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Wengen in March - Help Appreciated

Posted by (North Carolina mountains) on

We're going with my Son and his family (wife and two teenagers) to Wengen in March. It will be their Spring Break ski trip and they've invited us to go with them. They all ski - we don't. My Son chose Wengen, after doing a lot of research and we have already booked our hotel.

I'm trying to decide on the Swiss Half-fare card and not sure about what it covers. We will be taking the train from Zurich to Wengen, staying 5 nights in Wengen and then returning to Zurich to fly home. I understand the card will give us a discount on those train tickets. What I'm not sure about is if it gives us a discount on transportation above Wengen, such as Schilthorn or Jungfraujoch. My husband and I will plan some day trips while they are skiing, so would want to use the pass for those trips also.

Any help you can give me is appreciated. Do we just buy them at the train station when we arrive in Zurich or purchase in advance?

Thanks for all your help

Posted by
12040 posts

I can't help you on the travel questions...

But I'll just let you know, Wengen is a particularly good location for non-skiers during the winter sports season. You'll have easy access to plenty of groomed winter walking trails and sledding runs, if you are so inclined.

Posted by
16221 posts

A Half-Fare Card will give you 50% off all train and lift trips, including the Jungfraubahn train and Schilthorn cable car.

Posted by
20070 posts

What you might want to consider is the Swiss Transfer Ticket. Cost is 141 CHF and that covers your transport from any entry point in Switzerland (including airports) to your holiday destination and back. You can also add on a Half Fare Card for the time for an additional 60 CHF. Since Zurich airport to Wengen is 87.40 CHF each way, all of you will save money from the get-go.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/holidays--short-breaks-in-switzerland/swisstravelsystem/swiss-transfer.html

The skiers will not need the extra Half Fare Card, because if they get 5-day Jungfrau Region Ski Pass, it will include all the rail and lifts down to Interlaken Ost. The only thing not covered by the ski pass is the train from Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch, but they do get half fare privileges for that ticket. The non-skiers will get half fare for all train journeys throughout Switzerland.
http://www.jungfrau.ch/winter/tourismus/reiseinfos/sportpass/jungfrau-20162017/einzel-skipass/

You must buy the Transfer Tickets before you arrive in Switzerland. You can order these from SBB or buy them through Rick Steves Rail Europe connection.

Posted by
11294 posts

The Half Fare card is good for everything in Switzerland that moves, including the Jungfraujoch, other trains, lifts, local buses, and boats. When you buy tickets from a machine, select the half fare option; when you buy from a person, show them the card. If an inspector checks your tickets, you need to show them both the ticket and the Half Fare card.

Posted by
548 posts

As always, you've all been a big help. Thanks for all the info.

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