[Neil]

20 July 2019 at 12:15:12 #822948

My wife and I will be in Switzerland for a week in September. It will be our first visit. We are both 68. I’ve tried to figure which rail pass is best, but I’m finding it difficult. Travelling from Rome via train. Our first stop in Switzerland will be Brig. We are based in Wengen. We want to go to Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn. Which would be the better train pass? Half-Fare or Bernese Oberland pass. We will spend our entire time in the Bernese Oberland region. Also, other than the two sights mentioned, where else should we go? Thanks for any assistance.–I appreciate your time . Cheers.

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[Removed user]

20 July 2019 at 13:09:38 #918234

first, let me start by declaring I am no expert 😂 I did ask a here because I travelling to there in September.

like you, I will be staying in wengen. places I will. be visiting are:

Grindelward, Kleine Scheidegg, Mannlinchen, Murren, Winterberg, Interlaken, Harder Kulm, Bern, Thun and maybe Oechinensee

I was comparing the Jungfrau Regional Pass, and Bernese Oberland Pass, and while I am still not too sure, it seems like the Bernese Oberland Pass seems better for me.

[ioana]

20 July 2019 at 14:09:04 #918235

Hello Neil,

It is only after you have decided on every trip for each day that you can choose the best travel pass. In 2017 our best choice was the Jungfrau Travel Pass, last year it was the Bernese Oberland Regional Pass and this year will be the Half Fare Card.

Other than what you have mentioned, you could add going up to First and from there walk to Bachalpsee, walk from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg (both very scenic on a clear day), Schynige Platte, a cruise on lake Brienz, and then in Brienz take the train up to Brienzer Rothorn, Aareschlucht , Ballenberg Open Air Museum, Trummelbach Falls.

And yes, seing what Leecsjimmy wrote, Oeschinensee is amazing. The views are spectacular and the best ones are from the Heuberg Panorama Loop. If you don’t mind going a little further one day, then Oeschinensee near Kandersteg is well worth the time and effort.

[Annika]

20 July 2019 at 15:21:25 #918236

Hi Neil, welcome to MySwissAlps!

Which pass is best, depends on a number of factors. Actually you’d have to go through a process of detailed calculations to know for sure. It’s explained at http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass. If that takes too much time, you’ll have to make a reasonable guess based on your (estimated) plans.

If you plan to spend all of your time in the Bernese Oberland, then the Regional-Pass Bernese Oberland makes sense: http://www.myswissalps.com/re gionalpassberneseoberl and. Its coverage in the Jungfrau region around Wengen, but also around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, is pretty good. You can study validity details at http://www.myswissalps.com/re gionalpassberneseoberl and/validity. It won’t cover all of your inbound trip from Rome though, so you’d have to get additional tickets as far as Brig. Please refer to http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/italy. Nor is the quick Lötschberg base tunnel connection between Visp and Spiez covered, so you’ll have to use the Lötschberger RegioExpress trains via Goppenstein and Kandersteg when heading towards Spiez-Interlaken-Wengen. It will slow things down a bit, but on the other hand it’s a great scenic alternative to the longer train tunnel. You’ll find details using the timetable at http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable, adding some “via stations”such as Goppenstein or Kandersteg.

If you prefer the freedom to travel in larger areas, e.g. in case weather is better in other regions than the Bernese Oberland, it’s better too look into nation-wide passes such as the 8 day Swiss Travel Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass) or the Swiss Half Fare Card (http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecard).