After reading posts in this forum I settled on a short (two day) trip on the Bernina Express. Well, I have to say a big thanks to all of you the recommended this in a number of threads. Possibly the very best scenery I have ever seen and its here on our doorsteps.

SBB have a 2 day trip including accommodation & dinner for about 180 CHF each with a halbtax. There are two hotels at Poschiavo and one is closed at the moment so we stayed at the Croce Bianco: It doesnt have 5 stars, Its not the four seasons, its not the three kings (I think it has some stars) but very friendly, food is OK and service is very friendly: efficient like the Swiss and freindly like Italians.

The train trip is great but I don't think its much better in the panoramic coaches so it would be worth checking the prices of a regular trip as it seems to be the same train, different carriage

If you're looking for a trip on a Swiss train I think you'd be pushed to find better

Is it possible to travel on this train in normal coaches with a day ticket? And which directions is best, from where to where? I have a good UK friend who dreams of doing this and I've promised to go with her- but was concerned about price.

I'd be interested in this too! Always been meaning to getting 'round to a trip on it

Yes, you can easily just take the regular trains across ther Bernina. In fact people use them to commute. Its just the "Bernina Express" trains that involve a surcharge. The difference is that you have to change trains a couple of times when taking the regular ones rather than the Bernina Express which goes from Chur (I guess) or Davos. No big deal though. Also the normal trains don't have large panoramic windows... But some (the older ones) have ones that you can open, which in my opinion is much better.

Nice time of year when there is snow on top to get across. too far from a daytrip from Zurich though. I'd recomment staying in one of the villages in the South. Poschiavo is lovely. So is Tirano - and being Italy also a lot cheaper.

If you want you can then take the Swiss Postbus (reliable, clean and Swiss-priced) or the italian trains (bit older, few changes required, slightly chaotic but very charming) to Lugano and then head back across the Gotthard from there.

Its fun and make sure you have Lunch on Tirano or one of the other Italian towns. You'll be amazed what you get for 50.-!

We went south in the evening on the normal train. Sitting on the right facing forward is good. The sun was setting so it was very pretty but dark on the final run into Poschiavo. This was the regular train carriage, not the panoramic

In the morning we went North, sitting on the left and it was equally beautiful. I was right at the back so i could photograph the train as well as the scenery as we went around the bends

I would go on the normal carriage and then stand between the carriages where you can open the window. The views forward and back with the train visible around the bends are great so towards the back or front will enhance the views.

I attach a photo of the train with the view

You can take the Bernina Express with a Gemeide Tageskarte, no Problem. Then you can get to Tirano and back for CHF 40 + the surcharge for reservation, which I think was CHF 13/Person. I would recommend you take the Postbus to Lugano (also a surcharge) , and then return from there. The trainride through Tessin and the Gotthard Valley is beatyful as well, but that train is faster, so not the same "breathtakingness" as the Bernina Express.

Doc,

We did this trip last year and found out on the Morning that the bus (which you need to book) was full. Decided to just go anyway and see from there. As you suggest, we had a daypass so obviously wanted to stick to SBB.

However, we were amazed to find out that the full price for the italin train from Tirano to Chiasso (at the swiss border in Ticino) was 12.- Euros or so, and therefore about the same as the surcharge (not the ticket!) on the Swiss bus.

We had to buy the tickets at the nearby kiosk as the train station is closed excpet just before a train departs (not too often) and the girl there was very confused why anyone would want to go to Chiasso in the 1st place and then we had to buy "150km's" or so. Was a bit consuing with a bit of changing trains in little italian towns but a fun, memorable experience!

That sounds just great. It reminds me of backpacking days in my 20's but able to get back to warm comfy bed in just a day. I will certainly do the bus ride next time

I drive down to Como every two weeks but its amazing how much more ou see when you are a passenger or on the train. If there was any public transport to speak of on Lake como i would leave the car and before you say it, the ferry doesn't count: that's not transport, its a pleasure ride!