MySwissAlps.com includes Roger Sexton
Forum replies
-
Hello again Artim
I am contributing to this thread only because you are travelling in less than two weeks time.
In the trip I referred to in my recent thread #2796225 posted on 12th April, I actually stayed at the Hotel Drei Könige! I liked the hotel However, that was back in …. 1975! So my experience has no real relevance today! (I am a lone traveller who travels ‘light’.)
You are a party of three with what seems to quite a large amount of luggage. Practical considerations point very strongly to Central Hotel Post.
Kind regards
RogerHello Jim
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
You are not doing a lot of travelling in Switzerland, so I would rule out Swiss Travel Passes.
The two adults should invest in Swiss Half Fare Cards (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/, 150 CHF per person) and six-day Berner Oberland Passes (https://www.myswissalps.com/details/berner-oberland-pass-validity/). The HFCs will give you 50% off the fares between Zurich Airport and Bern, and give you 96 CHF per adult off the cost of a BOP. It will (very importantly) entitle you to get the Swiss Family Card (see below). (Bern to/from Wengen is free using your BOPs.)
For your daughter you should get the FREE Swiss Family Card. With that Card your daughter, provided she is travelling with you, travels FREE on all Swiss Public Transport – and that even includes lines up very high mountains such as Schilthorn! (Go EARLY to avoid the crowds.)
If the weather on a day is poor, use your BOPs to go to Bern for the day. Bern is NOT a BIG city (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bern/). But it is shatteringly beautiful. Your daughter will love the fountains, the gigantic Zytglogge clock, and the real live bears. Everything except the bears is an easy walk from the station.
The bears are at the Barenpark, which is about a mile from the station. If you do not want to walk, catch the number 12 trolleybus bound for Zentrum Paul Klee. The adults will have to pay a fare (to a ticket machine at the stop) but your daughter will go free.
I am not really qualified to answer your other questions. I am sure other members of this forum will help you.
Best wishes for your detailed planning
Roger
Hello 26 vacey
I am thinking that an 8 Day Bernese Oberland Pass and a Swiss Half Fare Card would be the best for usI am usually a great enthusiast for the Swiss Travel Pass. HOWEVER, looking at your travel plans I am pretty sure that a Swiss Half Fare together with a Berner Oberland Pass is the best solution.
Appenzell Guest Card
I am sure that both your husband and yourself will get separate guest cards.
The Appenzell Guest Card is certainly wonderful. Note that in addition to the two mountain lines you mention, it is also valid on the cable car line from Jacobsbad to Kronberg.
Appenzell to Wengen on 26th
Use your Appenzell card to take you from Appenzell to HERISAU.. From Herisau, with your HFCs, buy tickets to Luzern via Rapperswil. The hourly train service on this route is called the Voralpen Express.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/voralpen-express/
From Luzern (the city French and English speakers usually call Lucerne) catch the hourly Luzern-Interlaken Express to Interlaken Ost. Your BOPS are valid on this service. Sit on the right hand side of the train on leaving Luzern, and do not change your seats when the the train changes direction at Meiringen. Then continue from Interlaken to Wengen via Lauterbrunnen.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/lauterbrunnen-wengen/
Wengen to Basel on 2nd June.
Using the last day on your BOPS, go back to Luzern. Then travel from Luzern to Basel buying tickets using your HFCs. Fast trains to Basel leave Luzern at 30 and 54 past each hour.
(Tbe best website for public transport in the Black Forest is http://www.bwegt.de)Very best wishes for your detailed planning
Roger
in reply to: Best scenic train route from Grindelwald to Milan
Hello again Taz
Lines IR 26 and IR 46 are affected.you have to expect cancellations, changed timetables, and different connections.please consult the online timetable for your service. “
Do not read too much into this and the following sentences. They are s ‘standard’ ‘boiler plate’ group of sentences used by Swiss transport undertakings whenever there is engineering work taking place on a particular route.
There is engineering work taking place on the old ‘panorama’ Gotthard railway throughout August. BUT THE TRENO GOTTARDO TRAINS ARE STILL RUNNING. They are still appearing in the electronic timetable. There is still an hourly service between Arth-Goldau and Bellinzona via Airolo. The differences caused by the engineering work are:
The trains are taking nine minutes longer to get from Arth-Goldau to Bellinzona. They get to Belinzona at 09 minutes past the hour, whereas usually they get there exactly ‘on the hour’.
