When it comes to city passes and travel cards, it’s usually fairly easy to figure out whether they would be worth it for you or not. For things like the Paris Pass or London Pass, they have a list of the most popular attractions and how much they cost, right there for you to see. The Swiss Travel Pass, however, is shrouded in mystery, or at least it was until I spent several days tracking down all of the prices and benefits.
A great many of the visitors and commenters on my popular page about where to go in Switzerland on a short visit are wondering whether the Swiss Travel Pass is a good deal. Embarrassingly, I’ve always had to answer that I found the pass too confusing to confidently advise people on. Now that has all changed, after literally days of research.
Note: This article was last updated in February, 2024.
Disclosure: This is a reader-supported website and some of the links are affiliate links where a small commission is paid to help keep this site going, but the cost to visitors is the same. The Swiss Travel Pass seems quite expensive at first, so it felt like it might be hard to get your money’s worth out of it. As it turns out, it’s pretty easy to get good value, and it’ll be a good deal for many visitors.
New in 2024
Prices increased an average of 5.9% from 2023 on the Swiss Travel Passes, but the Half Fare Card remains at CHF120, which is where it’s been for many years. Train fares in the country increased by similar percentages so the value is basically unchanged. There were no other notable changes to service or the included attractions and train routes.
>>>Buy the Swiss Travel Pass online
Where to stay in Interlaken and the Lauterbrunnen Valley
Since most people reading this will be visiting the Interlaken area and I get so many questions about it, I decided to write a detailed guide on which area to stay in while visiting this area.
>>>Where to stay in Interlaken or the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland
I included many huge photos in that post so readers will be able to get a better idea of what each place looks like and they are worth a look by itself.
Are you 100% sure where you want to go in Switzerland? This should help
I’ve been to almost every corner of Europe and have spent a lot of time in Switzerland, so I can reveal that Switzerland is very unlike visiting almost any other country in the region. In any other country you will want to start out in the capital or largest city and then add in another place or two if you have time. But in Switzerland the big cities are strangely boring and the scenery everywhere else is magical.
Zurich and Geneva are pleasant but dull. The good news is that Switzerland is packed with amazing sights and none of them are the big cities. If you aren’t 100% locked in yet, please read the article below and I think you’ll enjoy it.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass a good deal? Here's the short version
If you plan on taking at least 2 of Switzerland’s famous scenic train rides within a 3 or 4-day period, a Swiss Travel Pass can easily pay for itself. If you take 3 or 4 scenic train rides, as well as use the pass on one or more of the famous cable cars such as Schilthorn (50% covered by the pass) or 25% off the mountain train up to Jungfraujoch, the pass is definitely worth it.
The bottom line is that the scenery, train journeys, and cable car rides in Switzerland are stunning and not found anywhere else in the world. They are also quite expensive if you pay for them one at a time. So no matter how you visit Switzerland, you are going to be paying quite a bit, or skipping the absolute best things that you’ve come there to see.
With good planning it’s quite easy to get great value out of a Swiss Travel Pass, but it might be a poor choice for those who don’t like to plan ahead. You can easily do a scenic train ride and a cable car in the same day, and still have time to do a scenic hike in the process.
First class or second class? Good news for most people
In most of Europe the Second Class trains are reasonably comfortable but they can get crowded, especially if you travel during the morning or evening commute time between large cities such as Munich and Berlin. Second Class always has plenty of legroom and reasonably wide seats, so it’s mainly just the experience of guaranteeing that you’ll NOT be sat next to a full carriage of partying backpackers or screaming kids that makes First Class potentially worthwhile.
That said, Swiss Trains are literally the nicest in Europe and even the Second Class seats and carriages are nicer and roomier than trains in neighboring countries. The First Class seats are larger and nicer with only 3 across the cabin instead of 4, but honestly Second Class is perfectly comfortable for almost everyone.
Again, First Class on European trains like this is generally popular with business travelers where the company is paying and they need to get work done during the ride, and also senior citizens who don’t want to worry about a carriage full of backpackers. For most of the rest of us, Second Class is more than comfortable enough and the seat width and legroom compare to business-class airline seats. I’m a big and tall guy and I almost always travel in Second because it’s plenty comfortable enough and all the seats arrive at the same time anyway.
