Swiss pass and Eurail Global Pass

  • 24 January 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 130 views

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Hi I have a couple of questions and would be grateful for any advice:   On 9 May I will be travelling around Italy - Cinque Terre 5 days, Milan to Dolomites and back then crossing from Milan into Switzerland.    On 29 May, I am training from Milan to Lucerne for one night (30th May).  I will go up to Mt Pilatus.   Bern for 3 nights (31,1,2 June), walking, visiting museums.  I intend training on one of my Bern base days, to Grindelwald to do Junfraujoch, then back to Bern.  I will then train out of Switzerland (3 June) to Aix en Provence in France.  I will stay in France until 27 June (but for 12 days I will be doing a course and not using any trains) - so my questions are:  1.  is this cost effective to purchase a Swiss pass for the above Switzerland section, as I will be holding a Eurail pass during this time.  2.  When catching a train from Milan to Lucerne, is this a Eurail pass day, or a Swiss pass day?     Grateful for guidance     


4 replies

Userlevel 7
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As you have a Eurail pass there is no need to buy a Swiss pass. There are some differences between the passes, but if you have a valid Eurail pass for the time you spend in Switzerland I see no need for you to buy a Swiss pass. 

 

Userlevel 7
Badge +5

NOne of the 2 will be valid south of Interlkn-and this sector is by far the most costly in the whole of Swiss. SwissPass gives a higher discount though. Pilatus is also out of pass-use. As are all these gohighupthemountains lines that do not really serve villages where people live.

But in general as you also intend to make longer and more trips out of Swiss, a global pass cannot be beaten-as otherwise the diff in price between f.e. 5 and 7 days is so small. Good luck with making the REServ!

Mil-Lzn would be on global, with Swiss Pass you would also need to pay till border=Chiasso, cheap on local train (then change there) but as this is often too daunting for outcontinentals as Kiwi, also pay the 11€ extra for the suplmt RES. In fact, as if by magic and without repainting and to utter surprise of those who believe in companies: on the border this train officially also chnages from trenItalia into SBB.

HInt: IF willing to change a few more and spend more time in train, you can reach AePr from Swiss on local FR TER-trains, via Lyon-Marseille, so without any RES. There are also TGV superfast trains, from LYon, some of these serve a station also named AePr but that is very far out of that town, aimed at superfast cars to park. IF you have more time< i would suggest to also visit Avignon on those lines.

Userlevel 7
Badge +8

NOne of the 2 will be valid south of Interlkn-and this sector is by far the most costly in the whole of Swiss.

Please check the facts before posting. A Swiss Pass is valid to Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren.

SwissPass gives a higher discount though.

Discount on the Jungfraujochbahn is 25%.

Pilatus is also out of pass-use. As are all these gohighupthemountains lines that do not really serve villages where people live.

Many only have a discount, but Rigi is included in Swiss Pass.

Userlevel 7
Badge +8

Here you have a detailed comparison of different ways to get discounts on travels in Switzerland. The Eurail pass is not included though as the article is about travels within Switzerland. 

https://olliechinny.com/swiss-travel-pass-2022/

 

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