How to take the rail journey from Milan/Milano to Lucerne/Luzern

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Milano / Milan / Mailand to Luzern / Lucerne by train

The easiest option for a rail journey from Milan to Luzern/Lucerne is to take the daily direct train.

Routes you can take to go from Milano / Milan / Mailand to Luzern / Lucerne

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:

Looking for connections?

Journey guides for travel to Milano / Milan / Mailand

Route Information

Station Guides

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

Milano Centrale Rail Station Guide

The frontage of Luzern station - you can use these escalators to avoid crossing the road in front of the station

Luzern Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

3hr 26min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

1 x direct train per day

Is the journey from Milano to Luzern direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this route.
Though many more journey options are available by making only one connection between trains

Is the journey scenic?
Yes - See the Journey Information below for images and videos captured by ShowMeTheJourney on this route.

What other tourist locations are along the route from Milano to Luzern?
Lugano and Bellinzona

How easy is it to travel on from the station in Luzern?
The station is located by the heart of the city centre,

How easy is it to get to the station in Milano?
Milano Centrale is served by two Metro lines, the M2 and the M3.
There are also typically 2 x trains per hour from Malpensa Airport.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay by Milano Centrale.

Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Milano to Luzern trains?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' to access step-by-step guides on how to make a booking.

How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for these Milano to Luzern trains?
Typically up to 4 months ahead of the travel date; though this period of time can be shorter, particularly when searching for journeys more than three months ahead during October and March.

What are the child ticket terms for these Milano to Luzern trains?
Children aged 6 -15 receive a 20% discount, those aged 5 and under aren't charged for a ticket.
Note that these terms are different to the national child ticket policies in Italy and Switzerland.

Does the ticket for these Milano to Luzern trains include assigned seats?
Yes - See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train.

Do rail pass users need to book reservations for these Milano to Luzern trains?
Yes - See the rail pass reservation guide for info on the multiple booking options.

Is catering available on the Milano to Luzern trains on this journey option?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.

What else is good to know about Italian rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Italy.

What else is good to know about Swiss rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Switzerland.

Travel Information

Final Destination: Basel

The train also calls at: Lugano and Bellinzona

The daily direct train from Milano typically departs at 10:10, but if this timings doesn't suit, there are easy cross platform connections at Art-Goldau station from the Milano to Zurich trains into trains on to Luzern/Lucerne.

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

Two train units can be joined together on some departures to form an exceptionally long train

EC Astoro Train Guide

Exterior view of the EC trains used on routes through The Gotthard Base Tunnel

EC (Switzerland/Italy - ETR 600) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesLake viewsLandscape (Hills / Mountains)Not High Speed

Good to Know

This daily direct trains typically depart from Milano at around 08:10 and 10:10, but if the timings of this train don't suit, there is a straightforward alternative.

The Milano to Zurich EC trains all call at Arth-Goldau station and from virtually all of these trains, guaranteed connections are available into trains to Luzern.

Making the connection is as straightforward as it could possibly be as all you have to is walk across the platform, from one train to another.

Journey Description

The first half of this journey is unexceptional, but things become a tad more fabulous once the train has passed through Chiasso and crossed the border into Switzerland.

Once you're in Switzerland, look out for these three highlights (the video was taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction)

(1) The views from the left over Lake Lugano, as the train nears Lugano.

(2) The crossing over Lake Lugano - with great views from both sides of the train.

(3) South of Lugano station, the views over the lake switch to the right.

After departure from Lugano, the train will now travel through the new Ceneri Base Tunnel.
After departure from Bellinzona the train will enter the world's longest railway tunnel, The Gotthard Base Tunnel - so long that it takes the train around 14mins to pass through it.

Despite the fact that this train now travels through The Gotthard Base Tunnel this is still a scenic journey through the Alps.
After the train has exited the tunnel and travelled through Schwyz, there are views on the left over Lake Luzern, which aren’t available when heading south on these trains.

Then shortly afterwards, before Arth-Goldau, also on the left there are views over the Lauerzersee.

The final journey highlight comes after departure from Arth-Goldau there are some spectacular views over Lake Zug, which can be seen on the right.

The two videos above were taken from trains travelling in the opposite direction.

The view over Lugano from the right hand side of the train

Looking over Lake Lugano

After The Gotthard Tunnel

The view over Lake Luzern

The view over Lake Thun

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Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: Up to 180 days / 6 months ahead of the travel date - though booking periods will be shorter when travelling after the second Sunday in December.

Three types of ticket will typically be made available, Standard, Saver Flex and Saver - all types of ticket are only valid on the specific departure selected when booking.

The very cheapest type of ticket, Saver tickets, are taken off sale 7 days prior to departure.

The mid-price type of ticket, Saver Flex, are taken off sale 3 days prior to departure.

Exchanges

Up until departure, the most expensive type of ticket, Standard tickets, can be for exchanged for another day of travel or travel time on the exact same route without paying any additional fees.
Up until departure, the mid priced type of ticket, Saver Flex tickets, can be for exchanged for another day of travel or travel time on the exact same route, but the price difference with Standard tickets, at the time of exchange, will need to be paid.
The cheapest type of tickets, Saver tickets, cannot be exchanged.

Additional information is available on the SBB website.

Refunds

Up until departure, the most expensive type of ticket, Standard tickets, tickets can be returned and purchasers will receive 80% of the price paid.
The mid priced type of ticket, Saver Flex tickets, cannot be refunded.
The cheapest type of tickets, Saver tickets, cannot be refunded.

Seat reservations

Reservations are mandatory on the Italian section of the journey, so seats are assigned when booking all types of tickets.

Child tickets

Children aged 6 -15 receive a 20% discount, those aged 5 and under aren't charged for a ticket.
Note that these terms are different to the national child ticket policies in Italy and Switzerland.
And the terms are also different for Swiss children travelling with a Junior Travelcard.

Bike tickets

When travelling with a non-folding bike, spaces must be reserved, but you need to make a simultaneous purchase of your travel ticket + the bike reservation on the Trenitalia website.

Dog tickets

Dog tickets seemingly aren't available for this end-to-end international journey, a dog pass will need to be purchased for the Swiss part of the trip and a dog ticket is required for the Italian section of the journey, see the dogs on trains guide.

Travelling with rail passes

Though Eurail and Interrail pass users can easily avoid paying the comparatively expensive rail pass reservation fees on this train, by taking one of the regional trains from Milan to Lugano, connecting there for a Swiss IC train on to Luzern.
The regional trains which usually depart Milano at 08:43; 12:43; 14:43 and 16:43 have good connections for trains on to Luzern.

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