[Keevin]

21 December 2023 at 19:32:17 #1013501

Hello, I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

I was wondering if I could get some assistance on the most cost-efficient transportation pass(s) for my Zurich plans?

-day 0: landing in ZRH airport at night, staying at hotel near ZRH: likely no pass since just taking 1 bus.

-day 1: Zurich city center + Rhine Falls: per my understanding, the 24/74-hr Zurich cards would require additional ticket purchase, while a Zurich day pass or 9 o’clock pass would include the Rhine Falls zone 116? So depending on when we leave our hotel in the morning, this would dictate day pass vs 9 o’clock pass as the best option?

-day 2: Zurich city stuff + Uetliberg (sunset?) + boat to/from Lindt (Kilchberg): in this case, the 24-hr Zurich card would be the one to also include the Short Lake Cruise to/from Kilchberg? Would that be the best option? Do other passes include the boat transport too?

Sorry if this is a bit jumbled, I just wanted to verify which public transport pass(s) are the best option for each of my days in Zurich. There’s multiple passes and I didn’t want to get confused!

Thanks in advance!

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[User]

Reply 1 of 13 • 21 December 2023 at 20:19:41 #1013502

Hi there Keevin,

Thanks for sharing your Zurich plans.  In answer to your questions:

Day 1:  Essentially for a visit to Rhine Falls (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rhine-falls/), with the Zurich Card, you would need to purchase a zone upgrade. If you opted with the 9’o clock pass, ensure you have the pass that covers all zones.

Day 2:  You’d be fine with just the Zurich Card to cover your visits to the Lindt Museum (https://www.myswissalps.com/activities/culinary/chocolate/) and to Uetliberg.

In case you needed purchase options for the Zurich Card, scroll to “Public transport in Zurich” in the below link:

• https://www.myswissalps.com/town/zurich/#travel

The Zurich Card covers all forms of public transportation (tram, bus, train, boat and cableway) in the city of Zurich and surrounding region.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Yolanda

[Keevin]

Reply 2 of 13 • 22 December 2023 at 4:00:24 #1013503

Hi Yolanda, I appreciate the quick reply.

1. are there multiple types of 9 o’clock passes for Zurich? I know you said we should ensure we get the pass that covers all the zones? would the 9 o’clock pass be cheaper than the Zurich day pass?
2. yes, thanks for confirming the best option for the day with boat activities would be the 24-hr Zurich card.

Thanks

[Anna]

Reply 3 of 13 • 22 December 2023 at 8:03:28 #1013548

Hi.

Make sure you get the 9 o’clock day pass (all zones) and not the 9 o’clock multiple ticket (all zones). In general, if you are flexible and can travel after 9am (on weekends the pass is valid before 9am), the 9 o’clock day pass is cheaper for all day travel in within the Zurich transport network.

Regards,

Anna

[Keevin]

Reply 4 of 13 • 24 December 2023 at 1:45:16 #1018143

Thanks Anna for the reply.

 

On a separate note, asking about JFJ and surrounding area stuff:

1. if we want to ascend via Grindelwald (whether by train or Eiger Express) and then descend via Wengen/Kleine Scheidegg (by train), we still just need to buy 1 round-trip JFJ ticket correct? I looked at the MySwissAlps JFJ ticket section and saw that only the GetYourGuide option is for the general round-trip ticket? Because if I go to the official JFJ ticket website, would I need to book separate one-way tickets to/from Grindelwald and then Wengen?
2. is the Royal Ride open-air balcony cable car from Wengen to Mannlichen only open during the summer? if no open-air, would it still be worth it to do round-trip Wengen to Mannlichen? or just do Wengen->Mannlichen->Grindelwald with one-way cable car tickets?

Thanks!

[User]

Reply 5 of 13 • 24 December 2023 at 8:31:56 #1018163

Hi Keevin,

In answer to your questions:

I am not sure how long you are intending to spend in the Jungfrau region but if for a few days, you may want to look in to a rail pass like the Jungfrau Travel Pass (Spring, summer & autumn) or Jungfrau Hiking & Sledging Pass (Winter).  They’d give coverage for the rides you have described and a trip, if you decided to visit, up to Jungfraujoch would be discounted:

• Jungfrau Travel Pass:  https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/jungfrau-travel-pass/
• Jungfrau Hiking & Sledging Pass : https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/jungfrau-hiking-sledging-pass/

Otherwise, yes, you’d need individual tickets when purchasing via the Jungfraujoch official website. Some resellers offer a combination ticket as you describe.  More in our guide to Jungfraujoch:

• https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/jungfraujoch/

Yes, correct, the “Royal Ride” on the Männlichen cableway is available during the summer months only. (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/mannlichen/) Both routes are lovely, and yes, you would see differing views on both, on a clear day.  One of our forum members, provided a short video of his ride on the Männlichen cableway in September, in case you were interested:

• https://www.myswissalps.com/community/thread/videos-from-september-trip/

I’d work with what works with your plans that day.  If time allows, I’d go up one and down the other, for some variety 😉

Kind regards,

Yolanad

 

[Keevin]

Reply 6 of 13 • 25 December 2023 at 0:54:24 #1018478

Thanks Yolanda for the reply.

