St. Moritz, the most luxurious resort destination of Switzerland, is Popular among the jet sets worldwide. It is a great little town nestled in the Engadin valley of Switzerland at 1856 meters from Sea level. St. Moritz is truly gifted with natural beauty and has unique things to offer its visitors, whether you are visiting in Summer or Winter. The town is picturesque and has a dramatic view from every corner of the town. In summer, you will be greeted by the beautiful lake surrounded by lush green landscapes and guarded by snow-capped mountains. In winter, it turns into a snow-white fairytale town and attracts winter sports enthusiasts from every corner of the world. St. Moritz also hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948.
St. Moritz is located not so far from the neighbouring country of Italy. It is easily reachable from the charming Italian city of Milan through one of the most scenic train routes in the world and in the popular Panoramic train “The Bernina Express”. The train route of Bernina Express is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
If you are stationed in Milan and have one spare day from your leisure trip or a business trip, then a day trip to St. Moritz from Milan is always a rewarding idea filled with the breathtaking experience of a train Journey through the Alps.
This article is focused on how to plan a perfect self-guided day trip to St. Moritz from Milan. If you don’t want to have a hustle of self-guided trips, we recommend you try any of the following guided day trips to St. Moritz from Milan.
St. Mortiz from Milan with free time in St. Moritz and Tirano (Duration: 12 Hours)
St. Mortiz from Milan with free time in only St. Moritz (Duration: 13 Hours)
St. Mortiz from Milan via Lake Como with cruise in lake Como (Duration: 13 Hours)
In this article, we have covered everything you need to know including information on Italian trains, Bernina Express and what to see when you reach St. Moritz from Milan during a day trip. We have also covered tips for the views to look for while on the Bernina Express and how to manage your time productively for your day trip to St. Moritz from Milan. Remember that the Day trip to St. Moritz from Milan is about the journey through the UNESCO World Heritage Train route and not about exploring St. Moritz. However, you will have some free time exploring St. Moritz as well.
So, let's Begin our journey to St. Moritz from Milan through one of the most enchanting train routes in the world!
Reaching Tirano from Milan (Intermediate stop to Reach St. Moritz from Milan):
It will be a long day (Probably the most exciting long day of your life), therefore prepare yourself to leave your home as early as possible. To reach St. Moritz from Milan, you need to reach Tirano in Italy and from Tirano, you will need to change to the Bernina Express or a regional train to reach St. Moritz. The train to Tirano departs from Milan’s Central train station called Milano Centrale. The train to Tirano departs every hour in the morning starting from 6.20 AM. The train to Tirano from Milan is a regional train that stops at every station and takes 2 hours and 35 Minutes to reach Tirano.
For a day trip to St. Moritz from Milan, I recommend you catch the train to Tirano departing no later than 7.20 AM from Milan to have a comfortable time exploring St. Moritz. If you can take the train departing at 6.20 AM, you will have a bonus time exploring St. Moritz.
The train journey to reach St. Moritz from Milan will take 5 hours (2 hours and 30 Minutes for each train) and consider 10 to 15 Minutes of additional connection time.
Pro tip: The train from Milan to Tirano also passes through the enchanting Lake Como. To have the best views of Lake Como, find a window seat on the left side of the train direction.
Tickets for train from Milan to Tirano:
The tickets for the regional train from Milan to Tirano can be purchased online at the official Trenitalia site, at Trenord ticket offices located at the ground floor of the station and Trenord ticket vending machines available at the station.
The one-way train ticket from Milan to Tirano costs 12.50 Euro per adult for 2nd class Wagen. The ticket price is fixed and there is no need to make any advance booking. You can sit anywhere on the train except the 1st class Wagen. The ticket for 1st class costs 19 Euro per adult.
Tirano and Connections to St. Moritz
Tirano has 2 train stations next to each other (one for Italian trains and one for Swiss trains). As soon as you reach the main train station of Tirano, exit the Italian train station and head to the Swiss train station right in front. The trains to St. Moritz including the Bernina Express depart from the Swiss train station in Tirano.
You will reach at approximately 8.52 AM in Tirano if you catch the train from Milan at 6.20 AM and at 9.52 AM if you catch the train from Milan at 7.20 AM.
You can find connections for trains to St. Moritz from Tirano that depart in the following Morning hours (Check the latest timing on Timetable and ticket purchase (rhb.ch).
9.00 AM: Regional Train
9.41 AM: Regional Train
10.06 AM: Bernina Express
11 AM: Regional Train
Difference between Regional train and Bernina Express to reach St. Moritz
Regional trains and Bernina Express pass through the same route to St. Moritz from Tirano. The Bernina Express is a special train with a special wagon where the windows are extended to have a panoramic view during the Journey and mandatorily needs seat booking. The regional trains are normal trains with normal windows, still big enough to get the Panoramic views. For regional trains, seat reservations are not required and you can sit anywhere.
