MySwissAlps.com includes Annika
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Hi G. Anna,
Roger already gave you wonderful suggestions for scenic train and bus trips!
When traveling between Davos and Filisur, you may like doing so on the historical train operating daily until 25 October: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/landwasserwelt/
As for hikes: I’d recommend
- the hike between Davos Wiesen and Filisur, crossing the high Wiesen Viaduct: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/landwasserwelt/
- the rail-themed and beautiful trail from Preda to Bergün: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-preda-bergun/
- this panoramic route between 2 mountain tops: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-gotschnagrat-schatzalp/. Do check mountain transport operation dates, and study the details in advance to estimate whether you’re comfortable with this route’s distance and duration. To make the trail easier and shorter, skip the last ascent to Schatzalp and stop at the Höhenweg station instead.
Hi Tortoise, and welcome to MySwissAlps!
A Swiss Half Fare Card gets you a 25% discount on the Jungfrau Travel Pass: https://www.myswissalps.com/details/buy-jungfrau-travel-pass/
Note that your Swiss Half Fare Card must be valid throughout the validity period of your Jungfrau Travel Pass.
Does this answer your question?
Hi ivy_chow, and welcome to MySwissAlps!
I wouldn’t expect this to be a problem, with your nickname being on your Swiss Travel Pass and the full version of your first name in your passport. Sometimes, long names that don’t entirely fit get cut off on a Swiss Travel Pass, and that’s no problem either.
If you want to be 100% sure, you could contact the webshop you bought your Swiss Travel Pass from (https://www.myswissalps.com/details/buy-swiss-travel-pass/).
I hope this helps!
Hi Floyd,
That’s a great prospect :-)! Wengen is perfect for hiking. I don’t know what level and duration you’re comfortable with, but here are some of my personal favorites:
- Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-mannlichen-kleine-scheidegg/
- Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-wengen-kleine-scheidegg/
- Eigergletscher to Alpiglen: https://www.outdooractive.com/de/route/wanderung/berner-oberland/-eiger-trail-eigergletscher-alpiglen-nr.-36/23431791/ (or, a bit easier: from Alpiglen to Grindelwald)
- Grütschalp to Mürren: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-grutschalp-murren/
- Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-lauterbrunnen-stechelberg/
- this roundabout hike at Schynige Platte: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-schynige-platte/
Essentials to pack for a hiking trip: long trousers to protect your legs, a wind- and waterproof jacket as your top layer, further thin layers such as shirts or fleece sweaters to adjust to varying temperatures throughout the day, sun protection (a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses) and of course: proper hiking boots with good grip.
We usually find that category B boots are suitable for easy to medium hikes in the Swiss Alps. For longer, more demanding, or exposed trails, category C would be better.
More packing and preparation tips:
- https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/clothing/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/activities/hiking/
Does this get you started? Have fun preparing for your upcoming trip!
Hi KRK!
I agree with Dorrie’s advice to dress in layers. A windproof top layer would be ideal. In any case, make sure to wear a high-collar coat/fleece or a scarf. It can be very windy at the top (this doesn’t have to be the case, but it’s good to be prepared), and the exposed skin of your neck can cool you down quickly.
I hope you’ll the spectacular cable car ride and the amazing views next week :-)!
in reply to: 2-day Bernina railway itinerary from Tirano
Hi Robert, thanks for joining MySwissAlps!
I’m afraid your question remained unnoticed for a while, as it’s near the end of an ongoing thread. Could you please post your question in a separate thread? You can do so by clicking “Post a new thread” at https://www.myswissalps.com/community/forum/questions/
We’ll be very happy to help you out there! Thank you in advance :-).
Thank you for your kind words, Mickey. I’m glad to hear that the advice worked out well for you, and I hope you had a wonderful trip. If you’d like to share your experiences, we’d love to read about them in our trip reports section!
in reply to: Best language to use while in the Jungfrau area
Hi E,
That’s such a thoughtful question! The Swiss will certainly appreciate your willingness to use their language. In the Jungfrau Region, the main language is German.
Please find more language info at https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/language/
Hi Paule, welcome to MySwissAlps!
