PalenQ

It doesn't make much sense to do the Bernina Express ride if you don't want to stay in the area through wich it passes.>

Well I disagree - if you can only take the train ride do it - the most awesomely scenic train ride in Europe IMO - but I agree with neckevrd that it is a far far better even experience if you do a whole day or two days of it as yes getting to the glacier and other spots a few miles away make this experience even greater.

But if you can only do the train trip go for it! And it is a novel way to get to Italy from Switzerland so could be utilitarian as well.

mokka4

I, too, like your Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen and Montreux base choices. There are SO many fine daytrips available from each! I have personally rented apartments in Brunnen, Bern, Brienz, Lungern and Pontesina over the years. Especially LOVED the "B" towns, which will be accessible to you!

neckervd

Bernina Express as a day trip from Lauterbrunnen would look like that:
Lauterbrunnen dp 5.33am - Interlaken 6.00 - Spiez 6.36 - Brig 7.44 - Milan 9.35/10.20 - Tirano 12.50/14.04 - Chur 18.27/18.38 - Zurich 20.02 - Berne 21.07 - Interlaken 22.02 - Lauterbrunnen ar 22.22. Dining car Zurich - Berne and Berne - Interlaken.

Enjoy!

PalenQ

Obviously it is virtually impossible to do the Bernina Express as a day trip from the Interlaken area - if wanting to do that stay overnight in St Moritz or Pontresina and make it a bit more leisurely.

kenav

Note that you can go to the places on the Bernina Express without having to take the Bernina Express. Just a regular Swiss train. No need for reservations.

Deb15July

Thanks all...the one day trip would be a little much. So I am now thinking that we could take two nights away from our three bases of Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen and Montreux. I would be most inclined to do one each from Lucerne and Montreux and leave five for Lauterbrunnen.

So what options would work best to use the Bernina route and would we do best to start from Lucerne or Lauterbrunnen?

I also came up with another option that would include the Bernina, but it would give us two nights in Lugano or Bellizona. We could take the Wilhelm Tell to Bellizona or Lugano and then use the train that goes thru Italy to get to Lauterbrunnen.

Any thoughts?

kja

I don't think I fully understand why traveling the Bernina route is such a high priority for you that you are willing to cut your time in other areas, and I wonder what opportunities you will be sacrificing to make this particular experience part of this particular trip. To be clear, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience of the Bernina route - and of Lugano and Bellinzona and elsewhere, but then, my trip was much longer and it included some time to explore the Ticino and the Engadine. I think we would be better positioned to comment on options if we understood your goals a bit better.

kleeblatt

Thoughts? Stop adding more destinations to your trip and enjoy the few bases. Trains get boring quickly and the Bernina express is not worth changing your tight itinerary for. And after awhile, the mountains begin to start looking the same.

Deb15July

Ok...so much for thoughts. Thanks for the input...I'll stick to our three bases.

PalenQ

So what options would work best to use the Bernina route and would we do best to start from Lucerne or Lauterbrunnen?>

If going to Chur to get to St Moritz and Bernina land Lucerne is by far much closer timewise by train - a short train ride from Zurich where you get direct trains to Chur where you change trains because of a track gauge difference - from normal gauge to narrow gauge trains that go to St Moritz and or Pontresina - both served by Bernina Express trains.

neckervd

Bernina Express as a day trip from Lucerne would look like that:

Lucerne dp 5.28am - Thalwil 6.15/6.21 - Chur 7.43/8.32 - Tirano 12.36/14.20 - Lugano 17.30/19.12 - Lucerne ar 21.41
resp.
Lucerne dp 6.18 - Lugano 8.47/10.00 - Tirano 13.00/14.04 - Chur 18.27/18.38 - Zurich 20.04 - Lucerne ar 20.49

Enjoy!