MySwissAlps.com includes Anna
Forum replies
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in reply to: Cable car from Mürren to Stechelberg on 6 December
Hi andreasl,
It seems that during maintenance work, the Schilthornbahn may still be operational but with very limited services. The Stechelberg – Gimmelwald leg of the journey may be running but not Gimmelwald – Mürren. So perhaps for the second half of the trip you may have to take a bus.
It’s a good idea to send a quick email to the cable car operators. Please do check directly with them for the latest timetable. The information that we have is what they have provided with us at the time of printing.
Anna
in reply to: Gelmer Funicular day trip in August
Hi Glen2019,
The Gelmerbahn (Gelmer Funicular) takes you up to Gelmersee and you could easily spend a day here enjoying a picnic and hiking around the lake. The loop trail is about 4.5km and not recommended for small children. At the start of the funicular, where you buy your tickets, there’s a suspension bridge with a view of the Handeck waterfall. The bridge leads to the Handeck Hotel & Nature Resort. There’s an easier trail nearby, a few picnic spots and a playground for kids.
The Gelmer Funicular is located near Meiringen in the Hasli Valley.
http://www.myswissalps.com/ha slitalThis is a private-run funicular, unfortunately the Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare Card won’t be valid here
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validityIf you have more time, you could combine your Gelmerbahn day trip with a visit to the Reichenbach Falls, the Trift Glacier Suspension Bridge and the Aareschluct (Aare Gorge).
Anna
in reply to: Supersaver tickets with the Swiss Half Fare Card
Hi Tengkususu,
Welcome to MySwissAlps!
That is a very valid question. If you have a Swiss Half Fare Card, you do indeed get to purchase the Supersaver tickets at a discount, sometimes up to 70% off if you purchase them in advance. The numbers available for purchase are limited however.
Just to make it clear, the Supersaver tickets are fixed and non-refundable i.e it is only valid for the selected date of travel and the selected public transport connection (train connection).
You can find more information about the Supersaver tickets here: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/switzerland
This page will explain to you in detail how to use the Swiss Half Fare Card
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecard/howtou seAnna
in reply to: Cable car from Mürren to Stechelberg on 6 December
Hi andreasl,
Welcome to MySwissAlps!
The information is correct. Between 11 November and 6 December, 2019, the cableway servicing Stechelberg – Mürren is not operational due to maintenance. During this period, you may use the cableway and railway combo of Grütschalp – Mürren. The base station is located across the road from the Lauterbrunnen train station.
For your information, Mürren is accessible all year. It is a real mountain village and people really do live here. The only way to get there is by cable car or the railway train, and if one is closed for maintenance, the other has to be operational.
For more details:
http://www.myswissalps.com/mu rren/travelBe sure to check the timetable for exact time of departures and arrivals http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
Enjoy your trip!
Anna
in reply to: 6 nights tour from 21 October, based in Lucerne
Hi Shahshripal1,
I hope the links provided by Ildiko have been useful. As you will be based in Lucerne, she’s listed a few pages to help you plan your visit in Lucerne and the Jungfrau region.
Lucerne is also a good base to plan short excursions to Bern or Zurich.
http://www.myswissalps.com/zu rich/activities
http://www.myswissalps.com/be rn/activitiesUnfortunately, most of the panoramic trains except for the Golden Pass are not operational in October. But here are a few interesting scenic trips suggestions (besides the panoramic trains) that you might want to include in your itinerary
http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/scenictripsTo answer your question about the weather, please look up:
http://www.myswissalps.com/we ather and http://www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit
There’s a link to Swiss Meteo forecast here http://www.myswissalps.com/we ather/forecastIdeally, you should dress in multiple layers to ensure you can adapt quickly when weather is changing through the days or when you visit higher areas. Also you want to have a rain coat, sun glasses and suntan lotion. A scarf and gloves are convenient if you plan to visit mountain tops.
Anna
in reply to: Where to base for Swiss Alps family trip in April?
Hi EarlCariaso,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
If you are travelling across Switzerland and visiting a few places in different regions over a number of days, we recommend buying the Swiss Travel Pass. It’s a one-ticket-for-all that gives you unlimited travel on all public transport in Switzerland. These include trains, trams, buses, funiculars and most boat and ferry services. Usually, you just need to validate the pass once then you’re good to go. Pretty much like hop-on and hop-off. The Swiss Travel Pass provides you 50% discounts on most cable cars and mountain railways. You can find more information here: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass
There is also a page that explains how to choose a rail pass, if you are considering other rail pass options. The link is here: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass
To help you plan your itinerary, please have a look at our tips about planning and what to see and do in the places you mentioned:
- Plan a trip: http://www.myswissalps.com/pl antrip/doityourself
- Interlaken: http://www.myswissalps.com/in terlaken/activities
- Wengen: http://www.myswissalps.com/we ngen/activities
- Grindelwald: http://www.myswissalps.com/gr indelwald/activities
- Jungfraujoch: http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch
- St Moritz: http://www.myswissalps.com/st moritz/activities
- Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne/activities
- Titlis: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis/gettingthere
- Bern: http://www.myswissalps.com/be rn/activities
As you will be travelling in a group, perhaps it’s best to stick to just 1 or 2 places as your base. From personal experience, the most convenient option to catch a direct train to Paris is to leave from Basel SBB or Geneva.
http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/franceFeel free to post your tentative itinerary with any questions you may have.
