72625 posts
Hi G mcdonald and welcome to MySwissAlps.com!
I can help you with the Swiss rail system, here is how it works: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/howtotravel.
As you are going to Germany, have a look at this one too: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/germany.
Regarding skiing, there are many great ski resorts in Switzerland: http://www.myswissalps.com/wheretogo/winter. If you are a beginner in skiing, make sure to check this one too: http://www.myswissalps.com/activities/winter/beginnerski.
Rail passes depend on your itinerary and where you want to ski. If you tell us more about your plans, we can help you better.
Happy planning 🙂
Ildiko
More about the Glacier Express: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress
72625 posts
Your basic journey would be Frankfurt – Basel SBB – Bern – Spiez – Visp – Zermatt.
There are some through trains from Frankfurt to Spiez (change to a Spiez – Visp train) , which would avoid changing trains at both Basel and Bern. I would recommend this option if carrying skis.
Zermatt – St Moritz can be by local trains or on the Glacier Express (GEX), again the GEX would avoid you having to change trains.
St Moritz – Frankfurt would be St Moritz – Landquart – Zurich HB – Basel – Frankfurt. Once again there are some direct through German ICE high speed trains from Landquart to Frankfurt (itinerary eg: St Moritz 10.47 Landquart 12.37 / 12.47 Frankfurt 17.52)
3 posts
Thank you for your help, it was extremely valuable 🙂
3 posts
Thank you for your reply Ildiko, I’d like to take you up on your offer to provide further assistance.
There will be two of us travelling from Frankfurt to Zermatt on 22 January 2023. I would prefer to reduce the number of stops so going from Frankfurt directly to Spiez and changing train for Visp – Zermatt.
On 27 January, we would like to take the Glacier Express (Excellence Class) to St Moritz.
31 January, St Moritz – Landquart – Frankfurt.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Warm regards, Gabriele
72625 posts
Hi Gabriele,
to reduce the changes from Frankfurt to Zermatt, you can also travel via Bern and Visp, this way you have to change 2 times and the whole route takes 6 hrs 24 mins according to the timetable.
Make sure to have a rail pass. If you are going to ski in Zermatt, you need a ski pass for Zermatt same for St. Moritz, if you would like to ski there too.
Between Frankfurt – Zermatt and for the Glacier Express and St- Moritz – Frankfurt you need a rail pass and/or tickets and seat reservation. I recommend the Saver Day Passes for you, for those days. Have a look at the validity map: http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/validity. You can use the Saver Day Passes from and to the Swiss border, so you should buy tickets for the Frankfurt – Swiss border leg of your trips. Also, you can use the Saver Day Pass on the Glacier Express. In this case, you still have to reserve your seats for the Excellence Class, you can do it here: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/tickets.
Make sure to reserve your Saver Day Passes in advance. Usually buying earlier means a cheaper price. You can buy them here: http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/price.
I hope this helps,
Ildiko