Scenic rail journeys
A guided day trip from Milan: coach to Tirano, the red Bernina train up past glaciers to St. Moritz, a walking tour and free time there, and back over the Maloja Pass.
This is the straightforward way to ride the Bernina line from Milan. A coach takes you to Tirano, the Italian border town where the line starts, and you ride the red train up into Switzerland: through Val Poschiavo, past the Diavolezza area and the Morteratsch Glacier, to St. Moritz.
You don’t just pass through the towns. There is a short guided walk in Tirano before the train, and a walking tour plus free time in St. Moritz. The coach then brings you home over the winding Maloja Pass, so the way back is scenic too.
Autostradale Viaggi runs the day with a guide who speaks English and Spanish, and personal headsets so you hear the commentary clearly.
Soon after Tirano the train turns a full circle on a stone viaduct to climb the narrow valley.
A green Swiss valley with its own lake and the town of Poschiavo.
Near the top of the line at 2,253 metres, the train runs along a high mountain lake.
A long view up the glacier as the train curves down towards the Engadin.
A walking tour and free time in the famous resort on its lake.
On the way home the coach drops down a road of tight hairpin bends towards Italy.
Morning, 07:15–08:15
Leave Milan by coach
Meet the group at Milano Centrale and drive north to Tirano.
Short stop
Guided walk in Tirano
A short guided tour of Tirano, the Italian border town where the Bernina line starts.
About 2.5 hours
The Bernina red train to St. Moritz
Ride the red train in 2nd class through Val Poschiavo, past the Diavolezza area and the Morteratsch Glacier, with windows you can open for photos.
About 1.5 hours
St. Moritz: walking tour and free time
See the centre with your guide, then enjoy the lake, lunch or the shops.
Evening
Back to Milan over the Maloja Pass
The coach crosses the Maloja Pass and returns to Milan in the evening.
9 ways to ride the Bernina line, side by side. Choose by where you start, which train you want and whether you’d like a guide.
| Trip | Starts from | Train | Guide | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernina Train Day Trip from Milan to St. MoritzBack over the Maloja Pass | Milan | Red train or Bernina Express (set by the operator) | Yes, English | About 11 hours |
| Lake Como Cruise, St. Moritz and Bernina Red Train from MilanWith a Lake Como boat cruise | Milan | Red train, 2nd class | Yes, English and Spanish | About 13 hours |
| Bernina Express and St. Moritz Day Trip from ComoPanoramic seat guaranteed | Como | Bernina Express, panoramic | Escort, English and Italian | About 12–13 hours |
| Bernina Red Train and St. Moritz Day Trip from Milan This tripGuided walks in Tirano and St. Moritz | Milan | Red train, 2nd class | Yes, English and Spanish | About 12 hours |
| Bernina Red Train and St. Moritz from Bergamo, Milan or LeccoAbout 2.5 hours in St. Moritz | Bergamo, Milan or Lecco | Red train, reserved carriage | Yes, English, Italian and Spanish | About 13 hours |
| Guided Bernina Red Train Tour to St. Moritz from MilanTime in Tirano and St. Moritz | Milan | Red train, 2nd class | Yes, English and Spanish, on the train | About 13 hours |
| Bernina Red Train Ticket from Tirano to St. MoritzAfternoon in St. Moritz | Tirano | Red train | No, ticket only | About 2.5 hours each way |
| Bernina Red Train Return Day Ticket: Tirano to St. MoritzStop along the way | Tirano | Red train | No, written mini-guide | About 2.5 hours each way |
| Bernina Red Train Ticket from St. Moritz to TiranoOne way or return | St. Moritz | Red train, 1st or 2nd class | No, ticket only | About 2.5 hours each way |
BusForFun stop, Piazza IV Novembre, by Milano Centrale
Piazza IV Novembre, at the corner of Hotel Gallia, 20124 Milan, Italy
The coach leaves from the BusForFun stop beside Milan’s central station, at the corner of Hotel Gallia. The operator lists departures between 07:15 and 08:15, so check the exact time on your voucher and arrive 15 minutes early.
The operator says this tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. Expect about 12 hours, with long coach drives, a 2.5-hour train ride and short walks.
Children aged 2 to 12 have their own ticket. Infants under 2 travel free but have no seat of their own and sit on an adult’s lap. Pets are not allowed.
The Bernina line runs all year, through green summers and snowy winters. Pick a date in the booking box to check availability. In winter, snow can slow the coach on the passes.
Autostradale Viaggi
The Bernina train ride from Tirano to St. Moritz takes about 2.5 hours. The whole day trip from Milan takes about 12 hours.
No, this trip uses the Bernina red train, the regular train on the same line, in 2nd class. You see the same views and can open the windows. The panoramic Bernina Express needs a paid seat reservation and isn’t part of this trip.
The train usually runs from Tirano up to St. Moritz, and the coach brings you home. The operator says it may switch the train section when trains are busy, for example St. Moritz to Tirano, or a section towards Thusis or Campocologno.
The tour starts at the BusForFun stop on Piazza IV Novembre, next to Milano Centrale station, at the corner of Hotel Gallia. Departures are between 07:15 and 08:15; your voucher shows the exact time.
Yes, you need a valid passport or EU identity card, because the trip crosses from Italy into Switzerland and back.
You get about 1.5 hours in St. Moritz, including a walking tour with your guide. That is enough for the lake and a quick lunch.
No, food and drinks are not included. Most people eat in St. Moritz during the free time.
Yes, the same operator runs a longer day that adds a morning boat cruise on Lake Como: see the Lake Como cruise, St. Moritz and Bernina red train.
Yes, you can cancel or change for free up to 24 hours before departure, according to the operator. You see the terms for your date before you pay.
Autostradale Viaggi, a coach and tour company based in Milan, runs this tour. You book and pay securely through our booking partner. St. Moritz Tours doesn’t run this tour; we explain it here to help you choose.
Details checked on . Tour details can change, and the booking page always shows the current information before you pay.
Scenic rail journeys
Scenic rail journeys
Scenic rail journeys