Switzerland
 

We are planning a trip this fall to Switzerland & Italy. I was wanting to spend time in Zurich & Lake Lucerne then train down to Milan. My boyfriend seems to think that the train ride down to Milan (which I believe is on the Wilhelm Tell Express Line) will not be all that scenic. Can anybody give me some advice on that trip?

Thank you!

I've taken the train more than once; some of the route is through a tunnel. You can do variations if you want. "Scenic" is subjective. No, IMO it is not as spectacularly scenic as taking an alternate route such as the train to Chur and then the Bernina Express to Tirano and the train from there to Milan.

NOW, exactly what does your boyfriend wish to so instead?

He is wanting to fly to Geneva stay in Lausanne then train to Lucerne stay a night or 2 then train down to Milan. I'm not big on doing 2 days of train rides.

For lots of good info on trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com - the William Tell route is not nearly as scenic as it was before the long new tunnel recently opened that goes under the lovely Alpine scenery the old route takes -but if you want to spend a bit more time you can - a variation as Dukey says - take the older line that is about an hour slower but rather scenic.

He is wanting to fly to Geneva stay in Lausanne then train to Lucerne stay a night or 2 then train down to Milan. I'm not big on doing 2 days of train rides.>

Montreux or Vevey are two Lake Geneva towns that are much more romantic than Geneva, a fairly modern large city -go there perhaps right from airport

then take the Golden Pass scenic train right (with nifty panoramic observation cars) from Montreux to Spiez then go via Bern to Lucerne -the GP train is one of Switzerland's iconic scenic trains going thru Alpine valleys and famous tony Alpine resorts like Gstaad.

then the William Tell one of Switzerland's iconic lake steamers that transfers to a train at the far end of the lake at Fluelen with observation cars to Lugano with connections to Milan.

Yes they are fairly long 5 hour or so journeys but so so scenic - you see a lot of lovely Switzerland in between.

Hi melr1122,

It's quite a bit faster to go from Geneva to Montreux to Milan; the trip from Montreux to Milan is only 3h or 5h (there is one connection that leaves Montreux at 08.37 and arrives in Milan at 11.37, without changes).

If you want to see some big mountains, you could spend time in Zermatt, east and south of Geneva (Geneva airport to Zermatt is 4h, then Zermatt to Milan is 3h30 or 5h, depending on the connection you choose).

www.zermatt.ch

Sometimes it's helpful to think in terms of regions rather than of countries.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Most scenic itineraries from Switzerland to Milan:

Lausanne - Martigny - Chamonix - Courmayeur - Aosta - Milan,
Bern/Lucerne - Spiez - Kandersteg - Goppenstein/Loetschental - Brig - Simplon Pass (Postbus) - Domodossola - Stresa/Lake Maggiore - Milan,
Lucerne - Andermatt - Oberalp Pass - Ruinaulta Gorge - Reichenau - Schyn Gorge - Albula Pass - Engadin Valley - Bernina Pass - Tirano - Valtellina Valley - Lake Como - Lecco - Milan,
Zurich - Chur - Viamala Gorge - San Bernardino Pass - Bellinzona - Lake Lugano Dam - Como - Milan

but the most scenic itineraries involve all-day being on a train or bus-not what the OP wants:

I'm not big on doing 2 days of train rides.> And those are fairly short vs the really scenic routes. Best stick to the mainline Lucerne-Lugano-Milan - still a long train ride.

But great info, as usual, for others!

meir - what do you think?