Needing advice on planning our train travel. We have 3 weeks, flying in and out of Zurich and our plan is to travel Zurich to Lauderbrunnen to Lugano and into Italy to Bolzano and then into Austria to Innsbruck and back to Zurich. We will only use public transportation, mainly trains. How do we book this train travel? Do we buy tickets on the rail systems of each country, or purchase tickets on one complete trip somehow? We are against using 3rd party agents because we have seen problems with them. We are not trying to save money and would rather like nice, efficient and scenic travel. What suggestions does everyone have? Thanks so much for your help!!
Posted by
Green Bay
21140 posts
You can buy Swiss tickets with their app, or at https://www.sbb.ch/en/buying/pages/fahrplan/fahrplan.xhtml
Look at buying Saver Day Passes for you arrival to Lauterbrunnen, and Lauterbrunnen to Lugano. then you can take any trains that day. Depending on how long you are in Lauterbrunnen, a Berner Oberland Pass might help. https://www.berneseoberlandpass.ch/
Lugano to Bolzano you can buy at https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
You can save some money by buying advance nonrefundable tickets (Super Economy)
Bolzano to Innsbruck can be bought from Trenitala as well.
Innnsbruck to Zurich can be bought from https://www.oebb.at/en/
Like in italy, you can save by buying advance nonrefundable tickets.
Posted by
OP
11 posts
Thanks so much Sam, this is very helpful.
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1043 posts
You can buy tickets for local trips, national trips or international trips online or at local train stations. The best type of ticket to buy, is something you are going to have to research. There are a couple of options ranging from ordinary tickets, discounted tickets and multi journey passes to choose from.
Posted by
Washington DC
28062 posts
Be careful on the SBB website. Unless something has changed, the fares initially displayed assume you have the Half-Fare card; apparently every citizen of Switzerland has that card, so...
Posted by
San Diego, California
5602 posts
Have you considered a multi- city ticket ( open jaw) into Zurich and out of a closer airport, so you don't lose time and money backtracking?
Have a great trip!