The longer you'll be in Switzerland, the better deal a Swiss Travel Pass will be
Most people visiting Switzerland only stay for 3 or 4 days and in visits of that length you really have to compare the costs of the Pass to the costs of the things you’ll do. And for many of those people who aren’t doing longer train rides, the Half Fare Card (discussed below) is the best choice. It’s easy to see that the per-day cost of the Swiss Travel Pass is pretty high until you get to the 6-day, 8-day, and 15-day versions. However, the per-day prices on those longer passes are actually very low considering the price of typical train rides and mountain attractions.
In other words, if you are staying 5 days or fewer, you have to do the math to determine your best option. But if you are spending even 6 or 7 days in Switzerland then the 6-day or 8-day Pass is almost guaranteed to be a great deal and your best choice. Once you have a Swiss Travel Pass you’ll absolutely love the ability to just hop on any train (excellent trains, always on time) and most boats and cable cars without having to worry about the cost. The per-day cost of an 8-day Pass even if you only use 6 of those days is about CHF65, and Switzerland is filled with amazing train rides and boats and cable cars that can get you that much value before noon each day.
Schilthorn (50% discount) and Jungfraujoch (25% discount) are cheaper with a Swiss Travel Pass
The two most dramatic viewpoints and most beloved activities in Switzerland are Schilthorn and the Jungfraujoch tourist train that goes up the mountain across the valley from Schilthorn. Jungfraujoch is a 25% discount off the CHF224 price for Swiss Travel Pass holders. If it’s not confusing enough, the entire rail journey to the start of the Jungfrau train is covered by the pass, so prices appear to be a bit more than 25% cheaper.
Both of those peak experiences are extraordinary and different from each other. Even so, compared to Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn is also faster and more comfortable on the way up and down. You can enjoy an excellent visit to Schilthorn in 4 hours or so (or a bit longer if you eat at the spinning Piz Gloria restaurant at the top), while a visit to Jungfraujoch requires closer to 6 hours.
NOTE: Schilthorn closes for maintenance for a week or two in late November most years.
Consider the Swiss Half-Fare Card instead
If you AREN’T going to be doing two or more of the long (and expensive) scenic train trips, you will get much better value out of the Swiss Half-Fare Card, which is explained a bit below.
Mt Rigi, near Lucerne, is 100% covered by the Swiss Travel Pass
While most of the famous mountain excursions are only discounted 50% by the Swiss Travel Pass, the famous excursions to Mt Rigi, near Lucerne, are still 100% covered by the pass. This is one of the best mountaintop experiences in Switzerland and reaching the top involves a combination of cog railways and cable cars. There are multiple ways of reaching the mountain and all of them are fairly close to Lucerne. Most people prefer getting there by taking one of the frequent boats leaving from across from the railway station in Lucerne and then jumping off at one of the cog rail departure points. Needless to say, if you buy a Swiss Travel Pass, the Mt Rigi excursion should be a priority when you visit Lucerne.
Is a Swiss Travel Pass right for you?
Determining whether a Swiss Travel Pass is a good deal for you is simply a matter of figuring out which of the scenic rail and cable car journeys you plan on doing while in Switzerland, and seeing whether the price of the pass will cover the benefits. Below in this article you’ll see a long list of every one of the most expensive and most popular scenic journeys and cable cars, along with how much they cost without the pass, and how much you can save.
Most people only visit Switzerland for 5 or 6 days at most, so the 3-day and 4-day passes are the ones to focus on. But if you are staying for 8 days or more, those longer passes are almost certainly a great deal for you.
Long story short, if you plan on doing 2 of the more expensive scenic trains and the Jungfraujoch railway or the Schilthorn cable car, then the pass will save you money. Switzerland is expensive, but it’s worth it, and the travel pass can help make it a bit more affordable.
