Booking a ticket from Geneve Airport to Zermatt

We're arriving at Geneve Airport on 1 Jun 1345 ETA. We're planning to head straight to Zermatt. Is it necessary for us to book the train tickets prior to arrival? Or it is ok to purchase the tickets when we're at the Airport?

Is it necessary for us to book the train tickets prior to arrival?

No.

Or it is ok to purchase the tickets when we're at the Airport?

Yes.

Thanks for the reply. Will 3 nights in Zermatt excessive considering my ETA to Zermatt will be late in the evening for the 1st night?

If I understand correctly, you want to know when you're arriving in Zermatt after connecting by train from Geneva. There are seven (7!) possible connections on June 1 after your ETA (for non-airliners: ETA = Estimated Time of Arrival), the earliest possible one (however a little tight) leaving at 14:27 (arriving 18:14) and the latest possible one leaving at 19:47 (arriving at 23:44). For your personal schedule as well as ticket prices, click here. Three nights in Zermatt are by far not excessive - you could easily spend one or two weeks and still not have done all the attractions this Swiss gem has to offer.

Many thanks. Actually I'm from Singapore and planning a holiday to Swiss from 1 Jun to 16 Jun. My itenaries are free. I've been to Swiss in Dec 09 and visited Appenzeller Land, Luzern, Interaken (unfortunately trip up to the top was not done due to bad weather) and Mt Rigi (lovely place for hiking). I'm travelling with my wife n daughter and we moved around with rented car.

Any good recommdation for this time round? I'm thinking of Montreux, La Gruyere, Berne, Thun, Zermatt and some french land like Yvoire and Chamonix.

Hi again. Had I known that you fly in from Singapore and that you have two weeks in Switzerland (please don't use Swiss+, this is the name of the national air carrier), I would have adviced differently. Considering what you already have seen, I suggest to do the +Southern Loop of Switzerland:

Start with one night in Montreux. Reason: You'll be jet-lagged, overnighting in Zermatt right after arrival might result in not being able to sleep due to its altitude - something people living at sea level are not aware of.
Then do Montreux - Zermatt. Go up to Gornergrat and Kleinmatterhorn. If you have seen these, you won't need to see Jungfraujoch anymore. Hike.
Zermatt - Brig - Simplon pass (by postal coach) - Domodossola - (Centovalli) - Locarno. This is Switzerland's Florida.
Locarno - Lugano - Sondrio - Bernina Express - St. Moritz. Hike, hike, hike...
St. Moritz - Zurich. Overnight or go on to Berne, Switzerland's capital.
Berne - Thun - Spiez - Zweisimmen - Montreux (Golden Pass Route) - Lausanne - Geneva.

This takes some careful planning, it's however going to be something that you won't forget so quickly. All can be done by public transport, a car is definitely of no use for this itinerary. You may think about buying a travel pass which makes travelling a bit less expensive.

Forget about France, it's too much, too complicated to be added here. Come back later :-)

You can easily visit Gruyeres medieval town/castle cheese diary anc Broc chocolate works Thursday June 2nd as a day trip from Montreux, either individually (requires some planning, because of the different openign hours of the sites and the local transport between Broc and Gruyeres) or as an organized trip by panoramic train: http://www.goldenpass.ch/CMS/default.asp?ID=414

tyongchi: Sure enough could you do the Chocolate Train as neckervd suggested. To understand slightly better, here is the link to the English language contents of the suggested website. BTW: The mountain behind Gruyères is not called Toblerone :-) If you get my joke...?

So many places to go but yet so little time. Lol, I've reviewed my itinerary (for the first half) and appreciate your comment.

1 Jun - Arrival at Geneva and head straight to Zermatt. ETA at Zermatt around 1900 hrs. Stay in Zermatt for 3 nights.
4 Jun - Head for St. Moritz via Glacier Express. ETA around 1800 hrs. Stay 2 nights (or is 1 night sufficient?)
6 Jun - Head for Tirano via Bernina Express. Stay 2 nights (or is 1 night sufficient?)
8 Jun - Head for Chur via Bernian Express again. Stay 2 nights in Chur.
10 Jun ..... not decided yet. I'm thinking of picking up a car and do the rest of the trip on wheels. Places include Bern, Montreux, Gruyeres.

