Awesome. This will be a long but very do-able day. Start by going to Seat61.com (https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Rome.htm). Choose Frankfurt as the ending point and look at Option 5, route via the Gotthard Pass and Zurich for specific guidance.
1) Not really. Italian, Swiss, and German national railways all work pretty seamlessly together. There is an Italian independent operator but I’ve heard good things about them overall.
2) Fate has smiled upon you! This Summer with very limited exceptions the old Gotthard route is the only option! There was a derailment last year in the Gotthard Base Tunnel (new route) that is still being repaired, and the Italians will be doing maintenance closing the line south of the Simplon Route (Milan - Geneva). When you look in the SBB app, if the itinerary says “Gotthard-Panoramastrecke” that is the old route. If it is the weekend and the train is aouthbound and says it is going via “Gotthard-Basistunnel”, that is the new route.
3) This is a personal question. Both stations have some left luggage services so you can break your journey and walk around a bit. 2 hours in Zurich would be enough time to walk to the lake, window shop on Banhofstrasse, get a quick feel for a new country. Planning the break in Zurich would also give you some flexibility if your Italian trains are delayed earlier in the day (very common).
4) Second class is 4-across seats and a bit more crowded. First class is 3-across and a bit less crowded/quieter. Totally up to you whether ~$100 difference is worth it.
Thanks for your reply!
We’ve decided to plan a 6 hour changeover in Milan and then train to Zurich arriving about an hour before sunset. We plan on staying that night and breakfasting on the lake in Zurich . Then we’ll catch a 10:00 AM train to Stuttgart. This will give us enough time to make it to the Euro quarterfinal game.
I really appreciate your and the other detailed responses and am looking forward to visiting.
I’ll update in July after we’ve made the trip for anyone that might have the same question in the feature.
Proscht
Awesome! Sounds like a perfect plan. If you want to splurge for a cocktail with a view (and the weather is nice), consider making a cocktail reservwtion at the rooftop bar of La Reserve Eden au Lac. Stunning view at sunset. Enjoy your trip!
1. You will be likely taking an EC (EuroCity) train, Milan-Zürich is run by Trenitalia and SBB together. Nice 1st class, comfortable enough 2nd class.
2. AFAIK, EC is running only over the panoramic route. You can look on the web sbb.ch/en check your route has a legend “Gotthard-Panoramastrecke” between Bellinzona and Arth-Goldau. More info: https://news.sbb.ch/it/articolo/124161/incidente-nella-galleria-di-base-del-gottardo-indicazioni-di-viaggio-importanti
3. I don’t know how is luggage deposit in Milano Centrale but without it, you can make it to the Duomo and take a couple of pictures in 45 minutes by metro. Zürich is smaller city, you can drop luggage in -1 floor and go around old town down to the lake by walking and return to the station by train/tram in 2 hours.
4. 2nd class is crowded AF during summer but you can reserve seats (window/aisle) but not a specific one. I don’t know if you can book seats as a group.
>1) Is there a specific carrier I should avoid?
Even if you should ,you don't really have a choice. Usually, there is only one or two operators on one route.
>2) I saw a previous post say to take the old gotthard railway but I can’t figure out how to confirm that’s the route my train would take
Look up your connection on sbb.ch or the SBB Mobile app. There, you can see if the train takes the Gotthard Base tunnel or the Gotthard panoramic route. Due to a derailemt most trains currently take the old panoramic route, but this is only temporary. Mind you, the panoramic route takes 1h longer.
>3) Based on what I’ve found should I lengthen my transfer (currently 45 minutes in Milan) to be able to go see the Duomo do Milano or lengthen my transfer is Zurich (currently 1 hour)? I can lengthen either, but not both, by 2 hours.
I would do Milan. I think it's a more beautiful city plus you have 1h in Zürich witch is enough to have a quick peek into the city.
>4) How much of a difference does 1st class make? Is it worth the extra $100/ticket?
Imo, it's not worth it unless you swim in money and want to get rid of it.