Because of this delay, the Treni Gottardo are terminating at Bellinzona, and not going through to Locarno, a lovely town on Lake Maggiore. (That is why I have advised you to cut out the detour to Locarno.)
I contrast this arrangement with the journey I made on January 3rd this year. The ‘normal’ timetable was in operation. I caught the IR46 train leaving Arth-Goldau at 08 54. I did notice some work taking place just south of Erstfeld, but it did not delay the train. It went through to Locarno as usual, and I enjoyed a winter boat trip on Lake Maggiore.
(My next Swiss holiday is at the end of June. Out of caution I have just checked the times of the Treni Gottardo. The usual timetable is in operation in June and the trains are going through to Locarno. However, with a precision you expect of the Swiss. I am advised that the trains are leaving Erstfeld at 24 minutes past each hour. Usually they leave at 25 past!)
In short, stick to the plan of travelling via the old ‘panorama’ Gotthard route.
The On Line Seat Reservations Point.
I hope other members of this forum can help on this point
I am a lone traveller. On the very rare occasions I want a train seat reservation, I will do it at a staffed booking office. There are still staffed booking offices at all major Swiss stations.
Just note that your Eurail Global Passes are your TRAVEL ‘tickets’. But on trains like French TGVs and Italian Frecciarossa which have compulsory seat reservation, you will need separate seat reservations in addition to your Eurails.
Kind regards
Roger
in reply to: Best scenic train route from Grindelwald to Milan
Hello again Taz
Thank you for your very kind words
Validity of Eurail Global Pass on Local Trains
The Eurail Pass is valid on ALL the various train services which Anna, Sanjeev and myself have referred to.
A weakness of using electronic timetables/journey planners
Speaking in general terms, if on a journey from A town to B town there are both fast and slow traIns, the electronic timetables usually only show the fast trains.
When researching train times for journeys within Switzerland, or from Switzerland to places like Milan which are not far away, members of this forum are very likely to use http://www.sbb.ch/en, the Swiss electronic timetable.
Here is what I have just done for a journey from Luzern to Bellinzona departing Luzern 10 00 or later on (for the sake of argument) August 26th.
I went to http://www.sbb.ch/en
I entered Lucerne against ‘from’ and Bellinzona against ‘to’.
My eye then moved down just over an inch, and I clicked on the strange three line symbol to the far right of ‘Select Connection’
A screen came up headed ‘Settings’. I clicked on ‘Via’ and then on ‘apply’ at the bottom of the page.
Clicking ‘apply’ sent me back to the main screen, and I entered ‘Airolo’ in the ‘Via’ space which has appeared on the main screen. Doing this ensures that only trains which stop at Airolo will show up when I press search.
I then entered 26 August as the date of travel, and 10 00 as the departure time. I then searched.
Hey presto! The only trains appearing are those leaving Lucerne at 18 minutes past each hour. That at 10 18 is an IC21. You change to an IR46 Treno Gottardo at Arth-Goldau. That at 11 18 is an IR26 Treno Gottardo which goes through to Bellinzona without any need to change.
From Bellinzona to Lugano there are (generally) four trains an hour. Catch the S10 train at 19 minutes past each hour. It takes sixteen minutes for the short journey.
Lugano to Milano Centrale.
I entered 13 40 as the departure time.
The electronic timetable is showing me EC trains and RE80 trains. You want the RE80 train, as these trains do not require seat reservations. They leave at 55 minutes past each hour and take 82 minutes to get to Milan
Seat Reservations and your group of six
As I have already indicated the EC trains from Switzerland to Milan have compulsory seat reservations, and at busy times often ‘sell out’.
On all the other trains I have mentioned, seat reservations are not compulsory. Indeed, on the S10 and RE80 trains seat reservations are not even possible.
Now on the Treno Gottardo (and on the Luzern-Interlaken Express) seat reservation is possible but not compulsory.
These trains can get (very) busy, and the six of you will want to sit close together. So I would recommend seat reservations.