Adding onto day trips from Interlaken, I saw from your Goldenpass guide that the Belle Epoque train from Zweisimmen to Montreux has 2 connections each day:

“GoldenPass Belle Époque trains (between Zweisimmen and Montreux)

The availability of GoldenPass Belle Époque trains is limited to 2 connections in each direction. There’s:

• 1 in the late morning/early afternoon and 1 in the late afternoon/early evening from Zweisimmen to Montreux
• 1 mid-morning and 1 mid-afternoon from Montreux to Zweisimmen”

Is there a way to know exactly the schedule for the Belle Epoque trains?

Do people sometimes take 1 of each (Belle Epoque and Goldenpass Panoramic) train per leg to/from Zweisimmen?

Thanks

[Anna]

Reply 7 of 13 • 25 December 2023 at 8:41:06 #1018490

Hi Keevin,

That’s right. The GoldenPass Belle Epoque runs twice daily in each direction as follows:

• From Montreux 09:50 and 14:50
• From Zweisimmen 12:02 and 17:02

You can find further information here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/goldenpass/ (click on Show Table of Contents, then go to Other Websites of Interest. Click on MOB to find the GoldenPass timetable.

Regards,

Anna

[Keevin]

Reply 8 of 13 • 26 December 2023 at 0:23:53 #1022601

Thank you Anna, Merry Christmas!

 

For Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt: is there a separate round-trip ticket just from Klein Matterhorn to/from Testa Grigia? I heard the gondola ride is just like 4 min, was wondering where to buy just that short ticket (not the entire long version). I also saw that a RT ticket from Zermatt-Testa Grigia is 135 CHF, what does that include?

Thanks

[Anna]

Reply 9 of 13 • 26 December 2023 at 10:44:28 #1026707

Hi Keevin,

You can purchase a roundtrip ticket from Zermatt to Testa Grigia, which includes travel to Klein Matterhorn (plus admission into the Glacier Palace, Cinema Lounge, viewing platform and other activities) and the gondola ride to Testa Grigia. The standard fare is CHF135 return in low season. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass or a Swiss Half Fare Card, you pay half-price (CHF67.50).

Alternatively you can purchase a ticket from Zermatt to Cervinia which includes the above (Klein Matterhorn + Testa Grigia) and also the Matterhorn Alpine crossing to Italy. The standard fare for this trip is CHF190 return. The reduced fare with a Swiss Travel Pass/ Swiss Half Fare  Card is CHF122.50. Please be aware you need a formal travel ID for the crossing to Italy.

You can find more information about how to travel to Klein Matterhorn here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/matterhorn/

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Anna

[Keevin]

Reply 10 of 13 • 27 December 2023 at 1:26:40 #1026713

Thanks Anna!

 

Regarding other Zermatt things:

1. If our goal is to get that sunrise picture of the Matterhorn at Riffelsee Lake: how do we get there if the 1st train is around 0800 in March? other than walking. I guess at least the sun would still be shining on the Matterhorn during the entire morning?
2. Is the Gornergrat priority boarding ticket is necessary on the Gornergrat Bahn in March?
3. The Gornergrat Bahn ticket is hop-on/hop-off capable correct? Meaning we can get off at Riffelsee on both the ascent and descent to/from Gornergrat?

Thanks

[User]

Reply 11 of 13 • 27 December 2023 at 7:46:54 #1026715

Hi there Keevin,

1. You may want to consider staying in a hotel if you are wanting to take photos at sunrise.  The Kulm Hotel at Gornergrat is one or the Riffelalp Resort. Do bear in mind, it could be that the lake could be frozen and still covered in snow in March.  Nearer the time, you may want to check with the local tourist office or your hotel.  They should be able to advise of its status.
2. There will always be a tendency for queues here. It really depends on your own preference if you can queue or prefer priority boarding. Perhaps, if you find the queue in the boarding area is already full when you arrive.  You could choose to wait for the next boarding and stand in the ‘next boarding’ area so that you are at the ‘front of the queue’. That way when the train is ready, you’ll be at the ‘front’ and be one of the first to board. If this is not an option, then yes, opt with purchasing the priority boarding 🙂  https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/gornergrat/
3. You can hop on/ hop off in the direction of travel, however each section can only be traveled once.  It’s not ‘unlimited’. For example, a return ticket is valid for 1 ride Zermatt-Gornergrat and 1 ride Gornergrat-Zermatt, so you can’t use it for unlimited trips on the day of validity. You are allowed to get on and off along the way, but after that you’ll have to continue your route up or down and you can’t repeat the same stretches. If you prefer unlimited rides, you can look into the ‘Peak Pass’.  All information in the ticket section in the link provided above.

Thanks and kind regards,

Yolanda

[Keevin]

Reply 12 of 13 • 4 January 2024 at 5:55:25 #1043412

Thanks Yolanda and happy new year!

Going back to my initial day 2 Zurich itinerary (w/ Kilchberg/Lindt, Uetliberg): I saw a round-trip ticket on the short lake cruise is only 8.80 CHF. If I can use that ticket to get back to Zurich after the Lindt museum, and the rest of the day is city stuff+Uetliberg, is it even worth buying a 24-hr Zurich card (which is 29 CHF)? Or would it be more economical to just pay-per-ride?

[User]

Reply 13 of 13 • 4 January 2024 at 6:25:40 #1043415

Happy New Year Keevin, hope 2024 is starting well.

I think you’ll find that if you paid per journey, it would soon add up and it could amount to the same price as your Zurich card.  You’d have to carry out some maths to be sure.

The price for the short lake cruise will be on a time limit, so you may find it would not cover all your activities.

• https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-zurich/

Kind regards,

Yolanda