"Monica was an excellent guide, very informative and she made the ride fun."
From Como Town · Panoramic Car Option · St. Moritz & Tirano
Bernina Red Train from Lake Como
Frigerio Viaggi's coach day from Como to St. Moritz, then the Bernina Express down to Tirano, with a panoramic-car seat guaranteed if you choose that option. No trip into Milan first.
From
$210
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.6 / 5 580+ Reviews
- 12.5 hours Duration
- Como Departs Como Town
- Panoramic Car as a Booking Option
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Day from Como Covers
The lake road north, free time in St. Moritz, the panoramic train over the pass, and a stop in Tirano.
Highlights
- Guaranteed panoramic carriage if you choose that option at booking
- Departs from Como — no need to travel to Milan first
- Approx. 2.5 hours free time in St. Moritz — Europe's most iconic ski resort
- Brusio Circular Viaduct + Morteratsch Glacier — Alpine icons
- Multilingual guide from Como to St. Moritz and back (ITA/EN)
What's Included
- Bernina Express Ticket Seat Guaratee in Panoramic Carriage (if panoramic option selected)
- Round-trip coach transfer from Como (Viale Innocenzo XI — B&B Hotel City Centre)
- Professional multilingual guide on board throughout (Italian and English)
- Approximately 2.5 hours free time in St. Moritz
- Stop in Tirano — Sanctuary of the Madonna and historic centre
- Lunch at Diavolezza (included only with the correct option selected) — a traditional Valtellina meal featuring Pizzoccheri, a classic buckwheat pasta from the Alps. Please note that if this option is selected, there will be no free time in St. Moritz.
Good to know: Meeting point: Viale Innocenzo XI, Como — in front of B&B Hotel City Centre. · Please arrive 15 minutes before departure. · IMPORTANT: passport or valid ID required for Swiss border crossing. · If you choose the panoramic option, your seat in the panoramic carriage is guaranteed. · St. Moritz is a seasonal mountain resort. Some shops and restaurants may have reduced hours during spring and autumn inter-season periods. From late October to late February, visibility of the landscape from the train windows may be reduced in the afternoon due to earlier sunset times. That said, the scenery and the train journey are extraordinary in every season. · This tour departs from Como only. Not available from Milan (see Bernina Panoramic Tour from Milan). · Not suitable for: People with mobility impairments · Not Included: Reserved seats or upgrade to first-class on board the Bernina Express, Meals and personal expenses in St. Moritz or Tirano, Entrance fees to attractions (optional, bookable independently), Hotel pick-up (meeting point only — Como city centre)
How the Day from Lake Como Runs
A morning coach up the lake, the train in the afternoon, back to Como in the late evening.
Meet in Como Town
The coach leaves from Viale Innocenzo XI in Como, in front of the B&B Hotel City Centre. Arrive 15 minutes before departure. There is no pickup from Milan on this tour.
Up the Lake to St. Moritz
About two and a half hours by coach, along the lake and over the Maloja Pass, then free time in St. Moritz.
The Bernina Express to Tirano
The Bernina Express in the afternoon, in a panoramic car if you choose that option: Morteratsch glacier, the line's summit at Ospizio Bernina (2,253 metres), Poschiavo and the descent to Tirano, then a short stop there.
Bring a Passport or EU ID Card
The day crosses into Switzerland, so a passport or valid ID card is required on the day.
Photo Gallery
Lake Como to the Bernina Pass
The lake in the morning, the Engadin at midday, glaciers and Val Poschiavo in the afternoon.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. The cancellation window is on the listing.
From Lake Como to the Bernina Train
The coach day from Como, the train ticket from Tirano, and the Milan day that cruises the lake on the way. Prices as listed in October 2026.
| Feature | STARTS IN COMO Bernina Express Day from Como | Tirano to St. Moritz Return Ticket | Lake Como Cruise & Red Train from Milan |
|---|---|---|---|
| What You Pay | From about $210 per person | From about $123 per person, plus your Trenord fare to Tirano | From about $195 per person |
| Which Train | Bernina Express, panoramic-car seat guaranteed if you choose that option | Regional red train, any departure that day | Regional red train, second class, windows that open |
| Starting Point | Viale Innocenzo XI, Como | Tirano station, reached by Trenord from Varenna or Lecco | Central Milan |
| Guide | Italian and English | None; timetable and a guide to the stops | English and Spanish |
| Best For | Staying in Como town and wanting the panoramic-car option | Staying in Varenna, Bellagio or Menaggio, or wanting stops on the way | Staying in Milan and wanting the lake as well |
| Check Availability | See the Return Ticket | See the Milan Day |
More Options
Other Ways to Reach the Bernina from the Lake
Day trips that pass the lake, and the plain red train ticket from Tirano. Dates and cancellation terms are on each listing.