Anna
in reply to: Accommodation tips for an 8 day Swiss trip October
Hi Dover360703,
Instead of staying each night in a different place, I too would personally pick just 2 or 3 places as a base. Otherwise I’d be spending less time travelling and more time packing and unpacking, and checking in and checking out.
Looking at your itinerary, I think Interlaken is pretty central for visits to Lauterbrunnen. Lucerne and Montreux. Zermatt is a bit further away so perhaps you could make that your next base. I think 1 or 2 days would be just nice to explore the area.
Since you will be flying out of Zurich, you could perhaps base yourself in Lucerne last and still plan day trips to Bern and Pilatus. This time of the year is still too early for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, unfortunately.
To help you with your accommodation search, please use the following links:
Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne/hotels
Interlaken: http://www.myswissalps.com/in terlaken/hotels
Montreux: http://www.myswissalps.com/mo ntreux/hotels
Zermatt: http://www.myswissalps.com/ze rmatt/hotels
Zurich: http://www.myswissalps.com/zu rich/hotels
Lauterbrunnen: http://www.myswissalps.com/la uterbrunnen/hotelsHope this helps
Anna
in reply to: Lucerne and Jungfrau region with small kids in Oct
Hi Prachipurav,
Yes, all the places you mentioned are stroller-friendly.
And if you would like to get more details about the Swiss Half Fare Card, please visit the following link:
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecardEnjoy your trip!
Anna
in reply to: 5 days in Jungfrau region & Lucerne in October
Hi MinuSajeev,
Just to let you know, between 21 October and 8 November, the cable-car/cogwheel train from Grütschalp to Mürren is closed for maintenance work. But the Schilthorn cable car to Mürren is open. More details about getting to Mürren here: http://www.myswissalps.com/mu rren/travel
Other than that, the rest of your itinerary is pretty do-able.
And getting the Swiss Travel Pass is definitely a good idea! Make sure to see the validity map here
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/priceA few useful links for your journey
Rigi: http://www.myswissalps.com/ri gi/gettingthere
Titlis: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis
Zurich: http://www.myswissalps.com/zu rich/activities
Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne
Interlaken: http://www.myswissalps.com/in terlaken
Lauterbrunnen: http://www.myswissalps.com/la uterbrunnenEnjoy your trip!
Anna
in reply to: Best side of Swiss trains for best views
Hi Xmistral99,
Oh tricky. I’m afraid I won’t have the answers to all your questions. Perhaps fellow travellers on the forum can give some insights.
- Domodossola to Brig – on the Centovalli line, the general recommendation is to sit on the right side of the train: http://www.myswissalps.com/ce ntovalli/gettingthere
- Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald – You can either sit on the right for an up close view of the Eiger North face or on the left for a wider view across the mountains
http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch/gettingther e - Grindelwald to Interlaken – Right side of the train
- Landquart to Filisur – Best sit on the right side if you want the best view of the Landwasser Viaduct
http://www.myswissalps.com/be rninaexpress/gettingth ere
Be sure to check the timetable before you start your journey
http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metableFor more information and tips, please check the scenic trips pages
http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/scenictripsAnna
in reply to: Titlis, Jungfraujoch in bad weather in October
Hi TellyBrian,
To answer your questions, Titlis and Jungfraujoch are accessible all year. For more details including operational times, please check these pages:
- Jungfraujoch: http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch/gettingther e
- Titlis: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis/gettingthere
- Schilthorn in the Jungfrau region could also be an option: http://www.myswissalps.com/sc hilthorn
If you are going to Titlis, the whole journey from the base station to the summit takes approximately 20 minutes
For purchasing details about the Swiss Travel Pass, please see this link:
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/priceBe sure to check the validity of your Swiss Travel Pass before your journey
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validitySee these links for more things to do in:
- Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne/activities
- Lake Thun: http://www.myswissalps.com/la kethun/activities
- Interlaken: http://www.myswissalps.com/in terlaken/activities
- Basel: http://www.myswissalps.com/ba sel/activities
- Bern: http://www.myswissalps.com/be rn/activities
Enjoy your trip!
