Don't forget that we have a FREE download: How To Pick A Swiss Train Pass! Find it here: aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-swiss-train-pass-guide-2023/ Still need help picking a Swiss Rail Pass that saves you time and money? We're happy to help :) Book a Swiss Vacation Consultation with us! https:/www.aplinsinthealps.com/consultations
Hi, guys！ Your video is very helpful and informative. Thank you very much！ My sister and I will be arriving I Zurich on May 10！！ We're still struggling to decide what passes to buy at this moment. We'd really appreciate your help to find the right passes to buy. We'll arrive in zurich on May 10, and we have booked 5 nights in Wengen to appreciate the peaks and surrounding areas. Then, we'll get back to Zurich for a 4-day visit before heading for Vienna. Which Switzerland passes should we get? Thank you very much for your help！ Lisa N.
Hi my husband and 2 kids who are 12 and 9 are going to Switzerland for 4 days in July and we are not sure what train passes we need. We are staying in Grindelwald for 3 nights and in Zurich for 1 night. We plan on visiting Lucern, Interlaken, etc. and by the way, what train should we take from Milan Italy to Switzerland? Thanks
Wait until you get there and go to the Swiss Travel Center at the airport train level. Explain to them your length of stay and your needs THEY will give you your best pass options. Their recommendations will be YOUR best bet. I have used several of the options depending on my needs. No use me explaining them.....let the experts at the Travel Center give them to you!
The Swiss Travel Center is certainly a great resource! We’ve used their help plenty of times in the past! Although we find that they don’t always know about the best regional passes, which can be more helpful than the national passes.
Thanks! All of your videos were very helpful in planning our recent trip to Switzerland. Plus your Swiss train pass info was very helpful and saves us a lot of money. We bought the Swiss half fare card and the Berner Oberland pass. We traveled to Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt and Geneva and had a terrific time. The SBB app was invaluable. Fun to see the places that were in your videos. We kept an eye out for you guys and saw a lot of people creating content.
You are so kind and generous, thank you! 🙂Sounds like you had a wonderful trip and saw some great Swiss highlights! And saved some money with those great train passes! Sorry we didn’t cross paths - maybe next time 😊
Stayed in the Jungfrau region, visiting be car and stayed in Gimmelwald. We followed the recommendation and bought the Jungfrau pass for our family. It was a very costly mistake. We didn't even use it once. When we tried, the activity listed as open on-line wasn't available. So the very frustrating lesson I learned is not to buy tickets in advance, on-line.
So sorry you had trouble! Some transport routes closed for maintenance in the fall, but the Jungfrau travel pass is good for most cable cars and gondolas!
Just got back from an amazing trip to Switzerland! Specifically Grindelwald and Interlaken area. Thanks to your videos, we decided on the Berner Oberland Pass with the Half Fare card which was the perfect choice!!!! I can’t stress enough what a great option this was for all of our adventures. Thank you Aplins in the Alps for your very informative videos 😊
Hi Michelle! I am Deepti Tiwari and am planning a trip to Switzerland, From your comment it sounds like you recently went to Switzerland and know some budget options. Can you tell me any stay options in the whole Interlaken- Lucerne- Grinderwald- Lauterbrunnen region. I kind of want to stay in the villages in a budget friendly option in a very quiet way.
Hahaha! Your question at 5:27. Answer: that guy and this gal! :) (But only because I'm familiar with travelling in Switzerland and I'm a geek in that way.) Honestly, your previous videos got me thinking about how I did travel on my many trips, always using the Swiss Travel Pass for its convenience but making me aware of the other options. Since we're going to be there a month this year and I had an itinerary roughed out pretty well I decided to do a spreadsheet comparing ALL types of possibilities that you have mentioned in this and previous videos. Since I'm not into the high touristy mountain excursions and fall under the category of daily travel of some type through 2/3 of Switzerland surprisingly the Swiss Travel Pass was again a winner for me by 64chf; its convenience made it a no brainer. But some of those regional passes are really great values covering wide areas. All should note that some regional passes are available to all for a fee, some are available just by staying in the area (e.g. Ticino Pass, Appenzeller Holiday Pass) BUT you need to check with your lodging in that area to see if they offer the area pass--not all do. Best advice from this Swiss traveler: unless you get joy out of detailed planning for your trip ahead of time, consulting with people who've done the work for you is a bargain--and I get no residuals from saying that :) ! Excellent video, guys!
Hi Laura! We're so glad you enjoy this type of analysis too!! I looked into the Ticino Pass recently, but it seemed like all the others-just giving a small discount on mountain rides. What's been your experience with the Appenzeller Holiday Pass? What all does it cover? Thanks again for your kindness and encouragement, and for "tuning in" to our videos!
Thanks for this info, Laura. I am planning my first family trip with my parents (50+ age) and we will not be exploring the mountains so much but will be going to many areas like Interlaken, Zurich, Zermat, Lucerne, Grindelwald and Jungfrau region. My calculations also suggested that Swiss travel pass would be cheaper (and of course convenient). Thanks for confirming! Thank you very much for your videos Jana and Brett, they are very informative and helpful! :D
@@AplinsintheAlps Sorry, Jana & Brett, I just saw your reply (8 months late). The Ticino pass does cover ALL train & bus transportation throughout the entire canton with small discounts on other transportation & excursions. The Appenzeller Holiday card is similar, but a bit more complex as it allows the same type of travel through 15 zones--one would have to look carefully to see where these zones are and what they cover.
I just returned from my Swiss holiday and took your advice on the half fare card + Berner Oberland Pass… that saving is huge! Thank you for the advice!
this is what i want to do in september! did u buy on the app ahead of time? i’m a little nervous about when i should purchase and if i can put my bf and i on the same acct
Am also wanting to travel to Zermatt and Jungfrau regions ONLY in late Sept or early Oct for total of 5 days (2 in Z and 3 in J regions). Where did you all go to on your trip and for how many days?
Does the Berner Oberland pass cover the ride up to the Eiger Glacier? They mentioned the Berner Oberland connecting ticket to the Jungfraujoch would cost $99. However if you also have the half fare card, would it be cheaper to purchase the round trip from Eiger Glacier to Jungfraujoch instead of the connecting ticket?
Please Help: Please suggest best pass or combination of passes for my one week trip which will include: Pilatus, Titlis, Lauterbrunnen tour with falls, Murren village hike and schilthorn peak, mannlichen, Interlaken thun or brienze lake boat ride, giessbach falls, iseltwald tour , Grindelwald first
I’m in Switzerland right now and all the videos and the itinerary have been super helpful. However, I would strongly consider the first class Berner Oberland pass. It’s not much more and will save many headaches in finding seats on busy trains. They’re usually all busy and it’s mid-September now. Especially if you’re traveling with older people like parents, get first class.
First Class is definitely helpful during high season if you’d like your own seat! But we always remind people that not all forms of transportation offer a first class section. And this year was unusually busy though mid October!!
Thanks to you two, we're all set to go with our half fare card and berner oberland passes. A few weeks away, and we'll be there. The 1 on 1 consult was so helpful, and I'm a travel planner/hotelier by trade, but the extra few dollars to gain some insights from 2 locals was a great value. Thanks again!
My wife and I just spent 6 days in Switzerland and we want to thank you for your helpful videos. They made our stay simpler and more entertaining. Keep up the good work!
We're so thrilled to hear that you and your wife enjoyed your time here in Switzerland and that we got to be a small part of it! Thank you for taking the time to leave an encouraging comment.
This was the video I have been waiting for so long, which gave the answer to the most confusing question i.e. which rail pass to buy in switzerland. Thank you so much guys.
Leaving tomorrow from Hawaii to start working our way there. Whew! This is a huge help! Spending time in Zurich, Lucerne, and the Jungfrau region. Thank you for the best train into out there!
I can't thank you enough. Just returned from our trip to Switzerland. My parents were so happy (their first international trip), me and my sister had great fun together. Every time I was telling my family about your channel . Your videos made our trip to Switzerland very smooth and wonderful.I bought Berner Oberland pass and it really helped us. Thank you ..Thank you ..Thank you so much 🙏🙏😇😇😍😍💐💐
I really appreciate the level of nerding going on here. You've probably saved me a few spreadsheets... Thanks! I know it's not really your game but a video like this with kids in mind would be crazy beneficial. Again thanks, all your stuff is great!
We’re glad you can appreciate the spreadsheet neediness - we love it! 🤓 Actually a video like that would only be about a minute long. Here’s why: Kids under 6 are always free on transportation everywhere in Switzerland. Kids 6-15 are always 50% off on transportation throughout the country of Switzerland. Kids 6-15 can ride for FREE with the Swiss Family Card when they’re riding with their parents. Kids 16+ are treated like adults. Pretty simple! Hope that helps 😊
@@AplinsintheAlps So, if you're traveling with three kids under the age of 16 (14, 12, & 5), then the travel pass generally makes the most sense, right?
I swear you guys sound exactly like another UA-cam Couple, they have over 3M followers, I am sure you know who I am talking about, but you guys are great too. Excellent video, I am planning my trip to Switzerland very soon.
We are over in the Jungfrau region in August, based in Unterseen for 11 nights. Driving in and sleeping in our VW Transporter part campervan. As a family of 4 - (2 adults and 2 kids [15 & 12]) I've opted for the Swiss Half Fare Card which then gets some discount on the Berner Oberland Pass and the Jungfrau Unlimited Summer Pass. Excessive, you might think.... Both passes cross over but we're looking at possibly spending a night at the Monchjochhutte so that equates to 2 days of Jungfraujoch tickets, doing some boaty trips, plus a sneaky day trip down to Milan. Plus some of the more 'normal' stuff like First and the villages. I plan on doing very little driving while we are in Switzerland... Let the train take the strain! Busy itinerary, but I worked out that bagging both passes using a half fare card worked best for us. Plus the Berner Oberland pass gets you down to Domodossola in Italy now, so only tickets for Domodossola to Milano Centrale needed - and as one of the kids is 12, we bagged cheap Bimbi Gratis tickets so it was a lot less than a 'proper' ticketed day trip from Interlaken Ost to Milano Centrale. Just a whole lot of timetable examination and waiting for train numbers to be released! Your videos have been a huge help! Thank You both!
