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Table of Contents:
How to get to Tirano from Milan
How to get to Tirano from Bergamo
How to get to Tirano from Verona
When to travel to Tirano
Tirano is a charming Italian town located on the border with Switzerland. Tirano is the final destination of the famous Bernina Express sightseeing train, passing through the picturesque Swiss Alps. It’s definitely worth visiting Tirano, the town of great Renaissance architecture and stunning mountain landscapes.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Tirano. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Tirano.
You can travel to Tirano and around the surrounding Valtellina Valley, at any time of the year. In winter you will be delighted by the snow-capped mountain ranges; in spring and summer you will be amazed with blooming green meadows and pleasant warm weather; in autumn you will be pleased with unforgettable colorful landscapes. The valley is very colorful in autumn. Local architecture is available for viewing at any time of the year, as well as the tourist infrastructure (cafes, restaurants, hotels, entertainment) operates all year round.
How to get to Tirano
Where do you fly into to get to Tirano? The largest cities with airports closest to Tirano are Milan, Bergamo and Verona. Many regular flights from various European companies fly to Milan and Verona, while mainly low-cost airlines land in Bergamo. You can check the flight timetable to these cities via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others. I usually use Aviasales when planning my trips, because it can compare a great variety of available flight options. Then you can get from the listed cities directly to Tirano either by public transport or by renting a car.
How to get to Tirano from Milan
Based on my map research, the distance between Milan and Tirano is 166 km if you go via Monza and along Lake Como or 200 km if you go via Bergamo. You can get to Tirano from Milan either by public transport or by rented car.
By train: There are direct trains between Milan and Tirano, departing every hour throughout the day. The travel time ranges from 2.5 hours to 2 hours 45 minutes, depending on the type of train. You can check the current train timetable at the Raileurope service. I use Raileurope regularly to check out the current train timetable throughout the whole of Europe. In my opinion, it is a very convenient service, because travellers can compare different routes, duration of the train journey, number of changes, prices and other useful parameters.
By rented car: You can also rent a car for travelling on your own to Tirano and around the region. There are a lot of rental offices in Milan, which can be found in almost any area of the city, as well as at the airport, be it Malpensa airport or Linate airport. You can book a car in advance via various online services, for example, Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. You can get from Milan to Tirano either along the #SS36 motorway along Lake Como, or along the #SS42 motorway via Bergamo. The second option is a little longer both in terms of mileage and time (see on the map). I can recommend both online services mentioned above as they have a decent search with a lot of useful options to find out the best available car rentals.
How to get to Tirano from Bergamo
The distance between Bergamo and Tirano is about 130 km. You can also use public transport or rent a car for travelling on your own.
By train: Trains run between Bergamo and Tirano every hour with a change in Lecco. The total travel time, including a change, is about 2 hours 45 minutes. You can check the current train timetable at the Raileurope service. It is one of my favourite online services, as it really helps me to plan my trips around Europe.
By rental car: In Bergamo, as in Milan, you can find many car rental offices. To rent a car, you need to have a passport, an international driving license and a bank card to pay for services. You can book a car in advance via various services, such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Bergamo and Tirano are connected with motorway No. SS42; the journey time is approximately 2.5 hours (see on the map). In my opinion, both online services are good for looking for a car rental as they have a decent search with a lot of useful filters.
How to get to Tirano from Verona
After some map research, I figured out that the distance between Verona and Tirano is almost 200 km. You can get there by train or by car.
By train: You can travel from Verona by train to Tirano with a change in Milan. The total travel time is 4-5 hours. Trains run along the route approximately once an hour. You can check the current train timetable at the Raileurope service. I can totally recommend Raileurope as I use it pretty much often when planning my own upcoming trips.
By rented car: In Verona you can also rent a car for travelling around the region. You can find rental offices both in the city and at the airport. To rent a car you need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card. You can also book a car in advance via various online services, for example, Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Verona and Tirano are connected with motorways No. A4 and SS42 via Brescia; the travel time is 3 hours (see on the map).
Where to stay in Tirano
I did some research and I can say that tourists can find a lot of different accommodation options to stay here. You can stay in Tirano for several days or more, since the tourist infrastructure is well developed here. You can stay in hotels of different star categories, or you can rent apartments.
