7 days Interlaken, Murren, Brienz, Zurich: get a Swiss Half Fare Card?
A traveler named Mike is planning a week-long trip to Switzerland, flying into Zurich and traveling to Interlaken West, Murren, and Brienz. He seeks advice on whether to buy a Half Fare Card for his 7-day trip and the best way to reach Murren from Interlaken West, as well as suggestions for activities while in Murren.
- Consider purchasing a Swiss Half Fare Card and a Berner Oberland Pass for better savings on transportation during your trip.
- To get to Murren from Interlaken West, take a train to Interlaken OST, then a narrow gauge train to Lauterbrunnen, followed by a cable car to Grutschalp, and a little train to Murren.
- Research activities in Murren, like hiking the Schilthorn, which could be included for free with the Berner Oberland Pass.
- For the best rail pass option, do some math based on your planned trips and purchase the Saver Day Pass early for better rates.
AI-generated summary-
Hi there
We are flying into Zurich airport.
Taking train to Interlaken West and staying overnight.
We then need to get from Interlaken West to Murren.
3 nights in Murren
Train to Brienz.
2 Nights in Brienz
Train back to Zurich airport.Does It make sense to buy Half Off card for the 7 days?
Best/quickest way to Murren from Interlaken West? Make any sense to buy Savers Day pass or Day Pass for any of it? Probably not worth a 8 day travel pass as it seems cheaper not too.
Probably prefer 1st class unless it is not worth it.
Maybe take some transportation from Murren the 3 days there if there is somewhere cool I should go. Plan on doing a hike.
Thoughts?
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Hello Mike
Welcome to MySwissAlps
Thank you for sharing your travel plans with us, but you omit one very important point. When is your trip? That is important, as some of the mountain lines in the Berner Oberland region are summer only. In particular the steam-worked cog-wheel railway up the Brienzer Rothorn (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/brienzer-rothorn/) does not start running until 7th June. Some lines have a period closed in the Spring, between the winter and summer seasons.
I am also struck that you have chosen three places to stay in just one week, even though those three places are quite close together. And you ask the question as to how to get from Interlaken West to Murren. The answer is that you get a main line train to Interlaken OST, a narrow gauge train to Lauterbrunnen, a cable car to Grutschalp, and another little train to Murren. Phew! Three changes on a journey which only takes an hour! (I would suggest you spend the whole week based in Interlaken.)
On the tickets issue you are probably going to have to do some arithmetic. I suspect that you should get a Swiss Half Fare Card and a Berner Oberland Pass. The details of this pass are on this website. If you want somewhere ‘cool’ to go to from Murren, go up the Schilthorn (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/schilthorn/). This mountain line is (this year) free with the Berner Oberland Pass. Whether it is worth your getting a BOP may well depend on what mountain excursions you want to make, and the date of your trip.
Kind regards
Roger
Hi MikeB,
In addition to Roger’s reply, I agree with Roger, best to carry out the maths with your trips to see which rail pass would be the better investment for your trip. We have a guide to assist, see the attached link below. There is a downloadable spreadsheet you can use, based on your daily activities, the best rail pass is thereon displayed.
The Saver Day Pass can be quite reasonable in price, essentially the earlier you purchase, the cheaper they can be. It could also be an option for you too. More on the Saver Day Pass and its validity in our guide below. You’ll find purchase options too:
The differences between 1st and 2nd class travel on trains is explained in the link attached. You’ll find 2nd class perfectly fine but of course, there are benefits to travel in 1st too:
Ideas and activity suggestions whilst in Mürren can be researched here:
Lastly, use the Swiss timetable to research your train journeys, that way you can plan, gauge what is doable for yourselves:
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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