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Overwhelmed with Switzerland train card options...

Posted by on

Hi everyone,
My husband and I are planning a European vacation this spring, ending with a few days in Switzerland. We will be coming from Munich, via train, on Sunday May 13 and staying in Murren until late afternoon of the 15th when we continue to Luzern, where we will stay the night and spend the day of the 16th exploring before heading to the Zurich airport for our 8 am flight home on the 17th (I realize this only two nights in Murren and we will have only Monday and most of Tuesday to explore but I booked the airline tickets before realizing mid-May is not ideal weather in the area, so we do want to still see it but are making a shorter stop than originally planned) Anyway... I've just spent a couple of hours trying to figure out rail passes, train schedules etc and I am overwhelmed. I am hoping some of the forum experts will have answers to my questions as I'm sure they've been asked and answered many times over. (but so many of the answers contradict each other or are no longer up-to-date that I am not sure what to trust)

1. Train from Munich to Murren. I can probably figure out the specifics for this but if I end up buying some kind of Swiss pass, I assume I need to purchase a ticket to the Swiss border town (or the last German town?) before my pass kicks in. WHich town would this be and do I therefore purchase two tickets, one for each leg of the trip?

2. Is there one train route or train that is considered most scenic for this route?
3. I hear scary stories of the prices of the lifts in the Berner Oberland area but where do I find specifics on this? After arriving in Interlaken via train I need to get up to Murren which I know takes several changes. Then we have two almost-full days there and want to hike, explore so will be wanting more lifts then, including a weather-permitting trip up the Schilthorn. We'd like to see Lauterbrunnen also and another small village or two. Then back down the mountain, train to Luzern and final trail to Zurich airport.

I know there is a half-price card, a B-O card, etc. but I'm having trouble figuring out which one makes the most sense. Help!!

Posted by
8889 posts

For train times look on the SBB (Swiss Railways) site: http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

1) Some of your questions are answered by the Swiss Pass map, which comes with the Swiss pass: http://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/sbb/de/pdf/freizeit-ferien/ferien-kurztrips-schweiz/internationale-gaeste/sts-geltungsbereich_en.pdf
The confusion is that what matters is not the actual border, but the boundary between railway companies. Coming from Munich that is St. Margrethen (see map). Note that the route from Munich involves going through Austria for a short distance.
2) There is not much choice of route, but Munich to Zürich is a slow train route, so slow that DB (German Railways) also operates buses on this route.
3) Yes, they cost. If you have a Swiss Pass you get a discount, see map. Prices on SBB website

Unfortunately you have to work out the cost yourself. Best is to make a spreadsheet, list ALL your possible trips, and add it all up:
A) Individual tickets - probably the most expensive.
B) Swiss half price card + half price tickets. Prices on SBB
C) Swiss pass + discounted for mountain railways. Prices on SBB
D) Berner Oberland Pass + tickets to & from Berner Oberland, but mountain railways have higher discounts.
Sorry, but this involves you doing some arithmetic. Do allow that you will probably take more short local trips than you anticipate, which is where a pass (Swiss or BO) has an advantage. My guess is that (C) or (D) is best.

Posted by
16279 posts

It might be cheaper (and certainly simpler) to buy discounted tickets on the direct Munich to Zurich train and then continue from there with the pass of your choice. Tickets for May 13 are on sale now for 29 euros. The train departs Munich at 12:33 and arrives in Zurich 4+ hours later. There are buses that are faster and cheaper (19 euros). You can buy either on www.bahn.de

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