[cod_ninja]

5 September 2026 at 9:04:33 #2798513

I will be based in Brienz for 6 nights and 7th day will move to zurich and 8th day morning will be flying out. So effectively i will have 7 full days.

These are the shortlisted excursions we think best for us

1: Brienz Rothhorn : It should be convenient for us as we already stays closer to railway station [ 15 min walk or post bus]

2: Grindelwald First / Mt Schiltron [ Choose based on weather]

3: Wengen and Männlichen and do royal walk

4: Day trip to Luzern

5: Spiez Wineyards

6: Paragliding in interlaken

7: From Zurich , visit rhine falls

but we are not fixated on dates as we will be in single base for most of the days

Based on my calculation BO pass will be good for us , and i am thinking to get HFC as well along with that becuase

BO pass for 2 adults and 2 kids for 6 days with out discount showing : 952 USD

But with HFC and family card : it 632 USD for BO + 376 USD HFC [ so we already got most of our costs covered with addition of HFC right..?] And we will have flexibility to do additonal day trips for other region as well

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[Anna]

Reply 1 of 35 • 5 September 2026 at 20:15:00 #2798516

Hi cod_ninja,

Based on your plans, combining the Berner Oberland Pass with the Swiss Half Fare Card is a sensible move.

If your kids are between 6 and 15 years old, you can request for a complimentary Swiss Family Card when you purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card. This will allow them to travel along for free even on routes that are only discounted (eg. using mountain transportation like cable cars, gondolas, etc).

Berner Oberland Pass: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/
Swiss Half Fare Card: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/
Rail pass discounts: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/tickets/discount/

While the Berner Oberland Pass provides free travelling in the region throughout your stay in Brienz, the Swiss Half Fare Card allows you travel outside the region at half-price, thus giving you some flexibility decide to change your plans.

Regards,
Anna

[cod_ninja]

Reply 2 of 35 • 6 September 2026 at 11:49:28 #2798538

Thanks Anna

One quick doubt on travelling to zermat as daydrip [ if we think weather is bad in oberland and good over there]. How can we leverage BO card which have validity till Brig..?

Is there any specific route we need to follow till Brig..?

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 3 of 35 • 6 September 2026 at 14:32:49 #2798539

Hello cod_ninja

With reference to your reply 2

Validity of Berner Oberland Pass to Brig/Visp area

https://www.myswissalps.com/details/berner-oberland-pass-validity/ 

The BOP is NOT valid to Visp.

It is valid to Brig provided you take the RE1 train leaving Spiez at 12 minutes past each hour.  The RE1 takes a scenic route via Kandersteg and the journey takes 70 minutes.

https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/lotschberg-mountain-railway/

The BOP is NOT VALID on the fast IC and EC trains which go from Spiez to Brig via the Lőtschberg Base tunnel.

The BOP is in 2026 NOT valid to Domodossola.

Wet weather excursions FREE with a Berner Oberland Pass.

Go direct to the Swiss ‘Federal City’ of Bern.

Lucerne

Perhaps from Bern take the Scenic ride on the RE7 train to Lucerne via Langnau.  (The BOP is NOT valid on the fast but much less scenic IR15 train.)

Go to MONTREUX via Spiez and Zweisimmen.  I stress that the BOP is ONLY valid to Montreux if you take this route.  It is not valid on any of the alternative routes.

https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/goldenpass/

Kind regards

Roger

[cod_ninja]

Reply 4 of 35 • 6 September 2026 at 16:19:24 #2798541

Thanks , thats really helpful

1: So we are based on Brienz , so from here we need to come till Spiez and take the train to Brig via  Kandersteg which is free. then take another point to point ticket to zermat from Brig  [ This detour is how much more time consuming that normal route..?]

2: The MONTREUX route you mentioned is that called golden pass right..? i mean the scenic route..?

btw , based on my plan along with BOP , anything else i can add to maximize the usage of BOP

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 5 of 35 • 6 September 2026 at 17:13:10 #2798547

Hello again

 So we are based on Brienz , so from here we need to come till Spiez and take the train to Brig via  Kandersteg which is free. then take another point to point ticket to zermat from Brig  [ This detour is how much more time consuming that normal route..?]

Going via Kandersteg and Brig the journey usually takes three hours and 48 minutes.  You will need point-to-point tickets Brig to Zermatt (and back).

