Best rail pass: Zurich-Zermatt-Zurich 3 days

  • Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    15 March 2018 at 2:41:46 #814777

    We are two couples who will be arriving in Zurich from Basel on April 16th. Transportation is taken care of from Basel to Zurich. We will be in Zurich on the 17th and have reservations in Zermatt for the evenings of the 18th and 19th. We want to take the Glacier Express to Zermatt on the 18th. On the 20th, we need to go to the Zurich airport. Can you please advise what would be the best rail passes for us to year. We understand that we will need to reserve seats on the Glacier Express.

    Any help is appreciated.

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    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    15 March 2018 at 4:03:29 #878849

    Hello Phlash,

    When you say “take Glacier Express to Zermatt” do you mean from Chur or St Moritz? You could take a train from Zurich to either of those place to pick up the GEX.

    If you took the train from Zurich to Chur in time to catch the GEX on 18th then a 3-day Swiss Travel Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/on edaytravelpass/details) would work best for you I’d say.

    Use the Swiss Train Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) to work out timings. The Glacier Express is denoted GEX on the timetable Chur to Zermatt via Andermatt.

    From Zermatt back to Zurich if you travel via Kandersteg to Interlaken. And from Interlaken to Zurich via Luzern you will then travel first to Spiez on the Regio-Express Lötschberger train over the traditional, more than 100 year old mountain route, giving you a wonderful view along the impressive peaks and down into the Rhone Valley. From Spiez you will follow the Golden Pass Line (http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass) as far as Luzern.

    The conventional wisdom regarding a pass is to advise that you work your way through “How to choose the best travel pass” (http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass) but in this case I think the Swiss Travel Pass is the answer you’ll get.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    16 March 2018 at 0:30:00 #878850

    Thanks for the helpful response. I forgot to ask if we want to take any of the trains in Zermatt, would a 1/2 fare be more useful.

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    16 March 2018 at 2:04:23 #878851

    Either the Swiss Travel Pass or the Swiss Half-fare Card provide 50% off on Gornergrat and Klein Matterhorn trips at Zermatt. The Swiss Half-fare Card looks attractive when you see the lower initial cost. But in reality you have to spend CHF240 (including the initial CHF120) before you start to make any savings.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    16 March 2018 at 2:58:16 #878852

    Thanks again. May have more questions once we look at everything together

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