Bernina Express

Price from £1500 - £2000pp

Duration: 7 nights

Prices include: Flights Transfers Train travel

Holiday At A Glance

Based on 7 nights
Includes all train travel/transfers
Includes flights
Includes bed & breakfast

Staying at

Hotel Indigo - (Grand Hotel Des Arts)
Hotel Rivalago

This amazing panoramic train connects the north of Europe to its south through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rhaetian Railway, passing by glaciers on its way down to palm trees.

Crossing the Alps in the Bernina Express certainly is one of the most spectacular ways to do it. Along the way, the Bernina Express rolls over the 65-metre-high Landwasser Viaduct, the signature structure of the Rhaetian Railway and the UNESCO World Heritage site. Altogether the train passes through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges from Chur to Tirano. Travellers are treated to marvellous sights during their journey, like the Montebello curve with a view of the Bernina massif, the Morteratsch glacier, the three lakes Lej Pitschen, Lej Nair and Lago Bianco, the Alp Grüm and the Brusio Circular Viaduct.

On board the Bernina Express, one highlight follows another. The famous Landwasser Viaduct, disorienting helical tunnels, Lago Bianco at 2,253 m a.s.l., Alp Grüm with its unique view of the Palü Glacier and the Brusio Circular Viaduct are just some of the highlights of the route.

The Albula and Bernina Lines of Rhaetian Railway have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2008 due to their unique construction technology and routing. Immerse yourself in a fascinating piece of railway history and experience the masterpieces of engineering at close quarters.

The InfoT(r)ainment is your digital travel companion that provides you with exciting information about the Bernina Express and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the Bernina Express, you can use the InfoT(r)ainment free of charge on your own smartphone.

In addition to the unique view, food served to passengers at their seats also contributes to a railway experience for all the senses. Enjoy delicious snacks and refreshing drinks from the Bernina Express minibar

The journey can be extended from Tirano to Lugano aboard the Bernina Express Bus in summer.

We can arrange for you to visit Northern Italy via the Bernina Express leaving from London St Pancreas with a stopover in Basil, Zurich or Chur ( the start of the Bernina Express) or you can fly to Zurich and connect from there.

You can then continue your journey to Milan, the Italian lakes, Verona and beyond.

This Itinerary is for the Journey from London via Zurich then experience the Bernina Express then on to Lake Iseo with a stay for 6 nights at Hotel Rivalago then flights back to the UK. However, we can tailor-make any itinerary to include the Bernina Express.

Bernina Express

Train Itinerary: London to Italy via Switzerland

Day 1: London to Zurich

Journey: Train from London St Pancras to Zurich (with a change in Paris).
Duration: Approximately (7 hours 30 minutes)
Accommodation: Overnight stay in a Zurich hotel.

Day 2: Zurich to Lake Iseo (or Verona in Winter)

Morning: Train from Zurich to Chur (1 hour 15 minutes).
Midday: Scenic Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano (4 hours 25 minutes).
Afternoon: Train from Tirano to Sulzano (3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 31 minutes, depending on the route).
Accommodation: Hotel Rivalago, Lake Iseo. (For winter journeys, consider a stay in Verona instead.)

Days 3–6: Relaxing by the Lake

Hotel Rivalago – Lake Iseo (or a hotel in Verona for winter trips).

Day 7: Return to the UK

Morning: Private transfer to Milan Bergamo Airport (or take a train if preferred).
Flight: Return to London (or other UK airports).
(For winter trips, fly back from Verona Airport.)

Alternative Route Options

Winter Adjustment: Instead of Lake Iseo, stay in Verona. The train journey from Tirano to Verona is similar in duration to Tirano–Sulzano.
Bernina Express Extension: Continue the journey by bus from Tirano to Lugano, then transfer by train or private transfer to Lake Como or Maggiore for an extended stay.

Includes:

Train travel from London with standard-class tickets
Accommodation on route at a selected hotel in Zurich with breakfast included
Standard Class tickets on the Bernina Express.
Train travel from Tirano to your Italian hotel
Return flights from Milan ( or you could also take a train back to London)

Optional:

Rail journeys can be tailored for shorter routes or arranged in reverse order
Experiences such as Verona Opera performances can be arranged
Rail Journies can be added as part of a package and tailored to your preference
You can return home by train or by plane if you prefer

Facts about the Bernina Express (Train)

Route: Chur/St Moritz - Tirano (Italy ) or vice versa

Distance: 144km

Duration: 4-4.5 Hours

Facts about the Bernina Express (Bus)

Route: Tirano to Lugano or vice versa

Distance: 90km

Duration: 3 Hours

Travelling with a disability

The Rhaetian Railway does everything it can to make travelling by train as pleasant an experience as possible for people with impaired mobility. And that also includes the journey on the Bernina Express. There are special seats available on the Bernina Express for passengers with impaired mobility who cannot leave their wheelchairs.