Lake Como / Switzerland
 

Hi we are visiting Lake Como in the fall. Staying in Bellagio. Does anyone have information on taking a day trip to Switzerland? Thank you!

Lake Como is only a few miles from the Swiss border.
From Lake Como (Villa Olmo or Cernobbio), the Swiss border can be reached in about 10 min by Como citybus.
The bus ride from Menaggio/Lake Como to Lake Lugano takes half an hour.

Tell us to which part in Switzerland you want to go and we can answer your question.

All depends on what you want to see. On your interests.
It's obvious that things will not be different at the other side of the border, you will even not remark it at all, as there is no border control. But the more you will go to the North, the more things will change.

-Train to Chiavenna, bus to Soglio.

-Bernina train line, stopping en route, eg walk to Morteratsch glacier, or cablecar Diavolezza

OP has said Bernina area too far timewise for them. And closest parts of Switzerland to Como are pretty much the same as Como area IME.

I've done day trips to Lugano, didn't venture too far from Lugano itself. But I guess there are some cable cars nearby which may get you to a different vantage point than what you typically see in Lake Como.

Also, Balcone d'Italia gives you a spectacular view but I don't know if it's easy to get to without a car.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Si...933987!5m1!1e4

Do you call Sighignola "Balcone d'Italia"?
Sighignola is a easy 1- 2 hrs (OW) walk from Lanzo bus terminal.
But it would be much easier to go by cog wheel train to Monte Generoso, 1 km south of and 300 m higher than Sighignola. From there you will see all you can see from Sighignola and tons of other mountains and lakes.
Access form Como:
Como dp 8.43 (and then every hr) - Capolago 9.09/9.25 - Generoso Vetta ar 10.05
A trip to Monte Generoso can easily be combined with a Lake Lugano cruise
..

Wow, didn't know about the cogwheel train.

Is it operated by the Swiss or the Italians?

Is the train near Lugano or one of the Lake Como towns?

Ah from Como itself.

Yes different vantage points than from lake but what I meant was not the Swiss mountains of your dreams.

If you have a car you could drive to the top of the St. Gotthard pass to get the Alpine experience both for the view and driving innumerable hairpin turns on a very steep mountain side.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...45c4180f00.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f92f4035aa.jpg

Have driven that sinuous road and not for Nervous Nellies. How long would that take - more than going to Bernina I may think?

FERROVIA DEL MONTE GENEROSO (5500ft)
The cog wheel train company belongs to the Migros supermarket chain.
Trains run from Capolago via Bellavista to Monte Generoso.
https://www.montegeneroso.ch/en

Capolago is in on the shore of Lake Lugano,
about 7 miles from the Italian border at Chiasso/Ponte Chiasso (terminal of Como citybus line 1 and international railway station where all Como - Milano and Mendrisio - Capolago - Lugano - Bellinzona bound TILO trains stop);
about 6 1/2 miles from the Italian border at Cantello-Gaggiolo where all Varese - Malpensa airport and Capolago - Mendrisio - Lugano bound TILO trains stop;
about 5 miles from the Italian border at Poncia along the Swiss PostBus line Porto Ceresio Trenitalia station - Capolago SBB station;
about 4 1/2 miles from the Italian border at Arzo/Saltrio, linked by Swiss PostBus to Mendrisio SBB railway station and by CTPI bus to Varese FNM railway station;
4 miles from the Italian border at La Punta (bus line Lugano - Campione);
5 miles from the Italian border at Madonna di Valmara (STECAF/ASF bus stop for Arcegno - Como bound buses 1 1/2 miles away at Lanzo, Piazza Lanfranconi, Swiss PostBus stop for Maroggia SBB station bound buses 1 1/2 miles away at Ca del Feree.
There are also 2 daily boats between Lugano and Capolago (connecting with the cog wheel railway trains).

Monte Generoso railway station is literally on the border between Switzerland and Italy, 100 metres below the highest point of the ridge between the 2 lakes. The MIGROS SELF SERVICE RESTAURANT "STONE FLOWER" built by Mario Botta, is on the Swiss side of the border.
Monte Generose is the starting point of many panoramic hiking trails. The nicest one goes down to Restaurant/Hostel Alpe d'Orimento (Italy) and then either down to San Fedele STECAV bus stop or along the ridge to Ermogna - Bonello Pass (Switzerland) - Prabello Hut CAI (Italian Alpine Club) - Murelli Hut CAI - Rifugio Bugone (Italian mountain restaurant only) - Cavazza (Switzerland) - Sagno (Switzerland; Swiss PostBus to Chiasso/Como).