I will arrive in Zurich , then on to Lucerne , then Interlaken, Zermatt, Ticino, Chur, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Nurmberg, Berlin, then back to Zurich. All travel will be by train.
I need to know what train passes to get. The total time span is 3 weeks. I am confused as to Swiss half price, Euro rail??
Thank you
We will use the train in Switzerland 5 days at the beginning.
We will use the train in Austria 3 days.
We will use the train in Germany 3 days.
On the last day train from Berlin to Zurich.
There may be other train usage for day trips etc.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
5581 posts
You have to price out each Swiss train product to determine what is best. I think some kind of pass in Switzerland typical makes sense, especially in Luzern and Berner Oberland where certain attractions are included in the Swiss Pass. In Austria, when you can use Westbahn its pretty inexpensive and when you are able to prepurchase tickets on OBB you can get great deals. I don't know that I'd buy a pass for Austria. In Salzburg and Bavaria, you can use a Bayern ticket, but are you traveling on your own? If so the Bayern pricing is less attractive. For more than one person, Bayern tickets are a super great deal. There are some limitations on time of day you can travel.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
I agree with what Jules said. Probably Swiss Pass for Switzerland, and advance purchase tickets for Austria and Germany.
Prices for the Swiss pass are here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-travel-pass.html
CHF 270 for 4 days. If your first day's travel is Zürich airport to Luzern, you can buy that separately when you land.
The Swiss pass covers all transport in Switzerland, train, bus, boat and city transport, with discounts on mountain cable cars and trains. The Eurail pass covers trains only, and with some exclusions.
Look up Swiss train and prices times on the SBB (Swiss Railways) website: https://www.sbb.ch/en/
Look up Austrian train and prices times on the ÖBB (Austrian Railways website: https://www.oebb.at/en/
Look up German trains prices and times on the DB (German Railways) website: https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml
Either can be used for cross-border trains.
For Interlaken, it is better to stay somewhere further into the Jungfrau region: Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen or Grindelwald. See this website: https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/summer/
For the section Ticino - Chur, you can use the scenic Bernina Express route to go over the Alps. Bus (1 daily) from Ligano to Tirano, then train from Tirano over the Bernina Pass to Chur.
For Berlin - Zürich airport, that is a long journey, and probably requires you to overnight in Zürich. That is so far it would be better to fly, or better still get an "open-jaw" flight and return direct from Berlin.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
The main connections listed at the top of your question add up to 11 travel days, not including side trips, within three weeks, so every other day on the train, on average. With either pass, there will be some extra costs for higher mountain lifts that are only discounted, though the discounts vary. Berlin to Zurich is an 8-hour train ride.
A 3-country Select Pass would cover your 10 longest travel days for $478 per person in 2nd class. It gives you 50% discounts on lake boats and higher mountain lifts around Lucerne; 25% discount on trains and lifts from Interlaken up the Lauterbrunnen Valley; and covers lake boats near Interlaken. The discounted services are still available in between your counted travel days. Seat reservations are not necessary in these three countries, except for the Glacier Express from Zermatt or Brig to Chur.
What is the total time span within Switzerland? The best-value Swiss Travel Passes tend to be the consecutive-day versions, such as 8 consecutive days for $420 per person. This gives you more full coverage and more mountain discounts within Switzerland, but only on your counted rail pass travel days. Of course, those Austrian and German rail tickets will cost extra.