[Removed user]

6 October 2019 at 16:23:27 #824101

Hello,

I am planning a somewhat spur-of-the-moment trip through Switzerland. The only thing I am sure of is that I will arrive in Bern via train from Paris that Saturday 19-Oct-2019. Switzerland seems like a very rich country with lots to see, but to simplify things I am thinking of keeping the trip to the Bernese Oberland area, since I am more interested in a nature-focused, active vacation (even though the cultural areas of Basel and Zurich sound fascinating as well). Some of the questions I had:

– It seems like Interlaken is the central town here. If I reserve lodging there for 4 or 5 nights will I have easy access to some of the excursions I wanted to experience? Ex.: Jungfraujoch “top of Europe” rail tour, hiking in Lauterbrunnen (wengen-maennlichen according to SBB site), even mountain biking/E-mountain biking in Grindelwald or Airolo

– Do any excursions in the BO area need booking in advance? Each day in Interlaken, I would prefer to see what looks interesting that day, and book the day of. If that approach is ill-advised it would be best to know now so I can start planning

– It seems like the whether it is better to choose the 4-day Swiss Travel Pass vs. the Half Fare Card is highly dependent on specific itinerary. I was planning on just doing the 4-day Swiss Travel Pass for easy train access, since I am not yet sure of my itinerary. Just wanted to make sure why there is any obvious reason why the Half Fare Card is preferable (I am already aware that I will get less of a discount on the Interlaken to Jungfrau transit if I just have the SP)

– Ultimately on the Wed or Thurs of that week I will be taking a train ride to Austria, likely Salzburg. Does the discount from the SP or Half Fare card cover that train ride, even though it crosses borders?

Thank you to whoever takes the time to read this and help a clueless American out. It’s greatly appreciated.

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[Slowpoke]

6 October 2019 at 20:40:35 #923252

Hi JL 1991 –

Welcome to the Forum. You’ve planned a nice trip. However, even with 4 days, you’ll wish you had more time in the Bernese Oberland. 😉

http://www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland

You’ll be traveling very near the end of the Fall season in the high Alps. Most cableways stop operating for between-season maintenance on October 28th, and reopen in December for the skiers. By the end of September many hotels and restaurants have shut down as well, though many will still be open. The cograil between Lauterbrunnen -Kleine Scheidegg – Grindelwald ( branch to Jungfraujoch) runs all year.

And, you have at least some chance that trails above 1500 or 2000 meters may be closed due to snow. However, if they are not, you’ll have some beautiful views in clear dry air.

This map can orient you, although it does not show altitude:

map.search.ch/?pos=639966,166392&z=32 &poi=bergbahn,halteste lle,zug

I’ve turned on icons for transport stops, using the menu, under Points of Interest ( star in a circle), and zoomed in to zoom level 32, which makes the rail lines pop=up.

There are topo maps for altitudes:

map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=swisstopo&lang=e n&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo .pixelkarte-farbe&catalogNodes=139 2,1538,1396,1430,1436& layers=ch.swisstopo.sw isstlm3d-wanderwege&E=2634475.9 7&N=1156846.87&zoom=6

Your questions –

1.- Interlaken is a good base but is not exactly “central.” It is a gateway between the rest of Switzerland via main-line rail, and the good stuff near the Jungfrau. So, probably, Lauterbrunnen or one of the other villages could work better, as l0ng as you don’t plan day trips outside the Jungfrau region. See comparisons on this page:

http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion

2.- No. Go with the weather, which can change frequently.

<<” it would be best to know now so I can start planning”>> That is true anyway. Lots to do and see.

Use the SBB timetable to plan travel times- valuable instructions here:

http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

3.- You understand the rail passes well. Hardly “clueless.” 😉

http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses

I let the moderators deal with specific questions aboput rail passes. For example, there is a a pass specific to the region, as well as the ones you have mentioned.

4.- Austria –

You get Swiss rail pass coverage as far as the border:

http://www.myswissalps.com/tr avel/toswitzerland/tra in/tickets

Slowpoke

[Removed user]

7 October 2019 at 1:01:01 #923253

Hi Slowpoke,

Thank you for your very informative answer. It sounds like staying in Lauterbrunnen is a better idea for exploring the highlands. I hope that the weather doesn’t affect my trips, but it sounds like there can still be plenty to do even if there are closures.

I will reach out to others on the Switzerland Rail forum for specific rail-related questions. Based on your map links it looks like rail travel is definitely the way to go in the BO.

Two more questions:

– if many hotels are shut down by mid/late October, is Airbnb a good alternative?

– I’m sure mountain biking is fairly popular in the BO area as well. Is it too cold and/or snowy by then to rent a bike and try out a few trails?

