We fly into Zurich then have rented a car and drive to Wengen. I understand that Wengen is car free. So where would we park and is there a charge? Will we have to have a ticket everytime we go up to Wengen and when we come down. Of course most of our travels will be in Berner Overland which will require other modes of transportation. The transportation is confusing as to what passes we should get at the best rate. The last day we drive to Basel. I am still doing the drive vs trains debate because I do not know what I do not know. Any advise would be appreciated.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32202 posts
debbie,
The Swiss transportation system is exceptional, so I'm not sure why you'd prefer a rental car over travel by train. As I recall, there's a car park at Lauterbrunnen, but the car is going to be sitting there gathering dust and attracting parking charges during your stay in Wengen. Each time you go to or from Wengen, you'll have to buy a ticket on the Wengernalp Cog Wheel Railway back to Lauterbrunnen, unless you're going to Kleine Scheidegg and the Jungfraujoch (in that case you'll still have to buy tickets).
There's a rail station at Zürich airport and it's very easy to travel to Wengen by train (about 2H:15 to Interlaken Ost, with one change which is often in Bern). From Interlaken Ost, you'll transfer to the Berner Oberland railway for the short 20 minute trip to Lauterbrunnen. When boarding the Berner Oberland railway, be sure to check the digital display on the side of the car as the train sometimes splits, with the back cars going to Grindelwald. When you arrive in Lauterbrunnen, you'll transfer to the Wengernalp railway for the ride up to Wengen (about 15 minutes or so as I recall).
For railway travel information, check the Bahn.de website or www.sbb.ch for all the details.
Which passes to buy will depend to some extent on what touring you'll be doing in that area, and it can be time consuming to wade through the various options. The Half Price Card is one that you could look at, or perhaps the Berner Oberland regional pass or Jungfrau VIP pass.
I'd highly recommend packing along a copy of the RS Switzerland guidebook, either in paper or E-book format. That has a lot of good information on the sightseeing options not only in the Berner Oberland but also Basel, the various lifts and other transportation information.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32740 posts
The place to park for Wengen is at the Lauterbrunnen train station. It is a concrete multi story car park where you pay by the hour. It may have gone up but it used to be about CHF 12 per day, no in and out.
While your car is there you pay to park and you pay for the rental.
The train from the airport brings you to exactly the same place, with no fuss.
The train from Interlaken Ost (after the little one down the hill) is direct to Basel. No fuss, no muss, and plenty of scenery. Sometimes it is a German ICE, sometimes a Swiss double decker. Those Swiss double deckers even have a free play area for children in the last car, with a slide and dragons.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
And you can't drive in the centre of Basel (same for most Swiss cities). If you are staying at a hotel in Basel you get a free pass for all public transport in Basel for the duration of your stay. Many hotels don't have parking, and even if they do they charge for it. You will have to use a paid public car park.
Getting the train from Wengen/Lauterbrunnen to Basel is easy, as Nigel says.
Unless you have some place you want to go that you can only get to by car, then you do not need a hire car in Switzerland.
One option is a Berner Oberland pass for the duration of your stay there, then individual tickets Zürich airport to Wengen and Wengen to Basel.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Your hotel in Wengen may provide some kind of pass that allows you to use the cable car for free or at a reduced charge.
Posted by
OP
Lincoln, NE, United States
6 posts
The information you have provided is very valuable. I will now reserch tickets you have directed me to. Thank you so much. When we go to Basal we will be boarding for a river cruise and leaving Switzerland.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4392 posts
Unless you're in love with driving, there is no need to drive in Switzerland. Especially in the Oberland region.
Posted by
18 posts
If you do decide on trains, look at the "in and out" train tickets - can't remember the name offhand, but it takes you from your point of entry in Switzerland (Zurich) to your destination within Switzerland (Berner Oberland), then back out to your point of departure (Basel). Then you could get a Berner Oberland pass for your travel needs within the Oberland region. I lived in Wengen for a winter, and while I loved it, I did end up being somewhat frustrated whenever I wanted to go down the mountain, and I even received the locals' price for tickets. So if you're planning to go all over the region, I would recommend Lauterbrunnen as a home base, or even Grindelwald, which I know everybody will immediately poo-poo :-), but it does have more in the way of travel options in and out from there (buses as well as trains, plus all the usual mountain transport options). We stayed in a rental up high from the village, so were able to avoid the crowds and souvenir shops when we weren't out hiking, and could just pop in to the crowded village scene for grocery shopping. And the bang-on view of the Eiger North Face from places on the north side of the valley...truly jaw-dropping. okay Grindelwald haters, bring it on! ;-)