Which passes to buy - Lucerne/Wengen?

Posted by Neel on 05/26/25 05:26 PM

I am planning out our August trip. We (2 adults + 2 kids, kids are 17 & 11 years old) fly into Zurich and head straight to Lucerne.

3 days in Lucerne. Plan is to do Mount Pilatus or Mount Rigi, Stoos Ridge hike, and spend another day exploring Lucerne.
Travel to Wengen
4 days in Wengen - explore/hike as much as possible Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Gimmewald, Grindelwald-First, Oeschinensee hike, Mannlichen and hike to Kleine Schedigg (I am still researching the best things we can do in 4 days)
Travel back to Zurich and spend a day there walking around town + Lindt Museum before heading to the airport.

What pass combinations would you suggest?
Thanks!

Posted by Pat

San Diego, California

05/26/25 05:43 PM

6390 posts

Most folks do fine with the Half-Fare card and a BO Pass, but I like the convenience of the STP. I know it's confusing and there are some great u-tube videos explaining it all, just do a Search for the videos . For instance, Rigi and Stanserhorn are completely covered by the STP, (boat, cogwheel, gondola) while Pilatus only discounted. You don't bother buying tickets with the STP, just walk on. You are covered up to Wengen and Murren in the BO.
I believe your 17 yr old will be considered an adult. I'm not familiar with the family benefits of either pass.
How many nights total? Counting in nights is more functional than counting days.
You're going at a great time of year. There will be a great temperature discrepancy between the mountains and cities; Swiss cities now get quite hot in the summer.
Have a great trip.

Posted by Neel OP

05/26/25 06:26 PM

32 posts

Super helpful. Its 3 nights in Lucerne, 4 nights in Wengen, and 1 night in Zurich.

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

05/26/25 06:35 PM

22255 posts

With STP, you can get the free Family Card and the 11 to travel with you free and the 17 yo gets a discounted Youth STP. You also get the Family Card with the Half Fare Card. You also get a discount on the BO Pass with the HFC.

Posted by wanderweg

Nashville, TN

05/27/25 01:51 PM

948 posts

This question can literally only be answered by listing out every single thing you plan to do, adding it up on SBB (pricing defaults to half fare pricing) and comparing the passes. It’s a process that takes me around 20 minutes, but someone who has never done it before, probably over an hour. I can help you with it, but not unless you finalize your pretty solidified plans, otherwise the numbers aren’t helpful to calculate.

Posted by Neel OP

05/28/25 04:01 AM

32 posts

@wanderweg thank you! I think I am going to buy Swiss Half Fare Card with the family card to cover us for Zurich to Lucern and Lucern for 2 full days. We will do Mt. Pilatus one day and another day we will do the Stoos Ridge Hike.

For the 3 full days in Wengen, the plan is to buy the Jungrau Travel Pass with Half Fare Card and child pass for the 11 year old. That should cover one day Mannlichen and hike to Kleine Schedigg, another day Grindelwald First, last day we plan on doing the Oeschinen Lake and hike. The day we arrive in Wengen from Lucern, we will have most of the day post lunch available to explore Lauterbrunnen (we would love to rent bikes) and explore waterfalls before potentially heading to Murren.

Do you think the passes sound right? What are you thoughts on the Wengen itinerary?