We are going to be camping in Interlaken, Switzerland for a week in August. We will be going to Jungfraujoch, taking the Shilthorn cable car to Piz Gloria restaurant, and visiting Trummelbach falls. What is the best option to buy the tickets individually or buy either the Swiss Travel Pass or the Jungfraujoch Travel Pass? We are a family of 5 so trying to find the cheapest way to travel to these places.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11322 posts
We have always found the Berner Oberland Regional Pass to be a good value when we visit the area. It covers almost all transportation in the area you are visiting. You will have to pay a supplement to go to the Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch, but otherwise, the trains, lifts, and Post Buses are included in the pass price.
Last I checked, and it's been a couple of years, the Jungfrau Regional Pass did not cover the lift from Gimmelwald to Stechelberg.
I think the Swiss Travel Pass may be overkill. I have never been able to justify that financially and I run a spreadsheet for every trip we take to Switzerland just to check.
Posted by
Florida
1443 posts
Also consider the Half-Fare card. It costs 120 SF per adult (kids under 16 can mooch of your HFC) and it usually works out to be the cheapest option among all the rail passes varieties.
I agree that if you're not visiting other parts of Switzerland, the Swiss Pass may be overkill although it is darn convenient.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
The Jungfrau Pass validity map shows no coverage on the Schilthornbahn gondola from Stechelberg->Gimmelwald->Murren->Schilthorn (not even discounted). Personally the JTP is too restrictive and keeps you in a small area of travel and does NOT include a free trip to the Jungfrau - only discounted. In the case of inclement weather in the area the Half Fare Card lets you get out to other regions all over Switzerland.
The 3-day restrictive JTP costs a little more than the 1 month HFC.
Of course you'll just have to do the math if you really want to know the exact savings. As a rule of thumb I always just recommend the HFC for 50% reduction all over Switzerland.
Your children <16 will travel free with you all over Switzerland as long as you get the free Swiss Family Card for them.