[Anonymous]

4 January 2022 at 23:35:04 #826381

Based on the great information provided on this site, I have put together the following itinerary. My plan is to take advantage of the great panoramic train routes. Does this itinerary make sense and will it provide us with scenic train rides as well as great overnight locations.

Itinerary:

• Fly into Zurich (Stay 2 nights – Old Town and train to Falls )
• Regional Train to St. Gallen (stay one night)
• Volrapen Express to Lucerne (3 nights Airbnb)
• Gotthard Panoramic Express to Lugano (3 nights Airbnb)
• Bernina Express Bus Lugano to Tirano; Bernina Express Train to St. Moritz (1 night)
• Glacier Express St. Moritz to Zermatt (2 nights Airbnb)
• Golden Pass Train Zermatt to Montreaux (3 nights Airbnb)
• Bella Epoque Montreaux to Zweismann; Regular train to Basel

Also, is there is a travel company that will book your trains and seat reservations for a fee. We have our 15 day travel pass and will be traveling on at least 5 trains throughout Switzerland. I would prefer someone knowledgeable of system to do booking and seat reservations than trying to figure it out and do it online. I have planned itinerary and just would like someone to book everything once it is possible.

Thank you.

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[User]

Reply 1 of 12 • 5 January 2022 at 8:23:45 #937953

Hi Pameladc68,

Have a look at http://www.myswissalps.com/customholidays, where you can contact our trusted travel consultants for a stress free customized trip. At http://www.myswissalps.com/railholidays and http://www.myswissalps.com/plantrip/selfguided you’ll find different scenic train packages.

Otherwise we have a page about each Swiss scenic train where you can read about the details and where to reserve a seat etc. If you have a 15 days Swiss Travel Pass you can book it for yourself too. I add these links here, so if you wish you can have a look at them:

• Regional Train to St. Gallen – free with Swiss Travel Pass, no seat reservation needed
• Volrapen Express to Lucerne – free with Swiss Travel Pass, no seat reservation needed: http://www.myswissalps.com/voralpenexpress
• Gotthard Panoramic Express – If you have a 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass, you need to buy an upgrade ticket + seat reservation. You can do that at http://www.myswissalps.com/gotthardpanoramaexpress/tickets
• Bernina Express – the train ticket is free with the Swiss Travel Pass but you need to reserve your seats for a fee, you can do it here: http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/tickets
• Glacier Express – the train ticket is free with the Swiss Travel Pass but you need to reserve your seats for a fee, you can do it here: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/tickets
• Golden Pass – the train ticket is free with the Swiss Travel Pass, seat reservation is not obligatory, just recommended in high season on the Zweisimmen – Montreux part of the journey. Between Zweisimmen and Montreux you can choose between GoldenPass Belle Epoque and GoldenPass Panoramic trains. The Belle Epoque train has coaches with a historical, luxurious atmosphere. The modern Panoramic trains have panoramic windows, and some of them have a few first class VIP seats in the front of the train, offering the same view the driver has.

I believe there is a little confusion in your itinerary regarding the Golden Pass. The Golden Pass route is from Lucerne to Montreux via Interlaken. It does not go from Zermatt. Have a look at the route at http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/gettingthere.

Please let me mention, that usually we do not recommend staying in AirBnB-s, read about the reasons here: http://www.myswissalps.com/accommodation/airbnb.

And one more last page recommendation, you can buy your Swiss Travel Pass at http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/price.

I hope this helps,

Ildiko

[User]

Reply 2 of 12 • 5 January 2022 at 16:28:59 #937954

Itinerary is fine, although you may eventually get bored of only being on ‘panoramic/special’ trains with other tourists! However the stops in between will give you the chance to see a bit more of ‘real, ordinary Switzerland’ (too much ‘chocolate box and mountain scenery can get a bit samey…)

Echoing some of Ildiko’s comments, here is my additional:

Volrapen Express to Lucerne (3 nights Airbnb)

Voralpen (=pre-Alps) express is a glorified regional train. Reservation is not possible (there is no need).

