Holiday in Bern by train

Thanks to its status as the Swiss capital, Bern is inevitably a key bub of the Swiss rail network.

So there are two very good reasons for choosing the city as a base for exploring Switzerland by train:

1. Exceptionally easy access to a multitude of highly scenic locations with transfers available to Swiss mountain railways.
2. Bern is Switzerland's most beautiful large city, it's large old town area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - so it's also a lovely location in which to spend time between rail journeys.

Though if you're wondering where to holiday in Switzerland and are considering Luzern and Interlaken, then as can be seen below, Bern can be a great compromise.

A multitude of popular destinations are within easy reach of Bern by train:

• Luzern in 61 minutes
• Interlaken in under an hour
• Visp; connect for Zermatt; in under an hour
• Brig; connect for the MGB route to Andermatt; in 1hr 5mins
• Lausanne in under an hour
• La Chaux de Fonds in 1hr 5mins
• Neuchatel in under 35 mins
• Zweisimmen; connect for Montreux via Gstaad; in under 1hr 20mins
• Chur in 3hr 5min

With so many routes converging on Bern, along with its location in central Switzerland, the city particularly lends itself to using rail passes on multi-train day trips through the mountains.

If your must do list for a Swiss holiday includes both the railways and cable cars to the south of Interlaken, plus the MOB route to Montreux, a Berner-Oberland Pass could be a money saver - particularly if you'd rather stay in Bern than Interlaken.

Though Interrail passes for Switzerland and Swiss Travel Passes with their scope for cross-country exploration can be put to particularly good use on epic, but easy day trips from and to Bern.
Or if you will be exploring Europe with a Eurail pass(es) then Bern can be a good choice for making the most of Switzerland during your multi-country adventure

If you'll only want to make one or two of these longer day trips by train from Bern, you can also save by using Saver Day Passes.

Note that some of the itineraries below have connecting time between trains of 10 mins or less, but this is Switzerland, so it's highly likely that it won't be a problem.
I know this from personal experience, I took the pictures and captured the videos on my travels.

This is a day of travel on multiple trains, but don't be daunted, as making the connections couldn't be simpler.
Also this core routing is fully covered by multiple rail passes; InterRail, Eurail, Berner Oberland Passes, Swiss Travel Passes and Saver Day Passes.

(1) In most hours of the morning an IC express train will depart Bern for Interlaken Ost, though there is usually a gap between 08:34 and 10:04.

Sit on the right when facing the direction of travel in order to experience the wonderful views over Lake Thun; the train will reverse direction on departure from Bern station.

(2) Every 30 mins trains heading to Lauterbrunnen will depart from Interlaken Ost, the railway will follow a valley carved by a river, which is charming, but it isn't exceptionally scenic.
On this day of travels the best is very much still to come.

(3) What's relatively new is that InterRail, Eurail, Berner Oberland Passes, Swiss Travel Passes and Saver Day Passes all now cover the stunning journey on from Lauterbrunnen on to Wengen.

Travelling beyond Wengen is comparatively expensive, as the the only type of rail pass which covers the route on to Kleine Scheidegg is the Jungfrau Travel Pass.
Though sitting on the other side of the train for the return journey back to Lauterbrunnen is a rather fabulous option.

(4) On arrival back in Lauterbrunnen the next stage of the trip is to cross the street in order to board the BLM cable car up to the station named, Grütschalp.

From here you can ride the train on a return trip along its stunning journey along the mountain ledge to and from Murren.

And then ride the cable car back down to Lauterbrunnen in order to make the return back to Bern.

The entire round trip between Lauterbrunnen and Murren is also covered by InterRail, Eurail, Berner Oberland Passes, Swiss Travel Passes and Saver Day Passes.

Extending the trip

When following the above itinerary at a casual pace you can be back in Bern around 6 hours after heading off, so if you leave in the mid-morning there will be time to enhance the day with further travels.

Four ideas for how to do this:

1: When you get back to Interlaken Ost instead of boarding a train back to Bern, take the train to Luzern.

2. Instead of taking the train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen to connect for Wengen, the alternative is to take a train from Interlaken Ost to the station named Grindelwald Terminal and making the transfer there in order to ride the Maenlichen cable car route to Wengen.
   The cable car is fully covered by a Berner Oberland Pass, but holders of Swiss Travel Passes and Saver Day Passes need to pay 50% of the ticket price.
   Though it's a more expensive option for those using Eurail and Interrail passes as they only receive a 25% discount on the cable car.

3. Or make the transfer at Grindelwald Terminal to take the Eiger Express cable car.
   Then ride to Wengen by changing trains at Kleine Scheidegg
   Though this will add to the cost of the day, as the five rail passes which cover the rest of the day's itinerary only give a 25% discount on this route between Grindelwald Terminal and Wengen.

4: Riding the cable car between Murren and Schilthorn
The cable car is fully covered by a Berner Oberland Pass, but holders of Swiss Travel Passes and Saver Day Passes need to pay 50% of the ticket price.
Though it's a more expensive option for those using Eurail and Interrail passes as they only receive a 25% discount on the cable car.

Luzern / Lucerne is only an hour from Bern by IR train.
Then on arrival there will be multiple fabulous options for taking scenic journeys in the area around the city.

(1) a round trip to Mt Rigi

• take the train on to Arth-Goldau
• ride the train up to Rigi-Kulm station
• taking the train down to Vitznau
• a cruise across the lake back to Luzern station

The journeys up and down Rigi and the lake boat is fully covered by Swiss Travel Passes and Saver Day Passes, though users of Interrail and Eurail passes need to pay 50% of the ticket cost.

(2) A round trip to Pilatus can be taken in you will be in Bern between mid May and late November.
Holders of Eurail, InterRail, Swiss Travel and Saver Day Passes can ride the world's steepest cog railway at a 50% discount.

(3) Or take a train to Schwyss to connect with bus line 501, in order to access the base station of the Stoosbahn, the world's steepest funicular.
The ride on the funicular is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day pass, and there's 50% discount for Eurail and Interrail users.

(4) Take a train to Engelberg in order to ride the amazing rotating cable car up Mt Titlis.
The train to Engelbeg is fully covered by all of the rail passes, but on the cable car the Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Passes and the Berner Oberland Pass provide a 50% discount, but users of Eurail and Interrail passes only qualify for a 25% discount.

The alternative route to Luzern

If you take a morning fast IR train to Luzern (Berner Oberland Pass users can only only take the slower route via Langnau), the rest of the day can be dedicated to being wowed by a choice of two of the above suggested trips, they'll each take around 4 to 5 hours.

Though there is a much more scenic route from Bern to Luzern, which is to take a train to Interlaken Ost to connect into a Zentralbahn (ZB) Express on to Luzern - typical departure times from Bern are 08:04; 10:04 and 11:04.

This route is fully covered by Swiss Travel, Berner Oberland, Eurail, Interrail and Saver Day Passes and the journey to Luzern will take around 2hr 50mins, more than enough time to take in at least one of the excursions mentioned above.

Though between mid May and late October there is an option of breaking the Interlaken to Luzern section of the journey in Brienz so that the very special ride behind a steam train can be taken up Mt Rothhurn.

Though it's an expensive option for Eurail and Interrail users as those passes don't provide for a discount, but Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day Pass users can go for half price and its fully covered by Berner Oberland passes.

Whether or not you opt to ride a Golden Pass Express train this is a stunning and easy day trip from Bern by train.

If you do want take a Golden Pass Express it's best to make the most of the experience by taking a train from Bern to Interlaken where it will begin its journey, despite the option to take a short-cut and make the connection at Spiez instead.
Connecting trains typically depart Bern at 10:04 and 13:04

If you want to take the cheaper option and hop on and off the regular* trains on the route - all of which are fully covered by Eurail, Interrail, Swiss Travel and Saver Day passes, making the detour to Interlaken will give the opportunity to take in the stunning views of the Thunersee.

Though when taking the regular* trains there is also the option of taking a direct train from Bern to Zweisimmen where the connection can be made into MOB trains for the wonderful ride on to Montreux.

*= some departures on from Zweisimmen will be by Belle-Epoque or Panoramic trains, but it makes no difference to how rail passes can used.

The scenic highlights of the day aren't over after arrival in Montreux, it's only a comparatively short ride on to Lausanne, but for most of the journey the railway is beside Lake Geneva - sit on the left for the views.

