The Bernina Express is absolutely stunning. This entire European train ride is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its stunning beauty, ingenuity, and history. On our most recent trip to Milan, we decided to spend our wedding anniversary up in the Swiss Alps on this beautiful train, and we had an absolutely fantastic time.
I mean, we love Milan (as you can see in our Milan Travel Guide), and we chose to leave for a day to take this train. Needless to say, we didn’t regret it! If you’re on the fence, thinking “is Bernina Express worth it?” you can hop right off of it, because the answer is a resounding yes.
Is the Bernina Express worthy it? The answer is a resounding yes.
This post is not about the Bernina Express itself, but rather how to ride the Bernina Express as a day trip from Milan. So, if you are wondering “Can you do Bernina Express in one day?” the answer is definitely yes!
For more information on the Bernina Express itself, including how to book tickets, check out my informational blog post on the Bernina Express. If you’re asking yourself “How do I take Bernina Express from Milan?” this post was written just for you.
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Follow us along in our vlog from our amazing time on The Bernina Express and in St. Moritz!
Can You Do Bernina Express in One Day?
The Bernina Express is about a three hour train ride. This is pretty short, all things considered, and it can definitely be done in one day. However, the thing that you need to consider is where you are starting from.
The train ride itself may only be three hours, but the transportation from your accommodation to the stop where you get on and then the transportation back to your accommodation from where you get off can add significant time to your day.
If you follow the steps that I outline in this post, you will absolutely be able to do the Bernina Express in one day from Milan. It just takes some coordination on your part, but that is what this post is for! I think it is well worth the time, and I even included the Bernina Express on my list of the best day trips from Milan.
How Do I Take Bernina Express from Milan?
To take the Bernina Express from Milan, you will first need to get to St. Moritz, Switzerland. While the train does run in both directions, it is best to take the train from St. Moritz, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy if you want to do it as a day trip from Milan.
This is because the trains do not run very late in the evening or early in the morning, and taking the train from Tirano to St. Moritz doesn’t leave you much time at all in St. Moritz. St. Moritz is a beautiful town, and you should try to maximize your time there. The most up to date train times can be seen directly on the Bernina Express’ website.
Hopefully this post answered any questions you have about doing the Bernina Express as a day trip from Milan. While it is undoubtedly a long day, it is worth every second of traveling and is a really stunning journey. If you have any questions about doing the Bernina Express as a day trip from Milan, reach out by dropping a comment below! Otherwise, thanks for reading and have a wonderful day.
If you’re planning a take the Bernina Express, let us know! Especially if you are traveling with kids! We’d love to chat ahead of time and answer any questions you have. Otherwise, have a wonderful day and stay present!
Nicole
Hello! Just a question, I have been tossing up booking a ‘Swiss Alps Bernina Express Rail tour from Milan’ or to do the day trip on our own as you have described. Whilst a tour will be less stress on us, I’m worried that we will have very limited time in St Moritz to explore. Would love your opinion.
Greg
Hey Nicole! My answer highly depends on your situation. If you have a large group (like a family with kids) or you are less comfortable navigating around Italian/Swiss transportation, I’d recommend the tour. You will have very little time in St. Moritz this way, but at least you get the views from the train. If you are a bit more flexible and able to get around various means of transportation, I HIGHLY recommend getting there yourself. By taking the earliest possible route to St. Moritz (which includes 2-3 different trains AND a bus), you can have about 5-6 hours in the city before boarding the Bernina Express to head back to Milan. This is what we did (with a 6-month-old, I’ll add – so it is doable!) and we wouldn’t do it any other way. But we are also professional travelers, so our comfort level could be different. Please feel free to either send me an email or Instagram message if you have any more questions!
Helen Dickenson
Hi Greg,
I am nearly 70 and was wanting to do the Bernina Express but was wondering if the train from Milan to Tirano and then St Moritz would be better than Train and Bus before taking the Bernina Express back from St Moritz to Tirano and then on to Milan. Bus travel is not kind to older knees and sitting for long periods whereas by train at least you can stand in the aisle and walk along the corridors
kind regards
Helen
Greg
Hey Helen,
I absolutely understand that concern. The timetables make this very complicated to do in one day, as you’d only have a couple of hours to actually experience St. Moritz. However, it can be doable if that is what you prefer! The bus ride isn’t very long and it is very spacious, so even with older knees, I recommend it. You can always stand if you need!
Nurit
Hi,
We are a couple with 3 kids. Can we park at Tirano and get on the train there? Obviously would need to return to Tirano as well. Thank you
Greg
Hi Nurit,
You can absolutely park in Tirano and catch the train there. It is a lovely little town with plenty of places to park. Just try to catch the earliest possible train if you plan to return on the same day, as you probably won’t get much time in St. Moritz otherwise!