Hello everyone. We have been trying to figure out which train(s) and travel passes would be the most efficient and beneficial to use. We arrive in Paris this July and our itinerary is as follows..
Arrive Paris- spend the night ( will get a cab to our hotel). The next day travel via train(s) to Murren- would like to leave by 8am via Gare de Lyon... can't decide if it's best to get tgv to Berne and purchase a Swiss Travel or other pass for the rest of the trip OR get a train(s) directly to Lauterbrunnen and then purchase some sort of pass. We will spend 5 nights and 4 full days in Murren and plan to do a great deal of walks/hikes in the area as well as utilize the various lifts and trains.
After visiting Murren- We will be returning to Paris for 5 nights with a possible stop in Berne for the night.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions related to the above.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
You need to count your number of travel days in Switzerland carefully if, for instance, you're looking at a Swiss Travel Pass for 4 consecutive days for $287. You'll be there longer, so it's not a perfect fit, which might be a reason to buy your first arrival ticket (with advance-purchase discount) for as far as you're able to get it on one ticket. Or you may decide on a longer pass for full coverage of your time inside the Swiss borders, or a Swiss Half-Fare Card for a smaller up-front investment.
A Eurail Global pass for 4 travel days within a month can also work at $277. But it would require a spread sheet to compare the extra costs with either one, including tickets or passholder reservations for the TGV Lyria and varying levels of discount on trains and lifts in the Berner Oberland (described on the link above).
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Swiss pass will work for your travels inside of Switzerland. TGV from Paris will drop you either in Geneva or Basel so that’s where your Swiss Pass would pick up and cover the train 100%.
If you buy tgv tickets early you’ll get a cheaper price.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
the two options are slightly different to how you describe. They both involve getting the same trains, it is just how you split the ticketing.
A) Buy ticket(s) from Paris to Basel (the border station). Use a Swiss Pass thereafter for Basel to Lauterbrunnen.
B) Buy ticket(s) from Paris to Mürren. Buy a Swiss Pass starting the next day.
The decision is based on two pieces of info:
1) What is the price difference between tickets Paris - Basel and Paris -Mürren?
2) How many days are you buying your pass for?
Passes are available for 3,4,8 or 15 days. You may have a "spare" day, in which case you might as well use it and go for option A.
Or, you could be planning 9 days including your arrival day. There is only a 8-day pass, so you have to go for option B.
You will have to do the sums yourselves.
BTW, you an buy the Swiss pass in advance online for exactly the same price as you buy it in Switzerland. On the SBB website here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-travel-pass.html
So you can already have the pass in your hand when you cross the border, no need to waste time (and have to get a later train) buying one.
And, look up train prices on the train operator's website, not a reseller. And the Paris - Switzerland tickest are a lot cheaper if bough 2-3 months in advance.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you buy a TGV ticket you’re seat reservations are included. Eurail includes nothing and forces you to pay for those extras out of pocket. There are also limited TGV seats available to Eurail Pass holders. Eurail Passes in general are of dubious value, and in Switzerland the Swiss Pass or Half Fare Card rules.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
Smart as the posters here are, nobody beats The Man in Seat 61 for railroad advice. He has substantial views on the value of ralroad passes, which are not automatically a good deal (by a long shot.)
Posted by
OP
Scotia
7 posts
A huge thank you to all that responded. The information and links that you provided were very helpful and I am now able to continue with my trip reservations. Have a wonderful week.