My husband and I are thinking of travelling in Switzerland for two days. Should we buy a Swiss Pass? Does that get us on ALL of the trains, like the Panaramic Golden Pass? We may want to travel between Geneva and Zurich and just take scenic trains along the way. Good idea?

To clarify a little more, if you were going to get into Switzerland the morning of the 1st day and leave the morning of the third day (spending two full days there), what city or cities would you stay in and is it worth it to take day trips to the alps?

First of all I don't know of any pass that is a worthwhile purchase for two days of travel.

Is your goal to simply sit on a train for two days and look at scenery?

Are you committed to arriving in Geneva and leaving from Zurich?

How does this fit into the rest of your trip?

Passes are not economical for two days'worth of travel. You can easily buy point to point tickets upon arrival.

If you are arriving in Geneva there is a train station at the airport; the folks in the ticket office speak English.

Knowing where you are arriving would be helpful in terms of advising you about a scenic rail route.

Hi caljosh,

If you are arriving at Geneva, I'd advise you to take the train to Luzern (via Zweisimmen and Gstaad -- along the route of the Golden Pass). Then spend the rest of your time in and around Luzern -- go to the peaks of Titlis & Pilatus for your alpine experience; take long walks around the lakes; take ferry rides around the lakes.

In my opinion, it's better to see the mountains on foot than from a train!

s

Patrick,
No, we don't want to sit on the train all of the time. We'll be in Avignon. We'll need to get back to Amsterdam in a couple of days, so we thought we'd go through Switzerland and spend a couple of days there. We have to stop in Geneva, Bern, or Zurich and we'd like to see as much as possible, whether it's through train, ferry, or whatever.

Hi caljosh,

Well now THAT makes a difference. The train from Avignon to Luzern via Gstaad takes 10h48 with six changes or 11h47 with five changes, etc. So that's really not going to be much fun. You can get to Luzern in 6h30 with one change (Geneva), and then on another day make the trip from Luzern to Gstaad on the Golden Pass if you want.

Or you could go from Avignon to Berne in 4h51 with one change (Geneva); from Berne, you can make a full-day excursion to the villages of the Berner Oberland (to Wengen will take two hours).

Again, my priority would be to get to the mountains and get my FEET on them, not see them from the windows of a train.

s

This isn't the answer you want to hear, but I'd seriously considering skipping Switzerland and going to Chamonix in France instead. Much closer and easier (7 hours or less by train from Avignon), and from nearby Geneva you can fly to Amsterdam (was flying your intent?)
You will gain the wonderful beauty of the Alps and have enough time to enjoy it -- including a trip up to Midi on Mt. Blanc in the bargain, quite spectacular, with the lovely village of Chamonix to enjoy as well.

My second suggestion would be to skip going all the way up to central Switzerland and go to Zermatt instead. You will see beautiful scenery on the way there (Visp to Zermatt is truly spectacular) and experience the Matterhorn, but not have to spend hours and hours on trains. Although it will take you 7 to 10 hours to get to Zermatt, you can return from there to Geneva in under 4.

Don't be tricked into thinking you have to click off another country name. Save Switzerland for when you can really enjoy it, not just whizz through it.