MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial 5 days in Switzerland in Oct – train & base tips
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Greetings! A friend and I will be returning to Switzerland for 5 days in early October (Oct 9 – 13) before taking the train up to the Black Forest (Baiersbronn area) in Germany. We are considering where to call our base for that 4 nights for the most convenient and beautiful location, and so we can see and explore the most without dragging our luggage all across Switzerland (if possible).
We fly to Zurich, arriving at 11:00 on 9 Oct – so we will have most of the day on the 9th. We need to arrive in the Baiersbronn-Mitteltal area by +/- 14:00 on 13 Oct.
We are considering making either Luzern or Chur (or maybe St. Moritz/Sils is better?) our base. We could also just stay in Zurich and do day trips since we need to head up to the Black Forest for the next leg of our journey.
What we’d like to see/do while in Switzerland:
1. Scenic train ride(s) – for relaxing travel, views, photography, and seeing more spectacular vistas and parts of Switzerland
2. Walking tour of old town Zurich or Luzern (if we stay long enough in either town)
3. Some mountain time for peace, quiet, incredible surroundings, meeting cool people, & enjoying that mountain air – even a day trip would be okay but more would be better
3. Cable car ride(s)
4. A few nice walks & or short tours – my friend cannot hike due to an injury, but long walks are okay
5. Maybe Rhine Falls and a tour of Stein am Rhein on our way to Baiersbronn-Mitteltal in the Black Forest – not essential, if it’s on our way to Baiersbronn, Germany
I’ve been on the Bernina from Tirano to St. Moritz & stayed in the Sils tor 2 nights (thanks to recommendations by MySwissApls folks) and it was so perfect – Engadin was incredible and two days was no where near enough. My traveling partner has not had that experience; however we both have been to Zermatt (by car) for 1 night and taken the cogwheel train up to Gornergrat – spectacular.
Given all of this info, which scenic train ride(s) do you recommend? Maybe a few more days in the Sils and either the Bernina again or all/part of the Glacier Express route? Maybe Zurich or Lucerne as a base and the Golden Pass route or Montreux – Zermatt or…? Open to routes & recommendations, and happy to take the local trains vs the tourist trains. Any thoughts on the best train rides given our dates (and typical Oct weather?) and our plan to head to the Black Forest (Baiersbronn-Mitteltal area) on the next leg of our journey?
I’ve looked at the 3-DAY SELF GUIDED “GLACIER EXPRESS TOUR (http://www.myswissalps.com/plantrip/doityourself/sampleitineraries/glacierexpresstour) and it’s intriguing, but it is a lot of moving of hotels and overlaps with some of what we’ve done. Figured I’d ask you experts for other recommendations/suggestions and build an itinerary from there.
We both also love UNESCO world heritage sites, archaeological sites, short tours of historic sites (esp in the mountain towns), and local cultural experiences, if this helps with any recommendations.
Thank you all for your recommendations, this is truly a great forum and you always have such wonderful ideas and offer such great support!
Be safe & be well,
Jennifer
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Hi Jennifer,
Great that you’ll be returning in October! There are lots of options for base towns and train rides.
Lucerne (https://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne) sounds like a good base for your plans. There are plenty of mountains (see the options at https://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne/activities), the lake area is beautiful, and Zurich (https://www.myswissalps.com/zurich), the Rhine Falls (https://www.myswissalps.com/rhinefalls) and Stein am Rhein can be well reached.
This sample itinerary may give you cultural-based sightseeing ideas for a base in Lucerne or Zurich: http://www.myswissalps.com/plantrip/doityourself/sampleitineraries/allseasondrivingtour. It’s designed as a car route, but quite some of the mentioned destinations can be reached by train from Lucerne/Zurich in separate day trips too. It also includes the 3-lake area around Biel/Bienne and Neuchâtel. This is a bit far off from Lucerne/Zurich, but in itself it would be a nice base area for an autumn trip too.
