Glacier 3000 from Zurich, Bern and Interlaken

All the sensible rail routes from Zurich run through Bern and finish in Gstaad, where PostBus 180 climbs to Col du Pillon. One option changes at Bern and Zweisimmen; the other goes via Spiez and rides the GoldenPass Express to Gstaad.

On the sample timetable, the 06:32 from Zurich reaches the cable car at 10:06 and the 08:02 at 11:26.

It is a big day. With about 3 hours 30 minutes on the way there and a similar ride home, you spend some 7 hours travelling. Arriving at 10:06, you have until the last cable car up at 16:00 in winter; the last direct bus to Gstaad leaves Col du Pillon at 16:23, and a later bus at 17:41 reaches Gstaad at 18:15. From there it is the long ride home, so check the evening connection before you set off.

That is fine for a clear-sky day you do not want to miss, but most people enjoy it more by staying a night nearby and going up on the first cabin at 09:00.

Bern is closer: about 2 hours 22 to 2 hours 27 minutes by train, either via Zweisimmen and Gstaad or by fast train to Spiez and the GoldenPass Express on to Gstaad, then the bus. By car it is about 129 km and 101 minutes in free-flowing traffic.

By car, Zurich to Col du Pillon is about 249 km and 183 minutes in free-flowing traffic, crossing the Bernese Oberland via Spiez and Lake Thun before the climb through Gstaad and Gsteig. Mountain roads in winter will be slower.

At the top of the pass there are large paid car parks at Col du Pillon and at Reusch, with a flat rate paid on arrival.

From Interlaken Ost, the GoldenPass Express runs straight to Gstaad without a change. On the sample timetable, the 09:07 Express reaches Gstaad at 10:57, and the 11:01 bus gets you to Col du Pillon at 11:26: 2 hours 19 minutes with one change. By car it is about 90 minutes.

For the return, check the afternoon trains from Gstaad to Interlaken for your date before you go up, as the direct Express runs only a few times a day. Book an Express seat in advance; a seat reservation supplement applies, even with a Swiss Travel Pass (check goldenpass.ch for the current fee).

If you want someone else to do the driving, a private day of about 14 hours collects you from your Zurich hotel. It includes the Glacier 3000 cable car and Peak Walk, entry to Château de Chillon on Lake Geneva and a wine tasting in the Lavaux vineyards; food at the summit is extra.

Splitting the trip turns a rush into a proper visit. Gstaad, the end of the train ride from Zurich, is about 20 minutes from Col du Pillon by car, and overnight guests get the Gstaad Card, which makes PostBus 180 to the cable car free. Les Diablerets, on the other side of the pass, is 5 to 7 minutes away.

Arrive in the afternoon, go up on one of the first cable cars from 09:00 the next day and you have the whole day at 2,971 m, with time for the Glacier Walk as well as the Peak Walk.