Hi Paul, what a fun trip you have planned! We don't have any experience traveling by camper van, but we've been talking more and more about what a great place this would be to do it! We LOVE that you did the research to figure out which passes were best for you and your family. Hope you have a great trip!
WOW.... my head is spinning and all I had to do was listen to you both !!!!!. FANTASTIC work guys ...I bet Brett's jaw was sore for days after this spool. Still, a cold beer would have fixed it. You covered all bases and MUCH MUCH more. Thank you. Max Australia.
It is a lot of information and we worked SO hard to make sure to explain it in such a way that would make your train pass purchasing as painless as possible. Thanks for letting us know this was helpful to you.
Hi guys, thanks a lot for the detailed video. Your videos helped us to pick the best pass to travel in Switzerland . And also saved a lot of money 😊. We stayed in the Interlaken region for 4 days, as you guys suggested we bought the Berner oberland pass and Swiss half fare card. We did the glacier walk on top of jungfraujoch and hike to bachalpsee lake, which turned out to be the best hike we did in our life. Thanks a lot for the suggestions and detailed videos. Looking forward to more videos 😊 thanks!
Thank you so much for your feedback! We're so grateful you enjoyed your trip and that we were able to play a small part it it. Do you think you'll come back to Switzerland?!
This is the best video or podcast I've listened to about Swiss Train passes! It's been so overwhelming to think about and figure out. We will definitely use y'all's links to buy the half fare card and the other for the jungfrau region
The various Swiss travel tickets are so complicated and I can’t find any Chinese videos about them. Thank you for the analysis, which gave me some inspiration😊
Wow what a detailed blog on train passes etc. It enlightened me a lot on what to do . I have a planned trip to Switzerland in 2024. 5 nights in Jungfrau Region our based is Interlaken and 3 nights in Luzern.
Thanks for taking the time to let us know this was helpful! Our goal was to help you feel confident in choosing the right train pass and it sounds like our goal was accomplished!
This video saved us a fortune. Although we discovered that if you’re travelling with kids and have bought the Swiss half fare card, the Berner Oberland pass always works out more cost effective than the Jungfrau travel pass simply because the Swiss family pass can be used in conjunction with it. If you have that pass, you only need to buy a Berner Oberland pass for the adults and kids travel for free. We were in the Jungfrau area for 3 days and the B.O. pass worked out 50 CHF cheaper (25 CHF per child) than buying the Jungfrau pass.
We are planning to base at either Lauterbrunnen or Grindewald area and visit Zungfrau top . Will be landing in Zurich and abd thrn proceed to Lucerne tge same day . Stay there overnight or two before moving to Lauterbrunnen or ,Grindewald area . Any advice as to which pass we should book ? Swiss half fare plus BO pass ? Does it need to be bought in advance ?
Hi my wife Yvonne and myself, Tony, would like to thank you for this video! We got the Half Fare pass and it saved us a TON of $$$ on our Switzerland vacation. We went from Zurich to Zermatt and then worked our way back via Interlacken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Luzern, Lugano and finally back to Zurich. While we didn't take your advice and only pick 3 regions we did enjoy seeing all of these regions and know what we would visit on return someday. THANK YOU !!!!!
WOW! This was so helpful, thank you both. I was going to get the Jungfrau travel pass and paying for regular trains outside that but now I'm definitely getting the half fare card!
Thank you for this video! We are leaving in a week for 🇨🇭. I've been nosing into this subject for the last couple of months at night when I have time. It is just too much to get a hold of it all unless you make a spreadsheet 🤔. This video is a huge time saver on the subject, which I would never have sifted through by myself anyhow! Thank you again 🎉
Love the content, concise and precise as always! My Fiancé I and are more then halfway through booking our late September honeymoon to Italy and Switzerland, and are really glad we found this channel! Much love from Canada. PS the Jungfrau 7 Day travel guide is fantastic
Thank you so much for the kind words! It sounds like you have an amazing honeymoon planned. We honeymooned in Switzerland too! Thanks for the feedback on the Jungfrau travel guide! We hope you guys have a wonderful honeymoon:)
I love and hate Europe. I was fascinated by the stunning scenery and rich history, but I was overwhelmed by the high cost. I think trainpal's discount coupon saved me.
You guys are awesome. We appreciate you putting together such good videos. We do travel videos as well and know how much time and effort it takes to put together a clear, concise and all inclusive video. Thanks!
I am so grateful for your videos! You always have the best advice when it comes to train passes. I managed to snag my half fare card when I was in Switzerland in January. It really helped save some money on train rides. Thank you for going through all the passes and helping me figure out the best option for my trip.
This is so encouraging to hear! We love helping others travel with confidence and we're thrilled to hear that we were able to help you choose the best train pass and save money!! Thanks again for sharing:)
I'm going to Switzerland this September & i was not sure which pass to get. This vid is loaded with great info. Thank you so much. Appreciate it very much
No worries Paul! Now that you have the Eurail Pass, make the most of it by making sure you know what's covered, what's not, and what discounts are available to you.
Hello from Singapore! Really appreciate the effort that you guys put into this guide! You’ve earned yourself a new subscriber! ❤️ Also I’m heading over to Saas-fee from Milan in early March to Ski for a few days before heading over to Zurich for my flight back home. Am I right to just purchase the Swiss half fare or should I do the Eurail Global Pass Youth. Thanks in advance 🙏🏻🙏🏻
i need help… i got lost between all these options. Can someone with experience please give me advice on which option is best for this schedule: Basel-Lauterbrunnen- Geneve-Zermatt(Glacier Express to St.Moritz)-St.Moritz-Zurich-Basel. Anyone knows which option is the best? THANK YOU
Make sure you download our free checklist! Because unless you’re only visiting those cities and not riding any transportation once you’re there, it’s not a simple answer. We promise our checklist is designed to make it simple!
Your videos are very informative, it helped me alot in planning my next trip. Just one quick question though, if i buy a half fare pass, do i get a 50% discount if i buy berner oberland pass? Thanks alot ❤
Love your videos! We bought the half fare card and now trying to add the Berner Oberland Pass. You say that it would be 25-40 franc more but all we see is 150 for a 3 day pass. Just want to make sure we aren't missing something. Thanks!
Hi there, good question! What we're referring to is your overall transportation cost. For the example you mentioned, we estimate you'll spend about 25-40 CHF more overall on transportation by adding the Berner Oberland Pass than you would if you don't add it (because it will also save you some money as well). Hope this helps clarify!
Hello! I really hope we can get just a bit of help! We're planning to go across Europe (14 day trip), coming from Paris, staying at Interlaken, then going to Venice, all with a Eurail Pass. We're staying in the Jungfrau region for 3 days Aug 1-3 inclusive. We were hoping the train from Paris to Interlaken then Interlaken to Venice would be scenic but watching your videos it seems we need to book special trains for those? In the video, your main point was to not buy extra days for the Jungfrau Region which showed what not to do, but what SHOULD we do regarding the passes and wanting to go on scenic train rides. Thank you so so much for your help, this channel is genuinely the only place on the entire internet that has information laid out so perfectly for all to see for free and that truly is so incredible!
Hi there! Soo many of the trains in Switzerland are scenic! If you're not planning to spend lots of time up in the mountains (and especially if you will not be visiting Jungfraujoch), then you would be just fine using your Eurail Pass here! You'll just need to understand the validity map well so you know when you need an extra ticket and how much of a discount you will receive. Hope this helps!
@@AplinsintheAlps Thank you so much this helps a lot! Do you think we need to book extra tickets for the scenic trains or do the normal trains from Paris into the Jungfrau and from Jungfrau to Venice have just the same amazing views? Thank you once again so much!
Oh wow! I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the passes since we are heading to Interlaken next month via Paris train. This was very helpful! Still trying to figure out which train would require less train changes to reach Interlaken. We'll def purchase the halffare once we reach Interlaken, we are there only for 2 nights so might not do the Bern pass. Thank you!
Hi Aplins! I am heading to Switzerland tomorrow. I have purchased half fare card and Bernard Overland Pass online, I printed them out, and I assume that there will be a place to scan the QR code when I purchase tickets at a kiosk? In all the videos I don’t see anyone scanning the half fair card or their Overland pass so I’m not sure how that process works. Also for buses? I do have the half fare card uploaded into my SBB app but again I’m curious, how do use it for trams and buses as well… thanks!
We are planning a trip to Switzerland in June 2024. Let me give you an overview of our itinerary so you can have a reference to answer my questions. Day-1 Fly into Zurich and take a train from Zurich airport to Lucerne. Day-2,3,4,5 Lucerne as base to stay, visit Mt Titlis, Pilatus and Rigi one destination a day with 4th spare day for bad weather or any destination needing more time. Day 6,7 Rent a car in Lucerne and drive for the first day to Interlaken to experience and photograph mountain passes Susten, Furka and Grimsel. 2 nd day visit Aare River gorge and lake Blausee. Return car in Interlaken and visit Harder Kulm in the afternoon. Day 8,9,10,11 Interlaken as base visit Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Jungfraujoch for 3 days with a spare day for bad weather and any destination needing more time. Day 12 Take the train from Interlaken to Bern. Visit Bern Day 13 Take the train to Zurich and take a flight home. Questions 1. For public transportation, I am thinking about getting. a. Swiss Half Fare Card (120 CHF/month) b. Tell-Pass for Lucerne area (24 CHF/day) c. Jungfrau Travel Pass (215 CHF/4 days) Would Tell-Pass & Jungfrau Pass cost me half if I purchase half fare card? Would this be the most economical strategy, or you would recommend some other? 2. Would Lucerne and Interlaken be good base? After living in US for years, we are used to having private bathroom with the hotel room. With this in mind what hotel would you recommend in these two towns? 3. I am considering Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald for tandem paragliding. Which of these or any in Lucerne is best for paragliding? 4. One option that appears attractive is to return to Interlaken after visiting Bern and take the scenic train to Zurich. Is this doable, what train, how long it takes etc.? 5. Any suggestions for modification to itinerary?
We love that you’re working so hard to plan your trip! We’d be happy to answer your questions in a consultation call 🙂 www.aplinsinthealps.com/consultations
I recently purchased a Swiss Travel Pass (second class) and have a few questions about using it: 1. For travel within major stations, like going from Lucerne to Kriens, do I need to purchase a separate ticket through the SBB app or at the station, or can I hop on the train with my Swiss Travel Pass? 2. When booking through the SBB app, do I select “GA Travelcard, 2nd class” under the "Travelcards for Switzerland" section in the passenger info? Is that the correct option for the Swiss Travel Pass? 3. For journeys where reservations are mandatory, like the Glacier Express, do I need to buy the ticket separately in advance? And if my reservation is in first class but my Swiss Travel Pass is for second class, can I upgrade to first class through the app or at the boarding station? I’d appreciate any insights or advice from those who have experience with this! Thanks!
Hi guys! thanks for the video! But please do let the viewers be aware that the Oberland Pass is only available from 1st April onwards for annually! Meaning travelers hitting the country from winter till 31st March doesnt have the option to enjoy the Oberland Pass!
I love the fact that you have taken the time to navigate this confusing system of travel passes. I think that Switzerland must do a better job in this area. Too many passes!
I’ve downloaded the pass link and i will be sure to buy tickets via your link guys! This video and other videos you’ve done are so in depth! And it’s free knowledge 🙏🏽🥹 thank you again!!! loving the content 🎉
Thanks so much for your support and encouragement! We love Switzerland so much and want to help others travel here with ease and confidence:) Thanks for letting us know we've been helpful!
Can you do a video explaining the free guest passes? I haven't seen a video anywhere on YT explaining how it works or what's included. Really appreciate it. Good job overall!!!
If we are spending all of our trip in the Luzern, Grindelwold, Wengen, Interlokken and Bern area's, do we need the Half Fare Card? It looks like all the major trains, buses and gondola's are covered with the Berner Oberland Pass once we get to Luzern? We do plan on going to enjoy the fun in Grindelwold and possibly riding the train up to the Jungfrau glacier. Help me understand the value of the half fare card in our situation. Thank you so much! Great info on helping to plan our trip.
Hi Chad, great question! The Half Fare Card actually gets you a discount on the Berner Oberland Pass...and in the case of the 6-day, 8-day, and 10-day passes, that discount is equal to or more than the cost of the Half Fare Card! In addition, if you're traveling to or from the airport, you'll save even more with the Half Fare Card, and more still if any of your plans include rides that aren't fully covered by the Berner pass. Hope this helps!
If you plan to make a round trip between two cities, for example you're staying in Zurich and making a daytrip to Basel or Luzern, often the saver day pass can be cheaper than two full-price tickets there and back so it easily becomes a no-brainer for most daytrips. For example, Zurich to Basel is 36 CHF each way, totalling an eye-watering 72 CHF for the round trip if you just buy full-price tickets on the day. However, if you buy your tickets just a few days in advance, you get access to the saver day pass which can be as cheap as 52 CHF (the only catch is it gets more expensive closer to the day of travel and you can't buy it ON the day you plan to travel) so you already saved 20 CHF just for the round trip. If that's not enough, you also get access to full unlimited travel on most regular trains all over Switzerland AND all the local public transport too, such as buses and trams, which saves even more. Thus, not only would it cover that round trip from Zurich to Basel for cheaper, but you even get to ride the trams and buses in both cities for no extra cost, and even hop to another city like Bern on the way back if you're feeling adventurous.
I guess this is one of the most informative videos on Swiss Passes available in UA-cam. Thanks a lot for compiling all the information in one place. I have two questions you might help me with. We're visiting Zermatt (2 days) and then the Jungfrau region (3 days) beginning of September and going to purchase the half fare card and the BO pass (3 days). Q1- will the BO pass cover the journey from Zermatt to Grindelwald if we travel via Visp and the Lotschberg Basistunnel, as showing in the SBB app or do we have to take another route in order to utilize the BO pass during that journey? Q2- During our stay in the Jungfrau region, we plan to do a day trip from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch via Eigergletscher and come down to Lauterbrunnen via the Wengen route. Will the CHF 99 connection ticket be valid for this entire journey in this scenario? Many thanks in advance for your response. Regards...
Re-viewed and re-enjoyed this video because we’re going to Jungfraujoch in May. Please correct me if I misunderstood: We will buy the half fare card and use it to buy the Berner Overland pass, right? Since the Half-Fare card has a validity period. I should then purchase it near the date of our travel to maximize it. Is that correct? We are also coming from Milan on our way to Interlaken. Does this mean I can apply the Half Fare card for the part of our trip that passes through Switzerland? The train from Milan is direct to Spiez so I’m not sure how this would work out.
You've got it! When you buy the passes online, you select the date when you want them to start. And yep - you can use the Half Fare Card to get a discount from Domodossola in Italy (and actually, you could use your Berner Oberland Pass from here too! Just make sure you take the route that goes through Kandersteg, and not the direct route to Spiez). Hope this helps!
Thanks for letting us know it was clear and easy to understand! Trying to explain the Swiss transportation system/train passes can feel a little overwhelming....there's so much information!
I’m going to Switzerland in August and I honestly have no idea which area I plan on visiting once I get there there’s so much to do/see it’s a bit overwhelming tbh 😂 Wish me luck because I’m going to need it
There are so many places to see and so many things to do here! We love the Jungfrau region but also love Zermatt and Lucerne. If you find you need help, we created several done-for-you travel guides that help you feel confident and prepared for your Swiss vacation. I'll think them here if you want to check them out. aplinsinthealps.com/guides/
Very enlightening! My husband and I planning to go there in Nov for 7 days we wish to see Geneva, Zurich, Lucern, and Interlaken. We’re staying in Interlaken. We wanted to see 1 mountain ride, a boat, and 1 scenic express like the glacier express. Which one to purchase?
As you said, Switzerland should really don't confuse people with these kind of 1000 passes and combine in to just one based on region with all activities+ clear map for all specific region :))
Thank you for doing and presenting all this research! I would love some explanation though. I'm perplexed as to how we could get to 210 chf of fares in just 3 days (to justify the Jungfrau pass). Or 220 of fares to justify the half price either. Do you have/know of a list of fares for busses, trains, cable cars individually? Or an itinerary comparison with/without the pass?
Good question! The best thing you can do is plot out some different routes on the SBB app. To be truthful, it's pretty easy to hit these costs! For example, a roundtrip to Grindelwald First costs around 68 CHF with no train pass. Travel from the Zurich Airport to the Jungfrau Region and back will cost 150+ CHF with no train pass. All of our recommendations have taken these costs into account, but if you want to plot the costs of all your planned transportation, the SBB app is the way to go!
@@AplinsintheAlps Thank you for taking the time to respond! I was hoping there might be a list of all the prices in the region somewhere as I was having a hard time navigating the sbb website, but I guess I will need to download the app before traveling and check everything individually and form our budget. We're not travelling there til June, but I'm trying to set a rough budget.
If you're interested, each of our travel guides includes a spreadsheet that lists the cost of every transportation route in our itinerary. It shows the full price, price with the half fare card, and what you'd spend with all the major train passes. You can check out our guides at aplinsinthealps.com/guides Hope that helps!
Hi! Amazing video, you're helping so many people! However im still unsure about my situation😅 Me and my friend are staying in Zurich for 3 nights, Fri-Mon. We want to explore Zurich and Lucerne but also check out Mt Titlis & Pilatus, Mt Rigi would also be cool The thing is, I need to be in Wengen Mon evening and a trip there from Zurich + the Zurich area arent covered with the Tell Pass right? In your expert opinion, is that pass still our best option? Thanks in advance!
Half price rail card, 10 full days Berner Oberland pass and return from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen. Cost 520sf but would have cost over 1,000sf- free boat, cable car, train, funicular railway and post bus. Only cost was half price train from Zurich, half price Murren to Schilthorn and Eiger Gletcher to Jungfraujoch.
Very informative video and thanks alot ❤ I am planning for 10D9N trip to Switzerland mid to end of March 2024 -- 2 nights Lucerne, 3 nights Grindelwald, 2 nights Zermatt (Glacier Express to Chur then train to Zurich), and 2 nights Zurich. Been scratching my head on Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass , could you please advise? (Bernard Overland Pass is unavailable during my travelling period).
We’re as of today in Wengen 😁🎉. Have to get to Neuschwanstein Castle, leaving next Tuesday. We did the half fare card and Berber Oberland passes. Do you have any videos on connecting trains with the surrounding countries by chance?
@@AplinsintheAlps We love it here! Gorgeous! Yes, a video on connecting to the other countries would be so helpful! 😁. Friends we made in Lucern headed down to Italy yesterday as we left for here. I know they ran into a few hiccups getting there. How are you liking Swiss life? Hope we run into you guys this week. ❤️
Your videos are amazing! Thank you so much for all these details. We are visiting Interlaken, Grindelwald, whilst staying in Brienz in October for 6 nights and 1 night in Lucerne. Will the half fare card be enough as we plan 1 mountain train but need to travel by public transport?
Below is our itenary - couple with 2 kids 4 yrs old Day 1 zurich - go to lindt chocolate factory and old city Day 2 zurich to grindelwald Day 3 grindelwald to jungfrauch Day 4 grindelwald to brienz and lake brienz cruise or lauterbrunnen Day 5 gribdelwald to brienz and rotter barn train Day 6 grindelwald to manlicchen Day 7 grindelwald to zurich airport Should we buy normal swiss pass for 6 days
Thank you Jana and Brett! I really do appreciate your videos, it helps us a lot for our 2024 trip. Thank you also for taking time to read our draft itinerary for July 2024. Great Job! 🎉
We are so glad you've found our vidoes helpful and that we were able to help you plan your trip! Please check back in and let us know how your trip went:)
I've just started researching for Switzerland. Our dates of travel are 27th October 1 week. Then I watched one of your videos and some of the gondolas are closed at this time of year. Is it still worth visiting? Thanks
You really have to make that decision based on where you want to go and what you want to do. If everything (or even mostly everything) you want to see is open, then it could be great! But if a lot of places you want to go will be closed, it's probably worth waiting to come another time. The end of October and early November also usually sees the weather changing quite a bit. Maybe not too much snow yet, but usually it's quite a bit cooler with a lot more clouds and fog. Hope that helps!
Questa estate andremo a Grindelwald per 16 giorni….e dato che abbiamo intenzione di girare molto la regione dello Jungfrau, ma anche lo schilthorn, lo jungfraujoch almeno 2 volte, e fare una gita a Lucerna, abbiamo deciso di prendere l Unlimited Jungfrau Summer Pass 2024. Sono usciti i prezzi…costa 549 franchi svizzeri, validità sino all 1/12/2024(dal 31/3/2024). Ciao ragazzi😊
Thank you for your beautiful video very helpful. We are from Australia my husband & I will visit Switzerland this coming December. Zurich + Zermatt + Interlaken ( jungfrau) for 8 days. From your content, looks like we should go to half fare price. Btw, does the train in Switzerland operates on Christmas cause we’re planning to travel Milan on Xmas day. Thanks.
I think I have decided on the Oberland Pass and half fare card, but I’m wondering if the Bernina Express from Milan to Zermatt will be covered on either pass.
Thanks for all the fab videos, embarking on our first ever Swiss trip next week and your videos have been so helpful. The one thing that still blows my mind is the travel passes. We will be in Interlaken for 6 nights (with 2 days in Lausanne first and 2 days in Zurich after before flying home. We will have a rental car for the 10 days. I think the best option is the Berner Oberland pass (either 4 day as we want to drive some of the passes) or a 6 day, but I can’t work out what the half fare card would give us that the BO pass doesn’t ? (So a full price 6 day BO pass is only 30 chf more than a 4 day BO pass bought with the 120 chf half fare card…!!! Any thoughts I will of course use your links to buy the passes 😎
Since you’ll have a car, you may not get the other benefits of a HFC (like discounts on your rides to/from the Jungfrau Region). Our free Checklist denotes the difference for travelers with or without a car, so you might want to check that out! But keep in mind you cannot drive everywhere in this area (not beyond Grindelwald or Stechelberg/Lauterbrunnen), so you’ll need to do your research!
Hello, amazing video. My wife and I are going to Switzerland in Sept 2024. We will definitely be taking your suggestions and getting a half fare pass. Needed to clarify this though, do we both need a half fare? Or can one half fare pass buy all our tickets for two people?
Hi I saw you answer the last question, it make wonder if my question was not aproppiated .or was to complicated,so sorry was not my intention,just a confused turist.thank you for your understanding. :)
Great videos thanks a lot. I need a bit of more advise. I am planning 2 weeks in switzerland. 2 adults and 2 kids below 12. The plan: 1 night geneva, 6 nights jungfrau region with one day trip to Luzern (might do 1 mountain), day trip on rhine falls, then 3 nights in Lugano with day trip to Milan and Como, then 2 nights in Zermatt with mountain excursion, then we want to stop at Chamonix on our last day to Geneva. Should we rent a car? If car, what pass we buy with it? If not car, what pass you recommend we buy?
Hi there! We would personally just use the public transportation and skip the car rental. For a specific pass recommendation, be sure to download our checklist and look at the section for trips to the Jungfrau Region + Luzern + Zermatt: aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-swiss-train-pass-guide-2023/ That's where you'll find our best recommendations, even based on specific plans for each location!
Does anyone know if the Nessental Triftbahn is included in the Berner Oberland Pass? This is to go see the Trift Bridge! I see reservations are recommended for the gondola, but I don't see a way to apply a half fare card, or the Berner Oberland pass. Thank you, Aplins! Everything of yours has been super helpful, and we love your 7-day itinerary guide.
Hello I love your videos. They are very helpful, thank you. We are looking to travel to Brienz from Zurich and stay in Brienz for 6 nights in October. We also plan to do day trips to Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. Then we will travel to Lucernce and spend 1 night there before traveling to Zurich, all by train. Is it worth just buying the Half fare card for 2 adults and 1 youth? Thank you.
Following your ideas if I understand well... It would be good buy save day pass in advance to travel from Zurich to Chur then Chur to Tirano... (doing a escape to Italy). Then come back to Switzerland for 3 day stay at Lucern to buy Half Fare travel pass to visit Rigi for free. Or add Tell pass if I want to enjoy Titlis and Pilatus. Is it correct ??? But what about boats and funiculars are they included with Half Fare travel pass???
This is fantastic information, thank you. The Bernese oberland pass is definitely my favourite. When we go (hopefully, summer 2025, my boys will be 16 and 14) so I’ll need to work out child and youth costs too! (The tell pass looks great if you are in somewhere like Engelberg…)
Very confusing! 🤣 but very good work, great! . Half Fare Pass doesn't include atractions, right? just transportation. Even so, It really worthy to buy it and pay fully on FIRST for example? .. You said too about Italy, i didn't know the pass could be used between cowntry! thanks. Just this route is included in half fare pass? I'll leave from Interlaken to Milan, does have some streitgh route I could pay with this pass?
Thank you for the insightful video! I'm planning a trip to Jungfrau + Zermatt in December. Are the Half Fare Card and Berner Oberland Pass advisable for winter travel? I couldn't locate any videos specifically discussing winter passes.
Hi there! Unfortunately the Berner Oberland Pass is not available during the Winter. There is a Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass for the Jungfrau Region, but you might be better off with a half fare card instead, depending on how much you will do in the mountains.
Thanks always, it's so helpful! I'm staying in Jungfrau Region for 6days and bought the Swiss Half Fare as you suggested and planning to buy the Berner Oberland Pass. I got 2 questions about the train ride, 1. From Zurich to Grindelwald, I see the Berner Oberland Pass covers from Lucerne. Is it wise to pay from Zurich to Lucerne and use the BOPass? 2. From Grindelwald to Milan, I see the BOPass doesn't cover all the way to Milan. In this case, do I buy the full ticket from Spiez to Milan?
Thanks for the video! For someone who live in Zurich, what is the best train pass for budget daily commuting for other cantons and inside the city? espeacily to use fastest trains
Don't forget that we have a FREE download: How To Pick A Swiss Train Pass! Find it here: aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-swiss-train-pass-guide-2023/
Still need help picking a Swiss Rail Pass that saves you time and money? We're happy to help :) Book a Swiss Vacation Consultation with us! https:/www.aplinsinthealps.com/consultations
Thank you, I appreciate the offer, definitely will use that. 💕
I would like to book a consultation. How can I do this?
Hi, guys！ Your video is very helpful and informative. Thank you very much！ My sister and I will be arriving I Zurich on May 10！！ We're still struggling to decide what passes to buy at this moment. We'd really appreciate your help to find the right passes to buy.
We'll arrive in zurich on May 10, and we have booked 5 nights in Wengen to appreciate the peaks and surrounding areas. Then, we'll get back to Zurich for a 4-day visit before heading for Vienna. Which Switzerland passes should we get? Thank you very much for your help！ Lisa N.
Hi my husband and 2 kids who are 12 and 9 are going to Switzerland for 4 days in July and we are not sure what train passes we need. We are staying in Grindelwald for 3 nights and in Zurich for 1 night. We plan on visiting Lucern, Interlaken, etc. and by the way, what train should we take from Milan Italy to Switzerland? Thanks
9:31 pm
Wait until you get there and go to the Swiss Travel Center at the airport train level. Explain to them your length of stay and your needs THEY will give you your best pass options. Their recommendations will be YOUR best bet. I have used several of the options depending on my needs. No use me explaining them.....let the experts at the Travel Center give them to you!
The Swiss Travel Center is certainly a great resource! We’ve used their help plenty of times in the past! Although we find that they don’t always know about the best regional passes, which can be more helpful than the national passes.
Thanks! All of your videos were very helpful in planning our recent trip to Switzerland. Plus your Swiss train pass info was very helpful and saves us a lot of money. We bought the Swiss half fare card and the Berner Oberland pass. We traveled to Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt and Geneva and had a terrific time. The SBB app was invaluable. Fun to see the places that were in your videos. We kept an eye out for you guys and saw a lot of people creating content.
You are so kind and generous, thank you! 🙂Sounds like you had a wonderful trip and saw some great Swiss highlights! And saved some money with those great train passes! Sorry we didn’t cross paths - maybe next time 😊
Stayed in the Jungfrau region, visiting be car and stayed in Gimmelwald. We followed the recommendation and bought the Jungfrau pass for our family. It was a very costly mistake. We didn't even use it once. When we tried, the activity listed as open on-line wasn't available. So the very frustrating lesson I learned is not to buy tickets in advance, on-line.
So sorry you had trouble! Some transport routes closed for maintenance in the fall, but the Jungfrau travel pass is good for most cable cars and gondolas!
Just got back from an amazing trip to Switzerland! Specifically Grindelwald and Interlaken area. Thanks to your videos, we decided on the Berner Oberland Pass with the Half Fare card which was the perfect choice!!!! I can’t stress enough what a great option this was for all of our adventures. Thank you Aplins in the Alps for your very informative videos 😊
Hi Michelle! I am Deepti Tiwari and am planning a trip to Switzerland, From your comment it sounds like you recently went to Switzerland and know some budget options. Can you tell me any stay options in the whole Interlaken- Lucerne- Grinderwald- Lauterbrunnen region. I kind of want to stay in the villages in a budget friendly option in a very quiet way.
We're so encouraged to hear that we were able to help you pick the perfect train pass! We LOVE that you had an amazing trip!
The definitive and only resource one will need to figure out the tangled web of Swiss travel passes. Outstanding job!
Thank you so much!
Do you guys still do consultations? We will be staying in Interlaken. Short trip 4 days total but 2 of those will be travel days@AplinsintheAlps
Hahaha! Your question at 5:27. Answer: that guy and this gal! :) (But only because I'm familiar with travelling in Switzerland and I'm a geek in that way.) Honestly, your previous videos got me thinking about how I did travel on my many trips, always using the Swiss Travel Pass for its convenience but making me aware of the other options. Since we're going to be there a month this year and I had an itinerary roughed out pretty well I decided to do a spreadsheet comparing ALL types of possibilities that you have mentioned in this and previous videos. Since I'm not into the high touristy mountain excursions and fall under the category of daily travel of some type through 2/3 of Switzerland surprisingly the Swiss Travel Pass was again a winner for me by 64chf; its convenience made it a no brainer. But some of those regional passes are really great values covering wide areas. All should note that some regional passes are available to all for a fee, some are available just by staying in the area (e.g. Ticino Pass, Appenzeller Holiday Pass) BUT you need to check with your lodging in that area to see if they offer the area pass--not all do. Best advice from this Swiss traveler: unless you get joy out of detailed planning for your trip ahead of time, consulting with people who've done the work for you is a bargain--and I get no residuals from saying that :) ! Excellent video, guys!
Hi Laura! We're so glad you enjoy this type of analysis too!!
I looked into the Ticino Pass recently, but it seemed like all the others-just giving a small discount on mountain rides. What's been your experience with the Appenzeller Holiday Pass? What all does it cover?
Thanks again for your kindness and encouragement, and for "tuning in" to our videos!
Thanks for this info, Laura. I am planning my first family trip with my parents (50+ age) and we will not be exploring the mountains so much but will be going to many areas like Interlaken, Zurich, Zermat, Lucerne, Grindelwald and Jungfrau region. My calculations also suggested that Swiss travel pass would be cheaper (and of course convenient). Thanks for confirming!
Thank you very much for your videos Jana and Brett, they are very informative and helpful! :D
@@AplinsintheAlps Sorry, Jana & Brett, I just saw your reply (8 months late). The Ticino pass does cover ALL train & bus transportation throughout the entire canton with small discounts on other transportation & excursions.
The Appenzeller Holiday card is similar, but a bit more complex as it allows the same type of travel through 15 zones--one would have to look carefully to see where these zones are and what they cover.
I just returned from my Swiss holiday and took your advice on the half fare card + Berner Oberland Pass… that saving is huge! Thank you for the advice!
this is what i want to do in september! did u buy on the app ahead of time? i’m a little nervous about when i should purchase and if i can put my bf and i on the same acct
Am also wanting to travel to Zermatt and Jungfrau regions ONLY in late Sept or early Oct for total of 5 days (2 in Z and 3 in J regions). Where did you all go to on your trip and for how many days?
We LOVE hearing this! So glad we could you help you choose the right passes for your trip:)
Does the Berner Oberland pass cover the ride up to the Eiger Glacier? They mentioned the Berner Oberland connecting ticket to the Jungfraujoch would cost $99. However if you also have the half fare card, would it be cheaper to purchase the round trip from Eiger Glacier to Jungfraujoch instead of the connecting ticket?
Please Help: Please suggest best pass or combination of passes for my one week trip which will include:
Pilatus, Titlis, Lauterbrunnen tour with falls, Murren village hike and schilthorn peak, mannlichen, Interlaken thun or brienze lake boat ride, giessbach falls, iseltwald tour , Grindelwald first
I’m in Switzerland right now and all the videos and the itinerary have been super helpful. However, I would strongly consider the first class Berner Oberland pass. It’s not much more and will save many headaches in finding seats on busy trains. They’re usually all busy and it’s mid-September now. Especially if you’re traveling with older people like parents, get first class.
Hi! We're going to Switzerland next week. Is it rainy season right now and too pack of people?
First Class is definitely helpful during high season if you’d like your own seat! But we always remind people that not all forms of transportation offer a first class section. And this year was unusually busy though mid October!!
Thanks to you two, we're all set to go with our half fare card and berner oberland passes. A few weeks away, and we'll be there. The 1 on 1 consult was so helpful, and I'm a travel planner/hotelier by trade, but the extra few dollars to gain some insights from 2 locals was a great value. Thanks again!
Thanks so much for the encouragement! We're SO glad you felt the 1 on 1 consultation was a valuable investment. We hope you have an amazing trip!
Hey... Steve in NEPA... Is that as in Northeast PA?
@@timmccabe4654 yes it is
Try TrainPal next time! No issues I experienced so far. Many discounts drop and train card sales.
My wife and I just spent 6 days in Switzerland and we want to thank you for your helpful videos. They made our stay simpler and more entertaining. Keep up the good work!
We're so thrilled to hear that you and your wife enjoyed your time here in Switzerland and that we got to be a small part of it! Thank you for taking the time to leave an encouraging comment.
This was the video I have been waiting for so long, which gave the answer to the most confusing question i.e. which rail pass to buy in switzerland. Thank you so much guys.
Leaving tomorrow from Hawaii to start working our way there. Whew! This is a huge help! Spending time in Zurich, Lucerne, and the Jungfrau region. Thank you for the best train into out there!
Sounds like your at the beginning of an amazing trip! So glad this video was helpful! Happy Travels!
I can't thank you enough. Just returned from our trip to Switzerland. My parents were so happy (their first international trip), me and my sister had great fun together.
Every time I was telling my family about your channel . Your videos made our trip to Switzerland very smooth and wonderful.I bought Berner Oberland pass and it really helped us.
Thank you ..Thank you ..Thank you so much 🙏🙏😇😇😍😍💐💐
We are honored that we got to be a small part of the amazing experience you had with your family! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Thank you .... Thank you .... Thank you so much💐💐 @@AplinsintheAlps
I really appreciate the level of nerding going on here. You've probably saved me a few spreadsheets... Thanks!
I know it's not really your game but a video like this with kids in mind would be crazy beneficial.
Again thanks, all your stuff is great!
We’re glad you can appreciate the spreadsheet neediness - we love it! 🤓
Actually a video like that would only be about a minute long. Here’s why:
Kids under 6 are always free on transportation everywhere in Switzerland.
Kids 6-15 are always 50% off on transportation throughout the country of Switzerland.
Kids 6-15 can ride for FREE with the Swiss Family Card when they’re riding with their parents.
Kids 16+ are treated like adults.
Pretty simple! Hope that helps 😊
Why not try a new app named trainpal which gives me a big surprise 🎉
@@AplinsintheAlps So, if you're traveling with three kids under the age of 16 (14, 12, & 5), then the travel pass generally makes the most sense, right?
I swear you guys sound exactly like another UA-cam Couple, they have over 3M followers, I am sure you know who I am talking about, but you guys are great too.
Excellent video, I am planning my trip to Switzerland very soon.
We are over in the Jungfrau region in August, based in Unterseen for 11 nights. Driving in and sleeping in our VW Transporter part campervan. As a family of 4 - (2 adults and 2 kids [15 & 12]) I've opted for the Swiss Half Fare Card which then gets some discount on the Berner Oberland Pass and the Jungfrau Unlimited Summer Pass. Excessive, you might think.... Both passes cross over but we're looking at possibly spending a night at the Monchjochhutte so that equates to 2 days of Jungfraujoch tickets, doing some boaty trips, plus a sneaky day trip down to Milan. Plus some of the more 'normal' stuff like First and the villages.
I plan on doing very little driving while we are in Switzerland... Let the train take the strain!
Busy itinerary, but I worked out that bagging both passes using a half fare card worked best for us. Plus the Berner Oberland pass gets you down to Domodossola in Italy now, so only tickets for Domodossola to Milano Centrale needed - and as one of the kids is 12, we bagged cheap Bimbi Gratis tickets so it was a lot less than a 'proper' ticketed day trip from Interlaken Ost to Milano Centrale. Just a whole lot of timetable examination and waiting for train numbers to be released!
Your videos have been a huge help! Thank You both!
Hi Paul, what a fun trip you have planned! We don't have any experience traveling by camper van, but we've been talking more and more about what a great place this would be to do it!
We LOVE that you did the research to figure out which passes were best for you and your family. Hope you have a great trip!
WOW.... my head is spinning and all I had to do was listen to you both !!!!!. FANTASTIC work guys ...I bet Brett's jaw was sore for days after this spool. Still, a cold beer would have fixed it. You covered all bases and MUCH MUCH more. Thank you. Max Australia.
It is a lot of information and we worked SO hard to make sure to explain it in such a way that would make your train pass purchasing as painless as possible. Thanks for letting us know this was helpful to you.
Hi guys, thanks a lot for the detailed video. Your videos helped us to pick the best pass to travel in Switzerland . And also saved a lot of money 😊. We stayed in the Interlaken region for 4 days, as you guys suggested we bought the Berner oberland pass and Swiss half fare card.
We did the glacier walk on top of jungfraujoch and hike to bachalpsee lake, which turned out to be the best hike we did in our life. Thanks a lot for the suggestions and detailed videos. Looking forward to more videos 😊 thanks!
Thank you so much for your feedback! We're so grateful you enjoyed your trip and that we were able to play a small part it it. Do you think you'll come back to Switzerland?!
This is the best video or podcast I've listened to about Swiss Train passes! It's been so overwhelming to think about and figure out. We will definitely use y'all's links to buy the half fare card and the other for the jungfrau region
Wow! Thanks so much for letting us know how helpful this video is. And thanks for using our links; that helps us keep creating helpful content!
That is very elaborate👍 Plus Europe rail ticket now has a discount😮
The various Swiss travel tickets are so complicated and I can’t find any Chinese videos about them. Thank you for the analysis, which gave me some inspiration😊
So glad you found us and that we could be helpful!
Wow what a detailed blog on train passes etc. It enlightened me a lot on what to do . I have a planned trip to Switzerland in 2024. 5 nights in Jungfrau Region our based is Interlaken and 3 nights in Luzern.
Thanks for taking the time to let us know this was helpful! Our goal was to help you feel confident in choosing the right train pass and it sounds like our goal was accomplished!
This video saved us a fortune. Although we discovered that if you’re travelling with kids and have bought the Swiss half fare card, the Berner Oberland pass always works out more cost effective than the Jungfrau travel pass simply because the Swiss family pass can be used in conjunction with it. If you have that pass, you only need to buy a Berner Oberland pass for the adults and kids travel for free. We were in the Jungfrau area for 3 days and the B.O. pass worked out 50 CHF cheaper (25 CHF per child) than buying the Jungfrau pass.
So glad we were able to help you save money!!! Thanks for sharing!
We are planning to base at either Lauterbrunnen or Grindewald area and visit Zungfrau top . Will be landing in Zurich and abd thrn proceed to Lucerne tge same day . Stay there overnight or two before moving to Lauterbrunnen or ,Grindewald area . Any advice as to which pass we should book ? Swiss half fare plus BO pass ? Does it need to be bought in advance ?
I’m going visit Jungfrau & Zermatt 7 day in this December. Thank you for ur VDO very helpful 🎉❤
So glad it was helpful! We hope you enjoy your time here.
Hi my wife Yvonne and myself, Tony, would like to thank you for this video! We got the Half Fare pass and it saved us a TON of $$$ on our Switzerland vacation. We went from Zurich to Zermatt and then worked our way back via Interlacken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Luzern, Lugano and finally back to Zurich. While we didn't take your advice and only pick 3 regions we did enjoy seeing all of these regions and know what we would visit on return someday. THANK YOU !!!!!
We LOVE hearing that we helped you save money! It sounds like you got to see and do a lot! We hope you had a great time:)
WOW! This was so helpful, thank you both. I was going to get the Jungfrau travel pass and paying for regular trains outside that but now I'm definitely getting the half fare card!
You’re so welcome! That sounds like a fantastic choice!
Thank you for this video! We are leaving in a week for 🇨🇭. I've been nosing into this subject for the last couple of months at night when I have time. It is just too much to get a hold of it all unless you make a spreadsheet 🤔. This video is a huge time saver on the subject, which I would never have sifted through by myself anyhow! Thank you again 🎉
We're so encouraged to hear that this video helped you save time on your travel planning! We hope you have a wonderful trip!
Love the content, concise and precise as always! My Fiancé I and are more then halfway through booking our late September honeymoon to Italy and Switzerland, and are really glad we found this channel! Much love from Canada. PS the Jungfrau 7 Day travel guide is fantastic
Thank you so much for the kind words! It sounds like you have an amazing honeymoon planned. We honeymooned in Switzerland too! Thanks for the feedback on the Jungfrau travel guide! We hope you guys have a wonderful honeymoon:)
I love and hate Europe. I was fascinated by the stunning scenery and rich history, but I was overwhelmed by the high cost. I think trainpal's discount coupon saved me.
Thanks!
Wow! Thank you so much for your generosity. We are so grateful for your support!
You guys are awesome. We appreciate you putting together such good videos. We do travel videos as well and know how much time and effort it takes to put together a clear, concise and all inclusive video. Thanks!
Thanks so much! That is so cool that you do travel videos as well. Where do you travel?!
@@AplinsintheAlps we’re mostly western United States
I am so grateful for your videos! You always have the best advice when it comes to train passes. I managed to snag my half fare card when I was in Switzerland in January. It really helped save some money on train rides. Thank you for going through all the passes and helping me figure out the best option for my trip.
This is so encouraging to hear! We love helping others travel with confidence and we're thrilled to hear that we were able to help you choose the best train pass and save money!! Thanks again for sharing:)
This is huge information for me who want to going to swiss next year by solo. Thank you sooo muchh🙌🏻
You're welcome! Glad we can help!
I'm going to Switzerland this September & i was not sure which pass to get. This vid is loaded with great info. Thank you so much. Appreciate it very much
So glad we could help you with your decision!
I wish I had found your videos before we bought our eurail pass! Hindsight's 20/20 ughhh thanks for all the effort!
No worries Paul! Now that you have the Eurail Pass, make the most of it by making sure you know what's covered, what's not, and what discounts are available to you.
Thanks! this is so helpful!
Thank you SO much! Your generosity helps us keep creating!
Hello from Singapore! Really appreciate the effort that you guys put into this guide! You’ve earned yourself a new subscriber! ❤️
Also I’m heading over to Saas-fee from Milan in early March to Ski for a few days before heading over to Zurich for my flight back home. Am I right to just purchase the Swiss half fare or should I do the Eurail Global Pass Youth. Thanks in advance 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Best video so clearly explained!!! THANK YOU! The Swiss system is CONFUSING :-)
You're welcome! So glad it was helpful. Swiss transportation can be confusing so hopefully you feel more confident after watching this!
i need help… i got lost between all these options. Can someone with experience please give me advice on which option is best for this schedule: Basel-Lauterbrunnen- Geneve-Zermatt(Glacier Express to St.Moritz)-St.Moritz-Zurich-Basel.
Anyone knows which option is the best? THANK YOU
Make sure you download our free checklist! Because unless you’re only visiting those cities and not riding any transportation once you’re there, it’s not a simple answer. We promise our checklist is designed to make it simple!
Your videos are very informative, it helped me alot in planning my next trip. Just one quick question though, if i buy a half fare pass, do i get a 50% discount if i buy berner oberland pass? Thanks alot ❤
Love your videos! We bought the half fare card and now trying to add the Berner Oberland Pass. You say that it would be 25-40 franc more but all we see is 150 for a 3 day pass. Just want to make sure we aren't missing something. Thanks!
Hi there, good question! What we're referring to is your overall transportation cost. For the example you mentioned, we estimate you'll spend about 25-40 CHF more overall on transportation by adding the Berner Oberland Pass than you would if you don't add it (because it will also save you some money as well). Hope this helps clarify!
Once we worked out mostly what trains/lifts etc we were going to take over 6 days, the Swiss Half Fare card worked out best for us.
That's great to hear!
@@AplinsintheAlps … thanks to your advice!
Hello! I really hope we can get just a bit of help! We're planning to go across Europe (14 day trip), coming from Paris, staying at Interlaken, then going to Venice, all with a Eurail Pass. We're staying in the Jungfrau region for 3 days Aug 1-3 inclusive. We were hoping the train from Paris to Interlaken then Interlaken to Venice would be scenic but watching your videos it seems we need to book special trains for those? In the video, your main point was to not buy extra days for the Jungfrau Region which showed what not to do, but what SHOULD we do regarding the passes and wanting to go on scenic train rides. Thank you so so much for your help, this channel is genuinely the only place on the entire internet that has information laid out so perfectly for all to see for free and that truly is so incredible!
Hi there! Soo many of the trains in Switzerland are scenic! If you're not planning to spend lots of time up in the mountains (and especially if you will not be visiting Jungfraujoch), then you would be just fine using your Eurail Pass here! You'll just need to understand the validity map well so you know when you need an extra ticket and how much of a discount you will receive. Hope this helps!
@@AplinsintheAlps Thank you so much this helps a lot! Do you think we need to book extra tickets for the scenic trains or do the normal trains from Paris into the Jungfrau and from Jungfrau to Venice have just the same amazing views? Thank you once again so much!
Oh wow! I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the passes since we are heading to Interlaken next month via Paris train. This was very helpful! Still trying to figure out which train would require less train changes to reach Interlaken. We'll def purchase the halffare once we reach Interlaken, we are there only for 2 nights so might not do the Bern pass. Thank you!
TrainPal can make a good smooth ticketing experience as well. Offers across Europe and discounts on train cards:))
Hi Aplins! I am heading to Switzerland tomorrow. I have purchased half fare card and Bernard Overland Pass online, I printed them out, and I assume that there will be a place to scan the QR code when I purchase tickets at a kiosk? In all the videos I don’t see anyone scanning the half fair card or their Overland pass so I’m not sure how that process works. Also for buses? I do have the half fare card uploaded into my SBB app but again I’m curious, how do use it for trams and buses as well… thanks!
We are planning a trip to Switzerland in June 2024.
Let me give you an overview of our itinerary so you can have a reference to answer my questions.
Day-1
Fly into Zurich and take a train from Zurich airport to Lucerne.
Day-2,3,4,5
Lucerne as base to stay, visit Mt Titlis, Pilatus and Rigi one destination a day with 4th spare day
for bad weather or any destination needing more time.
Day 6,7
Rent a car in Lucerne and drive for the first day to Interlaken to experience and photograph
mountain passes Susten, Furka and Grimsel. 2
nd day visit Aare River gorge and lake Blausee.
Return car in Interlaken and visit Harder Kulm in the afternoon.
Day 8,9,10,11
Interlaken as base visit Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Jungfraujoch for 3 days with a spare day
for bad weather and any destination needing more time.
Day 12
Take the train from Interlaken to Bern. Visit Bern
Day 13
Take the train to Zurich and take a flight home.
Questions
1. For public transportation, I am thinking about getting.
a. Swiss Half Fare Card (120 CHF/month)
b. Tell-Pass for Lucerne area (24 CHF/day)
c. Jungfrau Travel Pass (215 CHF/4 days)
Would Tell-Pass & Jungfrau Pass cost me half if I purchase half fare card? Would this be the
most economical strategy, or you would recommend some other?
2. Would Lucerne and Interlaken be good base? After living in US for years, we are used to having
private bathroom with the hotel room. With this in mind what hotel would you recommend in
these two towns?
3. I am considering Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald for tandem paragliding. Which of
these or any in Lucerne is best for paragliding?
4. One option that appears attractive is to return to Interlaken after visiting Bern and take the
scenic train to Zurich. Is this doable, what train, how long it takes etc.?
5. Any suggestions for modification to itinerary?
We love that you’re working so hard to plan your trip! We’d be happy to answer your questions in a consultation call 🙂 www.aplinsinthealps.com/consultations
Thank you for your research and sharing info's. I so appreciate you both.
This is huge for me especially on a budget and solo.
We're so glad that we could help you save money and feeling confident traveling alone!
Thanks for the video. We’re going at the end of October for 9 days so it looks like the half fare card is the way to go..
Often a great choice. Enjoy!
Thank you! You guys are amazing :)
You're welcome! Thanks for the support and encouragement.
Such a detailed comparison. You guys are so good in what you do..❤
That is such a nice compliment! Thanks for the encouragement:)
Thank you! I’ll be visiting in July 😊
You're welcome! Enjoy your visit in July:)
I recently purchased a Swiss Travel Pass (second class) and have a few questions about using it:
1. For travel within major stations, like going from Lucerne to Kriens, do I need to purchase a separate ticket through the SBB app or at the station, or can I hop on the train with my Swiss Travel Pass?
2. When booking through the SBB app, do I select “GA Travelcard, 2nd class” under the "Travelcards for Switzerland" section in the passenger info? Is that the correct option for the Swiss Travel Pass?
3. For journeys where reservations are mandatory, like the Glacier Express, do I need to buy the ticket separately in advance? And if my reservation is in first class but my Swiss Travel Pass is for second class, can I upgrade to first class through the app or at the boarding station?
I’d appreciate any insights or advice from those who have experience with this!
Thanks!
Hi guys! thanks for the video! But please do let the viewers be aware that the Oberland Pass is only available from 1st April onwards for annually! Meaning travelers hitting the country from winter till 31st March doesnt have the option to enjoy the Oberland Pass!
You're right that many of these passes have separate summer and winter seasons, like the Berner Oberland Pass!
@@AplinsintheAlps so is the Berner overland pass only for summer?
I love the fact that you have taken the time to navigate this confusing system of travel passes. I think that Switzerland must do a better job in this area. Too many passes!
We totally agree! One pass, even if it's pretty expensive, would help many travelers!!
I’ve downloaded the pass link and i will be sure to buy tickets via your link guys! This video and other videos you’ve done are so in depth! And it’s free knowledge 🙏🏽🥹 thank you again!!! loving the content 🎉
Thanks so much for your support and encouragement! We love Switzerland so much and want to help others travel here with ease and confidence:) Thanks for letting us know we've been helpful!
Can you do a video explaining the free guest passes? I haven't seen a video anywhere on YT explaining how it works or what's included. Really appreciate it. Good job overall!!!
That's a great idea! We will add it to our list. But we do mention it in our Lucerne Things To Know Video if you want a quick overview!
After you buy a Saver Day Pass, how you can use it to book a train ride on SBB? Or you can use it directly to enter on the train?
If we are spending all of our trip in the Luzern, Grindelwold, Wengen, Interlokken and Bern area's, do we need the Half Fare Card? It looks like all the major trains, buses and gondola's are covered with the Berner Oberland Pass once we get to Luzern? We do plan on going to enjoy the fun in Grindelwold and possibly riding the train up to the Jungfrau glacier. Help me understand the value of the half fare card in our situation. Thank you so much! Great info on helping to plan our trip.
Hi Chad, great question! The Half Fare Card actually gets you a discount on the Berner Oberland Pass...and in the case of the 6-day, 8-day, and 10-day passes, that discount is equal to or more than the cost of the Half Fare Card!
In addition, if you're traveling to or from the airport, you'll save even more with the Half Fare Card, and more still if any of your plans include rides that aren't fully covered by the Berner pass. Hope this helps!
Awesome video. Well done, guys! Keep it up!
Thanks so much!
If you plan to make a round trip between two cities, for example you're staying in Zurich and making a daytrip to Basel or Luzern, often the saver day pass can be cheaper than two full-price tickets there and back so it easily becomes a no-brainer for most daytrips. For example, Zurich to Basel is 36 CHF each way, totalling an eye-watering 72 CHF for the round trip if you just buy full-price tickets on the day. However, if you buy your tickets just a few days in advance, you get access to the saver day pass which can be as cheap as 52 CHF (the only catch is it gets more expensive closer to the day of travel and you can't buy it ON the day you plan to travel) so you already saved 20 CHF just for the round trip. If that's not enough, you also get access to full unlimited travel on most regular trains all over Switzerland AND all the local public transport too, such as buses and trams, which saves even more. Thus, not only would it cover that round trip from Zurich to Basel for cheaper, but you even get to ride the trams and buses in both cities for no extra cost, and even hop to another city like Bern on the way back if you're feeling adventurous.
thanks for this info. Im staying in Zurich for a week but i want to do at least 2-3 day trips.
I guess this is one of the most informative videos on Swiss Passes available in UA-cam. Thanks a lot for compiling all the information in one place. I have two questions you might help me with. We're visiting Zermatt (2 days) and then the Jungfrau region (3 days) beginning of September and going to purchase the half fare card and the BO pass (3 days). Q1- will the BO pass cover the journey from Zermatt to Grindelwald if we travel via Visp and the Lotschberg Basistunnel, as showing in the SBB app or do we have to take another route in order to utilize the BO pass during that journey? Q2- During our stay in the Jungfrau region, we plan to do a day trip from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch via Eigergletscher and come down to Lauterbrunnen via the Wengen route. Will the CHF 99 connection ticket be valid for this entire journey in this scenario? Many thanks in advance for your response. Regards...
Great to see Jim Courier do travel vids.
He said he's glad you're enjoying them ;)
@@AplinsintheAlpswe're planning a Switzerland and Italy first time trip in Sept/Oct and your info in gold! Thank you.
You're welcome Brad!
that was a LOT!. thank you so much
You're welcome! There's a lot to consider when choosing a Swiss Rail Pass!
Vry informative.....'m travelling on october to switzerland and I stay in interlaken....should I buy the day pass...??
Re-viewed and re-enjoyed this video because we’re going to Jungfraujoch in May. Please correct me if I misunderstood: We will buy the half fare card and use it to buy the Berner Overland pass, right? Since the Half-Fare card has a validity period. I should then purchase it near the date of our travel to maximize it. Is that correct?
We are also coming from Milan on our way to Interlaken. Does this mean I can apply the Half Fare card for the part of our trip that passes through Switzerland? The train from Milan is direct to Spiez so I’m not sure how this would work out.
You've got it! When you buy the passes online, you select the date when you want them to start. And yep - you can use the Half Fare Card to get a discount from Domodossola in Italy (and actually, you could use your Berner Oberland Pass from here too! Just make sure you take the route that goes through Kandersteg, and not the direct route to Spiez). Hope this helps!
Very helpful!!! I plan on going back later this year and visit Genève and more of the Jungfrau region
Thanks for taking the time to let us know this video was helpful! We love that you're getting to come back for another visit.
Really clearly explained. Thanks
Thanks for letting us know it was clear and easy to understand! Trying to explain the Swiss transportation system/train passes can feel a little overwhelming....there's so much information!
I’m going to Switzerland in August and I honestly have no idea which area I plan on visiting once I get there there’s so much to do/see it’s a bit overwhelming tbh 😂
Wish me luck because I’m going to need it
There are so many places to see and so many things to do here! We love the Jungfrau region but also love Zermatt and Lucerne. If you find you need help, we created several done-for-you travel guides that help you feel confident and prepared for your Swiss vacation. I'll think them here if you want to check them out.
aplinsinthealps.com/guides/
What is the carry on brand that you use for your Europe trips?
Hi! We use the Away Carry-On.
Very enlightening! My husband and I planning to go there in Nov for 7 days we wish to see Geneva, Zurich, Lucern, and Interlaken. We’re staying in Interlaken. We wanted to see 1 mountain ride, a boat, and 1 scenic express like the glacier express. Which one to purchase?
As you said, Switzerland should really don't confuse people with these kind of 1000 passes and combine in to just one based on region with all activities+ clear map for all specific region :))
Would be great wouldn't it?!?!
Thank you for doing and presenting all this research! I would love some explanation though. I'm perplexed as to how we could get to 210 chf of fares in just 3 days (to justify the Jungfrau pass). Or 220 of fares to justify the half price either. Do you have/know of a list of fares for busses, trains, cable cars individually? Or an itinerary comparison with/without the pass?
Good question! The best thing you can do is plot out some different routes on the SBB app. To be truthful, it's pretty easy to hit these costs! For example, a roundtrip to Grindelwald First costs around 68 CHF with no train pass. Travel from the Zurich Airport to the Jungfrau Region and back will cost 150+ CHF with no train pass. All of our recommendations have taken these costs into account, but if you want to plot the costs of all your planned transportation, the SBB app is the way to go!
@@AplinsintheAlps Thank you for taking the time to respond! I was hoping there might be a list of all the prices in the region somewhere as I was having a hard time navigating the sbb website, but I guess I will need to download the app before traveling and check everything individually and form our budget. We're not travelling there til June, but I'm trying to set a rough budget.
If you're interested, each of our travel guides includes a spreadsheet that lists the cost of every transportation route in our itinerary. It shows the full price, price with the half fare card, and what you'd spend with all the major train passes. You can check out our guides at aplinsinthealps.com/guides
Hope that helps!
Hi! Amazing video, you're helping so many people! However im still unsure about my situation😅
Me and my friend are staying in Zurich for 3 nights, Fri-Mon.
We want to explore Zurich and Lucerne but also check out Mt Titlis & Pilatus, Mt Rigi would also be cool
The thing is, I need to be in Wengen Mon evening and a trip there from Zurich + the Zurich area arent covered with the Tell Pass right? In your expert opinion, is that pass still our best option? Thanks in advance!