Also, the regional train stops at all stations (19 Nos) and Bernina Express stops at a limited number of stations (5 Nos).
Pro tips:
1. I recommend you travel by regional train if you have an option and find a seat where you can open the window. It is far more exciting than the quiet Panoramic Wagons of Bernina Express.
2. Find a seat on the left side of the train direction for the journey from Tirano to St. Moritz and on the right side of the train from St. Moritz to Tirano to get the best views.
3. Don’t sit in the middle wagons of the train. Sit in the front or last Wagons of the train since when the train takes a turn, you can capture the whole train with the picturesque frame in the background.
The train ticket from Tirano to St. Moritz (without any discount card) costs 33 CHF Per adult. The ticket price is the same for the Bernina Express and the regional train. An additional seat reservation of Bernina Express costs 28 CHF per Adult. The train ticket does not need prior booking; however, the seat reservations for Bernina Express must be made in advance since they are very limited in numbers.
You can also reserve the seat in advance and book a train ticket later. The train ticket price does not change for Bernina Express and regional trains.
The train tickets for the regional train and Bernina express can be purchased at ticket counters at the train station or online at Timetable and ticket purchase (rhb.ch).
The seat booking for Bernina Express can be purchased online at Bernina Express - Shop (rhb.ch)
Children under the age of 6 years can travel for free. Children aged from 6 to 16 years can travel with half fare.
The Train Journey (No matter whether Bernina Express or not)
It’s the route that matters the most for a trip to St. Moritz from Milan than the train or Wagon to make your journey exceptional. The Trains to St. Moritz from Tirano pass through one of the most scenic train routes in the world. The fairytale train journey will surprise you with jaw-dropping views at every turn you take and every tunnel you pass. Sometimes it feels like you are changing the world when you pass from one tunnel to another. Also, the train route is the highest in Europe and steepest in the world. Keep your camera and phone battery fully charged to record the breathtaking views throughout the journey.
During the journey, keep an eye out for the following spots: -
Lago di Poschiavo: After 40 Minutes on the train from Tirano you will pass through the picturesque lake on the foot of mountains. A few minutes after the lake, the train will start its ascent on the mountains and you will get the beautiful panoramic views of the villages in the valley.
Alp Grum: 1 hour and 40 Minutes on the train and you will pass through the greenish landscapes of the Alps and sight of the hidden tiny lakes.
Ospizio Bernina: Perhaps the most stunning views you will get from the train after 2 hours when you reach Ospizio Bernina, the highest point of the Bernina Express. It is situated at 2253 meters above sea level. The Ospizio Benina is a train station with a breathtaking view of a huge lake “The Lago Bianco”. If you visit in peak winter, you will get the dreamy sight of frozen lakes and white mountains. Don’t forget to take photos of the train passing through the turns at Ospizo Bernina.
Monteratsch: A few minutes after the Ospizio Bernina, you will reach Monteratsch where you will be greeted with the stunning views of the glaciers.
Exploring St. Moritz
For the day trip to St. Moritz from Milan, you will have no more than 2 to 4 hours exploring St. Moritz. Therefore, keep it short and explore the basics to get a glimpse of the unique atmosphere of this rich Helmet.
If you are visiting in the summer, we recommend you start exploring St. Moritz with a stroll around the beautiful lake St. Moritzersee. The train station is located very close to the lake. If you visit in the Winter, you can walk directly on the frozen lake. Also, different winter sports activities happen on the lake including the popular horse racing of Europe “The White Turf”. You have to be lucky enough to visit St. Moritz during “The White Turf”.
After exploring the lake, you can head toward the St. Moritz Centre located on the hill but approachable by a series of escalators within 10 to 15 Minutes from the train station. The St. Moritz is a small town and can be easily explored on foot. St. Moritz is a popular resort destination for jet sets; therefore, you will find the shops of Popular luxury brands all over the town. Simply strolling through the town, especially through the Via Serlas which is the most popular street of St. Moritz would give you a glimpse of the wonderful atmosphere of the town. If time permits, you can also explore the Leaning Tower of St. Moritz and take a Souvenir picture of it from outside.
During the day trip to St. Moritz from Milan, it is recommended to grab a quick bite for your lunch since if you eat in restaurants, you will need time. Therefore, you can grab a Pizza or a Sandwich from the cafes of St. Moritz.
Don’t forget to get back at the train station in time to catch the return train to Tirano.
St. Moritz is worth exploring if you have a good time to spend. We recommend visiting St. Moritz and spending a couple of days exploring the naturally beautiful Engadin Valley.
