Milan to Bernina Express: Alpine Train & St. Moritz Day Trip

Thirteen hours, one train, two countries, and views that don't fit in a photo.

You travel from Milan through Lake Como and a mountain valley to board the Bernina Express, a UNESCO heritage railway that climbs to glacier views in the Swiss Alps. The day includes minibus transport, the train ticket, a stop in St. Moritz, and a return drive through Switzerland. Plan for thirteen hours of continuous travel with short walks and stairs. The pace is steady and the group stays under eighteen people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Gallerie d’Italia Milan1h
2. Bernina Expresspassing by

Bernina Train and Swiss Alps tour

• Transfer from Milan to Lake Como town
• Walk 30 minutes in lakeshore village
• Drive along Lake Como and Valtellina valley
• Stop at valley town, winery, or café
• Climb stairs to Bernina station for lunch
• Ride Bernina Train to highest point
• Drive toward St. Moritz
• Walk along alpine lake and explore town
• Return to Milan by train or minibus

The experience

The Bernina Express climbs 2,330 meters through the Swiss Alps on a single track that UNESCO listed as a World Heritage site, and you board it after a full morning already spent moving through some of the most layered landscape in Europe. You start at Milan Central station before dawn, transfer by minibus or regional train to Lake Como, then walk through a lakeshore village where the light hits the water in a way that makes you understand why people have painted this place for centuries. After that, the minibus winds through the Valtellina valley for ninety minutes. The road is narrow and twisty, and your guide points out the vineyards and old stone villages tucked into the mountainside. You stop once, maybe at a winery or a small café in a town you've never heard of, just long enough to stretch and buy a coffee.

Then you climb to Tirano station on foot (there are stairs, and it takes a few minutes), and you have about an hour to find lunch on your own before boarding the Bernina train. This is the part that justifies the whole day. The train leaves the station and immediately starts climbing through switchbacks and viaducts, and you watch the valley drop away below you. In winter, you get off at Diavolezza, the highest stop, where the glaciers and snowcaps fill the entire view. In summer, the route goes a bit higher. Either way, you're standing on a platform in the middle of the Alps, and the air is thin and cold even when it's warm in Milan. After that, the minibus drives you toward St. Moritz, and you have forty-five minutes to walk around this famous resort town. It's small enough that you can see most of it, and the shops and cafés are exactly what you'd expect from a place that's been fashionable for over a century.

The return to Milan takes three hours and covers another spectacular valley in Switzerland. You can either stay on the minibus the whole way or take a regional train for part of it. Your guide will explain the options. By the time you're back at Milan Central station, you've been moving for thirteen hours straight, and you've crossed into Switzerland and back without ever leaving a guided group. The walking is short but involves stairs, and the mountain roads are real, not dangerous, but not smooth either. Bring layers, a valid passport, and realistic expectations about bathroom stops on a twisty road. This is not a relaxed day. It's a full immersion into Alpine geography and a UNESCO railway that actually works the way it was built.

What’s included

• Your day includes small-group minibus transport from Milan Central station to Lake Como, a guided walk through a lakeshore village, a ninety-minute drive through the Valtellina valley with a stop at a winery or café, the Bernina Express train ticket with a stop at the highest point to view glaciers and snowcaps, forty-five minutes to explore St.
• Moritz, and return transport to Milan by minibus or regional train.
• An English-speaking guide leads the group throughout.
• Lunch in Tirano is on your own, and all other meals and drinks are your responsibility.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour In English08:00

Tour in SpanishAvailable from 26 Nov · 08:00The same tour, but conducted in Spanish

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 12h 45m, runs every day at 08:00, from € 190 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (16 to 75 years) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by LUCAfromITALY

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Milan who want to see the Swiss Alps and ride a UNESCO heritage railway without arranging their own transport or train tickets. Expect a full thirteen-hour day with stairs, twisty mountain roads, and the physical pace that makes fitting two countries and a glacier view into one trip possible.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the tour price?

Small-group minibus transport from Milan, the Bernina Express train ticket, an English-speaking guide, and all transfers. Lunch in Tirano is on your own.

How long is the whole day?

Thirteen hours minimum, starting from Milan Central station early in the morning and returning in the evening.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. Every passenger must carry a valid passport because the route crosses into Switzerland.

What if the weather is bad or the train doesn't run?

In severe weather or if the Bernina train is not operating, the tour may be cancelled with a full refund, or run partially without reaching the highest point or St. Moritz.

Is there a lot of walking?

Walking is short but involves stairs: about thirty minutes in the lakeshore village, ten minutes near St. Moritz, and a few minutes to reach Tirano station. Moderate fitness is needed.

What should I bring?

In summer, a light sweater or jacket. In winter, a heavy jacket, good shoes, scarf, gloves, and a cap. Always bring your passport and be ready for mountain weather.

How many people are in the group?

Maximum eighteen people per tour, traveling in a small minibus.

Can I do part of the journey by train instead of minibus?

Yes. You can take a regional train from Milan to Lake Como, and on the return, you can choose between the minibus or regional train for part of the route back.

What if I'm pregnant or have a medical condition?

The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or people with medical conditions due to the length, altitude, and physical demands.