The central roof span of Milano Centrale viewed from the departure concorse

How to take a rail journey Zurich to Milano/Milan

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Zürich / Zurich to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train

A long planned expanded service of trains between Milan and Zurich makes the most of the brand new trains that have been introduced to the route and the relatively new Ceneri Base Tunnel.

Though this remains a journey which showcases the best of European rail travel.
The smart new trains have restaurant cars, the engineering achievements to enable the journey time are phenomenal and despite the epic, recently opened rail tunnels, most of the journey is still fantastically beautiful!
Another recent innovation was the very welcome extension to the routes taken by some departures, so that Zurich now has daily direct trains to Genova/Genoa and Bologna; though these two services don't call at Milan's primary rail station, Milano Centrale.

Though the Gotthard Base Tunnel does take the trains away from the most scenic section of the older Gotthard Route, and making the most of those scenic highlights is still easily done - with only one connection between trains required.

However, for those who have time on their side, it's also possible to ride what is arguably Europe's most scenic rail route between two cities!

Routes you can take to go from Zürich / Zurich to Milano / Milan / Mailand

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Route Information

Option 1: the direct EC trains

Route Information

Via stations: Cadenazzo

Option 2: more scenic - and rail pass users can also save
Travel Time (approx)

5hr 12min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

up to 6 x optimum connections per day

Route Information

Via stations: Chur, Samedan, Pontresina and Tirano

Option 3: Taking Europe's most scenic rail route!
Station Guides
The frontage of Zurich Hb station by the Bahnhofplatz tram stops
Zürich HB / Zurich main station Rail Station Guide
Chur Rail Station Guide
Samedan Guide Coming soon...
Changing trains at Pontresina
Pontresina Guide Coming soon...
Tirano Guide Coming soon...
The central roof span of Milano Centrale viewed from the departure concorse
Milano Centrale Rail Station Guide
Travel Time (approx)

9hrs approx

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

up to 7 x connections per day

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This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.