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Route · Lake Como & Lugano

Lake Como to St. Moritz and the Bernina Express

There is no direct train from Lake Como to St. Moritz — the Bernina line starts in Tirano, on the far side of the Valtellina valley. That is not a problem, but it decides how you plan the day. Here are the three ways that actually work.

Tirano
Where the line starts
~13 h
Full day from Como
3
Ways that work
See the three options Coming from Lugano?
  • No direct train — we say so first
  • One option skips Milan entirely
  • Back the same evening
Red Bernina Railway train passing an Italianate village in a green alpine valley on the line between Tirano and St. Moritz
Honest comparison
Live partner prices
2026 schedule
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How the Bernina line connects to Lake Como

The Bernina Railway runs between Tirano in Italy and St. Moritz in Switzerland, and on to Chur. Its Italian terminus is Tirano, at the top of the Valtellina valley — east of Lake Como, not on it. Whichever option you choose, the day begins with a transfer to Tirano or a coach over the pass.

The train section itself is short and spectacular: about 2 hours 15 minutes from Tirano up to St. Moritz, climbing from 430 metres to the Ospizio Bernina at 2,253 metres without a rack rail. That is the stretch every photo you have seen comes from.

If you want to reach Tirano on your own, the Valtellina rail line runs from the Milan and Lecco side through Colico — at the northern tip of Lake Como — up to Tirano. It works, but the connection times decide your whole day, so check the current timetable before you commit to it.

Three ways that actually work

Ordered by how much of the planning is taken off your hands. All three end up on the same railway with the same views — what differs is the transfer, the timing and how much freedom you keep.

Best from Lake Como

Guided day trip departing from Como

For travellers staying on Lake Como who do not want to add a Milan transfer to the day.

  • Meeting point in central Como, no Milan detour
  • Guaranteed seat in the panoramic Bernina Express carriage
  • About 2 hours 30 minutes of free time in St. Moritz
  • Roughly 12.5 to 13 hours door to door, back the same evening
from €187 per person
Book on GetYourGuide See full details →
If you are in Milan

Milan day trip with a Lake Como cruise

For travellers with one day in Milan who want the lake and the railway together.

  • Departs from Milan, so you need to get to Milan first
  • Morning boat cruise on Lake Como, then the Bernina Red Train
  • Free time in St. Moritz before the coach back
  • About 13 hours — the fullest of the three days
from €174 per person
Book on GetYourGuide See full details →
Cheapest

Do it yourself via Tirano

For travellers who like planning their own connections and want maximum flexibility.

  • Rail to Tirano via Colico on the Valtellina line
  • Red Train ticket Tirano to St. Moritz, valid all day
  • No reservation needed — take whichever Red Train suits you
  • Long day: the connection times, not the train, set the pace
from CHF 33 one-way, official RhB fare
Red Train tickets on RhB See the Tirano → St. Moritz route page →

Coming from Lugano: the Bernina Express bus

Lugano has its own connection. The official Bernina Express bus runs directly between Lugano and Tirano and is timed to meet the Bernina Express there. From Tirano you continue by rail to St. Moritz or all the way to Chur.

Bernina Express bus Lugano and Tirano, 2026 — official RhB times
Stop Bus 5950 (towards Tirano) Bus 5951 (towards Lugano)
Lugano Stazione Nord dep 10:00 arr 17:30
Tirano arr 13:00 dep 14:20

Operating days 2026: 26 Feb to 22 Mar (Thu to Sun) · 26 Mar to 25 Oct (daily) · 29 Oct to 22 Nov (Thu to Sun).

Fare in 2nd class: CHF 41 one-way, CHF 82 return, excluding seat reservation surcharges.

One thing to plan around: the bus reaches Tirano at 13:00 and leaves again at 14:20. That is enough to change onto the train, but not enough for a return trip up to St. Moritz and back on the same day. Lugano works best as one leg of a longer journey, not as a day-trip base.

What it costs in 2026

Official Rhätische Bahn fares for the sections you will actually use. Guided day trips are priced separately by the operator and already include the transfer.

Ticket Price (CHF) Note
Base fare St. Moritz to Tirano, 2nd class CHF 33 / CHF 66 One-way / return. Valid on the Red Train all day, no reservation needed
Bernina Express seat reservation, St. Moritz to Tirano CHF 32 Mandatory on the panoramic train, year-round rate, per person and direction
Red Train seat reservation (optional) CHF 5 Per person, any class — only if you want a guaranteed seat
Bernina Express bus Tirano to Lugano, 2nd class CHF 41 / CHF 82 One-way / return, excluding reservation surcharges

Children under 6 travel free and 6 to 16 pay half fare, but the reservation surcharge is always charged in full. Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card, GA, Interrail and Eurail are accepted on the base fare; the reservation surcharge is never included.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a direct train from Lake Como to St. Moritz?
No. The Bernina line starts in Tirano, east of Lake Como at the top of the Valtellina valley. Every option — guided tour or on your own — begins with a transfer to Tirano, or with a coach that drives over the pass to St. Moritz.
How long does the day take from Lake Como?
The guided day trip departing from Como runs about 12.5 to 13 hours, from the morning meeting point to the evening drop-off. Doing it yourself takes at least as long and usually longer, because you depend on the connections.
Do I have to travel via Milan?
No. There is a day trip that departs from central Como itself, which saves roughly two hours of coach time in each direction compared with a Milan departure. If you are staying on Lake Como, that is the option built for you.
Can I reach St. Moritz from Lugano?
Yes. The official Bernina Express bus runs from Lugano to Tirano in the morning and back in the afternoon, and connects with the Bernina Express in Tirano. Because the bus turns around in Tirano at 14:20, it works as one leg of a longer trip rather than as a same-day return to St. Moritz.
Is the panoramic Bernina Express better than the Red Train?
They run the same route and you see the same landscape. The Bernina Express has a curved glass roof and a guaranteed seat, but the reservation is mandatory and costs extra. The Red Train runs hourly, needs no reservation, has windows you can actually open for photos, and costs less.
Do I need my passport?
Yes. The line crosses the border between Italy and Switzerland, so bring a valid passport or national ID card even though the checks are usually informal.
Does it run in winter?
The Bernina line runs all year, and the winter landscape between Alp Grüm and the Bernina Pass is one of the reasons to go. The Bernina Express bus between Tirano and Lugano, however, is seasonal and does not run through the whole winter.

Other Bernina routes

Milan day trip to Bernina & St. Moritz
All five day trips compared
Tirano → St. Moritz
The train section, ticket by ticket
Bernina Express vs. Red Train: full comparison
Panoramic train or Red Train
2026 timetable
2026 departures on both lines

One day, one booking, back by evening

If you are staying on Lake Como, the Como-departure day trip is the shortest way onto the Bernina line: coach from the centre of Como, a guaranteed seat in the panoramic carriage, and back the same evening.

Book the day trip from Como Book Bernina Express on RhB