Venice to Zermatt by Train

Old Oct 17th, 2017, 03:33 PM
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Venice to Zermatt by Train

Hi, all!

My family and I are headed to Europe for Christmas, and wondering the best way to get from Venice to Zermatt by train? We only have 2 nights in Zermatt (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), so I'd like to avoid spending the entire first day on the train. Is there an overnight option from Venice to Zermatt?

I've read tons of information about the Venice > Milan > Brig > Zermatt route, as well as the Venice > Bologna > Visp > Zermatt route, but when I actually search for the trains, I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.

Any information or tips would be helpful! We don't mind spending the night on the train at all, but I would like to arrive in Zermatt no later than 2 or 3pm on Christmas Eve, and even earlier if at all possible. Thanks so much!
kelseykaylove is offline  
Old Oct 17th, 2017, 03:53 PM
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Fastest daytime timing is probably 6.5 hours with changes in Milan and Brig as a minimum.

Cannot understand going via Bologna

Look at the SwissRail site:

www.sbb.ch/en Remember that the timetables will be changing in early December but I suspect the timings for this route which are in place until November aren't going to change that much in December.
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Old Oct 17th, 2017, 06:05 PM
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This won’t answer your question but we were in the same situation three years ago and finally decided to take the late afternoon train from Venice to Milan, stay at a hotel right beside the train station (Michelangelo), visit the Duomo, and then take an early morning train to Zermatt. We’re glad we took the train in daylight as it is a very scenic ride.
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Old Oct 17th, 2017, 08:29 PM
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Hi kelseykaylove,

The connection would be pretty easy in one day -- leave Venice at 08.20, transfer in Milan & in Brig, and arrive in Zermatt at 14.50. The trip is about 6h30. You can find this schedule at the SBB site as given by Dukey1.

While I do understand the desire to arrive early in the day, I really and truly hate 1-night stays. I think you'll lose more "vacation time" with an unwanted overnight stop, with the hassle of getting from the station to the hotel, checking in and unpacking, then in the morning packing up again, checking out, and getting back to the station. I would rather just keep moving and get to my preferred destination asap.

Have fun as you plan!

s
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Old Oct 17th, 2017, 11:25 PM
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Be aware that for the change in Brig you are also changing railroads. You need to go out of the front of the station to the platforms across the street. You'll easily see these so don't concern yourself too much about getting lost.
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Old Oct 17th, 2017, 11:48 PM
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You need to split the booking.

Book Venezia Santa Lucia to Brig at Italian railways www.trenitalia.com

Then add a Brig-Zermatt local ticket at www.sbb.ch or at the station.

Do NOT use sbb.ch to book Venice to Zermatt, it will book this but it can only sell full-whack megabucks fares between Venice and Milan, it cannot access Trenitalia's cheap fares from €19 for this sector. That is why you split the booking and use Trenitalia.com!
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 05:53 AM
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there are no overnight trains on that route -for lots on trains check www.seat61.com (Man in Seat 61's commercial site); www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. For a long trip consider first-class Venice-Brig - discounted tickets also available in first class.
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 08:35 AM
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Then add a Brig-Zermatt local ticket at www.sbb.ch or at the station.>

No discounts available on that so only reason to buy in advance is so you can get off one train and hop on the other - Glacier Express trains do Brig to Zermatt too so do not mistakingly board those as they are reservations-only and charge a steep supplement (but regular coaches may be attached to rear of those trains).
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Old Oct 18th, 2017, 11:58 PM
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If you don't want to waste a whole day, you best leave Venice December 23rd at 16.20 by direct Geneva bound train (with dining car). Stop over at either Gallarate (ar 19.55), Domodossola (ar 20.43) or Brig (ar 21.16).

December 24th:
Brig ...dp 7.27, 7.52, 8.27, 08.57, 09.27.....
Zermatt ar 8.51, 9.14, 9.51, 10.14, 10.51.....

Gallarate dp 7.57 - Domodossola dp 08.48 - Zermatt ar 10.51
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Old Oct 19th, 2017, 01:54 AM
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I am sorry but 6.5 hours is not as long as wasting a whole night in a town you don't have much interest in but to each their very own.
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Old Oct 19th, 2017, 05:03 AM
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> leave Venice December 23rd at 16.20 by direct Geneva bound train (with dining car)

> I am sorry but 6.5 hours is not as long as wasting a whole night in a town you don't have much interest in.

This driect train to Brig is 5 hours.

Can't you modify hotel booking and arrive in Zermatt on 23rd already? I have taken this direct train GVA - VCE and return many times. Every time I bought the tickets on sbb.ch at great discount.
Geneva - Venice was around CHF38.00/2nd class and CHF 48.00 /1st oneway. Since Brig is about 2 hrs shorter ride than to Geneva, would it be even cheaper? Maybe not for this already deeply discounted ticket. You will just need to pay the full price for Brig - Zermatt. I would not want to reduce my stay in Venice but maybe it works for you. If not direct to Zermatt, an overnight in Brig. Many people say they likeed this town, nice for a short stay.
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Old Oct 19th, 2017, 05:08 AM
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The alternative would be to leave the Venice hotel shortly after 7am (most probably without breakfast), to leave Venezia SL at 8.20, Milan at 11.23 and Visp at 13.41 in order to check in at the Zermatt hotel after 3pm, at a time when the village will already be in the shade and too late for anything of interest:
a full day lost.
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Old Oct 20th, 2017, 06:48 PM
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Hi, a suggestion here is to be sure to visit the little underground museum, next to the church where the climbers are buried. The museum has the history of the accident that put Zermatt on the world Map, Be sure to go to the second floor to see the various theories of the terrible accident on the Matterhorn. Also if open go up to the Gorgernat on the mtn train. nice little ride. Quite touristy there, but cemetary and museum and Gorgernaut made it very interesting and of course the Matterhorn. Was just there in July. Sue
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Old Oct 21st, 2017, 06:36 PM
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also had some very good meals in Zermatt, one at the little rustic restaurant where the mtn climbers used to meet. wish I could recall the name, right on the street where the museum is located, about a block down from the front of the museum to the right as you leave the museum, need reservations, ask at your hotel, I am pretty sure it was on the corner. Sue
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Old Oct 22nd, 2017, 06:06 AM
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I've read tons of information about the Venice > Milan > Brig > Zermatt route, as well as the Venice > Bologna > Visp > Zermatt route>

The latter does not make sense - Bologna is a detour off the straight Venice to Milan-Brig (not Visp which comes after you change trains at Brig) - forget it - the first route is the only direct route.
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Old Oct 26th, 2017, 10:28 AM
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Kelseykeylove never came back since Otober 18th.
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Old Oct 26th, 2017, 11:47 AM
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Oh well info is good for others!
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