Luxury rail tailormade holiday to Lake Garda on the Bernina Express
This 7-night rail holiday to Italian Lake Garda features a scenic route through Switzerland where you stay one night in Zurich and then another night in Chur before joining the iconic train, the Bernina Express, through the very heart of the Alps. The four-hour journey on the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano is truly spectacular. The train travels mostly at low speed giving time to take in the snow-capped mountains, pine forests, pretty villages and mountain lakes. The line crosses 196 bridges and 55 tunnels. At its highest point at Ospizio Bernina, the route reaches 2,253 metres before dropping 1,800 metres down to Tirano on the Italian border. In Tirano, you change to the Italian railway line and continue your journey to Milan. This is an attractive route, at first passing vineyards perched precariously on hillside terraces, and then travelling along the eastern edge of Lake Como. In Milan you change trains and reach Desenzano del Garda, from where you can take a local taxi, or we can ask the hotel to send a taxi to collect you. You have four nights on Lake Garda in Gardone Riviera. For your return journey there are several options available; we include a return train journey via Milan to Lausanne on Lake Geneva where you spend a night before continuing to Paris and on by Eurostar to London; another option is to return by air from Verona.
Highlights
Zurich • Chur • Bernina Express • Lake Garda • Visit Sirmione • Visit Vittoriale • Visit Monte Baldo • Visit Salo and its museum and island • Lausanne
Day by day
Your rail holiday to Lake Como and the Bernina Express starts with a journey by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Nord station, leaving at about 7.00 am. On arrival in Paris, you change stations to Gare de Lyon where you may be able to have lunch at the famous Train Bleu restaurant. From Paris Lyon, the high-speed TGV service takes you across France and into Switzerland arriving at Zurich at about 4.30pm. Spend one night in Zurich at a suggested hotel not far from the lake and the old town.
Spend this morning sightseeing in this historic and enchanting city, perhaps stopping at the Grossmunster church and climbing the Karlsturm tower. We recommend taking the train to Chur in the afternoon giving you some time to investigate Chur. Chur is Switzerland’s oldest city and acts as the gateway for the Bernina Express railway. Twisting streets, historic buildings, restaurants, bars, museums, galleries, boutiques, and a pedestrianised old town provide plenty of cultural entertainment to fill your time here.
Return to the train station to meet the iconic Bernina Express at 8.30am for the stunning four-hour journey through the Alps to Tirano. Notice the sheer white cliffs, hilltop towers, and gorges of the Ruinaulta as you traverse the area around the pretty ochre village of Tiefencastel. The train now sweeps back round to Filisur, passing through the railway towns of Bergun, Samedan and Celerina. The Bernina Express then takes you around the Montebello Curve, the most photographed section of the journey, which prolongs the breath-taking views of the Morteratsch Glacier. From here, gain altitude until you reach the highest point on the Rhaetian Railway at Ospizio Bernina at 2253m above sea level, with its picturesque, isolated station house. The Bernina Express then takes you to a restaurant that can only be accessed by train, past the grand houses of Poschiavo, through idyllic villages, across a spiralling viaduct, to Tirano, surrounded by vineyards and orchards in Italy. Upon arrival in Tirano you change stations and board the Italian train for Milan, where you change and continue to Desenzano del Garda, reaching there at about 18.00 hrs. From Desenzano either we can ask the hotel to send a car for you or you can take a taxi to the hotel.
You have three days at leisure on Lake Garda. On the lower slopes of the hills around Lake Garda are a profusion of lemons and olives, chestnuts and palms, magnolias and camellias. Pretty villages hug the sheltered bays and fishing boats moor next to sailing boats. Monte Baldo, above the lake, can be reached by cable car and affords spectacular views. At Gargnano on Lake Garda you can see the stone pavilions where lemons were traditionally cultivated. Sirmione behind its mediaeval walls enjoys a beautiful position at the southern end of the lake, dominated by Scaligero castle. You can also visit the residence of Gabriele d’Annunzio, Il Vittoriale, at Gardone Riviera. Another beautiful excursion is the Isola del Garda, an island in the lake where you can visit the Italian and English gardens and some rooms inside the neo-gothic Venetian-style villa dating from the early 1900s. In terms of getting around whilst you are staying on Lake Garda, if you don’t want to have the use of a hire-car, it is easy enough to use the lake ferries that criss-cross the lake between all the main points. You don’t need a hire-car when you are on Lake Garda, but we can arrange one for you if you would like the use of one.