Best wishes
Roger
in reply to: Regional Pass Lake Geneva or Swiss Travel Pass
Hello Tracy
There’s nothing better than just being able to hop on anything you like and not have to worry. We want to be able to maximise our time without having to waste time checking this and stamping that, if you see what I mean.
Anybody who has ever INVESTED in a Swiss Travel Pass will know exactly what you mean!
I am British, I have been visiting Switzerland regularly ever since 1971. Ever since its introduction (under another name) in 1972 I have always invested in a Swiss Travel Pass.
In 1973(!) I had a fortnight based in Montreux. I used my [STP] to explore the whole of western (French-speaking) Switzerland. I also went on day excursions to Basel, Zurich and Zermatt.
Subject to two points of (very minor) detail, I agree with Anna’s advice and with the conclusions you draw in your reply two.
?Eight Day Swiss Travel Pass?
A six-day STP is 399 CHF. There is no seven day STP, but an eight-day STP costs 439 CHF, just forty francs more. The full single fare Montreux to Geneva Airport is 37 CHF! Depending on the time of your flight back home, it might be worth your getting an eight-day STP.
Validity of STP on the Local Funiculars.
The STP is valid on the Mont Pelerin, Les Avants and Territet funiculars. It also gives free travel on the mountain line to Les Pleiades. ((To Rochers-de-Naye, you get a discount.)
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rochers-de-naye/
Very best wishes
Roger
in reply to: Best scenic train route from Grindelwald to Milan
Hello again Taz
Get out a good map of the Swiss Railway System.
Your thread is entitled the ‘Best scenic train route from Grindelwald to Milan’. The word ‘scenic’ is why I recommended taking the old line via Airolo. The Intercity Trains leaving Lucerne at 10 18, 12 18, 14 18 etc do not take the old ‘panorama’ line via Airolo. As I said in my reply two, the Intercities go through the 57 kms. (36 miles) Gotthard BASE tunnel. (opened in 2016).The Treno Gottardo trains I am recommending go through the old (1882) Gotthard tunnel from Goschenen to Airolo which is only 15 kms (nine miles) long. The scenery from Altdorf up to Goschenen is spectacular, with the line doubling back on itself as you go past the village of Wassen.
The section from Airolo down to Biasca is even better, with the train negotiating four spirals, albeit mostly in (short) tunnels. If (as a Canadian) you are reminded of the lines through the Rockies, then you are right!
The transfer at Arth-Goldau is easy and on the level. (No subway to go through.)
The Choice
As is usually the case, the drawback of taking the scenic route is that it is SLOW. If you want to get to Milan as quickly as possible you should take Anna’s advice, not mine.But if you want lots of scenery then you catch a Treno Gottardo, even though those trains are very slow! Indeed in August I now see that the Treno Gottardo will be running (every hour), but it will be even slower than usual! The plan I would now recommend is to take the Treno Gottardo only as far as Bellinzona, and change there for LUGANO, and then at Lugano for Milan. (Try and avoid ‘Eurocity’ trains as these are very crowded and require seat reservations. )
Best wishes
Roger
Luzern to the Rheinfall Routing
A further thought occurred to me, soon after finishing my earlier reply.
Get out the map.
The nearest station to the Rheinfalls on the north bank of the Rhine is Neuhausen.
Travel as follows. This schedule repeats itself every hour. I will assume you leave Luzern at 08 35.
Travel from Luzern to Baar on the 08 35 IR 75. Get off at Baar at 09 01.
Catch the 09 07 S24 train from Baar bound for Thayngen. Sit upstairs on the right hand side of the train. When the train changes direction at Zurich Hauptbahnhof, do not change your seats.
This S24 train will be going to Thayngen via Wintherthur. About eight minutes after leaving Andelfingen the river will appear on the left hand side of the train. The train crosses the river just above the falls, and reaches Neuhausen at 10 42.
The Return Journey
Now you could go back the way you came. The S24 leaves Neuhausen 18 minutes past each hour. If you caught the 15 18 and changed to the IR75 at Baar (or Zug) you would be back in Luzern at 17 25.
Return from Scloss Laufen am Rheinfall
This small station is on the south bank of the river. The S24 trains do not stop there. However catch the S33 train at 26 minutes past each hour, or an S12 train (bound for Brugg) at 51 minutes past the hour and travel to Winterthur.