Anna
in reply to: Swiss Travel Pass tickets and reservations
Hi 2019Trip,
The Swiss Travel Pass is your all-in-one ticket for travel on Swiss public transport. You don’t need additional ticket except otherwise mentioned. Please refer to this link that explains you how to validate and use the Swiss Travel Pass http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/howtouse
These information may also be useful:
Seat reservation: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/reservations
Discounts on mountain reailways or cable cars: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity
Benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/detailsHope this helps.
Anna
in reply to: Hiking in Zermatt in April/May 2020
Hi Hughandlisa1,
First of all, I totally agree with 1960man, in April/May most of the hiking trails in Zermatt may still be closed. Hiking season in this area is from about late June through mid-October, weather permitting.
Here’s a few links related to hiking in Zermatt to help you in your planning and research.http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/rotenboden-riffelalp
http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/riffelalp-sunnegga
http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/furi-zermatt
http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/zermattFor your side trip to Switzerland, perhaps you could also look into hiking in regions other than Zermatt. For example, in areas like Ticino or Central Switzerland, late April or early May is the start of the hiking season
http://www.myswissalps.com/ti cino/activities
http://www.myswissalps.com/ce ntralswitzerland/activ itiesBe sure to browse this link for more details and hiking trail options in the Swiss Alps
http://www.myswissalps.com/hi kingAnna
in reply to: 7 days Swiss itinerary in late Oct
Hi Dover360703,
Oct – Nov is probably too early for winter sports in most places. But if you are interested in snowboarding, then maybe you should plan a visit to Mt Titlis in Engelberg, near Lucerne. If you check the website, “most pistes are snow-sure from December to April. Skiing/snowboarding is possible up on the glacier from October through until May” … If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, you get 50% off the cable car tickets. Please browse these links for more details:
http://www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis/tickets
http://www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis/gettingthereAnna
in reply to: 3 nights in Switzerland in Feb 2020
Hello Damunoza2,
Welcome to MySwissAlps!
Please have a look at our tips about planning your itinerary, what to do and where to go. There are drop-down menus on the pages to help you narrow down your search.
Planning a trip to Switzerland:
http://www.myswissalps.com/pl antrip/doityourselfInfo about towns and regions:
http://www.myswissalps.com/wh eretogo/towns
http://www.myswissalps.com/re gionsActivities:
Skiing/snow-related – http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/snow
City tours – http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/citytours
Nature – http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/naturalsitesThe Swiss Travel Pass is the most comprehensive and convenient pass for Switzerland.
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpassBut whether it is the best/cheapest choice for you depends on your travel plans. Please find this explained at http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass
Feel free to post your tentative itinerary with any questions you may have.
Anna
in reply to: Visiting Switzerland from Italy, 25 – 29 October
Hi Eman Mohamed,
Welcome to MySwissAlps!
The weather in Switzerland, and particularly in the mountains, can change quickly. Even multiple times within a day. Weather forecasts more than 3 days in advance are mostly not reliable. Please see http://www.myswissalps.com/we ather and http://www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit
Which city is best? Perhaps this information will help you plan your visit
http://www.myswissalps.com/zu rich
http://www.myswissalps.com/ge neva
http://www.myswissalps.com/be rn
http://www.myswissalps.com/ci ties
http://www.myswissalps.com/re gionsSwitzerland is fairly small and with its efficient public transport, it’s easy to get around. We usually recommend getting the Swiss Travel Pass if you are travelling with a family and small children. This is the most flexible pass especially if you don’t have a set itinerary. And children up to 16 travel free with the Swiss Family Card, which you get when you purchase the Swiss Travel Pass.
More details about the Swiss Travel Pass here.
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpassFor alternatives, kindly check out this page about other railpasses in Switzerland
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw issrailpasses
http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/italyAnna
in reply to: Narcissus hiking trail near Montreux
Hi again,
Have never been on this hike yet. It’s on my list now, next time when I’m near Montreux.
Thanks again for sharing.
Anna
in reply to: 20 days Zurich, Bern, Montreux, Lucerne
Hi dayhikers,
Glad you had a great trip. Enjoyed reading this, and your Narcissus Hike which I will link here.
http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/narcissus-hiking-trail-near-montreuxGreat tips, thanks for sharing!
Anna
in reply to: 2 week trip report: Switzerland in September
Hi Meemskirk,
Amazing trip! Thanks for sharing these helpful tips and highlights.
Anna
in reply to: 6 days Switzerland with Swiss Travel Pass Flex
Hi again,
You mentioned 2 days Super Day Saver in your post. I think you meant the Saver Day Pass.
Just to let you know, there’s also a ticket called Supersaver. This is mainly point-to-point tickets and you shouldn’t get confused between the two.More information about the Saver Day Pass here:
http://www.myswissalps.com/sa verdaypass
And Supersaver tickets here:
http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/switzerlandRegards,
Anna
