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Bern Ober pass and deciding on Lucerne vs Interlaken.

Posted by on

I am coming in from Paris to Wengen from 6th July to 9th July, possibly in Interlaken or Lucerne on 10th July and flying out on 11th July from Zurich in afternoon. I am travelling with my 14yr old daughter. I am thinking the bern ober pass for $310 (280 +30 junior) would cover most of the days 4 in Wengen & around excursions (all cable cars, gondolas etc.). If I end up staying in Interlaken on 10th then I wouldn't have to worry about any excursions travel tix in Lucerne. Would this be a correct statement?

I would have to pay extra from Interlaken to Zurich as that would not be covered by Bernese ober pass. That would be approx. 85$ a full price it seems. So just with Ober pass the total would be $592 = 310+85+ 198 (99*2 for Juanfraujoch visit).

If I buy the half-fare card my price + bern ober card my cost would be $579 = 120+217 (discounted bern ober)+ 44 +198.

Does the above numbers make sense. I end up saving approx. 80 -85 on each of the options when compared to Swiss travel pass at 379 + 285 = $665 for Juanfrajouch.. So should I just do the halfcard +bern ober option?

Any reason I would need the Swiss Travel Pass if I do skip Lucerne? Will the Bern Ober pass/ half card help on the Paris to Wengen route at entry point in swiss? if so, how do I book the train ticket to show I have either of those passes?

Also, on a side note - My flight is on 11th at 1 pm from Zurich. I plan to take the 7 am train from Interlaken to Zurich which gets me there at approx. 9am. The only reason I was thinking of going to Lucerne on 10th is so that I could get closer to Zurich and also see the Lucerne city. But in reading seems by the time I get to Lucerne from Wengen and then check in /drop luggage I might barely have half a day to do things - and possibly won't have 5-6 hrs. needed for a Mt. Pilatus or Rigi excursion. So if I instead go to Interlaken then can just go and do Harden Klum, the Breinz lake and just explore Interlaken town and spend a light relaxed afternoon/evening before heading out.

I am just now deciding to drop Lucerne so still on the fence a bit unless someone here tells me it is possible to explore it after going in from Wengen and would not be a mad rush doing it..

Thanks for all the help!

Posted by
21139 posts

If I buy the half-fare card my price + bern ober card my cost would be $579 = 120+217 (discounted bern ober)+ 44 +198.

You are confusing this by mixing $ and CHF, even though they are close. If you get the Half Fare Card for 120 CHF plus the free Family Card, then it will be 196 CHF for the 4-day Berner Oberland Regional Pass. With the Family Card, you do not need the 30 CHF Child BORP pass. Interlaken Ost to Zurich Airport is 77 CHF full fare, so you will pay 38.50 CHF with the HFC.

You may also get a better discount to the Jungfraujoch with the HFC. Should cost 75 CHF rather than 99 CHF with the BORP.

If you buy the Paris-Wengen ticket from SBB, you will be asked for your discount. Put in Half Fare Card for you and a Junior Travel card for the child. See if there is a price difference.

Posted by
18 posts

Thanks Sam! Yes, I do realize I am mixing currencies, but for this exercise just assumed CHF = dollar for comparison purposes.

I think makes sense to do Bern Ober + HFC pass.

Any thoughts on my question to Lucerne? Since if doing that changes the above and then would blindly just but the swiss travel pass.

Posted by
21139 posts

Personally, I would go to Luzern. You could leave Wengen at 8:12 and be in Luzern by 10:55. Sit on the right hand side of the train to Luzern, very scenic trip. Instead of checking into a hotel, store your bags in a station locker, then go to Rigi Kulm on the boat to Vitznau. When you return, retrieve your bags and go to your hotel.

Posted by
18 posts

Ok. If I try to fit Lucerne in - I think the Bern ober pass would cover the ride from Wengen to Lucerne - The golden pass ride, correct?

and then the activities within Lucerne - mt rigi, lake boat ride would all be 50% with half fare?

still Bern Ober with a 75$ difference would be better? since in my calcs above for swiss pass I just added the flat fee for swiss car + juanfrajouch bit did not add in the all the discounted mountain activities' which I would have to pay extra with the swiss pass. so still Bern ober + half card would be the better option?

Thanks much for all your help!!

Posted by
18 posts

Also, for how long can I store luggage at Interlaken OST? If I am arriving from Paris at around 2 pm and would like to explore Interlaken before I head to hotel at Wengen - lunch, walk around a bit town, harder klum, breinz lake and then catch a train around 7pm to wengen. is this doable?

Posted by
2488 posts

The Berner Oberland Pass is valid till Bern, so you would only need a Bern - Zurich airport ticket if you spend your last day in Interlaken. (But I would just stay a day longer in Wengen).

This applies also in the other direction. If your BO pass will already be active on your arrival date you would only need a Paris - Bern ticket.

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