Important Information: St. Moritz is located on the 1856 meter from the sea level. Therefore, the weather in St. Moritz is always colder throughout the year. Even in Summer months, the lowest temperature at night goes down to 2 to 5 Degrees. The maximum temperature during the peak summer months reaches 18 to 19 degrees. Therefore, always carry comfortable winter clothing when visiting St. Moritz.
Return Journey from St. Moritz to Tirano
Before starting to explore the St. Moritz, be sure to check the timings for return trains to Tirano and accordingly manage your time in St. Moritz. Let’s assume, you catch the Bernina Express from Tirano at 10.06 AM, then you will reach St. Moritz at 12.35 PM. Following are the train timing for return to Tirano from St. Moritz on the same day. Always Verify the latest timing on Timetable and ticket purchase (rhb.ch).
14.48: Regional Train, Tirano @ 17.00.
15.48: Reginal Train, Tirano @ 18.23
16.14: Bernina Express: Tirano @ 18.39
16.48: Regional Train, Tirano @ 19.00
The direct trains from Tirano to Milan have different times in the evening hours depending on Season, Maintenance works, weekends, etc. Therefore, always verify the latest train timing at EN - Trenitalia in advance before planning a day trip to St. Moritz from Milan. During the weekends of the summer season, the last train departs at 20.08 from Tirano and during the winter season, the last train departs at 18.08 from Tirano. Accordingly, plan your return journey based on the season you are visiting St. Mortiz from Milan.
To be on the safer side, you can catch the return train from St. Moritz to Tirano at 14.48 which will take you to Tirano @ 17.00. From Tirano, you can catch the confirmed train @ 18.08 which will take you back to Milan @ 20.40. You will have 1 hour to stroll through the Italian postcard town of Tirano.
If you don’t want to worry less about the train timings during the day trip to St. Moritz from Milan, then you can choose a guided day trip to St. Moritz from Milan. Your trip will be managed by the experienced Guide.
Your trip will end late, but you will thank yourself for experiencing this iconic day trip to St. Moritz from Milan.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is a day trip to St. Moritz from Milan tiring?
It will be a long day out if you are planning a day trip to St. Mortiz from Milan and it could be tiring too. However, it is equally rewarding as it is filled with the fairytale train journey through the Alps that you will never forget.
Which Guided tour is best for visiting St. Moritz from Milan?
There are multiple guided tour operators in Milan, however, we recommend you try the most popular operator with an excellence badge from Viator.
Is Bernina Express worth travelling?
Definitely yes, not because of the special train, but because of the route it passes through. You can also choose to travel by Reginal trains that use the same route instead of Bernina Express. You will save money from Mandatory seat booking.
How many hours are required for a day trip to St. Moritz from Milan?
You will need approximately 12 to 14 hours for a comfortable day trip to St. Moritz from Milan.
Is St. Moritz worth visiting from Milan?
Definitely yes, St. Moritz is one of the most beautiful towns in Switzerland and is located in the picturesque setting of Engadin Valley.
Do I need to Buy Tickets for Bernina Express in advance?
You need to mandatorily reserve the seats for Bernina Express in Advance. However, the train tickets can be purchased any time before or on the same day of the visit.
What is the difference between a train ticket and a seat booking on Bernina Express?
The train ticket is the normal train fare to reach from point to point. However, seat booking is an additional amount you need to pay to reserve your seat on Bernina Express. The seat booking is Mandatory for Bernina Express. Therefore, you will need to pay the Train fare + the fee for seat reservation if you are travelling through Bernina Express.
Can I travel by regional train instead of Bernina Express?
Yes, you can use regional trains using the same route instead of the Bernina Express. In the case of regional trains, you need to pay only train fare and sit anywhere you want. No need to pay any extra fee for seat reservations.
Which side of the train offers the best views of Bernina Express?
If you are travelling from Tirano to St. Moritz, be sure that you are sitting on the left side of the train direction to get the best views and on the right side of the train direction if you are travelling from St. Moritz to Tirano.
Is a day trip to St. Moritz from Milan expensive?
If you travel by regional trains instead of Bernina Express, you will need approximately 91 Euros for train fare for a day trip to St. Moritz from Milan including a return, Journey. If you travel by Bernina Express, you will need approximately 147 Euros for the return journey (food and shopping excluded).
Does a day trip to St. Moritz from Milan need advance booking?
Not Necessarily if you don’t use Bernina Express. You can travel to St. Moritz from Milan without advance booking through regional trains without any prior booking. However, if you want to travel through Bernina Express, then you will need to reserve your seat in advance.
We hope that you liked this Article and it will help you to plan a perfect day trip to St. Moritz from Milan. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. If you have any questions on the day trip to St. Moritz from Milan or any other place, then do not hesitate to Contact us through our Enquiry page. We will be very happy to help you.
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