August trip: Berner Oberland Pass validity + itinerary questions?
Hugh and his wife are visiting Switzerland from August 11-19, planning to explore the Bernese Oberland area while staying in Interlaken. They seek advice on the Berner Oberland Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card, asking about specific hikes and transportation coverage during their trip.
- Purchase point-to-point tickets for the train from Zurich to Lucerne and use the Berner Oberland Pass for free travel to Interlaken.
- The Brienzer Rothorn ride is included in the Berner Oberland Pass, but booking a seat in advance is recommended.
- The Swiss Half Fare Card provides 50% discounts on mountain excursions like Gornergrat, Rigi, and Pilatus.
- Be aware of potential construction at Zurich HB station that may affect access but should not disrupt your journey to the airport.
AI-generated summary-
My wife and I are coming to Switzerland to enjoy the beautiful Bernese Oberland area from August 11-19 and will be staying in Interlaken. We’ve been to the area several times and have purchased the BO pass and the Swiss Half Fare pass and have good luck with both. It looks like there have been some changes to the BO pass this year. I’d like to list the hikes/excursions we’re considering along with questions about each:
August 11- we’ll arrive in Zurich and will commute from the airport train station to Interlaken via Lucerne. We’ll purchase a point to point ticket for train ride to Lucern. Afterwards, the BO pass will cover us to Interlaken West, right?
August 12-18 here are our hike possibilities and questions:
Kandersteg and Oeschinsee cable car — is this still free with BO pass?Grindelwald-Pfinglegg by bus then hike to Baregg hut — is bus ride free with BO pass
Train to Brienz, then cogwheel to Brienzer Rothern and back — is this free with BO pass? Also, the SBB timetable indicates that seats are only available on August 13 and August 18 for cogwheel. When I go directly to Brienzer Rothorn site, every day is available with plenty of seats. Which is correct?
Interlaken West to Lauterbrunnen, Grutschalp, Murren and entire Schilthorn cable car route (Stechelberg, Gimmewald, Murren and Schilthorn) — is this free with BO pass?
Interlaken West to Grindelwald to First Cable Car up to First and return (will hike to Faulhorn and back)—is transportation to Grindelwald free with BO Pass? Is First Cable car 50% off with Swiss Half Fare Pass?
Interlaken West to Wilderswil to Schynige Platte — is this free with BO Pass?
Day trip to Zermatt — Interlaken West to Zermatt , then Gornergrat Rail— how far will the BO pass cover me? Afterwards, what ticket will I need to purchase?
Will the Swiss Half Fare pass give me 50% off Gornergrat rail?
If instead, we use Sunnega or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise lift system, will Half Fare Pass give me 50% off?August 19 — Interlaken West to Lucern on Interlaken/Lucern express — is this free with BO pass? Will I need to make a seat reservation ?
Depending on the weather, we’re looking at Pilatus or Rigi. Can I purchase tickets for each at the Lucern Train Station ? Will I have a problem purchasing a same day ticket? Will Swiss Half Fare pass give me a discount?
Afterwards, will purchase a point to point ticket to Zurich Flughafen where we’ll stay at an airport hotel before we fly home the next morning. When looking at the SBB timetable, there are trains in the evening that go to the Zurich airport however some require a change at Zurich HB and some are direct. We’d don’t want to change as we’ll have luggage, however when looking at the direct train to the airport, the SBB app says that access to the Zurich station is restricted. What does this mean and what times can we go directly to the Zurich airport train terminal from Lucern without any “restrictions”?
Thank you in advance for your help,
Hugh
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Hello Hugh and Lisa
Welcome back to MySwissAlps.
Getting a Half Fare Card together with a TEN-day Berner Oberland Pass does seem the ideal solution for your itinerary.
Before you do anything else, download and study the Berner Oberland Pass validity map. (Available on this website).
Zurich Airport to Luzern
Buy point-to-point tickets with your half fare cards.
Validity of BOP Luzern to Interlaken (and back).
The BOP gives free travel on all trains on the Luzern to Interlaken line, including the hourly trains called ‘Luzern-Interlaken Express’. Reservation is possible on the Luzern-Interlaken express trains, but it is not mandatory.
