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Zurich To Titlis Train: All You Need To Know

(Last Updated On: December 11, 2023)

Titlis, at 3,239 meters above sea level, is the highest point of Canton Obwalden. This well-known mountain is convenient to reach from Engelberg village. Titlis is an excellent destination with a panoramic style view, easily accessed from the valley via Stand.

To book a highly-rated guided tour from Zurich to Titlis, you can visit GetYourGuideFrom Zurich: Mount Titlis Day Tour. Having a guide when visiting Titlis is highly recommended, as it will make your trip stress-free, and enjoyable, as well as allow you to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the area. Plus, it comes out slightly more affordable than exploring on your own if you don’t have a half-fare card.

Panorama from Mount Titlis by TouringSwitzerland.com

The views of the Alps from Titlis are fantastic. You will see the glacier and rock ridges while riding the cable car and at the mountain station. From the mountain station of Titlis, you will only need 219 meters to reach the peak. However, this can only be reached with appropriate alpine climbing shoes good for serious alpine hiking. The marked routes should be strictly followed.

From Titlis, the views of the Rhaetian, Bernese, and Valais Alps are absolutely beautiful.

It is possible to go from Zurich to Titlis in one day. Based on the travel time we have already experienced, I estimate at least 2 hours each way. If you would like to have an easier time reaching Titlis, I recommend you stay in Lucerne. From there, it is easier to reach Titlis.

On this page, you can find all the information you need regarding the train journey from Zurich to Titlis.

Overview: Navigating Swiss Trains

You can start by visiting the SBB website: www.sbb.ch. Using the website, you can type in your departure and arrival destinations. It will then guide you to where and when you need to be. An app is also available for iOS and Android devices.

If you wish to pay half the fare for all your train rides in Switzerland, a Half Fare Discount Card (1-month validity) is available on www.sbb.ch. This allows you to travel for half the price on all SBB routes and most other railways during the duration of your discount card.

Using the Swiss Pass, you get unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat in Switzerland. Over 500 museums are also free or discounted, and there are free or discounted excursions to mountain summits.

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Getting tickets from RailEurope is a convenient option if you’re traveling within Europe and/or visiting multiple countries. Having been in operation since the 1930s, RailEurope‘s extensive history, user-friendly website and mobile apps, flexible currency payment options, commitment to customer satisfaction, and strategic partnerships with leading rail operators, collectively establish it as a reliable and trustworthy platform for booking European train travel.

You can obtain from RailEurope the following travel passes:

  • Swiss Travel Pass – choose between continuous or flexible Swiss train passes for 3, 4, 8, or 15 days. The perks? unlimited use in over 90 Swiss cities, free admission to more than 500 museums, and discounts on mountain railways and cable cars. You also get discounts on high-speed Lyria trains between France and Switzerland as well as Nightjet trains that go through Switzerland. See RailEurope for more information.
  • Eurail Global Pass – unlimited train travel to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for non-EU residents
  • Interrail Global Pass – access to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for citizens and permanent residents of the EU

How to Get From Zurich to Titlis

Image of Titlis Valley Station by TouringSwitzerland.com

To get from Zurich to Titlis, you will have to take the following connections:

  1. Take the Interregio train from Zurich to Lucerne.
  2. In Lucerne, change to the connecting train that goes to Engelberg.
  3. In Engelberg, take the bus that goes to Engelberg, Titlisbahn. Alternatively, you could also walk from the train station.
  4. Once in the valley station, you will take the gondola to Stand.
  5. In Stand, you will take the Rotair cable car to Titlis.

Alternatively, you can also simply walk from Engelberg train station to the Titlis Valley station. It is a short 10-minute walk from the Engelberg train station to the Titlis Valley station.

If you would like to read more about Titlis, you can check out this page – 10 Best Things to Do in Titlis Switzerland.


How to Get From Zurich to Titlis: Guided Tour

If you prefer a guided tour to Titlis, you can find a highly-rated one on GetYourGuide. The tour takes you with a guide and a bus from Zurich to the top of Mount Titlis, with a short stop in Lucerne in between. You will experience the Titlis Cliff Walk bridge and the Ice Flyer Chairlift during the tour. You’ll be riding back to Zurich at the end of the day. You may book this tour on GetYourGuide.com by clicking here – From Zurich: Mount Titlis Day Tour.

From the Rotair revolving cable car, you will enjoy stunning views of the deep crevasses in the glaciers and the massive chunks of ice that break off in a spectacular display. Once you reach the top of Mount Titlis, you will savor the stunning views of the Swiss Alps. With a guide to lead you, your trip to Mount Titlis from Zurich will be smooth, easy, and fun.

You can enjoy both unbeatable pricing and exceptional value when booking your tour through GetYourGuide.com, providing you with a cost-effective and rewarding travel experience.

You may book this tour on GetYourGuide by clicking here – From Zurich: Mount Titlis Day Tour.


Are There Direct Trains From Zurich to Titlis?

As of the time of writing (updated December 2023), there are no direct trains from Zurich to Titlis.

Titlis can be reached via Lucerne and Engelberg from Zurich. Most tourists, however, choose to stay in Lucerne and then travel to Titlis from there.


How Long Does It Take From Zurich to Titlis?

The following table shows the travel duration from Zurich to Titlis (updated December 2023):

RouteTravel Duration (Fastest)
Zurich – Lucerne – Engelberg – Titlis Valley Station (Talstation Titlis) – Stand – Titlis2 hours 11 minutes
Zurich Airport – Zurich – Lucerne – Engelberg – Titlis Valley Station (Talstation Titlis) – Stand – Titlis2 hours 33 minutes

Is the Train Route From Zurich to Titlis Scenic?

Intercity trains from Zurich Airport to Lucerne are not scenic trains. There are fast trains that travel from one big city to another, whose main purpose is to transport passengers as quickly as possible. These trains can reach high speeds.  You can still see the scenery during the ride, but it won’t be slow and steady like other scenic trains.


How Much Will the Train Ticket From Zurich to Titlis Cost?

Here are the train ticket prices for traveling from Zurich to Titlis, with the route including Zurich, Lucerne, Engelberg, Titlis Valley Station, Stand, and Titlis. These prices were last updated in December 2023. It also indicates whether the ticket prices are for a one-way trip or a round trip that includes both the outbound and return journeys.

RouteJourney (Single or Return)Full Fare (CHF)Half Fare (CHF)
Zurich – TitlisSingle109.0054.50
Zurich – Titlis – Zurich (Train, No Guide)Return176.0088.00
Zurich – Titlis – Zurich (Bus, With GetYourGuide)Return169.00
Zurich Airport – TitlisSingle114.0057.00

As you can see, if you avail of the Half Fare Travel Card, you can save on your fare for long train journeys. So this is something to consider during your travel to Switzerland. You can do simple calculations and decide from there if it will be worth it for you.

Going with the tour guide isn’t just more convenient but also a bit cheaper than doing it independently. So if you are interested in joining the day trip from Zurich, you may book this tour on GetYourGuide by clicking here – From Zurich: Mount Titlis Day Tour.


Do You Need a Seat Reservation on the Train?

No, there is no need to reserve a spot on the train. But you can always add this option if that is your wish.


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Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. Her home is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.

Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.

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