Lugano to Zermatt using Swiss Travel Pass

  • Rodrigosj
    Participant
    6 posts
    19 February 2018 at 14:56:06 #814424

    Hello

    I am planning my trip through Switzerland in May / 2018.

    I plan to do all train rides using the Swiss Travel Pass.

    I’m researching about Lugano’s trip to Zermatt on SBB’s website, but there are a lot of quicker sections going back to Milan.

    I looked at the validity area map for the Swiss Travel Pass on the SBB website, and the route covered by the pass would be passing through Locarno and Domodossola.

    However, this little route appears in the results of searches on SBB’s website and application.

    I wonder if this would really be the only way to get from Lugano to Zermatt with the Swiss Travel Pass.

    Thanks a lot!

  • Effortlessly learn from the questions and answers in the forum. Receive a daily e-mail with new discussions.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    19 February 2018 at 17:38:46 #876780

    Hi Rodrigosj,

    If you’re not in a hurry, you could go via Andermatt. You basically take then a part of the Gotthard Panorama Express and the Glacier Express route.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    19 February 2018 at 19:46:12 #876781

    Hi Rodrigos.

    This coming September 18, my wife and I will travel by trainl from Lugano to Zermatt. Check out the SBB timetable. We will book the 09.26am or 10.26am departure from Lugano to Zermatt, although there are 4 changes, this route is very scenic. Total time is 5h 28min.

    Route is: lugano to Giubiasco, to Locarno, to Domodossola, to Brig, to Zermatt.

    This route is quicker than going back through Milan.

    ( ( For your information: We will fly into Milan airport and transfer to Lugano for 2/3 days. Then to Zermatt by train. Then the Glacier express to St Moritz and Bernina Express to Tirano and back to Lugano.

    Let me know if this suggestion helps.

    Regards.

    Aidan and Yvonne.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    20 February 2018 at 3:25:29 #876782

    >> the route covered by the pass would be passing through Locarno and Domodossola.

    I agree with Aidan and Yvonne that this route is very scenic, and it includes the Centovalli scenic train between Locarno and Domodossola.

    If departure times fit in with your plans, you could also incorporate a scenic trip by PostBus over the Simplon Pass between Domodossola and Brig, instead of travelling underneath it in a railway tunnel.

    Should you be interested, I have written a trip report (including photos, and travelling in the opposite direction), which you can find under the heading Saas-Fee to Locarno on the following page:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/trip-report-late-august-to-mid-october-2016

    Alpenrose

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    20 February 2018 at 17:25:06 #876783

    If you use part of the glacier express, do you need a reservation? If yes, how much is the cost?

    Rodrigosj
    Participant
    6 posts
    21 February 2018 at 1:42:46 #876784

    I looked at the glacier express website and there are only a few times. I’m not sure, but I think the special train is what requires you to make the reservation with the extra payment for this one.

    It is that, in the research that I did, and having found a route from Lugano to Zermatt with passage in Andermatt, the stretch that goes there (Andermatt) does not coincide with the glacier express site schedules.

    In this way, I believe that this train that I think of taking (I’m interested in arriving in Zermatt as soon as possible), just follow the glacier express line, but it would not be the train that requires the reservation.

    I hope I am right about this as I do not mind the better train that need to pay extra for the reservation.

    For me, the window view will be the same, and I’m interested in arriving earlier in Zermatt and spending less (if possible, just using the Swiss Travel Pass).

    Please, if anyone knows more about it, let me know if that’s what I’m thinking.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    21 February 2018 at 7:28:36 #876785

    Hi bhaverhals and welcome to MySwissAlps!

    You can find a link here to make reservations on the Glacier Express train.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    21 February 2018 at 7:32:05 #876786

    Hi Rodrigosj,

    Yes, you only need reservations on the Glacier Express panoramic train – noted as GEX on the Swiss railways timetable when you search for your trip route.

    There are only 1-3 departures per day depending on the season for the GEX. All other trains are normal regional Swiss trains that follow the same route (no reservations required, just hop on with your Swiss Travel Pass).

    Rodrigosj
    Participant
    6 posts
    21 February 2018 at 12:48:28 #876787

    Thank you Lucas!

    Rodrigosj
    Participant
    6 posts
    21 February 2018 at 12:49:02 #876788

    Thank you Chantal!

  • The thread ‘Lugano to Zermatt using Swiss Travel Pass’ is closed to new replies.

About MySwissAlps

We’re passionate tourists and locals. We share tips about how to plan a trip to Switzerland. MySwissAlps was founded in 2002.

Get a free account for a worry-free trip

  • Join our 11050 members and ask us questions in the forum
  • Access to member-only promotions
  • Detailed maps and weather forecasts

Planning your first Switzerland adventure?

Get a jump-start with Annika’s 20-minute e-mail course, “Switzerland for beginners”. Subscribe to our newsletter to unlock the course.