Venice to Wegen Switerzerland-suggestion for overnight near lake como
 

Taking train from Venice to Wegen (haven't booked yet so suggestions here helpful too) and would like to stay overnight near Lake Como or Lugano.
Thoughts/suggestions?

Where are you going after Lake Como and why only one night?

Is Lake Como a pit stop on the way to Wengen?

You could combine an overnight mid-lake (i.e., Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio) with a continuation the next day to Tirano and then the Bernina Express for spectacular scenery. Only problem is that would require a somewhat roundabout route after arriving in Switzerland to actually get to Wengen.

How about an overnight at Stresa and then onward through Brig?

Stresa on Lake Maggiore would make more sense than either Lugano or Como.

Venice to Wengen is quite doable in one day so I am with flygirl in asking why are you planning to stop? If you want to visit the Lake Como area, obviously one night is not enough time to do so.

Here are the times needed for fly/train/bus/car.
http://www.rome2rio.com/s/Venice/Wengen

One night is better than NONE at all IMO. But I do think Stresa would be easier and the rail connections would be optimal. If you go by rail you are going to go through Stresa anyway.

Venice - Switzerland trains stop at Peschiera del Garda and at Gallarate, from where you can reach Stresa in a few minutes by a connecting locala train. Direct trains from Stresa to Spiez (Bernese Oberland, where you will have to change trains anyway fro Wengen).
Peschiera is a very nice place at lake Garda whereas Stresa is the pearl of Lake Maggiore.
Both places offer stuff for many days.
Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore are at least as beautiful as Lake Como.
Don't waste your time by a detour to Lake Como if you have only 2 days to spend (train journey included).

thanks for all your replies and info. I wish we could stay longer by the lakes but rental in WEgen starts on Aug 4th. We are staying overnight in Stresa now thanks to your recommendations.
Will look into the trains per Neckervd suggestion and do Venice/Peshiera del Garda/Stresa then Stresa/Spiez.
Love the rome2rio website too. Thanks all!

Forget Peschiera and go directly to Stresa if you want to stay there.
Venice dp by train 7.50, 8.50, change at Milan. Later trains (about every hr until 18.20) don't make much sense if you want to pass the afternoon at Lake Maggiore.
Stresa - Wengen: 10 daily connections
http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

Yes Stresa makes perfect sense and Lake Maggiore is IME just as sweet as Lake Como - the three Borromean Islands just off shore at Stresa are a must and can be seen in a few hours if need by - frequent boats from Stresa.

Now for the Swiss part - since you are staying in Wengen four days and then presumably going somewhere else in Switzerland take a look at the Swiss Pass, which not only covers trains but lake boats (great excursions on either of the two lakes bookending Interlaken! and also pass on postal buses, city buses and trams and gives free entry to 470 Swiss museums such as the stellar Ballenberg Open-Air museum - very popular museum of old Swiss ways with many old farm buildings, workshops etc in a lovely setting overlooking Lake Brienz - entry there costs about $25!

But a Swiss Pass covers train travel in full to Wengen and if using that as a base to go around the area you may use the train to Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken a lot - also fully valid Lauterbrunnen to Murren and Gimmelwald and gives 50% off aerial gondolas, etc.

Anyway for lots of great info on European and Swiss trains check out these IMO fine surces: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. There is for Switzerland also a Half-Fare Card and Swiss Card, etc.

If coming from Stresa and having a Swiss Pass just buy an Italian ticket to Domodossola for a few euros and then have the Swiss Pass pick up - change off the Brig to Bern mainline at Spiez for Interlaken-Ost, train station you hop on tiny mountain trains to Lauterbrunnen where you again must change for Wengen - again covered 100% by a Swiss Pass.

When we went from Lake Como to Wengen we picked up the train in Como, stopped at the Swiss Border, and the ticket person there advised us of the proper ticket to buy after I told her about our plans for the Jungfraujoch, the amount of time we were spending in CH and our train plans. It worked out well and we saved a bundle.

What kind of ticket did you buy flygirl - tickets, a pass, half-fare - curious?

What kind of ticket did you buy flygirl - tickets, a pass, half-fare - curious?

This was four years ago - I don't remember! I just did as I was told and was happy with the result. It was a pass, I think, and you flashed it and paid less - I told her my itinerary and she did the math and it worked out.

It helped with the Jungfraujoch and trains in general. Maybe it was half price, can't recall.

" we picked up the train in Como, stopped at the Swiss Border"
Impossible to understand, as Como is situated at the Swiss border. Citybuses through the whole town of Como up to the Swiss railway station of Chiasso every 10 min or so.

Swiss Pass:
Palen may be right.
But if Sinoll goes to Jungfraujoch and flies back after having visited Bernese Oberland (from BRN, ZRH or GVA), the Bernese Oberland Pass may be the better solution, as it grants free rides

from Brig up to Wengen (scenic itinerary via Kandersteg only),
from Wengen up to Lucerne, Berne, Berne airport and Gstaad,
from Brienz to Brienzer Rothorn - Soerenberg - Schuepfheim and then to either Lucerne or Konolfingen - Oberdiessbach - Thun,
on Lake Brienz and Lake Thun,

and half fare from

Gstaad to Montreux, Les Diablerets, Glacier 3000,
Brig to Andermatt, Airolo, Nufenen Pass, Gotthard Pass, Grimsel Pass, Furka Pass,
Meiringen to Andermatt, Airolo, Nufenen Pass, Gotthard Pass, Grimsel Pass, Furka Pass, Sustgen Pass,
Meiringen to Engstlenalp - Jochpass - Truebsee - Titlis,
Lucerne to Engelberg - Truebsee - Titlis ........
http://www.regiopass-berneroberland....ich_web_13.pdf
http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/offer-2014/

Neckervd and PalenQ, I'm surprised to not have seen you comment on this thread, did you miss it?
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-september.cfm

dulce:

thanks for the mention of that thread which I did see but since I know nothing much about that area - Murten and the lakes - I had nothing to contribute - it is a place I've always wanted to explore - having only passed thru it quickly. And I know the OP is an experienced Swiss traveler so knows pretty much all about half-fare cards, passes, trains, etc.

Thanks sweet exasperis. There is so much to do and to see in the Region des 3 Lacs that I just didn't have the time to give a good answer: Fete des Vendanges de Neuchatel, Lesesonntage Twann, Schafis, etc. reduced automn time table of the 2 main boat companies, new museum exhibitions.......
I shall come back within a few days.

Ah Switzerland - so so many passes and cards to decide between - regional ones, national ones - ahhhhhhh!