MySwissAlps.com includes Best pass for 3 days Lucerne, 5 days Wengen, and trips from/to Italy
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I’ve been lurking in the forum for a while and am thoroughly enjoying it. I so appreciate the advice and suggestions that are made here. There’s a lot of work and time that goes into this so as a newbie here, I’m very grateful! So here goes…
My husband and I, 79 and 73, are going to Northern Italy and Switzerland (the latter for the first time). We aren’t hikers but do enjoy walking and seeing beautiful views. All our accommodations and our airfare is booked. I’m trying to decide what to do about the Swiss train passes. My research has led me to think that the half fare pass is the best for us, but I’d appreciate any feedback you might be able to provide. We’re staying in Hotel Beau Séjour Lucerne (3 nights) and Hotel Alpenrose in Wengen (6 nights).
Saturday, 9/19 – Como, Italy to Lucerne
Tuesday, 9/22 -Lucerne to Wengen
Monday, 9/28 – Wengen to Dommodosola, ItalyOn Saturday, 9/19, I’m considering the regular service to Lucerne vs taking the Gottardo treno route.
And, for Wengen, this is what I’ve culled in watching videos and reading; it’s obviously weather-dependent, but it seems like a good plan and one that we could manage. We would like to prioritize cable cars/gondolas and transportation where there are serious hikes.
- Mannlichen (Wengen summit, Panorama trail – 2 different days)
- Schilthorn summit (stop in Murren)
- Interlaken OST for the ferry on Lake Brienz.
- Lautenbrunnen to explore the valley
We have a total of 5 full days, so those would be the ideal, depending upon the weather. The ferry would be the day I’d sacrifice as we would want to maximize our experience in the mountains.
What recommendations do you have for the train pass? Also, any specific recommendations for walks/easy hikes? I haven’t spelled the details out for those days I’ve listed, but I think they’ll reveal themselves when we get there. Right now, I’m trying to figure out what I need to get for the travel and when I’ll need to buy the passes. Of course, I’ll also need to coordinate with the Italian trains, too.
thanks so much,
Paule
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I’ve come to the conclusion that I want a half fare pass with a regional Jungfrau pass. This seems to be make sense both economically and give us flexibility as well.
Does this seem right?
Hi Paule, welcome to MySwissAlps!
Yes, the combination of a Swiss Half Fare Card and Jungfrau Travel Pass makes perfect sense for your plans! The only thing to be aware of: the Jungfrau Travel Pass covers a relatively small area. If the weather is great in the Jungfrau Region and you can enjoy all of your plans there, that’s no problem. In case of less-than-ideal weather, you may prefer the flexibility of free travel in a larger area, as offered by the Berner Oberland Pass:
- https://www.myswissalps.com/details/jungfrau-travel-pass-validity/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/details/berner-oberland-pass-validity/
But of course, you will have the Swiss Half Fare Card to buy discounted tickets for any trips outside of the Jungfrau Travel Pass coverage area.
Recommended purchase options:
- https://www.myswissalps.com/details/buy-swiss-half-fare-card/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/details/buy-jungfrau-travel-pass/
You’ve listed lovely mountain excursions, and those can certainly be combined with great hikes! These are some of my favorites, and each is well compatible with your plans:
- https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-wengen-kleine-scheidegg/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-mannlichen-kleine-scheidegg/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-lauterbrunnen-stechelberg/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-grutschalp-murren/
Does this get you started?
Absolutely! I’ll check out the passes more carefully. We’re traveling from Lucerne and to Dommodosola so I have to figure out how that works, too. I know the half fare card will help.
Hello Paule
Get out a good map of Switzerland.
Como to Lucerne on 19th September
Catch the ‘TILO’ train which leaves Como at 23 minutes past each hour bound for LOCARNO. Except for the first four kilometres this trip is entirely within Switzerland. The train takes 75 minutes to get to Locarno.
From Locarno catch the ‘Treno Gottardo’ to Lucerne. This train takes the highly scenic OLD Gotthard main line via Airolo.
Do NOT take the fast Intercity or Eurocity trains. These trains go through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world – 35 miles of total darkness.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland/
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/gotthard-panorama-express/#directionsChoice of Public Transport Pass(es)
(All Swiss Transport passes are multi-modal They are not confined to trains.)
I am afraid I am going to complicate matters. I can now only ask questions – at this stage I cannot give answers.
Have You Considered Investing in Swiss Travel Passes?
You certainly need to consider the STP. It gives you the freedom of the world’s best public transport system. The only lines/routes excluded are those which simply go up mountains.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/
By way of exception to what I have just said, two important mountain lines in the Lucerne area are free with the STP. Those up Rigi and Stanserhorn.
STP gives free rides on all the lake boats. I am of similar age to your husband, and I find one of the best ways of enjoying mountain scenery is from a lake boat. Both Lakes Brienz and Lucerne are stunningly beautiful.
If the weather turns nasty you can go on a longer day excursion to places like Zurich, Bern Lausannne or even Geneva, at no extra cost.
The STP gives free entry to a large number of museums. Again, useful in bad weather.
https://www.myswissalps.com/details/swiss-travel-pass-validity/
Have you Considered the Berner Oberland Pass?
Now the excursions you number one to four in your thread are all of them free with the BOP. Schilthororn is NOT free with the Jungfrau Travel Pass. You only get a discount, which I believe is (this year) only 25%.
Are you considerering going up Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald First, Harder Kulm?