What the Swiss Travel Pass includes
- Free rail travel on normal trains and most scenic trains
- Discounted travel (about 50%) on popular tourist mountain trains
- Discounted travel (about 50%) on popular tourist cable cars
- Free travel on public transport in 75 towns and cities
- Free entry to around 500 museums in Switzerland
The Swiss Travel Pass covers the fare on the most popular scenic and panoramic trains. You can choose a normal seat in a regular carriage for no additional cost, but there is a supplement of CHF8 to CHF49 for a reserved seat in one of the special panorama carriages on these routes.
Prices of the 2024 Swiss Travel Pass
1st Class
- Adult 3-day Pass: CHF389
- Youth (4 to 25) 3-day Pass: 274
- Adult 4-day Pass: 469
- Youth (4 to 25) 4-day Pass: 330
- Adult 6-day Pass: 602
- Youth (4 to 25) 6-day Pass: 424
- Adult 8-day Pass: 655
- Youth (4 to 25) 8-day Pass: 469
- Adult 15-day Pass: 723
- Youth (4 to 25) 15-day Pass: 512
2nd Class
- Adult 3-day Pass: CHF244
- Youth (4 to 25) 3-day Pass: 172
- Adult 4-day Pass: 295
- Youth (16 to 25) 4-day Pass: 209
- Adult 6-day Pass: 379
- Youth (16 to 25) 6-day Pass: 268
- Adult 8-day Pass: 419
- Youth (16 to 25) 8-day Pass: 297
- Adult 15-day Pass: 459
- Youth (16 to 25) 15-day Pass: 328
Swiss Travel Pass Flex
This version costs a bit more, but you don’t have to use the travel days consecutively. It’s a great option for anyone who won’t be taking longer train rides each day.
- Adult 3 Flex days in 1 month (1st Class): CHF445
- Adult 3 Flex days in 1 month (2nd Class): 279
- Adult 4 Flex days in 1 month (1st Class): 539
- Adult 4 Flex days in 1 month (2nd Class): 339
- Adult 6 Flex days in 1 month (1st Class): 644
- Adult 6 Flex days in 1 month (2nd Class): 405
- Adult 8 Flex days in 1 month (1st Class): 697
- Adult 8 Flex days in 1 month (2nd Class): 439
- Adult 15 Flex days in 1 month (1st Class): 755
- Adult 15 Flex days in 1 month (2nd Class): 472
Where to buy the Swiss Travel Pass
The Swiss Half-Fare Card – A better option for many visitors
Far less confusing than the Swiss Travel Pass, you can instead get a Swiss Half-Fare Card, and it will be a better deal for many travelers. The price is lower and it’s much easier to do the math, and the discounts are greater on some things as well.
- Swiss Half-Fare Card for 30 days: Adults – CHF120 or US$129
What you get:
Those who buy the Swiss Half-Fare Card will get 50% discount on all trains, buses, and boats in Switzerland for up to 30 days, as well as 50% off all public transportation in 75 cities and towns.
>>>Buy the Swiss Half-Fare Card
Why the Half-Fare Card is a better deal for many
While the Swiss Travel Pass is a great deal for those doing many of the expensive scenic journeys and mountain sights within a few days, it’s not good value for those who are doing fewer of the expensive trips and/or those who are staying longer. Also, the Swiss Travel Pass only provides a 25% discount on the amazing Jungfraujoch Railway, which costs between CHF120 and CHF224 return depending on your starting point, while the Half-Fare Card provides a 50% discount.
The math is simple as well. You can just add up the cost of the trains, boats, and buses you’ll be taking while in Switzerland, and if the total is more than CHF240 or so, the Half-Fare Card will save you money.
