It's been nearly 20 years since I've been to Switzerland. At that time we had Swiss Rail Passes and just hopped on and off trains at will with no reservations. This time we will have one day at the end of a cruise which docks in Basel. I would like to travel by train from Basel to Interlaken, spend an hour or so there, then proceed to Grindelwald spend some time there and finally return straight to Basel for the night. I've been noodling around trying to see about tickets. At this point I can not find an easy way to reserve tickets with that break in travel in Interlaken. But what I'm wondering is: Do we even need to pre-purchase tickets at all? Can we just purchase tickets in Basel to Interlaken, then purchase tickets from Interlaken to Grindelwald and then purchase the return ticket to Basel in Grindelwald? Given the time of year (Early-Mid October) I'm wondering if reservations are even needed?
Posted by
Green Bay
20147 posts
No reason, or even possibility I believe, to reserve seats. Your recollection from 20 years ago still holds, just buy a ticket and hop on the train.
Now, you can look at purchasing Supersaver tickets, which go on sale 30 days before your intended travel date. Discounts can be up to 50%, but you must travel on the exact schedule shown on the ticket.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/supersaver-tickets.html
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
You do not need to reserve trains in Switzerland, in most cases you cannot even do so. It is an un-Swiss concept.
The only exceptions are a few tourist extra trains (Glacier Express, Bernina Express) and if you are a group (10+).
You also do not need to buy tickets in advance, there is no discount for doing so and tickets are valid on any train.
(Exception: some lightly loaded trains offer "Sparpreis" advance purchase fares).
Just turn up at Basel SBB station, and buy tickets to Grindelwald. The ticket will be valid all day, and you can get off for as long as you like at Bern, Interlaken or anywhere else the train passes through.
You can look up times and prices on the Swiss Railways site: http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32809 posts
Trains in Switzerland - except for a very small number of specialist tourist trains like the Glacier Express or the seats above the driver on a short section of the Montreux end of the Golden Pass - are not reserved, and on most trains the reservations aren't even available.
You will have no trouble with the routes you want to travel. There is no reason why you can't get all your tickets at the same time. It will be very easy.
Is there a particular reason you want to go out of your way for the tourist resort of Grindelwald? Maybe you have a special relationship with the Eiger? Or want to do First Flyer?
The really impressive views in my opinion are from Mürren, a whole valley over and reached from Lauterbrunnen. The train from Interlaken Ost goes to both Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, splitting part way up. The two halves are very clearly labelled.
Or is it possible you have read Rick Steves or have those old memories and you are confusing Gimmelwald and Grindelwald?
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks everyone for the speedy responses.
Nigel: I have been to Murren and LOVE it. Also Lauterbrunnen. However, I was thinking that unless we want to go up the Shilthorn there really isn't much in Murren to make it a destination day trip unless it has changed a lot in the past 20 years. We will be traveling with four other family members (making a total of 6 with me & my husband). If we had time (two-three days) I would definitely make Lauterbrunnen or Murren as our base and travel the Bernese Oberland area. However, we will only have that one day ;-(
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Hummmm.... Now that I think about it, going up the Shilthorn and having a bite to eat could be a fun adventure! When we were last in Murren, we stayed at the Hotel Alpenblic. Memory says they close in October - are other hotels likely to be closed also if we wanted to go to one for a bite to eat?