How to use mountain transportation to Schilthorn and Mürren?
A traveler named Dee is planning a scenic day trip in Lauterbrunnen, looking to visit Mürren, Birg, and Stechelberg, but is unsure about the ticketing system and transportation options. They need advice on whether to buy individual tickets or a day pass for multiple legs of their journey as well as information about walking paths and ticket purchases at different stations.
- Consider investing in a Swiss Half Fare Card for discounts on gondolas and other non-train transport options.
- Each leg of your trip can have separate tickets, so check if a day pass option is available at Lauterbrunnen station.
- Walking from Stechelberg back to Lauterbrunnen may be possible, but it depends on the weather conditions at that time.
AI-generated summary-
I’m so confused about what is what? The differences? Planning a day in Lauterbrunnen mostly for scenic views and rides. I’m wanting to go from lauterbrunnen to murren. Murren to Birg possibly depending on weather. Birg to murren and murren to stechelberg. I’d like to take the new lift then from stechelberg back to Murren. Then back to Stechelberg to walk back to Lauterbrunnen. Is this all possible? Is each leg of the trip an individual ticket or is there one ticket that allows you to get on ND off at each of these stops? I hope this makes sense. Any advice on beat way to do this or better options would be greatly appreciated.
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Hello Dee
Welcome to MySwissAlpsThree questions
When are you travelling? This is relevant to both cable cars and hiking possibilities.
Are you investing in a Berner Oberland Pass? (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/) That would give you free travel on the lines you mention, even up to Birg, and (on or after March 15) up to Schilthorn.
Are you investing in an (all Switzerland) Swiss Travel Pass? (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/) That gives you free travel on all the lines mentioned, except that there is only a 50% discount to Birg and Schilthorn.
(I also suggest you study a map of the Lauterbrunnen area. There are basically two ways from Lauterbrunnen to Murren, via Grutschalp and via Stechelberg.)
Kind regards
Roger
Thanks for taking the time to try and help me. We will be in lauterbrunnen March 3 and 4. We have a eurail pass because we also will be going to Italy. I’m thinking of at least getting a Swiss half fare card to save on gondolas etc. I’m aware I will not be able to go up to Schilthorn at this time. I understand the ways to get to each destination I’m just not sure about buying the tickets. Is there a ticket from lauterbrunnen to stechelberg? Like a whole day ticket to get on and off gondolas/ trains? Or is each destination a separate ticket? And do I purchase them all at lauterbrunnen or each town station? I hope that makes sense? And yes I’m wondering if walking from stechelberg to lauterbrunnen at this time of year is possible? I’m sure it’s weather dependant or is it just gonna be way too cold and snowy at this time? I’m just looking for mountain scenery and walking thru the small quaint towns. Here is what I’m trying to accomplish….take gondola (is it a gondola or cablecar? )from lauterbrunnen to grutchalp and then I think I switch to a train to get to Murren? Murren to Birg possibly if not then Murren to Stechelberg. Then either walking back to lauterbrunnen or heading back the same route in reverse. Are tickets one way or round trip? This is where I get so very confused. I appreciate any help you can offer.
Hello again Dee!
Now I know that you have a Eurail Global Pass I think I can give you all the answers you need.
But first do the following.
- On this website type into the search box ‘Eurail Global Pass Map’
- Click on ‘How to use the Global Pass in Switzerland’
- Click on ‘Eurail Global Pass Map’.
- Download this ‘map’.
- Particularly note that this ‘map’ includes a list of participating railway companies
- Note what the list says about the BLM, BOB and WAB railways
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/eurail-global-pass/#downloads
You will see that your Eurail Global Pass will
take you free to Lauterbrunnen.
Take you free to Murren via Grutshchalp but NOT via Stechelberg
(Take you free up to Wengen on the other side of the valley.)
Your Trip in the Murren area.
Go up to Grutschalp in a large cabin hanging from a cable which some Americans confusingly call a ‘Tram’, which many people call a ‘Gondola’, but which I would call a cable car. (I am British.)
Get the little train which goes from Grutschalp to Murren BLM station
Walk through the village to the Schilthornbahn Cable Car station. From that station you will be both able to both go down to Stechelberg, and up to Birg.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/schilthorn/
I do not think you will be able to walk down to Stechelberg.
At the Murren cable car station buy either.
A one-way ticket to Lauterbrunnen via Stechelberg. This ticket will cover both the cable car and the route 141 bus from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen.
OR
Buy a return ticket down to Stechelberg and back up again.
If you do the latter, return to Lauterbrunnen via Grutschalp. But note that there is a footpath parallel to the little railway, and I believe efforts are made to keep this path open even in winter. (You cannot walk down to Lauterbrunnen from Grutschalp.)
Half Fare Card Costs 120 CHF.
The big drawback of a Eurail Pass in Switzerland (and elsewhere) is that its validity is LARGELY confined to trains. But public transport is, of course, ‘Not Just Trains’.
Switzerland has an abundance of public transport in all its various forms. Buses, Trams/Streetcars, Boats, Cable Cars in various forms, Funiculars etc.
The Swiss Half Fare Card will give you discounts on these ‘non-train’ modes.
However, unless you are going to do a LOT of travelling on ‘non-train modes’, you will not recoup the initial 120 CHF outlay.
Best wishes with your detailed planning
Roger
Hi Dee926,
Helpful replies from Roger.
Yes, best to carry out some maths to ensure it makes financial sense as to whether to purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card.
You can read more about the Swiss Half Fare Card in the link below:
This trail maybe of interest and should be doable when you are here in early March, weather permitting:
Have a great trip.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Yes, very helpful information from him and this site. I’m pretty sure half fare card would benefit us because we do plan on taking peak to peak for matterhorn, top of europe, first and mannlichen. None of which are covered by eurail except small discount if I’m reading correctly? And that is the trail I’m interested in taking. Praying for good weather while in the area. Thanks for the info.
Certainly if you take all the trips listed in your reply 5, you WILL recoup the 120 CHF spent on the Half Fare Card
KInd regards
Roger
Thanks again for all the information. The link you suggested was extremely helpful. I think I’m actually beginning to understand the names of the many forms of Swiss transportation: )
Dee
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