Curt di Clement Eco Mobility Hotel 4* – this eco-style hotel is located in the center of Tirano. The hotel has a restaurant. Free parking is available for guests with a car. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Some rooms offer panoramic mountain views. Breakfast is included in the price. The rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge. A luggage storage option is available at the front desk;
Hotel Centrale, BW Signature Collection 4* – the hotel is located in the town center, close to the main attractions. The hotel has a bar and a restaurant. There is also a sauna and a gym on site. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Some room types include breakfast. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that the rooms have everything you need, including a safe, a minibar, air conditioning, TV, and free Wi-Fi. Free parking is available for hotel guests. Luggage storage and bicycle rental services are provided at the front desk;
Hotel Bernina 3* – the hotel is located in the town center, close to the main attractions. There is a bar and a restaurant on site. Guests can stay in two, three or four-bed rooms of various categories. Some room types include breakfast. All rooms are equipped with a safe, a minibar, TV, a hairdryer, free Wi-Fi. A parking area can be found next to the hotel. A luggage storage option is available at the front desk;
Albergo Gusmeroli 2* – the hotel is located in the town center. There is a cafe in its area. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. There is a children’s playroom for guests with children. A parking lot is also available. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge. A luggage storage option is available at the front desk;
Bernina Express Rooms – This hotel is also located in the center of Tirano. There is a bar in its area. You can stay in cozy rooms with breakfast included. The rooms have everything tourists need, including a safe and free Wi-Fi. A parking lot is available nearby. Luggage storage services are provided at the front desk.
In addition to hotels, you can also rent apartments in Tirano. These can be detached houses (chalets) or studios. Typically, such options are demanded among families or a large group of people (friends, colleagues, etc.). In this case, meals are not included, but the apartments, as a rule, have kitchenettes for self-cooking.
What to see in Tirano
Tirano is a small but extremely picturesque Italian town located on the border with Switzerland and included in the route of the famous Bernina Express sightseeing train. Here you can stroll around narrow medieval streets, admire churches and palazzos, breathe fresh mountain air, visit local gardens and parks, and also try traditional cuisine and local unique types of wine.
Tirano is located in the Valtellina Valley, which has extremely picturesque views. Here, surrounded by mountains, you can walk or drive the most interesting routes with impressive mountain scenery, and in winter you can even go skiing. Right within the town you can find a cable car that will take you up to the snow-covered slopes.
According to my map analysis, the route via the historical center of Tirano starts from the railway station and lasts approximately 2.5 km. Here you can see a variety of palazzos (palaces) and churches, as well as partially preserved fortresses with towers and walls. Thus, the following buildings are of particular interest along the route: Palazzo Foppoli, Palazzo Pretorio, Palazzo Marinoni, Church of St. Augustine, Church of St. Martin, Palazzo Merizzi, Church of San Carlo, Palazzo Salis, Palazzo Parravicini, Torelli Tower, Oratory of St. Peter, Gates of Bormina, Town walls, Church of San Giacomo, Palazzo Quadrio, Church of Santa Perpetua, Milanese Gates, Castle of Santa Maria Castellaccio. It takes you about half a day to explore this route.
The Salis Palace, built in the 17th century, is a particularly interesting sight. The palace is decorated with towers and a central baroque portal. You can also see the palace from the inside. Now there is a museum with 10 restored halls, famous for their frescoes. The museum includes a hall with a wooden ceiling, a hall with a painted ceiling, a hall of Apollo and Aurora, the “8 Wonders of the World” room, a fireplace room, Telamon’s room, a hall of Salonzello, etc. The Chapel of San Carlo and the Italian garden are also open for viewing. The landscaped garden was created at the beginning of the 19th century. Here you can see rare plant species and enjoy peace and tranquility. In the garden you can also stroll in the shade of a labyrinth of fruit trees and admire the centuries-old Lebanese cedar tree. After some research, I discovered the following practical information:
- The palace is open daily from April to October from 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday is a day off.
If you have a little more time left, you can expand the route to 3.5 km and also include the Palazzo San Michele, the Ethnographic Museum, the Church of San Rocco and the Basilica of the Madonna of Tirano. The latter was built in the 16th century and it is an important example of Renaissance architecture in Tirano. The Church of San Rocco was also built in the 16th century. The Ethnographic Museum of Tirano is definitely worth your attention if you are interested in the history of the region. If not, then it’s worth at least seeing the outside of the museum with its elegant arch and graceful inner garden. As for the San Michele Palace, it was built in the 16th century and its most interesting details are the portico and loggias.
To my mind, It’s also worth mentioning about the scenic route of the Bernina Express train, the end point of which is Tirano. The trip lasts 4 hours and includes natural and architectural sites that are included in the UNESCO Heritage list. These include 196 bridges, 55 tunnels, and the famous Bernina Mountain Range. Most of the trip the route passes through the Swiss Alps.
The Bernina Express train is equipped with panoramic windows through which you can see attractions of the whole route. The train departs from Davos, Switzerland, and its last station is Tirano, Italy. You can check the train timetable at the Raileurope booking service.
As I can see it, Tirano is an extremely picturesque town located in the stunningly beautiful Valtellina Valley. Tirano is located at some distance from other major villages and towns in Italy, but it is a connecting link between Switzerland and Italy, being the end point of the Bernina Express route. Tirano is famous for its elegant architecture, much of which dates back to the Renaissance.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Miroslav Volek
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…