Alpine lake and mountain scenery
A tailor-made rail holiday

Glacier Express & Bernina Express

Two celebrated Alpine rail journeys shape this 14-night holiday through the Swiss Alps, Lake Como and Milan. Travel from Zermatt to St Moritz aboard the Glacier Express, then cross the Bernina Pass into Italy on the Bernina Express, with four carefully placed hotel stays around these two highlights.

14 nightsFour staysBreakfast included£4,850 pp

Plan your rail holiday

Holiday overview

Four stays, one remarkable rail journey

Zermatt 4 nights · Muottas Muragl, Engadin 4 nights · Varenna, Lake Como 4 nights · Milan 2 nights.

Your holiday price

14 nights · £4,850 per person

The price includes 14 nights’ accommodation with breakfast and the rail journey from Geneva to Milan, following the route below.

ExpertoItaly arranges rail travel. We can also quote for travel from London to Geneva and from Milan back to London, according to your dates and availability. These international connections are additional to the £4,850 price.

ExpertoItaly does not book flights. If you prefer to fly into Geneva or home from Milan, you arrange your flights independently.

Included in the holiday

Your hotels and rail itinerary

  • Four nights in Zermatt with breakfast
  • Four nights at Muottas Muragl in the Engadin with breakfast
  • Four nights in Varenna on Lake Como with breakfast
  • Two nights in Milan with breakfast
  • Swiss rail from Geneva to Zermatt
  • Glacier Express from Zermatt to St Moritz
  • Connecting rail travel to and from Punt Muragl
  • Bernina Express to Tirano
  • Trenord from Tirano to Varenna and Varenna to Milan

Your personal quotation confirms rooms, travel class, train services and seat reservations. Additional meals, excursions and local arrangements are itemised separately where requested.

The highlights of your holiday

Two great rail journeys, with the right stays around them

The Glacier Express and Bernina Express are the centrepiece of this journey. Begin with four nights in Zermatt, pause for four nights above the Engadin between the two trains, then enjoy four nights on Lake Como and two in Milan.

Glacier Express panoramic carriages crossing a stone viaductDay 5 · Zermatt to St Moritz

The Glacier Express

A full day crossing the Swiss Alps is a highlight in its own right. Settle into your panoramic carriage and enjoy the changing mountain scenery, with four nights in Zermatt before the journey and your Muottas Muragl stay to follow.
Explore the Glacier Express journey

Red Bernina railway train curving across a stone viaductDay 9 · The Engadin to Tirano

The Bernina Express

The second great rail day carries you across the Bernina Pass and down into Italy. After your stay above the Engadin, join the Bernina Express for Tirano, then continue by Trenord to Varenna for four nights beside Lake Como.
Explore the Bernina Express journey

The hotels give each stage its own character and time to settle in: Matterhorn FOCUS before the Glacier Express, Muottas Muragl between the two scenic journeys, Royal Victoria after the Bernina crossing, and Spadari al Duomo for the Milan finish. We plan the station connections and summit-hotel access as part of the route.

Where you stay

Four hotels chosen around the rail journey

Each stay has a place in the route: Zermatt before the Glacier Express, Muottas Muragl between the two scenic trains, Varenna after the Bernina Express and Milan for the final two nights. The hotels give you time to enjoy each setting as well as the journeys linking them.

Outdoor spa terrace at Matterhorn FOCUS with the Matterhorn and cable cars beyond
Nights 1–4 · Zermatt

Matterhorn FOCUS Design Hotel

Make Zermatt your first base, with four nights to enjoy the village and surrounding mountains. Balance a viewpoint excursion or a walk with time at the hotel.

Your stay

  • Four nights with breakfast
  • Optional outings such as Gornergrat, chosen around the weather
  • Room category and any Matterhorn view confirmed in your proposal

View hotel details

Panoramic terrace at Muottas Muragl overlooking the Engadin lakes and mountains
Nights 5–8 · Engadin

Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl

Stay above the Engadin valley, where the views and the changing evening light are part of the experience. This is a summit stay: reach Punt Muragl in the valley, then take the funicular up to the hotel.

Your stay

  • Four nights with breakfast
  • The funicular journey takes around ten minutes; hotel guests receive included funicular travel
  • Valley outings involve travelling down and back up; we plan connections and luggage around your stay

View hotel details

Hotel Royal Victoria
Nights 9–12 · Varenna, Lake Como

Hotel Royal Victoria

After the Bernina crossing, arrive in Varenna for four nights on Lake Como. Enjoy the village, ferry outings and time by the water, with the hotel as a comfortable base between explorations.

