28 day Swiss trip, which rail pass?

  • Hudson
    Participant
    2 posts
    1 February 2020 at 0:09:47 #825062

    We are a mid 60’s couple planning a 28 day rail tour of Switzerland in late May, 2020. We are from Australia and will be flying in and out of Zurich. We are planning on going on all the panorama trains on this trip as well as all the local trains, buses and boats.

    On arrival we will be boarding the train from the airport straight to Lucerne for 3 nights (Mt. Pilatus/Mt. Rigi/Mt Titlis) … maybe only 2 of these, which would be best?

    5 nights Lake Como

    3 nights St. Moritz (explore on maintain railways, etc)

    4 nights Zermatt (Gornegrat and Matterhorn)

    3 nights Montreux (chocolate train, etc)

    7 nights Wengen (Jungfrau and all the mountain railways, etc)

    2 nights Zurich

    Then train to airport for flight home.

    We are thinking that perhaps 2 x 15 consecutive days Swiss Rail Passes each might be the best option, however, there are many other options which makes it very confusing ….. regional passes in the Bernese Oberland, etc.

    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    1 February 2020 at 2:32:03 #929145

    G’day Hudson and Welcome to MySwissAlps,

    Lake Como is in Italy so a Swiss Travel Pass won’t help there. See http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/italy.

    Based on your personal itinerary you should read “How to choose the best travel pass” (http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass), download the handy spreadsheet calculator and do the math. The spreadsheet also includes links to the “Where it’s valid” page for all available passes. Be sure to check those pages for each pass you are considering. Study the map AND read all the text on those pages to fully understand what is covered by the respective pass.

    Last September my wife and I used a combination of the Swiss Half-fare Card and the Regional Pass Bernese Oberland but that is what suited our plans. There is no one-size fits all. 2 x 15 STPs would be very convenient but also expensive. Get calculating. 😉

    Wrong season, but for some inspiration see these trip reports:

    Anna
    Moderator
    6274 posts
    1 February 2020 at 7:01:24 #929146

    Hi Hudson,

    There are various railpasses you can choose from as detailed here: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses

    As suggested by rockoyster, it’s best to do the calculation yourself using the handy spreadsheet from the link he provided. Please use the SBB timetable to plan your journeys: http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable

    These links may also be useful for your trip:

    1. Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne
    2. Mt Pilatus: http://www.myswissalps.com/pilatus
    3. Mt Rigi: http://www.myswissalps.com/rigi
    4. Mt Titlis: http://www.myswissalps.com/titlis
    5. St. Moritz: http://www.myswissalps.com/stmoritz
    6. Zermatt: http://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt
    7. Gornergrat: http://www.myswissalps.com/gornergrat
    8. Klein Matterhorn: http://www.myswissalps.com/kleinmatterhorn
    9. Montreux: http://www.myswissalps.com/montreux
    10. Wengen: http://www.myswissalps.com/wengen
    11. Jungfraujoch: http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfraujoch
    12. Zurich: http://www.myswissalps.com/zurich

    Regards,

    Anna

    Annika
    Moderator
    7103 posts
    1 February 2020 at 8:30:30 #929147

    Hi Hudson! Apart from the useful advice that’s already been provided, you may want to have a look at “Alternatives if you stay longer than 15 days” at http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/details. Several rail pass options for a longer stay in Switzerland are listed there.

    Ishaibs
    Participant
    6 posts
    1 February 2020 at 11:57:56 #929148

    Is it possible for you to guide me on the best pass if I share my itinerary with you on email? I m covering Switzerland and italy and confused between eurail pass and swiss travel pass? Please advise. Thanks

    Anna
    Moderator
    6274 posts
    1 February 2020 at 16:50:06 #929149

    Hi lshaibs,

    Please post your question in a new thread and we will try our best to help. Thanks.

    Regards,

    Anna

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    1 February 2020 at 18:56:31 #929150

    Hi Huson-

    Several of the transport options…lake boats, some cableways …have schedule changes in “late May.” Also, in the high Alps, weather is still going through late Winter, while Spring is well along at lower altitudes. Many, but not all tourist facilities near the Jungfrau close for low season or maintenance in April or May. For that reason, it would be help us o help you if we know your exact travel dates.

    Slowpoke

    Hudson
    Participant
    2 posts
    2 February 2020 at 5:18:16 #929151

    Thank you for your replies. When putting our itinerary together we did try to factor in that some mountain cableways, etc. might not be operating but from the information we could find we think that the majority will be operational but our dates are as follows ….

    Lucerne ….. 26-29 May

    Menaggio … 29 May-3 June (we will catch the train to Lugano then arranging transfer from there to hotel)

    St. Moritz …. 3-6 June

    Zermatt …. 6-10 June

    Montreux …. 10-14 June

    Wengen …. 14-21 June (we left this region until the end to allow for mountain cableways to be operating)

    Zurich …. 21-23 June

    Thanks.

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    2 February 2020 at 5:49:38 #929152

    You’ll be fine. Well played.

    Annika
    Moderator
    7103 posts
    2 February 2020 at 7:46:34 #929153

    Hi Hudson,

    I think this looks wonderful! You’ll be fine with pretty much all mountain transportation by that time. You can check operation dates through the “Route” tabs of each of our attraction pages (http://www.myswissalps.com/activities). The SBB timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable) is helpful too, as it includes mountain transportation. Just search for any specific date to find out whether your preferred mountain route is operational by that time.

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    3 February 2020 at 10:49:14 #929154

    Hi Hudson-

    Good planning for the Jungfrau Region, indeed.

    However, early June in St Moritz may be a bit less suitable.

    I just checked two mountain transport services that we enjoyed there, later in the Spring or early Summer, a few years ago. We also were there once in very early June and were disappointed to find many things closed.

    On your dates, there is no service to Corviglia, and, service only on the 6th ( a Saturday) to Muottas Muragl ( from Pontresina). That is the first day of service for Muottas Muragl, as there is service on the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th….

    Service to Corviglia starts on the 20th.

    From a logistics perspective, it could work to switch Zermatt and St. Moritz from the Ticino. I don’t know if it is worthwhile for you, but the views of the chain of lakes from Muottas Muragl are quite nice. Here, in Winter:

    http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/muottas-muragl-a-front-row-seat/

    I don’t know if this hike will be open in early June. I tend to doubt it. A range of terrific views if you could take it:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/muottasmuragl-alplanguard

    And, then, the route from St. Moritz to Montreux takes about 6 hours, actually going through Zürich.. The route usually goes through the Albula pass with a a nice rail journey on the Rhätische Bahn. There is some nice rail engineering , all meter gauge. There is an alternative through the Vereina tunnel at the eastern end of the Engadine, also with some nice scenery.

    I did not check to see what mountain transport is running at Zermatt at the that time if you exchange it with St. Moritz on your itinerary.

    As Annika noted, spend time with the timetable on specific dates.

    Slowpoke

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