Ok so I am planning a trip to Switzerland, arriving in Brig from Paris. I really want to make it up to Gimmelwald, and I know there is a train from Interlaken. Has anyone done this journey? What is the best way to get from Brig-->Interlaken-->Gimmelwald? Is it worth it? Any transportation helps would be great. I don't really want to rent a car either, I am going to do it all by train or bus. Thank you very VERY much!
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9106 posts
Head over to the Swiss Rail website (www.sbb.ch/en) and type Brig into the "from" box and type Gimmelwald into the "to" box. Hit "search connection", and you will get a complete listing of the transfers you have to take. It should take a little over two hours with 4 changes. A car will be useless as they are not permitted past Lautrubrennen.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Yes, there is a train from Interlaken OST. The "OST" part is important because there is also an Interlaken EST.
Change trains at Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen...there will be train attendants on the platform to help guide passengers. When you arrive in Lauterbrunnen you will change to the Swiss Post Bus for a pleasant 10 minute ride which will deliver you to the Stechelberg Gondola Station. Catch the Gondola up to Gimmelwald. Gimmelwald is the 1st stop on the Gondola, the 2nd stop is Muerren, the 3rd and final stop is Schilthorn.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
From Brig, you can buy tickets right up to Gimmelwald. You'll change trains in Spiez and go into Intelaken Ost (East). At Interlaken Ost, go over to track 2A and catch the Berner-Oberlandbahn train into Lauterbrunnen (about 22 minutes).
From the Lauterbrunnen train station, walk across the street to the post office where there's a bus stop. The bus runs frequently and you can buy your ticket on the bus (I'm not sure if you will have a ticket for the bus). But, you'll need to pay in Swiss Francs. Take the bus to the Stechelberg-Shilthornbahn gondola station and then catch the gondola to Gimmelwald. The entire journey will take about 2hrs. 15min. from Brig.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19118 posts
Don't go all the way to Brig. The trip from Paris seems to go through Lusanne and Montreux. From there you can either go south through Martigny to Brig, or you can go to the north to Spiez and Interlaken.
Rick has pretty well described in his books how to get from Interlaken to Gimmelwald - train to Lauterbrunnen, bus to Stechelberg, cable car to Gimmelwald. Alternatively, you can take the incline from Lauterbrunnen, train to Mürren, and walk down to Gimmelwald.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19118 posts
"The 'OST' part is important because there is also an Interlaken EST."
Tim, you lost your "W".
Ost is German for "East"; Est is French for "East". I know this is a multilingual country, but two different stations, both called "East", but in different languages? Actually, it is all German. Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West.
Posted by
Falls Creek, Victoria, Australia
48 posts
Trap for young players - when you get on the train to Lauterbrunnen, make sure that is the destination on the carriage you get into. The train that leaves Interlaken Ost splits at Zwielutschinnen, with half going to Lauterbrunnen, and the other half going to Grindelwald.
(having done this when dead tired on the last train of the night, it can make for an interesting trip back too Gimmelwald)
From memory each carriage will have the destination on a plate next to the door. If in doubt ask the conductor - you have time to change while the train is split if you get it wrong :)