Zurich to Chamonix by train/bus
A traveler is planning a trip from Zurich to Chamonix and is considering using the Swiss Travel Pass for their train journeys. They seek advice on train transfers and other recommendations as they want to ensure they’re making the right travel plans. They also plan to continue their journey from Chamonix to Geneva and multiple other cities in Switzerland.
- Use the SBB Timetable to plan your train journeys, as it provides all necessary connections and transfers.
- If you plan to visit multiple locations in Switzerland, consider getting a Swiss Travel Pass for ease of travel.
- Ensure to check for any necessary changes in train services from Martigny to Chamonix, as this may require a transfer at Vallorcine.
AI-generated summary-
Hello! We will be traveling from Zurich to Chamonix. I had planned on just booking tickets for these train trips but it looks like I can use the Swiss Travel Pass for that journey. Because we won’t need tickets, should we just look up the train transfers and time tables they would recommend if we were going to buy tickets? Are there other recommendations?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
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Hello Torrierd and Welcome to MySwissAlps,
No need to buy tickets if you have a Swiss Travel Pass.
Use 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.
If you are just travelling Zurich – Chamonix and nothing else then getting a Swiss travel pass is pointless. Are you planning anything else for Switzerland?
You don’t need to use a bus, the normal route is:
Zurich – Lausanne
Lausanne – Martigny
Martigny – Vallorcine
Vallorcine – Chamonix
In theory Martigny – Chamonix is a through service but you may have to change trains at Vallorcine
Thank you! I was planning on just using the time tables just wanted to make sure that was the right thing to do.
Good catch! From Chamonix we’ll work our way back to Geneva, Vernier, Bern, then back to Zurich. While we’re in each of those we’ll be using public transportation also.
Thanks for this list of stops! Using it as a guide to make sure I get this right 🙂 I think from the station in Chamonix, we’ll need to take a bus to the place we’re staying. Would you all just use the SBB time table for busses also?
Hi Torrierd,
The SBB timetable shows you the most direct route between any destination in Switzerland and whichever transportation is needed to get there. This is almost always by train, but if you are going to smaller villages and there are no trains servicing the route then the timetable will show you a bus option (or cable car for example if you are going up a mountain).
With those further destinations, a Swiss Travel Pass (3, 4, 8 or 15 days) may be a good option for you. Read more here: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass
It is possible another pass is a better option (depends on your exact daily itinerary) but you can read about how to choose the best rail pass (once your itinerary is set) here: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass
Chamonix is not in Switzerland so can’t help on that score.
Within Switzerland, if you are on a Swiss travel pass you can use it for all trains and buses and local city transport.
I see a rare reference on this forum to Vernier 🙂 – I assume you are referring to the suburb of Geneva? If so you would make your way from Chamonix to Geneva (not all that easy as public transport in France is notoriously worse than Switzerland…) and take a local TPG bus route 6 to Vernier (or possibly tram 14/18 or the La Plaine local train to Vernier CFF)
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