{"id":1516,"date":"2023-09-07T19:07:36","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T17:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/?page_id=1516"},"modified":"2026-03-12T21:08:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T20:08:58","slug":"combining-graubunden-and-ticino-by-postal-bus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/combining-graubunden-and-ticino-by-postal-bus\/","title":{"rendered":"Combining Graub\u00fcnden and Ticino by Postal Bus"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By Pepe Strub, September 7, 2023<\/p>\n<p>We just returned from one of our best experiences ever in Switzerland &#8211; exploring Graub\u00fcnden and Ticino with a brief stop in Italy &#8211; all with the yellow Postal Buses which are included in the Swiss Travel Pass and cover a few rides in Italy. We saw gorgeous mountains, pristine mountain lakes and magnificent glaciers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Berguen-Albula-Pass.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1517\" src=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Berguen-Albula-Pass.jpg\" alt=\"Albula Pass Road\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Berguen-Albula-Pass.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Berguen-Albula-Pass-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Berguen-Albula-Pass-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Berguen-Albula-Pass-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--more-->We started our trip in Davos Platz from where we took postal bus #331 over the Fl\u00fcela mountain pass to Susch. After leaving Davos behind the shiny yellow bus quickly reached the top of the pass and the Hospiz with the hotel. We stopped for a few minutes before descending into the Engadin where we were treated to more beautiful mountain scenery framing this famous Swiss valley.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/postal-bus-palm-express-journey.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1518\" src=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/postal-bus-palm-express-journey.jpg\" alt=\"Postal Bus Palm Express Journey Bernina Hospiz\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/postal-bus-palm-express-journey.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/postal-bus-palm-express-journey-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/postal-bus-palm-express-journey-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/postal-bus-palm-express-journey-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Upon arrival in Susch we changed to a regional train which took 7 minutes to arrive in Zernez. From Zernez we continued with Autoservizi Silvestri, the official Italian partner of the Swiss Postal buses in this area, to Livigno (bus #815 from Zernez to Livigno not operating Sep. 1 \u2013 Nov. 23, 2023). In Livigno we were surprised by an active vacation town which includes fancy shops where nearby living Swiss do take advantage of lower prices. After taking time to stroll through the main street we enjoyed a supreme Pizza on one of the restaurant terraces for lunch and topped it off with a famous Italian Espresso.<\/p>\n<p>In the later afternoon we continued, again with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.silvestribus.it\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Autoservizi Silvestri<\/a>, from Livigno to Hospiz Bernina (hotel) on bus #705. Hospiz Bernina was the absolute highlight of our adventure. Situated on the flat part of the mountain pass and next to Lago Bianco we stayed at the Hotel Bernina Hospiz for 2 nights. Our room had low ceilings and great views of Glacier Vadret dal Cambrena on the other side of the lake. We ate twice at the very tasty Restaurant Cambrena across the street (they have a few rooms too). They serve local cuisine and specialties such as Capuns, polenta with mushrooms, Pizzoccheri, game, cured meat, cheeses from the valley and home-made cakes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Lago-Bianco-RhB.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1520\" src=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Lago-Bianco-RhB.jpg\" alt=\"Lago Biancho Bernina Express\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Lago-Bianco-RhB.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Lago-Bianco-RhB-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Lago-Bianco-RhB-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Lago-Bianco-RhB-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On our free day we took an easy hike from Hospiz Bernina along Lago Bianco to Alp Gr\u00fcm. Along the 90 minutes walk we saw more stunning mountain scenery and after about one hour we reached the edge of the plain from where we saw deep into the Poschiavo Valley. From there now walking slightly downhill we reached Alp Gr\u00fcm. Once we reached our goal we were immediately rewarded by the vistas of the incredibly immense and beautiful Pal\u00fc Glacier. Alp Gr\u00fcm must be one of the most scenic places in Switzerland! That is probably why the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/bernina-express-switzerland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bernina Express<\/a> train stops there for 20 minutes so travelers can admire the beauty of the location. We later returned with the train back to Hospiz Bernina.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/palm-express-route-mountains.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1521\" src=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/palm-express-route-mountains.jpg\" alt=\"Hike from Hospiz Bernina\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/palm-express-route-mountains.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/palm-express-route-mountains-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/palm-express-route-mountains-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/palm-express-route-mountains-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>From Hospiz Bernina we continued by postal bus to St. Moritz. Passing Mt. Diavolezza, the Morteratsch valley and the village of Pontresina, we were again surprised by how scenic this area of Switzerland really is. At the train\/bus station of St. Moritz we had enough time to stop at the Migrolino store before taking the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.postauto.ch\/en\/leisure-offers\/excursion-tips\/2022\/palm-express\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Palm Express<\/a> to Lugano. On this 4 hour ride to Lugano (the only one which requires reservation) with a brief stop in Chiavenna, our driver was talking about and explaining the scenery the entire way &#8211; unfortunately just in German!<\/p>\n<p>Upon arrival in Lugano we spent the night at the Hotel Lugano Dante in the historic part of the city before returning to Basel from where we originally started. We returned to Basel via train.<\/p>\n<p>In general it is recommended to use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.postauto.ch\/en\/leisure-offers\/excursion-tips\/2022\/palm-express\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">postal bus reservation tool<\/a>. That will assure you a seat on the bus. We only had reservations on the Palm Express and otherwise were lucky that most buses were not nearly at capacity. Our ride from Livigno up to Hospiz Bernina was in an 8-seater vehicle and exactly 8 people showed up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Pepe Strub, September 7, 2023 We just returned from one of our best experiences ever in Switzerland &#8211; exploring Graub\u00fcnden and Ticino with a brief stop in Italy &#8211; all with the yellow Postal Buses which are included in the Swiss Travel Pass and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1517,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1516","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1516"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1526,"href":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1516\/revisions\/1526"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.magicswitzerland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}