Best pass(es) for to/from Jungfrau region

Hi,

My partner and I have never been to Switzerland, so this forum is so helpful! In July 2022, we will be doing the following:

• Day 1: Travel from Colmar, France, to Murren
• Days 2-3: Stay in Murren, with trips on Allmendhubel Funicular and from Murren to Birg (probably not all way to Schilthorn)
• Days 4-5: Stay in Wengen, with trips to Mannlichen and maybe to First
• Day 6: Travel from Wengen to Zurich airport

I think for days 2-5 in Murren and Wengen that we should perhaps purchase the Jungfrau Travel Pass, since our trips are local and simple and JTP is the cheapest option? Depending on answers below, maybe we would need to buy two three-day passes?

That leaves the long train rides on day 1 and day 6. For those:

• Since we're traveling from France on day 1, could we even use a Swiss Travel Pass to buy the ticket, or would we have to change in Bern and buy a separate ticket for Bern to Interlaken with our pass? Is that worth doing?
• And for day 6, is there a pass that would help us with the cost of travel to Zurich? If we still had a valid JTP, it would perhaps get us to Interlaken, but from there we would need a different pass (STP?) for the train to Zurich.

One other small question: For days 1 and 6, do we need to buy the train tickets days ahead, or can/should we just buy at the train station on the day of? The latter is a little scary to us since it could be a busy summer season, but maybe we shouldn't worry?

Hi LeeAnn,

Welcome to MySwissAlps.

I agree with you. The Jungfrau Travel Pass might be ideal for your plans from Days 2 to 5. You can purchase the 4-day Jungfrau Travel Pass online here: www.myswissalps.com/jungfrautravelpass/price

For Day 6, one option would be to get a Saver Day Pass. This pass is valid from Wengen to Zurich but you can also use it to make a quick stop enroute or follow a different route. It is valid the whole day, on all routes. Similarly for Day 1, a Saver Day Pass could be an option. But you might be able to get a better deal if you buy a single direct ticket from Lyon to Mürren. Check details here: www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/france

Be sure to check this quick guide on how to choose the best railpass for your trip: www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass

Regards,

Anna

Hi Anna,

Thank you so much for your help! This is so complicated for the uninitiated. A couple follow-up questions about day 1, if I may:

• Through this link (www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/france), at RailEurope, I see one-way tickets from Colmar to Interlaken for $73. Would a Super Saver Pass reduce this cost, or another pass?
• I don't see a train ticket that would get us all the way into Murren. Am I misunderstanding?
• If the train will only get us to Interlaken, what would be the cost of buying tickets from there to Murren without a Jungfrau or other pass? (so we can determine whether to add a day to the Jungfrau pass cost)

Hi LeeAnn,

1. You might be able to get a cheaper Supersaver ticket from Basel to Interlaken if you book early. Do note that a Supersaver ticket is restrictive and non-refundable: https://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/switzerland.

2. Try using Muerren instead of Murren in your search for train connections. The exact spelling is actually Mürren: https://www.myswissalps.com/murren/travel

3. A single full fare ticket from Interlaken to Mürren cost roughly CHF18.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Anna

Hi Anna,

I hope you will have patience with me! I've spent a couple more hours on this and am still unsure what to do. I *think* what I'm seeing is that I can buy a simple rail ticket (no passes) from Colmar to Lauterbrunnen for 73 CHF. Then 9 CHF from there to Murren (because of cable car, I don't see a train trip that will take us all the way into Murren). Above, we discussed instead traveling Colmar to Bern (18 CHF) and buying a Saver Day Pass (52 CHF) for the rest of the way to Interlaken, but that would be 70 CHF, so doesn't seem worth it. Do you agree?

For Wengen to Zurich, it appears that a regular train ticket is $56, so again the Saver Day Pass doesn't seem to save enough money to be worth it.

For our five days in Murren and Wengen, it would cost us 250 CHF each for the Jungfrau Pass. I am now unsure that it's worth it, given that we will not be taking some of the most-expensive cable cars, etc., but perhaps spending 50 CHF per day on transportation is likely? I know it depends on weather, fatigue, etc. Any thoughts on that appreciated!

Another idea: The Swiss Half Fare pass is 118 CHF, and it would discount our two long train rides by 65 CHF total — not enough to be worth it, unless it would also discount our trips in the Murren/Wengen area enough to eliminate need for the Jungfrau Pass?

Hi LeeAnn,

I am not sure where you've checked the prices, but I checked a few of them and I saw slightly higher prices, like:

• Colmar - Lauterbrunnen: 80,70 CHF
• Lauterbrunnen - Mürren: 11,20 CHF
• Wengen - Zürich: 84,40 CHF

Are you sure you've seen the normal prices and not the SuperSaver tickets? You can read more about the differences here: www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/switzerland.

Also note, that the price of the Saver Day Pass starts from 52 CHF. Prices vary by demand and purchase date.

If you are not moving around a lot in the Jungfrau region, you do not need a pass. But are you sure you won't move around? If you are afraid of the weather, I recommend instead of a regional pass a pass for the whole country, so you can stay flexible. These kinds of passes are the Swiss Travel Pass or the Swiss Half Fare Card.

With the Swiss Half Fare Card you get 50% off from the mountain transport. See the validity map here: www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/validity.

If you are unsure, use our calculation spreadsheet. that will help you to do the math. You can find it here: www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass

I hope this helps,

Ildiko

Hi Ildiko,

Thank you for your reply! I am getting dizzy.

At trainline.com, I'm still seeing the lower prices I mentioned for the longer train rides (I'm quoting per-person costs; maybe that's the confusion). I confirmed that they're the regular fee (not Super Saver). Even if the Colmar to Lauterbrunnen trip were 80 CHF, wouldn't I have to go Colmar to Basel first, before the Super Saver would kick in for Swiss travel? That would be 17 CHF just to get to Basel, so that plus 52 CHF for the Super Saver doesn't seem to save much at all — again, unless I'm misunderstanding?

As for Jungfrau pass or not, I've tried to add up our anticipated costs, but it is challenging without a simple PDF of the costs of, for example, trips on Allmendhubel Funicular from Murren, Murren to Birg, Murren to Wengen, Wengen to Mannlichen, and Wengen to First. Is there a simple place to find those costs?

Hi LeeAnn,

trainline.com is ok. Good that you checked that they are not SuperSaver tickets.

Yes, if you are coming from Colmar you can use your Saver Day Pass or any other Swiss pass from Basel. Yes, you are calculating right.

At www.myswissalps.com/jungfraujoch/tickets you'll find a pdf with the prices, scroll down the page until you see the 'More information'. It is at the end of the page.

Ildiko

Hi LeeAnn,

Nearly all prices can be found in the Swiss timetable. In order to properly calculate how much tickets costs and how much you can save with a rail pass, it's important that you get the regular full fares. You shouldn't look into 50% discounted prices (which are displayed by default as many Swiss residents have a discount pass). Also be careful with Supersaver tickets while calculating. They aren't always available, their prices fluctuate and the prices displayed in the timetable only count if you buy those tickets at the same moment. Availability and fares can be different a few hours later.

The 4 steps described under "How to find ticket prices (advanced timetable)" at https://www.myswissalps.com/timetable explain how you can see normal, non-discounted fares. I hope that helps you out!