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Switzerland itinerary/transport recs??

Posted by on

Hi everyone! My husband and I are coming to Switzerland end of September. I haven't gotten tips regarding just about everything in terms of planning so far. We are spending most of our time in Wengen with primary focus on hiking. I am posting our itinerary below. Just wanted to get some input to see if there is any transportation we need to make sure we book in advance. We are getting a Swiss Travel pass, but weren't sure if we need to book a reservation on any trains from certain locations or for certain hikes prior to to make sure we weren't waiting. Thanks in advance!!! Apologize for all the info.

-Fly into Zurich airport, going directly to Lucerne and staying overnight.
-Train Lucerne to Wengen and will stay in Wengen, arrive in Wengen on a Saturday morning.

-Day of Arrival
Explore, maybe do the North Face hike counterclockwise from Allmendhubel (funicular from Murren).
Loop trail, starts and ends in Murren
Check out Lauterbrunnen, falls in the afternoon if time allows

-Day #2 (Take train from Wengen -> Lauterbraunnen -> Murren)
Hike Murren to Schilthorn/Piz Gloria
Trail from Murren to Rotstockhutte as afternoon trail

-Day #3 (take train from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, then train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch)
Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe) plan for 4 hours at top, including hike to Mönchsjochhütte; check out Alpisch glacier
Hike the Eiger trail in the afternoon (to get to the Eiger trail from Jungfraujoch, ride the Jungfraubahn to the Eigergletscher station, BOOK FOR A SEAT RESERVATION SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT?)
Ride train to Kleine Scheidegg and walk the first part of Panorama trail towards Mannlichen (aka Panoramweg or Trail #33)
I got this itinerary off Earth Trekkers as a day itinerary so I'm assuming it's feasible to do all this, if not, then it's not!

-Day #4
Gimmelwald to Tanzbodeli & Obersteinberg
Again, would start in Wengen and catch a train to Schilthorn Bahn. From there, catch a train to Gimmewald.

-Day #5
Schynige Platte to Faulhorn to First
Then hike to Lake Bachalpsee from Grindelwald/First

-Day #6
Hardergrat trail versus BRIENZERGRAT. Trail
(Consider Augstmatthorn hike from harder kulm?)

-Day #7
9:10AM Via ferrata
Train to Zurich in the afternoon

Leave from Zurich next day to fly home.

Posted by
20091 posts

Nothing needs to be booked in advance.

Instead of a Swiss Travel Pass, get Half Fare Cards and 8-day Berner Oberland Passes. That will give you better coverage while you are in Wengen. The Swiss Travel Pass only gives 25 per cent discount on trains and lifts above Wengen while the BOP covers these fully except the final leg above Eigergletcher to the Jungfraujoch. There the HFC gives 50 percent discount instead of the STP 25.

PS. Do not wait for a specific day to do the Jungfraujoch, but go right away if the weather looks favorable in the morning. No point going if the weather is cloudy, you will not see anything and spend a lot of money. This might be the one time a reservation would help, but not until you are sure of the weather.

Posted by
4705 posts

For the upper two transfers on the Jungfraujoch trains, it helps if you have reservations. This caught us off guard. There are two lines, one for reservations and one for not. I had never read anything about this. We had to wait for the next train, as the reservation folks filled up one transfer. When we purchased tickets, the agent never mentioned this. I think reservations are 5 chf each. You don't need them for the way back down, as we did not find those transfers crowded .
Enjoy this beautiful country! Safe travels!

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