Lake Como to Switzerland: trains to Lugano in 35 minutes, the Bernina line to St. Moritz, the long day to Zermatt, driver prices, passes and border tips.
Switzerland starts about half an hour from Lake Como. Lugano is 34 to 44 minutes by direct train from Como San Giovanni, St. Moritz is about two and a half hours by car over the Maloja Pass or around four hours by train via Tirano and the Bernina line, and Zermatt is a full travel day of four and a half to six hours. Which route makes sense depends on where you stay on the lake and where you are heading, so this guide covers the three crossings we book most often.
Quick answer
- Lake Como to Lugano: direct train from Como San Giovanni, 34 to 44 min, several departures an hour (EuroCity, RE80 or the S10). By car from Menaggio, about 45 minutes via Porlezza.
- Lake Como to St. Moritz: by car via Chiavenna and the Maloja Pass, about 2 h 30 min. By train, Varenna to Tirano on the Trenord regional line, then the Bernina line to St. Moritz in about 2 h 15 min to 2 h 30 min.
- Lake Como to Zermatt: by train via Milan and Visp, or via Lugano and Zurich, 4 h 30 min to 6 h with two or more changes. By car to Täsch, about 3 h 30 min via the Simplon Pass.
- Passes: the Swiss Travel Pass starts at the border (Chiasso, Tirano or Domodossola). Bernina Express seat reservations are always extra.
| Route | Option | Time | Price range (2026) | Comfort | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Como to Lugano | Direct train from Como San Giovanni | 34 to 44 min | regional fare; Swiss Travel Pass valid from Chiasso | Regional or EuroCity train | Racks, carry your own |
| Como to Lugano | Private driver | about 40 to 45 min | per-vehicle transfer rate | Door to door | Unlimited |
| Lake Como to St. Moritz | Train via Tirano and the Bernina line | about 4 h with one change | Bernina Express reservation extra; Swiss Travel Pass covers the Swiss fare | Panorama train or regional train | Limited racks on the Bernina Express |
| Lake Como to St. Moritz | Private driver via the Maloja Pass | about 2 h 30 min | transfers from the Milan airports list at about €400 to €500 per vehicle; the lake is a similar distance | Door to door, stops in Chiavenna | Unlimited |
| Lake Como to Zermatt | Train via Milan and Visp, or via Lugano and Zurich | 4 h 30 min to 6 h, 2 or more changes | Swiss part covered by the Swiss Travel Pass | Long day with changes | Carry bags through each change |
| Lake Como to Zermatt | Private driver to Täsch, then shuttle train | about 3 h 30 min to Täsch | transfers from Milan Malpensa to Täsch list at about €415 to €665 per vehicle | The easiest with luggage | Unlimited |
In the warmer months a seasonal Bernina Express bus links Lugano with Tirano, so you can combine Lugano and the Bernina line in one day. By car, the route via Chiavenna and the Maloja Pass is much shorter, and its hairpins down into the Engadine are a drive in themselves.
There is no simple way to do this by train. The two usual routes are via Milan Centrale, then a EuroCity through the Simplon tunnel to Visp, and the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn up to Zermatt; or north via Lugano and Zurich, then south through the Lötschberg tunnel to Visp. Count on four and a half to six hours with two to four changes. With luggage, we nearly always book a driver over the Simplon Pass, often with lunch in Domodossola or a stop on Lake Maggiore, which our Lake Como vs Lake Maggiore comparison describes.
In Italy, the rail network operator RFI runs an assistance service called Sala Blu, to be booked ahead; in Switzerland, use the SBB Contact Center Handicap at least one hour before travel (+41 800 007 102 from abroad). On the Bernina Express, wheelchair-accessible seats can only be booked through Rhaetian Railway's Railservice (+41 81 288 65 65), and boarding help through the SBB center. The lake villages themselves are steep, with stepped lanes and ferry gangways, so for travelers with reduced mobility we plan the crossing by adapted vehicle from the hotel door.
On the trips we design, the crossing is part of the day: a driver collects you at your lake hotel, we stop for lunch in Chiavenna or on Lake Lugano, and we arrive in St. Moritz or Lugano by mid-afternoon. When travelers want the Bernina line, we drive them to Tirano, book Bernina Express seats, and send the luggage ahead by road so they ride with a day bag. Our Switzerland to Italy by train trip runs this border in the opposite direction, our Legendary Swiss Trains itinerary includes the Bernina line, and our Italy and Switzerland lakes and mountains itinerary lays out the full route day by day. More ideas are on our Italy page.
For a version of this crossing built around your lake hotel and your dates, ask one of our designers.
More guides: Getting aroundSwitzerland by train
From Como town, take a direct train from Como San Giovanni: the EuroCity, RE80 or S10 reach Lugano in 34 to 44 minutes, several times an hour. From Menaggio on the western shore, driving via Porlezza takes about 45 minutes. From Bellagio or Varenna, the ferry to Menaggio followed by a driver is usually the simplest combination.
Yes. Take the Trenord regional train from Varenna-Esino to Tirano, then board the Bernina Express to St. Moritz, about 2 h 15 min, with a compulsory seat reservation. Regional trains on the same line need no reservation. In the warmer months, a seasonal Bernina Express bus also connects Lugano with Tirano.
By train, four and a half to six hours with at least two changes, via Milan and Visp or via Lugano and Zurich. By car, about three and a half hours to Täsch over the Simplon Pass, then a 12-minute shuttle train into car-free Zermatt. With luggage, a private driver is far easier.
Both countries are in the Schengen area, so there is no systematic passport control, but you must carry your passport, and Swiss customs officers make occasional checks on trains and at road crossings. Switzerland is outside the EU customs union, uses Swiss francs and has duty-free limits on goods such as wine and meat.
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Two minutes, three steps. Free and without obligation.
