Milan to Zurich by train

Milan to Zurich is a direct EuroCity journey of a little over 3 hours, with no change. Trains leave Milano Centrale, run through Como, Chiasso, Lugano and Arth-Goldau, pass under the Alps through the Gotthard Base Tunnel and arrive at Zürich HB in the city centre. A reserved seat is compulsory on every train. Several direct trains run each day, so you can usually fit one around your plans.

Direct EuroCity trains take about 3 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 25 minutes

The fastest direct trains from Milan to Zurich take about 3 hours 11 minutes, and the average is a little over 3 hours 20 minutes. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, opened in 2016, is 57 kilometres long and cut about an hour from the old mountain route. About a dozen or more direct EuroCity trains run each day, spread through the day rather than on a fixed hourly pattern. Departure times change by date, so search your travel day and pick the train that suits you.

You leave from Milano Centrale and arrive at Zürich HB

The train leaves from Milano Centrale, Milan's main station, which has metro lines, trams and buses outside. There is no check-in. You board the train and sit in the seat on your ticket.

The train arrives at Zürich HB, the main station beside the old town. From there, Swiss trains, trams and buses run in every direction, and the lake is a short walk away. If you have a connection onwards in Switzerland, leave a margin after your scheduled arrival, because delays on the Italian side can carry through to Zurich.

SBB and Trenitalia run the trains

The EuroCity trains on this route are run by SBB and Trenitalia together. You buy one ticket for the whole journey, from either railway or from a booking site, and the same train is sold by both.

From Milan the train runs to Como and the Swiss border at Chiasso, then through Lugano, with Lake Lugano on the way, and on to the Gotthard Base Tunnel. After the tunnel the train comes out in German-speaking Switzerland and continues to Zurich, usually via Arth-Goldau.

A seat reservation is compulsory

On international EuroCity journeys to and from Italy a seat reservation is compulsory, and your international ticket includes a reserved seat. You do not buy the reservation as a separate item. Buy your ticket before you board.

Ticket prices, reservation fees and supplements are different things. The ticket price depends on the day, the class and how early you book, and early sales are limited and cheaper. Prices are normally shown in the currency of the site where you buy, so compare the total on the page you book from, and read the change and refund rules before you choose a cheap fare.

If you travel with an Interrail or Eurail pass, the pass covers the train but not the seat. The compulsory reservation fee for EuroCity trains between Italy and Switzerland is €13 to €17, in both classes. Book your reservation before the day you travel, because passholder places on each train are limited.

Border and customs checks at Chiasso

Italy and Switzerland are both in the Schengen area, so there are no routine passport checks at the border. Even so, Italian and Swiss border officers can check selected trains at Chiasso or on board. Carry your passport or national ID card.

Chiasso is still a customs border for people arriving from Italy, so Swiss customs officers may carry out checks. Declare anything that exceeds the allowances for goods such as food, alcohol or tobacco.

Check works before you travel

Maintenance on the Milan to Chiasso line can cancel EuroCity trains or replace them with buses at short notice, as it did on some weekday mornings in June 2026.

Check your travel date on SBB or Trenitalia shortly before you go.