Train tickets, what to purchase?

To begin with, you may find this helpful - https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/switzerland-rail-passes . That should get you started with planning.

You can research rail trips on the https://int.bahn.de/en website or the https://www.sbb.ch/en website. One of the Swiss passes may save you some money but I'd have to spend some time working out the costs of each trip.

As you may know, the trip to Mürren has two options. You'll first travel from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen. When you arrive there you can choose either....

• the BLM route which involves a cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and then a small mountain railway to Mürren.
• Post Bus from the Lauterbrunnen station to Stechelberg and then the large cable car to Mürren.

As I recall, you'll have to specify which route you want when you buy the tickets.

Good luck with your planning!

In your case I would probably get:
- The Half Fare Card. Gives you a discount of 50% on all public transport and most mountain transports.

Then just buy tickets as you go. The train system in Switzerland is mass transit. Buying tickets on the day of travel is the norm. None of the trains you plan on taking requires reservations.

Thanks for the ideas so far !

Looking at the prices, it looks like the 15 day pass is not that much more than the 8 day pass. Since we will be there for 10 days perhaps the 15 day pass is good for us. My wife wants to get 1st class seats. The 15 day pass for 1st class is about $2000 for 2 seniors (2nd class is about $1300). Yes Switzerland is expensive. Oh well. :)

I’m a big fan of the Swiss Travel Pass for the convenience. The first time I had the 2nd class one and now only get the 1st class one. It’s generally less crowded and more room for luggage.

If you can afford 2nd class, I would go for it.

I always buy the Pass a few days before I leave home and print out a couple of copies. You can either show the printed out copy or the QR code on your phone.

Switzerland is worth the money. Have a great trip!

The first time I had the 2nd class one and now only get the 1st class one. It’s generally less crowded and more room for luggage

What Carrie said is so true. Luggage gets to be a problem in 2nd class as many people bring HUGE suitcases and the aisle become difficult.

You mean my wife was right? Just kidding. OK, I will do 1st class.

From what I have read we should sign up for seats on the GoldenPass Express. I think I have to wait until around February to get reservations for early September.

BTW: We went by train over the Alps in 1972. Amazing mountains and quite different from our Sierras in California.

The Golden Pass Express does not require reservations, but depending on the season they may anyway be a good idea.

The only trains that require reservations are the Glacier Express, the panoramic cars on the Bernina Express (but not the ordinary ones) and the Gotthard Panorama Express.