3 days and 4 nights in Switzerland
Dec 17th, 2014, 07:29 PM
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3 days and 4 nights in Switzerland
Hi All,
Travelling from Paris to Switzerland in Sep 2015 by Train. We are going to base ourselves either in Lauterbunne valley or Murren for 4 nights. We have 3 days and would like to experience some of the most wonderful sceneries in Switzerland.
Day 1: Depends on the weather, we might explore around Murren - Lauterbunne Valley. We are not big on long hikes as we do not have the gears for proper hiking. Any suggestions for ways to explore the area without too much hiking/walking? ( Bus/train/cable car)
Is 1 day long enough (We want to see waterfalls in the Valley as well)
Day2: Either cruise on Lake Thun and see Castillo Oberhofen or Lake Brienz and see ballensberg ( Which one is better?)
Day3: We would like to see more scenery perhaps up the mountain or either areas? (Any suggestions?)
Day4: Train to Munich
Also, is it worth it to buy a Swiss pass saver or half fare card? or would it be better to buy a Swiss and Germany rail pass since we are going to spend 3 days in Munich as well.
Thank you so much for all your help!
Travelling from Paris to Switzerland in Sep 2015 by Train. We are going to base ourselves either in Lauterbunne valley or Murren for 4 nights. We have 3 days and would like to experience some of the most wonderful sceneries in Switzerland.
Day 1: Depends on the weather, we might explore around Murren - Lauterbunne Valley. We are not big on long hikes as we do not have the gears for proper hiking. Any suggestions for ways to explore the area without too much hiking/walking? ( Bus/train/cable car)
Is 1 day long enough (We want to see waterfalls in the Valley as well)
Day2: Either cruise on Lake Thun and see Castillo Oberhofen or Lake Brienz and see ballensberg ( Which one is better?)
Day3: We would like to see more scenery perhaps up the mountain or either areas? (Any suggestions?)
Day4: Train to Munich
Also, is it worth it to buy a Swiss pass saver or half fare card? or would it be better to buy a Swiss and Germany rail pass since we are going to spend 3 days in Munich as well.
Thank you so much for all your help!
Dec 17th, 2014, 09:25 PM
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Hi leah_x_li,
I don't think the Switzerland/Germany rail pass will really be worthwhile. If you buy your rail ticket from Switzerland to Munich about 90 days in advance, you can find fares around 29 or 39€ per person. For your time in Munich, your best option is the Bavaria Card -- it costs 23€ for the first person, and each additional passenger is 5€. You can travel all day long on the Bavaria Card because it works like a pass; you are only restricted to regional trains (most of the trains in the area are regional) and to travelling after 09.00 on weekdays.
For your time in Switzerland, you may want to research your best options a bit. The Berner Oberland pass may give you the best value, or the Half Fare Card (my personal favorite for my trips), or the Swiss Card (gives you round-trip transport from the border to your destination, and 50% off all travel inbetween).
Have fun as you plan!
s
I don't think the Switzerland/Germany rail pass will really be worthwhile. If you buy your rail ticket from Switzerland to Munich about 90 days in advance, you can find fares around 29 or 39€ per person. For your time in Munich, your best option is the Bavaria Card -- it costs 23€ for the first person, and each additional passenger is 5€. You can travel all day long on the Bavaria Card because it works like a pass; you are only restricted to regional trains (most of the trains in the area are regional) and to travelling after 09.00 on weekdays.
For your time in Switzerland, you may want to research your best options a bit. The Berner Oberland pass may give you the best value, or the Half Fare Card (my personal favorite for my trips), or the Swiss Card (gives you round-trip transport from the border to your destination, and 50% off all travel inbetween).
Have fun as you plan!
s
Dec 18th, 2014, 02:40 AM
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Swandav gave you the best possible answer. Now, it's up to you to do your maths!
