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Switzerland Travel: passes, cable cars

Posted by on

Hello, I need some help in figuring out some Switzerland travel stuff.

We will have a car, so we won't be traveling by train.

  • We are staying in Zermatt for 2 nights.
  • Staying in the Lauterbrunnen Valley for 4 nights (we'll be doing several hikes and taking several cable cars and/or trains back and forth I believe)
  • We'll also be in Appenzell for a few nights (I anticipate taking two cable cars)
  • And go up to Mt Pilatus for a day

Here's what I'm trying to figure out

  1. Should I buy some sort of Swiss travel pass? I have seen several different ones online but having some trouble understanding if i need it (based on what we are doing), if it's worth it, and which one to buy. 2 adults and 2 kids under 16. Can someone help with this?
    1. For the Lauterbrunnen Valley part it seems like it's kind of constant cable cars back and forth. Is there a special pass for this area or do i just buy each trip individually? I'm trying to calculate how much this will be.

Thanks, any help appreciated!

Posted by
2320 posts

The Berner Oberland Pass is the most comprehensive one for the Lauterbrunnen area. For our 5 night stay, we bought the Half Fare Card (HFC) and the BO Pass.

The HFC is good for a month and would discount your travel outside of the BO area.

For the kids, get the Family Card and they will travel for free.

Posted by
808 posts

Some clarification would be helpful in order to answer your questions.
Where will you be starting your trip? Are you flying to Switzerland, and if so, what is your arrival city? What is your departure city, and in what order do you plan to visit your destinations? You stated that you will have a car, so won't be traveling by train, yet you want to know which Swiss Travel Pass is the most economical.(confusing) Will you have a car, and if so, why do you think you need a car when the Swiss rail system is so efficient?

Posted by
485 posts

It is completely valid to want to know about passes, for sure focusing on mountain excursions rather than traveling from town to town. We don’t really need to know your arrival or departure locations to help you with this question (as asked for above) since you plan on driving. If you want to know people's thoughts on train vs car, then that is another thing.

I would look at the websites of specific mountain excursions that you want to do and see the price of those. The Swiss train website, SBB.ch will also help you out a lot.

We'll also be in Appenzell for a few nights

If this happens to become three nights, you will receive the Holiday Card. You can see the benefits of this here:

https://www.appenzell.ch/en/accommodation/appenzeller-holiday-card.html

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