[Anonymous]

4 January 2019 at 3:35:02 #819357

Hi all,

First time posting here and currently very confused with where to start. We fly in to Zurich on 31st Dec 2019. We will spend the night celebrating NYE in Zurich and then would like to jump on a train adventure throughout Switzerland, making our way to Paris. We are flexible on number of days to get between Zurich and Paris but thinking about 5 days? We really want to travel on the Golden Pass Line and have seen a 3 day route but I think that does a loop back to Lucerne? My question is…

Can we get one train from Zurich to Lucerne, get on Golden Pass Line, travel to Interlaken then on to Montreux and finally on to Paris? I am not sure where we should stay throughout the journey and how long each leg takes?

We have never been to Switzerland (or overseas at all – we live in Australia) so we really have no idea where to start and want to make it as simple as possible as we are traveling with our 5 year old daughter.

We would REALLY appreciate some advice to help us nut out the best way to travel between Zurich and Paris. Totally up for suggestions, we just want to take in the beautiful Swiss Alps as best we can.

Many thanks,

Bec

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[rockoyster]

Reply 1 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 4:20:26 #901354

G’day Bec and Welcome to MySwissAlps

Nothing like starting your planning early! 😎

Can we get one train from Zurich to Lucerne, get on Golden Pass Line, travel to Interlaken then on to Montreux and finally on to Paris? I am not sure where we should stay throughout the journey and how long each leg takes?

Yes you can. You should start by getting a handle on the SBB Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) to plan your travel. If you are not familiar with using the timetable it will pay to first read the instructions on that page.

The Golden Pass Line (http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass) is a series of trains.

I’d suggest you stay in the Jungfrau Region for a couple of nights. Interlaken in more of a transport hub than a destination although it has the advantage of being on a main train line. Then maybe a night or two in Montreux before catching a train to Paris from Geneva or Lausanne. See http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/france. From Montreux yo could always do a day trip to Zermatt to catch a glimpse of the Matterhorn.

Your 5-year old will travel free but you will want to read “How to choose the best travel pass” (http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass), download the handy spreadsheet calculator and do the math to see what sort of travel pass (if any suits) your plans.

[User]

Reply 2 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 8:28:26 #901355

Thanks for your quick and detailed reply rockoyster!

Would I be correct in assuming the Swiss Travel Pass would be the best value for money for our suggested itinerary? We are able to use that to sightsee Zürich then get to Lucerne to go on the Golden Pass Line to Montreux and then on to Geneva before catching final train to Paris? Would our trip from Guneva to Paris be covered by the Swiss Travel Pass? I can’t work out if it does or not because it says that some parts of France are covered.

From what I have read, having the pass would give the greatest flexibility and work out the best value too if we wanted to jump on busses/ferries/inner city trains when exploring the different cities along the way. Am I right? It does seem like a lot ($1300+ AUD) for a 4 day Pass but from what I have researched, I think it makes the most sense – I guess I would just like reassurance as we have never travelled like this before.

Also. Is it worth going 1st class or just stick with 2nd class?

Many thanks for your advice!

Bec

[User]

Reply 3 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 8:50:04 #901356

Hi Bec,

The Swiss Travel Pass is the best rail pass for flexibility for sure. Most routes are 100% covered so you can just hop on and off as you like for buses, boats, trains and some cable cars to the mountains.

A 4 day Swiss Travel Pass is not 1300AUD – at least not per person if that is what you calculated. It is about 400AUD per person.

If it is indeed the most cost effective pass, the link from Rockoyster (last one) will tell you once you’ve confirmed your daily travel plans.

The STP would not cover your trip to Paris from Geneva (it only covers 1 or 2 very short routes in France along the border). You can see a PDF map of what routes are covered here: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity

For 1st class vs 2nd class look here: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/practical/2nd1stcl ass

[User]

Reply 4 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 8:54:41 #901357

Thanks Lucas!

I went through the links and for 2 adults and 1 child (5 year old who would travel free) it came to $1300AUD! I would be stoked if it was closer to $800AUD total for our family.

