We wil arrive in Zurich on May 31st spend one night there, and then head to Wengen where we will stay for seven days. We might, depending on weather, make a day trip to Zermatt. While in Wengen we would like to see as much of the Bernese Oberland as possible. What would be the best way to approach passes? Thanks!!
Posted by
Indiana
923 posts
For our trip, I researched the various mountain excursions that were of interest to us. Then, I compared the various Swiss Travel Passes. The SBB website and app is very user friendly. For us, the Half Fare Card with the Berner Oberland Pass was the most economical. https://www.berneseoberlandpass.ch/prices-tickets/
Posted by
Green Bay
21140 posts
Yes, I agree. An 8-day Berner Oberland pass would work, and the discount you receive with the Half Fare Card just about pays the cost of the Half Fare Card (120 CHF).
On your arrival day in Wengen, suggest you go via Luzern so you can take the Interlaken-Luzern Express which is very scenic. It takes a little longer than going via Bern, but it will also save a tiny amount of money. You just have to buy a ticket from Zurich to Luzern with the Half Fare Card and you are covered the rest of the way with the BO Pass. If you via Bern, it is not that scenic and the ticket to Bern is just a little bit more. Again, you are covered by the BO pass from Bern To Wengen.
Going to Zermatt for a day trip, the BO Pass covers you as far as Brig if you go via Kandersteg. It takes about 1 hour longer than going the fast way through the Loetschberg Base Tunnel, but is much more scenic. You can return the fast way with the Half Fare Card as far as Spiez where the BO Pass kicks in. .
Posted by
OP
30 posts
Thanks for the replies twas a huge help!
Posted by
St. Petersburg, FL
146 posts
We spent 2+ weeks in Switzerland last fall with a week in Wengen. Great location BTW! We just bought the half fare card. I added up what we would have saved if we had also bought the BO pass and it was less than 80 euros. far less than the BO pass reduced with half fare card price.The biggest savings on the BO pass was the Mannlichen Cable car and the train from Kleine Schneideg back to Wengen that we did once.. When I compared what we spent on trains with Half Fare Card it was slightly less than buying a Swiss Travel Pass. Once I looked at how cheap the trains were in BO I did not think we could justify a BO pass in addition to the half fare card and our experience proved that to be true. You may want to look at the Swiss Travel Pass. They had a sale that ended in Mid May last year where they added an extra day on to whatever pass duration you purchase.