In Europe, slow travel is a luxury. You can, however, pull together a few unforgettable events if you have the time. Riding Switzerland’s Bernina Express when traveling from Paris to Rome by train is one such experience. This route passes through three nations, a lovely alpine city, and meets the charming Bernina Express rail line, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Paris to the Bernina Express Via Chur
The Bernina Express leaves from mellow Chur, the country’s oldest city, and travels across alpine glaciers towards Italy. Panorama views are available through observation windows as you go through the mountains, which reach a height of 7,392 feet (2,253 meters). As you travel through the unimaginably stunning alpine terrain, an English audio tour brings everything to life.
There is a catch. This is a long journey requiring an overnight stop in Chur (Zurich and Basel are also options) and at least six train changes. It is a route for travelers with time on their side and who want to experience one of the exceptional European rail experiences. But for those adventurous travelers looking for the most-unique train from Paris to Italy via Switzerland, this is the route for you.
The quickest route looks like this: Paris > Basel > Zurich > Chur > Tirano > Colico > Milan > Rome. (Full booking links are below.)
Furthermore, you need to get busy on the internet to make this journey a reality as tickets are booked separately. From Paris to Chur with SNCF, the Bernina Express via Swiss SBB or DB German Railways, and connecting regional service from Tirano to Rome via Trenitalia. Or for a small, very-worthwhile fee, you can book the entire journey on one website and save your e-tickets on one mobile app using Omio.
You can also start in St Moritz in Switzerland and terminate in Lugano in Italy, but this will add time and expense to the journey. An additional daily service is available from St Moritz.
The Bernina Express From Paris Details
- Why choose this route? For an unforgettable adventure with striking views and a stupefying Swiss Alps stopover.
- Prices: Starting at around €220 for all three tickets, this is not the cheapest Paris to Rome train price. As usual, early booking will save money. You must reserve seats for the Bernina Express, which can be done online or via their booking line, up to three months in advance. A supplementary fee of €20-25 is chargeable for reservations. First-class upgrades are available on every leg of the journey. They will add approximately €110 to the total train from Paris to Rome cost. If you only want 1st class for the Bernina Express, upgrades start at €36.
- Frequency:
- Paris to Chur – 17 services daily. Journeys range from 6-6.5 hours, with 2 to 3 changes.
- Chur to Tirano – twice daily (morning and afternoon).
- Tirano to Rome – hourly.
- Duration: 18+ hours rail journey time excluding overnight stopover in Switzerland.
- Online Booking:
- *Book all legs in one easy-to-use app called Omio:
- Book Direct:
- Paris to Chur: SNCF
- Bernina Express: Rhaetian
- Chur to Tirano: OBB
- Tirano to Rome: Trenitalia
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NH Collection Roma Fori Imperiali
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Paris to the Bernina Express Via Milan
Another option for reaching the Bernina when traveling between Paris and Rome is overnighting in Milan, then day-tripping to Chur for the Bernina experience. Technically, it’s temporarily backtracking. But with so many daily high-speed connections from Paris to Milan, the overall journey is simpler and a bit shorter than traveling into Switzerland. Also, for those interested in a night (or two!) in Milan, this option is a no-brainer. Peruse some options below: