After a visit in Northern Europe, my husband and I will fly to ZRH in early May and depart 8 days later. This is our working itinerary, and I have marked my major concerns with a *
Nights 1 &2 - Zurich (near rail station. Can we buy passes & tickets this late?)*
Nights 3 & 4 - Pontresina for 2 nights (Bernina Express is a priority, with Pontresina as our hub.)
Night 5 - Need advice on route between Pontresina (or Tirano) and Wengen.* Or we may decide to be spontaneous here.
Nights 6 & 7 - Wengen (opening the season at our favorite hotel there)
Night 8 - ZRH airport because of early flight the next day
We have been to Switzerland before, but I find the online purchase of tickets confusing and even risky--if any plans change. We have used the TI in the Zurich train station before--for advice and purchase of tickets--but will May 4 or 5 be too late to reserve 2 single window seats for the Bernina panoramic, or the red train?*
Thanks ahead of time!
Posted by
Green Bay
23167 posts
Nights 1 &2: Use the ZVV app. https://www.zvv.ch/en/service/apps/zvv-app.html
Or simply buy tickets out of the vending machines at tram stops or rail stations Anytime.
Seat reservations on the Bernina Express may be in short supply for your travel date. Go on-line to see. Otherwise, just us the regular trains. Same tracks, same scenery, less crowded, no seat reservation fees.
https://www.rhb.ch/en/panoramic-journeys/bernina-express/
Trains are considered mass transit in Switzerland. 95% of people just board the train they want and sit down, buying tickets with the SBB app or ticket machines.
There are a few strategies to save money, like Saver Day Passes that need to be bought well in advance to get an advantageous price.