Guy86

Hi, we will be leaving Switzerland on September 17th from Wengen to Munich. Everything points to taking a train from Wengen to Zurich and then a train onto Munich. We will have a Swiss pass for 8 days continuous. Can we use the Swiss travel pass for travel from Zurich to Munich?
Thank you

PalenQ

No - it would be valid only until the Swiss border - so you'd have to buy a ticket from the border station to Munich but if you go to www.bahn.de/en you may find Zurich to Munich discounted tickets are cheaper than a full-fare ticket from the border to Munich.

check these sites for lots of good train info - www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Dukey1

DO NOT buy any tickets 'at a border station.'

Instead, when you start out go to the ticket window at the station (and if there isn't one) certainly when you get to Zurich and <B>buy the ticket there</B>.

All you have to do is tell the agent your situation, that you have a pass and that you need an onward ticket from beyond the pass geographic limits.

Now, if you really want to get a train from wherever to Munich and then get off the train, with your luggage, at the "border station" and buy a ticket and wait for the next train, then go right ahead and do that.

neckervd

The Swiss Travel Pass is valid
up to St. Margrethen if you leave Switzerland by Eurocity train
up to Constance if you change there to a bus.
If you leave Switzerland by boat and go on from Friedrichshafen or Lindau by train or bus, you will have to pay half fare for the Lake Constance ferry.

Best web fares actually available for Sept 17th:

EC (Eurocity) trains Lindau - Munich: 10 EUR/pax
IC trains Friedrichshafen - Munich: 19 EUR/pax
EC trains St. Margrethen (Swiss border) - Munich: 19 EUR/pax
EC trains Zurich - Munich: 29 EUR/pax
DB buses Zurich - Munich: 19 EUR/pax
Flixbus Zurich - Munich: 15 EUR/pax
Flixbus Konstanz - Munich: 11 EUR/pax
Flixbus Friedrichshafen - Munich: 9 EUR/pax
Flixbus Lindau - Munich: 9 EUR/pax
Flixbus St. Gallen - Munich: 19 EUR/pax
RE (regional Express) trains Lindau - Munich: 33 EUR for 3 pax, 38 EUR for 4 pax, 43 EUR for 5 pax (Bayern Ticket)
Half Fare boat ticket Romanshorn - Friedrichshafen: 4.50 EUR/pax

PalenQ

Those prices neckervd gives - like Zurich to Munich by train for 29 euros are the lowest you may pay if you book far far enough in advance - regular full fare is a lot lot more. You can book at www.bahn.de/en up to three months in advance I think but not sure.

and though that bus is cheaper a bit trains IME are much more comfy for a longish train trip - no problem taking bags on the bus however as they go under the vehicle in the special luggage bins.

Man_in_seat_61

The thing is, there are 'budget train fares' from anywhere in Switzerland to Munich if you book in advance, as you would a budget flight.

These cheap fares are unrelated to distance. Book them using German Railways www.bahn.de/en

So on 17 Sept you can get from Wengen to Munich from €39, WITHOUT any pass. Specific train only, limited refunds, no changes to travel plans.

The equivalent advance-purchase fare from St Margrethen to Munich on the same date and train is €19, so your expensive Swiss Pass only saves €20.

Of course if you have the Swiss Pass anyway with spare days on it you may as well save this €20 and just buy the St Margrethen to Munich ticket, fair enough.

But don't wait till the day of travel unless you have to: If you just went to the station on the day to pay for St Margrethen to Munich you'd pay the full-flex rate of €48.40, MORE expensive than a whole Wengen to Munich €39 ticket bought now!

Don't do that unless you really really don't want to pre-book and commit.

Man_in_seat_61

Oh, and when booking at www.bahn.de/en avoid anything shown in the search results as including 'BUS' as this is indeed a cramped downmarket bus, and not a proper train.

Select an all-train option, shown with codes IC (InterCity), EC (EuroCity), IR (InterRegional), R (regional) and so on.

PalenQ

Oh, and when booking at www.bahn.de/en avoid anything shown in the search results as including 'BUS' as this is indeed a cramped downmarket bus, and not a proper train.>

But some folks here have stated that the bus was comfy enough and actually not only cheaper but quicker than the train - have you taken or seen that bus?

Guy86

Thank you everyone for the great suggestions, I think we'll book a train using the Bahn site to Munich soon so we can find a cheaper fare.

Guy86

In your experience is it cheaper overall to get a Swiss travel pass than purchasing real tickets within Switzerland? We will be in the country for 7 days and travelling from Geneva airport, Montreux, gruyeres, Wengen (jungfrau), Lucerne (to mt pilatus) then onto Zurich and towards Munich.
Thanks

PalenQ

We will be in the country for 7 days and travelling from Geneva airport, Montreux, gruyeres, Wengen (jungfrau), Lucerne (to mt pilatus) then onto Zurich and towards Munich.>

Yes to me a no-brainer for all those trains and good in full to Wengen- Mt Pilatus only 50% off however but good on lake boats - take one to Alpnachstad and take the thrilling mountain railway up Pilatus and return to Lucerne by cable car to Krens - go up one way come down the next - even the bus from Krens back to Lucerne will be covered in full.

You may even find an 8-consecutive-day pass a better deal than a flexipass for seven days- hard to explain in a nut shell but that could be your best deal.

anyway for your plans the Swiss Pass is the best IMO. By far.

Guy86

thanks PalenQ cant wait to travel through Switzerland

PalenQ

One of the great bonuses of a Swiss Pass is that from Wengen you can go via Lauterbrunnen via a thrilling aerial cable car to Grutschalp - then train to Murren and gondola to Stechelberg - another thrilling aerial one - to Stechelberg in the valley below and postal bus back to Latuerbrunnen all 100% covered by a Swiss Pass - and this loop is a tremendous day out IME.

AT Murren can take the long long cable way to the Schilthorn and Piz Gloria and back for 50% off with a Swiss Pass.

Swiss Pass is great for you.

Cheers!

PalenQ

The Schilthorn/Piz Gloria is a real thrill - getting there and then being on the isolated spit of ice and rock on the sun terrace. Much of James Bond's On Her Majesty's Secret Service was filmed here when the famous revolving restaurant and the building, called Piz Gloria, was under construction.

Not as much to do as at the Jungfraujoch train terminus but far fewer mob scenes and lots of ice caves to trek about in.

https://www.google.com/search?q=shci...HYzYDkgQsAQIHg

PalenQ

If doing Schilthorn from Lauterbrunnen (from Wengen you change there) take the cable from Lauterbrunne's train station to Grutschalp then Murren - do the Schilthorn thingy - then be sure to return to Lauterbrunnen via cable from Murren to Gimmelwald - a unique isolated farming hamlet out in the middle of the proverbial nowhere - well an awesome nowhere backdropped by high Alps, deep gorges, etc.

Then from Gimmelwald take the cable way that seems to plunge to the Lauterbrunnen Valley floor at Stechleberg and then walk on a flat trail or take the postal bus back to Lauterbrunnen - just a few miles.

To me this Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp-Murren-Schilthorn-Gimmelwald-Stechelberg - Lauterbrunnen loop is the most fantastic day out in the whole Jungfrau area, including the much more hyped Jungfraujoch train which mainly goes in tunnels to the summit station.