Yes, the combination of a Swiss Half Fare Card and Jungfrau Travel Pass makes perfect sense for your plans! The only thing to be aware of: the Jungfrau Travel Pass covers a relatively small area. If the weather is great in the Jungfrau Region and you can enjoy all of your plans there, that’s no problem. In case of less-than-ideal weather, you may prefer the flexibility of free travel in a larger area, as offered by the Berner Oberland Pass:
- https://www.myswissalps.com/details/jungfrau-travel-pass-validity/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/details/berner-oberland-pass-validity/
But of course, you will have the Swiss Half Fare Card to buy discounted tickets for any trips outside of the Jungfrau Travel Pass coverage area.
Recommended purchase options:
- https://www.myswissalps.com/details/buy-swiss-half-fare-card/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/details/buy-jungfrau-travel-pass/
You’ve listed lovely mountain excursions, and those can certainly be combined with great hikes! These are some of my favorites, and each is well compatible with your plans:
- https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-wengen-kleine-scheidegg/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-mannlichen-kleine-scheidegg/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-lauterbrunnen-stechelberg/
- https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-grutschalp-murren/
Does this get you started?
Hi eugene_polonsky, and welcome to MySwissAlps!
What a lovely prospect to be hiking the Via Alpina with your son :-).
You should indeed be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions. Freezing cold and snow aren’t likely in late August, but they can’t be excluded either. After all, you’ll be at high altitudes, and the weather up in the mountains is notoriously changeable: https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/weather/
A good set of hiking gear contains waterproof walking boots with good grip (I’d definitely opt for ankle height: not just for snow and puddles of water or mud, but also because they provide better support on the uneven mountain trails), and a hooded water- and windproof jacket. Ideally, you’d have waterproof pants as well.
Underneath these top layers, you should be able to add and remove layers to adjust to the temperatures.
More about proper hiking gear: https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/clothing/
More about hiking preparations and safety: please see “Practical hiking information and tips” at https://www.myswissalps.com/activities/hiking/
Does this help you out?
Hi Jwatson8,
Yes, there is a bicycle path between the two towns, crossing the Rosenlaui Valley. It’s part of stage 2 of the regional long-distance Berner Oberland route: https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/route-61/stage-2. The route is mostly paved, with a total of 5 km of unpaved natural paths.
Note that this isn’t an easy route, with considerable ascending/descending.
I hope this answers your question!
Hi Debi and Eric, welcome to MySwissAlps!
How lovely that you’ll be staying in Beckenried.
Yes, the Axenstrasse is normally open for traffic in May. It’s a vulnerable route, though, so parts can be closed due to the risk, or the actual occurrence, of rockfalls and landslides. An extensive project over the coming years will result in an entirely new route with more tunnels and with improved safety and accessibility. More about this project: https://axen.ch/
In short, I recommend checking the traffic status shortly in advance: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/car/traffic-info/
There’s lots to do in the Lake Lucerne area. You’ll find suggestions in our Lake Lucerne guide: https://www.myswissalps.com/region/lake-lucerne/
Does this get you started?
Hi robin_livezy,
September is generally a pretty dry month (no guarantees ;-)), and it’s at the end of the summer. So it usually doesn’t look as fresh as in spring, and the effects of long dry spells can certainly become visible too. Please see https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/weather/ and https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/best-time-to-visit/
At this point, it’s too early to estimate what to expect next September, though. If a period of regular rainfall occurs before that time, grass and some of the other vegetation can return to their usual lush look pretty quickly.
Hi KimM,
Thanks for joining MySwissAlps!
Rigi
It’s a great idea to visit Rigi. I’d recommend a round trip: up by train via Arth-Goldau, down to the other side of the mountain to either Weggis or Vitznau, and back to Lucerne by boat. All of this is free with your Saver Day Passes.Details: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rigi/
Theoretically, you could add a trip to Stanserhorn (free with the Saver Day Pass) or Bürgenstock (free if you travel by bus; the funicular is not included). But you should only do this if you like full and pretty high-paced days. Details:
Lutry
Lutry is quite far off from Lucerne for a day trip, but it’s doable if you depart early, don’t mind returning late, and don’t spend hours in Lutry. For a varied and scenic day trip, consider this:- Travel via Interlaken, Gstaad and Montreux on your way to Lutry, enjoying the full GoldenPass train line: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/goldenpass/. This is a long route though, and not the best option if you want to take your time in and around Lutry.