Going through Lotschberg Base Tunnel the journey usually takes TWO hours and 40 minutes.  You will need point-to-point tickets SPIEZ to Zermatt (and back).

(You could go out the scenic way and back the fast way – or vice versa.)

The MONTREUX route you mentioned is that called golden pass right..? i mean the scenic route..?

Yes, it is called the ‘Golden Pass’ and it is VERY scenic, especially the last/first few kilometres at the Montreux end of the journey.

 based on my plan along with BOP , anything else i can add to maximize the usage of BOP

If I were staying in the Berner Oberland and had invested in a BOP I would (if the weather is OK) try and go up a  lot of the mountains which are free with the BOP, and avoid those lines where I have to pay a fare.  So I would AVOID (for example) Grindelwald-First, Kleine Scheidegg and Harder Kulm, but I would go up Schilthorn, Brienzer Rothorn (steam trains!) Schynige Platte and Mannlichen.  (See the BOP validity map.!  Several other mountain lines are free.
Expanding on my previous reply, an obvious longer trip is to go Brienz to BERN.  Bern to Lucerne via Langnau.  Lucerne to Brienz.

The boats on both Lakes Brienz and Thun are very enjoyable.  A hidden gem is bus number 21 from Interlaken to Thun along the north shore of Lake Thun.

KInd regards
Roger

[cod_ninja]

Reply 6 of 35 • 7 September 2026 at 5:20:58 #2798548

Thanks Roger again , so my plan is as follows

1:  Will take BOP , either 1-2 days before we reaching zurich [ hope there will be some indication on the weather ] , i hope prices will be fixed and even it go sell out before 1-2 days

2: HFC is must for us , so question is its either with BO or alone so probably we will take that now or may be closer to travel dates

3: Thing of getting saver day pass currently at 44 chf , for 7th day where we will go from brienz to zurich and visit rheine falls

 

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 7 of 35 • 7 September 2026 at 6:13:26 #2798549

Hello again.

Buy the Saver Day Passes NOW.  44 CHF per adult is very cheap.  The price is unlikely to go down.  It is much more likely to go up.

The prices for HFC and BOP are fixed for the whole of 2026.  They cannot go up or down and they cannot sell out.

The BOP will be a good investment even if the weather is bad.  Ir will take you to interesting towns and cities such as Bern. Thun, Spiez, Lucerne, Gstaad and Montreux.  Several interesting castles around Lake Thun.  Chocolate factory at Trubschachen, just east of Langnau and served by the RE7 trains from Bern to Lucerne.

How are you getting to Brienz on what I will call day zero?  Your earlier thread said you were flying into Milan Malpensa, but para 1 of your reply 6 refers to Zurich.  Might be worth getting Saver Day Passes for ‘Day Zero’.  You will certainly want the HFCs to be valid on day zero.

Best wishes for your detailed planning

Roger.

[cod_ninja]

Reply 8 of 35 • 7 September 2026 at 9:52:38 #2798550

Ah, the earlier milan plan got changed as we felt the places in milan and lake como is kind of similiar to many lake towns in oberland region

Now we will spend 4 days in vienna and reach zurich 9 AM via night train , and plan to reach breinz by afternoon ,

1: thats our Day-1

2: 5 more full days in brienz

3: 7thday , will go to zurich airpotel hotel , but planning to use that day to visit rhine falls and close the day

8th day morning will be flight

Another problem is as we will be in Brienz from 21st to 27th , as many mountains rides are closing on 25th , thinking do we need 4 day pass or 6 day pass

“Several interesting castles around Lake Thun.  Chocolate factory at Trubschachen,” —  Those are free with BO pass or discounted..?

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 9 of 35 • 7 September 2026 at 10:38:17 #2798551

Hello again

Several interesting castles around Lake Thun.  Chocolate factory at Trubschachen,” —  Those are free with BO pass or discounted..?  I am afraid I do not know the answer to this question.  I suspect that there will be no free admissions, but there might be discounts for BOP holders..

Another problem is as we will be in Brienz from 21st to 27th , as many mountains rides are closing on 25th , thinking do we need 4 day pass or 6 day pass

I would still invest in six-day passes. The BOP covers a lot of very scenic railway lines, notably the lines to Brig via Kandersteg, to Lucerne via the Brunig Pass, to Montreux via Zweisimmen, and from Bern via Langnau to Lucerne.  All these railways run 365-day-a-year.  So does the number 21 Interlaken to Thun bus via the north shore of the lake.    There will be a boat service on both lakes Thun and Brienz.  The Thun service is all-year-round; the Brienz service finishes on December 7th.

