[Anonymous]

28 February 2023 at 13:46:54 #829190

My family and I (2 parents, 1 youth and 1 child) will be in Zurich from March 21 to 24. We want to ride a portion of the Glacier Express on March 22. As I have left it to almost last minute, do you recommend that I book the Glacier Express tickets for the 22nd (choosing the seat reservation option for the discount type) now while I research whether it makes sense for us for buy Swiss Travel passes (for 3 or 4 days), Day Savers with Half Fare passes or just Day Savers (for the 22nd)?I don’t want to find out that all the seats on the Glacier Express are booked by the time I figure out which passes make sense for us.

Thanks.

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[Anna]

Reply 1 of 5 • 28 February 2023 at 20:34:17 #951526

Hi RebeN,

Welcome to MySwissAlps.

Seat reservations on the Glacier Express can be purchased up to 3 months in advance and even without tickets. Seats do run out so book as soon as possible. You can book your seats online here: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/tickets

You can find useful tips on how to choose the best railpass for your trip here: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass

If you’re planning a lot of travelling and want to avoid buying tickets for each trip, I recommend getting the Swiss Travel Pass.

Hope this helps you to firm up your plans.

Regards,

Anna

[User]

Reply 2 of 5 • 28 February 2023 at 23:14:49 #951527

Thank you, Anna, for your reply. Can we purchase the Swiss Travel Pass at the Zurich station (where we will be arriving from Germany) or do we have to purchase the pass online? Also, are there any cable cars, gondolas, mountain trains, etc in Zermatt that are included without additional cost with the Swiss Travel Pass. I know there is the Peak2Peak and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise tickets at a discount with the Swiss Travel Pass. Is there any other way to see the mountains with just the Swiss Travel Pass.

The Glacier Express arrives in Zermatt at 17:10. Will we have enough time on the same day to take a mountain train, gondola, cable car, etc in Zermatt into the mountains? We have to return to Zurich that same night.

Thanks.

[User]

Reply 3 of 5 • 1 March 2023 at 11:22:29 #951528

Hello RebeN,

Yes, you can purchase the Swiss Travel Pass when you arrive in Zurich. Though it could be worth thinking about purchasing it online, that way you can avoid queues in the travel centre in Zurich, online purchasing would also ensure confirmation/purchase within a few minutes. In addition, you would have a digital back-up (you would not have this when purchasing at a train station).

• https://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/wheretobuy
• https://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/price

All trains to Zermatt are included with the Swiss Travel Pass however the mountain excursion trains will need an additional ticket, as you have correctly researched, they will be discounted with the Swiss Travel Pass. Please feel free to look at the validity link below, this will detail what is valid with the pass. That said Furi and Sunnegga are discounted too, but ‘lower down’ so they’re less expensive. They still offer lovely views.

• https://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/validity

Arriving in Zermatt at 17:10 leaves little time for much else, especially if you need to reach Zurich the same evening, the journey to Zurich will take you over three hours. However, if you do not mind arriving late in Zurich, you could take a trip up Gornergrat (https://www.myswissalps.com/gornergrat)? There are a few trains after your 17:10 arrival that you could take, again it will be quite tight, bearing in mind you will need to return back down to Zermatt to take a train back to Zurich. You can key in details in the timetable link so you can plan accordingly 🙂

• https://www.myswissalps.com/timetable

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Yolanda

[User]

Reply 4 of 5 • 1 March 2023 at 12:32:46 #951529

You could take a train to Gornergrat (50% discount with STP) , have 20 minutes at the top and return to Zermatt. Changing straight into a train back down to Visp, you could take the Intercity train via Bern and arrive in Zurich at 23.02

The above is possible, but I’m sorry but I don’t think your trip idea is a good one. Any hint of poor weather and the trip would be a very long day with very little gain. An hour or two at Zermatt at the end of a day is very risky. It could be cloudy and all the mountains invisible.

[Danielsan]

Reply 5 of 5 • 2 March 2023 at 0:11:08 #951530

Hi RebeN,

Depending on what time you arrive in Zurich, you can get a train to Chur, and take the Glacier Express to Zermatt. That alone is a six hour ride though, plus the trip to Chur, and you’d probably be arriving to late to do/see anything. Especially in March. In July or August, maybe. Most cable cars’ last descent is between 1600 and 1700. If you really do want to see Zermatt, I may suggest foregoing the Glacier Ex and just take a train right from Zurich to Zermatt. Then you can spend a full day there without rushing. Again, all depending upon your arrival time in Zurich. I realize you’re in Zurich, but it would certainly be worth it to either spend a night in Zermatt, or forego the Galcier Ex, since such a short amount of time. Enjoy it however you do go.

Regards,

Danielsan