I'll probably get the Swiss Flexi Saver pass.

Thanks again for your advice.

Why backtracking? Additionally, there is nothing to be seen in Tirano or Chur. The route I gave you above is avoiding exactly this, you leave out the spectacular train ride acrross lovely Centovalli (= hundred valleys). Please don't rent a car, you'll have plenty of hassle parking it in Berne and Montreux.

I love to see the the Centovalli. But I am concern on the transfer from Zermatt to Domodossola via the Simplon Pass and Lucarno to Sondrio as we have 2 large luggages to manage.

There shouldn't be any luggage problems. The bus over the Simplon Pass accepts even bikes. There will be enough space in the Centovalli train too. The distance between the platforms of the Simplon bus and the Zermatt resp Centovalli railway is not more than 200 metres (less if you don't sit in the last wagon of the Zermatt train).
Lugano - Bernina Express: there is a direct bus (with enough luggage space!) between Lugano railway station (dp 10.00) and Tirano Bernina Express station (ar 13.00).

You're not the only one travelling with large suitcases. Trolleys that can carry your luggage are to be found at train and coach stations, there is enough room in trains and coaches for luggage. Think it over if you want to spoil your own trip because of an issue that isn't really one. This is to be meant friendly.

Edit: Oops, neckervd beat me :-)

Thanks to a_p and neckervd for advice. I will rethink my intinerary and include Centovalli.

Would I miss anything if I skip Glacier Express according to a_p suggested itinerary?

Would I miss anything if I skip Glacier Express

Not really. The most spectacular part of the Glacier Express is part of your St. Moritz - Zurich journey - only in the opposite direction. Additionally, Bernina Express is simply the best of scenic trains , believe me. Alltogether you have decided to do the ultimate combination of train routes one can do in Switzerland (and it even includes two excursions to Italy).

I'm little confused for the Zermatt -> Simplon Pass -> Domodossola. I checked the sbb.ch and was given direct train route which I believe is not the one u r refering to.

So I embark the train at Zermatt, disembark at Brig and transfer to Domodossola via bus, then take the centovalli train to Lucarno? (ZERMATT - DOMODOSSOLA via BRIG - BUS PAG - ISELLE DI TRASQUERA from sbb.ch - is this the one?).

So I embark the train at Zermatt, disembark at Brig and transfer to Domodossola via bus, then take the centovalli train to Lucarno?

That is absolutely correct! You see, little by little, you understand the Swiss and Italian geography :-)

BTW: There is indeed a tunnel under the Simplon pass (Brig - Iselle), but I would for obvious reasons not have recommended you to use it.

Now, what's your next question?

No. There are only 3 connections via Simplon Pass: Zermatt dp 7.39, 8.39, 10.39 - Brig dp 9.18, 10.18, 12.18 - Domodossola ar 11.00, 12.00, 14.00
Dp from Domodossola to Locarno: 11.25, 14.05, 15.25 (ZERMATT - LOCARNO
via VISP - BRIG - BUS PAG - DOMODOSSOLA).
Standard fare Zermatt - Locarno 113 CHF, with Swiss Half Fare Card 56.50 CHF, with Swiss Pass free.
Bus timetable: http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_pdf_fields/2011/12.631.pdf

Thanks for all the help. As a first timer, it's really challenging to mind thru' all the info available in the Internet. I'm used to Europe travel by car (being to some parts of Germany, Belgium, France and Austria via car), but for commuting by public transport network is a new area for me.

You're welcome. You're going to make a very pleasant experience if you travel by train. Last remark (for the moment...?): Please report back so that the community knows how your trip turned out to be.

Certain will. Btw, is there pdf or alike files where I can download for info on train timings and fares? I'm currently using sbb.ch search to work on the timing which is a little cumbersome (damn ie9 can't load the flash pages properly at times).

http://www.sbb.ch/en/ usually works fine. I get timetables with no or only 1 via in about 5 seconds and fares in 10 seconds.

You may also load down copies of the printed timetables (best way to get to timetables of lake and river boats as well as cableways): http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/
Enter the name of a train or bus stop (consult http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/fileadmin/pdf/STS-GB-M-11-DE-WEB.pdf) and you will get the links to all lines passing through.