Example itinerary:
- Zurich to Interlaken train (2nd Class): CHF50
- Schilthorn Cable Car: CHF112
- Jungfraujoch railway from Interlaken: CHF205
- Interlaken to Lucerne train (2nd Class): CHF33
- Mt Rigi roundtrip from Lucerne: CHF84
- Engelberg (near Lucerne) to Mt. Titlis Cable Car: CHF92
- Lucerne to Zurich train (2nd Class): CHF25
Total per person: CHF601
Total with Half-Fare Card (including price of card): CHF420.50
It would be tough to do all of those things in 4 days, although it is possible. If you bought a 4-day Swiss Travel Pass here is how it adds up:
4-Day Swiss Travel Pass: CHF259
Supplements for Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, and Mt. Titlis: CHF203.25
Total cost: CHF462.25
Bottom line on the Swiss Half-Fare Card
Since the Half-Fare Card lasts 30 days and provides a larger discount on Jungfraujoch, it is better value for visitors who want to include that scenic top-of-Europe rail journey on their trip. The discounts also add up more quickly on Schilthorn and Mt. Titlis trips, just to name two examples, and you don’t have to take many longer rail journeys to get value out of the Half-Fare Card.
Swiss Saver Day Pass (A one-day unlimited travel pass)
As if the Swiss travel situation wasn’t already complicated enough, they also offer a 1-day version of a Swiss Travel Pass and it can be very cheap, but it’s also a bit complicated. They only sell these Saver Day Passes starting 60 days out (so you can buy a pass for May 1 starting on March 2 etc), and the prices goes up quickly the more of them they sell. If you buy them right away you can get them as cheaply as CHF29 (in 2nd Class) if you have a Half Fare Card, which is an amazing deal. But after they sell the first batch the price jumps up to CHF39 and then CHF49. In other words, if you want the cheapest price you should book exactly 60 days in advance, or generally as soon as possible.
If you buy the Saver Day Pass at least 21 days in advance (and up to 60 days in advance) the 2023 cost is:
- 2nd Class (with Half Fare Card): CHF29
- 1st Class (with Half Fare Card): CHF82
- 2nd Class (with no Half Fare Card): CHF52
- 1st Class (with no Half Fare Card): CHF97
Once you research the normal cost of Swiss train fares you’ll see that the above prices are a very good deal for anyone riding more than 150 kilometers or so in a day. If you are just going, for example, from Zurich to Lucerne or Interlaken on a day, it’ll be cheaper to just buy that ticket individually. But if you are going from Geneva or Montreux to Interlaken or Lucerne then the Saver Day Pass will be much cheaper. Better still, you can use a Saver Day Pass to go from Interlaken to Geneva and back on the same day on the Goldenpass line and returning on the faster train through Bern, and it will still all be included for free.
If you don’t buy a Saver Day Pass at least 14 days in advance it’s more expensive, and if you only buy 1 to 3 days in advance it’s VERY expensive, so the key is to buy early. This is all confusing, but the Saver Day Pass should be a great option for many people only in Switzerland for one to three days.
Popular Swiss panorama scenic trains
The 5 train routes listed below are the best and most popular of Switzerland’s scenic train routes. With a Swiss Travel Pass, you can ride for free in normal carriages or pay a small supplement for a reserved seat in one of the special Panorama carriages. If you are going to do one of these as a journey unto itself, the Panorama carriages are highly recommended, and worth the supplement.
- Glacier Express
- Route: Zermatt to St. Moritz
- Train type: Panorama
- Journey time: 8 hours 3 minutes
- Distance: 291km
- 1st Class fare: CHF272
- 2nd Class fare: CHF159
- Compulsory seat reservation fee: CHF44 or 49
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 13 to 33 for panorama carriage
- Bernina Express
- Route: Chur to Tirano and Lugano
- Train type: Panorama and bus
- Journey time: 4 hours 13 minutes and 3 hours 10 minutes
- Distance: 148km and 90km
- 1st Class fare: CHF113
- 2nd Class fare: CHF66
- Compulsory seat reservation fee: CHF32
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 10 to 14 for panorama carriage
- GoldenPass Line
- Route: Lucerne to Montreaux
- Train type: Panorama
- Journey time: 5 hours 8 minutes
- Distance: 191 km
- Prestige Class fare: CHF131
- 1st Class fare: CHF96
- 2nd Class fare: CHF56
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 8 to 15 for panorama carriage
- Gotthard Panorama Express (formerly Wilhelm Tell Express)
- Route: Lugano or Locarno to Lucerne
- Train type: Panorama and boat
- Journey time: 5 hours 21 minutes
- Distance: 182 km
- 1st Class fare: CHF164
- 2nd Class fare: CHF135
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 39 to 49 for panorama carriage
- Swiss Chocolate Train
- Route: Montreux to Broc round trip
- Train type: Panorama or First Class
- Journey time: X hours X minutes
- Distance: 82 km
- 1st Class fare: CHF99
- 2nd Class fare: 89
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 39
Popular Swiss scenic and theme trains
The scenic trains below are also extremely popular as sightseeing journeys rather than just as transportation, but can be used as both.