Gotthard Panoramic Express to Lugano (3 nights Airbnb)

As you will have been in the Luzern area for 3 nights, you may already have covered the Lake Luzern lake boats already, so you could travel via the Treno Gottardo regional express service which covers the same route without extra cost (and the views from the train are exactly the same). You would save some time in the day by using the train all the way from Luzern round to the Gotthard railway. It goes to Locarno so you could see that lakeside town before going on to Lugano.

Golden Pass Train Zermatt to Montreaux (3 nights Airbnb)

Not the ‘Golden Pass’. Zermatt – Visp by local MGB railway train, Visp – Montreux (not Montreaux) on a SBB Brig – Geneva inter regional express

Bella Epoque Montreux to Zweisimmen; Regular train to Basel ( note my corrections to spelling of place names)

Some old fashioned style coaches (some are replicas though) and running twice each day, so no real harm done if you miss it and have to get one of the other trains from Montreux. No real need to book in advance especially as you will be starting from Montreux so can be on the train as soon as it comes into the platform.

Regular BLS train from Zweisimmen to Spiez changing into an SBB IC train for Spiez – Basel (take care of the timings so that you get a train that does it direct without an extra change of train

[Danielsan]

Reply 3 of 12 • 6 January 2022 at 5:00:40 #937955

Hi Pameladc68,

Your itinerary is almost a mirror of my trip in Sept. 2018 right up until changing trains at Zweisimmen. (I went on to Wengen for three nights.) I had originally intended to take the local train to St. Gallon and the Voralpen Ex. into Lucerne. But after having a 4 hour delay in New York, that squashed those plans and I went directly to Lucerne, since I wanted to catch the funicular/cable car to Stanserhorn. There were later hours of operations (ascents) on Fridays during the summer months.

I’m not sure where you are from, but I did a lot of reservations through the AAA travel agency (in NY). Seemingly, one of the few travel agencies left. I made my seat reserves for the Gotthard Panoramic, both legs of the Bernina, and the Glacier Express trains through them. And one hotel.

As you can see from Ildiko, there are many links to choose from to do it online. I just didn’t feel comfortable doing it that way, as I prefer speaking to people. I wrote a trip report about my travels on the trains if you’re interested in reading it. Enjoy your travels and I hope all goes well with this pandemic and you’re able to go.

Danielsan

[User]

Reply 4 of 12 • 6 January 2022 at 22:14:42 #937956

Your info does help. I just purchased the Swiss Flex pass.

If I read it correctly- I must present tickets of my route. I want to go on the Golden Pass from Geneva to Lucerne next week but not sure what trains. How do I find the one called “Interlaken Express” or some of the other more interesting trains to ride? I’m really confused.

I face the same issue on the scenic route from Zermatt to Montreaux. This one may just be a route with no special trains but this is not clear.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[Anna]

Reply 5 of 12 • 7 January 2022 at 9:08:29 #937957

Hi Lynnmg,

Welcome to MySwissAlps.

With the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, you don’t need tickets. Just make sure you are travelling on a valid travel day. You can find information about how to use the Swiss Travel Pass Flex here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpassflex/howtouse

To help you plan your journeys and make sure you are getting on the right train, I suggest downloading the SBB timetable mobile app to your smart devices. You can find information about how to use the timetable here: http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable

With the mobile app, you can just click on any connection to see what type of train it is.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Anna

[Danielsan]

Reply 6 of 12 • 7 January 2022 at 15:48:46 #937958

Hi Lynnmg, The route from Zermatt to Montreux does have a name but I don’t recall it. I took the local train and it is/was about two and a half hours. Swa some vineyards, a few castles, a few windmills and such as we passed the other side of the Les Diablerets Mountain range. I also rode the Golden Pass from Montreux to Weisimmen (then onto Wengen) and happened to be on the Belle Epoque, which is the (refurbished/rebuilt) old feel train from that era. I believe it departed Montreux at 1400 hours. (Possibly 1300). If its not the Belle, its the Golden Pass express, which is the regular modern train. Either one will get you to Weisimmen, and from there its basically regular train into Interlaken. No need to get caught up in any other than names of things. There are links with schedules and such. Hope you find what you’re looking for. Enjoy. Danielsan

