Switzerland in March
 

My husband, son and I will be visiting family in Milan, Italy at the end of March. I'd like to see a little of Switzerland, too. I think we only have 2 nights to spare, and I would love to go on a scenic train or cable card ride Any suggestions given the time limit?

None more dramatic in Switzerland than the BErnina Express IMO, which leaves actually from Tirano, Italy, not far from milan - about a two hour ride up and over the Alps to St Mortiz and back would be a great day - actually don't need to go down to St Moritz as you can get off at the Bernina Pass summit at Alp Grum or Bernina Ospiz and walk around the alpine lake there - top of the world scenery and go back down to Tirano, where you could park you car at the station or get a train to or from Milan. Bernina train is in my Top Five Most Scenic Trains in Europe list for sure. trains roll about hourly.

Since you have 2 nights, you could combine PalenqueBob's suggestion with a stop at Bettmeralp, which is on the Glacier Express route and only 3 hours from Milan:

http://www.bettmeralp.ch/

You get up to the village, which is perched on a bench about 4,000 feet above the Rhone Valley, by cable car. Spend a night in the village (Hotel Panorama is nice), then the next day ride the cable car back down, continue east on the train to St. Moritz (about 6 hours) for the second night. Then back to Milan via the Bernina Express.

Grab the Bernina Express to Chur. The next day take the Glacier Express to Zermatt. Second class is more than adequate. Take a picnic to eat on board. We did this last March when there was too much snow to do much walking.

Most towns and villages have walking paths--Winter Wanderwegs. It would be a shame to spend all the time on the train.

Thank you PalenqueBob, enzian, and Barbara_in_CT! I read the messages posted under "Palenque's Scenic Swiss Trains", which gave me great information, but you've cleared it up for me.

Re Enzian's recommendation of Bettermalp - i think this is one of the unheralded, relatively, gems of the Alps - not only thrilling cable ride and situation on the ledge but from the top of another long cable you get an awesome view of the Aletsch Glacier - you stand above it and be mesmerized by its greatness stretched out below you. One of the very best experiences i've had in the Alps.

I just tried making a reservation for the Bernina Express, but it's too early to do so. I'm concerned that it will be difficult in getting a reservation because of the popularity. Also, do I need to make reservations for a cable car ride?

No reservations needed (or even possible) to ride a cable car.

If, for example, you take my suggestion to ride up to Bettmeralp, you get off the train at Betten, walk inside the building that is right at the platform, go upstairs, and buy a ticket for the next car. If you are using a Swiss pass of some sort, this cable car is covered---it is part of the Swiss Transport System. These cable cars are huge---carrying maybe 80 people, plus luggage, dogs, etc. These are quite different from the small 6-person gondolas you will find at some of the ski resorts.

I'm surporised that you can't make reservations for the Bernina Express in March. What website are you using?

And the Bernina Express is just one or two of the hourly daily trains, the others of which don't even take reservations. I actually prefer the other trains as the Bernina Express trains in my experience are inevitably packed with no wiggle room - lots of groups book up these trains. The scenery is the same on local trains and i love to be able to boogie from one side to the other on usually much less crowded normal trains. Bernina Express does give some commentary i believe and has fancy doilies on the seats and some observation cars...but i wouldn't sweat over getting reservations. And you could try BETS (800-441-2387), Swiss rail experts i use, in the US if you really desire reservations to see if it's different than the other booking places you've asked.

Enzian, I tried to make reservations through raileurope.com. Just found out that they don't take them more than 60 days in advance. I'll give BETS a call.

>Enzian, I tried to make reservations through raileurope.com. Just found out that they don't take them more than 60 days in advance. I'll give BETS a call.

Don't.
As PalenqueBob mentioned, there are so many other local trains over the Bernina route every day - which are not as packed with tourists - just go to the station and enter the next one.