train or plane
 

We will be finishing a rick steves tour in Vienna this summer and then meeting family for a few days in Wengen Switzerland. we can't seem to figure out the best way to get from vienna to Wengen. i'm thinking train but how many transfers. If we took the night train we could skip a hotel cost but then I'm thinking the daytime views would be wonderful. This is our first trip to Europe other than Italy. When we leave Wengen to come back to US we arent sure if we should leave from zurich or get back to Munich which is where we will arrive to start the tour.

You can do this trip in 3 or 4 legs minimum & 10 to 11hrs total travel. Direct train from Vienna to Zurich in 8hrs, then local/regional trains to get you to Wengen.

Personally, I'd fly from Vienna to Bern non-stop.

It will take 4-6 transfers to get by train from Vienna to Wengen. First you transfer in Zurich, so that's one good long stretch of maybe 8 hrs (where you could do a night train), then Bern Switzerland, then maybe INterlaken and maybe Lauterbrunnen.

It would be daytime after Zurich anyway.

Why would you go back to Munich? Getting back to Zurich is a nuisance enough, let alone Munich, from Wengen.

I think you should leave from Bern.

Wengen is not a transport hub, but a small village in a remote mountain area. Therefore all these train changes.

If you start at Zurich airport, you will have to change trains at either Berne or Lucerne, Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunnen.
If you arrive by train from Vienna, you have to change at Zurich main station (instead of airport) plus the other places.
You may also fly from Vienna or Munich to Berne airport (not particularly cheap), but the changes at Berne, Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen will remain.

The train ride from Vienna to Zurich is neither boring nor particularly scenic. The best legs come West of Innsbruck.

ZRH or MUC?
There are buses (and some trains) between Zurich main railway station and Munich; buses about every hr. Count about 5 hrs up to the airport. The 2 daily BRN - MUC flights are not really helpful (too early departure from BRN resp too late arrival at MUC).

Either fly or take the 21:27 or so night train from Vienna to Zurich, arriving 8am- then it's train to Bern
change train to Interlaken-Ost
change train to Lauterbrunnen
change train to Wengemn

the last three changes are a snap -due to track width differences -lots get off one train and clambor onto another.

Bern is a simple change too -if you miss one train there will be another within 30 minutes usually.

Depending on your other Swiss travel plans maybe a Swiss Pass would be nice from Zurich on -valid in full to Wengen and good for 50% off most gondolas and fully valid on lake boats.

For lots on Swiss trains and passes (also Half-Fare Card) check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.