JessieMJ

Hi everyone,

My boyfriend and I are going to Lauterbrunnen for a long weekend, flying in and out of Zurich and we're hoping for some advice on train options.

So far I can see there are two train passes which we could use - the swiss transfer ticket (taking us to Lauterbrunnen and back) and the Swiss Card (does the same thing, but would give us 50% off other travel).

We're planning on spending most of our time in Lauterbrunnen, but are considering a day trip out to Grindelwald.

The price difference between the two cards is 50CHF - has anyone else out there used either of these cards? Do you think in such a short period of time it would be worth paying more to get the Swiss Card with extra transport discounts? For those who have stayed in Lauterbrunnen before, how much other transportation did you use?

Thanks!

Melnq8

For just a weekend, I'd think you'd be better off just buying train tickets, and not getting any type of pass. Have you checked the train fare and compared the cost?

I've stayed in Lauterbrunnen for a week - we got a lot of use out of our Half Fare Card, but we were in Switzerland for a total of two weeks.

You can only do so much in a weekend.

Melnq8

PS - we used the bus in Lauterbrunnen a few times and it was really cheap

Melnq8

Jessie -

Out of curiosity, I looked up some current train fares.

Zurich to Lauterbrunnen is 72.20 CHF each, second class, one way.

Lauterbrunnen to Wengen is 6.40 CHF each, one way

Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald is 8.40 CHF each, one way

The bus from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg (to access the Schilthorn and Gimmelwald) is 4.20 CHF each, one way

Lauterbrunnen to Murren is 10.40 CHF per person

Swiss train website with fares and timetable can be found here:

http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

cmtravel

Hello to all who have helped above.

My husband and I are traveling from Zurich airport to Lautenbrunnen. Will stay for 4 nights and
depart by train to Munich. Will do day trips
What swiss card would you recommend?

Thank you

Melnq8

cmtravel -

You might get more responses if you start your own thread.

PalenQ

There is also the Jungfraubahn Pass that could be a great deal if just staying in the Jungfrau Region or the Berner Oberland Pass that I believe extends as far as Bern, close to zurich by train. Anyways for lots of possible answers to questions like this I always spotlight these superb IMO sources on Swiss trains and transports - http://www.swisstravelsystem.com;htt...l.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.

Swiss Transfer Ticket can only be purchased outside of Switzerland I believe. In any case compare prices here if in US and in Switzerland as they can always be significant prices differences for the exact same pass or ticket depending on where it is bought - ahead of time here or in Switzerland.

denisede

Also, depending on when you will be travelling, there is the 2 for 1 Swiss Pass (4 day) for travel dates September 1 - November 30. I bought this for our trip this October. A pretty good deal for us, and we will use it to get to/from and around Lauterbrunnen.

PalenQ

ah yes forgot about the 2 for the price of 1 Swiss Pass Promo - both on passes bought in the US and those bought in Switzerland - and often like in 2012, this is also often the case from mid-April thru the end of May, another off-season in this winter and summer skiing and hiking mecca.

javafan1

We just returned from Lauterbrunnen last week. The Bern Oberland area is celebrating 100 years of something. They are offering a Century Pass for 3 days of travel everywhere in the Bern Oberland area. It does not cover the trip up to Shilthorn, but does cover Jungfrau and everything else. We used it for trips to Jungfrau, Grindenwald/First, Schynigge Platte, Gondolas/train from Murren, Wengen, and gondola to Gimmelwald. A couple of these are expensive trips of over 400 euro total. They sell the pass for 225 euro at the train station.

If you happen to get good, clear weather when you are there, you might consider these passes. If you are going to Bern Oberland canton, I would definitely recommend the expensive trip to Jungfrau. It is the main attraction in the area.

PalenQ

The Schilthorn IME is also a main attraction, next to Jungfraujoch, in the area - to me the excursion Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp-Murren-Schilthorn-Gimmelwald-stechleberg-Lauterbrunnen overall is the finest excursion in the whole Jungfrau Region - for variety of places and sights and experience - thrilling aerial cableways - tiny mountain train along the edge of a cliff - unique Murren and one of a kind lost in the Alps Gimmelwald and Lauterbrunnen itself (with Trummelbach Falls) - my single favorite day out in this area.

Jungfrau summit is great but the train there from KlSchiedegg is nearly all in tunnel - not so thrilling and it is also extremely expensive - but it is a thrill once up top.

michele_d

We love the views from Murren. We enjoy watching the hang gliders as they drift slowly down to the Lauterbrunnen valley.