Italy to Murren

Looking Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it. This will determine the fastest route at any given time of day. That will generally be via Milan and Speiz, but connection points vary. When you get some schedules, click the arrows to view the details. This German link gives complete schedules for nearly every railway in Europe, but doesn't sell Italian or Swiss tickets. To Luxembourg as well, there are likely to be different connection options throughout the day.

If it's easier to focus first on schedules to Interlaken Ost station and think about the local valley connections later, you can also do that. Interlaken-Muerren requires an hour each way. Muerren can be reached via two different routes and stations but timing is similar for either. See these in your guidebook, if you have one.

The Italian part of this train ride is not very expensive, so there's no big incentive to book tickets ahead through www.trenitalia.com. They can only sell them until the first connection within Switzerland, whether that's at Brig or Spiez. You could buy the ticket in a train station or travel agency in Italy if you prefer.

If you have a Swiss Travel Pass or similar product, then it starts working from the border crossing at Domodossola. A Swiss Transfer Ticket at $149 is a good value to cover you between both borders and Muerren, but does not give you any coverage or discounts during your stay there. Instead, I'd look at the pass for 4 consecutive days of maximum (but not complete) coverage for $263. See coverage described on the link. I would not choose the Berner Oberland pass, which costs 240 CHF for 4 days but doesn't cover you all the way between the Swiss borders.

Rcristia, Yes trains can be confusing to newcomers - but once you get the hang of it you'll be excited to book your own tickets.

I just went to www.trenitalia.com (click the english language) and queried Asti -> Spiez on your travel date June 3. I see a discounted ticket of 39.15Euro and it's bookable directly from the website...print it at home.

Next you need a ticket from Spiez to Murren so either buy the ticket in Spiez when you arrive or buy it directly from the Swiss website www.sbb.ch/en Spiez->Mürren BLM

Now you're all set. No problem.

Actually we travel from Venice->Milano Centrale->Mürren BLM every year. You'll have a great time.

Right now on Trenitalia there are "mini" fares of €19 on the 11:23 direct train from Milan to Spiez on 3June. A regular ticket from there to Mürren is 30 CHF. So that beats the regulars Fare of 75 CHF or the Transfer Ticket Fare (also 75 CHF, which according to Laura's post is Half of 149 CHF).

Thank you for the feedback...

Looks like the "mini" fare may be the way to go from Milan to Spiez. Should this be purchased now for guaranteed price or not necessary as Laura mentions. I am understanding that the Swiss travel pass is wise to purchase even though we will be in Switzerland for only 3 days. Once we get to Spiez, will it cover all transportation (train, bus, cable cars- except for cable car to top of Schilthorn). and cover train from Spiez to Bern? I am assuming the portion of the trip within Switzerland when traveling to Luxembourg would be covered. I would then get ticket on German link from Bern to Luxembourg.

Wise to get tickets ahead for trip to Luxembourg?

Just making sure the Swiss pass is worth the cost- Read somewhere that it is slightly cheaper on Rail Europe site than Swiss site- does it matter where you purchase it and should I purchase this soon- have it sent to my home- before travel starts?

I appreciate your time and great tips!

You cannot book the train to Luxembourg on the DB site as you neither start or end the trip in Germany. I would not use Rail Europe for anything. They don't show you all the options, and usually charge a bit more.

The best and fastest and cheapest route would be to book at https://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/tgv from Basel to Luxembourg. Train leaves Basel SBB station at 14:21 going to Mulhouse France and connecting there to a TGV train direct to Luxembourg arriving at 17:34. Price is 24.70 EUR per person.

Now you just need to get from Muerren to Basel in time to make the 14:21 train. Swiss train prices are always the same, in this case 80 CHF and the last departure that will get you to Basel in time is at 10:58, and you can go anytime before that. Depending on what you plan on in Muerren, a Half Fare card will help if you spend more than 240 CHF on train tickets in Switzerland. Muerren to Schilthorn and back is 82.20 CHF, and Spiez to Muerren is 30.40 CHF, so you are still about 50 CHF short of that threshold

That mini fare from Milan to Spiez is limited to a certain number of tickets on each train and will sell out. If it has not already sold out, it will soon. After that, the lowest Fare will be Smart 1 for €29. When those are gone, the next level is Smart 2 for €39. All of these are special fares for trains that cross the border from Italy to Switzerland.

And when those are all sold, you will pay full fare, unless you have a Swiss Pass of some kind.

Rail Europe has started a new coupon offer today on some versions of the Swiss Travel Pass, specifically for 30% off first-class, consecutive-day passes which are e-ticketed and pre-validated for travel starting on or before June 30, 2017. You must enter the coupon code at check out. This offer is limited in both date and number of customers. Do read the Terms and Conditions before booking. Second-class passes are still a bit cheaper and we think 2nd class if fine.

Thanks again for the great info-
I tried to book on the sncf.com site and couldn't get the option to print tickets- only delivery- any suggestions?

Curious as to why you're booking on sncf - I don't think you mentioned anywhere in your post about traveling in France.

Found train schedule from Basel to Luxembourg for decent price- but difficult to work with the website
Have you traveled on sncf?
Any other suggestions

SNCF is a finicky beast sometimes. You can buy the tickets from the Swiss website www.sbb.ch/en (Basel is in Switzerland).

Since my train would be departing from Switzerland- can I use Swiss travel card for discount even though majority of travel is in another country?
Still debating wether to Purchase Swiss card.
Thanks for your input!

There is no such thing as a Swiss Card. Are you speaking of a Swiss Travel Pass or a Swiss Half Fare Card or some other Swiss discount card?

No Swiss discount card/product gives you a reduction on a trip that's outside of the Swiss Borders...which Basel -> Luxembourg us definitely outside of the border.

I've found that the SNCF website is not the most "user friendly". For booking tickets in France, Italy, Germany and several other countries, you might try the www.trainline.eu website. Once you're registered on the site, it's very easy to use.

Oh yes- I did mean the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card.
Any feedback if train travel initiates in Switzerland but travels through other countries - can it be used for discount on fare?

"Any feedback if train travel initiates in Switzerland but travels through other countries - can it be used for discount on fare?"

It can be used for a discount or coverage for the part of the train that is in Switzerland; not valid on other sections. However, often it's cheaper to buy an advance discounted ticket than to try to split the tickets (eg, Luzern to Basel and Basel to Luxemberg City), which is what you have to do to get the discounts on the Swiss portion.

A similar situation exists with senior's and children's train ticket discounts. They are a better deal than full fare, but usually not as good a deal as an advance purchase non-refundable ticket.

Oh yes- I did mean the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card.
Any feedback if train travel initiates in Switzerland but travels through other countries - can it be used for discount on fare?

Swiss passes and discounts are valid on trains run by Swiss Railway companies. Pedantically, what matters is who owns the tracks and runs the trains, not the physical border. In the case of Basel, the boundary between SBB (Swiss Railways) and SNCF (French Railways) is Basel SBB station, which is about 4 Km before the actual border. The train from Basel to Luxembourg is run by SNCF and Luxembourg Railways, SBB are not involved, do not have any say in the pricing and their discounts are not valid.