MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial Zurich-Interlaken-Jungfrau region: best rail pass?
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I am very confused with the options available
I am travelling to Interlaken from Heathrow via Zurich
I will need the train from Zurich to Interlaken and will be returning a week later.
We plan to go the the Harder Kulm, also (weather permitting in May) to take the boat trip on Lake Brienz
Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and the cable car to the cliff walk on Gridelwald First are also on our itinerary if possible.
There are two in the party –
This is the question please, do I get the Swiss Travel Pass / Half fare card and / or the Berner Oberland Pass, just the one or none at all?
Phew….
Thank you
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Hi Pallen, and welcome to MySwissAlps!
There is only one way to determine the cheapest option, and that is to do calculations. If you don’t feel inclined to do calculations, you can choose on the basis of convenience.
Without any information about your exact travel dates in May, or for how many days you are staying, it’s not possible to make an educated guess at what might work best for you. May is off-season, and some mountain transport will not be operating until the end of the month.
Here is some information to help you make a choice.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/tickets/compare/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/
Hope this helps!
Alpenrose
Thank you for the response
Departing on the 20th May – returning on the 25th May
Hi Pallen,
You essentially have 4 days in the Jungfrau Region (https://www.myswissalps.com/region/jungfrau-region/) , plus your arrival and departure days.
As I mentioned before, if you really want to know the least expensive option, you need to do calculations. If you are happy to go with the most convenient option, I would choose 4-day Jungfrau Travel Pass or Berner Oberland Pass, plus point-to-point tickets for your arrival and departure days.
The Jungfrau Travel Pass is cheaper than the Berner Oberland Pass, but the Berner Oberland Pass covers a wider area and gives you more scope to go elsewhere if the weather in the Jungfrau Region is not suitable for mountain visits, either due to rain or just low cloud. It also provides better coverage on the Mürren side of the Jungfrau Region.
If you will arrive early enough on your arrival day, or depart late enough on your departure day, you might consider an extra day on your pass, in which case the Jungfrau Travel Pass might be better, as the Berner Oberland Pass is not offered in a 5-day version.
The following mountain transport will not be operating during your visit, due to winter and/or maintenance closures:
- Cable car and train Lauterbrunnen-Grütschalp-Mürren (but you can still get to Mürren via bus Lauterbrunnen-Stechelberg and cable car Stechelberg-Mürren).
- Schynige Platte (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/schynige-platte/) (reopens 15 Jun 2024)
The cable car Wengen-Männlichen and gondola Grindelwald-Männlichen resume operations on 25 May, if you have enough time to take a ride on them on your departure day. (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/mannlichen/)
All these will be operating during your stay:
- Funicular to Harder Kulm (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/harder-kulm/)
- Gondola Grindelwald-First (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/grindelwald-first/)
- Eiger Express Grindelwald Terminal-Eigergletscher
- Cable car Stechelberg-Gimmelwald-Mürren-Birg-Schilthorn. (Berner Oberland Pass offers better discount than the Jungfrau Travel Pass for the cable car Mürren-Birg-Schilthorn.)
- Funicular to Allmendhubel (above Mürren). Included in Berner Oberland Pass, but only 25% discount with Jungfrau Travel Pass.
- Boats on the Brienzersee and Thunersee (Lakes Brienz and Thun) (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-brienz/, https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-thun/)
- Train Interlaken Ost-Grindelwald-Kleine Scheidegg-Eigergletscher-Jungfraujoch
- Train Interlaken Ost-Lauterbrunnen-Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg-Eigergletscher-Jungfraujoch
Have a great trip!
Alpenrose
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