Switzerland is a German Speaking country. And is one of the 26 Shengen Countries.
Our family Europe tour continued to Switzerland. We have traveled from Austria on 12 June 2013.
We came from Salzburg, traveled by train (railjet 32). The train departed at 8:02am.
waiting for the train
The travel from Salzburg to Feldkirch by train via Innsbruck was very scenic. I would be uploading to youtube the photos we have taken during the travel.
For our travel schedule, I read that the train would not go direct to Zurich. There would be a few transfers. We found it inconvenient with our 4 big luggage. So I just booked from Salzburg to Feldkirch and from Feldkirch, we would try to find a van to transfer us to the very first city of Switzerland that we would reach which is the city of Buch.
Luckily, Railjet 32, terminated at Feldkirch ,Austria though, there was a bus to take all the passengers going to Zurich. I have asked the conductor if we would be allowed to take the bus, our paid itinerary was up to Feldkirch only. He said we can if we are going to Zurich.
The bus stopped at Buch, Switzerland (the border). 2 or 3 officials boarded the bus and have checked if there were suspicious passenger(s). They asked 2 teens sat behind for their passports and failed to show. The teens were asked to get off the bus. At first, the teens were making excuse until one of the officials raised his voice. I felt so sorry for the kids. Probably they were running away and would like to live in Switzerland.
The bus terminated at Sargans, Switzerland station and advised us to take the regional train to Zurich which would take about an hour or more. I bought first our Swisspass in Sargans before we boarded the train to Zurich. We left Sargans around 1;45pm
ABOUT SWISS TRAVEL PASS
Exploring Switzerland has never been so easy! The Swiss Travel Pass is your all-in-one ticket to travel by rail, road and waterway throughout the whole of Switzerland. And it includes many bonus benefits. Enjoy total travel freedom – with just a single ticket.
Free travel on public transport in 75 towns and cities
Free admission to more than 480 museums
50% discount off most mountain railways
Children under the age of 16 travel free of charge when accompanied by at least one parent holding the Swiss Family Card
Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Travel Pass Youth are also available as print@home tickets
Only persons domiciled outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein are entitled to purchase this ticket
Swiss Travel Pass.
Validity: 3, 4, 8 or 15 consecutive days.
Swiss Travel Pass Flex.
The Swiss Travel Pass Flex is valid on a certain number of days within any given month.
Validity: any 3, 4, 8 or 15 days within a month.
You can obtain the Swiss Half Fare Card Combi as an additional card when you purchase a Swiss Travel Pass Flex or a Swiss Transfer Ticket. It costs CHF 60 and offers the same services as the Swiss Half Fare Card.
Swiss Travel Pass Youth and Swiss Travel Pass Flex Youth.
The Swiss Travel System also issues a special ticket for young travellers – the Swiss Youth Pass, which may be purchased by travellers aged under 26. It entitles the holder to the same advantages as the S Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex, but costs 15% less.
Validity: as with Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Travel Pass Flex.
Swiss Travel Pass
Consecutive travel days.
Adults.
2nd class
1st class
3 days
CHF 210
CHF 336
4 days
CHF 251
CHF 402
8 days
CHF 363
CHF 581
15 days
CHF 440
CHF 704
Swiss Travel Pass Youth
Young adults aged under 26.
2nd class
1st class
3 days
CHF 179
CHF 286
4 days
CHF 213
CHF 342
8 days
CHF 309
CHF 494
15 days
CHF 374
CHF 598
Children of age between 6 and 16 are free of charge with one accompanying parent.
We bought Swiss travel pass 2nd class Adults (2) and Youth (1).
For further info and updates, visit SBB site
http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
When we board the train to Zurich from Sargans, with our luggage, we just board on the very first car. We did not realize it was for 1st class passengers.
We have been sitting for more than half an hour when a lady went inside the carriage and checked our pass. She informed us that the carriage is for 1st class and our pass was 2nd class. We need to transfer. Goodness! what about our big stuff? The conductress was very kind and said to transfer to station where the train will take a little long. Most of the stop intervals take only 1 minute. A few are 2 minutes. so we have transferred on the 2 minutes interval.
I will show you on the next post the swiss transportation site I was visiting for our travel from one city/region to another. We had our lunch in Zurich and we walked around the old town. We left Zurich around 6pm to Lucerne. We have stayed in Lucerne for 3 nights.
Lake Lucerne is located in Central Switzerland and the 5th largest lake in the country. Lake Geneva is the largest.
Pilatus is a mountain overlooking Lucerne. It is composed of many summits, the highest is 2,128m.
Our Pilatus tour on 14 June 2013; we ascended by cable car and funicular, descended by cogwheel train and lake cruisin back to the city.
We have compiled the photos taken during the Pilatus tour to a video. Amazing views at the peak. Check it out.
Please check out the photos taken during our Pilatus tour compiled to a video. We ascended by cable car and funicular, descended by cogwheel train and cruise Lake Lucerne back to the city.
From Luzern, we took Trolley #1 or Bus No. 1 to Kriens
Kriens. we walked about 5 minutes to the Pilatus Bahn (Pilatus Station)
We purchased our round trip Pilatus tour: aerial cable cars and funicular to the top and cogwheel down to Alpnachstad and boat cruisin on Lake Lucerne to the City.
We paid 50% of the price, over 100chf, we had the 8 day Swiss Pass. We purchased our Swiss Pass at Sargans, Switzerland. It was cheaper compare if bought in your country as suggested by many.
Check these sites for the Pilatus tour prices and the Swiss Pass prices.
We took the Aerial Cable Car to Frakmuntegg enjoying the views changing from the ground to the green trees to the foggy/cloudy mountain,
Breathing and smelling clean fresh air
Farm cows?
Arrived at the Frakmuntegg station
walked around before we took the gondola. 2 more stations to the top
The next was really foggy, we were not able to try the toboggan.
Taking the panoramic gondola, views were really stunning!
Reached the Summit of Mount Pilatus, Lucerne, Switzerland
7000ft/2132m above sea level.
We were in a complete awe! Such an amazing place. We thought the best we have ever seen.
Snowy yet with sunlight.
Looking around, seeing everything as far as my eyes could see.
It would not be enough just to hear wonderful about this mountain. Not enough to just view shared photos and videos. Not enough to just read all the superlative descriptions. We had to see for ourselves if such were not exaggerations.
Standing on this heavenly like place, the very best still not enough to express our happiness. We were so glad and thankful we had the opportunity to see such a spectacular astounding creations.
We went inside the cave and it led us in this very picturesque view
Waiting for the cogwheel train. Our Pilatus tour was not yet over.
Descending on the World's steepest cogwheel railway to Alpnachstad.
Steep cliff and the train was very old.
Scenic Adventure with the top snow, then rock the green trees...
Arrived Alphachstad to transfer for a boat ride. We had arrived safely and each in one piece.
You could opt to start your cruise the other way round: cruise on Lake Lucerne, ascend by cogwheel: descend by the panoramic funicular and the aerial cable car to Kriens and take Trolley or Bus No. 1 back to the city.
Cruising Lake Lucerne, Switzerland for one hour to the city
Simply Fantastic! Splendid Alps, stunning view and amazing rides both ways.
Perfect views everywhere
We really had a blast! Such a wonderful scenic adventure
