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!

If someone is just going to the Jungfrau Region rather than the Berner Oberland Pass or as well as I would investigate the Jungfraubahn Pass - more validities of value in the Jungfrau Region than the more wide-ranging Berner Oberland Pass.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ain-passes.cfm

I suppose you mean the Jungfrau VIP Pass for 235 CHF/260 USD?
http://shop.jungfrau.ch/en/tickets/bergbahn/vip-pass

http://www.swisspasses.com/railpass/...rau-unlimited/

Well this Jungfraubahn Pass for 6 days for $290 p.p. adult - think you get a discount with a Swiss Pass.

Please allow me to piggy-back on this question. We will be in Varenna for a couple of nights, then take the Bernina Express in Tirano (dep 2:0pm) that arrives in Chur @6:27pm, catch the 7:16pm train that arrives in Wengen at 11:44pm - is this a crazy but doable plan? Thanks.

Doable unless one of the late last connections is missed - the 7:16 pm train that arrives in Wengen actually of courser involves I'd say at least three changes of train - Zurich, Interlaken-Ost, Lauterbrunnen - if you are not stuck on taking the official Bernina Express consider taking an earlier local train over the same scenery and putting more fudge factor time into an otherwise IMO too tight itinerary for that day.

I actually like the local trains - no reservations needed just hop on any one with a ticket - the official Bernina Express IME is often chock full with tour groups - thus you are stuck in your seat - on the local trains there are usually lots of empty seats and you can hop back and forth as the scenery dictates - these regional trains leave about every hour - make it easier for you (milaedog) and take an earlier train - the scenery is the same and the windows large on regional trains - otherwise you may risk getting stuck somewhere if a train is late and you miss the last connection, etc.

Well just a thought.

Milaedg:
why do you want to stop over at Chur during 50 min? You can do almost nothing there in such a short time.
I would just board the connecting train Chur dp 18.38 (same platform) - Zurich ar 19.53, leave Zurich at 20.02, Berne at 21.07 (same platform), arrive at Interlaken Ost at 21.57, at Lauterbrunnen at 22.22 and at Wengen at 22.44.

I would rather leave Varenna at 7.24, however, arrive at Tirano at 8.50 and go on either by Bernina Express dp 10.03 or by standard train dp 9.40 and arrive at St. Moritz at 12.17 resp 12.09.
You may also take the standard trains Varenna dp 9.24 - Tirano 10.50/11.27 - St. Moritz ar 14.09.
St. Moritz dp 13.02, 14.37, 15.02, 16.37 - Wengen ar 19.51, 20.44, 21.44, 22.44

If taking the official Bernina Express be sure to make your mandaotry reservation well in advance as those trains, so popular with tour groups, often sell out IME. Regular trains are never a problem boarding - always empty seats IME.

@PalenQ and neckervd: Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this overly-ambitiously plan.
@nekervd: My heart is set on taking the Bernina Express all the way to Chur because I really wanted to go thru the Landwasser viaduct. I was not aware of the the 18:38 train from Chur - that sounds better. I think I would rather spend my evening on the train to Wengen than spend the night in Chur - I hope that the trains will arrive and depart like clockwork....
Thanks again!

regular trains too go over the Albula Pass line with the Landwasser viaduct en route to Chur - take the earliest trains whatever type is my suggestion. IME the official Bernina Express is not worth the trouble aiming for if it sets back your itinerary so tight.

The Albula Pass line is a UNESCO World Heritage site for for 1900 or so a prodigious feat of railway engineering.

I stayed in Chur once -not a bad town - an average town for Switzerland which means nice but rather boring at night.

One bit of potentially useful advice - if you're doing the last rail connection from Interlaken-Ost to Wengen not that you first board the Lauterbrunnen train but that train and the one to Grindelwald are hooked together and split half-way up, with one half trundling up to Grindelwald and the other to Lauterbrunnen. Be SURE you are on the right half - with outside of cars marked Luaterbrunnen and not Grindelwald - I've taken these trains many times and there are always flummoxed folks told to scurry off the train at the breaking point and get in the right car - late at night there may not be a conductor to remind folks so get in the Lauterbrunnen wagon so you do not end up over the Mannlichen mountain from Wengen with no way to get back!

Thanks for that very important tip! We'll make sure to pay attention to the train car markings!

Once again: there is absolutely no need to leave Varenna so late and to arrive at Wengen with the last but one train (the itinerary is scenic and should therefore better be done by daylight).

ditto to what neckervd says!

@neckervd and PalenQ: After mulling over your suggestions and reading many reviews, we decided to heed your advice. I really wanted to experience the BE, but the stressful schedule, cars chockfull of people (and windows you can't open (!), I hear), we will take the first non-stop train from Varenna, (then Tirano to Chur on the regional train) and arrive in Wengen before 7pm. Thanks.

right windows on the Panoramic BE cars don't open as they are climate controlled I believe - in summer on local trains there are some that are open-air cars - basically flatbed cars with railings but these which I have ridden are the ultimate panoramic car!

Thank you PalenQ and Neckervd for the great insight regarding trains,passes, etc!
Is there urgency in booking or is it doable to get tix just few weeks ahead?
thank you again

Neckervd and Palo and all, thx for replies but need some clarification. If buying a SWiss Pass, should I purchase that and use that as my train tix? But that wouldn't apply to Venice/Stresa part of trip, correct? I would need to buy regular tix for that and then just show Swiss Pass for the Stresa/Spiez leg? Sorry for confusion.
Also, any reason to take first class vs. second?
thanks again!

right Swiss Passes only pass on Swiss portions of the train - from Domodossola, Italy all the way to Wengen - just show your pass to the Swisws conductor - you need not get off the train to activate your pass since the rule says that everyone must validate (activate) their pass before boarding their first train but in the case of being on a train coming from another country then, and only then, will the Swiss conductor activate it on the train.

You will need an Italian ticket for Venice Santa Lucia to Domodossola - www.trenitalia.com for full and discounted fares.

Also, any reason to take first class vs. second?>

Well yes - first class always is a more relaxed ride than 2nd class - that said in Switzerland the difference is not nearly as great as in other countries - basically always a lot of empty seats in first class and bigger seats - easy to stow luggage - on an empty seat - 2nd class can always be quite full (or may not).

but where you are going - Wengen - the trains around there has a very tiny first-class section or none at all - so since you are not taking many long-distance trains (where the benefits of first class are more appreciated - I think you'll find 2nd class just dandy.