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Train travel from Geneva to Murren to Varenna

My husband, 6 year old daughter and myself will be travelling to Switzerland and Italy this June. I have our itinerary and accommodations locked in and now am ready to purchase train tickets. I've read on the forums to purchase the long distance train trips early to get discounts. I'm trying to determine if a swiss train pass of some sort makes economical sense, which one, and which train routes to take. Should I book all of the tickets ahead of time? Will my 6 year old daughter only get to travel free in Switzerland if we purchase one of the passes?

We will be flying into Geneva and staying the night. From Geneva we will be taking the train to Murren via Interlaken Ost. I've heard the Goldenpass Line is the way to go to get to Interlaken Ost. Is this is the same rail line the normal trains take? Is this covered if I get a Swiss Half Fare Card or Swiss Card?

We will be staying in Murren for 5 nights. We plan on taking the funiculars, gondolas, lifts, trains to Gimmelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and possibly the Jungfrau.

From Murren we will be travelling to Varenna on Lake Como. Is the best route Interlaken Ost to Milan (with change in Spietz), Milan to Varenna? If I get a Swiss Card or Swiss Half Fare Card does it cover the train from Interlaken all the way to Milan?

Thanks for any insight!
Nicole

Posted by
19637 posts

You can get all the prices by going to www.sbb.ch. Input your start and stop points, date and time of travel, and you'll get all your options. The prices shown at first will be assuming you have a half fare card, so double them to get the real cost. If you do get a pass or half fare card, ask for a Family Card, and then she will travel free. That will not cover you after you leave Switzerland, but it will get you a reduction on the train to Milan. Milan to Varenna is only 6.45 euro per person.

Posted by
14 posts

Oh, I didn't know the fares listed were assuming you had a half fare card-thanks for that info!

Can I run this by you to make sure I'm interpreting the information correctly? It's probably basic for most, but I don't want to mess it up:)

Via SBB: When I enter Geneva to Interlaken Ost on my date of June 8 at 10:00 I get a few options. Once I click the time option that looks appealing (10:45, most with a transfer in Bern), I notice a button that says see prices. Once I click that link I see 1/2 34.50 and 1/1 69.00. Without any travel card the fare is 69.00, whereas if I bought the half fare card the price is 34.50. Is that correct?

All the options listed appear to make several stops, at least 6. Is there a way to search for train tickets that allow you to see the tickets with the fewest stops?

Thanks!!