- Jungfraujoch round trip
- Route: Interlaken to Jungfraujoch
- Train type: special mountain train
- Journey time: 4 hours 41 minutes, round trip, plus time on top
- Distance: 73 km
- 1st Class fare: N/A
- 2nd Class fare: CHF224
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 147 (so, a saving of CHF77)
- Gornergrat Railway
- Route: Gornergrat Railway
- Train type: Cog railway
- Journey time: 44 minutes return
- Distance: 10 km
- 1st Class fare: N/A
- 2nd Class fare: CHF90
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 45
- Rigi round trip
- Route: Lucerne to Rigi
- Train type: Cog railway
- Journey time: 3 hours 25 minutes, plus time at the top
- Distance: 58 km
- 2nd Class fare: CHF78
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: None (this one is free with the pass)
- Mt Rigi Excursion (one-way and walk down)
- Route: Lucerne to Mt Rigi
- Train type: cogwheel train and/or cable car
- Journey time: 45 minutes up
- 1st Class fare: N/A
- 2nd Class fare: 49
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 0
- Lotschberg Mountain Route and Centrovalli
- Route: Bern to Locarno
- Train type: Narrow gauge
- Journey time: 4 hours 40 minutes
- Distance: 212 km
- 1st Class fare: CHF158
- 2nd Class fare: CHF90
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 5
- Jura round trip (Watchmaking Tour)
- Route: Neuchatel through Jura
- Train type: Regular
- Journey time: 3 hours 0 minutes
- Distance: 143 km
- 1st Class fare: CHF168
- 2nd Class fare: CHF108
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 0
- Pre-Alpine Express
- Route: St. Gallen to Lucerne
- Train type: Regular
- Journey time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Distance: 146 km
- 1st Class fare: CHF83
- 2nd Class fare: CHF47
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 0
- Jura Foot Line
- Route: Basel to Geneva
- Train type: Regular
- Journey time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Distance: 248 km
- 1st Class fare: CHF132
- 2nd Class fare: CHF75
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 0
Popular Switzerland cable car rides
These are the two most popular cable car rides to obvservation peaks in central Switzerland. The Swiss Travel Pass offers a 50% or more discount, but not the whole fare.
- Schilthorn
- Route: Stechelberg (Lauterbrunnen) to Schilthorn
- Train type: cable car
- Journey time: 1 hour
- 2nd Class fare: CHF108
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 54
- Engelberg to Mt. Titlis cable car
- Route: Engelberg to Mt. Titlis
- Train type: cable car
- 2nd Class fare: CHF96
- Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 46
The Swiss Travel Pass also includes free museum admission, but…
While it’s true that the Swiss Travel Pass includes free admission to around 500 museums all over Switzerland, it’s probably best to just ignore that when you are determining whether to buy a pass or not. Most of the included museums cost between CHF5 and CHF10 without the pass, although a few are closer to CHF20.
The problem is that the museums are only free on valid travel days, and almost no one would visit more than one or two museums with a Swiss Travel Pass. The trains and cable cars are so expensive that the pass gives very good value to cover those, so you don’t want to waste precious sightseeing time walking through a museum that only costs CHF10 anyway.
In other words, calculate the value of a Swiss Travel Pass on the travel savings only, and if you visit a museum here or there, then great. Most people are better off trying to squeeze in an additional train ride each day, and ignoring the museums. Switzerland is all about the outdoor scenery. As nice as the museums may be, they are not why you are there.
