Hello,
I am thinking of doing the Bernina Express through the regular train line rather than the official Bernina Express. I will be leaving Zurich to Chur and stating from there. I am thinking of either staying overnight along the way, or tacking on an overnight once I get to Tirano. Has anyone done that and would you mind sharing your experiences? I wouldn't mind staying in Italy (I have been to Stresa and Milan) I have to go back to Zurich. Thanks.

Many years ago, my husband and I were based in Chur for several days. One day we took a Bernina Express to Poschiavo. After passing the highest point at Ospizio Bernina (2253-meter above sea level), the train rapidly winds down the mountains to Poschiavo, dropping 1300 meters within a few kilometers' horizontal distance. It was quite a feast to see the looping tracks as the train winds down. The way we knew our train was looping was because we saw a church on our left hand side, then that same church appeared to our right hand side, etc..

We stopped in Poschiavo for lunch, walked the town a bit, then took another Bernina Express back to Chur. At that time we had rail passes, so riding Bernina Express cost us very little extra (only a few euros to reserve seats.) But I can tell you that on the return train back to Chur, I did not pay as much attention to the scenery outside the windows as when we were on the way down in the morning.

If you want to spend a night in Tirano it certainly will work. But if you want to make it a 1-day trip without changing hotel, then you may do as we did, get off at Poschiavo for a lunch break, then return to Chur.

Good luck planning your trip.

Bernina Express, map and looping track.

If you like mountains, you should stop over a full day at Pontresina.
You may then continue to Tirano, board there the Bernina Express bus leaving you via Lacke Como and lake Lugano to Lugano railway stations.
Trains from Lugano to Zurich at least every hr (2 hrs trip).
As an alternative, you may go by train from Tirano to monza and board your Zurich bound train there (every 2 hrs). But the Bernina Express bus ride to Lugano is shorter and more scenic.