Hello all, We will be traveling from Venice to Gruyeres in September. From Gruyeres we will be heading to Interlaken and then to Gimmelwald and also go up to the Schilthorn. Our flight leaves from Zurich so we'll have to head there at some point. I've been trying to figure out what the best option would be for the two of us. Point to point tickets? Half fare card? I believe this would give us half off to the Schilthorn? I've been crunching numbers and my head hurts and I'm just not quite sure whats the best. Should I wait until I'm in Venice to order tickets or order them now? Also at what point would the half fare card kick in? One more question: We're flying out of Zurich but not really interested in spending any time there. I would love to spend the last night in Lucerne and head to Zurich in the morning for our 10:55 flight. Has anyone done this? Is it possible.? I saw that trains leave Lucerne bound for Zurich starting at a little after six. I just wasn't sure if this was cutting it too close.
Thanks so much for any advice you can give me. It's much appreciated.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17455 posts
You can buy your half-Fare Cards now and they will ship to you for free: http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/produkttexte.php?passid=6 Put your "start date" as the day you will travel into Switzerland. You should be able to show this when you purchase your tickets for travel into Switzerland, and they will apply th edicount. The card will kick in at Domodossola, assuming you travel the route Venice to Milan to Brig and on to Gruyeres. I agree with the others that it is very doable to spend the night in Luzern and make a 10:55 plane from Zürich. There are direct trains from Luzern to the Zurich airport at 7:10 and 8:10, arriving at the airport at 8:13 and 9:13 respectively. Or you could choose the one-change train that departs at 7:35 and arrives at 8:46 with a change at the main station, on the main tracks not the S-Bahn. If you choose a route with a change at the Hauptbahnhof, I suggest you avoid the ones that use the S-Bahn as you have a looooong way to get to that track. The SBB rail site will indicate these with an "S" and if you go to details it will show Track 52. Stay away from those if you can.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
I'd not risk taking an early train to Zürich and miss an intercontinental flight. Travel there the night before and, in case you really don't care at all about the city, stay in a hotel near the airport so the next day you can get up, have a timely breakfast and head to the airport with a shuttle.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
You can easily overnight in Lucerne. Only about an hour or so to Zurich and the train goes directly through the airport. And there are frequent trains. We stayed in Zug which is about half way between and took an early flight with no problem.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1601 posts
Agree with Frank - you can easily overnight in Luzern and get to the airport. You don't need that much time to make your flight - 90 mins max.
Posted by
OP
Fredericksburg, Ohio
8 posts
Thanks so much everybody! Lola, thank you for the info on the train. I would have had no idea. Just one more reason to love this forum!
So I can just buy our tickets in Venice without a problem?