Free Travel with BOP… this includes
OechInensee via Kandersteg
All lines serving Murren, including (this is new for 2025) the cable car to Schilthorn
Schynige Platte. (This lane WAS only going to be a 50% discount in 2025, but happily that decision has been reversed )
The railways up to Grindlewald, Lauterbrunnen and Wengen. (but not the lines from Grindelwald and Wengen up to Kleine Scheidegg.)
Pfinlegg (?)
I am afraid I cannot find this place on a map. I strongly suspect that you mean PFINGSTEGG.
As is clear form the validity map, the BOP gives you free travel on the cable car up to Pfingstegg, and on all bus routes in the Grindelwald area.
First at Grindelwald.
This line is now only 50% discount with BOP.
Brienzer Rothorn
Is free with BOP. I am sure that the railway’s own website is correct when it tells me, (I have just looked) that there are seats available.
But this line is very popular, so book a guaranteed seat through that website, 8 CHF per person.
Trip to Zermatt
The cheaper but slow route
You could go Interlaken to Spiez, Spiez VIA KANDERSTEG to BRIG, Brig to Zermatt.
Your BOPS will take you FREE to Brig, provided you go via KANDERSTEG. (The trains via Kandersteg are numbered RE1 and will be going either to Brig or Domodossola.)
From Brig to Zermatt you will need to buy point-to-point tickets, 50% discount with your Half Fare Cards.
This route will take at least three and-a quarter hours.
The quick route to give you more time in Zermatt.
This routing takes two-and-a-quarter hours
Use you BOPS to take you free to Spiez.
Buy point-to-point tickets (with your half fare cards) Spiez to Zermatt via VISP.
From Spiez you take an Intercity or Eurocity train which whisks you through the Lötschberg Basis Tunnel.
You catch the regional train to Zermatt from Visp.
Gornergrat or …?
The HFC will give you 50% discount on all three of the main mountain lines at Zermatt, (Gornergrat, Sunnegga-Blauherd, Glacier Mountain Paradise). For the best views of the Matterhorn, most people agree that you should go up the Gornergrat.
(I have been visiting Switzerland for over fifty years. I regard the trip up to Gornergrat as the best value for money in the whole of the Swiss Alps.)
Excursions from Luzern on 19th
Your HFCs will give you discounts on trips both to Rigi and Pilatus. The booking offices at either the train station or the boat landing stage (just in front of the station) can sell you the tickets.
Luzern to Zurich Airport on 19th.
(I presume you will want to travel some time in the early evening.)
The IR75 trains leaving at 17 35, 18 35 and 19 35 bound for Konstanz all go through to the airport. Journey takes 69 minutes. Buy discounted tickets using your HFCs.
the SBB app says that access to the Zurich station is restricted.
Do not let this put you off using the airport station. I believe that some construction work is currently going on, so some of the usual exits may be obstructed.
Kind regards
Roger
Thank you very much, Roger. I’m grateful for your help and expertise!
Hi Hugh,
Helpful information from Roger.
The following links should add to the information Roger has kindly shared.
- Berner Oberland Pass: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/, scroll to “The main changes between the 2024 and 2025 coverage” for the differences compared to last year. Do download the coverage map to, so you can also view the inclusions accordingly.
- Swiss Half Fare Card:https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/
I agree with Roger, you will be traveling in a busy period. Although the Berner Oberland Pass covers your journey, it maybe worth investing in the seat reservation too. More information on your Brienzer Rothorn excursion in the link below:
For visits to Rigi and Pilatus, you can find further information in the links below:
- Rigi: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rigi/
- Pilatus: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/pilatus/
Regarding the construction works in Zurich HB/Bahnhofquai. I understand they are scheduled to be completed by the end of July. From what I can gather all the disruptions are overground and relate to the trams that normally pass through Zurich HB/Bahnhofquai. Diversions are involved and require alighting and walking over to other locations to continue your journey. The Swiss timetable will detail revised journeys. (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/)
I’d like to think, they ought not affect your journey Lucerne-Zurich airport.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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