Some options for scenic train rides from Lucerne:
- the Luzern-Interlaken Express over the Brünig Pass: https://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass and https://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/gettingthere
- the Voralpen Express: https://www.myswissalps.com/voralpenexpress
- the ride to Bern via Trubschachen/the Emmen valley
If you prefer to have a base higher up in the mountains, you’ll have to spend more traveling time to get there. I’m not sure if you’d like that for a relatively short 4-day stay and your connecting trip to Germany. But here are some thoughts:
- The Engadine (https://www.myswissalps.com/upperengadine) is very rewarding in October. The golden/yellow forest colours can be spectacular. So returning to Sils or one of the other villages is a good option, since your last stay there was short. You could consider a base town further east, like La Punt-Chamues-ch or Zuoz. That allows you to reach both the lake area around St. Moritz (https://www.myswissalps.com/stmoritz) in the west as as well as the Lower Engadine in the east. Nearly all rides in this area are scenic. A bus drive from Maloja into the Bregaglia valley is spectacular. So are train rides toward Scuol-Tarasp. You could hike in the national park and visit mountains such as Muottas Muragl, Piz Nair and Corvatsch (https://www.myswissalps.com/corvatsch). On you way to or from this area, you could make a side trip from Chur to Arosa: a very scenic journey.
- Consider Brig (https://www.myswissalps.com/brig) as a base town. It’s located centrally and allows for visits to several areas of the Valais. An example is the Upper Rhone valley (http://www.myswissalps.com/upperrhonevalley) in the east. There are quaint little villages, beautiful train rides in the valley, bus rides over the mountain passes and spectacular vistas from mountains such as Bettmerhorn (http://www.myswissalps.com/bettmerhorn) and Eggishorn (http://www.myswissalps.com/eggishorn). Zermatt (https://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt) and Saas-Fee (https://www.myswissalps.com/saasfee) are within easy reach too. Brig and Sion are interesting from a cultural point of view. Be sure to take the RegioExpress Lötschberger (https://www.myswissalps.com/lotschberger) on your way to or from Brig.
- A base in the Jungfrau region (https://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion) doesn’t require too much travel time from Zurich/Lucerne. It’s packed with pretty villages and stunning mountain rides. I’m not sure if you’ve been there on your last visit. If not, it’s sure worth a a 4-day stay. You could choose Interlaken (https://www.myswissalps.com/interlaken) as base for easy access to the Jungfrau area as well as the Lake Thun/Lake Brienz areas.
I’m probably not making this easier for you ;-). There’s simpy too much to choose from. But I’m sure you’ll find a base that best matches your criteria.
Wow Arno, thank you for all of the great advice and recommendations! After looking through your recommendations and the links I now have plans for many more trips to Switzerland!
For this trip, we used your recommendations to narrow down to our base to being in Lucerne or the Jungfrau region. We are planning for only traveling by train (no car) for environmental reasons as well as ease of travel. Looking at the train timetables, it looks like we can arrive at Zurich airport and be in Wengen in 2h 40 min. That is very enticing, so we are leading toward a mountain town in the Jungfrau region as our base (over a base in Lucerne), since neither of us have been there.
With the Jungfrau area as our base, our itinerary would be 2 nights there, one night in Lucerne, one night in Zurich before heading to Germany. Since Zurich is only an hour from Lucerne, maybe 3 nights in the Jungfrau and 1 night in Lucerne is better – more time in the mountains and less moving our luggage. Recommendations on 2 vs 3 nights in the Jungfrau?
While there, we are planning to take the Eiger Express & Jungfrau Railway up to Jungfraujoch. Any advice/tips much appreciated!
We are also thinking about the Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg walk, then either taking the cable car up to Mürren or heading to Trümmelbach Falls. But we are open to other gorgeous walks, but big hikes (hours long with big elevation changes) are out this time around because of my friend’s recent injury. Any other recommendations for mellow walks?
