How to Travel Between SWITZERLAND & ITALY: Plane, Car & Scenic Train Routes Explained
Visiting 🇨🇭Switzerland AND 🇮🇹Italy? *Press play* to learn how to travel between both countries by car, plane, and scenic train. 🚗✈️🚂
Read the blog:
➡️ https://aplinsinthealps.com/how-to-travel-between-switzerland-and-italy-plane-car-scenic-train-routes-explained/
How to plan your Swiss vacation:
▶️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLDj1KvzhNqybtJC37RAR66q3zQcV7Fn&si=7YYcEL-QWEnswa_M
Binge our Italy videos:
▶️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLDj1KvzhNrOJXL2ndsuEkns5xno-7Dh&si=D4Gw9EOJHDtNNr8v
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// ABOUT THIS VIDEO //
So you’re visiting *Switzerland* _AND_ *Italy*… Here’s what you need to know about visiting *both* countries in _one trip_.
But this video is _not_ about where to go or what to eat. We have other videos on our channel for that.
▶️ Swiss Food & Drinks https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLDj1KvzhNq1tq8uPke7P5d1ThdsvnAq&si=vq0rKRR7lzItvS6r
▶️ Italy Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLDj1KvzhNrOJXL2ndsuEkns5xno-7Dh&si=D4Gw9EOJHDtNNr8v
Instead, we’re delving into the practical questions that stress out many travelers, like:
❓Should I fly into and out of the same airport?
❓Or into one country and out of the other?
❓Is it better to fly, train, or drive between the 2 countries?
❓And if I’m not in a rush, is there a more scenic route I can take instead?
*AIRPORTS IN SWITZERLAND AND ITALY*
👉the main airports for overseas flights and from within Europe
👉the most central airport between Switzerland and Italy
*TRAVELING BETWEEN SWITZERLAND AND ITALY*
✈️Should you fly between these 2 countries?
🚗Or drive?
🚂Or take the train? (And are there scenic train routes too?!)
👉Press play for our best recommendations and travel tips
*COST OF TRAIN TRAVEL BETWEEN SWITZERLAND AND ITALY*
👉These helpful charts explain the cost of the main routes
👉Learn how to save money and get cheaper Swiss train tickets
❓Do you need a Swiss train pass?
*HOW TO BOOK TRAIN TICKETS BETWEEN SWITZERLAND AND ITALY*
👉The 3 best ways to buy tickets
👉Use this app to help you navigate timetables
*BONUS TRAVEL TIPS*
👉cell phone data — Use this link to get a 5% discount on an Holafly eSIM! http://holafly.sjv.io/09ZzxM
👉currency 💶
👉train routes and times
👉seat reservations
❓Should you buy in advance?
*SCENIC TRAINS FROM SWITZERLAND TO ITALY*
👉See the 5 best scenic routes between these 2 countries!
——
// WATCH NEXT //
▶️ Swiss Food & Drinks https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLDj1KvzhNq1tq8uPke7P5d1ThdsvnAq&si=vq0rKRR7lzItvS6r
▶️ Italy Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLDj1KvzhNrOJXL2ndsuEkns5xno-7Dh&si=D4Gw9EOJHDtNNr8v
——
// SWISS TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES //
Traveling to Switzerland soon?
👉Buy a done-for-you SWISS TRAVEL GUIDE
▶️ https://www.aplinsinthealps.com/guides
Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Lucerne, Zermatt, and beyond!
——
// LET’S BE FRIENDS //
SUBSCRIBE to travel Switzerland with confidence!
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🇨🇭SWITZERLAND ITINERARIES
➡️ FREE RESOURCES
📬 WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER
https://www.aplinsinthealps.com/newsletter
This description may contain affiliate links, but we only recommend products that we actually use!
——
// GET TO KNOW US //
If you love traveling Switzerland, getting off-the-beaten-path, or having foodie experiences, then you’re in the right place!
🙋🏻♀️🙋♂️We’re Jana and Brett — Aplins in the Alps.
We help you TRAVEL SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭WITH CONFIDENCE to maximize your experiences while minimizing your budget and planning time.
Oh, and we live in Switzerland too!
▶️ Get to know us better by watching our channel from episode 1!
➡️ SWISS TRAVEL GUIDES & SWITZERLAND ITINERARIES
——
#Switzerland #Italy #swisstravel #switzerlandtravel
39 Comments
Thank you so much for this wonderful video. We will be travelling between Switzerland and Italy this summer. I’m wondering if you have any more specific information about the Bernina express 😊
I just thinking about this topic/issue like hours ago and guess what, BOOM. You guys show up in my feed. Damn, thanks for the tips LOL.