Change at Winterthur to the S24 bound for Zug (From Winterthur the S24 is every 30 minutes.) All S24 trains stop at Baar; your Luzern Travel Pass is valid on the short section of the S24 between Baar and Zug.
Catch any train from Zug to Luzern.
Best wishes
Roger
Hello again Paul
Lucerne Travel Pass to/from Zurich
Get out a map of central Switzerland
The IR70 trains are the fastest trains between Luzern and Zurich and stop ONLY AT ZUG. If you have a Luzern Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/lucerne-travel-pass/) and you want to travel to Zurich (or further afield) you will need a point-to-point ticket valid from Zug northwards. Similarly, if in the southbound direction you get on an IR70 at Zurich Hauptbahnhof, you will need a point-to-point ticket valid to Zug.
The IR75 trains are slower, and stop at Rotkreuz, Zug, Baar, and Thalwil. If you have a Luzern Travel Pass and you want to travel to Zurich (or further afield) you will need a point-to-point ticket valid from Baar northwards. Similarly, if in the southbound direction you get on an IR75 at Zurich Hauptbahnhof, you will need a point-to-point ticket valid to Baar.
Doing a little bit of research on http://www.sbb.ch I see that a point-to-point ticket Zug to Zurich Hauptbahnhof with a Half Fare Card is 9.10 CHF. Baar to Zurich Hauptbahnhof with a half fare Card is 7.30 CHF.
The difference between the two fares, 1.80 CHF is a bit more than I expected. But for maximum flexibility I would buy tickets valid from/to Zug.
Best wishes
Roger
Hello again
Further to Anna’s reply, you should note that if you invest in a Swiss Travel Pass you would not need to buy a Zurich Card. The STP will give you the complete freedom of all modes of public transport in Zurich, including trains, boats, buses and trams/streetcars.
The Swiss Travel Pass also gives you free entry to a large number of museums. That includes the Swiss National ‘Land’ museum situated right by Zurich main station. Chillon Castle at Montreux is also free with the STP. Both the STP and the ‘Montreux Riviera Card’ give free travel on the trolleybus route which runs every ten minutes Vevey-Montreux-Chillon-Villeneuve.
Kind regards
Roger
in reply to: Best scenic train route from Grindelwald to Milan
Hello Taz
Firstly, the Simplon line from Brig via Domodossola to Milan should be avoided because of the heavy engineering work, which is scheduled to last until 2028!
Here is a slightly different (and more detailed) version of the route Anna is suggesting. Get out a good map of Switzerland
Catch the 09 04 Luzern-Interlaken Express from Interlaken Ost to Lucerne (Luzern is the German name of the city called Lucerne in French and English.) Arrives Lucerne at 1055
Catch the 11 18 Treno Gottardo bound for LOCARNO. This train takes the OLD scenic Gotthard line via Airolo. Arrives Locarno at 14 27.
Catch the 15 22 ‘Tilo’ train to Milano Centrale, arrive there at 17 27.
This basic schedule repeats itself hourly. BUT NOTE that if you leave Lucerne at 10 18, 12 18, 14 18 etc, you take an Intercity train to Arth-Goldau, and change there onto the Treno Gottardo train via the Airolo scenic route . (The Inter City train will continue southwards through the Gotthard base tunnel – 57 kms of darkness!)
Eurail Global passes (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/eurail-global-pass/) are valid without the need to pay any supplements on all the trains mentioned by Anna and myself.
Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
Hello amathew.
Welcome to MySwissAlps
How old will the ‘infant’ be? Babe in arms? Toddler? School age? That will help other people answer your main question
?Milan to Zermatt in January 2027?
I suspect that you have looked at a map, and seen that there is the main line Simplon Railway running Milan-BRIG-VISP-Geneva. You have then thought, ‘Easy – just one change – at Brig or Visp’.
I must warn you that currently the service on the Italian section of the Simplon line is poor. Worse still, the line is often disrupted by engineering work. This disruption will continue until at least 2028.I would suggest you re-arrange your itinerary. Stay first in Grindelwald, and then go on to Zermatt. Train service on the Gotthard Line northwards into Switzerland towards Zurich are (effectively) hourly. The easiest (not the most direct) route from Milan to Grindelwald is changing at Zurich and Interlaken Ost
Grindlewald to Zermatt you change at Interlaken Ost, Spiez and Visp.