Today there are several options for trains to Lausanne, but you can take a lunch-time train from Desenzano and reach Lausanne by about 19.00 hrs with a change in Milan and Brig. Check-in to your hotel in Lausanne and enjoy the evening on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Today you can leave Lausanne just before 10 am and reach Paris just after 13.30 giving you time to cross from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord for the return Eurostar service to St Pancras. You arrive in London at about 17.30 hrs.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to say what an absolutely wonderful honeymoon we had in Bellagio and Santa Margherita di Ligure: the holiday of a lifetime. Both hotels were amazing - the Villa Serbelloni was particularly off the scale - and the food and service in both hotels were perfect. Good choices. Thank you also for dealing with all our pre-departure queries so quickly and, all in all I would certainly recommend the services of Expressions.Mr M, July 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,280 per person based on two people sharing a double room and including for second class rail travel. First class supplement £570 per person.
Holiday Code ITBR14
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail tailormade holiday to Lake Garda on the Bernina Express
Your rail holiday to Lake Como and the Bernina Express starts with a journey by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Nord station, leaving at about 7.00 am. On arrival in Paris, you change stations to Gare de Lyon where you may be able to have lunch at the famous Train Bleu restaurant. From Paris Lyon, the high-speed TGV service takes you across France and into Switzerland arriving at Zurich at about 4.30pm. Spend one night in Zurich at a suggested hotel not far from the lake and the old town.
Spend this morning sightseeing in this historic and enchanting city, perhaps stopping at the Grossmunster church and climbing the Karlsturm tower. We recommend taking the train to Chur in the afternoon giving you some time to investigate Chur. Chur is Switzerland’s oldest city and acts as the gateway for the Bernina Express railway. Twisting streets, historic buildings, restaurants, bars, museums, galleries, boutiques, and a pedestrianised old town provide plenty of cultural entertainment to fill your time here.
Return to the train station to meet the iconic Bernina Express at 8.30am for the stunning four-hour journey through the Alps to Tirano. Notice the sheer white cliffs, hilltop towers, and gorges of the Ruinaulta as you traverse the area around the pretty ochre village of Tiefencastel. The train now sweeps back round to Filisur, passing through the railway towns of Bergun, Samedan and Celerina. The Bernina Express then takes you around the Montebello Curve, the most photographed section of the journey, which prolongs the breath-taking views of the Morteratsch Glacier. From here, gain altitude until you reach the highest point on the Rhaetian Railway at Ospizio Bernina at 2253m above sea level, with its picturesque, isolated station house. The Bernina Express then takes you to a restaurant that can only be accessed by train, past the grand houses of Poschiavo, through idyllic villages, across a spiralling viaduct, to Tirano, surrounded by vineyards and orchards in Italy. Upon arrival in Tirano you change stations and board the Italian train for Milan, where you change and continue to Desenzano del Garda, reaching there at about 18.00 hrs. From Desenzano either we can ask the hotel to send a car for you or you can take a taxi to the hotel.
You have three days at leisure on Lake Garda. On the lower slopes of the hills around Lake Garda are a profusion of lemons and olives, chestnuts and palms, magnolias and camellias. Pretty villages hug the sheltered bays and fishing boats moor next to sailing boats. Monte Baldo, above the lake, can be reached by cable car and affords spectacular views. At Gargnano on Lake Garda you can see the stone pavilions where lemons were traditionally cultivated. Sirmione behind its mediaeval walls enjoys a beautiful position at the southern end of the lake, dominated by Scaligero castle. You can also visit the residence of Gabriele d’Annunzio, Il Vittoriale, at Gardone Riviera. Another beautiful excursion is the Isola del Garda, an island in the lake where you can visit the Italian and English gardens and some rooms inside the neo-gothic Venetian-style villa dating from the early 1900s. In terms of getting around whilst you are staying on Lake Garda, if you don’t want to have the use of a hire-car, it is easy enough to use the lake ferries that criss-cross the lake between all the main points. You don’t need a hire-car when you are on Lake Garda, but we can arrange one for you if you would like the use of one.