This video was packed with great info! Now the big question… how much time should you spend in each country?! So much to see, not enough time
Would love to see a video on the Gondola crossing from Zermatt to Cervenia,Italy (spelling) and return with pricing and travel times.
I just returned from traveling to Italy from Switzerland! Took the train from Lugano to Giovanni S Como. Short connection
For me, I think if you have a group of about 3-4 people, then renting a car is way easier, and you can find Airbnb or hotels in smaller towns, which are less expensive and more local. Also, you don't have to look up the schedules of the last train or bus and be anxious about whether you'll miss them. As a bonus, you can stay in Switzerland and buy food or items from the Italian side, which also costs a lot less. There are hypermarkets on the Italian side of the border of Lugano, which you can easily drive to and pick up items before going back to Switzerland. This also works if you're near the French or German border as well.
Also, sometimes trains in northern Italy provided by Trenord just stop running due to maintenance works and have replacement buses instead. This happened to me twice.
Hey guys! Not sure if you respond here so going to send an initial message just in case you don’t. But my girlfriend and I went to Switzerland a couple years ago (loved it) and are going back in May to check out more and see if we would wanna move there (we currently live in the USA). Since it seems like you guys went from USA -> Switzerland, I would love to chat about that process!
I’ve never been to Italy but we’d love to go soon. But, everyone I know who has been has said never to drive there as it’s crazy on the roads 😂
Thanks for the video. On Omio, there’s a direct route from Milan to Spiez that takes around 3 hours via Frecciarossa, which makes the trip from Milan to Interlaken much more accessible
Thanks guys. Traveling to Milan next month and was also planning to visit Switzerland. This is really helpful.
We just returned from an amazing 11 day trip and your content was so helpful. We flew into Zurich, then train for lunch in Luzern, then on to Murren via Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen. After that Zermatt and then train to Milan through Domodossola. finished in Verona and Venice. Ticket from Zermatt to Milan all procured through the SBB app, as was everything on the whole trip paired with Berner Oberland Pass. Flew home to US from Venice. Great trip, and again, your videos were so helpful and fun. Thanks
(P.S. How 'bout them Dawgs! 😉 )
Awesome topic. We are planning to travel to Switzerland and Italy. Excellent advice. Thank you very much.
Seems like you could really create a great itinerary between these two countries.
Waiting for 2026 berner oberland regional pass updates. Last year you uploaded video on this topic on 14th september. Today is 16th september.
Driving in Naples was one of my favorite memories!
I just have vacation from Switzerland to Italy .. using train, Interlaken to Luzern indeed offers spectatular view
What about the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing between Zermatt and Italy?
In order get to the reduced price of about 141.50CHF for the return trip, the website says
“discounted tickets are exclusively available with a valid SBB half-fare/GA travelcard and must be charged onto the SwissPass card. Please carry the SwissPass card with you (mobile SwissPass is not possible)”
Upon checking about the SwissPass card, it seems to be available only for Swiss residents. Does this mean tourists with the half fare travelcard can’t purchase the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing ticket for reduced price?
lovely video, very informative 👍
Hi,i saw your most of Switzerland videos,could you tell me that if i am travelling Switzerland on 21st,22nd and 23rd November, what type of shoes i should carry,will it snow at that time? Pls assist and thanks in advance
Really appreciate your videos – all one needs to know on one channel!
We will be in Florence in April and want to take a train to Zurich. How would you suggest to buy tickets?
Hello. Just wanted to ask whats a better month to travel to Italy and Switzerland? March or April? Its our first time to go to both countries. We will be 4 traveling. Me my wife and our 2 adult kids.
Oh my wife loves your videos. We are fans. ❤
I want to travel from Zurich to dolomites . What should you recommend? Looking for cheaper budget option .
Hi! Been using all of your videos to help plan my honeymoon for May 2026. We plan to fly into Zurich and out of Milan with stops in Lucerne, the Jungfrau region, Zermatt, and then Lake Como. Curious if it would be easier to go Lucerne, Zermatt, Jungfrau, Como – or, Lucerne Jungfrau, Zermatt, Como? We plan to travel by train.
Thank you guys so much for all your help!
forgot you guys had Italian roots. My father and I are traveling, In August, from Interlaken to where our ancestors are from Bergamo in the Lombardy region. Traveling thru Milan. We will have our Swiss pass, I heard there is a 3-day Lombardi travel pass for $35. That would be perfect for us. Can you verify if we can buy something like this at the station?
