Hi: A friend and I are planning a trip for next summer in the Bernese Oberland region. We will need to get from Zurich to Murren by train to start 8 days of hiking. At the end of the trip we will want to travel from Grindelwald to Chur to pick up the Bernini Express to Tirano, Italy. Just wondering what type of pass would make sense. We are both of 60 and I see there are senior discounts on some of the passes. Is there a pass that would be good for the Swiss travel as well as into Italy? It looks like we should make reservations for the Bernini Express but would you recommend for other legs of this trip? We will travel by train from Tirano to Lake Como area and eventually to Milan for the flight home. Thanks for your time. Janice
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
A Eurail Global Pass covers most of Europe, offers senior discounts, and comes in versions for as few as 3 travel days in a month, but gives you less coverage in the Bernese Oberland.
A Swiss Travel Pass is likely to be the better fit, at regular adult, second-class prices, covering you as far as the border point at Tirano. Train tickets in Italy are relatively cheaper, and from Tirano to Varenna and Milan it costs only about $20 to buy a regional ticket in the station. See the pass coverage comparison at https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/switzerland-rail-passes and note that any changes that come up are usually implemented on January 1.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11776 posts
When we spend that much time in the Berner Oberland, we get the Berner Oberland Regional Pass. Covers nearly all the trains, lifts, and Post buses although you have to pay a bit more for the Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn. It kicks in at Luzern so you only have to buy a ticket from Zurich to Luzern. I get my BO Reg Pass at home so I can then just jump on a train as soon as we hit the area of validity. See here https://www.regionalpass-berneroberland.ch/assets/pass-und-infos/geltungsbereich/Geltungsbereich-2019.pdf.
On your way to Chur you would just buy the ticket from Luzern to Chur. With the Bernina Express, a Swiss Half Fare Card might be worthwhile as well. You have to do the math.
Once you get to Tirano, you will do fine to buy point to point tickets and as you are not planning on taking high speed routes no need to buy in advance as there is no discount on the regional trains. The senior offers in Italy on Trenitalia are for the high speed trains.
Posted by
Missouri, USA and Essex, UK.
1043 posts
Hi,
I did a very similar trip with a couple of friends (age 48-65) in 2017. We purchased our 8 day Swiss Travel Pass at Zurich airport. It was very easy. From Zurich we took the train to Murren and spent a week hiking. We had good weather the first week of July. I had been before in early June and ended up with a lot of rain and fog and we were unable to see the Alp for several days. On the 2017 trip, we left Murren and headed towards the Italian lakes to take the Scenic Bernina Express route. We ended up using our Swiss travel pass and taking a regional train rather than booking the more popular BEX trains. Its uses the same track and route, and with the pass there is no extra money involved. You don't need to reserve any of the Swiss trains for all of this trip (unless of course you are going to take the scenic trains). We loved the Lake Como area and we stayed in Varenna which is on the line from Tirano to Milan. Its a very easy, safe itinerary. Just give yourself time to relax on lake como - we rushed it and after all that hiking the week before, our bodies were ready to slow down some. For the Italian trains, I would just buy point to point at the station. Don't forget in Italy to validate your ticket in the machine as you leave the station and get onto the train. In Switzerland carry your passport with your Swiss Travel pass. The conductor is likely to check your ID. with your pass.
Margaret