LAKE COMO CRUISEFrom Milan: Lake Como Cruise, St. Moritz & Bernina Red Train
Board a luxury coach and head to the shores of Lake Como. Climb aboard a private boat and sail on the calm waters just after sunrise. During the cruise, enjoy the …
TRAIN TICKET ONLYTirano to St. Moritz: Bernina Red Train Return Day-Ticket
Travel on the classic Bernina Red Train, the red fairy-tale on rails, and experience the magical countryside of the Swiss Alps. Depart from Tirano at a time of your …
ONE-WAY OPTIONFrom Tirano: Bernina Red Train Ticket to St. Moritz
Take in the scenery of Switzerland's natural landscapes on the Bernina Red Train (regional train, not Bernina Express with panoramic carriage) with a roundtrip …
ALP GRÜM STOPFrom Milan to the Swiss Alps: Bernina Red Train & St. Moritz
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the spectacular Bernina Range, one of the most breathtaking stretches of the Swiss Alps. This guided day trip is designed …
Lake Como to the Alps
Getting from Lake Como to the Bernina Train
One coach day from Como town, one train line up the lake, and which suits where you are staying.
The lake is closer to the Bernina line than the city, which saves time at both ends of an already long day. If you are staying on the lake, there are two sensible ways to the red train: Frigerio Viaggi’s coach day from Como town, or the Trenord line up the east shore to Tirano.
The coach day from Como
The day starts on Viale Innocenzo XI in Como, in front of the B&B Hotel City Centre, and follows the lake north before the climb to St. Moritz. After free time in St. Moritz you board the Bernina Express. A seat in the panoramic car is guaranteed if you choose that option at booking, though seats inside the car are not assigned and a first-class upgrade is not included. The train runs past the Morteratsch glacier, over the line’s summit at Ospizio Bernina, 2,253 metres, and through Poschiavo to Tirano, where there is a short stop before the coach takes you back to Como in the late evening. There is a lunch-at-Diavolezza version too, which replaces the St. Moritz free time.
It costs from $210 per person, rated 4.6 from 580 reviews (checked October 2026), with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Guides are named warmly in almost every recent review. Two practical complaints recur: the commentary is hard to hear at the back of the coach, and one reviewer had about an hour and a quarter in St. Moritz against the two and a half hours listed.
Check dates for the day from Como
By train from Varenna or Lecco
The railway up the east shore of the lake is the Milan to Tirano line, run by Trenord. From Varenna, the stop for the ferries to Bellagio and Menaggio, regional trains reach Tirano in about an hour and a half; from Lecco a little more. In Tirano you cross to the Rhaetian Railway station next door, and a return ticket on the red train takes you up to St. Moritz with the freedom to stop on the way.
This is the better plan if you are staying on the east or central shore, want Alp Grüm or Ospizio Bernina rather than a fixed itinerary, or want to ride the regional train with its opening windows. It means a long day of connections, and you organise the timings yourself.
Which suits where you are staying
- Como town or the southern lake: the coach day from Como, above. It is the only day trip here that starts in Como itself.
- Varenna, Bellagio or Menaggio: the train from Varenna to Tirano, then the red train. Bellagio and Menaggio are a short ferry from Varenna.
- Milan, with a day on the lake as well: the Lake Como cruise and red train day from Milan puts a private boat on the lake in the morning and the train in the afternoon.
Starts in Como
Bernina Express and St. Moritz from Como
A panoramic-car seat if you choose that option, St. Moritz free time and a Tirano stop, without the trip into Milan.
Check dates →Do it yourself from Tirano
Tirano to St. Moritz return ticket
The regional red train, any departure on the day, with the right to get off and take the next one.
See the return ticket →From Milan, via the lake
Lake Como cruise, St. Moritz and red train
For Milan stays: a boat on Lake Como in the morning, then the regional train over the pass.