Today there are several options for trains to Lausanne, but you can take a lunch-time train from Desenzano and reach Lausanne by about 19.00 hrs with a change in Milan and Brig. Check-in to your hotel in Lausanne and enjoy the evening on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Today you can leave Lausanne just before 10 am and reach Paris just after 13.30 giving you time to cross from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord for the return Eurostar service to St Pancras. You arrive in London at about 17.30 hrs.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to say what an absolutely wonderful honeymoon we had in Bellagio and Santa Margherita di Ligure: the holiday of a lifetime. Both hotels were amazing - the Villa Serbelloni was particularly off the scale - and the food and service in both hotels were perfect. Good choices. Thank you also for dealing with all our pre-departure queries so quickly and, all in all I would certainly recommend the services of Expressions.Mr M, July 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,280 per person based on two people sharing a double room and including for second class rail travel. First class supplement £570 per person.
Holiday Code ITBR14
Our prices include
● Second-class travel on all trains, with standard class on Eurostar (first and standard premier can be booked at a supplement)
● Chur to Tirano on the Bernina Express, second-class included
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Hotel St Gotthard, Zurich
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Romantik Hotel Stern, Chur
● 4 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Superior room with terrace and lake view at the Hotel Villa del Sogno, at Gardone Riviera on Lake Garda
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Hotel Angleterre et Residence, Lausanne
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in Paris
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail tailormade holiday to Lake Garda on the Bernina Express
Hotel St Gotthard is a sophisticated 4-star hotel in an excellent central location. Haute cuisine and stylish, comfortable accommodation make this an excellent spot to recuperate after enjoying the cultural delights of Zurich.
Standard double
Hotel Stern is a 4-star hotel offering both Swiss authentic style and modern comforts in the historic town of Chur. Supremely comfortable accommodation and a traditional, rustic restaurant afford guests a relaxing and restorative experience.
Standard double
Hotel Villa del Sogno is an exclusive 5-star hotel in a beautiful natural location. Patios and terraces allow for relaxed al fresco dining in which the beauty of Lake Garda and surrounding flowers and greenery can be appreciated.
Superior double with terrace and lake view
Hotel Angleterre et Résidence is a charming, traditional, Swiss-style, 4-star hotel in a prime location. Delicious cuisine, exceptional service and immaculate grounds offer guests a truly relaxing and indulgent experience.
Classic double
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to say what an absolutely wonderful honeymoon we had in Bellagio and Santa Margherita di Ligure: the holiday of a lifetime. Both hotels were amazing - the Villa Serbelloni was particularly off the scale - and the food and service in both hotels were perfect. Good choices. Thank you also for dealing with all our pre-departure queries so quickly and, all in all I would certainly recommend the services of Expressions.Mr M, July 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,280 per person based on two people sharing a double room and including for second class rail travel. First class supplement £570 per person.
Holiday Code ITBR14
Call us on 01392 441245
Holiday prices
| Date | By rail throughout | By rail out, fly back | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2024-31 Dec 2024 | £2,280 | £2,040 |
| Description | Date | By rail throughout | By rail out, fly back | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First class rail | 1 Jan 2024-31 Dec 2024 | £560 | £360 |
I thought I'd take the opportunity to say what an absolutely wonderful honeymoon we had in Bellagio and Santa Margherita di Ligure: the holiday of a lifetime. Both hotels were amazing - the Villa Serbelloni was particularly off the scale - and the food and service in both hotels were perfect. Good choices. Thank you also for dealing with all our pre-departure queries so quickly and, all in all I would certainly recommend the services of Expressions.Mr M, July 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,280 per person based on two people sharing a double room and including for second class rail travel. First class supplement £570 per person.
