lblanchard

Has anyone rented a car and driven from Lake Como to St. Moritz? What is the most scenic way to do so? We are considering doing the drive but would appreciate any suggestions or advice!

PalenQ

I've taken trains the same way- from Varenna to St Moritz and a main road pretty much parallels the railways - and the road up and over the Bernina Pass is spectacular - be sure to stop around the summit to do the walk to a glacier and around a small Alpine glacier-fed lake - if not going back to Italy check on potentially steep drop-off charges for renting in one country and returning in another!

And obviously you can do it hands free by taking the trains - Varenna-Esino to Tirano, Italy then the famous Bernina Pass Railway to St Moritz - to me the world's most awesomely scenic rail ride.

For info on the train and the Bernina Pass railway: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com all have special sections on the Bernina Pass rail (road) route.

asps

The shortest route is the one via Chiavenna and the Maloja pass, and it is not duplicated by railway. - Actually a railway over the Maloja to join the Italian network at Chiavenna was once planned and the St. Moritz station is built in a way that the tracks could be extended on the the Maloja side, but the railway was never built. - The drive is easy but for a couple of narrow passages and the last climb to the Maloja pass with several hairpin curves; it passes through the narrow and wild Bregaglia valley, home to small communities of Italian speaking Protestants, descending from the Protestants who fled Italy in 16th century.- The Italian customs agents at Castasegna border point are known as a difficult bunch.

neckervd

The Maloja pass road is fine. No need to drive through Valtellina and over the Bernina Pass (the Bernina Pass road doesn't offer th spectacular Glacier views that you have from the train). The custom's office at Villa di Chiavenna is now rather deserted, as both countries are in the Schengen zone.
Don't miss the side trip from Spino to the unspoilt mountain village of Soglio with fine views to the glaciers of the Sciora group. After the Maloja Pass, the road continues along the 3 lovery mountain lakes of Segl, Silvaplauna and Champfer.
A gondola goes from Silvaplauna-Surlej to the glacier of Corvatsch

PalenQ

(the Bernina Pass road doesn't offer th spectacular Glacier views that you have from the train).>

Are you sure of that - there is a road at the summit and I've taken the train several times and there seems to be a road paralleling it - but I may be wrong - I'll check bugt there definitely is road access at the summit station - where there is a hotel.

PalenQ

https://www.google.com/search?q=bern...ml%3B793%3B662

Yes the Bernina Pass road pretty much hugs the railway and is one of the most famed Alpine pass roads - the Maloja Pass road is neat too - I took the Maloja Pass postal bus from Lugano to St Moritz but it is in NO way as dramatic as the Bernina Pass Road - you may see a few glaciers from the Maloja Pass Road in the distance but with the Bernina Pass Road you aye eyeball to eyeball with them (as I recall about the Maloja Pass Road) - anyway there is such a road and it gets rave reviews on Trip Advisor and other sources.

Dukey1

are you planning to drop that rental car IN Switzerland?

PalenQ

I assume they are talking about driving up to St Moritz and back to Lake Como - in which case they could take the Bernina Pass Road one way and then return via the Maloja Pass road - getting both scenic drives in.

And even though the train is neat it is also IME swet fun to drive up and over the Alps via passes like the Bernina Pass - in a car you can stop at various places easily and then meander on...

neckervd

"Yes the Bernina Pass road pretty much hugs the railway"
....except for the Privilasco - Ospizio Bernina leg. On this leg, the railway goes via Alp Grum with stupendous views to Palu Glacier, Piz Palu and Piz Varuna just in front (at a distance of just 3-4 kms) whereas the road climbs up in Val Lagune, 4 kms more in the east and separated from the railway line by Piz Campasc which covers the view to Palu Glacier etc.

asps

Italy and Switzerland are both in the Schengen area, so there are no more immigration controls at border. But Switzerland is not in EU, so there are still customs controls.