Getting down to making final decisions on train passes. Have had some good feedback recently. Just crossing t's and dotting i's at this point. End of June, beginning of July, will be staying in Gimmelwald 3 nights, murren 6 nights. Will probably travel from Grindlewald to the west and Murren to the east, as well as south to to Interlaken Ost (if my directions are correct) as our flexible boundaries of travel while there. ( could change, but won't know till we are there). Right now, we are looking at buying the swiss 1/2 fare pass for discounts on other passes as well as discounts on our travel to and from Zurich airport. Some have suggested in addition, to purchase the Berner Oberland pass and Jungfrau travel pass. Others have suggesting the 1/2 pass and the jungfrau summer pass is a better combo. The summer pass will cover all the days we are in Switzerland, whereas the BO will cover 10 days, but the JF is a bit short so would have to buy an 8 day and then a 3 day pass. It seems the summer pass covers almost all the travel in the area that we will be in. We are leaning in the summer pass direction. Does anyone have any other thoughts on things we might be missing, having never been in Switzerland? Perhaps there are questions we don't even know we should ask. thanks.
Posted by
Schaumburg, IL
295 posts
We use the half fare card and the Berner Oberland pass-1st class for better seats on trains and the boats…
Posted by
San Diego, California
6416 posts
Yes, these Swiss passes are a challenge to figure out. And once you make a decision, don't look back. I'm just a little confused, before I comment-
Did you mean Gimmelwald for three nights, or is that a typo? That is very small and just an easy 40 minute walk to Murren.
So your total time is Switzerland is 11 days (10 nights?) Are you including getting to/from the airport?
I'm sure you'll fall in love with Switzerland, and this will be the first of many visits. Enjoy!
Posted by
OP
16 posts
Leave the states on June 29th get into Switzerland 30th. Gimmelwald until morning of July 3rd. Murren till morning of the 9th. Zurich flight leaves July 10 th. Looking forward to lots of relaxation. With visits to the local sites . We are 69 and 70. So not looking to go crazy with activities non stop. Will enjoy the views !
Posted by
Switzerland
233 posts
Some have suggested in addition, to purchase the Berner Oberland pass and Jungfrau travel pass.
No, I wouldn’t do that! You don’t need to have a travel pass at all—and having two is really too much and far too expensive!
The villages nearby, like Gimmelwald, Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, and Grindelwald, are not expensive to travel between.
For example:
Gimmelwald to Mürren costs just CHF 3.20 one way with the Half Fare Card
Gimmelwald to Lauterbrunnen and then up to Wengen is CHF 18.20 return. That ticket is good for the whole day. You can visit Wengen, spend time in Lauterbrunnen, walk through the valley toward Stechelberg, see the waterfalls, and then head back up to Gimmelwald.
What is expensive are trips to the high mountain peaks. If you plan to do a lot of those, then a travel pass can save you money and make things easier.
Also, you don’t have to buy a pass before you arrive. You can certainly wait until you are there and get a feel for the location before you decide what you want to. Just purchase a ticket from the airport to your destination for your first day.
If you decide on the Jungfrau Travel Pass get it for 8 days and at the beginning or end of your trip you can plan activities that are not costly, like exploring the villages or walking in the valley.