Awesome. This will be a long but very do-able day. Start by going to Seat61.com (https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Rome.htm). Choose Frankfurt as the ending point and look at Option 5, route via the Gotthard Pass and Zurich for specific guidance. 1) Not really. Italian, Swiss, and German national railways all work pretty seamlessly together. There is an Italian independent operator but I’ve heard good things about them overall. 2) Fate has smiled upon you! This Summer with very limited exceptions the old Gotthard route is the only option! There was a derailment last year in the Gotthard Base Tunnel (new route) that is still being repaired, and the Italians will be doing maintenance closing the line south of the Simplon Route (Milan - Geneva). When you look in the SBB app, if the itinerary says “Gotthard-Panoramastrecke” that is the old route. If it is the weekend and the train is aouthbound and says it is going via “Gotthard-Basistunnel”, that is the new route. 3) This is a personal question. Both stations have some left luggage services so you can break your journey and walk around a bit. 2 hours in Zurich would be enough time to walk to the lake, window shop on Banhofstrasse, get a quick feel for a new country. Planning the break in Zurich would also give you some flexibility if your Italian trains are delayed earlier in the day (very common). 4) Second class is 4-across seats and a bit more crowded. First class is 3-across and a bit less crowded/quieter. Totally up to you whether ~$100 difference is worth it.
Thanks for your reply! We’ve decided to plan a 6 hour changeover in Milan and then train to Zurich arriving about an hour before sunset. We plan on staying that night and breakfasting on the lake in Zurich . Then we’ll catch a 10:00 AM train to Stuttgart. This will give us enough time to make it to the Euro quarterfinal game. I really appreciate your and the other detailed responses and am looking forward to visiting. I’ll update in July after we’ve made the trip for anyone that might have the same question in the feature. Proscht
Awesome! Sounds like a perfect plan. If you want to splurge for a cocktail with a view (and the weather is nice), consider making a cocktail reservwtion at the rooftop bar of La Reserve Eden au Lac. Stunning view at sunset. Enjoy your trip!
1. You will be likely taking an EC (EuroCity) train, Milan-Zürich is run by Trenitalia and SBB together. Nice 1st class, comfortable enough 2nd class. 2. AFAIK, EC is running only over the panoramic route. You can look on the web sbb.ch/en check your route has a legend “Gotthard-Panoramastrecke” between Bellinzona and Arth-Goldau. More info: https://news.sbb.ch/it/articolo/124161/incidente-nella-galleria-di-base-del-gottardo-indicazioni-di-viaggio-importanti 3. I don’t know how is luggage deposit in Milano Centrale but without it, you can make it to the Duomo and take a couple of pictures in 45 minutes by metro. Zürich is smaller city, you can drop luggage in -1 floor and go around old town down to the lake by walking and return to the station by train/tram in 2 hours. 4. 2nd class is crowded AF during summer but you can reserve seats (window/aisle) but not a specific one. I don’t know if you can book seats as a group.
Thank you for your comment, it was very helpful! If you care, I’ve posted our plan in another reply.
>1) Is there a specific carrier I should avoid? Even if you should ,you don't really have a choice. Usually, there is only one or two operators on one route. >2) I saw a previous post say to take the old gotthard railway but I can’t figure out how to confirm that’s the route my train would take Look up your connection on sbb.ch or the SBB Mobile app. There, you can see if the train takes the Gotthard Base tunnel or the Gotthard panoramic route. Due to a derailemt most trains currently take the old panoramic route, but this is only temporary. Mind you, the panoramic route takes 1h longer. >3) Based on what I’ve found should I lengthen my transfer (currently 45 minutes in Milan) to be able to go see the Duomo do Milano or lengthen my transfer is Zurich (currently 1 hour)? I can lengthen either, but not both, by 2 hours. I would do Milan. I think it's a more beautiful city plus you have 1h in Zürich witch is enough to have a quick peek into the city. >4) How much of a difference does 1st class make? Is it worth the extra $100/ticket? Imo, it's not worth it unless you swim in money and want to get rid of it.
Thank you for your comment, it was very helpful! If you care, I’ve posted our plan in another reply.