jrretired

We are training from zurich flug to zermatt (tasch) on March 19. Although there are trains departing from zurich almost every hour, is there a need to buy online in advance, or is it safe to wait and buy tickets at the station upon arrival? Also, does anyone know about what the cost difference is between online and local station prices.

BarbAnn

All three times we have flown into ZRH and traveled to Zermatt, we have not bought a ticket ahead of time. We have never had a problem. Althought a reservation is possible on the Zurich Flughafen to Visp portion, I do not think a reservation is possible for the Visp/Zermatt portion. The only reservations I have ever made where on the special scenic trains. I did not make those until I arrived in Switzerland. We will be returning to Zermatt later this year and I will purchase the train tickets at the wonderful train station at Zurich airport.

altamiro

>is there a need to buy online in advance, or is it safe to wait and buy tickets at the station upon arrival?

There is no advantage in buying the ticket online except saving 3-4 min at the station. (Actually if you are a bit used to it you can get your ticket to zermatt from the ticket machine in under 1 min, but probably not if you are unfamiliar with it and jet-lagged)

>Also, does anyone know about what the cost difference is between online and local station prices.

Exactly 0,00 CHF.

PalenQ

Also look in the Swiss Railpass - a 3-day flexipass saverpass would take you there and back and then afford you 50% off on every conveyance once there - including the mountain trains and cables

don't automatically look at just buying point-point tickets as the pass could save you money - perhaps - i haven't done the math

But a three-day flexible Swiss Pass - any 3 100% covered travel days in a one-month period costs about $165 p.p. and then on the days in between your first and third days of 100% travel on the Swiss Pass you get 50% everything that moves in Switzerland, except cows, - like if taking the Gornergracht train up the Matterhorn 50% off would be a big chunk of money. www.swisstravelsystem.com for lots on Swiss trains, lake boats, etc. and two good sources on info on Swiss trains i always recommend: www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Swiss Passes are sold in Switzerland but i think about 15-20% more than the same pass in U.S. dollars for some weird reason. You could also consider the Swiss Card and Half-Fare card to see which is best for your plans. All may be better than buying point-point tickets upon arrival IMO

jrretired

Thanks for the info on the flex pass, PalenQ. I had looked at that earlier and suspected that the cost would be about a wash. Following our Zurich/Zermatt ride, we will be going from Zermatt to Lugano. We don't have another longer ride planned as we will be flying from Milan to Amsterdam after Lugano. The 50% off other transportation while in Zermatt and Lugano sounds appealing. Our Zermatt/Lugano itinerary takes us through Milan. Will that be a problem with the Swiss pass?

BarbAnn

Remember the Swiss Passes include admission to over 400 museums. There is one in Zermatt and several in Lugano. You can also get the Swiss Saver Passes if two people are traveling on the same itinerary. Second class is perfectly fine if you want to save some money.

The Swiss Pass will cover you to the Swiss border. You will only pay for the Italian portion from Lugano to Milan.

jrretired

BarbAnn, Thanks for the info. Question, if we go through Milan, when do we pay the italian charges? On the train or in Milan? I guess we could take the route that goes through Andermatt and Gotthard (sp) pass and not worry about the extra fare. There are three train changes on that route that I was trying to avoid.

BarbAnn

I believe reservations from Lugano to Milan are required. You can make the reservations at the ZRH train station. They will figure out how much the fare is from the Swiss border to Milan. You pay then and get the ticket and reservation for Lugano to Milan.

If you are refering to Zermatt to Lugano via Milan, I'm not sure. I know that if you travel via Domodossola to Locarno, there is NO extra charge for the Italian portion. I have been on the train from Brig to Andermatt, and it is a very scenic route. It is part of the Glacier Express route.

No need to worry about it. My family usually uses the Swiss Saver Rail Pass. We purchase them before we leave (from ricksteves.com) and then make any reservations or onward train reservations once we get to Zurich. The attendents at the ZRH train station speak English (most Swiss do) and are VERY helpful. In Zurich I have made onward train reservations to Vienna and Paris (on TVG)..no worries.

PalenQ

<I do not think a reservation is possible for the Visp/Zermatt portion.>

No not possible on normal trains but the Glacier Express also travels this route so don't hop on it as it requires reservations - however i have read that some local cars may be attached to this train Brig-Zermatt and you i think can hop in those - but not the fancier Glacier Express domed ones.

jrretired

Thanks to all of you for the train advice. We have been to Zermatt several times, but have always driven. Didn't want to drive all those passes in the winter this time. Happy travels.

PalenQ

<I guess we could take the route that goes through Andermatt and Gotthard (sp) pass and not worry about the extra fare>

???

If going between Switzerland and Milan you will have to pay for the reservation/small supplement on these Cisalpino trains for the Italian portion no matter what route you take i believe.

jrretired

Thanks for the tip. I see on the Swiss rail website that there is one train that stays in Switzerland all the way to Lugano. It goes thru Andermatt, Goescheen (sp), Bellinzona to Lugano. If I want to save a few $, I think that's my best bet.

PalenQ

<Goescheen (sp), Bellinzona to Lugano.>

there are hourly trains i believe running this route though some of the crack Cisalpino Zurich-Milan trains may not stop at Goschinen.
From Andermatt you must take the tiny shuttle train down a steep incline to Goschinen and change there i believe to the Gotthard Zurich/Lucerne-Bellinzona-Lugano line. I would think Andermatt-Lugano direct trains not to be possible due to track gauge variances but not sure.

This line goes thru the Gotthard Tunnel, one of the longest in Europe.

altamiro

The most direct route would be via Brig - Domodossola (Centovalli railway) - Locarno - Bellinzona. Although a part of the Centovalli line is in Italy it is covered by Swiss Pass. From Bellinzona you can take the trains to Milano. Chiasso is the border station to Italy.

PalenQ

Not only most direct but Centovalli - 100 Valleys i believe - railway is a great low-key way to do this trek

tiny train putzing thru bucolic scenery - yes Swiss and Eurailpasses valid on the whole route though whether or not you'd have to pay a few euros to go from Iselle, last Swiss station i believe on Simplon Tunnel route to Domodossola i've never been able to figure out - that's with a Swiss Pass of course as Eurail, if valid in both countries would cover the whole route or if just valid in Switzerland same conundrum to me

altamiro

Iselle to Domodossola is also covered by Swiss Pass as well as the SBB national ticketing system. Whether an Eurail pass not including Italy covers the part as well, I have no idea.

PalenQ

thanks altamiro

small point and suspose conductors never would have checked anyway if wasn't the case.

I knew the Swiss postal buses over the Simplon Pass were valid in full to Domodossola with a Swiss Pass (not Eurail)

I took this route once and it's a stunner though of course takes a bit longer.