Lake Thun: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-thun/
Lake Brienz: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-brienz/

The funicular up Mount Niesen runs until November 8th.
Niesen: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/niesen/

The cable car up the Niederhorn runs until 15th November.
Best wishes
Roger

[cod_ninja]

Reply 10 of 35 • 7 September 2026 at 10:50:18 #2798552

Thanks roger , thats really helpfull insights [ wow so many mountain lifts , i guess no one would have used each and every lifts right…?]

 

One last doubt on our last day , can we do anything else other than rhine falls on last day , or is that the best option to conclude our trip..?

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 11 of 35 • 7 September 2026 at 12:13:18 #2798554

Hello again
i guess no one would have used each and every lifts right…?]

I certainly have not been on every ‘mountain lift’ in the Berner Oberland.  And I have been visiting Switzerland regularly for 55 years!

can we do anything else other than rhine falls on last day , or is that the best option to conclude our trip..?

Certainly try and visit the Rhine falls on your last day.

Rhine Falls: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rhine-falls/

IF you have time, combine the falls with a visit to Stein am Rhein,  which is not far from the Rhine Falls by train.  Stein am Rhein is arguably the best preserved  medieval town in the whole of Europe.

Best wishes
Roger

[cod_ninja]

Reply 12 of 35 • 7 September 2026 at 12:39:46 #2798555

Go it , another option came up was Schaffhausen along with Rhine falls , but i have secured the saved day pass for me and my wife. so we are good with last day for any kind of extra journey

[cod_ninja]

Reply 13 of 35 • 7 September 2026 at 13:45:59 #2798556

One more quick suggestion on what we should pack for the october end trip ..?  Do we need to get the winter gears , water proof shoes , socks , thermals etc..?

 

[Anna]

Reply 14 of 35 • 7 September 2026 at 21:12:54 #2798567

Hi cod_ninja,

For trips end of October, I don’t think you need thick winter jackets yet. But do pack some layers and at least 1 waterproof jacket. Check the weather forecast before you depart.

As for day trips from Brienz, the Aareschlucht (Aare Gorge) would be a good rainy day alternative. You can just take a train from Brienz to Meiringen then bus to the main entrance. It’s open until 1 Nov.

If you are still keen to do a day trip to Zermatt, with the Berner Oberland Pass you can travel for free up to Brig. Make sure you take the mountain railway train via Kandersteg (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/lotschberg-mountain-railway/). From Brig, it’s 1.5 hour by train to Zermatt. Since you will have a Half Fare Card, you can purchase a discounted return ticket (CHF40).

Hope this helps!

Anna

[cod_ninja]

Reply 15 of 35 • 8 September 2026 at 5:19:38 #2798570

Thanks on the first day where we reaching brienz proabaly afternoon , i am thinking about 2 options to spend the rest of the day productive

1: If weather is good , go to hasliberg -> alpine tower [ i think its doable considering we are staying not that far ]

one doubt , as per schedule “Last descent from Alpen tower at 4.30 pm” , so there will be other connecting descent from each mid station also available right…?

2: if its rainly will  go to Aareschlucht 

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 16 of 35 • 8 September 2026 at 9:27:48 #2798573

Hello again

Firstly, have a good map of the Berner Oberland in front of you.

Words of Warning

Engineering Work Between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost

Commencing 19th October this short section of railway line is closed for engineering work.   There will be replacement buses. That is bad news.  It has two consequences for your plans.

Firstly, the journey time on any journey from or to Brienz which involves going via Spiez will be extended by about half-an-hour.

Secondly, on your journeys from Zurich to Brienz on 21st and from Brienz to Zurich on 27th travel via Lucerne.

Vienna to Zurich Overnight Train.

Reservations for this train are essential, and they can ‘sell out’.  If you have not already done so, get those reservations NOW.

On Arrival at Brienz.

Noting the point that going from Zurich to Brienz you should go via Lucerne, you will not reach Brienz until 12 33 at the very earliest.  The total journey from Vienna (I think you leave at 22 44 – 10 44 pm) is nearly fourteen hours!  I suspect you will need a rest.

