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Another rail pass post :)

Posted by on

Hello!

We are taking advantage of some (relatively, lol) cheap airfare and joining my husband on a business trip to Basel the week before Thanksgiving. I LOVE to plan trips and itineraries, but this is the biggest trip we have taken to date, and I have the least amount of time to plan!

Our girls are 5 & 7. We will be in Basel for 6 nights and then are spending the last 2 in Zurich. We return home on Thanksgiving Day. With the kids it is much easier to have a “home base” instead of packing up and moving to a different hotel every few days.

My biggest question is what kind of rail pass to get. These are the train rides I know that we will be taking:

  • Zurich airport to Basel (my husband’s company will pay for his fare, so just for me and the girls)
  • Day trip to Colmar
  • Day trip to Freiburg (to visit some coworkers)
  • Day trip to Lucerne, with the hopes of visiting Pilatus or Rigi
  • Basil to Zurich
  • Zurich city to Zurich airport (again, my husband can expense this part)

We do also have the possibility for one more day trip (maybe to Bern??), but I think we might just hang around and enjoy Basel.

I truly appreciate any help. I have been reading these forums, been on the Swiss rail sites, downloaded the app, and the information is helpful, but I still can’t seem to figure out the best rail pass, if any, to get.

Danke!

Posted by
20072 posts

The 3 of you can go from Basel Badischer Bahnhof to Freiburg and back for 24 EUR if you leave after 9 am weekdays using regional trains, or leave earlier for 29 EUR round trip.

Day trip to Colmar and back from SBB station can be done for 44.60 EUR for the 3 of you if you avoid rush hour trains, like leave at 8:21 or after, and return at 4:51 pm or 6:51 pm and after.

For trips in Switzerland, the 5 yo rides free, the 7 yo half price. I don't think you have enough tickets to justify any kind of pass or Half Fare Card. While staying at a hotel in Basel, you will get a guest card so you can use free public transport in Basel.

For a day trip to Luzern, you can buy Super Saver tickets a few days in advance for a discount if you are willing to commit to a fixed train specific itinerary. Normally it is 34 CHF each way for an adult. You could get that for as much as a 50% discount. Same for the trip back to Zurich.

Posted by
32735 posts

Day trip to Freiburg (to visit some coworkers)

Do you mean Freiburg im Breisgau on the German side just across the river from Colmar or Fribourg in Switzerland, just down from Bern?

If I had two children with me I would go to Bern and show them the bears, the miniature railway at the top of the Gurten funicular, the views from the Rosengarten (roses of course will be asleep for the winter), and all the multi-colour and interesting fountains on so many of the intersections, as well as the covered walkways.

I don't think that Zürich can compete, certainly not for kids - and probably not for adults either. Just my opinion of course.

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks so much for the responses! I meant the Freiburg in Germany. I will definitely look into Bern, as well! I appreciate the recommendations.

Posted by
8889 posts

Yes, Bern is better than Zürich for a day trip. Hopefully the bears won't be hibernating yet.
Do not confuse Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) with Fribourg (Switzerland, also known as Freiburg in German). It is easy to do, as Swiss railways ticket machines only recognise Swiss Freiburg, and don't sell tickets to German Freiburg, but there are trains from Basel to German Freiburg, but not to Swiss Freiburg (you need to change in Bern).

Luzern is a good idea for a day trip, plus a boat on the lake.

There is lots for your two girls to do in Basel. I don't know when you will be here ("the week before Thanksgiving" - we don't have a Thanksgiving in Basel).
The Herbstmesse (Autumn Fair) is on from 27th October to 11th November., with fair attractions in various spaces around the city. I was watching them putting up the big wheel today in the Münsterplatz (cathedral square). A must, great views from the top.
Details here: http://www.herbstmesse.bs.ch/en.html
And from the tourist site here: https://www.basel.com/en/autumn-fair

Here is some info about things to do for kids from the official tourist site: https://www.basel.com/en/Basel-is-an-inspiration/Basel-for-families

Don't forget to take one of the passenger ferries (Fähre) across the river. Photo (Münster ferry with Münster (cathedral) in background: http://www.faehri.ch/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Muensterfaehre-1.jpg
Info: https://www.basel.com/en/Media/Attractions/Sightseeing/Ferries

There is the toy museum on Barfüsserplatz: http://www.spielzeug-welten-museum-basel.ch/en/

The paper museum is recommended. It sounds boring, but kids get to make their own paper and I have had good reports from parents (website appears to be only in German, but I have been told they speak English to the kids): http://www.papiermuseum.ch/

And if all else fails, there is Basel Zoo: https://www.zoobasel.ch/en/index.php

Finally, Basel is a kid-friendly environment. The centre is pedestrians only, no vehicles apart from deliveries and trams on the one main route through the middle. You do not need to hold their hands all the time.
For example, the daily market in the Market Square in front of the town hall (photo: http://www.kiechle.com/trips/basel/basel37.jpg ). Lots of "eye candy" for small eyes.

If you are staying in a hotel in Basel, you get free public transport in Basel for the duration of your stay.

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