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Eu rail Geneva to Prague planning

  • 24 March 2024
  • 3 replies
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  • Rail rookie
  • 1 reply

HI,

This is our itinerary for a family of 3 adults and a child.

Aug 11: Geneva-Interlaken 

Aug 12: Interlaken -Zurich

Aug 14: Zurich -Salzburg

Aug 16: Salzburg-VIenna

Aug 19: Vienna -Prague

4 questions:

  1. Is a 7 day Eu-rail the right choice or something less is possible?
  2. Best option for Jungfraujoch -is that train from Interlaken and is this covered by Eurail pass?
  3. Is reservation necessary on any route during this time which is peak summer?
  4. Wondering if a rental car is an option on any part of this itinerary for more flexibility. I suspect eurail pass will be less expensive but please suggest. 
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Best answer by Hektor 24 March 2024, 17:24

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3 replies

HI,

This is our itinerary for a family of 3 adults and a child.

Aug 11: Geneva-Interlaken 

Aug 12: Interlaken -Zurich

Aug 14: Zurich -Salzburg

Aug 16: Salzburg-VIenna

Aug 19: Vienna -Prague

4 questions:

  1. Is a 7 day Eu-rail the right choice or something less is possible?

You’d need 5 travel days for this; but if you’d like to go to Jungfraujoch with pass reduction, you’d need one more day. But there’s no six day pass. But you may book regular tickets for the cheapest trip and buy a 5 day pass (e.g. Salzburg to Wien is available for less than 20 € per person if booked early / right now).

Maybe good to know: Even the boat trips on both lakes at Interlaken are included with your railpass (travel day needed); it would even be possible to go part of your way to / from Interlaken by boat.

Another suggestion: For a much better travel experience, go from Genf to Interlaken via Zweisimmen and from Interlaken to Zürich via Luzern. 

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  2. Best option for Jungfraujoch -is that train from Interlaken and is this covered by Eurail pass?

Your pass is valid from Interlaken to Wengen on one side or Grindelwald on the other. You do need a ticket from there but you’d get 25% reduction (travel day needed). Be aware that it is a very expensive trip (expect about 550 $ depending on time / age).

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  3. Is reservation necessary on any route during this time which is peak summer?

It’s not mandatory, but with 4 persons I assume it would be nice to sit together at a table for 4 so it might be a good idea for Zürich to Salzburg, Salzburg to Wien (but there is a very frequent service with three to four trains per hour) and Wien to Praha. It’s not really necessary in Switzerland (especially if you should go 1st class).

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  4. Wondering if a rental car is an option on any part of this itinerary for more flexibility. I suspect eurail pass will be less expensive but please suggest. 

Really no need to get one for this trip. Your railpass does give you flexibility and on most of your itinerary there is a frequent train service straight to the city center.

Thanks! So I think what you mean is do a 5-day pass, maybe book the Salzburg to Vienna as a regular ticket so don't use the pass here, but a more cost-effective option is, instead use the 5th day of the pass for Interlaken to Wengen. Right? 

Exactly. You’d need an active travel day also to get the reduction for the Jungfraujoch trip, not just to go to Wengen. 

As of today, Wien to Praha would be the cheapest part (available from 14,30 € per person 2nd class).

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