Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best way to see the most beautiful parts of the country is to take the specially designated scenic trains, e.g., the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and Golden Pass Railway. String a few journeys together, stay in the smaller Alpine towns where they originate and terminate, and you'll get a wonderful overview of why this is one of the most spectacular places to visit.

One way to do this is to opt for a "Grand Train Tour": https://switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/che/round-trips/scenic-rail-journeys/grand-train-tour-switzerland-holidays

Chat GPT?

Nope, just a former student in Switzerland who knows the country, and who returns often, and loves taking train rides. No AI required.

Can you rebook to depart from Zurich?
I suggest Bernina route (Milan-Tirano on regional train, then Bernina route. Trains run hourly. The non-express trains typically have windows that open and never sell out. Stop over somewhere - Le Prese, Pontresina, St Moritz, Chur ( could do day trip to Arosa or Filisur).
Make your way to St Gallen-easy direct train to Zurich airport.

If you can’t fly back from Zurich, trains from Zurich to Milan are frequent and reliable but I’d probably plan on getting back to Milan the day before.

I have done all of the above except Arosa at least once.

Anonymous wrote:The best way to see the most beautiful parts of the country is to take the specially designated scenic trains, e.g., the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and Golden Pass Railway. String a few journeys together, stay in the smaller Alpine towns where they originate and terminate, and you'll get a wonderful overview of why this is one of the most spectacular places to visit.

One way to do this is to opt for a "Grand Train Tour": https://switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/che/round-trips/scenic-rail-journeys/grand-train-tour-switzerland-holidays

Chat GPT?

It is worth it. Very pretty, beautiful hikes. Also fun to visit cheese and chocolate factories.

The best way to see the most beautiful parts of the country is to take the specially designated scenic trains, e.g., the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and Golden Pass Railway. String a few journeys together, stay in the smaller Alpine towns where they originate and terminate, and you'll get a wonderful overview of why this is one of the most spectacular places to visit.

One way to do this is to opt for a "Grand Train Tour": https://switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/che/round-trips/scenic-rail-journeys/grand-train-tour-switzerland-holidays

We did 2 weeks in Switzerland this past summer and a week this winter. The expensive part IMO is the restaurant food and alcohol if you drink. We keep the cost down by booking apartments with kitchens / Marriott hotels with lounges (free dinner for high status members), plus we don’t drink. Grocery costs are comparable to the USA

Anonymous wrote:May is off season for hiking - plus many of the gondolas and lofts close for yearly maintenance in may so you might be out of luck. Plus hotels and restaurants also often close this time of year so it will take some planning on your part.

If the trail is open, it’ll be muddy and slippery and you might run into snow.

*lifts not lofts

May is off season for hiking - plus many of the gondolas and lofts close for yearly maintenance in may so you might be out of luck. Plus hotels and restaurants also often close this time of year so it will take some planning on your part.

If the trail is open, it’ll be muddy and slippery and you might run into snow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just do South Tyrol / the Dolomites within Italy along the Swiss border. Same mountains, better food and wine, 40% discount relative to Switzerland.

If you need to get back to Milan from Switzerland to catch your flight, it will take a bit of time and requires multiple train transfers. It's not quick.

This is a great idea but you wouldn't regret Switzerland either. I agree with sticking to smaller cities over major metros. Everything is so accessible by train from Milan, do not question how "worth it" a few days would be.

Personally, I think one ought to do Switzerland as a stand-alone trip. Italian Dolomites will be a lot more accessible from Milan having only "a few days."

Though, if OP has already done the Dolomites then I can see why they would want to try Switzerland.

Anonymous wrote:Just do South Tyrol / the Dolomites within Italy along the Swiss border. Same mountains, better food and wine, 40% discount relative to Switzerland.

If you need to get back to Milan from Switzerland to catch your flight, it will take a bit of time and requires multiple train transfers. It's not quick.

This is a great idea but you wouldn't regret Switzerland either. I agree with sticking to smaller cities over major metros. Everything is so accessible by train from Milan, do not question how "worth it" a few days would be.

May is not hiking season in the Alps, most hotels will be closed. But you can hike f.e. in the italian part of Switzerland, Lugano/Locarno.

Just do South Tyrol / the Dolomites within Italy along the Swiss border. Same mountains, better food and wine, 40% discount relative to Switzerland.

If you need to get back to Milan from Switzerland to catch your flight, it will take a bit of time and requires multiple train transfers. It's not quick.

Absolutely worth it. Hiking in Verbier is fantastic. There are lots of other outdoor activities in the village. The food is excellent. Hotels in the summer are not that expensive but they don’t have air conditioning.

We did a couple days in Interlaken tacked on to the end of a trip. It was gorgeous and I'm glad we did it.

Switzerland is expensive and I probably wouldn't go to hang out in the city, but for hiking and that side of things? Well worth it to me.

Is it worth it just for a few days?

Going to Milan for a conference in May and have an extra few days. Already been to Italy multiple times and have always wanted to go to Switzerland.

Very interested in hiking and the beauty of it…although everyone mentions how expensive everything is when I say Switzerland.