Milan and Zurich are two of the most important business cities in this part of Europe, and many travellers move between them for meetings, connections or a combined holiday. There are two serious ways to make the trip: the direct train through the Gotthard base tunnel or a private car. Both work well; the right choice depends on where you start and finish, how much luggage you have and what you want to do on the way.
The train
Direct trains run between Milano Centrale and Zurich main station several times a day, using the Gotthard base tunnel under the Alps. The journey takes a little over three hours. For a solo traveller with light luggage, going from a hotel near Milano Centrale to an office near Zurich station, the train is hard to beat: comfortable, predictable and with time to work on board.
The car
By car, the trip from central Milan to Zurich is about 283 km. On an ordinary weekday, Google Maps gives around three and a half hours in light traffic and close to four hours at mid-morning, depending on the border crossing and the traffic around the Gotthard road tunnel. From Malpensa the drive is about 3 h 45. The route follows the A9 past Como, crosses into Switzerland at Chiasso, continues past Lugano and Bellinzona and through the Gotthard road tunnel, then runs north past Lucerne to Zurich.
When the car wins
A private car makes more sense in several situations. If your journey starts or ends away from the main stations, for example at Malpensa, at a hotel on Lake Como or at an address outside Zurich, the car avoids transfers at both ends. With a family, a group or a lot of luggage, the door-to-door comfort is a clear advantage. If you want to stop on the way, the car lets you combine the trip with Lugano, Lake Lucerne or a meeting in Ticino.
When the train wins
If you are travelling alone or as a couple, with hand luggage, between the city centres, the train is usually faster and more economical. It also avoids the summer and holiday queues at the Gotthard road tunnel, which can be long on peak weekends.
Traffic at the Gotthard
The Gotthard road tunnel is one of the main routes across the Alps and can have long queues on summer weekends, at Easter and on holiday Fridays and Sundays. On those days, our drivers may suggest leaving very early or using the San Bernardino route, depending on the traffic reports. On ordinary weekdays the tunnel is usually straightforward.
Combining with Lucerne
A popular option is to break the journey at Lucerne, about 3 h 25 from central Milan by car. You can spend a few hours on the lake or in the old town and continue to Zurich in the late afternoon, which is less than an hour further. With a train, this means changing and handling luggage twice; with a car, the bags stay in the boot.
Business trips
For business travellers with meetings in both cities, a common plan is a morning drive to Zurich with calls on the way, meetings in the afternoon and a flight home from Zurich airport. The car can drop you directly at the airport, and the driver returns to Milan alone.
Choosing the vehicle
For one to three passengers, the Mercedes E-Class or S-Class are comfortable for the long drive. The V-Class carries up to seven passengers with luggage, and the Sprinter Luxury VIP up to eight. Our cars for Swiss routes carry the motorway vignette, and prices are fixed in writing before you travel.
Leaving from Zurich airport
If your trip ends with a flight from Zurich, tell us the flight time. We plan the departure from Milan or from your last meeting with a margin for the Gotthard and for traffic around Zurich, so you reach the terminal without rushing.