How to travel from Switzerland to the Dolomites
Jan 26th, 2019, 06:58 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How to travel from Switzerland to the Dolomites
Please help with transportation from Pontresina, Switzerland to Ortesei in the Dolomites. We will have the Swiss Travel Pass which will take us to the Swiss/Italian border. Having trouble finding connecting trains from Mals into Bolzano on trenitalia. We could certainly rent a car and drive.
One possibility is to arrive at Mals around noon on September 6, and rent a car there. I have not yet found a car rental possibility in Mals.
If we solve this piece of the puzzle, there is no problem dropping off a car at Marco Polo Airport in Venice.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
One possibility is to arrive at Mals around noon on September 6, and rent a car there. I have not yet found a car rental possibility in Mals.
If we solve this piece of the puzzle, there is no problem dropping off a car at Marco Polo Airport in Venice.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Jan 26th, 2019, 07:22 PM
#2
Timetable here Mals to Bolzano, I think it is via Merano.
https://www.sii.bz.it/en/siipdfOldtimetables
Great transport in this region, could take bus from Bolzano to Ortisei. Otherwise, Bolzano has car hire options.
https://www.sii.bz.it/en/siipdfOldtimetables
Great transport in this region, could take bus from Bolzano to Ortisei. Otherwise, Bolzano has car hire options.
Jan 27th, 2019, 12:04 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,906
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Swiss Travel Pass is valid as far as Mals. See this map for validity: synoptic-map-2018.pdf
Go to www.sbb.ch for the schedules Pontresina to Bolzano/Bozen. Dep. 9.02 am and arrival 2.26 pm with changes in Samedan, Zernez, Mals and Merano. This works every two hours, meaning if you start at 7.02 you will be in Bolzano/Bozen 12.26.
Using the website Adelaidean gave, I saw there is a direct bus #170 from the bus terminal in Bolzano/Bozen (5 minutes walk from the station) to Ortisei/St. Ulrich that departs 2.42 pm and arrives 3.53 pm.
Go to www.sbb.ch for the schedules Pontresina to Bolzano/Bozen. Dep. 9.02 am and arrival 2.26 pm with changes in Samedan, Zernez, Mals and Merano. This works every two hours, meaning if you start at 7.02 you will be in Bolzano/Bozen 12.26.
Using the website Adelaidean gave, I saw there is a direct bus #170 from the bus terminal in Bolzano/Bozen (5 minutes walk from the station) to Ortisei/St. Ulrich that departs 2.42 pm and arrives 3.53 pm.
Jan 27th, 2019, 01:08 AM
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think you have four options:
1. Public transport only from door to door - see above.
2. Public transport with fewest changes to closest rental car location in Italy (if you wanted to keep changes to a minimum due to luggage and time) - train to Sondrio (one change, train to train, in Tirano, 2 1/2hrs total). Drive from Sondrio, drop off VCE.
3. Public transport in the direction of Bozen, first rental car location will be Meran. (requires two changes, train to bus to train, I think)
4. Rent car already in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and drop off at VCE. This could be the most convenient option, but you pay a premium for not returning the car in Switzerland. One week in September costs almost €1,000 for a small compact (the biggest chunk of that steep rate should be the international one-way drop-off fee).
1. Public transport only from door to door - see above.
2. Public transport with fewest changes to closest rental car location in Italy (if you wanted to keep changes to a minimum due to luggage and time) - train to Sondrio (one change, train to train, in Tirano, 2 1/2hrs total). Drive from Sondrio, drop off VCE.
3. Public transport in the direction of Bozen, first rental car location will be Meran. (requires two changes, train to bus to train, I think)
4. Rent car already in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and drop off at VCE. This could be the most convenient option, but you pay a premium for not returning the car in Switzerland. One week in September costs almost €1,000 for a small compact (the biggest chunk of that steep rate should be the international one-way drop-off fee).
Jan 27th, 2019, 01:21 AM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8,383
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is not much to add to the very good answersa above.
The Travel Pass for South Tyrol is called Mobilcard
https://www.suedtirol.info/en/inform...-single-ticket
It costs 15 EUR for 1 day and 28 EUR for a full week.
The Swiss Travel Pass is valid from Pontresina up to Mals.
The Mobilcard is valid from Mustair/Mals up to Ortisei and beyond.
It should be possible to buy it at Mals railway station.
The Travel Pass for South Tyrol is called Mobilcard
https://www.suedtirol.info/en/inform...-single-ticket
It costs 15 EUR for 1 day and 28 EUR for a full week.
The Swiss Travel Pass is valid from Pontresina up to Mals.
The Mobilcard is valid from Mustair/Mals up to Ortisei and beyond.
It should be possible to buy it at Mals railway station.
Jan 27th, 2019, 02:11 AM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8,383
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Timetable Pontresina - Ortisei
Pontresina Post dp 8.42 - bus - Samedan railway station 8.53/8.58 - Zernez 9.29/9.34 - Mals 10.46/11.03 - Meran 12.13/12.16 - Waidbruck 13.17/13.25 - Ortisei ar 13.55
Pontresina dp 10.02 - Zernez 10.47/11.15 - Mals 12.46/13.03 - Meran 14.13/14.16 - Waidbruck 15.17/15.25 - Ortisei ar 15.55
Pontresina dp 12.02 - Zernez 12.47/13.15 - Mals 14.46/15.03 - Meran 16.13/16.16 - Waidbruck 17.17/17.25 - Ortisei ar 17.55
Pontresina dp 14.02 - Zernez 14.47/15.15 - Mals 16.46/17.03 - Meran 18.13/18.16 - Waidbruck 19.17/19.25 - Ortisei ar 19.55
Pontresina Post dp 8.42 - bus - Samedan railway station 8.53/8.58 - Zernez 9.29/9.34 - Mals 10.46/11.03 - Meran 12.13/12.16 - Waidbruck 13.17/13.25 - Ortisei ar 13.55
Pontresina dp 10.02 - Zernez 10.47/11.15 - Mals 12.46/13.03 - Meran 14.13/14.16 - Waidbruck 15.17/15.25 - Ortisei ar 15.55
Pontresina dp 12.02 - Zernez 12.47/13.15 - Mals 14.46/15.03 - Meran 16.13/16.16 - Waidbruck 17.17/17.25 - Ortisei ar 17.55
Pontresina dp 14.02 - Zernez 14.47/15.15 - Mals 16.46/17.03 - Meran 18.13/18.16 - Waidbruck 19.17/19.25 - Ortisei ar 19.55
Jan 27th, 2019, 08:31 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you all for such terrific information and especially your patience! Much of this advice some of you gave in an earlier post. It is all beginning to come together and make sense now. The Mobil Card is perfect. We now have car reservations from Bolzano from the excellent people at Autoeurope. This was smooth, and very comforting since now we are assured of making it to Venice on a Saturday and able to stop and enjoy ourselves along the way without worrying about making bus connections in Alta Badia. The bus #710 from Bolzano will be perfect if we have a chance to see the museums--we'll go on the bus!
neckervd, you have come through again! Thank you for the time schedules. Bus/train is just made so easy thanks to you deciphering the train schedule. There are a huge number of trains Mals>Bolzano. We will be on one of those with our Mobil Card and not stressed. By any chance, is the train to Bolzano the same one you referenced to Waidbruck? Now if I could just take you with me
Ingo & Adelaidean, many thanks. Now, about those hikes near Sils. Should I start a new thread, or can you refer me to the ones you have already written?! Last time we went to the Bregalia Valley, we scored the front 2 seats on the bus. Incredible! But DH only agreed to be on a bus because it was raining. So we didn't make it to Soglio. Hope to go there on a sunny day this time and hike too.
neckervd, you have come through again! Thank you for the time schedules. Bus/train is just made so easy thanks to you deciphering the train schedule. There are a huge number of trains Mals>Bolzano. We will be on one of those with our Mobil Card and not stressed. By any chance, is the train to Bolzano the same one you referenced to Waidbruck? Now if I could just take you with me
Ingo & Adelaidean, many thanks. Now, about those hikes near Sils. Should I start a new thread, or can you refer me to the ones you have already written?! Last time we went to the Bregalia Valley, we scored the front 2 seats on the bus. Incredible! But DH only agreed to be on a bus because it was raining. So we didn't make it to Soglio. Hope to go there on a sunny day this time and hike too.
Jan 28th, 2019, 12:31 AM
#8
In addition to the links in your other post...
https://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/somm...enture/hiking/
Have fun with your planning.
https://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/somm...enture/hiking/
Have fun with your planning.
Jan 28th, 2019, 01:05 AM
#9
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8,383
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you go up to Bolzano/Bozen ONLY, you can leave Pontresina at every hr until 16.02.
All trains leaving Meran at ....16 go to up to the Austrian border at Brenner Pass, with intermediate stops at Bolzano/Bozen (several stops), Waidbruck, Klausen, Brixen, Franzensfeste, Freienfeld, Sterzing and Gossensass, with connecting trains
from Franzensfeste to Bruneck - Toblach - Innichen - Lienz - Spittal-Millstaettersee - Villach,
from Brenner to innsbruck,
and connecting buses from Waidbruck to Ortisei.
All trains leaving Meran at ....16 go to up to the Austrian border at Brenner Pass, with intermediate stops at Bolzano/Bozen (several stops), Waidbruck, Klausen, Brixen, Franzensfeste, Freienfeld, Sterzing and Gossensass, with connecting trains
from Franzensfeste to Bruneck - Toblach - Innichen - Lienz - Spittal-Millstaettersee - Villach,
from Brenner to innsbruck,
and connecting buses from Waidbruck to Ortisei.