Is there a better time to book? We aren’t coming until December this year but like to plan ahead and happy to book in advance if we can get a better saving.

Thanks for your reply, I’ll check out the other links too.

[User]

Reply 5 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 9:02:57 #901358

Just want to clarify – as per this link and description, am I right in assuming that we use the pass to get to Geneva and then we would just book a seperate ticket from Geneva to Paris? Do you know if there is a Travel Pass for France too? We are going to be spending time in Paris, going to Disneyland etc too so might be worth getting a pass for there too?

http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/france

If you have a Swiss rail pass, be sure to only book a ticket to the Swiss border (Basel SBB, Geneva or Vallorbe). For example: with a Swiss Travel Pass, there is no need for a ticket from Paris to Zurich, because the leg from Basel SBB to Zurich is covered by the pass. Just book to Basel SBB and enjoy the rest of the trip for free with your pass.

[User]

Reply 6 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 9:04:35 #901359

You can hold off on the Swiss Travel Pass purchase as there may be a promotion over the coming year. Check here: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/promotio ns – it can be emailed to you within minutes after purchase.

Also two Swiss Travel Passes should indeed be around 800AUD….have you checked prices here: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/price

If your child is 6 at time of travel you need to get the free Swiss Family Card: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw issfamilycard

[User]

Reply 7 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 9:06:30 #901360

Ok thank you Lucas.

Please also see my above reply, not sure if you saw that.

I will keep my eyes peeled for specials. Our daughter is only 4 now, she will be 5 when we are on the trip.

[User]

Reply 8 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 9:06:45 #901361

Yes, that link will get you tickets from Geneva to Paris (which you need to buy).

There are Eurail Passes but I doubt they are worth the cost for just 2 trips or so in France (and not long ones). http://www.myswissalps.com/mu lticountrypasses

Do note the Eurail Select Pass has recently been discontinued. We haven’t deleted our info page yet. 🙂

[User]

Reply 9 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 9:09:20 #901362

Great! Thank you so much for your help. I feel a lot clearer about it all now.

So if we have the pass we don’t need to book anything in around Switzerland, including the Golden Pass Line? We can just arrive on the day at the time we choose and jump on board?

Sorry!! Just trying to get my head around it all :p

[User]

Reply 10 of 12 • 4 January 2019 at 9:15:19 #901363

If the route is covered 100% then no tickets required. http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity

Scenic trains have mandatory reservations: http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/scenictrips/t rain (except the Golden Pass).

[User]

Reply 11 of 12 • 6 January 2019 at 5:05:24 #901364

Thanks so much for all of your help so far with planning… I have spent more time nutting out our itinerary and I think I am pretty happy with it now. I would like to run it by you guys please… Any suggestions/alternations welcomed!

• 31/12/19 – Arrive Zurich from Oslo, stay Zurich for one night, on NYE (any recommendations on best place to be in Zurich to see fireworks etc?)
• 1/1/20 – Catch train to Lucerne then take Golden Pass Line to Interlaken. Train to Wengen
• 1/1 – 4/1 Base in Wengen for 3 nights, day trips and soak up the Alps
• 4/1 – Train from Wengen back to Interlaken then continue on Gold Pass Line to Montreux via Zweisimmen then another train to Geneva. Overnight in Geneva.
• 5/1 – Train from Geneva to Paris (direct 3hr route)

We have definitely decided to get the Swiss Travel Pass as it seem to make the most sense with the amount of travel we will be doing.

Any other tips/suggestions? Does everything run “as normal” during that time of the year (including New Years Eve/Day)

Many thanks!

[User]

Reply 12 of 12 • 6 January 2019 at 9:11:37 #901365

Hi Bec25,

Trains will be running almost or exactly as normal (or if there is any reduction on Jan.1 it would be too little to notice).

Let us know your preferred activities/what you might like to do while in Wengen or Montreux and we can offer some advice. Be sure to check our pages for the regions below for recommendations:

• http://www.myswissalps.com/so uthwestswitzerland
• http://www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland