Swiss Rail Passes

[Chucklehead]

There are too many variations for me to comprehend!

Me and the OH are going to Switzerland for a week at the end of September. We need to get from Zurich to Wengen at the start and end of our week as well as a couple trips up and down the mountain in the funicular.

What are the options and where/when should I purchase?

Thanks

[Wolff]

The Swiss Pass would serve your requirements - gives you return travel from Zurich to Wengen, and will give you 50% off the mountain railway network there, including up to the Jungfraujoch.

Cost is about CHF180, but when you consider a standard return from Zurich to Wengen would be CHF160 that isn't too bad.

You could buy a Half Fare card and reduce the standard fare by 50%, but that would cost CHF99 extra anyway, bringing the cost to CHF179.....

Or you could buy the transfer card, for CHF127 (from Zurich to Wengen and back again), but this gives no extra discounts off the mountain railways.

There are other options like travel passes - unlimited travel for x number of days in a month, but not sure if includes mountain railways, and for 4 days start from about CHF500.

Where to buy - online at the Swiss Railway website - they will send the tickets to you via post.

[rednotdead]

We bought the Swiss Pass for the length of time we were there. You can get everywhere by either train/bus/boat and with the Swiss Pass it's all free (apart from some of the private railways like up to the Jungfraujoch).

If you're staying in Wengen you will need to either come down via train to Lauterbrunnen to go anywhere or up via Kleine Scheidegg (at 50% off) then down to Grindelwald. Just travelling up and down from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen will make your ticket worth it, especially as you'll be going from Lauterbrunnen into Interlaken and onwards from there.

If the weather is kak you can still have a good time by training all round the region and getting boats or trains back - all of which are included in the Swiss Pass. You'll also be quite surprised at the cost of some of the mountain railways and gondolas which makes the Swiss Pass even better value.

I used to be an on-site travel rep at the Manor Farm campsite just to the west of Interlaken on the Thunersee so if you need some ideas about where to go and what to do, pm me or post up here.

[Fullmel]

Not sure if you have an I phone or I pod touch but there is a great app for the rail system over in Switzerland
And it's free.

[Chucklehead]

Thanks all for your help..

Fullmel - android for me!