Use this free checklist to plan your next Swiss vacation ➡ https://youtu.be/ommqHY1nEsU
Or watch all of our Italy content here ➡ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLDj1KvzhNrOJXL2ndsuEkns5xno-7Dh&si=hOaZEf43PJxZ1evx
Hi Jana and Brett , your videos really helped me while planning my trip to Swiss in 2022 and it was great we just managed to travel everywhere using the public transport. But now this year we were thinking of going to dolomites and from there ending our trip in lucerne because last time we were in lucerne we fell in love with the place, so thats why we thought of coming back, but I dont see any site or video which tell us how we can come from Dolomites to Lucerne or zurich via public transport. If you have any suggestions please do let me know thanks.
trying to plan my italy, switzerland vacation now
I hope for your response. I am quite anxious because I have an upcoming trip from Zermatt to Rome and I am planning to travel by train, but I am unsure what to do. 😔 I will be traveling with a 30-kg baggage and would like to ask for your help.
To be specific, I will be traveling from Zermatt Bahnhof to Hotel Croce di Malta (Via Borghognona). Could you please advise me on the route I should take? Will I be able to keep my baggage with me throughout the journey?
In Switzerland, I will be traveling with a workmate, but from Zermatt to Rome, I will be alone. May I also ask if I can use my debit card to withdraw euros in Italy?
I apologize for the long message. This will be my first time traveling to Europe and only my second international trip so far. Thank you very much, and I appreciate your understanding. 🙏
Thanks so much! This is very helpful! We are trip planning for Italy- Rome, Cinque Terre, Florence and Switzerland- Grindelwald/Wengen area right now. Would there be any reason not to fly into Rome and then leave from Switzerland? And if you have any specific advice I would love it!! Thanks!!
Hi guys! 👋
I’m in the early stages of planning a Switzerland + Northern Italy trip. We already have flights booked, arriving in Zurich and departing from Milan.
The trip will be about 14 days (not counting travel days), and we’ll be traveling with our 4 year old. I’m trying to figure out the best way to split one week in Switzerland and one week in Italy.
We’ve been to Italy before, so this time we’re hoping to focus on the Dolomites, Lake Garda, and Verona, and the Bernina route is high on my list.
I’m also a bit torn on where to base in Switzerland… thinking Lucerne for 2 days, then either Interlaken or Wengen.
Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 🙏
I went to Switzerland last year and a day trip to Milan..we stayed in Locarno for 4 days and explored ticino area, towns like Ascona, Fologlio and Sonogno. But we separated a day for Milan. With your STP or the free Ticino Ticket, both give you the option to reach Chiasso, the very last train stop in Switzerland before crossing into Italy. Just make sure you buy a ticket from Chiasso to Milan and vice versa. On your way back Chiasso is valid again with your STP or Ticino ticket.
Thinking about taking a trip with my wife (both of us are in our 70s, but we are pretty fit), from Zurich to Lake Como, then to Milan. We want to go by train, spending several days in each location. So here are are our questions –
1) we want to take a train from Zurich to Como, but we want to avoid as many large tunnels as possible to enjoy more scenery. Good idea or more trouble getting connections?
2) is there a difference in leaving from Interlocking rather than Zurich?
3) is there Uber or and equivalent in Switzerland/Italy, to get from the trains to hotels?
3) is there much of a language barrier, or is English typically understood?
Thank you
One option you forgot to cover in this video is the hourly S50 train running direct to Switzerland (up to Biasca) from Malpensa Airport, which completely bypasses Milan city altogether, so is useful to get to destinations like Lugano and Bellinzona straight from a flight into Milan-MXP while avoiding the crowds of Milano Centrale, plus you save A LOT of time. UPDATE: Found out another commenter beat me to it and added some even more helpful advice regarding the Simplon line.
What a lovely video from lovely couple.do u have any itenary which covers italy and switzerland want to cover by train .this will be our 1st europe trip for max 2 weeks.
This is great info; so now we know to take the train from Zurich to Venice rather than drive. But once in Venice, should we rent a car for the trip to/days in Rome? Or train in Italy also?
Thank you, this was a very informative video! Could you please help me understand what the best way to travel from Italy to Lucerne is? I will be in Florence and want to take a train to Lucerne, but I am not sure if I am missing out on the 'must-do panoramic train rides' if I take a normal train from Florence to Lucerne. What do you suggest? Will the views be almost similar?
I thought Switzerland was not in the E.U.
There is a direct high speed freccarosia train from Milan Central station to Zurich HB. no need to rent car..Italy has very good trains and public transport between major cities. Plus many trains options