Help booking Golden Pass with a day in Interlaken

Hello,

On June 11 my husband and I would like to get on the earliest possible Golden Pass Scenic train in Montreux and make it to Lucerne in the evening, with a full day stop in Interlaken.

We will appreciate a help to book the train tickets (do we need reservations separately?) with the ability to stop in Interlaken, store our luggage there, join a day tour to the Jungfrau and vicinity, and then get on the train to complete the day in Lucerne.

Is there a service that would arrange the entire trip for us?

Thank you in advance,

AK

Hi AK, thanks for joining us!

The 7:44 train is the first official Panoramic train (see the timetable). You'll be in Interlaken around 11:00, which is too late to join guided tours (the ones I know depart earlier). I'd recommend to take a train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, Kleine Scheidegg, Grindelwald and back to Interlaken. Then take the Golden Pass line to Lucerne.

You can send your luggage to Lucerne or take it along and store it in lockers in Interlaken: myswissalps.com/ train/practical/ luggage.

As for the costs: that depends on your other travel plans in Switzerland. Once you have a list of all your trips, including cable cars, boat trips, etc., you can pick a rail pass as explained here.

Dear Arno,

Thank you so much for such a prompt reply.

I think that it would be best for us to take the morning Golden Pass Panoramic straight to Lucerne and consider an organized all-day tour to Jungfray on the following day.

Any ticket advice and tour reccomdation will be appreciated.

Thanks again,

AK

You're welcome AK! From Lucerne, there's this well reviewed guided day tour to the Jungfraujoch: viator.com/tours/Lucer ne/Jungfraujoch-Top-of-Europe-Day-Trip-from-Lucerne/d576-2460JUNG_L.

Thanks again!

I am trying to figure out how to book the Golden Pass from Montreux to Lucerne and the booking sites list train numbers, but do not indicate the types.

Also, is it worth splurging on VIP seats and how to do so?

Also, I do not see any direct trains so it appears I need to book two trips. Please, advise best option.

Thank you in advance!

Hi AK,

You don't need to book seats, apart from the VIP seats if you want them (I'd recommended it). Please see myswissalps.com/ goldenpass/ tickets. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, for example, you just board any train on the Golden Pass line. No tickets or bookings required. There are indeed no direct trains, you need to change at least twice.

I'd recommend to first pick a rail pass based on all your plans, as suggested in my first post.

Hi, Arno,

I just replied to your correspondence with SR1000 re: GoldenPass reservations. I am very disappointed with the website. I have already booked Swiss Travel Pass so the VIP reservation was the only addition left to purchase for our trip. I have also contacted Goldenpass customer support for any assistance in recovering my booking, but I have no proof of it. Any other ideas?

Hi AK,

Yes, that site is not very handy at all. It's not ours, so I can't help with failed bookings. Were you actually charged for that booking? If not, you can try again. If you did get charged, the GoldenPass people will have to solve this for you.

Dear Arno,

I just completed the reservation and received confirmation email. Thanks again!

Great, enjoy the ride!

Dear Arno, one more question.

It appears that our Golden Pass train 3118 on June 11 arrives Zweissimen at 11: 32 and next train to Interlaken is at 11:38. Will we be able to make it? Next is in another 2 hours so we would like to make the earlier train to get to Lucerne at a reasonable time.

Re there other options to get to Lucerne from Zweissimen?

No problem at all. Short transfer times are perfectly normal in Switzerland and are considered efficient. I understand it feels a bit hasty, but in reality one almost always makes a connection like this. If not, you can take the next train at 12:01 (see the timetable).

Thank you, Arno!