EUROPE TC JOURNEYS
The Bernina Express: An Italian & Swiss Railway Journey
5 nights | 2 adults
Trip highlights
- Ride the UNESCO-listed Bernina Express train from Northern Italy to Alpine Switzerland, gliding across stone viaducts above glacier-sculpted valleys.
- Handcraft authentic Milanese pizza and gelato with a local chef in a stylish studio, then savour your creations while sipping Italian wine.
- Admire the filigree spires of Milan’s majestic Duomo, then ascend to its marble rooftop terraces for sweeping views across the city skyline.
- Awaken to the old-world charm of Chur’s historic centre, where cobbled streets and crisp mountain air await just beyond your door.
- Sail the serene waters of Lake Zurich before relishing an unlimited Lindt tasting at Switzerland’s largest chocolate museum.
This epic rail adventure weaves together Italy’s urban sophistication and Switzerland’s alpine grandeur. Begin amid Milan’s elegant shopping arcades and soaring spires, making your own pizza and gelato under a chef’s expert guidance. Then settle into a panoramic carriage on board the Bernina Express, marvelling as rolling vineyards turn to snow-capped mountains on the way to historic Chur. Your journey concludes in cultured Zurich, where you’ll cruise the city’s shimmering lake, wander its medieval lanes, and indulge at Lindt’s chocolate temple.
Day 1: Milan, Italy
Settle in for a two-night stay at Worldhotel Casati 18: a stylish base from which to explore Italy’s fashion capital. Take a gentle stroll to orient yourself, pausing for an aperitivo as golden hour bathes the city’s ornate architecture in soft light.
This evening, enjoy a pizza and gelato-making class in a chic downtown studio with a professional chef. Don your apron and master the art of Northern Italian pizza, kneading and rolling paper-thin dough, ladling on zesty tomato sauce, and sliding your creation into the oven. Next, whisk chocolate into cool cream for silken gelato and crisp cones, sipping premium Italian wine as your dishes take shape. Sit down to tuck into your culinary masterpieces, delighting in the quintessential taste of Italy.
Day 2: Milan, Italy
Wake to a day that’s yours to shape. Start beneath the intricate spires of the Duomo, where sunlight filters through stained glass in jewelled beams, then admire exquisite Italian craftsmanship as you wander the marble mosaics of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. If you love fashion, detour to the Quadrilatero della Moda; if art calls, pre-book Santa Maria delle Grazie – where Leonardo da Vinci painted ‘The Last Supper’. Between sights, refuel with a paper-wrapped panzerotto and a cappuccino.
As dusk falls, Milan comes alive around you: chatter drifts from lively wine bars, glasses clink, and the streets glow with golden light. Choose a trattoria and sample saffron-laced risotto alla Milanese or a crisp, golden cotoletta. After dinner, return to your hotel for a restful night, letting the city’s energy linger as you prepare for tomorrow’s Alpine crossing.
Day 3: Chur, Switzerland
Depart Milan for Tirano, where you’ll board the scarlet Bernina Express for one of the world’s most scenic train rides. Each season reveals a different masterpiece through panoramic windows: alpine cows graze on wildflower-strewn meadows, fluffy clouds are reflected in turquoise lakes, slopes blaze bright with autumn leaves, and glittering snow blankets dramatic peaks. Glide over the Brusio spiral viaduct, climbing the magnificent Bernina Pass before descending into the Graubünden valley’s fairytale villages.
Arrive in Chur and check into the Romantik Hotel Stern, your alpine hideaway for the night. This centuries-old inn blends timbered charm with a prime location and is just steps from the old town’s cobbles and frescoed façades. Spend your free time wandering hushed lanes, pausing at a wine tavern for a glass of local Pinot Noir and a plate of Bündnerfleisch. As evening falls, crisp mountain air carries whispers of pine and woodsmoke, inviting restful sleep.
Day 4: Zurich, Switzerland
Take an onward train to Zurich, Switzerland’s polished lakeside city, which is framed by snow-bright Alps on clear days. Your home for the next two nights is the comfortable Hotel Glockenhof, a four-star hotel perfectly situated for stepping into the Old Town or down to the water in minutes.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Stroll the Limmat’s embankments, where the spires of the Grossmünster and Fraumünster churches pierce the skyline, or immerse yourself in art at Kunsthaus Zurich. Breathe in the tempting scent of cacao as you browse chocolatier windows or take an invigorating dip in one of the city’s lakeside swimming areas if you dare. As evening falls, choose a riverside bistro for rösti and lake fish, or climb to Lindenhof for sunset views over the city’s terracotta roofs.
Day 5: Zurich, Switzerland
This morning’s guided experience reveals the city’s highlights. Begin with a scenic drive past the Opera House to the Zurichberg district, admiring the splendour of its prestigious villas. Capture striking views during a photo stop at Enge Harbour, then continue to the university quarter and into the enchanting Old Town, strolling among medieval guild houses and cobbled lanes. Enjoy a boat trip on pristine Lake Zurich, watching swans glide gracefully across waters that glisten like polished glass.
Disembark for a leisurely lakeside stroll to the Lindt Home of Chocolate, where the world’s highest free-standing chocolate fountain stands sentinel in a soaring atrium. Enjoy an audio-guided journey from bean to bar, culminating in a gloriously generous tasting – snap a square, let it melt on your tongue, and savour hints of caramel or citrus. As your adventure draws to a close, enjoy your final moments in Zurich at your own pace with a 24-hour public transport pass, taking in lakeside views, storybook streets, and the city’s timeless allure.
