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On a trip from Lake Como to St. Moritz, Italian alpinism and Swiss charm coalesce into a truly memorable journey. Separated by Europe’s loftiest mountain range and in a region where glamour is synonymous with the great outdoors, the two towns are only a short train ride apart, providing the ideal distance to enjoy the best of both countries’ mountain culture in one journey. Beginning in Lake Como in northern Italy’s Lombardy region, discover an abundance of bougainvillea-lined villages before boarding the Bernina Express in Tirano, marking your start along the world’s most beautiful rail journey. Connecting the Italian Alps with the Swiss Alps, each turn of the tracks reveals another unimaginable view. Arriving in St. Moritz, explore the entire Bernina Range of mountains amid farms yielding fresh milk and butter. And whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or want to relax in total luxury (or do a bit of both)—there’s something on offer for every kind of traveler.
Arriving at Lake Como, you’ll quickly realize it’s every bit as picturesque as you’ve been told. If you’re thirsting for a taste of the celebrity lake life, you can book a getaway just like George and Amal at Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Steeped in more than 100 years of history and standing resolute at the base of Lake Como, the property is directly across from the village of Bellagio, which rests below the dreamy, green-tipped Grigne Mountains. If you thirst for an adrenaline rush, request the hotel’s exclusive hydroplane ride over Lake Como, where an Alfa Romeo Spider will be waiting for you at the top of Comacina Island for a private sunset picnic. Or if a culinary adventure is more your speed, prepare a quintessential Italian meal alongside executive chef Osvaldo Presazzi.
From the end of March until the beginning of October, the land surrounding the lake blossoms with wildflowers and sunny days overwhelm the terrain, creating optimal conditions for time well spent outdoors. Companies like REI Adventures lead trekkers up the summit of Mount San Primo. Here you can see a 360-view of the lake. While at the summit, you can even see the tallest of Milan’s skyscrapers just west as well as Switzerland’s Pennine Alps, home to the iconic Matterhorn peak, rumored to be the most photographed mountain in the world.
After a strenuous day on the mountain, hop aboard a ferry for a scenic ride to Varenna, a picturesque Italian oasis where laundry billows in the wind. Wander past the town’s medieval Castle of Vezio before walking the historical Pilgrim Path, which links the Alps to Milan. Eventually end at the Orrido of Bellano, a natural gorge cut deep into the rocks of a cliff by the Pioverna River. Here you can find milky blue glacial pools, waterfalls, and natural caves.
After plenty of time exploring Lake Como, drive or hop a train to Tirano, where you can board the famed Bernina Express, the highest rail journey in Europe and arguably the most beautiful in the world. Connecting the Italian and Swiss Alps, the Bernina Express crosses suspension bridges over bold gorges: You won’t find better, more flawless views of icy-blue Poschiavo Lake and cascading Piz Palü Glacier. After an introduction to the wonder of the Bernina Range, the train crosses the Bernina Pass at 7,600 feet above sea level, officially arriving in St. Moritz, Switzerland, a glitterati stomping ground surrounded by lakes and pinewood forests of the Engadine Valley.
As soon as you exit the Bernina Express, you’ll find a luxurious calm amid St. Moritz’s cosmopolitan splendor. At the pinnacle of this is the iconic Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. Located in the heart of the cobblestoned downtown, the property is set just above Lake St. Moritz in the Upper Engadine, one of Europe’s highest inhabited regions. Enjoy a drink at the legendary Sunny Bar, the oldest sports bar in the Alps and a tried-and-true haunt for the international jet set. If you’re lucky, you may even brush shoulders with the daredevil racers of the Cresta Run, the town’s highly revered tobogganing race held on a natural ice skeleton track.
After exploring downtown St. Moritz, save time for a full day of ultimate relaxation at Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina, just a quick drive away. Bordered by tranquil gardens and nestled among pine and larch forests, be sure to visit the 20,000-square-foot Kronenhof Spa. Encased in a floor-to-ceiling glass dome, the 65-foot indoor infinity pool will play tricks on your eyes, as the mountain range ahead is perfectly reflected in its waters. Take turns rotating between the stone grotto steam bath, the flotation room, and the relaxation room, where a cozy fire awaits.
Once your muscles are perfectly rested, get outside to experience Swiss alpinism at its best. There’s simply no end to adventure in this lakeside town. Start with an easy trail walk of Lej da Staz (Lake Staz), which culminates at Hotel Restorant Lej da Staz, where an outdoor Airstream serves up quick fare and local Swiss brews. Relax in bucolic Swiss splendor as locals jump off the dock into the icy lake waters.
After a day at leisure, get your heart racing with a hike to the top of Alp Suvretta in the Bernina Range. Your journey will pass ski lifts on your ascent, as the summit reveals the most iconic shapes in this mountaineer’s paradise, including the Piz Bernina and the Biancograt ridge of Piz Scerscen. On your descent, enjoy a perfect view of the Alpine lakes below, where kite surfers appear as tiny dots in the water.
For an even more adventurous exploration of St. Moritz, opt to hike with REI Adventures through the Roseg Valley, largely considered the most beautiful in the entire Alps. Beginning in Pontresina, hitch a ride on a horse-drawn carriage to the secluded Hotel Roseg Gletscher, the base point for a hike to the Chamanna Tschierva mountain hut. There’s no need to pack your lunch on this trek, as a helicopter flies in weekly supplies to the rather luxurious enclave. Enjoy a Swiss spread and a pint while you bask in a sea of 13,000-foot snowcapped mountain views and the Bernina Group’s glaciers. And if you’re feeling extremely adventurous before your weeklong journey ends, stay overnight in the mountain hut and awake before sunrise to glacier-walk the Biancograt, the legendary ice ridge preceding the summit of Bernina.