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Seat Reservations and Passport Stamps - Rome to Lauterbrunnen

Posted by on

Hello,

This would be my first time in Switzerland (well, I've been to Lugano, but it's right at the Italian border and it was for a very short afternoon visit, so I don't really count that, ha ha). My party of 3 (senior and 2 adults) will be based in Lauterbrunnen for a few days in late May - we plan to do some hikes in the area with visits to Mürren, Gimmelwald, and Wengen along the way. I didn't purchase a Swiss Travel Pass for us. We will be coming from Rome. I purchased train tickets for my party of 3 on the SBB website, departing from Rome and arriving in Lauterbrunnen. We were designated seats from Rome to Milan and Milan to Spiez but not from Spiez to Lauterbrunnen. I'm assuming that we're free to pick our seats upon boarding? Or do I need to go back to my booking and reserve seats for that leg of the trip? Also, since we're crossing into a new country, where would we get our passports stamped in Switzerland? We are USA citizens. We've never taken a train crossing an international border, so we're not sure how customs/port of entry procedures work.

Posted by
4710 posts

Nothing happens at the border. Have a great trip!

Posted by
19092 posts

I can remember when (late 1980s) we had to go through passport control when going between countries in Europe.

Today, most of Europe is now one zone (Schengen), like the states in the US. You can mostly pass over borders seamlessly, without any checks or stamps in your passport.

Just about the only country in continental western Europe that is not in both the EU and Schengen is Switzerland, but it is in Schengen. As a result you could (but probably won't) be subject to customs check going into or out of Switzerland, but you won't have to go through passport control, nor will you get your passport stamped.

Posted by
2320 posts

Most trains in Switzerland don’t allow reservations. Spiez to Lauterbrunnen is one of them.

I would keep your passport handy. I’ve read of people having it checked on the train. We entered Switzerland from Italy via an autotrain. Before we drove onto the train there were police checking passports. They didn’t stamp it.

Posted by
16285 posts

Intercity (IC) trains in Switzerland do allow seat reservations for a fee, but they are not required. Spiez to Interlaken Ost could be either annIC or a regional train. If you board an IC train, check to see if the seats are reserved from that station before sitting down. If the seats are reserved but from a later station, you are OK up til then.

Posted by
1655 posts

Before Switzerland joined the Schengen area (and before Schengen in general) passport control was done on the train while in motion. Border guards would board at the last station before the border, check everyone on board, and then leave at the other side, and then work the next train in the other direction.

This is still sometimes done. So on your train from Milano to Spiez you will see Swiss and Italian customs officers board in Domodossola, as well as border police. And they may ask to see your passport. But that is all pretty much a formality. You probably will not interact with any officials at all.

Posted by
32767 posts

as you approach Interlaken from Spiez (only a very short hop) the first station stop in Interlaken is at Interlaken West. Don't get off there unless you want to look around or take a walk. Stay on a couple of minutes more to the last station which is Interlaken Ost where you change to the little train up the hill. Use the ramps at Interlaken Ost to change platforms to save your knees on the stairs.

Do you have Rick Steves Switzerland which lays out the Berner Oberland transportation links?

Do you have your ticket from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen?

How will you pay for all the mountain transport?

Posted by
48 posts

Thanks to everyone else who responded.

"Do you have Rick Steves Switzerland which lays out the Berner Oberland transportation links?"
No, I don't. I've been trying to find good YouTube videos. I started watching Aplins in the Alps.

"Do you have your ticket from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen?"
Yes, I do.

"How will you pay for all the mountain transport?"
I'm still not so sure. I've heard of various passes, and I'm feeling overwhelmed with trying to figure out which would be best. We're on a budget.

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