Interlaken

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

I would only stay 3 nights day there if I was going to the Wengen/Grindelwald/Jungfraujoch area. But remember that the railways there are not included in InterRail: [u]https://rail.cc/en/jungfraujoch/f1841[/u]

Maybe think about going via Bernina and Glacier Express routes instead: Milano - Ospizio Bernina - Pontresina - Andermatt - Göschenen - Bern/Zürich/Basel (whereever you are heading to): [u]https://rail.cc/en/bernina-express/f1749[/u] and [u]https://rail.cc/en/glacier-express/f1750[/u]


Flo 8)

TimeTraveller
Traveller
15 comments

That's brilliant flo thanks very much,I'l definitely look into that.just one more thing, could you recommend any hostels etc to stay in along the way, Switzerland seems to be by far the most expensive city I have come across so far. Thanks

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

I just came back from a trip along the route of Bernina Express. This time I stayed near the summit station at 2309m asl. Very nice to watch the sunrise there, you can have a bed for ~40€ there. I dont think that you will find much cheaper accomodation in this area...


Flo 8)

TimeTraveller
Traveller
15 comments

What was the name of the hostel and which town was it in? I just had a look on the website and it looks great. I will be looking to stay in switzerland for 3 nights from 21-24 July before getting a night train from zurich to hamburg

Thanks :)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

It was Albergo Ospizio Bernina. It is a short walk from the summit station, Ospizio Bernina. There, directly in the station you can stay as well for about the same money.

From Milano to Ospizio Bernina it is ~5h30. If you are there, you can have a nice walk along the railway, ie down to Alp Grüm station with fantastic views to Piz Bernina glacier and the Valposchiavo. Or go to Morteratsch glacier...just let me know if you need more tips.
Depending where you are heading afterwards, one night at the mountain could be enough. From Ospizio Bernina to Zürich it is ~4h30.

TimeTraveller
Traveller
15 comments

Finally decided upon two nights in zermatt. Looks like a nice place.

Thanks for all your help

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Remember that you only get a discounted ticket on the MGB (which is going to Zermatt) (for InterRail <26 only). What is your route now? :)

TimeTraveller
Traveller
15 comments

Im flying into Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Brussels-Bruge-Paris-Bordeaux-Biarritz -Madrid-Murcia-Valencia-Barcelona-Marseille-Nice-Pisa-Milan-Zermatt-Hamburg-Frankfurt-Munich-Venice-Ljubljana-Zagreb-Siofok-Budapest-Bratislava-Krakow (Fly Home)

Total cost for the trip is €8000. Including travel, accomodation, Food, Drink, Spending money, sight seeing tours etc

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Impressive! :)

My suggestions for going to/from Zermatt:

Milano - Como - Lugano - Locarno - Domodossola - Brig - Zermatt

Zermatt - Brig - Andermatt Göschenen - Zürich

TimeTraveller
Traveller
15 comments

I saw there is a train from Milan to Brig then i have to change trains to Zermatt. Is this a direct train or do i need to get off at all them stops.

Planning on zermatt for 2 nights then train to zurich for the day and get the night train to Hamburg.

Because the trip is so extensive i have booked all the hostels already so this is my definite journey plan. I have planned out how many nights in each city judging by things we want to do and nights out etc so were pretty content to have everything organised. I know some people say its best t go with the flow but i think were getting to see a lot of places over the summer so this way it takes a lot of the stress off and now we can really plan the exciting parts

:)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

The Milano - Brig train is an EC train with compulsory reservation (10€). The route I mentioned would take considerably longer but runs via scenic routes mostly. However the difficult part is the same on both routes: To cross the Italian-Swiss border without using an EC train with compulsory reservation as there are only few free regional trains between the two stations.

A possible route (directly to Brig, Zermatt) without having to pay for a reservation could be:

Milano Centrale 0805 - 0938 Domodossola
Domodossola 1014 - 1043 Brig
Brig 1053 - 1214 Zermatt :arr: train leaves at the station forecourt

The next connection would be:

Milano Centrale 1320 - 1502 Domodossola
Domodossola 1610 - 1639 Brig
Brig 1653 - 1814 Zermatt :arr: train leaves at the station forecourt

Connection including the Centovalli railway:

Milano Porta Garibaldi 1038 - 1143 Chiasso
Chiasso 1203 - 1256 Giubiasco
Giubiasco 1334 - 1357 Locarno
Locarno 1412 - 1555 Domodossola :arr: train leaves at the station forecourt
Domodossola 1610 - 1639 Brig
Brig 1653 - 1814 Zermatt :arr: train leaves at the station forecourt

The direct way from Zermatt to Zürich would be via Brig and Bern, taking 3h20. However, if you have time you could go via much more scenic routes, ie Brig - Goppenstein - Spiez - Interlaken - Meiringen - Luzern - Zürich or Brig - Andermatt - Göschenen - Arth-Goldau - Zürich.
The first detour would take ~ 7h20, running over the famous Lötschberg pass route, then along Lake Thun and Brienz, then via the Brünig Pass to Vierwaldstätter Lake and Luzern.
The second detour would take ~6h10, running along the route of Glacier Express, through the Teufelsschlucht between Andermatt and Göschenen and finally along the famous Gotthard pass route.

You wont need any reservations for the above mentioned routes, but you will need to get an extra ticket for the following parts (operated by MGB): Brig - Zermatt (17,50 CHF one way...); Brig - Andermatt - Göschenen (19,50 CHF one way)


Flo 8)

TimeTraveller
Traveller
15 comments

Think we will definitely take the scenic route,it looks amazing. I'm not pushed on seeing Zurich so it makes no difference when we arrive, literally only going there to get the night train. Thanks for everything you have made figuring out the trains so much easier. I have budgeted for around €100 extra for supplement charges so hopefully should be fine.

TimeTraveller
Traveller
15 comments

Flo,

Is it possible to get a direct train from Nice to Pisa?

Thanks :)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

No problem. ;)

Unfortunately there is no direct train from Nice to Pisa.

Nice Ville 0853 - 0942 Venitmiglia
Ventimiglia 0953 - 1309 Genova Brignole
Genova Brignole 1320 - 1459 La Spezia
La Spezia 1512 - 1624 Pisa

Completely without reservations. A similar connection would be Nice 1023 - 1824 Pisa, change in Ventimiglia and La Spezia.


Flo 8)

TimeTraveller
Traveller
15 comments

ah, knew the planning was going too good to be true. Long time travelling just for 1 night. Only reason we were going was to see the tower but may look for somewhere inbetween Nice and Milan for a stop over. Make things a little more easier.

As good as the trains are, you dont want to be spending your entire trip on them :)