Hello fellow travelers, need your advice and suggestions. We are traveling to Switzerland in May. We will go to Zermatt from Zurich the day we arrive . Stay in Zematt for 2 days and from there will head to the Jungfrauch region for 5 nights . We will take glacier express from Zermatt to chur and then chur to Grindewald via interlaken . We will be based in Grindewald and will travel to surrouning mountains . Lauterbrummen , Wengen , Harder Kulm, Interlaken, Lake Brienz, Murren, Manlichen etc. At the end of our stay in Jungfrau we will head to Lucerne and stay there for two nights before heading back to US from Zurich . Will half fare card in combination with BO pass be good for us to visit all the places or half fare card plus Jungfrouch pass ? Also I made the seat reservation for Glacier Express. Can use a day saver card for the ticket portion of the glacier express ? Can I buy the day saver pass at Half fare price card price ahead of time , and buy the half fare card when I arrive in Switzerland? Will appreciate your input
Posted by
Green Bay
21847 posts
You must buy the Saver Day Pass in advance, the further ahead, the better, as the prices increases as time goes by and approaches the travel date. Actually, your best savings is to also buy for your arrival day. For May 17 you can get a 2nd class SDP for 49 CHF with a Half Fare Card now. The regular 2nd class ticket with a Half Fare Card is about 88 CHF.
Taking the Glacier Express all the way to Chur, then backtracking to Grindelwald is a bit daffy, to say the least. It is going to be a very long travel day. You will have to go from Chur to Zurich to get to Grindelwald. It would have been much better to forgo the Glacier Express altogether and travel from Visp, or Brig to get to Grindelwald from Zermatt.
You can buy SDP's now without having the HFC in your possession, you just need to have it on your travel day, so yes, you can buy it when you arrive.
I think the Jungfrau Travel Pass is better than the BORP, these days now that they have changed the BORP coverage.
Posted by
Nashville, TN
773 posts
You realize you’re talking about a 10.5+ hour trip to get to Grindelwald via the Glacier Express? Yikes. I don’t see how that’s worth it, but to each their own :)
I agree with Sam, the Half Fare card + Reduced Jungfrau Pass will be better for your plan. But do note that places like Mannlichen don’t open until May 24th.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Hello Sam and wanderweg. First of all thank you very much for replying to my post and questions. I do realize its a a long journey (and not liking the long time part) taking Glacier Express. I know timewise it does not make sense and wouldn't do it unless I want to experience the scenic Glacier Express ride. It is one on my Wishlist. I did not see any other way to include Glacier Express with my current itinerary,. @Sam , not sure how getting off at (boarding the train from Zermatt) Andermatt instead of Chur will save me time, in order for me to go to Grindewald ? From Andermatt to Lucerne is 2 hours and then from Lucence to Grindewald is another 2 hours . As per the schedule I saw on SBB it's the same 4 hours (about) from Chur to Grindewald (i know its not direct point to point). Again, my knowledge could be limited and I may not be seeing the correct schedule on SBB. If there is a better/direct/ less time consuming way to travel to Grindewald , I would definitely like to know and appreciate your help. Sam, could you please explain why getting a day saver pass for the first day when we arrive at Zurich and go to Zermatt would be beneficial? The price of the second class ticket with half fare card is about 44 CHF, ( unless I am still not understanding SBB website, I did not download the app yet) . Also, just to make it clear for myself, is it better to buy the Day Saver Pass now 9 at Half fare Card price) in order to get the savings, and I can buy the Half fare Cards when we arrive? And, can the Jungfrouch be bought when we arrive? Also, just let me just put my itinerary day by day for ease understanding .
22May- Arrive at Zurich by 8:05 AM. Try to catch the train to Zermatt by 10 -10:30 AM
23 May- Stay at Zermatt- Go to Glacier paradise or Gornergrat. Please suggest which one you would prefer .
24 May- Take the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur. in the morning. Take trains from Chur to reach the Grindelwald. Again, Glacier Express is only because of a once in life time thing ( on my Wishlist) , open to any suggestions that can make the trip to Grindelwald easier and shorter.
25 May- 29May - Stay in Grindelwald. Basing at Grindelwald, explore Grindelwald first, Lauterbrunen . Klein Schideg, Manlicehn, Onterlaken , Harder Klum, Lake Brienz, etc. Sorry , I may be spelling all of them wrong !
(leaving Grindelwald on 29th in the morning for Lucerne)
29th May- Arrive Lucerne by noon. Explore the city
30 May- Go Mt. Pilatus, Titlis ,or Rigi ? which one would you recommend? Please fee l free to add any other attractions
31 May- Head to Zurich from Lucerne in the morning for our evening flight back to US.
This is my very first trip to Switzerland and I am the only one in charge of planning , booking everything amidst my busy work schedule. I will really appreciate your and any seasoned Swiss travelers insight, suggestions and help!
Thank you much for your help!