July 2018 I will be traveling by myself (55 yr old woman) from Venice to Munich. Once in Munich I will be picked up by relatives. I have a week to make the journey from Venice to Munich, and would love to spend time in Gimmelwald. Do I try to figure out all the train routes? Renting a car is too expensive when you start in Italy and end in Germany. Or perhaps I should start and return in Italy, then take a train to Munich? I speak German fluently and am not intimidated by driving in the mountains. I'm overwhelmed and want to do this right, so I would love suggestions on the best way to get around and travel at my own pace. Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
I have done alot of what u are interested in. While I had a car for a portion I would highly recom using the train. It is much more relaxing, with freq schedules and low in cost. Also your routing should be quite easy. Realize once u get to Lauterbrunnen Valley area where Gimmelwald is. The area is virtuallly car free. Trains, gondolas or sim take you to the summits and villages. A car would actually limit your enjoy,ent of the area. Gimmelwald car free has very little lodging and mostly quite rustic. u may wish to stay in Murren or the valley floor which is close by and accessible and also very beautiful.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34267 posts
You don't need to be daunted by the trip from Venice to Gimmelwald by train. It is really very easy.
Just take it one step at a time. Get Rick Steves' Switzerland book which even has maps and explains the Berner Oberland very well.
Step 1 - Get from your hotel to the train station in Venice - Venezia Santa Lucia. Easy - just take a vaporetto up the Grand Canal and get off at Ferrovia and it is right there. Walk up the steps or ramp and into the station!
Step 2 - A fast train from Venezia Santa Lucia to Milano Centrale (Milan). You will have a reserved seat and it is very comfortable and fast.
Step 3 - Change trains to the Eurocity train (you'll have a reserved seat on that too) from Milano Centrale to Bern or Basel. Get off at Spiez.
Step 4 - Change at Spiez to any train to Interlaken Ost and get off at the last stop.
Step 5 - Cross to the platform for the little train up the hill. Half will be for Lauterbrunnen, the other half will be for Grindelwald, they are clearly marked on the doors. Get in the half for Lauterbrunnen. Get off at the last stop.
Step 6 - the final step. Your choice, clearly noted in the book, of either a Postbus outside the station to the cable car station in Stechelberg and cable car up one stop to Gimmelwald OR cable car across the road from the Lauterbrunnen station up to Grutschalp, the little train along the cliff to Mürren, then walk through Mürren to the cable car down to Gimmelwald or walk down if you don't have luggage.
Step 7 - You're there...
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
thelewises7, you said "Do I try to figure out all the train routes?". You don't need to figure it out yourself, the railway company websites will do that for you.
Go to the DB (Deutsche Bahn) webste: https://www.bahn.de
Enter from: Venezia Santa Lucia, to: Gimmelwald and a date and a time (2018 times may not yet be loaded, just pick a date in November this year). It will find you the quickest end-to-end route.
You can switch the DB website to English, but you said you were OK in German.
For a good briefing on train travel on this route see: https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Venice.htm#Venice-Switzerland
There is no road access to Gimmelwald, train, cable car or on foot only!