Scenic train ride Zurich-Interlaken-Jungfrau region: best rail pass
A traveler is planning a trip to the Jungfrau region, flying into Zurich and looking for advice on the best travel passes. They want to know which passes to use for scenic trains to Interlaken, and visits to Grindelwald First and the Jungfraujoch. Specifically, they are considering the Jungfrau Travel Pass and need clarity on ticket options.
- Buy a Jungfrau Travel Pass for coverage to Grindelwald First and significant discounts to Jungfraujoch.
- Consider getting a Swiss Half Fare Card to reduce costs on tickets not covered by the Jungfrau Travel Pass, including your train rides from Zurich to Interlaken.
- Remember to check coverage maps for both passes to maximize your travel options and savings.
AI-generated summary-
Hi there, I’m planning a trip to the Jungfrau region. I’m really confused about what type of pass would be the most cost affective.
I’ll be flying into Zurich and wanting to get a scenic train to Interlaken where I’ll spend a few days.
Over the next few days, I wanted to travel to Grindelwald First, the Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory, and places in between.
I’ve been looking and the Jungfrau travel pass but I know I’ll have to also pay for the Zurich to Interlaken and any other areas that I want to stop off at in that region.
What pass should I get and also what is the scenic train from Zurich to Interlaken.
Thanks so much.
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Hello Sha
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
Scenic routes Zurich to Interlaken
The obvious scenic routing is take the IR70 or IR75 from Zurich to Luzern, and change there to the Luzern-Interlaken Express. Takes about three hours.
A route back taking about four hours would be catch any fast train Interlaken to Bern.
Catch the RE7 to Luzern via Langnau. Then IR70 or 75 to Zurich. Most of these trains run through to the airport.Public Transport Passes
Given that you want to visit both FIRST and Jungfraujoch, you probably need to invest in a Jungfrau Travel Pass. But if you want to do extensive travelling in the Interlaken area you almost certainly also need a Berner Oberland Pass. The BOP will also give you free travel on the Interlaken-Bern, Interlaken-Luzern trains, and on the delightful RE7 train via Langnau. You would still need point-to-point tickets for Zurich to Luzern and Luzern to Zurich.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/
You should also consider buying a Swiss Half Fare Card, which will give you discounts on the JTP, BOP and Luzern-Zurich tickets. As you are concentrating your travelling in one area, investing in a SwissTravel Pass is unlikely to be cost effective. I am afraid you may have to do some quite complex maths to work out which combination of passes/tickets is best for you!
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/jungfrau-travel-pass/Best wishes for those calculations.
Roger
Thanks so much Roger. Having looked at it all again, it’s so confusing. I may have to abandon the idea as I just can’t make sense of which passes would be best from station to station. 🤷🏽♀️😔
Is it possible to get to Zurich and buy tickets there for my whole trip, maybe talk to someone and get the best price/options?
Hi Sha75,
I agree it can be all rather overwhelming when it comes to choosing rail tickets or rail passes.
Absolutely, you have the option to speak with someone when you arrive in Zurich. There is a travel centre located in Zurich airport.
Following on from Roger’s reply though. The Zurich-Lucerne train ride will be a nice start, lakes, gentle rolling hills before taking the scenic GoldenPass route Lucerne-Interlaken.
If you’d like to read about this route, you can do so, in the link below.
I’m not sure how long your entire trip will be but if more than 3 days, a rail pass of some sort would be a good idea. At a glance at your plans, I’d probably invest in the combination of the Jungfrau Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card. That way, as Roger also explains, the Swiss Half Fare Card would grant you your discounted travel to Interlaken from Zurich and also you would be able to buy your Jungfrau Travel Pass at a cheaper price.
In regard to the Jungfrau Travel Pass or the Berner Oberland Pass? I think it would help if you download the respective coverage maps and cross reference with your plans and see which may work better. Here are the links to both maps.
- Jungfrau Travel Pass coverage map: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/jungfrau-travel-pass/#downloads
- Berner Oberland Pass coverage map: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/#downloads
It could be that the Jungfrau Travel Pass would be sufficient, it’s only if you are wanting to travel further afar outside of the Jungfrau Travel Pass coverage, then I’d run with the Berner Oberland Pass. With either of these passes, you can essentially hop on and off, and just present your pass when asked. There are exceptions when you would need to buy a ticket, the respective maps will show and our summaries within the guides explain too.
With the Swiss Half Fare Card, you would need to buy a ticket for each journey. All explained in our Swiss Half Fare guide below.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thanks Yolanda, all very helpful but still quite confusing.
So, I would need Golden pass, Jungfrau Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card.
I’m hoping to maybe spend 3 days in Jungfrau area and maybe one night in Zurich.
Hello Sha
The ‘Golden pass’ is not a public transport pass! It is the name given to the railway route which runs from Luzern to Interlaken, and then on to Montreux!
If you get a Swiss Half Fare Card, that will give you 50% discount on the fares between Zurich and Interlaken, whether you go via Bern or via Luzern. The Jungfrau Travel Pass will give you FREE travel on the lines shown on the coverage map to which Yolanda has directed you in her reply four. If you want to go to the Jungfraujoch, the Jungfrau Travel Pass entitles you to a big reduction in the fare.
Best wishes
Roger
Ahh I see, thanks Roger.
Hi Sha,
Based on your plans, I would narrow down your options to the Jungfrau Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card.
The Jungfrau Travel Pass will cover your excursion to Grindelwald First and you’ll get a substantial discount for the excursion to Jungfraujoch. Please see more details here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/jungfrau-travel-pass/#discounts-mountain
If you have a Swiss Half Fare Card, you can purchase the Jungfrau Travel Pass at a reduced price (which adds to your savings). The Swiss Half Fare Card allows you to purchase tickets at a discounted price for routes or excursions not covered by the Jungfrau Travel Pass.
Regards,
Anna
Hi Anna, thanks so much. That makes it a little simpler. 😊
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