Zermatt to Geneva is easy. Just one change, at Visp. (Grindelwald to Geneva, you would change at Interlaken Ost and Bern.)
Note that children under SIX travel free on all forms of Swiss public transport. (Does your group include a child between six and sixteen?)
Best wishes
RogerGiven the disruption on 14th June, do you think it would be a good idea to get a point to point ticket for that day
If you have an ordinary Swiss point-to-point ticket for the journey Vevey to Zermatt your route will be along the Rhone valley via Villeneuve, Martigny, Sion and Visp. (Look at a map.)
Irrespective of whether or not there is disruption, you can use the ticket on any train (or rail replacement bus) taking you along that route in the direction of Visp (and then Zermatt).
It follows that if you miss a connection you can always use ANY later train/bus.
You can even ‘break your journey’; for example have lunch in Sion, a lovely historic town with TWO castles.
What you cannot do with a point-to-point ticket is ‘double back’. Nor can you take an indirect route.
By contrast, one of the many benefits of investing in a Swiss Travel Pass is that you can take indirect routes to get from town A to town B. You can even, as I often do, change your mind as to your routing while actually travelling!
Best wishes
Roger
Hello
Zurich to Interlaken,then onto Vevey with change at Montreux (Pl 5 to Pl 1 ,13 mins)then from Vevey to Zermatt on 14th June dep 10.03amthen from Zermatt to Zürich…change at Visp(Pl 2 to Pl 4, 8 mins)….change at Bern(Pl 5 to Pl 8, 6 mins)Is this enough time for changes with main luggage and backpack.
YES. But ‘Don’t dilly dally on the way’. When in Switzerland, do as the Swiss do. Change between trains, and trains and buses, as quickly as possible.
Is the 10.03 running on [Sunday] 14th June? NO. There is engineering work between Villeneuve and Martigny.
Catch the 09 50 RE33 train to Villeneuve.
At Villeneuve make sure you get on the bus/coach going to Martigny. (Listen to announcements on the train and on the platform. If in doubt ask staff on duty.)
At Martigny catch the 10 42 IR90 (bound for Brig) getting off at Visp at 11 23.
11 37 regional train to Zermatt arrive there 12 50.Do you need paper tickets or just copies on phone? Phone will do
Do you have to scan tickets before boarding trains? NO
Do tickets have carriage numbers on them? NO (None of the trains you are using require seat reservations.)
Is luggage(710x390x260) ok on these trains? YES – and OK on a rail replacement bus/coach
[Should I consider investing in a Swiss Travel Pass?} Given the amount of travelling you are going to do, you need to seriously consider investing in a Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/). It gives you maximum flexibility with your travels.
Kind regards
RogerHello Everyone
First of all, thank you Lioner for your most recent contribution to this very important discussion.
Lioner writes Leaving a week later there was a queue at passport control. Some people were in danger of missing their flight and we were asked to let them through as our flight was later. (I assume this was at Naples).
I am British, and there have been two cases, well-published in the British media, where people trying to leave Italy for Britain have missed their flights because the EES ‘system’ was functioning very slowly.
Despite the fact that the EES system was supposed to have been fully functional on April 10th, it is reasonably clear that the system is still not working properly, and that there is inconsistency from airport to airport.
At the moment the only sensible advice is that people from outside Schengenland should be prepared for long delays, both on entry AND ON EXIT. In particular, on your EXIT journey allow lots of time…. (And remember that Switzerland, though not in the EU, is in Schengenland.)
Best wishes
RogerHello again
I would seriously consider Thun (like Lucerne a historic town at the end of a lake) or Spiez, a large village which is a very important public transport hub. Spiez is certainly not a ‘mountain village’, but it stands at the foot of a quite large mountain, the Niesen. (A funicular goes up the Niesen from Mulenen, a very short train ride from Spiez.)
Niesen: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/niesen/
Best wishes
RogerHello again Sharmi.
