From Zurich To Genova / Genoa by train

How to take the rail journey from northern Switzerland to Italy's Mediterranean Coast

This recently introduced direct train connects Zurich and lake Lugano with Genova where connections are available by train to the Cinque Terra and the Italian Riviera; and to ferries on to Corsica and Sardinia

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Routes

From Zurich to Genova by direct train

Travel Information

Final Destination: Genova P. Principe

The train also calls at: Lugano (departs at 12:30) and Pavia and Tortona

The direct train to Genova/Genoa is now departing Zurich HB station at 10:33 with an arrival into Piazza Principe station at 15:52.
Note that this train does not serve, the other main station in the city, Genova Brignole.

1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

On the Trenitalia website, you will need to enter Zuerich Hb as the departure station.

Rail pass users

If you will be travelling with valid Eurail or InterRail passes, you will need to pay a rail pass reservation fee when boarding this train for a journey to Switzerland (seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets).
Though avoid paying for these reservation fees at a station in Switzerland, because if you do so you will also have to pay a 11CHF booking fee per passenger.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia from €41

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Save A Train from €41

Save A Train Guide

Rail Europe from €41
Trainline from €41

Trainline Guide

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesLandscape (Hills / Mountains)Lake views

Good to Know

Typical onward connections from Genova:

  • On most Monday to Fridays a Regionale train will be scheduled to depart from Genova Piazza Principe at 16:10 and it will call at all five of the Cinque Terre villages on route to La Spezia.
  • At weekends you can take this 16:10 train and connect for the Cinque Terre villages in Sestri Levante.
  • A Frecciabianca train on to Pisa, Livorno and Grosseto will depart Genova at 17:05.
  • At 16:58 a Frecciabianca train will depart for the Italian Riviera calling at Finale Ligure, Albenga and Sanremo.

Journey description:

From the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) the first highlight to look out for is the view over Lake Zurich, as the train ascends up from the shore.

TThen, if the weather is behaving itself, after departure from Zug station comes what is now the highlight of the journey, the view over the Zugersee.
This lake with its mountain peaks on the far shore can be seen on the right for more than 15 mins between Zug and Arth-Goldau station.

The next beautiful vista to look out for comes after departure from Arth-Goldau station, when on the right, the train will pass by the Lauerzersee.

Then just to the south of here, also look out on the right for glimpses of the Luzernsee.

Now that the trains on this route use the Ceneri Base Tunnel the next scenic highlights on the journey
come shortly after departure from Lugano, where there are views over the lake, initially over on the LEFT.

and then the train will cross the lake, which is quite the wow moment!

After the trains have crossed the lake, the best of the views switch to the right.

The Italian section of the journey south of Chiasso is more mundane, despite the trains passing through Como, its namesake lake can't be seen from these trains and there isn't anything particularly special about the final part of the journey from Milano on to Genova.

Looking down over Lake Zurich to the south of the city Looking down over Lake Zurich to the south of the city
 Passing by the Zugersee between Arth-Goldau and Zug Passing by the Zugersee between Arth-Goldau and Zug
The spectacular view of the Zugersee between Zug and Arth-Goldau The spectacular view of the Zugersee between Zug and Arth-Goldau
Look out for the glimpses of Lake Luzern Look out for the glimpses of Lake Luzern
Looking over the Lauerzersee Looking over the Lauerzersee
Heading towards the Gotthard Base Tunnel Heading towards the Gotthard Base Tunnel
Heading towards Bellinzona Heading towards Bellinzona
Travelling through Lugano Travelling through Lugano
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