Geneva to Grindelwald – Glacier Express
A traveler named NannyNorman is arriving in Geneva on the evening of March 7 and planning to take the Glacier Express the next day. They need advice on where to catch the Glacier Express and which station to use to get to Grindelwald after their trip.
- You can start the Glacier Express from Brig, not just Zermatt or St. Moritz.
- Consider taking the Golden Pass line for scenic views from Montreux to Interlaken as it might fit your schedule better.
- Getting a Swiss Travel Pass is recommended for your travel as it covers many regions and could save you money.
- You can purchase the Swiss Travel Pass at Basel or Interlaken train stations if you don't buy online.
AI-generated summary-
Hi guys, I am arriving in Geneva on March 7 Monday at evening time, i am planning to do the glacier express from Geneva on Tuesday, what is the train station to catch the glacier express from Geneva?
then after glacier express i will go to my final destination which is Grindelwald.
what station where i will get off the train to Grindelwald, after finish my glacier tour?
Thank you
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Hi NannyNorman,
The Glacier Express is from Zermatt to St. Moritz or the other way around. You’re not required to travel the full stretch from Zermatt to St. Moritz. You can get on anywhere where it stops, like in Brig.
If your final destination is Grindelwald, that will be a bit detour. Have a look at the Golden Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass), which would fit your trip better as it travels from Montreux to Lucerne via Interlaken. You could trave on it from Montreux to Interlaken, then head to Grindelwald. This one would fit in a day.
Geneva-Brig-St- Moritz – Grindelwald would be too much for a day. It would require at least 2 days.
You can read more about the Glacier Express route here: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/gettingthere.
The same information about the Golden Pass can be found at http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/gettingthere.I hope this helps,
IldikoMore about Geneva: http://www.myswissalps.com/geneva
More about the Jungfrau region: http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion
Accommodation in Grindelwald: http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald/hotels and http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald/rentals.
Thank you for your reply Sir, it might be i will start from Lucerne. If i will start from Lucerne it is doable in one day, do you have any suggestion? How many hours is daylight during a day on my dates from march 7 to 14?
If you start in Lucerne and would like to go to Geneva, you can combine the Glacier Express and the Gotthard Panorama Express. From Lucerne to Göschenen (Gotthard Panorama Express), then a short ride in a cogwheel train gets you to Andermatt, which is a stop of the Glacier Express. From there to Brig from there to Geneva. But again, this will be a very very long day then. Read more at http://www.myswissalps.com/gotthardpanoramaexpress.
or did you mean that from Lucerne to Montreux via Interlaken and the Golden Pass and from Montreux further to Geneva? That is more manageable and still gives you wonderful views.
Ildiko
Hi Sir, I will not going back to Geneva, the plan is explore the Jungfrau region, I want only to experience the glacier express for a day then back to Grindelwald which I am staying from march 8 to 12 then march 13 going back to UK from Basel Airport.
I want to visit Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, top of the world, then the viewing platform (I forgot the place) and other places.
It is worth it to get a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card?
thank you
Hi NannyNorman,
I see. Yes, a rail pass would save you money, if you travel a lot. We have a great guide and a spreadsheet at http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass, that will help you to compare the costs and the options. So you can find out which pass is better for your itinerary. Without any calculations I would say, that probably the Swiss Travel Pass will be better but to make sure, use the spreadsheet to do the math.
I hope this helps,
If you need help with the spreadsheet, let us know,
Ildiko
More about the Swiss Travel Pass: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/validity
More about the Swiss Half Fare Card: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/validity
I’m afraid you have misunderstood the concept of trains in Switzerland, probably due to the ‘overexposure’ of the Glacier Express brand by its clever and over-invasive marketing. The Glacier Express if one type of train run on a particular railway line in the south of Switzerland. If you want to travel on it then that’s fine, but it does not suit every holiday in Switzerland, and you should not travel on it ‘just because it exists’.
The Swiss railway network comprises of a comprehensive network of main line inter city and inter regional trains connected with more local main line railways, and urban and suburban commuter railways, mountain railways and bus routes.