See the Lake Como day →Prices and ratings from GetYourGuide, checked October 2026; operators price by season.
Spending more time on the water? lakecomo-boattour.com compares the boat tours from Como, Bellagio and Varenna.
Guest Reviews
What Travellers from Como Say
4.6/5
from 580 verified guests
"Monica was our guide and from the first moment we knew she was hugely knowledgeable about all things Swiss & Italian, she was friendly & approachable and went that extra mile to ensure everyone in the group got the best possible experience. She succeeded… we had a superb day!"
"The trip was incredible! We had great weather so the views were amazing. Very easy to find our pick up spot and instructions were very clear on where and when to meet back for the train or buses. Monica was very knowledgeable and kind to us during our trip as well as very efficient. Only downside was we couldnt hear too clearly all of her information in the back of the bus. Otherwise the views and experience were something that cannot be matched and I would love to do this again someday!"
"This was a long day, well organised with clean efficient transport. The guide was very good but difficult to hear at the rear of the coach. The Bernina Express was fantastic, great views and comfortable."
"A great way to spend time. This option allows you to relax and focus on the activity. Cristina is a great guide. She explains everything well and keeps the group together at all times!"
"Excellent trip on the Bernina express, sceanery is amazing. Not as much time given at St Mortiz as was advertised in booking, It gave 2.50 hours but we had 1hr 15mins, just enough time for a quick walk and visit a shop, but no lunch time and again at the end of the trip a 45min visit in Triano was only a 15min stop before the coach journey back , so no time for a lunch break, as it is a long days journey. There was an unexpected 45 min breakfast stop soon after we started our day trip. It is an excellent sightseeing day trip and the train is marvellous and enjoyable and an exciting experience to do."
"It was a fantastic day. Even the cloudy weather couldn’t spoil it! The views were amazing and shouldn’t be missed! Luigi was an amazing guide and lovely person! We learnt a lot and it wouldn’t have been the same without him! Luca was a great driver and got us around quickly and safely! A must do if you’re in Lombardy!"
"Luigi was an excellent tour guide—he was knowledgeable, accommodating, and had a great personality. He made the trip really memorable with all his insights."
Read all 580 verified reviews
See All ReviewsFrom Como Without the Detour to Milan
A coach from Como up the lake to St. Moritz, free time there, then the Bernina Express to Tirano, with a panoramic-car seat guaranteed if you choose that option. Rated 4.6 from 580 reviews, from about $210 (both as listed in October 2026), with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from $210 per person.
Check Availability & BookCan't Make These Dates?
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Find a tour that fits your schedule. Dates and cancellation terms are on each listing.
Bernina Train from Lake Como: FAQ
Getting from the lake to the red train, by coach or by Trenord.
Not directly: the Bernina line starts in Tirano, about an hour and a half north of Varenna by train, so from the lake you either take a coach day from Como or ride Trenord to Tirano. Frigerio Viaggi's day from Como runs by coach to St. Moritz and puts you on the Bernina Express down to Tirano, with a panoramic-car seat guaranteed if you choose that option. Doing it yourself, take a Trenord regional train from Varenna or Lecco to Tirano, cross to the Rhaetian Railway station next door, and ride the red train to St. Moritz.
By Trenord regional train on the Milan to Tirano line, about an hour and a half, with trains on the line roughly every hour. Varenna-Esino station is up the hill from the ferry landing. In Tirano the Italian station and the Rhaetian Railway station stand side by side. Check the current Trenord timetable before you travel, since first and last trains vary by season.
Roughly two and a half to three hours by road from Como town, over the Maloja Pass. The coach day from Como allows about two and a half hours each way. By public transport the usual route is Trenord to Tirano and the red train up to St. Moritz, which takes longer but is the scenic way in.
If you are staying in Como, yes: it skips the hour into Milan and the hour back. It also rides the Bernina Express, with a panoramic-car seat guaranteed if you choose that option, where most Milan day trips use the regional train. If you are staying in Milan and want Lake Como as well, the Lake Como cruise and red train day from Milan does both in one go, on the regional train.
Yes: the day crosses into Switzerland, so bring a passport, or a national ID card if you are an EU or Schengen citizen. It is required on the day of travel.
Still have questions? Email us at info@berninaredtrain.com