Your First Trip to Switzerland
My personal inclination is that on your first trip to Switzerland you should travel at a fairly ‘relaxed pace’. In particular, I would avoid rushing from resort to resort. Your current plan, (whether or not you accept Anna’s or my suggestions) involves a lot of travel – with luggage – from one base to another.I would recommend that you have just one base. For your first visit to Switzerland I would strongly recommend Lucerne, as it is right in the centre of Switzerland. And right in the centre of the world’s best public transport system.
https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/
Having made the decision to stay only in Lucerne, invest either in a Swiss Travel Pass or a Lucerne Travel Pass. Go out on day excursions.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/lucerne-travel-pass/Get out a map of Switzerland.
If you still want to see a lot of Switzerland then invest in the national Swiss Travel Pass.
Lucerne to Geneva by through train via Bern takes three hours; To St Gallen via Rapperswi takes two-and-quarter hours; Lucerne to Locarno on the highly scenic Treno Gottardo is just over three hours. Lucerne to Interlaken on the Luzern-Interlaken Express is just under two hours.
If you want to confine yourself to the Lucerne region, buy the Lucerne Travel Pass. There is a huge variety of scenery in central Switzerland. ALL the local mountain lines will be free with the Lucerne Travel Pass.
(It is also worth noting that the summer boat service on Lake Lucerne is extremely good. The ‘main line’ from Lucerne to Flüelen runs hourly – and takes just under six hours there-and-back.)
Would you recommend doing the Bernina express in another trip to Switzerland/ Northern Italy?
Subject to what I am about to say, Yes!
Please refer to the thread I started on 12 April entitled ‘Planning a day trip on the Bernina railway line. It is contribution #2796225. Read what I have to say. Also look at the replies, especially those from Komal and our moderator-in-chief Arno.
If you want to combine (south)-Eastern Switzerland with Northern Italy, stay for a few days in or near Chur. Then on your final day take the IR38 train from Chur to St Moritz via Filisur. From St Moritz take the Bernina line to Tirano (which is just in Italy).
There are hourly Italian regional trains from Tirano to Milan. They take about two-and-a-half hours. Milan is right in the centre of northern Italy.
(You could, of course, do this trip in the opposite direction, starting from Milan.)
Best wishes
Roger
Hello Sharmi.
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
I am applying my real human intelligence to your problem. I have been visiting Switzerland regularly for 55 years.
Get out a good map of Switzerland..
Invest in Swiss Travel Passes. https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/ Free travel on all Swiss public transport, except that lines which simply go up mountains are usually not included.
Skip staying in Zurich. Go from Zurich airport to CHUR. Stay two nights there. On the intervening day use ordinary regional trains to travel from Chur to Tirano. Go via Filisur; come back via Klosters (or vice versa).
Next day take the 171 bus to Bellinzona, and then the short train ride to Lugano. Journey will take about two-and-a-half hours. Park your luggage in a locker and spend a few hours in Lugano. Then take a fast train northwards through the Gotthard BASE tunnel to Lucerne. Fast trains northwards run twice an hour; a change is usually required at Arth-Goldau. Lugano to Lucerne is about one hour forty minutes.
At Lucerne, remember that the boat service is very good. The STP will take you on the boat to Vitznau.. The train from Viznau up Rigi is FREE with the STP. https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rigi/
At Interlaken the STP will take you free to Grindelwald,, Murren and Wengen. The STP will give you a discount on mountain lines above those villages.
At Zermatt, the STP gives a 50% discount on all three main mountain lines. The line up Gornergrat is very strongly recommended. https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/gornergrat/
At Montreux, the STP gives you a discount up Rochers-de Naye. On the line from Vevey to Les Pleiaides the STP will take you free right to the summit. https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rochers-de-naye/
Use real intelligence for your detailed planning (for any trip).
Kind regards
RogerHello Vie
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
Please get out a good map of Switzerland. Go right to the centre of the country and locate the city know in English and French as Lucerne, but called Luzern in German (the language spoken by most of its inhabitants).
I have been visiting Switzerland regularly for fifty-five years On my very first trip I based myself in Lucerne. On my second visit I based myself in Interlaken.
Lucerne (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/) is a very historic city while Interlaken is a creation of late nineteenth-century tourism.
Lucerne is an ideal base for exploring the whole of Switzerland.