Half price rail card, 10 full days Berner Oberland pass and return from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen. Cost 520sf but would have cost over 1,000sf- free boat, cable car, train, funicular railway and post bus. Only cost was half price train from Zurich, half price Murren to Schilthorn and Eiger Gletcher to Jungfraujoch.
That Half Fare Card and BO Pass combo really is amazing for money savings!
Very informative video and thanks alot ❤
I am planning for 10D9N trip to Switzerland mid to end of March 2024 -- 2 nights Lucerne, 3 nights Grindelwald, 2 nights Zermatt (Glacier Express to Chur then train to Zurich), and 2 nights Zurich.
Been scratching my head on Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass , could you please advise?
(Bernard Overland Pass is unavailable during my travelling period).
We’re as of today in Wengen 😁🎉. Have to get to Neuschwanstein Castle, leaving next Tuesday. We did the half fare card and Berber Oberland passes. Do you have any videos on connecting trains with the surrounding countries by chance?
We do not have any videos about connecting trains with surrounding countries but I think that's a great idea! Are you enjoying Wengen?
@@AplinsintheAlps We love it here! Gorgeous! Yes, a video on connecting to the other countries would be so helpful! 😁. Friends we made in Lucern headed down to Italy yesterday as we left for here. I know they ran into a few hiccups getting there. How are you liking Swiss life? Hope we run into you guys this week. ❤️
Your videos are amazing! Thank you so much for all these details. We are visiting Interlaken, Grindelwald, whilst staying in Brienz in October for 6 nights and 1 night in Lucerne. Will the half fare card be enough as we plan 1 mountain train but need to travel by public transport?
Below is our itenary - couple with 2 kids 4 yrs old
Day 1 zurich - go to lindt chocolate factory and old city
Day 2 zurich to grindelwald
Day 3 grindelwald to jungfrauch
Day 4 grindelwald to brienz and lake brienz cruise or lauterbrunnen
Day 5 gribdelwald to brienz and rotter barn train
Day 6 grindelwald to manlicchen
Day 7 grindelwald to zurich airport
Should we buy normal swiss pass for 6 days
Hi there! We would definitely buy a Half Fare Card + 6-Day Berner Oberland Pass for each adult for this itinerary. Have fun!!
Super usefull informatio n,thanks !!
Thanks for letting us know it was helpful!
Thank you Jana and Brett! I really do appreciate your videos, it helps us a lot for our 2024 trip. Thank you also for taking time to read our draft itinerary for July 2024. Great Job! 🎉
We are so glad you've found our vidoes helpful and that we were able to help you plan your trip! Please check back in and let us know how your trip went:)
Very informative, awesome work.
Thanks for taking the time to leave an encouraging comment! It means a lot.
I've just started researching for Switzerland. Our dates of travel are 27th October 1 week. Then I watched one of your videos and some of the gondolas are closed at this time of year. Is it still worth visiting? Thanks
You really have to make that decision based on where you want to go and what you want to do. If everything (or even mostly everything) you want to see is open, then it could be great! But if a lot of places you want to go will be closed, it's probably worth waiting to come another time. The end of October and early November also usually sees the weather changing quite a bit. Maybe not too much snow yet, but usually it's quite a bit cooler with a lot more clouds and fog. Hope that helps!
Questa estate andremo a Grindelwald per 16 giorni….e dato che abbiamo intenzione di girare molto la regione dello Jungfrau, ma anche lo schilthorn, lo jungfraujoch almeno 2 volte, e fare una gita a Lucerna, abbiamo deciso di prendere l Unlimited Jungfrau Summer Pass 2024. Sono usciti i prezzi…costa 549 franchi svizzeri, validità sino all 1/12/2024(dal 31/3/2024). Ciao ragazzi😊
Well done, folks! 👍
Thank you!
Thank you for your beautiful video very helpful. We are from Australia my husband & I will visit Switzerland this coming December. Zurich + Zermatt + Interlaken ( jungfrau) for 8 days. From your content, looks like we should go to half fare price. Btw, does the train in Switzerland operates on Christmas cause we’re planning to travel Milan on Xmas day. Thanks.
I think I have decided on the Oberland Pass and half fare card, but I’m wondering if the Bernina Express from Milan to Zermatt will be covered on either pass.
The Half Fare Card works for the whole country of Switzerland, including scenic trains!
Thanks for all the fab videos, embarking on our first ever Swiss trip next week and your videos have been so helpful.
The one thing that still blows my mind is the travel passes. We will be in Interlaken for 6 nights (with 2 days in Lausanne first and 2 days in Zurich after before flying home. We will have a rental car for the 10 days.
I think the best option is the Berner Oberland pass (either 4 day as we want to drive some of the passes) or a 6 day, but I can’t work out what the half fare card would give us that the BO pass doesn’t ? (So a full price 6 day BO pass is only 30 chf more than a 4 day BO pass bought with the 120 chf half fare card…!!! Any thoughts
I will of course use your links to buy the passes 😎
Since you’ll have a car, you may not get the other benefits of a HFC (like discounts on your rides to/from the Jungfrau Region). Our free Checklist denotes the difference for travelers with or without a car, so you might want to check that out!
But keep in mind you cannot drive everywhere in this area (not beyond Grindelwald or Stechelberg/Lauterbrunnen), so you’ll need to do your research!
Hello, amazing video. My wife and I are going to Switzerland in Sept 2024. We will definitely be taking your suggestions and getting a half fare pass. Needed to clarify this though, do we both need a half fare? Or can one half fare pass buy all our tickets for two people?
Great question - you both need your own Half Fare Card. Enjoy your vacation - September should be lovely in Switzerland!!
Hi I saw you answer the last question, it make wonder if my question was not aproppiated .or was to complicated,so sorry was not my intention,just a confused turist.thank you for your understanding. :)
Great videos thanks a lot. I need a bit of more advise.
I am planning 2 weeks in switzerland. 2 adults and 2 kids below 12. The plan: 1 night geneva, 6 nights jungfrau region with one day trip to Luzern (might do 1 mountain), day trip on rhine falls, then 3 nights in Lugano with day trip to Milan and Como, then 2 nights in Zermatt with mountain excursion, then we want to stop at Chamonix on our last day to Geneva.
Should we rent a car? If car, what pass we buy with it?
If not car, what pass you recommend we buy?
Hi there! We would personally just use the public transportation and skip the car rental. For a specific pass recommendation, be sure to download our checklist and look at the section for trips to the Jungfrau Region + Luzern + Zermatt: aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-swiss-train-pass-guide-2023/
That's where you'll find our best recommendations, even based on specific plans for each location!
Does anyone know if the Nessental Triftbahn is included in the Berner Oberland Pass? This is to go see the Trift Bridge! I see reservations are recommended for the gondola, but I don't see a way to apply a half fare card, or the Berner Oberland pass.
Thank you, Aplins! Everything of yours has been super helpful, and we love your 7-day itinerary guide.
Hi Mitch! Unfortunately the BO Pass isn't valid there!
@@AplinsintheAlps Thank you for letting me know!
Hey guys, great content. Would you recommend getting the Berner oberland Pass if you are visiting interlakken for 1 day from Lucerne?
Hi there! For a day trip from Lucerne, we'd just use our Half Fare Card. Or if you'll have the Tell-Pass, that would cover the trip to Interlaken!
Hello I love your videos. They are very helpful, thank you. We are looking to travel to Brienz from Zurich and stay in Brienz for 6 nights in October. We also plan to do day trips to Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. Then we will travel to Lucernce and spend 1 night there before traveling to Zurich, all by train. Is it worth just buying the Half fare card for 2 adults and 1 youth? Thank you.
Following your ideas if I understand well... It would be good buy save day pass in advance to travel from Zurich to Chur then Chur to Tirano... (doing a escape to Italy). Then come back to Switzerland for 3 day stay at Lucern to buy Half Fare travel pass to visit Rigi for free. Or add Tell pass if I want to enjoy Titlis and Pilatus. Is it correct ??? But what about boats and funiculars are they included with Half Fare travel pass???
Thanks for the useful information! Still don’t really understand how the saver day pass relates to the half fare card, could you explain it?
This is fantastic information, thank you. The Bernese oberland pass is definitely my favourite. When we go (hopefully, summer 2025, my boys will be 16 and 14) so I’ll need to work out child and youth costs too!
(The tell pass looks great if you are in somewhere like Engelberg…)
Very confusing! 🤣 but very good work, great! .
Half Fare Pass doesn't include atractions, right? just transportation. Even so, It really worthy to buy it and pay fully on FIRST for example? ..
You said too about Italy, i didn't know the pass could be used between cowntry! thanks.
Just this route is included in half fare pass? I'll leave from Interlaken to Milan, does have some streitgh route I could pay with this pass?
Thank you for the insightful video! I'm planning a trip to Jungfrau + Zermatt in December. Are the Half Fare Card and Berner Oberland Pass advisable for winter travel? I couldn't locate any videos specifically discussing winter passes.
Hi there! Unfortunately the Berner Oberland Pass is not available during the Winter. There is a Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass for the Jungfrau Region, but you might be better off with a half fare card instead, depending on how much you will do in the mountains.
Thank you! ❤
Where n how can we compare the prices of different passes. Any website that will help in this comparison ?
Hi there! You just need to visit the websites of each of the individual passes :)
Thanks always, it's so helpful! I'm staying in Jungfrau Region for 6days and bought the Swiss Half Fare as you suggested and planning to buy the Berner Oberland Pass. I got 2 questions about the train ride, 1. From Zurich to Grindelwald, I see the Berner Oberland Pass covers from Lucerne. Is it wise to pay from Zurich to Lucerne and use the BOPass? 2. From Grindelwald to Milan, I see the BOPass doesn't cover all the way to Milan. In this case, do I buy the full ticket from Spiez to Milan?
Thanks for the video! For someone who live in Zurich, what is the best train pass for budget daily commuting for other cantons and inside the city? espeacily to use fastest trains