Quaint town/village along Bernina express
Jan 17th, 2016, 12:11 PM
#1
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Quaint town/village along Bernina express
We are flying into Zurich and taking the Bernina express to lake como before heading to Genoa. We would like to stay overnight in a quaint town/village along the Bernina Express before we end up in Lake Como. Any suggestions would be appreciated . We will be traveling in March.
Jan 17th, 2016, 01:06 PM
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"Bernina Express" can mean different things. Originally it's just the St. Moritz to Tirano train, but for commercial reasons the Rhaetian Railways call the Express trains on the whole Chur - St. Moritz - Tirano route "Bernina Express" - the Chur - St. Moritz portion is really part of the Glacier Express route.
Anyway, for a snow experience in March stay somewhere in the Engadine, either Samedan or Pontresina. The train station in Pontresina is a bit below the village, so changing to a bus or pick up by hotel shuttle is a must.
You could also go beyond the Bernina pass to Poschiavo, a nice small town with Italian ambience. No snow there expected in March, maybe some spring flowers already.
It depends on your schedule, when you can start in Zurich, because the train ride does take a couple of hours.
I.
Anyway, for a snow experience in March stay somewhere in the Engadine, either Samedan or Pontresina. The train station in Pontresina is a bit below the village, so changing to a bus or pick up by hotel shuttle is a must.
You could also go beyond the Bernina pass to Poschiavo, a nice small town with Italian ambience. No snow there expected in March, maybe some spring flowers already.
It depends on your schedule, when you can start in Zurich, because the train ride does take a couple of hours.
I.
Jan 17th, 2016, 01:47 PM
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You can stay right up at the summit of Bernina Pass where there should be snow I'd think - at least there is a glacier always there that it's an easy walk to:
http://bernina-hospiz.ch/en/
Bernina Ospiz is not a town -just a hotel and restaurant and a few small stores but it is smack at the most gorgeous part of the Bernina Pass Railway - get there early in the afternoon and savor the area in leisure - most folks just pass by on the train and never get out. Easy walk to the glacier around the Alpine pond in these pictures:
https://www.google.com/search?q=bern...w=1745&bih=868
http://bernina-hospiz.ch/en/
Bernina Ospiz is not a town -just a hotel and restaurant and a few small stores but it is smack at the most gorgeous part of the Bernina Pass Railway - get there early in the afternoon and savor the area in leisure - most folks just pass by on the train and never get out. Easy walk to the glacier around the Alpine pond in these pictures:
https://www.google.com/search?q=bern...w=1745&bih=868
Jan 17th, 2016, 02:05 PM
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Caution: Bernina Express trains do not stop at Ospizio Bernina in winter, only regional trains.
Quote from their website:
"Please note that the property is not reachable by train from December to the end of May.
If you arrive by train during winter time, please contact the hotel in advance to obtain information about the condition of the walkway to the hotel. During snow fall, this walkway is covered in deep snow and therefore it is not recommended to arrive with heavy luggage or unsuited shoes. In case of bad weather, please get off at Bernina Diavolezza and call a taxi. The hotel does not provide transport of any kind and assumes no responsibility for clients not reaching the hotel due to heavy snowfall."
Quote from their website:
"Please note that the property is not reachable by train from December to the end of May.
If you arrive by train during winter time, please contact the hotel in advance to obtain information about the condition of the walkway to the hotel. During snow fall, this walkway is covered in deep snow and therefore it is not recommended to arrive with heavy luggage or unsuited shoes. In case of bad weather, please get off at Bernina Diavolezza and call a taxi. The hotel does not provide transport of any kind and assumes no responsibility for clients not reaching the hotel due to heavy snowfall."
Jan 18th, 2016, 08:32 AM
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Pontresina is a nice smaller town at the start of the Bernina Pass Railway - the hotel sounds iffy in winter - thanks Ingo for bringing that to light - I did not check the dates of the OP and should have - assumed summertime.
Jan 21st, 2016, 09:22 AM
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Chur though not on the Bernina Pass Railway is a fine city to stay in - and one TG without a laundry list of things you 'must' see and do - just a really pleasant mid-sized town - Some Bernina Expresses start in Chur so you could go Chur-Bernina-Tirano, Italy without changing - not sure in March however but you take regional trains to Pontresina or St Moritz then to connect with the BE.