Interlaken is a good centre for exploring the Berner Oberland region (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/), but not for longer distance excursions to places such as the Rhine Falls.
The boat service on Lake Lucerne (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-lucerne/) is very good. Those on Lakes Thun and Brienz are not as good.
INVEST in a six-day Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/). This will give you the freedom of the world’s best public transport system. It includes the buses, trams/streetcars and lake boats, as well as trains.
The STP usually does not give free travel on lines which simply go up mountains. However in the Lucerne area it does give free travel on the lines up Rigi, Stanserhorn and Klewenalp.
In the Interlaken area the STP will take you to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, and also up from Lauterbrunnen to the mountain villages of Mürren and Wengen. (On the mountain lines above those villages; you will get a discount.) (Lauterbrunnen is the village for waterfalls!)
Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald from Lucerne.
The highly scenic Luzern-Interlaken Express runs every hour and takes one hour and fifty minutes. At Interlaken Ost you change to the local trains of the Berner Oberland Bahn. These trains run every 30 minutes. The front half of the train goes to Grindelwald, the rear half to Lauterbrunnen.
Rhine Falls from Lucerne
The Rhine Falls (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rhine-falls/) are close to Schaffhausen, in the north of Switzerland. To get to Schaffhausen you go via Zurich. After viewing the falls I would suggest you go on to the small medieval town of Stein am Rhein. Return to Lucerne via Winterthur and Zurich.
Other Excursions from Lucerne.
Take the Voralpen Express (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/voralpen-express/) to St Gallen via Rapperswil. From St Gallen take a local tram-train to the splendid village of Appenzell.
Take the Treno Gottardo along the OLD Gothard railway, which goes ‘over the top’ via Airolo and finishes in Locarno, in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.
Arriving in Switzerland from France.
Coming from Paris get the TGV high-speed train from Paris to Zurich, but go only far as Basel. There are frequent direct Swiss trains from Basel to both Lucerne and Interlaken. Your STP will be valid from Basel to Lucerne (or to Interlaken).
If you are coming from southern France, travel to Geneva, (probably via Lyon). There are hourly IR15 trains from Geneva to Lucerne. This journey takes three hours. STP valid (of course) for all your travel in Switzerland east of Geneva. (For Interlaken you would need to change at Bern.)
Travelling to Switzerland from France: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/france-switzerland/
Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
in reply to: Jungfrau region, Zermatt, Glacier Express in June
Hello again Omar.
Day Five
Get out a good map of Switzerland
First note that the Glacier Express takes the Albula Line (via Filisur) from Chur to St Moritz.
So I would suggest the following route from St Moritz to Lucerne on Day five.
Take the RE3 train from St Moritz to Landquart via Klosters.
From Landquart take the fast IC3 train to Zurich Hauptbahnhof. Sit on the right hand side of the train in the direction of travel.
Take the IR70 train from Zurich to Lucerne. Sit on the left hand side of the train in the direction of travel.
The journey will take just over four hours.
As an alternative to Titlis, I would suggest that in the afternoon, you ‘slow down’ and go for a boat cruise on Lake Lucerne, and perhaps go up the Rigi from Vitznau. (Both are free with the Swiss Travel Pass.) Boats for Vitznau leave Lucerne at 12 minutes past each hour.
Days six, seven eight.
The Jungfrau Travel Pass gives Free Travel on the following mountain lines – Harder, Schynige Platte; Griindelwald-First; both lines to Mānnlichen; both lines to Kleine Scheidegg. On the very expensive trip to Jungfraujoch it gives you a much bigger discount than is given by the Swiss Travel Pass.
Whether you invest in Jungfrau Travel Passes depends on the amount of (mechanised) mountain climbing you intend to do! You could delay the decision until you get to Interlaken. (The booking office at Interlaken Ost station would be able to sell you JTPs.)
Coupon Pass I have no experience of this pass, which,as Anna explains, is not a transport pass. Remember that your Swiss Travel Passes gives free admission to a lot of museums.
Reservations
Apart from the Glacier Express, the only other trip you mention which requires reservations is Brienzer Rothorn (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/brienzer-rothorn/).
The only trip I mention which requires a reservation is Jungfraujoch (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/jungfraujoch/).
Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
