Flying to Milan Italy late Oct.Want to take train to Zermat & see Matterhorn. Any recomendations on how we should do this would be welcomed.

You have no idea how to do it at all (you don't say it above)?

Or have you checed the train timetable?
http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm
You would change at Brig.

Your basic options are the Cisalpino (not my favorite train serving Switzerland) to Brig or Visp and from there to Zermatt. Pretty straightforward. Roughly 3.5 to 4 hours.

We just did this. The Cisalpino train from Milan to Brig was run down. The return train from Brig to Milan was brand new and very comfortable.

When we got to Brig I got in a long line to buy the tickets for Brig/Zermatt, which was not going to work as there was very little time to make the connection. But I was told to just get on the Brig/Zermatt train (which runs from a platform outside the main station) and buy the tickets on the train.

I was posting this for my parents who were still unsure how they were going to do this. The idea/dream for them was to ride the Glacier Express.
Has anyone done this? recomendations or advice?

They want to go to Zermatt or want to ride Glacier Express? They are not the same thing. You can take a Glacier Express at Brig to Andermatt - St.Moritz. It runs between Zermatt - St.Moritz via Brig and Andermatt. If its their dream, nothing would stop them doing it but personally going to Zermatt to watch Matterhorn is more appealing. I don't know how much time your parents will have in Switzerland. Perhaps you should let us know their basic itinerary. If they have enough time, they can take a Glacier Express train from Zermatt on later day.

Hi ktspiv4,

Yes, the GE runs between St. Moritz in the east and Zermatt in the west. It takes about seven hours for the whole thing, plus getting to the start and from the finish. Plus, I would hope there would be at least one day to ascend a mountain and sit at a mountainside cafe to enjoy the peaks. So, doing the GE takes (imo) at least four days!

So, if they don't have these four days, yes, it would be best to just get to Zermatt as fast as possible and soak up the views of the massive peaks.

You can take a look at the train schedules at this site,

www.rail.ch

Hope they enjoy this planning!

s

> You can take a look at the train schedules at this site,
www.rail.ch

swandav, I posted on my firt post the same sbb site (déjà vu ? ;-) ), but from OP's 2nd post it's hard to see if he checked the timetable himself or not.

And the Matterhorn can always be shrouded in clouds so if that is the only reason for Zermatt plan on a couple of days there in case clouds set in - not unusual IME

the prettiest part of the Glacier Express route is IMO between Brig and Zermatt - now there is the official Glacier Express tourist train with commentary but also hourly trains over the same route and same scenery that are cheaper and you just buy a ticket in Brig and hop on any train - buy a return ticket as i think that may be cheaper than buying two one ways Brig to Zermatt.

Personally for a look at Switzerland i would sooner head to the Jungfraujoch region near Interlaken - much more to see and do and not dependent on seeing one mountain - the Matterhorn - and about as quick there or quicker than to Zermatt from Milan.

So sorry kapp1. I usually check to make sure I don't post redundant info; this time I wasn't so careful. My apoloties!


s