Switzerland- Golden Pass ticket

Theso-called Golden Pass is a train route across Switzerland from Luzern to Montreux. Thatis not what you are doing here. The Golden Round Trip is a loop tripup Pilatus from Luzern by boat,mtrain and cablecar. Mthe middle option you list is the Golden Round trip. The first option you list does not include train or boat from Luzern to Alpnachstad. It can be done as an up and down on the cablecar at Kriens, a suburb of Luzern.

Tim gave you sound advice, but you should consider doing Mt. Pilatus, going second class will do you well. You didn't provide other needed info, but one-half card will cut half the price on the Mt. Pilatus trip. IF......you want to do the BEST part of "Golden Pass" and splurge a little, get the VIP seats for that section that goes from Weissemmen to Montreux. Castle Chillion is worth seeing as well. Also, time of year is important regarding Mt. Pilatus.

yah we are considering the Mt. Pilatus (the Golden Rountrip) but we were thinking if we could squeeze Interlaken after Mt. Pilatus. since Interlaken isnt that far from Luzern. if we could just hop on the train to interlaken and back to winterthur.... thats why i was asking about the Golden Pass. we are doing the point-to-point ticket. winterthur-luzern (roundtrip) 62 Euro
Mt. Pilatus-Golden Roundtrip 97.20 Euro

Jim, how can we avail the one-half card? can we just buy that at the station and ask for one-half card? since we are doing point to point ticket. we are just buying them at the train station. i thought only resident can have that pass?

Hi! Lola, do you happen to know with the Golden Pass, we can hop on and hop off the train? im reading rick steves self guide tour for Golden Pass. this will take us from zurich to Luzern, Interlaken, and Lake Geneva, we wanted to wander around Interlaken. thanks

instead of wandering around Interlaken just get off the train at Interlaken Ost and change to the little 20 minute train ride to the Lauterbrunnen Valley - THAT'S where you want to wander around...forget Interlaken. No you can't hop on and hop off the Golden Pass. You can hop off if you want, but you can't hop ON unless you're willing to sit and wait for the next Golden Pass train and in so doing you'll let many "normal" trains going to the same destination Lucerne pass you by. The Golden Pass is just a special "train" that's painted gold and says Golden Pass. It has a few extra windows thrown in, but it will get you to the same place the the other "normal" trains go. They have windows, too...just not as big. In other words - don't waste your precious vacation time waiting on a Golden Pass train.

Nanette, there is a 30-day Half Fare Card that non-residents of Switzerland can buy. It costs 120 CHF, and you can buy it at any train station.

oh so its not suitable to us then, we are only staying in switzerland for 3 days. thanks everyone!

For 3 days the point to point may be your best choice. As one poster suggested, go to Interlocken Ost towards Lauterbrunnen. Get some guidebooks of Switzerland, even if they are not Rick Steves, and check out this Valley and villages such as Wengen or Murren. I think others will agree, once you get to this part, known as Berner Oberland, you'll want to come back. Others may have stated to bring extra monies, Switz. Can be pricey.

Don't know why you couldn't find it: http://www.luzern.com/en/festivals-events/visitors-card

I do not see any discount on Pilatus with the Luzern Card. A Swiss Pass will cover the boat portion of the Golden Round trip, and then gives you a discount on the Pilatus railway. Cost with a Swissass is 34 CHF.

Its very good advice not to wait for the fancy train between Luzern and Interlaken Ost. A couple of things to know about that route :- The normal train will be painted Zentralbahn, because it sort of goes through the centre of Switzerland. The trains are relatively simple but the windows open and the train goes slowly through the gorgeous countryside. There will be very steep bits so the engine has special pinion gears which connect with a rack between the running rails which are narrow gauge. You will hear the bang as it connects and whizz as it releases. It is only used on the steepest up and down bits. You will pass through beautiful villages, past lovely blue and green lakes, through woods while climbing, look across the valley to see waterfalls streaming down the cliffs. After you come down the cliff and run along the river you will get to Meiringen, which is famous for at least 2 things - the invention of meringue and the Reichenbach Falls where Sherlock Holmes killed Moriarty. You can walk to the funicular which goes up to the top of the Falls and walk down, or even walk up and down. They are the actual Falls mentioned in the book. After you leave Meiringen you head towards Brienz at the head of the Brienzersee where you can see the landing stage of the ships from Interlaken Ost on the absolutely gobsmacking green lake. You can see over to the waterfall right at lake level which comes right down the cliff and is visible across the lake. Brienz is famous for its wood carvers and steam incline railway. You finally arrive at Interlaken Ost where your adventure of the Berner Oberland begins. You will have seen these mountains for an hour or two and now you can touch them. The route I have described is "via Brunig Pass".

You're not required to stay in Switzerland for 30 days in order to buy the 30 day Half Fare Card. If by purchasing the card you save more on all your train trips than the purchase price...then you should buy it. Even if you only use it for 3 days, if it saves more than it costs, then buy it.

Half fare card is more expensive than point to point. Someone had told me i could get the 24HR Luzern card if im just doing the Pilatus trip and that will save us some money. I tried googling the 24HR luzerncard but couldnt find any information about it. However, i came across the SWISS PASS. its for 193 Euro--- 4days unlimited. Advantages at a glance •Unlimited travel by rail, road and waterway •Free travel on panorama routes •Free travel on public transport in 75 towns and cities Show map of validity •Free admission to more than 470 museums •50% discount off most mountain railways •Children under age 16 travel free of charge when accompanied by at least one parent holding a Swiss Family Card •Many bonus benefits Information
•Panorama routes may be subject to a seat reservation charge •Only persons domiciled outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein are entitled to purchase this ticket •Listed EUR, USD and GBP prices are non-binding. If paying in EUR, USD or GBP in Switzerland, the prevailing CHF exchange rate shall apply

Switzerland is so expensive! :) since we are staying in Winterthur from 5/19-22. i think it is best for us to get the SWISS PASS. rather than buying the point to point ... what do you guys think? this is our itinerary.... 5/19 - Zurich to Winterthur 5/19 - wander around Zurich (24/72 HR Zurich card) 5/20 - Winterthur - Luzern (roundtrip) - Pilatus Trip 5/21 - a day trip - scenic rail
5/22 - catch the mid morning train from Zurich to Salzburg