MySwissAlps.com includes Anna
Forum replies
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in reply to: How is autumn shaping in Switzerland
Hi cod-ninja,
I think we are finally transitioning from warm to cooler weather in October.
The leaves on the trees in front of my house are turning red and orange, so it’s definitely feeling like autumn.
You can check out the Switzerland Tourism foliage map (https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/summer-autumn/autumn/foliage-map/) for latest and interactive info about best spots for autumn scenery.
Regards,
AnnaHi Jo,
Driving from Interlaken to Venice is straightforward with the motorway. You won’t have to take any car trains. Be sure to have the motorway vignette (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/car/motorway-vignette/) on your car.
Anna
Hi Jo,
As you will be driving, I recommend looking for accommodation in Interlaken with parking facility.
https://www.myswissalps.com/accommodation/hotels/interlaken/Lauterbrunnen is a small village and parking is usually limited. I suggest you leave your car in Interlaken and use the train/public transport to travel to Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Mürren. By the way, Wengen and Mürren are both car-free villages.
Lauterbrunnen: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lauterbrunnen/
Wengen: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/wengen/
Mürren: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/murren/It is possible to drive to Grindelwald and park your car in the village before taking the gondola up to Grindelwald First.
Grindelwald: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/grindelwald/
Regards,
Anna
in reply to: Swiss Travel Pass Itinerary Promotion 2026
Hi Ljheiland,
Welcome to MySwissAlps!
This promotion is only for this year. Not sure if there would be a similar Swiss Travel Pass offer next year. Please register for our forum updates or YouTube channel to receive updated information on the latest promotions.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/tickets/discount/
Regards,
AnnaHi again,
Thanks for pointing that out. In this case, I would select GA 2nd class so you will only be paying for the seat reservation and class upgrade.I’m not sure why you are being charged the additional ticket prices when you select Swiss Travel Pass.
Regards,
AnnaHi james_robinson,
To book your 1st class seat reservation on the GoldenPass train with 2nd class tickets, I suggest the following steps:
First, book your 1st class seats directly on the GoldenPass website. Select seat reservation only.
GoldenPass seat reservation: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/goldenpass/#priceOnce your seats are confirmed, you can purchase your ticket upgrade directly on the SBB Mobile App or website.
On the app or website, select your connection and choose point-to-point upgrade (this is route specific). From Montreux to Chateau d’Oex, this is roughly CHF7.50 per person.
Alternatively, if you wish to travel in 1st class the whole day (not just from Montreux to Chateau d’Oex), you can purchase a day upgrade.
More information about class upgrades here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train/classes/
Hope this helps.
Regards,
AnnaHi mingern_teo,
The ski season in Switzerland typically begins mid-December to just before Christmas. However this also depends on the amount of snowfall we get.
If you are planning to ski or sled in early December, for the best chances, I would go to Zermatt. There is a toboggan run near the top of Gornergrat (high altitude so chances of getting snow early is higher). There is also a sled run on Sunnegga, which is closer to the village and accessible easily with a funicular.
Gornergrat: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/gornergrat/
Sunnegga: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/sunnegga-rothorn/Another option is Jungfraujoch, which offers snow activities all year round depending on the weather.
Jungfraujoch: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/jungfraujoch/Near St Moritz, you might want to check out the Erlebnisberg Pradaschier (https://pradaschier.ch/en/informieren/oeffnungszeiten/) . According to the website, the toboggan run starts operation on Dec 19, but might be open during the weekend of Dec 12 and 13.
For further information about other possible sled runs and snow activities during your trip, please visit our winter guide: https://www.myswissalps.com/activities/winter/
Hope this helps.
Regards,
AnnaHi mingern_teo,
Seat reservation for the Glacier Express for departures in December typically opens in mid-October.
For group bookings (10 pax or more), please contact the Glacier Express directly as the online platform limits reservation to less than 10 pax.
You can find further information including links to the official website here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/glacier-express/
Regards,
Anna
in reply to: Rail pass for East Switzerland and Appenzell
Dear davel4848,
For South-Eastern Switzerland, there is the Graubünden Pass, but this doesn’t include Appenzell: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/graubundenpass/
You can get a complimentary Appenzell Holiday Card if you stay for 3 or more consecutive nights at any participating hotel or similar accommodation in Appenzell. Please enquire at your hotel provider for further information.
Regards,
AnnaDear cod_ninja,
Star gazing at night is definitely possible if the weather is good. I think Lake Brienz (along the promenade) would be a great spot for that.
Regards,
AnnaHi cod_ninja,
There’s snow at the top of Jungfraujoch – you can view the live webcam online at http://www.jungfrau.ch/de-ch/live/webcams/jungfraujoch-top-of-europe/. You might get fresh snow in October.
