Would I miss anything important between Chur and St. Moritz if I decide to take the train at St Moritz (Or Davos)?
From reading other posts in the forum, it seems Bernina Express is worth taking. But since I live in Zurich, I can't decide whether to take it from Chur, or from St. Moritz or Davos. It seems catching it later might mean waking up a little later on a Saturday morning since the BE travels at 20 mph.
Are you taking a car or only train ?
Bernina Express - it is the train. I'd suggest from Chur.
I think, I heard somewhere it's included in GA coverage?
is that true?
Yes, the GA covers it - taken from official website:
Observations
Fares include VAT, but exclude seat reservation fees Travel at half-fare with the half-rate season ticket The junior ticket allows your children up to the age of 16 to travel free of charge if accompanied by at least one parent GA and day tickets are valid Groups of ten persons and more receive a 20% discount, plus one free ticket for every nine paying passengers Group reservations cannot be guaranteed free seats Valid passport or ID card required for Tirano (l) border crossing We reserve the right to amend fares BUT requires a reservation fee:
Chur / Davos - Tirano - Chur / Davos
CHF 09.00 per person and single journey
St. Moritz - Tirano - St. Moritz
CHF 09.00 per person and single journey
Bus Tirano - Lugano - Tirano
CHF 12.00 per person and single journey
Just to let you know, all trains from chur-st.mortiz run with bernina express and all trains from st.mortiz - chur also run with bernina express, or am i getting confused, because its the only train for this route.
Chur to St. Moritz is definitely worth including if you can.
This section includes the Landwasser Viaduct and the Albula Pass with the Preda spiral tunnels
Yes, take it from Chur. It's a lovely trip, I hope you enjoy it.
Definitely Chur. The Albula line is definitely one of the best in Switzerland for scenery, and the transition through the different types of landscape is something you miss if you start only in Sankt Moritz.
Something I've done with visitors in the past is get a hotel in Sankt Moritz or Pontresina and do the whole line on one day while using the hotel stay to break the return trip and not having to spend too much time in trains in a single day. Alternatively you can think about a round trip so as not to have to go over the same line twice. For example there is a highly senic postal bus from Sankt Moritz to Lugano.
yes, it is. You might still have to pay resevation fees or supplements though.
Thanks everyone. It seems like Chur is the place to start.
I don't have a GA subscription but I have a halb-tax card. Planning to also take the bus from Tirano to Lugano but can't decide whether to stay the night there or take the train by the quick route. I will probably buy a day travel card seeing it seems to cover the Tirano-Lugano bus fare. Need to inquire at the SBB desk though.
I took the Bernina Express this Weekend from Chur to Tirano, then the Postbus to Lugano and the train back to Zürich.
The GA covers, but you still have to pay the Seat reservation which is CHF9 per person, and if you take the Postbus too, you need another Seat Reservation of CHF 12 per person.
Some of the normal trains running that route have 1 or 2 Panorama wagons, and there the seat reservation is just CHF5, but as far as i know, it is only the one ttrain they call "Bernina Express" that has a bus connection to Lugano. I can recommend the bus trip as well, as it is a beautyful scenery at the Como Lake, and seeing the Postbus navigate on the narrow streets there and up to Lugano was an interesting experience.
Doc.
Ps. the deerest Pizza on the Menu card in Tirano was only 7 Euro - cheaper than at our subsideced canteen here in ZH.
I recall eating a fantastic meal in Tirano for far less than in Switzerland. You will probably get the price of the ticket supplement back in the saving on the cost of lunch.
Definitely. Pizza and Beer in Tirano = 11 Euros
Doc.
Food in Italy is definitely much cheaper than in CH, but often not quite as much as it may at first seem as many restaurants will also apply additional charges that are hidden somewhere in the small print of the menu. I'm used to it now but for first time visitors it can sometimes be a shock to see additional items appear on the bill.
Notwithsatnding, going for a meal in Tirano is definitely to be recommended.
Silly me!! I see what you mean, for some reason I thought Chur was to the west of Zurich. From double-checking the map, I can see that it is on the way to St. Moritz anyway and to go to St Moritz, I need to go through Chur!!!
: ) ......
Another question to those who have been to Lugano on the bus from Tirano: After arriving at Lugano at 17:30, do you think there is time to take the cable car to Monte Bre and take a walk to Gandria before the sun sets? We are planning to return to Zurich on the same day?
Edit: Seems the last cable car is at 17:05.
Last spring I took the BEX from Chur to Tirano arriving at 13:15, and then a bus to Lugano that left at 14:30, arriving Lugano Bhf at 17:00 ( narrow road with traffic issues ) in time to see the last cable car arriving there at 17:05. Took the 17:12 train back to Zurich.
To me, the Chur leg became interesting only after Thussis, and especially the views of the glacier at the top most station prior to descent to the smaller towns. Train actually goes through the towns like a tram. At the spiral, watch out for an igloo like construction, which is said to have kept wine and cheese at one time.
I am sure you will enjoy it, and let us know how it went for you.
Did that last year, great trip in the Bernina, good lunch in Tirano (bit rushed so we could catch the bus) & excellent evening meal in Lugano.
Negatives
1. I was with 4 friends & the Bernina Express ran out of bottles of wine in the first hour
2. The CIS Alpino from Lugano to Zurich was over an hour late on arrival.