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Travel in Switzerland and Germany

Posted by on

Hello all, my husband and I are doing 3 one-way and 2 round trips in Germany and Switzerland, and I'm struggling navigating between SBB and Rail Europe passes and would greatly appreciate any advice on the most economical way to do so. We will be with family in Lucerne.

Here is my itinerary:

Berlin to Munich (one way)

Munich to Lucerne (one way)

Lucerne to Montreux (r/t day trip)

Lucerne to anywhere in the Bernese Oberland for day hike* (overnight; need to return to Lucerne but doesn't have to be via same city)

Lucerne to Zurich (one way)

*I was thinking base at Interlaken, but would love any suggestions about others. Preferably taking a gondola up somewhere (Murren? Grimmelwald?) and then hiking down in the same day.

What sort of pass would you suggest?

Thank you so much!

Posted by
16893 posts

For these 6 travel days, I would choose the Germany-Switzerland pass covering 6 travel days within 2 months for $292 per person in 2nd class. This is a sale price; offer must be purchased before April 29. In addition to covering most trains, it offers 25% discounts (or more) on trains from Interlaken to other B. O. destinations, lake boats, and some mountain lifts; bonuses listed when you click through to purchase a pass.

For your particular trip, I think this will be cheaper and a better fit than a Swiss Travel Pass plus separate German tickets.

P.S. Please clarify whether or not you plan to stay overnight in the B. O.; that's what seems to make it 6 train travel days instead of 5.

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you for your advice! We're going to stay in the BO overnight. That'll still work out nicely since iIthink the minimum travel days is 5 but they have that one extra day free right now.

Posted by
5 posts

Laura-- how do I know what transportation in Switzerland is covered by the Germany/Swiss pass? In going from Munich to Lucerne, would I have to pay extra? What about Lucerne to Montreux r/t, and Lucerne to Interlaken r/t?

Posted by
16893 posts

All those trains are fully covered by the Eurail pass except the section between Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen/Muerren or to other points around that valley, such as Wengen and Jungraujoch. See a partial list further on our Switzerland rail page. Or see the Switzerland blow-up on Eurail's PDF map; this is the same as the paper map that comes with the pass.

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