I am planning a Switzerland trip that will include the Engadine/St. Moritz area. We'd love to go down to the Dolomites, then on to Venice. Can anyone offer insight on best means of traveling this route? Car appears possible, but there are hefty drop-off charges when renting in Switzerland and dropping off in Italy ($650). I don't see any easy rail options. These destinations seem pretty close as the crow flies, but perhaps not by train. Any advice?

Hi browdl,

Yes, the train route is really long! The best solution I can see is maybe training to Tirano (2h20 or 2h26) and renting from there (if the town is large enough to have car rental agencies). Great train route to Tirano btw!

Maybe someone will see this and will offer more solutions --

s

You better go by public transportation. Head north from St. Moritz to Zernez (by rail about 30 minutes) and from there go by bus to Müstair (via Ofen Pass/Pass dal Fuorn). In Müstair you can continue by an Italian bus - see www.sad.it for more information.

As far as I know there is a bus leaving Müstair 10.24 arriving 12.33 Meran. That would mean you have to leave St. Moritz 8.02, which is very early IMO. Or you stay closer to Zernez, which might save you 30 minutes or so. Or, best option, stay one night in Müstair (which is a gem with its convent, an UNESCO world heritage site).

From Meran you have convenient connections with the nearby Dolomites and Venice.

Ingo

I have been to Tirano several times. My advice is take the red train from St. Moritz to Tirano, take the Italian train to Milan. Once in Milan you can rent a car and drive, or Eurostar to Venice and rent from there. The train trip from Tirano to Milan stops frequently, but it goes by Lake Como, and that is not bad.

Tirano is not the biggest town, and I do not recall seeing a car rental there. I know that there is no taxi. There used to be two, but one died, and the other is sick. We found this out after arriving. The next large town is Sondrio, and they have rental agancies there.