Your main aim seems to be the Jungfrau region. If so you will see lots of mountains and vistas from train rides in that area, and on the trains used to get from Geneva to the Jungfrau region. See my explanation of the Glacier Express below. If you are arriving in Geneva and wanting to travel to the Jungfrau region via the ‘scenic route’ most people take the so called ‘Golden Pass’ line, in which case you would travel as follows:
- Inter regional express train Geneva – Montreux
- ‘Golden pass panoramic‘ train Montreux – Zweisimmen
- BLS train Zweisimmen – Spiez
- any available train (BLS or SBB) Spiez – Interlaken
Glacier Express mythbuster
Take a moment to understand the Glacier Express concept.
The modern day Glacier Express brand (aka concept) is extremely well (some might say hyperbolically) marketed, but masks some facts, the most important one being that it doesn’t go past any glaciers! Geographically it runs East – West across the southern extremity of Switzerland, so does not fit in to all Swiss holiday itineraries.
If you already have lots of mountains and mountain peaks in your planned itinerary there is little point in adding the Glacier Express trip
Your currently planned aim to visit the Jungfrau region falls into that category.
The Glacier Express trains are special trains on the Rhaetische Bahn (RhB) and Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) railway company lines which run in addition to normal ordinary service trains. The ‘panoramic’ coaches on these trains require a reservation or supplementary fare to be paid in addition to the normal fare. In all cases ordinary trains can be travelled on on the RhB/MGB network without paying any additional fare.
In all cases if you choose (or find yourself on) an ordinary train you won’t miss the scenery as all Swiss train carriages on these lines have large windows giving good views.
Neither Luzern nor Interlaken /Jungfrau area are a good base from which to go and travel on the Glacier Express. The Glacier Express runs East – West across the southern edge of Switzerland, and Luzern is to the north.
The Glacier Express suits organised tours that rush you to Zermatt, then put you on the Glacier Express all day, then rush you off from St Moritz to somewhere else. But for independent tourists, there are a zillion other sights to see in Switzerland which are ‘not’ on the Glacier Express!
Hi NannyNorman,
It’s possible to ride part of the Glacier Express route as a day trip from the Jungfrau region or from Lucerne. Please find the exact suggestions under “Don’t have time to do the full route?” at http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress. I personally immensely enjoy the Glacier Express and other panoramic trains! So if you’d like to experience it, definitely go for it.
But if you feel it’s too long of a day trip for you, know that there are lots of other scenic boat, train and cable car rides closer to Grindelwald and Lucerne. You already received some good suggestions. Please find more ideas at http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion/activities and https://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne/activities.
Alternatively, you could consider ride on the scenic RegioExpress Lötschberger (https://www.myswissalps.com/lotschberger) for a short visit to Brig (https://www.myswissalps.com/brig) or Zermatt (https://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt). That too is a pretty full day of traveling, but it’s certainly a nice option.
Thank you for your advise, it is better to get a swiss travel pass or jungfrau card? My itinerary is Lauterbrunen Wengen top of europe and boat ride in lucerne.
How many hours is daylight during march? It is already dark at 3pm or 4pm?
To cover Geneva – Jungfrau area – Luzern you should get a Swiss Travel Pass as it covers all areas.
Sunset in March is 18.15 at the earliest
To get sunrise sunset times across the world there are dozen of web sites to choose from.
I often use ‘Timeanddate’:
Hi guys, is the Grindewald First especially the to walk on the cliffs is open in March? Is there an entrance ticket or just a transportation only?
what weather app or weebsite they used in switzerland esp in interlaken area which is reliable.
Thank you
Hi Nanny Norman,
Yes, the First Cliff Walk is open in during the winter season including March (weather-dependent of course). You don’t need a ticket to access the First Cliff Walk. You do need to pay for the cable car transportation to get up to Grindelwald First.
For practical information about the weather and what app to use:
- Weather forecast: http://www.myswissalps.com/weather/forecast
- Useful apps: http://www.myswissalps.com/aboutswitzerland/practical/websites
Regards,
Anna
Your frank reply has benefitted me a great deal.
This is so important.