- On your way back, travel via Fribourg and Bern.
For a shorter variant but still enjoying different routes:
- On your way to Lutry, travel via Olten, Neuchâtel, and Biel/Bienne.
- On your way back, travel via Fribourg and Bern.
You can plan your routes in detail with the aid of the Swiss timetable. Here’s how to use it: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train/timetable/
Does this help you out?
Hi Jackie,
First of all: you can’t go wrong with either choice! Both are on the main street, close to the rail station and the cable car station to Männlichen, well-rated, and offer an in-house restaurant as well as spa/wellness facilities.
Some considerations:
- The Victoria Lauberhorn is a 3-star hotel, and as such, room rates are a bit lower. There are quite some rooms with Jungfrau views.
- The Braunbär is a 4-star hotel with higher room prices, a somewhat higher overall ratings, a modern look and feel (this goes for the spa and pool as well), and more room facilities (e.g., coffee/tea facilities). The restaurant with fresh home-grown alpine herbs is excellent.
Summarized: if your budget allows and you like a bit more luxury, I’d opt for the Braunbär. If you’d rather pay less, the Victoria Lauberhorn is a good choice.
I hope this helps!
Hi BradT,
September is still a busy travel season, and the activities at Grindelwald-First are popular. I’d travel up first thing in the morning, and arrive at the gondola valley station well before the gondolas start operating (they do so from 08:00). There, you can buy your activity tickets, which currently aren’t for sale online, and get in line for the gondolas.
It’s the best chance you have to beat the crowds :-).
More planning details and links are available at https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/grindelwald-first/
Hi LisaK,
Welcome to MySwissAlps! If there’s been an obvious mistake, some resellers will allow you to change the start date, or to cancel the purchase and get a new Swiss Half Fare Card.
From which webshop did your friend buy the card (https://www.myswissalps.com/details/buy-swiss-half-fare-card/)? I advise contacting that webshop directly, so they can inform your friend about the options.
Good luck, and I’d love to know if you got this fixed :-)!
Hi Hopper!
Sorry to hear you’re not a fan of the SBB app. The SBB website may be easier to use, although I understand you prefer the mobile app while you’re traveling.
In any case, your planned journey Milan-Wengen isn’t in any way tied or linked to the Saver Day Passes you bought. Your passes grant free train travel throughout Switzerland on any route, not just on the Swiss leg of your planned route to Wengen.
Nor does the app automatically save the connections you’ve been looking into. It will only do so if you choose a specific connection, and then tap the ” star” icon. The connection will then be saved to your “Trips” section, so you can quickly return to it.
Our Swiss timetable guide and video tutorials at https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train/timetable/ may be of help. And here’s the SBB’s own information about the timetable app https://www.sbb.ch/en/travel-information/apps/sbb-mobile/functions.html
I hope this helps!
Hi PeterChen,
The route is covered from Martigny to Le Châtelard-Frontière at the Swiss-French border. You’ll have to buy additional tickets for Le Châtelard-Frontière – Chamonix. All details about the Swiss Travel Pass coverage area, including a map, are available here: https://www.myswissalps.com/details/swiss-travel-pass-validity/
More about train tickets to and from France: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/france-switzerland/
Does this help you out?
In response to your question about why you could take the cogwheel train first: this makes it easier for you to reserve your cogwheel train seats, as you can pick a fixed departure time in the morning without having to estimate how long you’ll be spending at the top, before returning via Fräkmüntegg.
But your reasoning makes sense too: making sure you’ll arrive at Fräkmüntegg early in the morning, and well in time, helps you avoid queues. I’d advise getting there earlier than 10:00. Try to arrive by 09:30 at the latest, and factor in that queues at the gondola valley station in Kriens can be long as well. Any waiting time up at Fräkmüntegg until the toboggan run opens is no problem at all, as the views there too are lovely :-).
I’d say that you’re safe with a cogwheel train reservation for your trip down to Alpnachstad around 14:00. That should give you plenty of time to ride the toboggan run, enjoy the views from the top, have a bit there, and maybe hike up to one of the viewing points or enjoy the easy “Dragon Path” roundabout trail. This departure time also allows for delays, if waiting times for the toboggan run and/or the cable car from Fräkmüntegg to Pilatus Kulm are longer than expected.
Does this help you plan?