I would contact your accommodation in Brienz and try and negotiate ‘an early check in’.

Best wishes

Roger

[cod_ninja]

Reply 17 of 35 • 8 September 2026 at 10:17:36 #2798574

Thanks roger , so the work between interlaken west and ost going to impact all our plans via spiez

Eg:  the excursions towards Stockhorn , Kandersteg etc can have impact not for our wengen/schiltron

but why the journey from Zurich to Brienz will have impact ..? we will go via luzern right

Then yes i already booked the nightjet from vienna to zurich , and as per schedule we will reach 9:30 AM , i guess being  sleeper train we should have got enough rest and hopefully we dont need any additional rest once we reached brienz

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 18 of 35 • 8 September 2026 at 11:33:58 #2798575

Hello again

What I was expecting to be a sprint has turned into a marathon….

Still have that map of the Berner Oberland in front of you.

yes i already booked the nightjet from vienna to zurich , and as per schedule we will reach 9:30 AM 

Catch the 10 10 IR70 train bound for Luzern, arrive there at 10 51.  At Zurich walk right to the front of the IR70 train.  The carriages at the front of the train will be less crowded.  You will also have a shorter walk at Luzern!

Catch the 11 06 Luzern-Interlaken Express, but get off at Meiringen at 12 16.  Park your luggage in a luggage locker.

Walk to the lower station of the Meiringen to Häsliberg cable car.  Go up this cable car.  Then another cable car to Bidmi, then to Mägiswil, then to Alpen Tower PlanPlatten.

Last descent from Alpen tower at 4.30 pm” , so there will be other connecting descent from each mid station also available right…?

Yes you are right.

if its rainly will  go to Aareschlucht 

That makes sense.  Remember that you will not have to make a decision between Alpen Tower and Aareschlucht until you get to Meiringen.

There are trains from Meiringen to Brienz twice an hour at 22 and 51 minutes past each hour.  Journey takes 11 minutes.

but why the journey from Zurich to Brienz will have impact ..? we will go via luzern right

Yes, going via Luzern means that you avoid the problems at Interlaken.

the excursions towards Stockhorn , Kandersteg etc can have impact not for our wengen/schiltron

Yes, you are correct.

Other points to note

The rail replacement buses between Ost and West will be frequent but very busy!

The boats on Lake Brienz serve a harbour by Interlaken OST

The boats on Lake Thun (unfortunately) only serve a harbour by Interlaken West

The scenic number 21 bus along the north shore of Lake Thun starts from Interlaken OST!

Most journeys on another scenic bus route, the number 60 to Spiez along the south shore of Lake Thun, start from Interlaken OST!  (I cheered when I discovered that fact!)

Best wishes

Roger

[Anna]

Reply 19 of 35 • 8 September 2026 at 11:52:11 #2798576

Hi again,

For your information, the Meiringen Hasliberg mountain transportation operating hours are as follows.

Hasliberg Reuti – Bidmi – Magisalp gondola: 8.30 AM – 5PM
Magisalp – Alpen Tower gondola: 9 AM – 4.30 PM

Last descent from Alpen Tower  at 4.30 PM – this means there are no more cable cars operating from the summit after 4.30 PM. But the gondola from Magisalp continues running until 5 PM.

Regards,
Anna

[cod_ninja]

Reply 20 of 35 • 8 September 2026 at 12:47:00 #2798577

Thanks Roger and Anna much appreciated , and these are golden info i am getting , but i was thinking i can go to our brienz apartment and keep the luggage and have some lunch then plan for the journey.

btw ,  if time is not available we can even plan to stop any middle ground like Bidmi or Magisalp and enjoy the evening over there as well.

So Our rough plan at this point

Day 1: Journey from Zurich to breinz and Enjoy the trip to Alpen Tower or Aareschlucht 

Day 2: Brienz Rothhorn and explore Brienz Village  [ kind of day with out much travel]

Day 3: Explore lauterbrunnen,  Murren and Mt Schiltron

Day 4: Schynige Platte [ if possible Do Sky diving for my wife and son]

Day 5: Stockhorn or Boat ride or if we feel may be daytrip to zermat

Day 6: Buffer day or i am thinking of Luzern city exploration + golden pass ride..?

Day 7: Its fixed , early morning checkout and travel to zurich and keep the luggage in hotel  , and visit rhine falls and visit stein am rhein and come back to hotel