If the answer is ‘yes’ for at least two of these mountains, then certainly invest in a Jungfrau Travel Pass, and do so even if you also invest in an STP.
Where are you going after Domodossola?
If the answer is ‘Milan’, then take the highly scenic train from Domodossola to Locarno (STP valid on this line). And then a Tilo train on to Milan. (STP valid up to the frontier station of Chiasso.)
Best wishes for your delibrerations.
Roger
Thank you! It is the combination of a 6-day BO pass and half fare card that I think makes the most sense.
Now the question is which day should we have the start date for the BO pas. On 9/22, we travel from Lucerne to Wengen. On 9/28, we travel to Dommodosola (we’ll travel to Turin after Dommodosola, not Milan). Should I start the 6 day pass on 9/22 (which would end at the end of 9/27) or on 9/23? It seems having it for the trip from Lucerne to Wengen on 9/22 might make more sense and we’d still have the half fare card for the trip from Wengen.
I believe the hotel in Lucerne will provide us with a pass for that region but I’ll need to clarify exactly what is included. We will only be in Lucerne for 3 nights so not sure we’ll be doing a boat trip there.
Hello again Paule
On the assumption that you buy Half Fare Cards and Berner Oberland Passes, proceed as follows
Saturday 19th September, Como to Lucerne.
Get Italian tickets for the four kilometres Como to Chiasso.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland/#tickets
Use your Half Fare Cards to buy tickets from Chiasso to Lucerne via Locarno and Airolo. (Airolo is a town on the scenic old Gotthard railway line.)
20th and 21st September
I believe the hotel in Lucerne will provide us with a pass for that region but I’ll need to clarify exactly what is included.
You are thinking of the Lucerne Visitors Card, sometimes referred to as the Guest Card.
https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/#travel
The coverage of this card is limited. It gives you free travel on the (very good) local bus system and (I think) free (or discounted) entry to some museums. It is NOT VALID on the mountain lines or the lake boats.
Lake Lucerne rivals Lake Como for the title of the most beautiful lake in the Alps.
On Monday 21st (on Sunday the boats will be extremely busy with local people) use your Half Fare Cards to buy an all-day ticket (‘Tageskarte’) on the Lake Lucerne boats. With the HFC the cost will be 43 CHF for each person (second class).
22nd September Lucerne to Wengen.
Buy 6-day BOPS commencing on 22nd. Use the BOPS to go from Lucerne to Wengen, changing at Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunnen.
23rd to 27th September. Squeeze as much as you can from the validity area of your BOPS. If the weather is bad take a trip to Bern.
If you fancy a long day excursion go to Montruex via Zweisimmen.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/goldenpass/
When you go to Grindelwald, go via Männlichen (or Zweilűtschinen) (free with BOP), not via Kleine Scheidegg.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/mannlichen/
At Grindelwald go up to Pfingstegg (free with BOP), but not to First.\
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/pfingstegg/
28th September
Use your HFCs to buy tickets from Wengen to Domodossola via Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken Ost, Spiez, KANDERSTEG and Brig.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/lotschberg-mountain-railway/
When you get to Spiez be very careful to get on the correct train. Avoid like the plague the InterCity and Eurocity trains bound for Visp, Brig or Milan. These fast trains go through the Lőtschberg base tunnel. The journey is fast, but mostly in total darkness!
Catch the RE1 train which goes the scenic route via Kandersteg. If you left Wengen at 10 41 you will reach Spies at 11 48. The 12 12 RE1 runs via Kandersteg and Brig through to Domodossola, arriving there at 13 53.
Are you spending some time in Domodossola?
If yes, take a day excursion to Locarno using the highly scenic railway I mentioned at the end of my reply four. Your HFCs will give a substantial discount, even though this line is about 60% in Italy!
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/centovalli-railway/
Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
Wow! Thank you! That is an amazing amount of information and incredibly helpful! I so appreciate that! And also am glad to understand what we’ll get from the hotel in Lucerne.
Yes, we will be in Dommodosola for 2 nights and I love your suggestion for our time there.
You’ve given me plenty of ideas for our trip! Thank you!
Paule
Hello Paulesue –
Your trip will be fabulous!! I have little to add as Roger is extremely helpful – He offered so much helpful advice for our trip last July. I just popped on to say that we stayed at Hotel Beau Séjour Lucerne and in Wengen. Hotel Beau was the lovely and it was my favorite hotel stop (and still is). It is a small, boutique hotel and the staff was fantastic. They will send an email out before you arrive and that will include the city pass. I will certainly stay there again when we go back! Wengen is such a wonderful place as well. I hope you have the best time!I am not sure what September holds as far as being busy as we were there in July. We had a restaurant reservation for every night along our trip. It was busy and without a reservation, people were turned away. I am not sure what September holds as far as being busy. In Wengen, we ate at Ristorante Da Sina twice. It was so good we went back the next night. In Lucerne we ate at Bündnerland Luzern, Fondue House Du PONT, and Bacio della MAMMA. They were all wonderful!
Have a wonderful trip!
Dorrie
Many thanks, Dorrie! It’s great to hear that you loved Hotel Beau Séjour Lucerne, too. I had so much difficulty choosing a place there so this is very reassuring. I’ll take a look at the restaurants as we’re arriving over a weekend and I’m sure it’ll be busy.
We have half board at our hotel so I’m not going to worry about meals in Wengen.
I’m getting very excited!
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