Please tell me if I have researched this correctly and if this is the best way to get to Fussen: Lauterbrunnen to St Margrethen (Swiss border) using 2/1 swiss pass, no charge St Margrethen to Lindau (92 days out - 7.40 euros) Lindau to Fussen - Bavarian Pass 29 euros - for the Lauterbrunnen to St. Margrethen portion could I purchase the ticket 3 days earlier when I arrive in Lauterbrunnen. - purchase the St. Margrethen to Lindau portion in advance (92 days).. - for the Lindau to Fussen, would I just purchase the Bavarian ticket when I arrive in Fussen
Thank-you for you help.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19240 posts
"just purchase the Bavarian ticket when I arrive in Fussen " I think you mean when you arrive in Lindau. There will be ticket automats in the station in Lindau from which you can purchase the Bayern-Ticket. You could also purchase it at the ticket counter for an extra €2 (€31). The Bayern-Ticket can also be purchased online from the Bahn website, but that is not really necessary, and it then could only be used on that date. Here is the station layout for LindauHbf. www.stationsdatenbank.bayern-takt.de/StationsdatenbankBEG/Steckbrief.html?lang=de&efz=8000230 For St. Margrethen to Lindau, it looks like most connections are by S-Bahn or regional train or a combination of both. There are no reservations on these trains (in fact, I don't think there are reservations for any day trains in Switzerland). You should be able to purchase tickets in Switzerland right up to train time. There would be no benefit to purchasing in advance.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you book St Margrethen-Fuessen as far in advance as possible (up to 92 days) on the German Rail site, you can get a Europa-Spezial Oesterreich fare as low as €19.00 for the entire ride (one connection in Buchloe). If you're traveling with one or more people, then the Bayern-Ticket would be a better deal.
Posted by
OP
sarnia, ontario, canada
54 posts
Tim, I did go on the German website and did as you suggested, but how do you indicate that you want the Europa-Spezial Oesterreich? When I input 92 days out I got a price of 39 euros. There will be two of us and I think your way would be cheaper and definitely more direct.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19240 posts
To get those fares, one of the legs has to be on a train of the Bahn (EC/IC/ICE). Most connections from St Margrethen use regional trains only, so don't qualify for that fare. However, I did find one, leaving St. Marge on an EC at 8:42, with a change to a regional train in Buchloe, €19/p. I found those Europa-Spezial tickets at 10:42 and 14:42, but the lowest fares were more likely to be sold out. Edit to add: I just found fares from Interlaken Ost to Fuessen for €49/p. If you have other uses for the Swiss pass, that might save you money. Note: you have to but in "Interlaken Ost" and "Fuessen" as end points and Lindau as a stopover. Normally, German Rail only sells these discount tickets for trains with one end in Germany, but for Switzerland, there can be legs entirely in Switzerland, as long as they are on Swiss Express trains (eg, IC). The train from Interlaken is an IC, so you can get the reduced fares. However, the train from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken is a regional train so you cannot include it and get the fare.