Lugano Forum: How to get to Lugano Switzerland from Venice Italy?

Bus travel isn't as common in Europe as it is here in the US except for tours. It's only about 100 miles from Venice to Lugano and flights will require a change of plane and be expensive. Additionally, it's much easier to get to the train station in Venice than it is to get to the airport. Also, you have to be at the station only a few minutes before your train compared to a couple of hours before your flight! Your best bet is to go by train. Changing trains in Europe is generally very easy. Trains run frequently so, should you not make the first connection, there will be another train to your destination in an hour or two usually. You can get all the train information from Venice to Lugano on the Swiss Rail website in English

www.sbb.ch/en

Hope this helps.

Be sure to put in

it will take you 2 and a half hours Venice sta Lucia to Milano Centrale on the fast Eurostar train. No change. Then in Milano you change to the train to Lugano - one hour. So all in 3.5 hours. Trains are frequent. For all schedule information - www.trenitalia.com You will need a seat reservation for both trains.

Hello and thank you for the needed advice. I am going to Lugano the 19th of June and when you call the rail company they said it is too soon for their schedule. I thought during the summer months there was a direct train to Lugano but only in summer time. I was thinking I do not have to change in Milan the end of June but I am not sure.

Does anyone know?

thank you

the schedule is already published. What they might be saying is it is too soon to reserve a seat (which in Italy you will have to do...)

I thought there would be a direct train too - Venice to Zurich, with a stop in Lugano so I looked for it and didn't find it. All the trains from Switzerland to Italy have been changed about since the CFF and Trenitalia ended their collaboration over Cisalpino last December so I have to assume they have cancelled the direct trains. It really isn't a hassle to change in Milano though and there are loads of trains Venice-Milano and Milano-Lugano!

Thank you,

I travel by plane all the time in Europe and have never taken the train. I will be in Switzerland several months. Where is the luggage kept while I am in my seat? I will have 1 large luggage and 1 small luggage. I am afraid someone will take it if it is not near to watch

Venice to Lugano

Just take a bicycle lock with you as there are racks where you may put your larger bags and you can lock the bag to the rack.

>Where is the luggage kept while I am in my seat?

Where you have put it. Overhead rack, under the seat, between seat backs etc.

>I will have 1 large luggage and 1 small luggage. I am afraid someone will take it if it is not near to watch

Why would anybody be interested in your dirty socks? That is what most suitcases contain, and the thieves know it. You have to take care about your laptop bag, camera bag etc. But no thief will ever cast a look at a big, bulky and most probably valueless suitcase.

I wonder why people are going nuts about luggage in the train but they leave it out of their eyes entirely on the airport where any wannabe thief has access to them.

There are occasions where you hear about people's luggage being stolen, but I have never once had a problem, or been on a train where I have observed others having such a problem. A few others on this forum do know of rare circumstances where this has happened, but with the simple plan of bringing a thin bike lock (the ones that are like a thick piece of wire), you can be confident. Taking the train is a relaxing everyday sort of thing to do, so I really wouldn't worry. They are clean, efficient, punctual and just full of people going about their business.

Have a lovely trip.

I, and some of my friends, have had luggage stolen from the trains and have been pickpocketed on them or in the stations. You do need to be vigilant.

Keep teh bags within your sight and be sure that when the train stops in a station you watch them.