I'm wondering if the train from Milan to Zurich is a beautiful, scenic journey worthy of one of our 7 days in Europe? At the end of our week-long vacation in Italy we have the option of flying home from Milan (to Zurich to US) or nonstop from Zurich to US. We could spend our last day wandering around Milan or trekking through Italy/Switzerland for a scenic overview of Switzerland. Never having been to either - I welcome and appreciate very much the opinions of others.

Yes.

Be aware that the most direct train route Milno-Zurich takes a little less than four hours. It is quite scenic but the trip doesn't last a long time.

If you are adventurous you could take the train from Milano to Brig and change there. This would be a longer journey and you'd see a lot more of Switzerland.

The direct train from Milan to Zurich is scenic, but for even more spectacular scenery you could make a full day of it and go via Domodossola, the Centovalli, and Locarno

If you fly out of Milan you are also going to get an eye full. Mont Blanc from the air is awesome.

Thj route from Milano, Lugano, Bellinona-Zurich was "one of the 5 most senic rail trips in Europe.. The scenery gets better after leaving
Bellinzona (northbound), you ener the 9 mile Gotthard Tunnel after which are a seies of smaller tunnels one area in particular is when the train passes a
small white church, beleive on the left and just above track level, the
next time the church comes into view is just after the station at Wassen and then nearly the same elevation and laer after exiting another tunnel you get a third view of the same church..
These tunnels are circular, built within the mountains.A little further up the track you then pass Lake Lucerne at Fruelan and then into Zurich...Usually has a restrauant car, but an not sure if prior reservations are necessary.. Richard of LaGrange Park, IL..

The route Richard describes is travered by two rail services, one of which is on the Cisalpino service and that is the train that takes a little les than four hours. Cisalpino trains usually require reservations but you can do that from any station in Italy once you get there.

InterCity trains also use this route and those do not require reservations.

I guess I am the lone dissenter here.
The train to me is not scenic. You are down in a hole most of the way, or inside a tunnel. If you want scenery, go over the passes, not under them.

Nothing I have done in Switzerland by train begins to compare with what I have seen from a car. You can stop, sometimes, and view all you want.

For example, the Grimsel Pass is spectacular. But the best scenery is reserved to those to hike the trails.
Travel by train is like taking a hot bath in a wet suit.

I can agree with Bob Brown.

The scenery is beautiful close to Zurich alongside the 2 lakes, and in Ticino. The Italian part is nothing special, quite industrial, and the real mountaineous part is a lot of galleries and tunnels, at the foot of the mountains, without great views.

My suggestion for a slightly longer but most scenic route would be to train from Milan to Lugano. Catch the bus to Tirano. Catch the train to Chur and on to Zurich. Much of this route is the Bernina Express with memorable scenery.

If you are going in Winter, forget my suggestion, as the bus doesn't run then.