Yes the journey by train from Zurich to Wengen requires three connections, but this is Switzerland so all the transfers (in terms of timings) are as simple as can be.
Also the final three journeys are all absolutely glorious.
Changing trains in: Bern and Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen
Interlaken is where the network of mountain railways in the Bernese-Oberland connect with SBB's national rail network.
However, a quirk of the Swiss rail timetable is that there are no direct trains between Zurich and Interlaken.
Changing trains in Bern:
Take the trains from Zurich heading to Brig and then at Bern station the connecting time between trains will be around around 6 mins, but the connection can be virtually guaranteed.
On arrival at Bern station the easiest means of transferring to the platform/track/gleis that the train on to Interlaken will be departing from, is to use the bridge which spans the station
If you board the train to Bern around three - six coaches back from the front of the train, you will then be adjacent to this bridge when you disembark from the train on arrival at Bern.
Changing trains at Interlaken Ost station:
You will have around 8 mins to make the connection into the train on to Lauterbrunnen at Interlaken Ost station, but again the connection is virtually guaranteed; in terms of the arrival and departure times of the trains.
You can be sure of making this connection, if you book tickets that are valid for the end-to-end journey.
Eight minutes may not be enough time to buy a ticket for the journey on to Wengen (via Lauterbrunnen) from the ticket desks at Interlaken Ost station.
Though if you will be travelling with any type of rail pass, including Swiss Day Passes, you'll also need to go into the ticket office, to buy a discounted ticket for the journey on from Interlaken to Wengen.
Then the connection at Lauterbrunen into the train on Wengen is a simple as can be.
1 x connection per hour
The alternative route via Luzern:
If you have a valid rail pass, an alternative, more scenic, but longer option, is to travel to Interlaken from Zurich via Luzern.
Booking Tickets:
Tickets can be purchased online for this end-to-end journey which involve taking a SBB trains to Interlaken + the trains on to Wengen.
‘Individual tickets’ can be used on any train(s) on your travel date, but they tend to be comparatively expensive.
Supersaver tickets are cheaper, the portion of the journey by the SBB train can be discounted by up to 50%, but these tickets are train departure specific.
Though if you book a Supersaver ticket and a flight delay etc, causes you to miss a train you are booked on to, you will have to book another full-price ‘Individual Ticket(s).
You can then apply for a refund of the Supersaver ticket, but the application costs CHF 10.
Using Saver Day Passes:
Now that the Swiss Transfer tickets have been discontinued a Saver Day Pass may save you money, if you can book at least a couple of weeks ahead (usually), so that you can obtain the pass at a discounted price.
They can be cheaper than tickets for the end-to-end journey, though they are more likely to be a money saver if you will be making a day return trip.
However, this journey to Wengen can be an exception.
These passes allow for free travel on;
But on;
Though a plus of the Saver Day Pass is that they are not train specific, so can still be used in the event of a journey to Switzerland being delayed.
As they’re only valid for one day’s travel, the clue is the name, you’ll need to purchase another Saver Day Pass for your return journey.
Though they also need to be booked at least a day ahead of your travel date, so won't be an option if you book tickets at the station on arrival in Switzerland.
They're also cheaper the further ahead that you book.
However, if you will be making a day return trip from Zurich to Wengen, it's likely that that a Saver Day Pass will be cheaper than booking tickets for the outward AND return journeys.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
SBB | * | |
Trainline | * | |
Omio | * | |
Happyrail | * |
These are the express IC trains which are non-stop from Zurich to Bern.
So target these trains and avoid the slower alternative service of IR trains - particularly if you will be travelling with a rail pass.
Final Destination: Geneve-Aeroport (on route IC 1) or Brig (on route IC 8)
The double deck SBB IC trains are used on this route; the brand new LD/Twindexx trains should now be operating on some departures that are heading towards Geneve.
From Zurich HB station:
These IC trains usually depart from gleis (platforms/tracks) 31 and 32 in the lower level part of the station.
Note that these trains should arrive in Zurich HB station around 7 mins before they are due to depart, so keep an eye on the departure time and don't rush to board by the nearest door (if you don't have to)
From Zurich Flughafen/Airport:
These trains depart from Zurich Flughafen/Airport station 11 mins before they depart from the city centre station; Zurich HB.
Final Destination: Interlaken Ost
The single deck IC trains are used for these journeys; along with some ICE trains that will have commenced their journeys in Germany.
This is a journey that saves the best until last!
There are lovely views over Lake Thun from the left of the train, when facing the direction of travel, between Thun and Spiez stations.
Then for the final 15 mins of the journey, after departure from Spiez, the train descends down to travel right by the shore of the Thunersee.
Final Destination: Lauterbrunnen
At Interlaken Ost station the train heading to Lauterbrunnen will be joined to another train heading to Grindelwald for the first part of the journey.
So take care to join the right part of the train; on the newer BOB trains, the destinations are on the outside of the coaches.
Don't be overly concerned about this as the conductor will pass through the train to check tickets and they will tell you if you need to move coaches.
All trains also call at: Wilderswill for connection into the SPB trains to Schynige Platte.
On this route the best views are on the right as the train passes through the valley after Wilderswill station, but this is a pleasant rather than particularly special journey.
Final destination: Kleine Scheidegg
For most of the journey from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen the best of the views are on the left; the train runs along the side of a valley wall, so the views over the valley are on that side.
However, we were sat on the right as SMTJ was travelling down to Lauterbrunnen in the opposite dirction , so the images are from that side of the train; and as can be seen the views down the valley towards the beginning and end of the trip are rather fabulous, regardless of which side of the train your seated!
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This is one of more than 1000 journey guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.