Hi,
I am figuring out our route from Milan to Murren and would appreciate someone checking my plans. It looks like the train can get me from Milan (via Domodossola, Brig, and Spiez) into Interlaken. Am I correct that from there I take a local train ( or cog train? gondola?) into Lauterbrunnen (and then into Murren)? I am traveling with two kids and want to have this down cold!
Thank you for any help!
Faith
Hi Faith,
From Interlaken Ost it is a private train line (not a cogwheel - a good old fashioned train) into Lauterbrunnen. Make sure you get on the right car as half the train will go to Lauterbrunnen, and half will go to Grindelwald. From Lauterbrunnen you can get to Murren by taking the bus just across the street from the station out to the gondola station in Stechelberg. The first stop up the gondola is Gimmelwald, and the second is Murren... it is the same gondola that, if you kept going up it, would take you to the top of the Schilthorn.
Faith, you can see this entire run on www.sbb.ch but you can only see Milan/Interlaken Ost on www.trenitalia.com (reason coming up).
Since you will most likely be purchasing your tickets in Italy, the Trenitalia screens do not show the private trains and gondolas from Interlaken into the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The reason that you can't see these systems on Trenitalia is that the Swiss want to be paid in Swiss Francs for these runs and you can't do that in Italy.
Not to worry. When you get to Italy, book your Milan/Interlaken Ost ticket. When you get to Interlaken Ost, you can buy your Interlaken Ost/Murren tickets there. They will accept Visa or Swiss Francs. Then, walk out to track 2A and take the 20 minute ride on the train into Lauterbrunnen. It's a very scenic ride along a river. It's not a cog train.
Now, how to get quick Swiss Francs. When you change trains at Spiez (and you will), simply run around to the other side of the train station and make a withdrawl from the ATM there. You get Swiss Francs in Switzerland.
Next, there are two ways to get to Murren. The Swiss train site will route you from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg on a bus from Lauterbrunnen (10 minutes) where you get the gondola to Gimmelwald and then at Gimmelwald, change to a gondola to Murren. The other way is to walk across the street from the Lauterbrunnen train station to Gondola up to Grutschalp where you transfer to a cog train for a short ride into Murren. Either way is fine. You will love the whole experience.
We just did this trip in June 2008 with 20 high school kids. Yes, the route you have chosen is correct. If you need Swiss Francs then you can do the ATM thing like the previous poster said. However, there is a very handy ATM just next to the COOP supermarket in Muerren. Easily accessible.
Please note that since you are traveling with your kids that they will be able to travel with you for free in Switzerland if you have the free Swiss Family Card OR if you purchase a Junior Card (16chf)for them in Switzerland.
Thank you TIm, Larry and Steven! This is excellent information and allows me to rest easy and enjoy the trip (and the planning for it)! I appreciate your taking the time to respond.!
Faith
