We just found out in our on goiong "Buddy Pass" crisis that we have to fly into Zurich today. We were thinking about taking a train to Lucarno and staying the night and then a train to Rome on Sunday. Is this a good choice, any better ideas? Is Lucarno a "walking" city? We won't have a car! Help we leave in a few minutes!!

I was going to email you, but thought this would be faster. We also fly into Zurich and then on to Rome. There is an AA flight that leaves there at 12:20 PM - did you check that?

Carol

Locarno is not on the main railway line, but on a short connecting stub to/from Bellinzona, where you have to change trains. The city is nice and easily walkable, but in my opinion the Italian Switzerland hotel and touristic services have a low quality/price ratio (usually because prices are too expensive). Restaurants are also quite expensive; the best choice for eating in town is a self-service restaurant in front of the railway station (if it is still here, I am not visiting the town since a few years).

Carol- we just checked the ticket and it was 700.00 a piece! oh well..it is the train for us! If Lucarno is too out of the way and off the main train line, where should we stay that is charming and on the way to Rome??? We are in Atlanta now with a two hour layover so I will check before we board. Thanks!!!!

As far as I can make out, the only place on the line from Zurich to Milano Centrale (where it seems you have to change trains) is Como. The stop is called Como San Giovanni. It's not very close to the center (which is close to the lake front), but a taxi should not cost much.

While not as pretty as some of the towns on Lake Como, Como is definitely walkable and has some pleasant corners.

I have been to Como-would rather not go there. Does anyone know anything about Lugano?

Lugano is on the main line. Very nice place to live (on the expensive side), not too many things to see. Locarno, in my opinion, is a bit nicer than Lugano. Even nicer would be Ascona, a former fishermens' village, but without rail links (there should be a bus from Locarno).

This has probably missed you, but I think all trains on the Zurich-Milan line stop in Lugano. For an easy one-night stop (although it deserves more) it's very pleasant. I stayed there last year.

We took your advice and stopped and found a lovely hotel overlooking the lake to stay the night in Lugano. Thanks for all the help!I think the name of my trip report should be "buddy pass hell"!
Oh well, we are happy campers now after some time sitting on a bench looking out at the beautiful lake and mountains eating gelato! On to Rome tomorrow!!!