First time to Switzerland, include Kandersteg?

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    11 April 2016 at 12:13:37 #808884

    i am planning a 6 days 5 nights trip in Switzerland in May. it’s my first time to Switzerland.

    i have read the posts and most people travel from Zurich down. However i will be traveling from Milan up and flying off from Zurich.

    the things i am planning to do are

    1. Rheinfall waterfalls

    2. taking a cable car up Mt Titlis/ Mt Pilatus

    3. Kandersteg

    with only 5 nights,

    1. should i stay in Lucerne and/or Zurich?

    2.i am planning to travel to Jungfraujoch. does it mean i should stay a night in Interlaken?

    3. can anyone advise which should i visit Mt Titlis/ Mt Pilatus?

    4. i see no one mentioning about Kandersteg though…. is it worth trying?

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    11 April 2016 at 21:42:40 #850630

    Hello and welcome to the forum. Good to hear you are able to visit Switzerland.

    A few thoughts for you to consider. For a short stay it would probably be best to have just one base to save the time involved in unpacking, packing, checking in and out etc. Perhaps Wilderswil might suit you? It is close enough to Interlaken to allow good travel connections but quieter and prettier than Interlaken. You should check the weather forecast before going up to Jungfraujoch as it is a long and expensive trip if all you see is clouds! It is possible to do a day trip to Lucerne to visit either Titlis or Pilatus travelling the pretty route over the Brunig pass from Interlaken to Lucerne. Mt. Rigi is also a possibility from Lucerne and is free with the Swiss Travel Pass.

    I would not go to the Rhine Falls unless you have late flight from Zurich in which case you could go to Zurich early in the morning, leave your luggage in lockers at Zurich and visit the falls before going to the airport.

    As for Kandersteg, we like it and it would be possible as a day trip. We have visited Oeschinensee from Kandersteg and it is beautiful.

    Do have some ideas in reserve in case the weather is not suitable for mountain top trips. Ballenberg Open Air museum is huge and you can see lots of interesting buildings gathered there from all over Switzerland and see exhibitions and demonstrations of traditional Swiss crafts. Or you could visit the city of Bern. Or do a lake cruise from Interlaken to Thun or on the other lake to Brienz.

    You should consider a travel pass of some sort. For convenience we always get the Swiss Travel Pass as it covers all trains, buses and boats on regular routes and gives 50% on cable cars, funiculars etc. (25% on trains from Wengen/Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch) Even though you are only there for 6 days, an 8 day pass will still save you money. It will cover cost from Swiss border to your chosen resort. The other possibility is the Half Fare card which involves showing your pass to purchase tickets. Order online so you can use it straight away. You need to purchase a ticket from Milan to Swiss border and will need reservations for that leg of your journey. Reservations for trains within Switzerland are not necessary.

    You can make detailed plans using the online timetable. That and the weather forecast are the most useful tools for a successful stay!

    I hope this will help with your planning. Please post again if you have specific questions we can help with.

    Have fun.

    Maggie

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    23 April 2016 at 9:02:28 #850631

    Thanks Maggie! 🙂

    We have decided to stay in Lucerne instead.

    Can i check if does the Swiss Travel Pass covers the cost for Bernina Express? I do know for Glacier Express it’s covered and i just have to pay for reservations fees.

    Also, could you advise if we want to get to Lucerne from Milan via Bernina Express, what should the route be like?

    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    23 April 2016 at 17:15:12 #850632

    Hi xuefang88,

    The Bernina Express is covered too, except for seat reservations:

    The route is Milan – Tirano – Chur – Lucerne or Milan – Lugano – Tirano – Chur – Lucerne. The latter includes the scenic bus ride as well. Please see myswissalps.com/ berninaexpress.

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    23 April 2016 at 23:24:58 #850633

    Thanks Arno! :))

    I guess I’ll take the first route without the bus.

    In the 6 days in Switzerland, I will most like be making day trips to Grindelwald, Zurich and Interlaken from Lucerne, I guess it makes more sense to buy the half fare card right? As compared to a 8 days pass…

    can train and bus tickets be bought from stations or it has to be booked online after getting the half fare pass?

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    23 April 2016 at 23:57:20 #850634

    <<“can train and bus tickets be bought from stations or it has to be booked online after getting the half fare pass?”>>

    Hi Xuefan88 –

    Train tickets for any route can be bought from automated machines at every train station in Switzerland.

    At manned stations, you can buy them from a real person.

    Slowpoke

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    24 April 2016 at 2:36:39 #850635

    Thanks Slowpoke! 🙂

    i was trying to book the seats on Bernina Express from Tirano to Lucerne. But i realise i can’t do that. i only have the option from Tirano to Chur. Am I not doing it right? Or do i have to change from Bernina Express to normal train from Chur to Lucerne?

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    24 April 2016 at 8:09:46 #850636

    Yes, you must change trains in Chur. Bernina Express are trains from RhB (Rhätische Bahn), Chur to Lucerne are trains from SBB (Schweizische Bundes Bahn).

    Greeting from the Netherlands, Brahms

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    24 April 2016 at 8:17:42 #850637

    The Glacier Express describes a particular set of trains with fixed starting and ending points, running on regular tracks. Other “non-Glacier Express” trains run over the same tracks at different times.

    The cars offer somewhat better sightseeing windows if I recall correctly. See the link below.

    As Brahms noted, the Glacier Express does not go to Luzern.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/gl acierexpress

    Slowpoke

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    24 April 2016 at 12:01:24 #850638

    Thanks Slowpoke and Brahms!

    i was going to purchase the swiss travel pass (8 days) only to realise it takes more than a week to receive the pdf link for priniting. Is there any way we can get them to email us the PDF link for printing by Wednesday if we order today (Sunday)?

    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    24 April 2016 at 12:24:23 #850639

    Hi xuefang88,

    No worries, it does not take that long. Please go to http://www.swissrailways.com/ en, start ordering the pass, and select “Online Ticket” once they present the delivery options (bottom of the list). You will receive the pass through e-mail in 3 business days or less, so you can print it at home, or even in your hotel if needed.

    Enjoy your stay!

    Removed user
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    24 April 2016 at 12:32:31 #850640

    it’s stated on the booking site that it will take 7days though…..

    “Online Ticket. Your order will be processed and a PDF link for printing your ticket will be sent to your email address at least 7 workings days prior to departure, unless your order was received less than 7 days before. Please remember to check your Spam Folder, should you not receive our email with the PDF link in the stipulated time.”

    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    24 April 2016 at 13:21:54 #850641

    Hi xuefang88,

    Actually that’s not what it says. It is indeed a confusing text, but this is what they try to explain: if you order more than a week before you travel, we (Swiss Railways) will e-mail it at least 7 days before you travel. This does not apply if you travel in less than a week from the moment you order. In that case we (Swiss Railways) will send it asap, and it takes 3 working days or less. The text does not mention the 3 working days, but the site does not let you order a pass for a date they can’t issue anymore. Currently you can order passes for April 28 (Thursday) or later. I’m not sure what your actual first travel date for the pass is.

    As you live in Singapore you can also order it through http://www.raileurope.com.sg/ pass/swiss-travel-pass-82. They will also e-mail it, in many cases within 1 business day. Today, you can still order through them to get a pass for April 27 (Wednesday). Tomorrow it won’t be possible anymore. Note that you can get a discount as discussed here.

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