Now that we’ve figured out our base, Jungfrau…
1. What are the must sees while in the Jungfrau region (in addition to the info on the http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion page)?
2. Which mountain town do you recommend for that small town feel, good light, incredible views, and ease of transportation to sightseeing and hikes in the area? Grindelwald, Wengen, or Lauterbrunnen (or a different mountain town?). We would prefer a place higher in the mountains than Interlaken.
3. Is there a local card for the Jungfrau region (like the Engadine Inclusive Card given out by hotels there)?
4. If we do another “scenic” train ride (as tho the trains we will have been on aren’t scenic lol) while staying in the mountains of the Jungfrau region, which is best? Part of the Golden Pass line? Or the part of the RegioExpress line headed to/toward Brig (the RegioExpress route Bern to Brig, yes?)? Or, another route? I prefer the local trains so we can hop off and on, plus open windows for snapping photos.
5. When we head back down the mountain, we are thinking we will stay in Lucerne for one night before leaving for Germany by train, and would love to do a walking tour of old town Lucerne. Unless, old town Zurich is more highly recommended? If so, then we will stay in Zurich instead.
6. In addition to touring the old town, if we stay in Lucerne, should we save time for the Mount Pilatus cogwheel train?
Oh, and a question about taking the train to Germany for the next leg of our journey. Our destination in Germany is the Baiersbronn area, but we decided to head NE from Lucerne or Zurich to either Konstanz or Singen and catch the Black Forest Train (Singen to Offenburg). If anyone has done taken that route and has recommendations (or thinks the idea is just crazy), or recommendations about whether to check out Konstanz or not, I’d love to hear your recommendations!
Thank you all again so much!
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
1. In addition to Jungfraujoch, other popular mountain excursions in the Jungfrau region are Schilthorn, Grindelwald First, Männlichen and Schynige Platte. Also you can combine mountain trips with boat trips on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz or leisurely strolls in the villages of Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Mürren.
2. If you prefer a base with mountain views, I recommend either Wengen or Grindelwald.
3. You might want to get the Jungfrau Travel Pass if you’re planning to stay a few days and want to avoid buying tickets for each excursion. You can find more information here: http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrautravelpass
4. Most of the local train rides in the Jungfrau region are quite scenic in my opinion. But if you’re looking for something more touristy and you have time to spare, you can do part of the Golden Pass line between Interlaken Ost and Lucerne.
5. Last night in Lucerne vs Zurich? This is a personal choice. They are both lovely cities and have charming old towns.
- Zurich city walk: http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/zurich
- Lucerne city walk: http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/lucerne
6.If you’re staying in Lucerne for 1 day, you can certainly plan a short excursion to Mt Pilatus. The quickest way to get there is via the cable car in Kriens. If you have more time, you can do the golden roundtrip which includes a boat trip, cogwheel train and cable car ride. You can find more details here: http://www.myswissalps.com/pilatus/gettingthere
Hopes this gives you more options for your trip. Let us know if you need more information.
Regards,
Anna
Hi Anna,
Thank you again for your recommendations and advice. Here’s our itinerary now (subject to weather, of course), thanks to feedback from you all…
Day 1 – Arrive Zurich Airport; train Zurich – Wengen (single); hotel in Wengen (base)
Day 2 – Jungfraujoch (half day?); relaxing stroll in Lauterbrunnen
Day 3 – Either Train Wengen – Grindelwald with Gondola to First & hike to Grosse Scheidegg; OR the cable car Wengen – Männlichen and walk to Kleine Scheidegg
Day 4 – Wengen – Lucern (single); lake & old town tours
Day 5 – Lucern – Konstanz (single)
Now to figure out which travel pass to get. From Switzerland we will traveling to Germany & The Netherlands. Given that, is it better to get a EU Flex Global Pass or one of the Swiss Travel Passes? We’ll be traveling 1st class on the long rides, 2nd class on the short rides, if this matters.