Your stay

  • Four nights with breakfast
  • Optional ferry trips and a visit to Villa Monastero
  • Lake-view room categories and any upgrades confirmed before booking

View hotel details

Blue bedroom at Hotel Spadari al Duomo in Milan
Nights 13–14 · Milan

Hotel Spadari al Duomo

End with two nights in central Milan, giving you a full day to explore before departure. Combine the Duomo and galleries with good food and a little time to wander.

Your stay

  • Two nights with breakfast
  • Time for the Duomo, Brera and an evening aperitivo
  • Visits such as Leonardo’s Last Supper can be requested, subject to ticket availability

View hotel details

Your rail itinerary

From Geneva to Milan, through the Alps

The core holiday begins with rail travel from Geneva and finishes in Milan. These rail legs are included in the holiday price; your final itinerary sets out the connections for your dates.

Day 1 · Arrive in Zermatt

Geneva → Visp → Zermatt

Travel by Swiss rail from Geneva, changing at Visp for Zermatt. Settle in for the first of four nights; days 2–4 are yours for mountain outings and time in the village.

Day 5 · Cross Switzerland

Zermatt → St Moritz → Punt Muragl

Take the Glacier Express to St Moritz, then connect by local rail to Punt Muragl and take the funicular up to Muottas Muragl. We coordinate the onward connection with the hotel’s access arrangements.

Days 6–8 · Stay above the Engadin

Mountain time at Muottas Muragl

Enjoy the setting or descend by funicular for outings in the valley. Walking plans take account of your interests, the weather and the terrain; optional excursions are quoted separately.

Day 9 · Cross into Italy

Punt Muragl → Bernina Express → Tirano → Varenna

Descend by funicular and connect by local rail to your confirmed Bernina Express departure. Cross the Bernina route to Tirano, then take Trenord to Varenna-Esino for four nights on Lake Como.

Days 10–12 · Lake Como

Explore from Varenna

Use the lake days for ferry outings, gardens and relaxed meals. We can suggest walks that suit your pace, from easy strolls to longer sections of the Sentiero del Viandante.

Day 13 · On to Milan

Varenna-Esino → Milano Centrale

Take Trenord to Milan and settle in for two nights. Day 14 gives you a full day in the city, with departure on day 15 by your chosen onward transport.

Trenord regional train at a station beneath green mountains
Into Italy by rail: continue from Tirano to Varenna, then on to Milan with Trenord.

Scenic services and the Muottas Muragl hotel operate to seasonal schedules. We check that the whole route fits your dates. The Glacier Express requires a seat reservation as well as a valid ticket; your proposal confirms the arrangements for the named panoramic trains.

Optional travel from London

Start by Eurostar, return by rail or air

You can make the journey from London entirely by train. ExpertoItaly can arrange the additional rail legs to Geneva and from Milan, with prices quoted according to availability.

Outbound · quoted separately

London → Paris → Geneva

Take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. Transfer across Paris to Gare de Lyon for TGV Lyria to Geneva, where the included Swiss rail journey to Zermatt begins.

We allow for the change of station in Paris and consider an overnight stop where it makes the journey more comfortable. Any extra nights in Paris or Geneva are additional to the 14-night holiday.

Homeward · quoted separately

Milan → Paris → London

Travel by Frecciarossa from Milan to Paris Gare de Lyon, then transfer to Gare du Nord for Eurostar to London. Allow around seven hours for Milan–Paris; the exact journey time is confirmed for your service and date.

Alternatively, book your own flight home from Milan. ExpertoItaly does not arrange flights; we can plan the end of your holiday around the flight details you provide.

Route map

From the Matterhorn to Lake Como and Milan

Geneva → Zermatt → St Moritz and Muottas Muragl → Tirano → Varenna → Milan.

The map shows the holiday’s destinations. Your written itinerary confirms rail services, changes of train and access to the summit hotel.

Plan this journey

Tell us how you would like to travel

Share your dates, who is travelling and whether you would like rail connections from London. We will bring the hotels and train journeys together in a personal proposal.

Your preferences

Rooms, views and pace

Tell us which views matter to you, the kind of walking you enjoy and how much time you would like for galleries, gardens and meals.

A clear quotation

The whole journey, explained

Your proposal sets out the 14-night holiday, included rail from Geneva to Milan, and any additional international rail connections or overnight stops.

Personal support

Plan with ExpertoItaly

ExpertoItaly designs your holiday personally, with support while you travel. Read about our financial protection.

Your travel enquiry

Let us shape the journey around you

Please include your preferred dates and departure point.

(Places, who’s travelling, special occasions, interests, anything you'd like me to know)
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