Looking to stay most likely in Grindelwald. I’ve been trying to find the answer...the far that you pay for the Topof Europe train, is that a round trip? Or $200+ each way? I plan on possibly getting the Swiss Travel Pass. Wonder for 4 days of the pass is really worth it. What are the prices for the cable cars and etc? Thank you. This forum has always been so great.
Posted by
Monterey County, CA (formerly Verbania Italy-Lago Maggiore)
1641 posts
Hi,
We are planning a seven day trip to Switzerland (luzern and Berner Oberland Area) in April and have learned a lot.
First download the SBB Swiss train app to understand same day tickets, half price fares, and day saver pass price. Make sure as passenger you edit and are 1/1 not 1/2 (which is if you are a resident and have a GA discount card. ) You can see best saver fares about 60 days out.
From Interlaken OST, to Jungfrau, it is €210 round trip at full price. The Swiss Travel pass gives your discount (I’ve read 25% or 50%) but not sure which is accurate.
However if you decide on the Schilthorn instead (setting For 007, On her Magesties secret service), that us included with the Swiss pass.
I mapped out various options and probable travel, museums on this spread sheet and the 8 day pass won out over the half fare card and saver fares or saver day passes. And gives us flexibity to change plans and add ferries, other transportation or museums without expense. Scroll download to excel speadsheet.
swiss pass
Let me know if you have further questions.
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
It is 95 CHF each way.
The Swiss Travel Pass only gives a 25% discount. For a better discount, (and probably a better deal all around) is to buy the Half Fare Card for 120 CHF. Then you get a 50% discount.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-halffare-card.html
You can look up prices at www.sbb.ch/en. The first price they show will assume you have a half fare card, so double that to get the price you would pay without one. For the "Top of Europe" use Jungfraujoch.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32351 posts
Sean,
If you stay in Grindelwald, you'll first need to take the Wengernalpbahn to Kleine Scheidegg (32 minutes). From there you'll connect to the Jungfraubahn for the trip to the Jungfraujoch and the "Top of Europe" (35 minutes).
In deciding which pass to buy, you may find this website helpful - https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/switzerland-rail-passes .
Depending on what other touring you plan to do in the area, you could also have a look at one of the Regional passes.....
- Berner Oberland Regional Pass - https://www.regionalpass-berneroberland.ch/en/
- Jungfrau Regional Pass - https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfrau-travel-pass/
The websites provide details on what each pass covers and which discounts apply for transportation links in the area. Unfortunately you'll have to do the math on which pass is most cost effective for your particular circumstances (that can be a lot of work!).
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
With the Swiss Travel Pass, trains from Interlaken to Wengen or Grindelwald are fully covered (about a $10 value, plus whatever other transport you took that day). The 25% discount is on the portions of travel above Wengen or Grindelwald and on the direct route between those. Both the full coverage and the discounts assume/require using a counted travel day on the pass. When buying Jungfraujoch tickets on the day of travel, or day before, just show your pass at the ticket window and let the agent calculate the price of you route.