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Bern to Venice

Posted by (Saint Petersburg, Florida, US) on

I'm heading to Switzerland in early September, and will be taking a short trip down to Venice while there. I've already figured out all of my Swisspass details, but I'm really confused on how to get from Bern to Venice. I know my pass will get me from Bern to the border, and then I need a point to point to Venice, and for the return trip. I just can't figure out how to buy that point to point.

I've tried using the German rail site, but I just can't figure it out, or at least enough to figure out this specific question.

I've also been advised not to buy this ticket until I land in Switzerland, no need to buy it in advance. This is my first trip to Europe, and I'm the typical nervous newbie traveler, and would prefer to buy in advance if I can.

Can any of the much more experienced travelers offer up some advice? Maybe just assuage my concerns about waiting until I'm there? I'm sure I'm being overly tense about it.

Posted by
9100 posts

You're better off using the Swiss Rail website:
www.rail.ch

The fastest/easiest connection will be the 8:07 am train with a change in in Brig. Total travel time will be 6.5 hours.

Since you have a Swiss Pass you only need to purchase advance tickets for the Brig-Venice train. This is the high-speed Cispilano tilting train. For this train, there are some advance ticket deals available that should save you some money by purchasing in advance. You can purchase these tickets at the Swiss Rail site and pick up your tickets at any station in Switzerland.

Currently the fares section of the Swiss site is down for maintenance, but if you check back tomorrow or in a few hours, it will be able to give all the fares available.

Posted by
43 posts

Thank you Michael, that was helpful. It looks like their fare info is still not available online. If it isn't up Monday, I may try calling, if that might help.

I assume they'll send me some kind of confirmation if I buy online and I use that to pick up tickets? Do I have to make reservations for the CIS train? Can I do that when I pick up the tickets, or should I do that in advance too?

Posted by
6898 posts

Kimberly, as stated by Michael, you can purchase your tickets in advance on the Swiss rail website he mentioned and pick up your tickets when you arrive. If you are arriving in Zurich, the train station (Zurich Flughafen) is directly beneath the airport terminal.

Another FYI, is that you don't need seat reservations for many trains in Switzerland. So even if you have an advance ticket, you still show up, get on and find your seat. The CIS or EC trains that you will ride to Venice will require reservations.

For your P2P from Brig to Venice, you can buy this ticket in Switzerland. Just show your pass at the ticket window and they will only charge you for the portion from the Swiss border to Venice. If you know which train that you want to return on, you can buy the full round trip ticket at the same time.

Yes you can wait until you get to Switzerland to buy your tickets. Its OK to freak a bit as this is something that you are not used to. Over here, you can't even go to a nice restaurant without an advance reservation. Trains in Europe are so frequent, you really can buy a ticket a few days in advance of travel. You might see some full trains from Zurich to Bern. We have seen it a bit busy going north to Zurich.

Posted by
9100 posts

Kimberly,

The CIS train requires reservations. The reservation will be built into the fare that the Swiss Rail site quotes you.

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