Which rail pass: 10 days Lucerne, Bernese Oberland, Montreux, Stresa
A traveler is planning a 10-day trip across Switzerland, starting in Zurich and visiting Lucerne, Murren, Montreux, and finally Stresa. They need advice on which Swiss Travel Pass and Berner Oberland Train Pass to purchase and how to travel from Montreux to Stresa using the Swiss Travel Pass. They are considering a second-class pass.
- Choose either the Swiss Travel Pass or the combination of the Berner Oberland Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card based on your route and activities.
- For the journey from Montreux to Stresa, a ticket is needed only for the section from Domodossola to Stresa if you have the Swiss Travel Pass.
- Seat reservations are not usually necessary for trains, except during peak times or for specific scenic routes.
AI-generated summary-
Hello.. I am trying to figure out what type and duration Swiss Travel Pass I’ll need for the following outline itinerary. I’m also wondering if I should buy the Berner Oberland Train Pass for the time I’m in Murren? Also how it will work for me to travel from Montreux to Stresa ( Lake Maggiore) using my Swiss Travel Pass? I’m leaning towards the second class pass vs first. Thanks!
Day 1- 9am Fly into Zurich. Travel by train directly from the airport to Lucerne.
Day 2- Lucerne Mt. Pilatus plus a likely boat trip on Lake Lucerne
Day 3- Train to Murren Staying in Murren 4 nights. (Will not visit the Jungfrau since I have already done it.)
Day 4- Murren and surrounding Bernese Oberland region
Day 5- Murren and surrounding Bernese Oberland region
Day 6- Murren and surrounding Bernese Oberland region
Day 7- Depart Murren for Montreux via Golden Pass Express from Interlaken Ost
Day 8- Montreux area including Chateau de Chillon and Lavaux region
Day 9- Day trip to Geneva
Day 10- Depart Montreux for Stresa…. and eventually Varenna and fly out of Milan.Thanks so much!
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I am doing a 16-day trip in September, and my calculations show a combination of Half Fare Card (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/) + BO Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/) works out cheapest for me.
Advantage with BO Pass is that it covers travel between Lucerne and Lauterbrunnen and then Interlaken Ost to Montreux (GPX).
Yes, I agree with Taurus. We used the BO pass/half fare card combination during two stays in Wilderswil. I don’t know if it’s the cheapest but it is certainly the most convenient.
Hi RVB,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
Helpful advice from taurus0515 and davel4848.
The combination of the Berner Oberland Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card is a popular choice for travel plans that centre around the Bernese Oberland region, with a few trips outside of the network. By having the Swiss Half Fare Card, it’ll discount those trips outside the Berner Oberland network.
I would say, you would not need all three passes. Either just run with the Swiss Travel Pass (discounted travel would be offered for much of mountain transportation if you needed to take any whilst in staying in Mürren and elsewhere in the Bernese Oberland region) or opt with the Berner Oberland Pass/Swiss Half Fare Card combination.
Perhaps download the Swiss Travel Pass coverage map so you can study and compare with the Berner Oberland Pass coverage map. Here’s the link to the Swiss Travel Pass – you’ll find the map within.
If you wanted be sure, best to carry out the maths. Take a look at our “how to choose a rail pass” guide. There is also a downloadable spreadsheet you can use to assist with the maths. Thereon, the best rail pass based on your daily activities will be displayed.
Here’s the link:
All details in regard to the Berner Oberland Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card, including coverage maps can be found below:
- 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/
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thanks everyone for the super helpful advice.
I will have to calculate the likely point to point routing and compare the costs. For the most part I know the longer travel points. Just not the little trips (train/boat) from Montreux to some of the other lakeside towns.
It sounds like the combination of the Berner Oberland regional pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card may be the way to go. If I decide to consider the Swiss Travel or flex pass how would I count the number of days if I have the Berner Oberland regional pass in the middle of the trip?
It’s good to know that the BO Pass is good for the Lucerne to Murren and the Murren to Montreux trips. Does the BO Pass cover all types of transportation within the BO Region?
For the Lucerne to Murren trip do you recommend that I make a seat reservation? I have heard that it’s best to sit on the right side of the train although the cars change direction during the trip. When looking at the seat map showing the train travel direction there’s a double arrow. How do I figure out which side is the right side of the train departing Lucerne? I already have a seat reservation for the Interlaken Ost to Montreux trip.
Also.. how will it work to travel via train from Montreux to Stresa using a Swiss Pass or discount card for the Italian portion of the trip?
Thanks!
Hi RVB,
With the Swiss Travel Pass Flex option, you simply choose the number of days required for your trip and then activate when you need to use. All explained in our Swiss Travel Pass Flex guide in the link below:
Not all transportation is covered in the Berner Oberland Pass network, you may need to sometimes buy a discounted ticket. Do take a read of the Berner Oberland Pass guide, I provided the link in my last reply. It really does include a wealth of information, including summaries of the inclusions and when you would need to buy a discounted ticket.
Seat reservations are generally not necessary in Switzerland, only on some of the scenic train rides are they compulsory. So for your Lucerne to Interlaken Ost section of the GoldenPass, I would not necessarily book a seat unless you are in a large group and wish to be seated together or you think you could be traveling in peak season, when the route could get quite busy.
More on seat reservations and the GoldenPass route in the links below:
- Seat reservations: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/seat-reservation/
- GoldenPass line: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/goldenpass/
Your trip Montreux to Stresa, if you had the Swiss Travel Pass. No ticket necessary up to the Swiss/Italian border. You’d need a ticket for the section Domodossola to Stresa only. You can read more on travel to/from Italy in the attached link. There are also some purchase options for your Italian section ticket too.:
If you had Berner Oberland Pass, you can actually travel all the way to Domodossala, the journey is included with this pass too. Just ensure you take the route via Kandersteg as the pass does not allow you to take the route via the Base tunnel. So the same here, you’d only need a ticket Domodossala to Stresa. (With the Swiss Travel Pass, you can take any route you wish).
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Please see this website:
https://www.berneseoberlandpass.ch/public-transport/Under “Savings” if you click “Free travel”, you will see all the transport fully covered by the BO Pass.
Notable omissions are Grindelwald First Cable ride, Schynige Platte and Harder Kulm. You will pay Half Fare for these.
Thanks for the wealth of information and accompanying links!
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