From about
Holiday Code ITBR14
Our prices include
• Second-class travel on all trains, with standard class on Eurostar (first and standard premier can be booked at a supplement)
• Chur to Tirano on the Bernina Express, second-class included
• 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Hotel St Gotthard, Zurich
• 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Romantik Hotel Stern, Chur
• 4 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Superior room with terrace and lake view at the Hotel Villa del Sogno, at Gardone Riviera on Lake Garda
• 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Hotel Angleterre et Residence, Lausanne
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail tailormade holiday to Lake Garda on the Bernina Express
About Italian Lakes
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Italian Lakes spans the northern Italian regions of Lombardy, Piemonte and the Veneto. We offer hotels located by the undisputedly beautiful Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Garda and also the smaller, quieter lakes of Orta and Iseo, both well-worth exploring in their own right. Each lake has its own character and atmosphere, distinctive terrain, architecture and style. Placed as the lakes are to the south of the Alps and to the north of the Po Valley, they naturally possess a charming mixture of the vibrant coolness associated with the Alps but enlivened by the warmth of the South. The landscape around the Italian Lakes is one of deep blue waters surrounded by greenish-blue tinged mountains, often snow-capped. On the shores of the lakes and the lower slopes of the hills you find a profusion of lemons and olives, chestnuts and palms, magnolias and camellias. Pretty villages with rustic stone and wood houses hug the sheltered bays and fishing boats still moor next to sailing boats. Wrought-iron balconies and colourful shutters adorn gaily-painted houses with terracotta roofs. Dining is usually al fresco in the summer months and a magical atmosphere is created with the lapping of the waters and the twinkling of the lights around the lake and in the hills above. The close proximity to Milan and Verona as well as other less well-known but artistically interesting cities means that you can visit the Italian Lakes quite easily for just a weekend or short break as well as a longer holiday. The Italian Lakes can all be visited as part of a rail holiday, and the many beautiful gardens located in the vicinity of Lakes Como and Maggiore are well worth a visit as part of a garden tour holiday. Our favourite four and five star hotels for luxury holidays in the Italian Lakes include Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and Villa d'Este on Lake Como, and the Hotel Cannero Lakeside Resort on Lake Maggiore.
Highlights of the Italian Lakes
Historic villas are to be found on every lake from the Grotte di Catullo Roman villa at Sirmione on Lake Garda to Villa Melzi and Villa Olmo on Lake Como and the Palazzo Estense in Varese. Most of these villas also have extraordinarily beautiful gardens (which can be visited as part of an Expressions Garden Tour holiday) such as the Villa Carlotta on Lake Como, the Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore and Villa Taranto at Punta della Castagnola on Lake Maggiore. Monte Mottarone above Stresa on Lake Maggiore and Monte Baldo above Lake Garda can both be reached by cable car and afford spectacular views. At Gargnano on Lake Garda you can see the stone pavilions where lemons were traditionally cultivated. Within the region there are national parks such as the Stelvio National Park north of Orta and the Parco Nazionale della Val Grande above Verbania on Lake Maggiore.
Cultural highlights of the Italian Lakes
Much of the artistic and architectural cultural wealth in the region is concentrated in the great cities such as Milan and Verona but also in the less well-known but culturally-rich centres of Bergamo, Brescia, Pavia, Mantova and Vicenza (not directly on the Lakes but within reach for a day`s excursion). Highlights include the frescoes by Masolino at Castiglione Olona, the Rocca (castle) at Angera, the Flemish tapestries on the Isola Bella Lake Maggiore, the marble cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore at Como and the works of art in the Galleria dell`Accademia Tadini at Lovere on Lake Iseo. Milan has La Scala, the Museo Poldi Pezzoli, the Brera Gallery (containing Raphael`s `Marriage of the Virgin` and the Montefeltro altarpiece by Piero della Francesca) and its Gothic cathedral. Verona has its annual opera festival from June until the end of August, the Romanesque church of San Zeno, the Renaissance Loggia del Consiglio and the Roman Arena.
Festivals in the Italian Lakes
The Verona Opera Festival takes place in the Roman Arena every year with performances running from June until the end of August. Verona also celebrates Carnival every year culminating on the Friday before Shrove Tuesday. Como holds a flea market, the Fiera di Pasqua, over the Easter weekend. Music festivals take place in Bergamo throughout the year. The Mille Miglia veteran car race starts and ends in Brescia (via Ferrara to Rome in May each year).
Gastronomy in the Italian Lakes
The cuisine of northern Italy tends to contain more meat and butter than further south and rice and polenta compete with pasta. Saffron is used extensively as in Risotto alla Milanese. Bresaola is cured raw beef served as an antipasta (now often with rocket and parmesan). Manzo al Barolo (beef in Barolo wine), Costolette alla Milanese (veal cutlets in breadcrumbs) and Ossobucco (veal in wine and tomatoes) are all popular dishes. Panettone cake and Zabaglione are two regional desserts. This region produces some of Italy's most famous cheeses such as Gorgonzola, Bel Paese, Fontina and Taleggio as well as some of Italy's most exportable wines such as Soave, Bardolino and Valpolicella. Less well known but interesting wines are produced in the Valtellina in the north of Lombardy and in Franciacorta near Lake Iseo.
