---
title: "Best Day Trips from Lake Como: Bernina Express & Lugano"
date: 2026-10-07
canonical: https://thelakecomotours.com/lake-como-travel-guide/day-trips-from-lake-como/
---
The best **day tours from Lake Como** head somewhere the lake itself doesn't go: across the Swiss border on the Bernina Express, or into the lakeside city of Lugano for an afternoon in a different country entirely. Here's what I'd actually plan: pick one, not both, since trying to fit either trip alongside a full day on Lake Como itself stretches a day past the point of actually enjoying it.

This guide covers both options in detail, what each one costs, and how to decide between them. For the full picture of what else this guide covers, [the Lake Como travel guide](/lake-como-travel-guide/) is the place to start if you haven't already mapped out your base town and timing.

## What Counts as a Day Trip From Lake Como?

A genuine day trip from Lake Como means leaving the lake entirely for several hours and coming back the same day, which really narrows down to two realistic options: the Bernina Express scenic train into the Swiss Alps, or a day in Lugano, the lakeside city just across the border. Both differ from the Milan day-trip crowd going the other direction, since those visitors are coming to the lake, not leaving it.

I'd treat these as a different category of trip entirely from a boat tour or ferry ride, since you're spending real hours in transit rather than on the water. That trade is worth it for the right traveler, but it isn't for everyone on a short stay.

## Is the Bernina Express Worth Doing From Lake Como?

Yes, if you have a full day to spare and genuinely enjoy scenic train travel, since the [Bernina Express](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernina_Express) climbs from near sea level to over 2,200 meters through the Swiss Alps on one of the steepest unassisted rail lines in the world, crossing viaducts and glacier views that don't exist anywhere near the lake itself.

My honest take is that this is the single best "wow" day trip available from this region, better than most guided Lake Como boat tours for sheer visual impact, but it eats most of a day once you count the connection from the lake. I'd only skip it if you're tight on time or traveling with anyone who gets restless on long train rides.

## How Do You Get From Lake Como to the Bernina Express?

The usual route runs through Tirano, reached by train or a connecting bus service from the lake area, where you board the Bernina Express itself for the climb into the Engadin valley and on toward St. Moritz. Several operators bundle this connection into a single guided day trip so you don't have to piece together the regional timetables yourself.

I'd book the guided version over doing it independently unless you're confident reading Swiss and Italian regional schedules back to back, since a missed connection on this particular route can genuinely cost you the whole day rather than a short delay. Check the current timetable directly with the operator before you lock in a date, since mountain rail schedules shift by season.

## Is Lugano Worth a Day Trip From Lake Como?

Yes, especially if you want a second country and a noticeably different atmosphere without committing to a full Swiss itinerary. [Lugano](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugano) sits on its own lake in the Swiss canton of Ticino, with a palm-lined waterfront, a compact old town, and an Italian-speaking local culture that feels familiar yet distinctly different from the Lombardy side of the border.

I'd pick Lugano over the Bernina Express if your group includes anyone who'd rather wander a city than sit on a train for hours, since Lugano gives you real walking time in a destination rather than a transit-heavy day built around one scenic ride. [Which Milan day trip fits your plans](/lake-como-day-trip-from-milan/milan-lake-como-itinerary/) is worth a look too if you're weighing Lugano against other multi-day options from Milan.

![map-style infographic showing the bernina express route and lugano as day trip options branching off from lake como, generic place labels only](/images/blog/como-day-trips-from-lake-como-2.webp)

## How Do You Get From Lake Como to Lugano?

Lugano is reachable by train from Como in well under an hour, making it genuinely one of the easiest international day trips available anywhere in Europe. Several tours also combine it with Bellagio in the same day, running from Milan rather than directly from the lake.

I'd go independently by train if Lugano is your only stop, since the route is simple enough not to need a guide, and save the guided combo tour for when you're pairing it with Bellagio as part of a longer Milan-based day.

## Bernina Express or Lugano: Which Should You Pick?

Pick the Bernina Express if the journey itself is the point and you're happy spending most of the day on a train with incredible views. Pick Lugano if you'd rather spend your hours walking a new city and only need a short train ride to get there and back.

My honest advice for most first-time visitors is Lugano, simply because it leaves more of the day free and doesn't require the same level of advance planning around mountain rail timetables. Save the Bernina Express for a trip where you have a full, unhurried day with nothing else scheduled either side of it.

## Do You Need a Passport or ID for Either Trip?

Yes. Both routes cross into Switzerland, which isn't in the EU, so EU and EEA travelers can typically use a national ID card, while everyone else needs a valid passport. Carry it with you for the whole day, not just the border crossing itself.

I'd double-check your specific nationality's requirements before booking either trip, since the rules differ enough by passport that it's worth five minutes of research rather than assuming your EU neighbor's documents work the same way yours do.

## How Much Do These Day Trips Cost?

A guided day trip combining Bellagio with Lugano typically starts from around EUR 65 per person, while an independent Bernina Express day built around train tickets alone usually costs somewhat more once you add the Swiss rail fare on top of getting to Tirano. Guided options bundle transport and a guide into one price, which is usually worth it for the Bernina Express specifically.

I'd pay the small premium for the guided version on the Bernina Express route especially, since the convenience of a single booking and a guaranteed seat on a train that can sell out in peak season is worth more than the savings from assembling it yourself.

## What Else Rounds Out a Longer Stay at Lake Como?

If you've got more than a couple of days, pair one of these cross-border trips with time spent actually on the lake rather than leaving it twice. [Best things to do on Lake Como beyond boat tours](/lake-como-travel-guide/things-to-do-lake-como/) and [where to stay on Lake Como](/lake-como-travel-guide/where-to-stay-lake-como/) both help fill out the rest of an itinerary once your one big day trip is locked in.

I'd build your stay around one cross-border day and the rest spent lakeside, rather than treating this as the headline of the trip, since Lake Como itself is still the reason most people book this region in the first place. [Is Lake Como safe? Travel tips and common scams](/lake-como-travel-guide/is-lake-como-safe/) and [best time to visit Lake Como](/lake-como-travel-guide/best-time-to-visit-lake-como/) are worth reading before you finalize dates either way. For the current lineup of what's bookable on this site, [this lake como tours roundup, ranked by price](/) is worth a look before you commit to one itinerary over another.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is the Bernina Express better than driving the same route?**
Yes, by a wide margin for the scenery alone. The train crosses viaducts and mountain passes that aren't visible, or safely drivable, from a car on the same route.

**Can you do both the Bernina Express and Lugano in one trip?**
Not comfortably in a single day. Each deserves its own full day, so plan them on separate days if your stay is long enough for both.

**Is Lugano in Italy or Switzerland?**
Switzerland, specifically the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which is exactly why it feels familiar to visitors coming from the Lombardy side of the border.

**Do I need to book the Bernina Express in advance?**
I'd book ahead in peak summer season, since seats on the scenic route can sell out, especially on the guided day-trip versions that bundle transport from the lake area.

**Is a day trip from Lake Como to Switzerland worth it on a short stay?**
Only if your stay is at least three or four days. On a shorter trip, I'd spend the extra day actually on Lake Como instead.