3.5 hours in St. Moritz.
Have your lunch at St. Moritz. Multiple restaurants and café shops are available.
Return Journey:
You can book Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express
Book the 16:14 – 18:39 Train (33 Euros)
Have your dinner at/near Tirano station
And book the Tirano to Milan train here –> https://www.trenord.it/
Book the 19:56 – 22:40 Train (remember that there is another train at 18:56 aswell)
Total train ticket cost for one side per person is around : 12 + 33 = 45 Euros
Both sides might come around 90 Euros (45+45)
Whereas tour operators might charge you around 139 Euros.
So, you can easily save around 49 Euros per person for the entire trip.
Other things that you might miss when you plan the above train trips are:
- Commentary by the guide (& audio device)
- One side journey in Bus (the route is also scenic)
- Refreshment options (as Bus stops at proper restaurants in both journeys)
Summary:
Bernina Express is without doubt one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. You can certainly include this 1-day trip into your itinerary, if your budget and time permits. Ofcourse this will be a time bound tight full day journey, but it is worth the money and time.
If you have more days in hand, please try out the entire Chur to Tirano via St. Moritz and think about staying one night at St. Moritz.
There is also another popular route operated by Glacier express, which is a direct train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz via Andermatt in the central Swiss Alps.
