Hi,
In July we will be in Switzerland for 3 days as part of our Switzerland-Italy vacation. We will be flying to Milan - Malpensa, arriving in the morning, and from there going to Lugano. We would like to stay in Lugano the first day, and next morning rent a car and drive to St. Moritz, stopping on the way for sightseeing. We would spend a night in St. Moritz, return the car and nex morning take the Bernina Express to Lugano.

Questions:
1. What is the best way to get to Lugano from Malpensa?
2. Is the drive from Lugano to St. Moritz difficult/easy.
3. What to do/see in Lugano the day we arrive?
4. What places we should see on the way to St. Moritz?
5. What can we do in St. Moritz after 6pm?

One more question.
Does this itinnerary make sense?

Thanks

The Bernina Express does not go to Lugano. It goes to Tirano, Italy.

Thank you. I went on Bernina Express website, and I thought that in Tirano we would have to change to Bernina Express Bus that goes to Lugano.
Please, let me know if I understood it incorrectly.

There is a bus to Lugano from Malpensa.

http://tinyurl.com/j8ka3

Hmmm ! That would be a fairly long bus ride and it is all in Italy, not the Swiss Postal bus system. The trains from there go to Milan via Varenna on Lago Como--how does that fit?

I'm not sure I'm following you, bob. It would take someone an hour to get to Milano Centrale from Malpensa, only to then take a 90 minute train ride to Varenna and --??? More time to Lugano via ferry or what?

The Malpensa-to-Lugano bus would get a traveler to Lugano in about 90 minutes total, yes?

Like I said, I'm not sure I'm following what you are suggesting.

Is there a train from Lugano to Varenna? When I went from Lugano to Varenna, I took a bus from Lugano to Menaggio, and then a ferry to Varenna.

From MXP you take the airport bus to Milano Centrale, the principal train station and major northern-Italian train hub. That takes about an hour or less, depending on traffic on the streets.

From Milano Centrale the trains take anywhere from 58 minutes to 1:28 or so. There are some fast nonstops, like the 11:10 (arr. 12:03). A bunch of others stop in several towns, and a very few require a change of trains in Chiasso - no big deal.

There are plenty of trains, about one every hour - no need to book, just buy your ticket, validate it in the yellow box by the entrance to the platform, and climb aboard.

Look them up at www.sbb.ch or www.trenitalia.it.

The drive to St. Moritz is fine. The Maloja Pass is not really a bad-ass pass, it's the end of the climb before a mild descent and the beginning of a mostly flat area from there along the lake to St Moritz.

Lugano is fairly provincial and rather dull. Nice restaurants to sit around and sip wine after dinner, terraces to do the same... The lake is pretty. And I'm sure there are noisy discos and such if that's your speed. But there are more exciting areas within an hour or two of Milan.

You'll see the pretty lake regions as you drive to St. Moritz, I don't know of any in particular that warrant a stop.

St. Moritz is upscale as can be - bring your money... You can gamble, too. The Swiss are good with money, I'm sure they'll take yours.

WK

Your itinerary sounds fine to me.

1) nessundorma gave you the website of the bus Malpensa - Lugano. It requires a reservation.

2) The drive from Lugano to St. Moritz is scenic, but the road is narrow, curvy, often in tunnels along Lake Lugano, and the Maloja Pass ascent is dotted with hair-pin curves. It is doable, but if you don't like driving you won't enjoy it. Another option is to take the Palm Express Postal bus. It is an Express Bus running Lugano - St. Moritz and vice versa, reservation required.

Lugano has an interesting old town section with some excellent shopping (expensive, though). There are several churches with stunning frescos (Sta. Maria degli Angeli, cathedral San Lorenzo) and picture galleries plus gardens along the lake and in the "suburbs" Castagnola, Cassarate, Paradiso. You might consider to go up by funicular to either Monte Bre or Monte San Salvatore to enjoy the panoramic views. Or do a short cruise on the lake, maybe to the picturesque villages of Gandria or Morcote. Too many options for just one day ...

4) If you are driving you should definitely do the quick sidetrip from Promontogno to Soglio - picturesque village with gorgeous views of the mountains. Another stop to consider is somewhere on the lakes between Maloja and St. Moritz, maybe park your car in Sils-Baselgia and walk to peninsula Chaste (1 hour) or explore Sils. Or stop in Plaun da Lej (between Maloja and Sils) and walk up to the hamlet Grevasalvas, the setting of a Heidi-movie.

5) It depends when you'll be there. There are often classical concerts in St. Moritz. Other options are to relax in a public spa in one of the hotels or gambling in the Casino in the Kempinski Grand Hotel. Or, for a special dining experience take the train/bus to Punt Muragl (or taxi) and from there the funicular up to Muottas Muragl, where you can have dinner overlooking the valley and watching the gorgeous sunset (weather permitting). The funicular is in operation till 11 pm.

The nightlife is more active in winter than in summer. But I am sure there are some bars/nightclubs open.

Thank you all very much. Your suggestions are very helpful.

Sorry, but I was answering the question of bus connections from Tirano to Lugano--that is the glitch.

Oops, I forgot the part about the bus from Tirano to Lugano. Yes, there is a bus operated by the Swiss folks (I guess it is the Rhaethian Railways) which runs from T. to L. It is air-conditioned and very comfortable. You need a reservation (small fee).