I used the How to Choose a Rail Pass in 5 Steps – and that incredible Excel table – and the winner was actually the Swiss Half Fare Card. The Half Fare Card + Jungfrau Pass costs a few Euros more, but seems worth it because of the added flexibility for our 2.5 days in the Jungfrau. The EU Flex Global Pass + Jungfrau Pass costs a bit more still ($50 euros more), but I’m wondering if that might be a better choice than the Swiss Half Fare Card, again for flexibility? My estimates are based on current ticket prices for each of our planned trips, so if the prices do increase that changes the potential benefit of using the Half Fare Card over a blanket pass.
1. Are fares in Switzerland (and Germany/The Netherlands) set for a given route, or do the seats generally become more expensive as the travel date gets closer or if many seats get reserved? If the prices do change, this would matter for the Half Fare calculations, but not the STP or the EU Rail Global Pass, yes?
2. If we buy our Swiss Half Pass or the EU Rail Global Pass now, should we immediately buy train tickets for our time in Switzerland? With my last EU Rail Global Pass (for Italy and France) we just hopped on whichever trains we wanted to take (except for the ones requiring reservations, of course), on the days we wanted to use the Global Pass. Wondering if the EU Rail Pass works the same way in Switzerland?
3. Does the EU Rail Global Pass generally work on the longer routes we plan to take outside of the Jungfrau Region? I’ve looked at various route map links, but sometimes it’s difficult to tell for sure, especially around the Lucern area, if some of the dotted (not dashed) lines are the routes we’d be taking (eg. from Wengen to Lucern).
4. If we go with the Swiss Half Fare Card and the Jungfrau Travel Pass, should we buy them right away or wait until the trip gets closer (or once we arrive)?
5. Is it best to buy them from the Switzerland Travel Center or from SBB?
Thanks again!
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
I’m glad you found our guide on how to choose a railpass useful.
Now to answer your questions:
1. Ticket prices in Switzerland are fixed. But you might get deals online such as Supersaver tickets or discounted Saver Day Pass if you purchase your tickets up to 60 days in advance. With the Swiss Half Fare Card, you can get these tickets even cheaper if you purchase them well in advance. More info here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/howtouse. Also, there is no need to book train seats in advance. With a valid ticket or railpass, you simply get on board, as detailed here: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/reservations
2. With the Swiss Half Fare Card, you can either purchase your discounted train tickets in advance or up to the last minute before your journey: https://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/switzerlandhalffare. You can purchase the tickets online or directly from the ticket counter or ticket machine at any train station. With the Eurail Global Pass, you don’t need a ticket at all for most of your train rides. You can read more about the Eurail Global Pass here: http://www.myswissalps.com/eurailglobalpass/
3. Yes, the Eurail Global Pass is partially valid for travel on the train between Lucerne and Wengen (free up to Interlaken, 25% off from Interlaken to Wengen). You can check out other valid routes here: http://www.myswissalps.com/eurailglobalpass/validity
4. I recommend buying the Swiss Half Fare Card and Jungfrau Travel Pass online once all the details of your trip is confirmed. It’s also possible to buy them at the airport upon arrival. But buying online obviously saves time.
- Swiss Half Fare Card: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/price
- Jungfrau Travel Pass: http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrautravelpass/price
5. SBB is the main operator of the Swiss federal railways. Its tourist travel webshop is run by the Switzerland Travel Centre (STC): https://shop.switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/product/swissHalfFareCard. So they are basically the same organisation.
Hope this gives you more clarity. Happy to help if you need more info.
regards,
Anna
Thanks for clarifying that the EU Rail Global Pass is only partially valid between Lucerne and Wengen. With that added into my calculations in the spreadsheet the Swiss Half Fare Card is definitely the way to go over the EURail Global Pass, even though we will also be traveling in Germany and The Netherlands. Plus it will come in handy if we decide to add in another spontaneous scenic train trip, like to Brig, Montreux, or…
3. Questions about tickets and passes:
1. We plan to purchase the SHFC in advance. If purchasing Point-to-Point tickets in advance for our first train trip after arriving at the airport, does that limit is to that exact route (eg the 3 stop trip via Bern and Interlaken Ost)? Or can we take any train that day with the start point at Zurich Flughafen and an ending point at Wengen? Or is it best to wait until we arrive at the airport to purchase the ticket just in case?
