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Train travel from Varenna to Murren, Switzerland

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Will be a first time train traveler in Europe flying into Rome and out of Zurich next September. Want a mix of cities--Rome and Florence and nature/hiking. My overall itinerary for the trip is as follows:
Rome: 3 nights, Florence: 3 nights, Pisa/Lucca 1 night, Cinque Terre 2 nights. Varenna/Lake Como 1 or 2 nights? Murren 3 or 4 nights, Lucerne 1 or 2 nights, Zurich 1 night. I've figured out the train travel between Rome to Florence to Pisa and Lucca.

Struggling deciding what the best route would be going from Varenna to Murren. Would love suggestions on the following:

  1. Best train routes (both in cost and time) going from Bonasolla (Cinque Terre area) to Varenna (Lake Como).
  2. Best train route from Varenna to Murren? How long and how expensive.
  3. Since I will be traveling in 2 countries what's my best/cheapest option for buying tickets. Keeping in mind I would like to get discounts on boat/train/cable cars in Switzerland.
  4. Is 4 nights too long for Murren, should I consider a couple of nights in another village in Berland Oberland (Grindewald or Lauterbrunnen). We're hoping for nice hikes and scenery during this portion of the trip.

Thanks in advance for all/any advice.

Marge

Posted by
8889 posts

Morris,
1) Bonasolla to Varenna - look it up on Trenitalia.
2) For Varenna to Mürren I would recommend the SBB (Swiss Railways) site: http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Because, Trenitalia does not show Swiss internal trains, only trains to and from Italy. SBB does show Italian internal trains. And, for Italy to the Berner Oberland you do not always change at Spiez, there are also options changing at Brig.

3) For buying tickets, split the purchase, Varenna - Swiss border (Domodossola) on Trenitalia and from there to Mürren on SBB with your discount (½ price card?).

4) Grindewald, Lauterbrunnen Wengen etc. are all easy day trips from Mürren. No point in splitting your stay.

Posted by
473 posts

We prefer Wengen. It's just across the valley with easier access and more accommodations. Still car free and gorgeous.

Posted by
2714 posts

Four nights is not too long for Murren. In fact I consider it the bare minimum. Once you get there, you will not want to leave! There's tons to do, including lots of great hiking, and you need a few days to maximize your chances of getting one or more sunny days.

Posted by
32213 posts

morris,

A few comments to add to the others.....

  1. The trip from Bonassola to Varenna will be about 5.5 hours, with two changes. As Chris mentioned, check Trenitalia for the solutions. Note that the station in Varenna is officially called Varenna-Esino.
  2. The trip from Varenna to Mürren will take about seven hours with 5 or 6 changes, depending on which departure you choose. You can see all the solutions on the SBB.ch or Bahn.de websites. One important point to note is that there are two routes you can use from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren, and you'll need to know that when you buy tickets. I'd suggest using the Mürren BLM route.
  3. Buying tickets is very easy. You can buy either at local stations or online on the rail network websites or at www.trainline.eu which sells at the same prices. I'll add some specific information for Italy below. The subject of "discounts" in Switzerland is somewhat complicated and will require some number crunching to determine the most cost effective option for the places you'll be visiting. The Half Fare card is often a good option, but you'll have to look at the choices. This website may help - https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/switzerland-rail-passes .
  4. No, I don't think 4 nights is too long for Mürren. In fact, you may wish you had booked more time. I've stayed in Lauterbrunnen the last few trips, as it's the transportation hub for that area, and therefore more convenient to get to either side of the valley. Mürren is also a great choice, and a big favourite with many here.

Regarding Italian trains, a few points to note.....

  • You can save some money with advance purchase tickets on the express trains, such as the Freccia or Intercity. However, you must be willing to commit to a specific train, as the tickets have compulsory seat reservations that are specific to train, date and departure time. The tickets can ONLY be used on the one train listed on the ticket, and you board the wrong train by mistake, you'll be subject to hefty fines which will be collected on the spot.
  • There are no savings possible with the slower Regionale trains, so it's just as easy to buy tickets locally for those. However, with locally purchased Regionale tickets, you must validate these before boarding the train on the day of travel, or again subject to hefty fines!
Posted by
451 posts

Four nights in Murren or Wengen is preferred and will be greatly appreciated at the end of the trip. Do not stay in Zurich the night before your departure. Most here recommend staying in Lucern and taking the train from there to the train station at the airport. It is a little more than an hour direct service.

My only concern is your pace. It seems quite fast. Every time you change hotels, you lose a half day at least.

Enjoy.

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