There will be two trains per hour that can be taken to return to Bern from Lausanne, though take a seat on the right, ideally on the upper deck.
As some of the best views that can be seen from any Swiss train can be taken in, as the railway climbs up through the vineyards away from the Lake Geneva shore.

Wonderful Zermatt is an easy day trip from Bern, with only one simple connection required in Visp.
In the mornings one or two departures per hour are available to Visp all of which have convenient connections on to Zermatt and the end-to-end journey will take less than 2hr 15mins - It's also fully covered by Eurail, Interrail, Swiss Travel and Saver Day passes.

Sit on the left when facing the direction of travel on departure from Bern, the train will reverse direction on leaving Bern station, and
ideally head to the upper deck of the train.
You'll then be able to make the most of the views over the Thunersee which can be seen after departing from Thun.

Though most of the scenic highlights of the journey occur when riding the train between Visp and Zermatt.

After arrival in Zermatt the dramatic views of the day can be amplified by taking a ride on the Gornergratbahn with it's views of the Mattherhorn, on route to Europe's highest open air station.
Though doing so will add to the rail travel costs of the day as Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day Pass users can ride it with a 50% discount, but Eurail and Interral passes aren't valid at all.

Though there is also an option of packing more scenic views into the day, which is fully covered by those rail passes.

As an alternative to boarding an IC train to Visp at Bern station, instead take one of the hourly Lotschberger (RE) trains to Brig - as they still take the amazing 'classic' route via Kandersteg; the video was taken on a train travelling in the opposite direction

A train on Zermatt will typically be scheduled to depart around 6 mins after arrival in Brig.

This is a day dedicated to the journeys and not the locations, so it's a good to buy picnic items from one of the stores in Bern station before heading off.
It's also easier than it will seem, plus the entire looped route that you'll be following is fully covered by Eurail, Interrail, Swiss Travel and Saver Day Passes.

(1) Leave Bern on the train to Luzern which typically departs at 10:00.

(2) Then around 15 mins after arriving in Luzern take the train which will be heading to Locarno; There are wonderful views from both sides during this journey, but if you sit on right you can see view over the Luzernsee and the Lauerzersee.

Though south of here the best is yet to come as the train will take the older 'classic' Gotthard route - which the fast trains miss because they dive into the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

(3) Leave the train at Göschenen to connect into the short, but spectacular journey on to Andermatt.

(4) Around 30 mins after arriving in Andermatt a train will depart on the third incredible journey of the day, on towards Brig - sit on the left

The majority of the best of the views are on the left and pretty much the entire two hour journey to Brig is scenic

(5) A train which will take the fantastic Lotschberger route back to Bern will be departing Brig only 3 mins after the scheduled arrival of the train from Andermatt.
However, there's no need to rush, as another Lotschberger (IR) train to Brig via Kandersteg will be departing an hour later; and this later train will return you to Bern by 18:30.
So an easier option is to take time between trains in Brig for a coffee, beer, ice cream etc.

There will be alternative fast IC trains departing for Bern, but the recommendation is to hang back for the IR train - it's worth the wait!

St Moritz is more than 300km from Bern by train, but recent changes on the Swiss rail timetable has made it easier to take the top contender for Switzerlands' most iconic rail route - the Albula railway between Chur and St Moritz, pictured above.
Plus the entire route is covered by Eurail, Interrail, Swiss Travel passes and Saver Day passes.

There are now hourly direct trains from Bern to Chur, which arrive in Chur around 10 mins before the departure of a Rhaetian Railway train on to St Moritz.

The train from Bern will reverse direction on departure from Zurich, so sit on the right when boarding, as the highlights on the on the part of the route after Zurich are on the left.

On the fantastic return trip between Chur and St Moritz, it's a nice idea to sit on the left in both directions so that you can then see the views on both sides.

In particular sit on the left with your back to the direction of the travel, so that you can appreciate the wow moment of the day!

On Monday to Friday if you depart Bern shortly after 09:30, you'll be in St Moritz before 15:00 (3pm), with time for a coffee etc before boarding a train from St Moritz shortly after 16:00 - the connections will then return you to Bern before 21:30.
Or you can leave Bern an hour earlier and spend more than two hours in St Moritz, or take an earlier train from St Moritz.

Though if you can make the journey at a weekend you can save an hour of travel time, as there will be an IC train to Chur which will leave Bern around 09:30; with a connection that will bring you to St Moritz before 14:00.