Question: We are traveling in Switzerland in March. I know very cold but it's my daughter's wish to go to Switzerland so that's what we are doing. We are three, daughter and Granddaughter and me. I went on Rome2Rio to get an idea of the cost of individual tickets compared to buying a pass. Not sure because of the discounts with the pass. Here is what we are doing--Zurich-Lucern-Interlaken-Zermatt. Any help you can offer will be appreciated. We are meeting family in Venice so this is our time frame.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33821 posts
How many days - are you going into the mountains or only as far as Interlaken - do you intend to visit Zürich or just fly in and go - Will you do anything in Luzern such as going up a mountain (which one) or taking a (cold) boat ride or anything else, or just walking around - will you be skiing at Zermatt or just looking around?
Then we know a bit of what you want to do and can give a better answer.
How many days and nights for this bit of your trip?
Posted by
65 posts
We were in Switzerland the end of March last year and stayed two nights in Lucerne. We bought the Lucerne pass at the airport and it covered everything in Lucerne, all mountains, and the train to Interlakken. They had a winter rate and i think it pretty much paid for itself when we went to Titlis. The only bad thing during that time of year is the weather on the mountains. We had good weather for Titlis, but when we went up Rigi, it was snowing and we didn’t see anything. It was still cool riding the train up in the snow. I’m not sure of your time frame, but adding Zermatt seems like a lot to cover and not sure it’s worth it if you do the mountains in Lucerne and Interlaken.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8967 posts
Its ski season, so hotel availability would be more of a concern to me.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
I went on Rome2Rio to get an idea of the cost of individual tickets
Wrong place, go to the Swiss Railways website: https://www.sbb.ch/en
- Zürich airport - Luzern CHF 30 (I assume it is Zürich airport you will be starting from, not city centre)
- Luzern - Interlaken Ost CHF 33 (This is a scenic route over the Brüing Pass)
- Interlaken Ost - Zermatt CHF 83
These are prices if you have no discount card, with a "Half Fare Card" you pay half those prices. No advance reservation needed. These are the fares you pay at the station, and your ticket will be valid for any train on that day.
With a Swiss Pass you would pay nothing for these trips, but the pass would cost CHF 267, so not worth it. Pass details here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-travel-pass.html
- The station at Zürich airport is called "Zürich Flughafen" (Flughafen is German for airport).
- Are you really staying in Interlaken? Most people (including me) suggest somewhere further into the Jungfrau Region: Mürren, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, all easy to get to by train.
- You presumably then have to get from Zermatt to Venice (Venezia S. Lucia) and from there to your departure airport. You need to cost that as well.
Posted by
OP
el segundo, CA, usa
64 posts
Thanks so much for the input. My feeling was point to point was the best option. Not staying in Zurich, just a place to arrive. Also spending the night in Milan before heading to Venice. Unfortunately I am stuck with the interlaken hotel. Only there 2 nights and the reason was to go to Jungfrau. We have 3 nights in Lucern and 2 in Zermatt. Quick trip.