In order to help you:
If you enter Switzerland by train or plane via Basel, the standard rail fare to Berne is 40 resp 44 CHF, to Lucerne its 33 resp 37 CHF. Bern - Bernese Oberland and Basel - Bernese Oberland are covered by the Bernese Oberland Pass.
http://www.regiopass-berneroberland....-XL-14-WEB.pdf
Bernese Oberland - Munich:
train to Lucerne (covered by BO Pass), train to Zurich (standard fare 25 CHF) and bus to Munich (fares start at 18 CHF)
or
train from Lucerne to Lindau (German border; standard fare 62 CHF) plus Bavaria ticket.
or
plane from Berne airport (between Thun and Berne) to Munich (fares start at 240 CHF with 1 piece of checked in luggage)
or
Bus Berne - Munich (not daily, 60 CHF.)
Half Fare Card: half fare all over Switzerland, except Jungfraujoch and short Austrian leg St. Margrethen - Lindau (7 CHF)
In order to help you:
If you enter Switzerland by train or plane via Basel, the standard rail fare to Berne is 40 resp 44 CHF, to Lucerne its 33 resp 37 CHF. Bern - Bernese Oberland and Basel - Bernese Oberland are covered by the Bernese Oberland Pass.
http://www.regiopass-berneroberland....-XL-14-WEB.pdf
Bernese Oberland - Munich:
train to Lucerne (covered by BO Pass), train to Zurich (standard fare 25 CHF) and bus to Munich (fares start at 18 CHF)
or
train from Lucerne to Lindau (German border; standard fare 62 CHF) plus Bavaria ticket.
or
plane from Berne airport (between Thun and Berne) to Munich (fares start at 240 CHF with 1 piece of checked in luggage)
or
Bus Berne - Munich (not daily, 60 CHF.)
Half Fare Card: half fare all over Switzerland, except Jungfraujoch and short Austrian leg St. Margrethen - Lindau (7 CHF)
Dec 18th, 2014, 08:32 AM
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No to the Germany-Swiss pass as if just in Bavaria you can use the bargain Bavarain Lander Ticket - for about 30 euros for up to several folks unlimited travel on all regional trains and urban transports.
Swiss Pass is also iffy since you are basically going to one area and the Jungfraubahn Pass may be better for you than anything else but still you have to do a bit more probably.
anyways for lots of great stuff on Swiss trains I always highlight these IMO superb sites: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
a Swiss Pass however does cover in full travel up and down from Murren so it also depends on where you stay and if you want to do day trips out of Murren - to me Murren is too isolated from your other sights - Grindelwald or Wengen IMO would make much better bases and are just as awesome as Murren but a lot quicker to get to from Interlaken (Lake Thun), etc.
Swiss Pass is also iffy since you are basically going to one area and the Jungfraubahn Pass may be better for you than anything else but still you have to do a bit more probably.
anyways for lots of great stuff on Swiss trains I always highlight these IMO superb sites: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
a Swiss Pass however does cover in full travel up and down from Murren so it also depends on where you stay and if you want to do day trips out of Murren - to me Murren is too isolated from your other sights - Grindelwald or Wengen IMO would make much better bases and are just as awesome as Murren but a lot quicker to get to from Interlaken (Lake Thun), etc.
Dec 18th, 2014, 11:12 AM
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Times I went to Murren there was at times a line to get on the gondola to Grutschalp (from where trains take you to Murren) - are these lines a thing of the past with the new gondola replacing the old ground level funicular - if not could take longer.
and Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen is only about 20 mins - much better for day tripping, especially if paying out of pocket and not having a pass.
and Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen is only about 20 mins - much better for day tripping, especially if paying out of pocket and not having a pass.
Dec 18th, 2014, 12:05 PM
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Wengen though it better located for the day trip to the Jungfraujoch - if coming from Murren you have to pass thru Wengen - about 30 minutes from your start I would suspect. And Wengen is a short gondolar ride from the famous Mannlichen - the celebrated viewpoint and the start of the fantastic Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg ridge walk which can easily be incorporated into a Jungfraujoch trip from Wengen or Grindelwald, also hooked to Mannlichen by gondola.
