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Golden Pass Route

Posted by (California) on

Hello
I will be traveling to Switzerland in September and we definitely want to take the Golden Pass route (Montreux to Interlake or ???). We will start in Geneva (book a tour to Mont Blanc/ Chaminox, Annecy) and then take the train to Lausanne (day trips to Montreaux/Chillon). I see that there are two train routes to get to Interlaken (our ultimate destination is Gimmelwald) and would like to know if both or only one of these routes is the scenic Golden Route:
1. Montreaux to Zqeisimmen to Interlaken
2. Montreaux to Lausanne to Bern (we want to visit Bern also) to Interlaken

Are both of these considered the Golden Pass route or only #1?

I heard its less expensive to buy train tickets in Europe vs. prepaying online.... is this true.
Should I buy my Golden pass ticket the day before I travel at the train station?
I also looked online for Montreaux to Interlaken train ticket and the menu required I choose from over 15 options that were labeled as the Montreaux stop..... I was really confused then.

This is my first time to Switzerland and the train schedule and logistics of buying the correct ticket is really confusing so I plan to read the RS Switzerland book and various online links several time to educate myself.... its a bit daunting! I plan to make hotel reservations and just hope we can find our way to each of the destinations (Lausanne, Gimmelwald, Interlaken, Bern and Zurich) if we buy tickets in Switzerland.... any and all comments and advice are most appreciated!

Thank you!

Posted by
16893 posts

Montreux to Zweisimmen to Interlaken is the Golden Pass route. To be sure of getting this route, you can enter Zweisimmen as a "via" midpoint on train schedules through the DB (link below) or www SBB.ch. Just use plain "Montreux"; the others are probably bus stops. The route via Bern is faster and further away from the mountains, not part of the Golden Pass. Most departures don't need reservations, but you can pay for a seat reservation if you want the panorama/observation car on the Montreux-Zweisimmen portion of the route.

Swiss trains don't offer advance discounts, so the price is pretty much the same wherever you buy it, or the those trains are covered by Swiss Travel Passes. Some features of the pass changed this year, so the web version is more up-to-date than what you find in the back of Rick's guidebook.

How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it.

Posted by
20031 posts

There are 2 primary routes from Montreux to Interlaken. The route through Lausanne and Bern is used by the fast trains and people who want to get from point A to point B as quickly and least cost as possible.
The "Golden Pass" route utilizes a narrow gauge rail line through the mountains with lots of twists and turns and steep climbs. Going through the mountains to Zweisimminen it stops in lots of resort towns on the way and the scenery is as you would expect. At Zweisimminen, you change to a standard gauge train to Spiez. Usually, you change there again to get to Interlaken. As such it takes longer, and may cost just a bit more.
The true Golden Pass trains have special panoramic train cars for better views of the mountains. But regular trains also travel the route. The Panoramic trains may need a reservation at busy times in the summer.

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