From Como: Bernina Panoramic Express & St. Moritz

About This Experience

This tour starts in Como, not Milan. The coach leaves Viale Innocenzo XI in the morning and drives about 2.5 hours along Lake Como and up to St. Moritz. The listing promises about 2.5 hours of free time there for a walk by the lake, some shopping or a pastry; the itinerary plans 1.5 hours, so expect something in between. A guide speaking Italian and English travels with you.

In the afternoon you board the Bernina Express, the panoramic train, bound for Tirano. Your place in a panoramic coach is guaranteed and confirmed at booking, but seats are not assigned and first-class upgrades are not included. The glass curves into the roof and the windows do not open. The ride takes about 2.5 hours on the itinerary: past the Morteratsch Glacier, over the top of the line at 2,253 m, through Poschiavo and around the Brusio circular viaduct.

In Tirano you get a short stop, about 20 minutes on the itinerary, near the Madonna di Tirano sanctuary and the old center. The coach then drives about 2.5 hours back to Como, arriving late in the evening. In total you spend about five hours on the coach and 2.5 on the train. If you want dinner in Tirano, eat earlier: one stop of about 20 minutes leaves time for a coffee and photos, not a meal.

This is the tour for travelers staying on Lake Como who want the panoramic train and do not want to travel to Milan first. It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and pets are not allowed. If you prefer windows you can open, the red-train tours from Milan cost less. From late October to late February the afternoon train runs into early dusk, so some views fade on the way down.

Highlights

• Ride the panoramic Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Tirano
• Start from Como without a trip into Milan
• See the Morteratsch Glacier and cross the line's high point at 2,253 m
• Circle the Brusio circular viaduct on the way into Italy
• Walk the lakefront of St. Moritz on your free time

What's Included

• ✓ Bernina Express ticket with a guaranteed place in a panoramic coach
• ✓ Round-trip coach from Como (Viale Innocenzo XI, B&B Hotel City Centre)
• ✓ Guide on board all day (Italian and English)
• ✓ About 2.5 hours of free time in St. Moritz (not on the lunch option)
• ✓ Stop in Tirano near the Madonna di Tirano sanctuary and old center
• ✓ Valtellina lunch with pizzoccheri at Diavolezza (lunch option only)

Not Included

• Assigned seats on the Bernina Express
• First-class upgrade
• Meals and personal expenses in St. Moritz and Tirano
• Entrance fees to attractions
• Hotel pickup (Como city-center meeting point only)

What to Bring

• Passport or national ID card
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Warm layer
• Camera

Good to Know & Caveats

• Carry a passport or national ID card: the day crosses the Swiss–Italian border twice, and the operator requires the document.
• This tour departs from Como only; the Milan version is a separate tour.
• The panoramic coach is guaranteed at booking, but individual seats are not assigned.
• You cannot choose your seat side on the train. Many travelers suggest the right-hand side going south (St. Moritz to Tirano) and the left going north, but you take what is free.
• Panoramic windows do not open, and reflections on the glass are common in photos.
• From late October to late February, early sunsets can cut afternoon visibility, and some St. Moritz shops keep reduced hours in spring and autumn.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

Meeting Point

Viale Innocenzo XI 13 in Como, in front of the B&B Hotel City Centre; arrive 15 minutes before departure.