Venice to Zermatt, Gornergrat and Golden Pass
A traveler named Gary is planning a trip from Venice to Zermatt, spending one night there and taking the cogwheel train to Gornergrat before heading to Zurich for an early flight the next day. He seeks advice on the best train options for his ambitious itinerary and whether a Swiss Travel Pass would be beneficial for their travels.
- Check the SBB website or app for train schedules to effectively plan your trip.
- The train from Zermatt to Gornergrat takes about 30 minutes, so plan accordingly.
- Consider the Saver Day Pass for your journey as it might save some money on train fares.
- The journey from Zermatt to Zurich takes approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes.
- Don't forget to make reservations for trains to avoid any issues during peak travel times.
AI-generated summary-
Hello,
After much consideration with timelines etc, we have decided to take a train from Venice to Zermatt, spend the night there and take the cogwheel train to Gornagratt and back. The same day, we need to get to Zurich for an early morning flight the following day. Rockoyster where are you. I would like to know which is the best train to take for the above itinerary. Also, due to the fact that we will be on three different trains (Venice>Zermatt>Gornagratt>Zermatt>Zurich), will buying a Swiss half pass card worth it. Forgive any misspelling in this post.
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Here I am. 🙃
That is a very ambitious, some might say crazy, plan. At a rough guess I’d say you would be looking at a 13 to 14 hour trip. Long way to get a glimpse of the Matterhorn. Especially if you get there and it is cloudy during the short time you have to go to Gornergrat.
Use the timetable on the SBB website (bit.ly/2HH1U7B) or the highly-recommended SBB Mobile app (bit.ly/2ICIUHi) to plan your travel and buy tickets if required. If you are not familiar with using the timetable it will pay to first read the instructions on this page – http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable.
See also http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/italy.
Have you considered the Bernina Express (http://www.myswissalps.com/be rninaexpress) or Gotthard Panorama Express (http://www.myswissalps.com/go tthardpanoramaexpress) routes?
Haha. There you are, thank you for responding . So I looked at all trains from Venice and did not know that the fastest train to Zermatt would take us approximately 7 hours, so we will be leaving Venice early Friday morning. Next morning was planning to take the first available train to Gornergrat, spend a few hours and then get back down to Zermatt and catch a train to Zurich. No rush to get there, just for dinner and relax. I looked at all of these passes and I am confused as heck. The Swiss half pass, this card, that card, wow. So many options. I already paid for our stay in Zermatt so that has to happen, I cant change it now.
Do you know how long of a trip it is up to Gornergrat and back and how long is the trip from Zermatt to Zurich. Yes, I know it’s crazy, but doable right?
Thanks as usual for your excellent advice!
Gary,
Hello Gary,
As long as you know what you are up for. The timetable I linked to will answer your travel time questions.
In my opinion the only pass that would be worth considering would be the Saver Day Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/sa verdaypass and bit.ly/2rkekat). You’ll just have to accept paying full fare to Gornergrat. The timetable will give your fares but you will see the half-fare price by default so double that.
Thank you very much as usual Rockoyster. Your guidance is invaluable. I will be sure to report back along the way.
Best Regards,
Gary
Your plan is not crazy and quite achievable if split over two days
I recommend aiming for the EC52 departing 11.23 from Milano and change at Visp not Brig
Zermatt to Gornergrat only takes 30 minutes (I’ve done it dozens of times). If the weather is clear you would only need a minimum of about 30 minutes at Gornergrat before setting off back down.
And one reason I consistently rate and recommend Gornergrat over Jungfraujoch is the fact that the majority of the journey is in the open and you get great views from the train – not just on arrival at Gornergrat. Sit on the right hand side as the train leaves Zermatt
Zermatt – Zurich takes about 3 hours 40 minutes – connections easily visible on the Kursbuch PDF:
http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/ fileadmin/fap_pdf_fiel ds/2019/140.pdf
1960 Man – Swiss travel expert and author – 58 years on Swiss rails
You are of course correct 1960man. It is definitely not crazy.
Sorry Gary – I mis-read your original post and thought you were trying to do it in one day! My bad. Over two days is no drama at all. In fact you can even go to Zurich via Kandersteg for a slightly longer but more scenic ride on the Regio-Express Lötschberger train over the traditional, more than 100 year old mountain route, giving you a wonderful view along the impressive peaks and down into the Rhone Valley.
My recommendation of a Saver Day Pass was based on you doing it all in one day, but may still be true – you just need one for each day.
Good Evening 1960man,
Well, that is indeed great news. I was getting a little worried and was looking at the connections out of Venice via Milan to get to Zermatt as early as possible on Friday afternoon and even considering taking a later train up to Gornergrat that evening to get that part of the trip out of the way. That way we won’t be rushed to catch the train to Zurich on Saturday. Thank you very much for your help with this.
Very much appreciated!
Gary,
Good Evening rockoyster,
Now this sounds like a fantastic route to Zurich! We will definitely be taking your advice to complete what I expect is going to be an amazing but short visit to Switzerland. Thank you once again…
Best Regards,
Gary.
One last question, so Venice to Milano on SBB and connect to Zermatt via VISP?
Thank you,
Venice to Domodossola is all on Italian trains not SBB.
Well if you are keen to maximise the scenery component then instead of going from Spiez to Zurich via Bern you can turn right and follow the Golden Pass route (http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass) via Luzern to Zurich. That’s a nice route. Enjoy.
Got it!, so I’m guessing Domodossola and Visp are the same place?.
Thanks,
Gary
Hello Gary,
’fraid not. You might need to look at a map. Try Google Maps for Visp which is (where the train line to Zermatt starts) and the Domodossola (where you will cross from Italy to Switzerland).
No
Venezia – Milano – Domodossola is within Italy
Then you traverse the famous Simplon tunnel, for many decades the longest tunnel in the world.
Domodossola – Brig – Visp is on Swiss operated railways
Venezia Milano will be on an Italian domestic high speed train
You will change trains at Milano Centrale, Milan’s main station
Milano – Brig – Visp will be on EC52 which is a train operated jointly by Swiss and Italian railways
Thank you so very much 1960man, I really appreciate the detailed itinerary and will be following this route. I am guessing I should make reservations to avoid any issues, correct?.
Anyway, you have been extremely helpful in helping me put the final pieces of this puzzle together. Forever grateful to both you and rockoyster for your expertise and guidance. Could not have done it without you both.
Sincerely,
Gary
Thank you again rockoyster, you have been amazingly helpful and without you and 1960man, it would have been a mighty challenge. I will be following your suggested route to Zurich from Zermatt. You gentlemen are truly amazing.
Thanks again for all your help!!.
Sincerely,
Gary
Got it now!. Now I understand everything.
Thank you so much.
Gary
I have a quick question. I am seeing the train from Venezia to VISP via Milano on the E52. When I get to VISP, how do I get to Zermatt from there. Sorry for all the questions.
thanks
Gary
“Got it now!. Now I understand everything.” 🤓
If you get the EC52 at 11:23 from Milan as 1960man suggested the SBB timetable will tell you to change at Brig for Zermatt. 1960man recommends continuing on the EC52 to Visp and changing there – quicker and less distance between platforms. At Visp you will want to jump on the Regio 339 departing 13:41 for Zermatt. The Regio 339 is the same train you would have boarded if you had changed at Brig.
Excellent and thank you. Now I’ve got it.
Thanks,
Gary
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