A question – from Zurich airport to Zermatt, what
is the best way to make full use of the one-day
STP to include stretches (part of) of the SCENIC
TRAIN RIDES without losing too much time ?
Great thanks.
Mary
There are four reasonable routes from Zurich airport to Zermatt. The time in bold is the approx minimum travel time on each route. You will notice (amusingly) that the travel time is one hour longer each time the journey gets more ’roundabout / scenic’
Route A = 3h30min Zurich – Bern – Visp – Zermatt: Via the Swiss ‘plateau’ (the lower altitude middle part of Switzerland between the Jura mountains to the north and the Alps to the south; Fast inter city Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) train Zurich – Bern – Visp. Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) metre gauge train Visp – Zermatt
Benefits: fast, double deck trains so quite good views of ‘bucolic’ Switzerland from the upper deck of the carriage. Same double deck IC train direct from Airport station to Visp. Only 1 change of trains needed at Visp
Drawbacks: fewer ‘spectacular’ mountain views, a few sections of line in high speed railway tunnels
Route B = 4h30min Zurich – Bern – Spiez – Kandersteg – Brig – Visp – Zermatt. Mainly as route A but change at Bern or Spiez into BLS Lotschberger train over the old Lotschberg mountain line to Brig then MGB Brig – Visp – Zermatt (additional mountain and valley views compared to route A
Route C = 5h30min Zurich – Luzern – Interlaken – Spiez – Visp – Zermatt. Fast inter regional SBB train Zurich – Luzern; ZB railway Luzern -Interlaken Express over the scenic Brunig pass; Interlaken – Spiez (first available train SBB or BLS); SBB IC Spiez – Visp OR (adds 1 hour ) BLS Spiez – Kandersteg – Brig ; MGB Brig – Visp – Zermatt
Benefits: mountains and (six different) lakes along the route
Route D = 6h30min Zurich – Goeschenen – Andermatt – Brig – Visp – Zermatt: Zurich – Goeschenen on the Treno Gottardo fast regional train. Goeshcenen – Andermatt up the famous Schoellenen gorge. Andermatt – Visp MGB direct regional train via the Goma valley; Visp – zermatt (MGB regional)
Benefits: views of 4 lakes, Wassen spiral on Gotthardbahn north ramp (village church can be seen 3 times at different levels); Grengiols spiral in Goms valley
Hi Mary,
With a Swiss Travel Pass and a whole day free, I would go for 1960man’s Route B. Take a direct train to Bern, spend an hour or two exploring this city then get on the Regio Lotschberger to Brig before continuing to Zermatt. The Regio Lotschberger route is explained in detail here: http://www.myswissalps.com/lotschberger/gettingthere
Hope this gives you some ideas how to travel from the airport to Zermatt.
Regards,
Anna
Hi guys can i buy a swiss travel pass in basel airport or in interlaken? I am paying cash so i am not buying online.
Thank you
Hi NannyNorman,
If you don’t buy online (options here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/price) you’ll have to visit a staffed train station during opening hours. There was a train office at Basel airport once but I think it closed permanently. Basel main station and Interlaken Ost or West are your other options. Be sure to bring your passport as they’ll ask for it.
You will have to buy a local bus ticket at the pavement machine at Basel Airport, before boarding bus 50 to Basel SBB station. You can then buy a STP at Basel SBB travel centre: http://www.sbb.ch/content/internet/sbb/en/bahnhof-services/am-bahnhof/bahnhoefe/bahnhof-baselsbb/geschaefte/shop-detail.html/geo-billettschalter-c483
Is Basel Airport open 24hours, my arrival time is 10:30pm, i am not sure if i can catch a train to Interlaken, i am planning to stay in the airport overnight and catch the early morning train to interlaken.
Thank you.
Hi NannyNorman,
You can find information about Basel Airport, including links for places to stay for the night, here:http://www.myswissalps.com/airports/basel
Regards,
Anna
Hi NannyNorman,
Overall I think it’s easier for you to buy your Swiss Travel Pass online. You you can start using it right after arrival and you won’t have to spend time on a ‘live’ purchase. You can read about purchase options for passes and tickets at at http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/wheretobuy.
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