MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial Swiss Travel Pass on overnight train to Budapest
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Hi,
We are travelling from Australia to Switzerland in May spending 1 week in Zermatt and Lauterbrunnen before heading to Budapest.. I’m looking at the swiss pass or half pass and I’m just wondering if these rail passes can be used going from Zurich to Budapest on the overnight train? Has anyone been on this train before? Thank you
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Hi Mini28 and welcome to MySwissAlps!
The Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card are valid only within Switzerland so those passes will get you as far as the Swiss border with Austria (Buchs SG). The rest of the trip would require a regular ticket bought here.
If you are planning on a fair bit of rail travel in countries other than Switzerland you may want to look at the Eurail Select Pass (which can cover multiple countries). With an overnight train you would also need to pay an extra charge if you want a bed.
I’ve taken the train to Budapest to Zurich multiple times (its a favourite city of mine) and taken both day trains and overnight trains – the overnight train is much simpler (just fall asleep and you awake at your destination!) unless you are eager to see the countryside.
If you are looking for tips on what to do and where to stay in your Swiss towns check out these links: Zermatt & Lauterbrunnen.
Thanks for this info. We have been to Lauterbrunnen a few times but never to Zermatt. Do you have any advice on Zermatt in May? we are travelling with our child who is 7 years old so trying to make the trip as kid friendly as possible too!
I think the overnight train from Zurich to Budapest sounds like an adventure and it saves a day of travel time!
Do you know if the Eurail select pass is valid for all trains in Switzerland including the Zermatt mountain trips?
Hi Mini28,
“Do you know if the Eurail select pass is valid for all trains in Switzerland including the Zermatt mountain trips?”
Valid for pretty much all non-mountain trains but no discount on the Gornergrat of KleineMatterhorn I’m afraid. See validity map at (http://www.myswissalps.com/eu railselectpass/validit y) look at page 3 for best detail.
Thanks.. It sounds like the Swiss pass or half pass is the best option to me. Can I run our itinerary by you for advice?
we arrive Zurich airport and train to Zermatt, stay for 3 nights and then train to lauterbrunnen stay 3 nights and then train back to Zurich and onto Budapest on overnight train. We plan to head up gornergrat or glacier paradise while in Zermatt and go to murren while in lauterbrunnen.
So does the Swiss pass sound like it will be better than buying single tickets? I know the train to Budapest will be additional cost.
Hi Mini28,
Yes the Swiss Travel Pass looks like a good option. To be sure you can do the maths on this page.
Another option is to look at the Swiss Transfer Ticket for your Zurich to Zermatt and your Lauterbrunen to Zurich trips. You can start and end your ‘transfer’ at Zurich HB (main stati0n). The towns to travel to/from do not need to be the same. The Swiss Transfer Ticket is only CHF 146.
If you are planning on taking other trains or cable cars/gondolas in Zermatt and Lauterbrunnen you may want to buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to get you 50% off all tickets. Otherwise a point to point ticket from Zermatt to Lauterbrunnen might be the best solution.
Hi Mini28,
If you want ultra convenience and don’t want to bother having to buy tickets (apart from the discounted versus free trips) then buy an 8-day Swiss Travel Pass.
Otherwise get a Swiss Half-Fare Card. You will have already broken even on just the fares Zurich to Zermatt and back. Anything else you buy will be 50% off. If you plan to visit Jungfraujoch whilst in Lauterbrunnen then be aware the Swiss Half-Fare Card saves you 50% off the expensive trip from Wengen or Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch whereas the Swiss Travel Pass only saves you 25%.
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