[Heather Miethke]

6 May 2025 at 7:00:02 #2569991

Hello! I’m heading over in October and going to mainly be in Grindelwald but hoping to get out to see some dairies/cheese places – are there any doable day trips from this location?

And another questions – I’m heading to Milan after, from Grindelwald – i find the train information really confusing, if I have a swiss fare flexi pass, how book the tickets the entire way? the train i’m looking at getting goes to interlarken, spiez then straight to milan but I keep reading I need to have italian train tickets for the Italy portion.

Thanks for your help 🙂
Heather

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[Roger Sexton]

Reply 1 of 4 • 7 May 2025 at 8:49:17 #2574649

Hello Heather

Welcome to MySwissAlps

The nearest cheese area to Grindelwald is the Emmental.

I know nothing about ‘show’ cheese dairies, but I like Emmental cheese – I have just eaten some as part of my breakfast!

I thought that, like Gruyeres, Emmental must have a ‘Schaukäserei’.  I searched the web, and quickly found a ‘Schaukäserei’, open every day, at Affoltern I Emmental.

To get to Affoltern I Emmental from Grindelwald it will take nearly three hours.  Here is a specimen schedule.

Leave Grindelwald (centre of village station) at 08 17, arrive Interlaken Ost 08 53

08 59 IC81 train travelling as far as Thun, arrive there 09 34.

Then (very unusual for Switzerland) you have a 29 minute wait.  Catch the 10 03 S42 to Hasle-Rüegsau, arrive 10 56.

From just outside the station catch the 11 02 number 471 bus bound for Affoltern-Weier.  Get off this bus at Affoltern DORF at 11 14.  The Schaukäserei is a four minute walk from this bus stop.

Best wishes
Roger

 

 

 

 

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 2 of 4 • 7 May 2025 at 9:49:56 #2575191

Hello again Heather.

I had a lot of fun with the cheese!  Now to deal with your ticket problem.

Firstly, in one respect you appear to be in luck. Italian railways are doing a lot of engineering work on the Simplon Railway Domodossola to Milan until at least 2027.  There are periods when the line is completely closed!

However, I have just searched the SWISS electronic timetable for every day in October.  Double check these timings nearer the date you are travelling, but currently the timetable is showing that if you leave Grindelwald (centre of the village station) at 12 47 and change at Interlaken Ost and Spiez, you reach Milano Centrale at 16 55.

Seat Reservation Needed on Eurocity Train.

The train from Spiez departs at 14 05.  It is a Basel-Bern-Spiez-Brig-Domodossola-Milano EUROCITY.  If travelling to Italy you have to reserve a seat.  There will probably be a small charge for your Spiez to Milano seat reservation. The reservation is needed in addition to your travel tickets.

Travel Tickets Grindelwald to Milan

Now in your thread you refer to your having a ‘swiss fare flexi pass’.  I THINK you mean a ‘Swiss Travel Pass Flex’.  If I am correct, then for your journey from Grindelwald to Milan you will need THREE travel documents.

• The seat reservation I have just referred to.
• Your Swiss Travel Pass Flex, with the date of travel to Milan chosen as one of your travel dates. The STPF is valid as far as Domodossola.
• A ticket for the Italian section of your journey from Domodossola to Milano. This ticket can be bought on line or from a booking office.

Best wishes for your detailed planning.

Roger

[User]

Reply 3 of 4 • 7 May 2025 at 13:29:54 #2575986

Hi Heather Miethke,

In addition to Roger’s helpful replies, you can research additional Swiss cheese tours in the link below.  Just filter with the drop down menu.

• https://www.myswissalps.com/activities/culinary/

Within the Jungfrau region where you will be staying, you may want to check out the Schiltalp alpine cheese dairy, which is based in Mürren.  In the Bernese Oberland, you also have the Alpine cheese dairy in Gental and the Engstlenalp show dairy.  Do check the dates as some are only open from June-September.

Roger’s second reply, I agree with all his points.  The following links should help you out too.

• Swiss timetable:  https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/
• Travel to/from Italy with ticket options for your Italian section: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland/
• Swiss Travel Pass Flex:  https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass-flex/

Do reach out if you have further questions.

Kind regards,
Yolanda

[Heather Miethke]

Reply 4 of 4 • 7 May 2025 at 23:04:09 #2575997

Thank you both so much! 🙂 Very helpful