Help...with deciphering all this ticket information

Tamarabm

Hello, We will be traveling to Switzerland in May. We want to take a train from Zurich HB to Interlaken. There is an abundant amount of information, which quite frankly has me spinning.
How do we purchase a simple round trip ticket for one day only via the train.
What site do we use? Do we just purchase our tickets? Nothing else?
Again, so many terms I am getting mixed up.
Can someone detail the steps here please. Grateful-
Thank you, Tamara

Danhiel

Tamarabm Hello,

You have following alternatives from Zurich to Interlaken:

— via Bern, with change at this station (IC 8) or without change (IC 81).

— via Luzern. This is a more scenic route with panoramic cars from Lucerne to Interlaken.

You could also make one way via Lucerne and one way via Bern. We cannot help you if we don’t know what route you prefer.

Have you already a fixed date for this trip or do you want decide at the last moment, depending on the weather?

RolandP

Hello Tamarabm

I wondered what you plan to do in Interlaken?

Kind regards,
Roland

RolandP

Hello Tamarabm

Well, Interlaken isn’t Swiss. It is a famous host to people from Asia and the Middle East, and therefore totally focussed on their needs; in Interlaken you will find a lot of Asian and Indian restaurants, it is perfect for these people. The Swiss would not visit it, yet use its Interlaken Ost station as a travel hub to arrive in the Jungfrau area.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/destinations/jungfrau-region/

You should go further up to Grindelwald or Mürren. Or boat trip on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz, as suggested by @Danhiel

Since the SBB Community is focussed on public transport advice, you might want to check the Tripadvisor’s Switzerland forum; there you will get a lot of advice from local experts about possible excursions: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g188045-i336-Switzerland.html

Here we remain at your disposal for ticket questions, for example.

Best wishes,
Roland

Tamarabm

Danhiel
Danhiel-
Hello, thank you for the reply. We arrive in Zurich from the USA on May 9th, late AM. I sure we will be jet lagged. So, we had planned on going to Interlaken on May 10th via the train. The Luzern way sounds awesome. With all the information there is out there, I was getting tripped up by buying more than we need for a one day adventure. Example: Euro pass, half -passes etc.
Is it a situation where we can go and get tickets on the day we prefer, or is this not advised? Meaning if weather was bad on May 10th, we could go on May 11th?
Also, do I book the train on Rail Europe or another site?
Thank you for your assistance. It is so appreciated.
BTW are you from Switzerland? or a fellow traveler?
Tamara

Tamarabm

RolandP

Roland-
We have never been there, so open to anything likely suggested. Having a local person, inform us would be very beneficial.
Thank you,
Tamara

Danhiel

Tamarabm Hello Tamara,

I’m from Switzerland.

You have two type of tickets:

— Saver Day Passes, who are not refundable and not exchangeable. If you buy such tickets, it is not possible to travel another day. You have to buy these tickets in advance to obtain the best price. The actual prices are 70 CHF in 2nd class and 88 CHF in 1st class and you can take every train/bus/boat in Swizterzland on the chosen date, except some mountains excursions. Be sure to select “Full Price without the Half Fare Travelcard”:

https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/day-passes/saver-day-pass.html

You could also take a boat from Brienz to Interlaken or from Interlaken to Thun.

— Normal Point-to-Points Tickets. They are refundable until the day before departure, but you can also buy the tickets at the ticket office or at a vending machine in Switzerland, the price will be the same. The prices for one way via Lucerne and one way via Bern only with the train are 126 CHF in 2nd class and 216 CHF in 1st class.

Let me know if something is not clear or if you want more informations.

Daniel

Krist

Are you going to Interlaken to stay there?

What are your plans there? Interlaken itself does not have a lot to keep you busy, You can see the town in half an hour. People go to Interlaken on their way to somewhere else.

Basically the default way of going about train travel is just: Go to station. Buy ticket. Get on train. If you plan on doing a day return you can buy a return ticket, which is twice the price of a single. If you plan on doing a lot of train travel you can buy a reduction card or a pass to reduce the cost, but that requires an up front investment.

We can advise you on that, but need a bit more background on your plans and interests.

Tamarabm

Krist
Krist-
Thank you for responding. This is great information. This is our first trip going to Switzerland. We fly into Zurich. I am really open to any suggestions. We didn’t want to fly, then again the next day go for a 8-12 hour trip to the Swiss Alps. I am open to any suggestions for doing something fun for a day, or part of a day? It sounds like not much to see or do in Interlaken?
Something else you might recommend?
Tamara

Tamarabm

Krist
Krist-
I should have mentioned there are 3 of us traveling together, in my family all adults.
I wanted to get a real experience of being in Switzerland. Does this make sense.
Thank you again
Tamara

Tamarabm

Danhiel
Danhiel-
It is apparent buying the saver day pass, is the best price vs. the normal point-to-point ticket. However, as you mentioned you have to stay with that date.
General question- if you were coming into Zurich and you had really 2 days in Switzerland, what would be the some of the coolest things to see or do? I wanted to see the Swiss Alps, but did not want a 8-12 hour commitment of time. Maybe taking a boat out,?
Thank you again for responding and helping us.
Tamara

Danhiel

Tamarabm A mountain excursion with a rack railway, who is included in the Saver Day Pass, is the Rigi (altitude 1797 m).

A suggestion: Zurich - Lucerne - boat - Vitznau - Rigi - Arth-Goldau - Zurich (about 5 hours, but you can make stops).

Tamarabm

Danhiel
Danhiel-
You have been a huge help I am going to Lucerne via train and then pick up an excursion to Mt. Rigi to Mineral Spa. I was able to find some excursions on line.
The whole plan has changed, thanks to you! I was told by another person not much to see or do in Interlaken.
Thank you again for taking your time to help me.
Now, I have to purchase the saver day pass, yes? to get to Lucerne.
Tamara

Danhiel

Tamarabm I think that to buy a Saver Day Pass now is the best choice and you are free to change your program later if you have another idea.