Paris-Italy via Bernina Express
 

Hello !

We are going to Europe on our honeymoon next year, it will be our first time there. We are thinking about an itinerary along the lines of this:

5 nights Paris
After Paris, take TGV to Zurich, then travel to Chur-StMoritz.
3 nights St Moritz
St-Moritz-Tirano (Bernina Express), Tirano-Venice
2 nights Venice
Train Venice-Rome
5 nights Rome

We think the Bernina Express and St Moritz would be a nice way to see part of Switzerland and its famous Swiss Alps.

Any suggestions to this itinerary would be appreciated. Thanks!

What a nice trip, but I would only spend one nite in St.Moritz and add that time to Venice. St.Moritz is really a ski resort and can be dull off season.

Oh ok that's good to know! Thank you!

What time of the year do you think would be better to do this trip, both weather and activity wise? We are thinking either mid march or early June?

Agree about adding a day, at least, to Venice -- I think train trip through the Alps is a great idea.

Early June (if you can't do late May) sounds perfect to me.

Hi arelysm135,

I disagree entirely about taking time away from St. Moritz and that area -- there are really loads and loads of things to do. You can ascend Diavolezza, hike Muottas Muragl, visit Soglio, Guarda, Pontresina, Sils, and Zuoz, bike the valley from Zuoz to Sils, etc. and etc.

As nice as the views are when you're on a scenic train, the whole experience is tons better when you have your feet on the mountain -- please don't cheat yourself and take time away from getting onto the mountains!

Saying there isn't much to do there shows some ignorance/lack of research.

Here are some sites for more information on the area:

www.stmoritz.ch
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/a88f9/

Have fun as you plan!

s

Do you guys think that this itinerary is doable (not too cramped)?

Swandav, Bob actually has a very good point, depending on what time of year the OP plans to be in St. Moritz. I was there in early June with my mother to pick up the Maloja Pass bus. Almost everything was stone cold closed -- shops, restaurants, hotels. The hotels were having maintenance, the shop window displays were empty except for signs saying they would re-open after June 15. St. Moritz is basically a ghost town at certain times of the year.

FYI, that was early June 2012.

So maybe it would be better in mid-June .... How can I know when the summer season will start? I really don't want to go to a ghost town, the Switzerland part of the trip is the one I'm looking forward to the most...

I think your itinerary is great and not too cramped. Perhaps others can suggest another place near St. Moritz to stay that won't be quite so ghost-like in early June. Late May and early June are wnderful times to travel in Europe.