2. Everyone in our party will purchase a SHFC. Can I buy the tickets for all adult travelers in our party (friends, not spouses or family members) under my login, using each person’s SHFC, or do we need to purchase them separately (under different logins) to take advantage of the SHFC discounts for each ticket?
3. On the SBB site it lists the Half Fare travel card with an price of 185CHF for first time card buyers, but the STC lists the SHFC for 120 CHF. Is this the same card? Hoping to buy it from STC, but only if it’s valid for first time card buyers.
Thanks again!
Hi Jennifer,
Good that you’ve been able to pick the right pass for your plans. It’s indeed recommended to get it online in advance: https://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/price. As for your questions:
1. Yes, a point-to-point ticket is valid for the specified route for which you buy that ticket, not for other routes (unless the alternative route is cheaper, as far as I know). That’s the same no matter where you buy your ticket: online or at the station upon arrival. A normal ticket doesn’t limit you to a specific departure time. You can start traveling on any time it suits you during the day of validity. Notes:
- Be careful with special offers such as Supersaver tickets. They come with restrictions and are valid for one particular train/departure time only. I wouldn’t recommend purchasing a Supersaver ticket (if available) for a train you want to catch after a flight arrival, as delays can occur and you could miss your train. You can read more about the types of tickets at https://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/switzerland. Purchase options for 50% discounted tickets are listed at https://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/switzerlandhalffare/price.
- With the Swiss Half Fare Card you’re entitled to buy 50% discounted Saver Day Passes: see https://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass and https://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/price. They allow you to travel on any route throughout the country during one entire day. For longer trips this can be cheaper than a normal 50% discounted ticket. Saver Day Passes should be bought in advance. Prices are usually lower if you get them as early as possible. It could be an option for Zurich Airport-Wengen. A normal 50% discounted ticket would cost CHF 44.20. The lowest possible 50% discounted Saver Day Pass price is CHF 29.
2. No problem. You can buy passes for all travelers in your group. You’ll receive digital passes for each of them, containing the traveler’s name and a QR code. So you can forward each persons’s pass to them by e-mail. Note that you don’t need a login. You can just get your Swiss Half Fare Cards through the SBB tourist webshop without login or account: https://shop.switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/product/swissHalfFareCard. Other recommended purchase options are listed at https://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/price.
3. The Half-Fare Travelcard is different from the Swiss Half Fare Card. It’s mostly meant for Swiss residents. So you can ignore that information. If you want to learn more, please see “Swiss Half Fare Card versus Half-Fare travelcard” at http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/details.
Does this answer your questions?
Thank you Arno, that really helped to clarify things! Bought the SHFC and the Saver Day Pass for our train ride from Zurich to Wengen, now it’s real and exciting! Really appreciate your suggesting the Saver Day Pass again – I wasn’t distinguishing between the Saver Day Ticket and the Saver Day Pass – the pass is really perfect with the SHFC and the Jungfrau Travel Card combination.
Are the Saver Day Passes also valid for trips ending in Germany? I plan to buy the SDP for our trip Wengen to Konstanz via Luzern, but noticed something in the fine print about them not being valid for international travel. Konstanz is on the area of validity map however. Does that mean we are good to go with just the SDP, or would we have to also buy a ticket for the last leg from the last station in Switzerland to Konstanz?
Thanks again!
Jen
Hi Jennifer,
The SBB train goes all the way to Konstanz so yes, the Saver Day Pass is valid until Konstanz.
Safe trip and enjoy your holiday.
Anna
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