Shamrockgal74

Hi all. We will be arriving in Zurich next week and will be spending seven days in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. We purchased swiss cards for our trip and I have a few questions. I'm sorry if they sound juvenile, but we are new to travelling with any sort of card or pass.

1) Can trains leaving from the zurich airport take us to Lauterbrunnen (yes I know we have to switch trains along the way) or will we have to go the zurich's main station to start our journey?

2) When we first have our passes validated at the train station in zurich will we given any tickets for our journey to Lauterbrunnen or will our destination be recorded somewhere on our swiss card? Just wondering how train officials will know where our 'destination' is that is to included with the cost of the swiss card.

3)On our journey from the airport to Lauterbrunnen, each time we are required to change trains will we have to get off and go to an official/ticket agent to have our pass validated again? or do we just jump on the new platform and go?

4) When heading from interlaken to lauterbrunnen, should we be on the first car or second? I've read a few places that only the first train car continues on to Lauterbrunnen?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Musicteacher

I can answer your first question and leave the rest to others.

You can go from the Zurich Airport to Bern and change trains there. Then you change again in Interlaken. You do not necessarily have to change in the Zurich main station.

I have only used the Swiss Flexi-Pass, not the Swiss Card, so I am unsure of their method of recording the destination, etc.

Hagan

Wish I could help you with all of the questions, but we arrived in Switzerland by train, so can't help with the airport inquiries.

We also had Swiss passes and stayed in Lauterbrunnen (you'll absolutely LOVE it!), and I can tell you from experience that the first HALF of the train from Interlaken goes to Lauterbrunnen. We learned this the hard way, coming back from Grindelwald. We didn't pay any attention, just boarded the train and started remarking how similar the terrain looked - even some of the houses looked identical to ones we had just passed!
Well, of course, we were headed back to Grindelwald. We got off at an isolated stop, sat on a bench and waited nearly an hour for the next train to come back.
I think the trick is to look for the town names on the train cars, and try to get on one near the front.

Where are you staying in Lauterbrunnen? We stayed at the Hotel Silberhorn and absolutely loved it. The views were so incredible, we still talk about that trip, and it was 5 years ago!

Have a wonderful journey.

Shamrockgal74

Thanks for the answers so far everyone.

Hagan, we are staying at the Staubbach hotel. We are really looking forward to our trip.

Where did you eat for lunches and dinners by the way?

kleeblatt

You'll take the airport train directly into the Hauptbahnhof (main train station). It's only about a 7-10 min. journey.

Use sbb.ch to map out your train journey. http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm
You'll most likely have to change trains 2-3 times, but it's very easy to do.

When mapping out your train journey, please print the times and note the platform (perron/gleis). This will tell you where you need to catch the next train.

kleeblatt

For destinations: please enter

Zurich Airport (or Flughafen)
and
Lauterbrunnen

RosieinOz

Hi Shamrockgal
My son said it was easy last month getting to Lauterbrunnen and it was his first trip anywhere! If he made it you'll be fine!
We also stayed at the Staubbach and it was amazing! There are a few good places to eat back towards the station from the hotel...apparently the pub down below the Hotel is not great but we didn't try it so can't really comment. The food was good at the Schilthorn and in the towns on the way to the Jungfrau...lunch in Wengen and Kleinshidegg ( sorry that is where you change to the Jungfrau tunnel train and I can't spell it!) Try to walk from there to the next train stop down...it is an easy and magical path...I get goose bumps just thinking about it!
Have a wonderful trip...it's a most beautiful part of the world!
Rosie

swandav2000

Hi Shamrockgal74,

Just a few quick notes --

The train station is downstairs in the basement of the Zürich airport, so it's quite easy and quick to get to. Grab a luggage trolley, load all your bags onto it, and you can wheel it all the way to the train tracks. You can put the trolley on an elevator or the escalator (works fine) to get down to the tracks.

Be sure to stop off in one of the grocery stores or one of the cafes to get some munchies to enjoy during your trip. It's one of the ways I know I'm in Switzerland -- a real treat!! I usually get some fresh, crisp bread, some Swiss cheese, some local ham, some creamy Swiss yogurt, a bottle of water, and of course some sweet Swiss chocolate. You'll think you're in heaven!! The grocery stores and cafes are on the level between the gates and the train station. Oh -- be sure you leave some room in your carry-on for all the groceries so you won't be trying to manage a hundred bags as you step onto the train!

Have a great time!

s

swisshiker

Hello Shamrockgal74

You are correct that from Interlaken Ost, the train does indeed switch into two different directions once you reach the stop at Zweilütschinen.

So to reach Lauterbrunnen, you'll want to be in the front section of the train.

There is usually a friendly station attendant helping folks out, but it is good to know ahead of time to avoid any confusion.

Happy travels!

Shamrockgal74

Thanks everyone for your replies.
We are excited about going. One week tomorrow! I have been to Switzerland twice before but my husband has never been.

I did go online to see the changes by train that we will need to do to get to Lauterbrunnen.

Anyone have answers to the swiss card logistics??

Cheers!

Shamrockgal74

topping

altamiro

Shamrockgal,

Donīt just go by the 1st/nd part of the train. Sometimes they have to switch the train parts, so going blindly for the "1st/2nd half" can get you to a wrong place. Each carriage of the train will have a signboard with destination noted on it (if it is older rolling stock) or an electronic destination board (new ones). Lauterbrunnen is the end station of the line and will be signposted on the train. The other part will go to Grindelwald which will also be signposted. Take the 20-30 s to look around before boarding the train, and everything will be fine.

Shamrockgal74

Thanks altamiro!