# Milan to Zurich Train — Schedules, Times & Routes Distance: 219 km · Fastest journey: 3h17m · Operator: EuroCity, run jointly by Trenitalia and SBB ## Stations - **Milano Centrale** (departure) — Milan's grand 1931 terminus. Metro lines M2 and M3 connect directly; every EC to Zürich starts here. - **Lugano** (scheduled stop) — the scenic midpoint, right on the lake; a funicular drops you into the old town in minutes. - **Bellinzona** (limited stop on some services) — Ticino's capital; its three medieval castles are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - **Zürich HB** (arrival) — Switzerland's largest station, in the city centre. ## The Route Milano Centrale → Ticino Foothills → Lugano & the Lakes → Gotthard Base Tunnel (57 km, the longest railway tunnel in the world) → Swiss Plateau → Zürich HB. ## Train Options - **EC Giruno** — Stadler-built EC250 sets, non-tilting, the most frequent train on this line. 3h17m fastest. - **EC Astoro** — Tilting ETR 610 stock, inherited from the Cisalpino era, jointly owned by SBB and Trenitalia. - **Typical fares** — roughly $27–97 one-way, lower the earlier and more flexibly you book. This is technically a EuroCity express, not a dedicated high-speed line — it shares tracks with regional and freight traffic for most of the route. The Gotthard Base Tunnel section is the one stretch built to true high-speed standards. ## Good to Know 57 km — the length of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world. It cut this journey from over four hours to three hours seventeen minutes. ### FAQ **How long is the Milan to Zurich train?** The fastest EuroCity departures cover the 219 km between Milano Centrale and Zürich HB in about 3 hours 17 minutes. Services with more intermediate stops can take closer to 3h30–4h. **Is the ride scenic?** Yes, particularly on the southern half — Lake Lugano and the Ticino vineyards — before the train runs underground through the Gotthard Base Tunnel and re-emerges on the flatter Swiss Plateau north of the Alps. **Is there a night train?** No — this specific city pair runs as daytime and evening EuroCity service. There isn't a dedicated overnight sleeper on this particular route. **What's it like riding through the Gotthard Base Tunnel?** About 20 minutes with no view — a modern, fast, smooth stretch underground, 57 km long. Window seats matter more before and after the tunnel, not during it. --- Book tickets: https://highspeedtrains.com