Visiting Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren, Lauterbrunnen from Wilderswil
SusanG is planning a week-long trip to Wilderswil in September and wants to know if it's a good base to visit nearby towns like Grindelwald, Wengen, and Lauterbrunnen without a car. She seeks advice on public transportation options and travel passes.
- Wilderswil is an excellent base for exploring the Jungfrau Region, and September is a great time to visit.
- Public transport in the area is efficient, covering trains, buses, and cable cars, so renting a car is not necessary.
- Consider purchasing the Jungfrau Travel Pass or Berner Oberland Pass for easier travel; both offer good coverage for your planned trips.
- Use the Swiss Timetable to plan your trips from Zurich Airport to Wilderswil and between towns.
AI-generated summary-
I am planning a week long trip to Wilderswil in September. Nothing is confirmed yet but I am wondering if I will be able to go to a few towns from there. I want to go to Grindelwald, Wengen,Lauterbrunnen,Murren and Gimmelwald. Would Wilderswil be a central location to visit these towns? And would there be adequate public transportation since I do not plan to have a car?
Thank you for your help,
SusanG
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Hi Susan, and welcome to MySwissAlps!
Yes, Wilderswil is a good base for visiting all the villages and mountains of the Jungfrau Region, and September is probably the best time of all! You will be able to do so much in a week!
Public transport in the region (trains, cable cars, buses) is excellent. I have attached a diagram showing most of the transport routes in the region. (The cable car to the Schilthorn from Mürren is not shown.)
You can plan all your trips using the Swiss timetable:
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/
I would recommend that you get the Jungfrau Travel Pass or Berner Oberland Pass to cover the cost of your transport. Personally, I prefer the Berner Oberland Pass, as it offers more flexibility to go to other places in case of unsuitable weather for mountain visits.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/jungfrau-travel-pass/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/
Here is more information about the villages of the region:
Mürren
https://www.myswissalps.com/town/murren/
Wengen
https://www.myswissalps.com/town/wengen/
Grindelwald
https://www.myswissalps.com/town/grindelwald/
Lauterbrunnen
https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lauterbrunnen/
You will find plenty of information about the activities you can do in the region, including mountain visits.
You might also like to take a couple of scenic bus trips while you are there:
1. Grindelwald to Meiringen via the Grosse Scheidegg (1 hr 54 mins). You can break your trip at Grosse Scheidegg (restaurant), Schwarzwaldalp (restaurant, historic saw mill) or Rosenlaui Gorge – but check first when the next bus will be along. I wrote a trip report about this trip in 2016, which you can read here if interested:
https://www.myswissalps.com/community/thread/trip-report-over-the-grosse-scheidegg-by-bus/
2. Grindelwald to Bussalp (34 mins). Phenomenal views as you climb out of Grindelwald, and a restaurant at the top.
https://www.grindelwaldbus.ch/en/summer/bussalp
Have a wonderful time in the Jungfrau Region!
Alpenrose
Attachments:
Here are some photos taken on the scenic bus trip from Grindelwald to Meiringen via Grosse Scheidegg.
Alpenrose
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These photos were taken on the bus trip up to Bussalp, and at Bussalp.
Hi susan,
Alpenrose has pretty much covered everything 🙂 Amazing photos too. You will have a great time!
In case you wanted to read about the efficient public transport system here, we have a dedicated section explaining all:
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thank you for all the wonderful information. One thing that has me worried and confused is how we will get to Wilderswil from the Zurich airport if we do not rent a car. I’ve seen a lot of information that says you can get almost anywhere in Switzerland by train but I find it overwhelming. I am also confused about the passes that are available and whether this is some to get in advance. We will need to get from Zurich to Wilderswil (and return),and from there travel to Lauterbrunnen,Wengen,Grindelwald,Murren and Gimmelwald for sure and perhaps other places near Wilderswil. Will we be able to accomplish all of this without a car? Thank you.
Hi Susan,
You simply get a series of trains from Zürich Airport to Wilderswil. You can plan this trip in the Swiss Timetable. The link was provided in an earlier post.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/
I have attached a sample journey plan from Zürich Flughafen to Wilderswil, via Luzern. This is the most scenic route. I would choose a connection with the least number of transfers, which will be 3.
A car would be nothing but a nuisance in the Jungfrau Region. Several of the villages are car-free in any case. They are all reached by train, cable car or bus. You find out how to get from one to another by using the Swiss Timetable, which covers all modes of transport, including trains, buses, cable cars and boats.
A Saver Day Pass to cover each of your trips between Zürich and Wilderswil will most likely be cheapest if you buy it early (up to 6 months ahead).
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/saver-day-pass/
For your time in the Jungfrau Region, I would recommend either the Jungfrau Travel Pass or the Berner Oberland Pass. Links have already been given for these in an earlier post in this thread. They don’t sell out, so there is no rush to buy them, but it is handy to have them on hand before you arrive.
You need to read about them, what they cover, what they cost etc and decide which suits you best.
Hope this helps!
Alpenrose
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