Swiss Alps & St. Moritz Day Trip in Menaggio, Lake Como

Menaggio anchors Lake Como's western shore — a graceful 19th-century resort town with a wide lakeside promenade, a Belle Époque golf course in the hills above, and direct ferry connections to Bellagio and Varenna. From here it's a 90-minute drive to Lugano and the Swiss Alps, making Menaggio the perfect base for combining lake life with day trips to Switzerland.

From the western shore of Lake Como, the Swiss border at Chiasso is 45 minutes away and St. Moritz a further 2 hours through some of the most spectacular Alpine driving in Europe. Our chauffeured full-day trip from Menaggio takes the back roads up the Spluga or Bernina passes, with stops at the Maloja Pass viewpoint and lunch in St. Moritz or Pontresina.

The classic upgrade is to do part of the route by train — the Bernina Express is a UNESCO World Heritage line, with panoramic carriages crossing the Alps at 2,253 m. A vehicle meets you at the station so you can do the train one way and the road the other. Bring your passport.