Traveling to Switzerland late May early June this year. Thinking of flying into Geneva and then going to Zermatt, as first step in our Travel. Then going from Zermatt to Lauterbrunnen Valley, etc.. Are there direct trains from Geneva to Zermatt? Or is it better to fly into Zurich to,start our trip. Coming from America.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11871 posts
You will need to get familiar with the Swiss train system for all of your transportation planning https://www.sbb.ch/en. Establish an account and download the app so you can buy tickets and have them on your phone. Note that the fare that first shows up assumes you have a Half-Fare Card. Depending on how long you will be in Switzerland and what your overall itinerary, this is a discount opportunity that might work for you. https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad/swiss-halffare-card.html.
In the Lauterbrunnen area, consider a Berner Oberland Pass https://www.berneroberlandpass.ch/en/pass-and-infos/the-ticket/ or a Jungfrau Pass https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfrau-travel-pass/. There are additional discounts on each if you have a Half-Fare Card.
Posted by
Irving
3337 posts
There are no direct trains from Geneva’s airport to Zermatt that takes 4h and involves a transfer. A train from Geneva’s airport to Lauterbrunnen takes 3h 45m with two connections.
A train from Zurich’s airport to Zermatt takes 3h 30m with one transfer. A train from Zurich’s airport to Lauterbrunnen takes 2h 45m with two connections.
Posted by
Green Bay
21555 posts
They cannot have direct trains from Geneva Airport to Zermatt because the trains to Zermatt are narrow gage trains. So you will have to change trains at Visp and there is no way around that.
Posted by
16 posts
The best connection from Geneva Airport to Zermatt is to go with the train. It is around 4 hours and you have to change train in Visp after a little more than 2 hours. You will follow the beautiful lake "Lac Leman" for around one hours with lovely mountains on the other side of the lake. The next part, a bit more than one hour, to Visp.....you will pass some vineyards and be surounded by mountains. After you have change train you will climb with the train up to Zermatt in a truly beautiful alpine landscape. I have traveled from Geneva to Zermatt the last 15 years many times every year and I still like it a lot.