Please sign in to post.

Forwarding Baggage in Switzerland

We will be hiking the Alpine Pass Route staying in inns along the way carrying what we need on our backs. We are also traveling to Italy and France after that and want to have more clothes with us. We would like to bring a suitcase in addition to our backpacks but don't want to carry the suitcase around while we are hiking in the alps.

Is there a way to transport the suitcase from Zurich to the Kandersteg rail station and pick it up 13 days later?

If we can't do that what about using the standard baggage service and sending the suitcase ahead every few days? Can we use this service without having a train ticket(we plan on buying a bernese oberland pass)? We are thinking of checking the luggage in Engelberg and picking it up in Meiringen 2 days later. Then send it from Meiringen to Wengen and pick it up 3 days later. Then send it from there to Murren and pick it up 3 days later and then send it from there to Kandersteg and pick it up 3 days later. Would this work? If you send baggage ahead, how long do they keep it at the rail station before assuming it is unclaimed?

Posted by
17418 posts

Tim just said what I would have---e-mail them at SBB and ask how long the luggage can stay at Kandersteg. That would be preferable to picking up and dropping off the lugage multiple times along the way.

Enjoy the Alpine Pass route--I'm envious!

Posted by
7209 posts

Yes, sending the baggage ahead is a great way to go. No, you don't have to have a rail ticket to send your baggage ahead. How long do they keep it before considering it unclaimed...I don't know. But train stations and baggage handlers know that "tourism" is a big part of their business. Knowing that Switzerland is "built for tourism" I would guess that you won't have any problem with sending your luggage ahead or storing it for a few days. You can always send an email with these questions to the folks at www.sbb.ch who have always answered by questions quickly and efficiently. Relax & enjoy - it's Switzerland.