Travel up to Wengen or Grindelwald is free if you have the Berner Oberland Pass. Use the Swiss Half Fare Card to get better discounts for the excursion tickets to Jungfraujoch: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/jungfraujoch/#price
Regards,
AnnaHi paulesue,
The SBB timetable gives you the fastest connection. Since you want to avoid travelling through the tunnel, I suggest looking up the connections separately. First, Como to Locarno (or Bellinzona). Then Locarno (or Bellinzona) to Lucerne. Both are direct train services. So you will only need to change in Locarno. If you take the RE80 9:24 AM train from Como, you will reach Locarno in roughly 1 hour. The next available Treno Gottardo from Locarno departs at 11:33 AM, so you have an hour free here to wander around (if you wish).
You can also take the 9:45 AM or 10:10 AM S10 train from Como to Bellinzona (the journey takes about 1 hour). The next Treno Gottardo from Bellinzona departs at 11:59 AM (this is the same train which departs Locarno at 11:33 AM).
The RE80 is a Regio Express train, which usually has fewer stops.
Locarno: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/locarno/
Bellinzona: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bellinzona/Regards,
AnnaHi paulesue,
To avoid travelling through the tunnel, I suggest boarding the Treno Gottardo in Locarno or Bellinzona.
Based on your plans, I recommend taking the 11.33 AM Treno Gottardo service from Locarno to Lucerne.
So from Como, take the 9.24 AM regional train from Como , arriving in Locarno at 10.38 AM. This will give you about an hour in Locarno before continuing on the Treno Gottardo.
Travel and ticket options from Italy to Switzerland: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland/
Regards,
AnnaHi deborah,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
For a group of 10 or more, you can get a 30% discount on point-to-point tickets if you travel on Swiss public transport. Children under 6 years travel free, and children 6-15 years pay half price.
You can find useful information and links here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/tickets/group/
How to get from Basel Airport to Lauterbrunnen:
From Basel Airport, take Bus 50 to Basel SBB train station. Then a train to Interlaken Ost.
At Interlaken change to local train to Lauterbrunnen. You can check schedule on the SBB timetable (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train/timetable/).You can find information about Basel Airport here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/airports/
Hope this helps.
Anna
Hi again,
For your information, the Meiringen Hasliberg mountain transportation operating hours are as follows.
Hasliberg Reuti – Bidmi – Magisalp gondola: 8.30 AM – 5PM
Magisalp – Alpen Tower gondola: 9 AM – 4.30 PMLast descent from Alpen Tower at 4.30 PM – this means there are no more cable cars operating from the summit after 4.30 PM. But the gondola from Magisalp continues running until 5 PM.
Regards,
Anna
in reply to: Favorite places to eat and drink in Lugano?
Hi CabinJon,
For pizzas and traditional Ticinese meals, go to La Tinera! The setting is unique – it’s located in the basement/cellar of an old apartment building, not far from the main square in Lugano old town.
Lugano: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lugano/
Regards,
Anna
in reply to: Your favorite places to eat & drink in Montreux?
Hi CabinJon,
If you are flexible, I’d definitely recommend spending some time exploring the Lavaux Vineyards and its numerous little villages. Maybe pick one or two like Chexbres Village. You’ll find lots of cosy and unique cafes there. You can also do wine tasting at Domaine Bovy.
Here’s a link to our favourite walk in the Lavaux vineyards: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-lutry-epesses/
Regards,
AnnaHi cod_ninja,
For trips end of October, I don’t think you need thick winter jackets yet. But do pack some layers and at least 1 waterproof jacket. Check the weather forecast before you depart.
As for day trips from Brienz, the Aareschlucht (Aare Gorge) would be a good rainy day alternative. You can just take a train from Brienz to Meiringen then bus to the main entrance. It’s open until 1 Nov.
If you are still keen to do a day trip to Zermatt, with the Berner Oberland Pass you can travel for free up to Brig. Make sure you take the mountain railway train via Kandersteg (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/lotschberg-mountain-railway/). From Brig, it’s 1.5 hour by train to Zermatt. Since you will have a Half Fare Card, you can purchase a discounted return ticket (CHF40).
Hope this helps!
Anna
Hi cod_ninja,
Based on your plans, combining the Berner Oberland Pass with the Swiss Half Fare Card is a sensible move.
If your kids are between 6 and 15 years old, you can request for a complimentary Swiss Family Card when you purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card. This will allow them to travel along for free even on routes that are only discounted (eg. using mountain transportation like cable cars, gondolas, etc).
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/
Rail pass discounts: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/tickets/discount/While the Berner Oberland Pass provides free travelling in the region throughout your stay in Brienz, the Swiss Half Fare Card allows you travel outside the region at half-price, thus giving you some flexibility decide to change your plans.
Regards,
Anna
in reply to: Train from St Moritz to Paris on 31 January, 2027
Hi Cobra,
I suggest take the TGV Lyria direct to Zurich HB. From Zurich HB, there are regular trains to St Moritz via Chur or Landquart.
Timetable: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train/timetable/
Regards,
Anna