[User]

Reply 7 of 12 • 7 January 2022 at 15:58:09 #937959

Thanks Anna- I’ve downloaded the SBB timetable and set up my days for travel on my flex pass. If I’m looking at everything correctly- I have to Catch each of the 4 trains from Geneva to Lucerne. How would I be able to catch the scenic trains? Such as the Interlaken Express, Golden Pass Belle or Panoramic? Since they are different railway companies- do I have to find each “leg” of the route?

[User]

Reply 8 of 12 • 7 January 2022 at 16:08:12 #937960

lldiko,

Thank you very much for the detailed information. If I am reading things correctly, I can take a train from Zermatt to Zweismmen and then get on either the Bella Epoque or the Panoramic train to Montreux – right?

We will be traveling the first two weeks of June. Is this considered high season? Also, our 15 day pass is first class. Do I need to make reservation for first class seats on trains not generally requiring reservations? For the panoramic trains requiring an upgrade, that is for both first and second class sets, correct?

Thanks again for your help.

Pamela

[User]

Reply 9 of 12 • 7 January 2022 at 16:11:58 #937961

1960man,

Thanks for your information and for the correct spelling to towns. Your suggestion of regional trains and the alternative for Luzern to Lugano makes sense.

I appreciate your input.

Pamela

[User]

Reply 10 of 12 • 7 January 2022 at 16:17:08 #937962

Danielsan,

Thanks for your information. I am from San Diego and a AAA member so I really appreciate your suggestion of using them. I will contact my local office and see what they can do. If they can’t, I will navigate the online booking process.

I am very much interested in reading your travel blog. Can you provide me the link.

Thanks again. Your information was very helpful.

Pamela

[Danielsan]

Reply 11 of 12 • 7 January 2022 at 17:46:55 #937963

Hi Pamela,

Your welcome.

The only trains you need a seat reservation for are, the Glacier Express and the Gotthard Panoramic Express. Every other part of your journey will be to “hop on-hop off” at your hearts desire. Thats the beauty of the STP. You have the first class STP, so you won’t have a problem with the Gotthard, which I believe only has 1st class seating now. It didn’t when I went in 2018. When you reserve seats for the Brrnina, make sure to do so for BOTH the bus leg, and the train leg to St. Moritz. Shortly before getting off the plane in Zurich, I realized I didn’t have a ticket (seat reserve) for the Tirano/St. Moritz. So I just went into the train station at the airport and they hooked me up.

As far as the Golden Pass train goes, read the post above I posted to Lynnmg, as that also pertains to you. Basically you want to go from Zermatt to Montreux, and then catch the Golden Pass to Weisimmen. That leg is the actual Golden Pass. (The rest is just train rides/routes, and lots of different names that apparently are confusing some folks.) The reason I’m saying this is to have you go in one smooth direction instead of bouncing around and backtracking, (ie Zermatt/Weisimmen/Montreux). Glance at a map and you’ll better understand what I mean.

I believe June is the beginning of the busy season, as some of the higher up hiking trails may still have snow around. Enjoy your trip.

Danielsan

PS, Below is a link to my trip report. It is a bit lengthy but…

http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/part-1-of-triip-report

[Anna]

Reply 12 of 12 • 7 January 2022 at 19:43:13 #937964

Hi Lynnmg,

If you’re planning to take the Golden Pass train from Geneva to Lucerne, you can use the advanced option on the timetable. Under transport type choose PE (for panoramic trains) so only scenic trains will appear. Alternatively, you can enter each leg of the route separately in the timetable. Try using the following routes.

Geneva to Zweisimmen via Montreux

Zweisimmen to Lucerne via Interlaken Ost

Hope this helps.

regards,

Anna