Finally retired! In early stages of planning 3 week trip to Switzerland and N. Italy for Sept/Oct - ending in Turin. Would be most grateful to get feedback on this early itinerary. We are interested in most interested in nature/ hiking (moderate- probably not more than 8 miles/day).

• Fly to Zurich (from ORD) - stay 3 nights in Luzern. Day trip ideas: Mt. Pilatus, Stans, Weggis
• Pontresina - 4 nights. Day trips: Muottas Murgi, Sils Maria, Silvaplana
• Varenna - via Bernina Express - 4 nights. Day trip ideas: Bergamo, Tremezzina, Ferry trips
• Locarno - 3 nights. Day trips: Valle Verzasca, Bellinzona, Domodossola
• Turin - 6 nights

Have not yet researched value of Swiss travel passes and Engadin pass. Lodging recs accepted - mid-range budget (< $200 nt.)
Thanks in advance for any feedback/suggestions!

Keep in mind three nights is only two full days.

I assume you know that the Bernina Express doesn't go as far as Varenna, it stops in Tirano.

It will take about 1:45 to get from Varenna to Bergamo, and with only three full days, you'll have no trouble filling your time elsewhere along the lake, which will be less time consuming.

Locarno to Domodossola will take about two hours each way. You'll want to book this trip as its on the Centovalli Railway, which is different than other trains.

https://www.vigezzinacentovalli.com/en/

If you stay at a hotel in the Engadine (vs an apartment) you will receive a transport pass.

https://www.swissholidayco.com/Trave...Inclusive-Card

Same for Locarno (Ticino Ticket). You'll want to make sure your hotel participates.

https://www.ticino.ch/en/ticket.html

You've picked a beautiful part of the world!

Congratulations on your retirement! Should be a great trip.

For Locarno, you might consider staying in Ascona.

You can easily spend a whole day at Lucerne: Swiss Transport, Museum, Rosengart Museum (Picassos!), glacier mills, medieval city.........
Day trips from Lucerne:
Titlis and Engelberg monastery,
Brienzer Rothorn roundtrip (Lucerne - train - Schuepfheim - bus - Soerenberg - gondola - Brienzer Rothorn -steam cog wheel railway - Brienz - train - Lucerne)
Pilatus roundtrip (Lucerne - boat - Alpnachstad - cog wheel railway - Pilatus - gondola Kriens - citybus - Lucerne)
any Swiss city within 1 hr by train from Lucerne: Bern, Basel, Zurich..........

Day trips from Pontresina (can all be combined with panoramic hikes):
Diavolezza (gondola)
Piz Corvatsch (gondola)
Sils Maria and Lake Sils boat cruise
Guarda and Scuol thermal spa

Day trips from Locarno:
direct boat to Isola Bella botanical gardens and castle - boat - Stresa - train - Domodossola - Centovalli train - Locarno
3 castles and medieval city center of Bellinzona and Sant Ambrogio Church at Ponte Capriasca with a copy of the Lasst Supper peined 1547 by a disciple of Leonardo da Vinci
Tamaro Fun Park
Swissminiatur museum at Melide and scenic village of Morcote (can all be reached by boat from Lugano)
Cog wheel train ride to Monte Generoso, with the best panorama to all the lakes and the Alps from Mont Blanc via Matterhorn up to Bernina and Ortles
Bus ride to the mountain village of Bosco Gurin
Bus to Alpe Neggia or gondola to Alpe Foppa and panoramic hike via Tamaro - Gradiccioli to Monte Lema restaurant and gondola station.
rope railway and gondola from Locarno to Cardada, with view over the whole Lake Maggiore and to the Alps
Bus and gondola to Basodino Hut on Lake Robiei (2000 m above sea level)
panoramic hiking trail from Arcegno via Ronco up to the Swiss/Italilan border at Madonna del Ponte (the trail continues on the Italilan side - badly signmarked or not signmarked at all - up to Intra.

Lucerne - Pontresina takes 4 1/2 hrs via Zurich/Thalwil and 6 1/2 hrs through the Alps via Andermatt - Disentis.
If you chose the latter solution and replace the first leg (Lucerne - Fluelen) by a steamboat journey, it's 8 1/2 hrs

Hi evanston821,

Think about seeing Fex Valley while you are visiting Sils. You can take a horse & carriage ride in & hike out, or the reverse.

Have fun as you plan!

s