Thank you,

JL

[Removed user]

7 October 2019 at 6:44:20 #923254

Hello JL,

To find Hotels and Rentals for the region you’re looking at please check the Hotel/Rentals below:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland/hotels
– http://www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland/rentals

Find our thoughts about AirBnB in below link:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ac commodation/airbnb

On this page you can find the biking trails throughout Switzerland, you should still be fine with biking in the area, however, getting local information upon arrival is always recommendable.
– map.schweizmobil.ch/?lang=en&layers=Velolan d&bgLayer=pk&logo=yes& season=summer&resoluti on=500&E=2631750&N=118 9000

Regarding the rail pass question, you’re looking at the right selection of passes. Find details about them in below links as well as a very helpful spreadsheet in the last link to support calculations.
– http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrautravelpass
– http://www.myswissalps.com/re gionalpassberneseoberl and
– http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/austria
– http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecard
– http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass

Best and get back to us anytime for further support.

Steph

[Slowpoke]

7 October 2019 at 8:12:58 #923255

HI JL –

<<“Based on your map links it looks like rail travel is definitely the way to go in the BO.”>>

Your choices are:

1.- Rail.

2.- Cableways generally until October 27th. Note that the cableway (eine Gondelbahn – small cars) between Grindelwald Grund is being upgraded. So, until later this year, there will be an ersatz bus covering that trip. The LWM cableway from Wengen (at Wengiboden) to Männlichen LWM station stop ( Lauterbrunnen-Wengen- Männlichen cableway) is eine Luftseilbahn. ( Large car). Image attached.

3.-Bus.

4.- Personal transport – foot, bicycle,etc.

5.- In the Jungfrau Region (JR)of the BO, automobile as far as Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg ( parking areas) and Grindelwald ( parking areas). The rest is car-free.

This website is a goldmine of resources for all forms of personal mobility, including mountain bikes, in Switzerland:

http://www.schweizmobil.ch/en /summer.html

http://www.schweizmobil.ch/en /mountainbiking-in-switzerland.html

Note that it has an explanation for the useful color-coding of trails as used in SwissTopo:

http://www.schweizmobil.ch/en /hiking-in-switzerland/more-wl/hiking-trail-network-and-signalization.html

Note that this comment is not quite right –

<<“hiking in Lauterbrunnen (wengen-maennlichen according to SBB site)”>

If you want to hike from Wengen to Männlichen, there is a strenuous trail with a 945 meter ascent, which has some exposure. Check it on the SwissTopo map that I linked. If you wish to use the cableway (image attached) , the schedule is available on the SBB website, actually, however, you will ride the LWM cableway. (Initials explained above.) In the timetable, you will see stations with “LWM” as part of the station name.

All the railways in the Jungfrau region are privately owned and managed. They are not part of the SBB, but as a service the SBB timetable covers all rail, all transport cableway and most excursion cableways, all bus routes, all lake boats.

They contract with the SBB and the Federation and Canton for public intercity transport as far as Mürren and Grindelwald and Wengen. Thus, the train from Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg is cheap public transport as far as Wengen,but continues as higher priced private excursion rail from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg.

<<“is Airbnb a good alternative?”>>

I refuse to use AirBnB because it is harming the full service country inns that I appreciate and stay at all over Switzerland.

This little bit of light reading, though some of the links are obsolete, has a lot of answers about the Jungfrau Region. It is accurate:

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/tips-about-wengen-and-the-jungfrau-region-by-kim

The author also recommends hotels in Wengen, where she stays routinely. So do I. I use the Hotel Bellevue. October 1 is their last day for the Summer season.

http://www.bellevue-wengen.ch/en/home.html

A couple of attached images will give you a good impression of the altitude changes in the area, when you think about biking or hiking.

Slowpoke

Attachments:

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   03d5a8a0-3468-4e10-996d-7e8091679200.jpg
   

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   19b38692-5e44-4e92-a594-b9db3c7e494b.jpg
   

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   c9254342-1ace-4662-b3eb-5b2b48e15183.jpg
   

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   b8fe52ce-bd82-4aed-b341-9df1945cb04d.jpg
   

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   225a5b1c-ba26-4bd5-a4d0-843c18b69cd0.jpg
   

[Meemskirk]

7 October 2019 at 17:13:53 #923256

Having just returned from 2 fabulous weeks in the BO, I would add:

• If you plan to focus on the BO, you might consider the Jungfrau pass. It will cover everything from Lautenbrunnen up, and give you a better discount for Jungfraujoch. In this scenario you would pay the full rate to return to Bern.
• The STP will offer 50% off the Mannlichen and First cables, and 25% off the train to Kleine Scheidegg and then up to Jungfraujoch. I think the half fare card will get you 50% off to Jungfrau but not positive.
• You might consider Wengen or Grindelwald as a base to save you time based on the activities you mentioned. Wengen is much smaller but a little closer in.
• In Murren, there is a wonderful Via Ferrata I’d highly recommend for someone fit and adventurous!

See my posts in trip reports for more details.

Enjoy!