The pass includes free public transport in most Swiss cities
Similar to the free museum part of the offer, it’s best to ignore or minimize the value of free public transportation. It could be helpful in Zurich, but in most other Swiss tourist towns you won’t need much public transport. In fact, in Interlaken, each hotel or hostel guest automatically gets a card for free public transportation within the town (including between the two train stations).
So you might use a ride or two each day on public transport, but that won’t add up to much in terms of value of your Swiss Travel Pass.
Hi Roger,
I’m planning to travel to Switzerland next week on December 27th for 3 days. If i buy the 3 day Swiss pass online today, would it be too late for them to send me the file to print by the time I leave? I don’t know if I would receive it on time since the ticket is nonrefundable. Thanks for all the info or else I wouldn’t know if Swiss Pass was a good choice right now…
Vivian,
I’m not sure about this. I just went through the process and it appears that I am able to buy that 3-day ticket beginning on 27 December. Since it allows it I assume that it’s possible to get the ticket. So it may be a ticket that you can print at home, or it may be a voucher that you hand to someone at a ticket office once you get to Switzerland, and they give you your pass then. So it DOES seem like it will work, though I’m not sure exactly how without completing my purchase.
The Swiss train company is VERY well organized so I don’t believe they would sell a ticket like this and then not have a way for the buyer to use it. Good luck and have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I’m traveling to Switzerland in between 19-23 of December, and I’m planning to go to Lucerne and Zermatt.
1. 20/12/16, Zurich > Lucerne > Zurich
2. 21/12/16, Zurich > Zermatt
3. 22/12/16, Zermatt > Zurich
Do you recommend me to buy a Swiss Travel Pass or buy the tickets individually? Note: I’ve got one youth age 12 traveling with me, so it’s free with a Swiss travel pass (accompanied by parents)
The individual price tickets I got from the train line is 1488 euro for the trips I mentioned above and the total price for the travel pass is just CHF 928. I’m just wondering and could you please give me an advice.
Your help is very much appreciated!
Kenny,
You sound like the classic example of someone who would get great value out of the Swiss Travel Pass. The one thing I would check first is the price of those same tickets on the official Swiss train website. TheTrainLine is a really helpful website, but in some cases they seem to quote fares from ticket re-sellers with inflated prices.
Assuming the Swiss rail site is showing those same fares that you saw, then the Swiss Travel Pass will be great for you. Not only can you use it on those scenic journeys, but also on some cogwheel trains and big discounts on the amazing cable cars. Have a great trip and let me know if you have any other questions.
By the way, you might want to have a quick look at my article on where to go in Switzerland. Zurich is really expensive and there isn’t much to see there, so you might consider not spending so much time there. But if you have specific things you want to see in Zurich, and you can afford the hotels, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. -Roger
Wilhelm Tell Express
Route: Lugano or Locarno to Lucerne
2nd class not available;
Does it mean I have to buy the 1st class swiss pass in order to have acess to the Wilhem Tell??
Angelo,
I’ve just looked this up and it turns out that the journey is changing names to Gotthard Panorama Express starting in 2017. It also looks like they have added a 2nd Class coach option to it as well, so it’s all good news. I’m going to update the article thanks to this.
However, even with the previous version you’d still be able to access it with a 2nd Class pass. You’d probably have to pay a supplement for a 1st Class seat, but that would typically only be the difference between a 2nd Class seat and a 1st Class one. In other words, you might have to pay CHF20 to 40 for that one train, and ride 2nd Class everywhere else. Looks like you won’t need a supplement though. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello Roger, this is really a nice blog. I can plan a good trip now. Me and my friend will be reaching Geneva airport on 2nd Dec afternoon and our return flight from Geneva is on 4th dec, evening.
Can you please assist us in planning what best we can see in this short period?
Also, please suggest should we buy Swiss travel pass then or not?
Regards
Meenakshi
Meenakshi,
If you only have two days I’d definitely recommend spending them in the Interlaken area, as mentioned in the article above. Many of the hotels in the Gimmelwald and Murren area are closed until the snow season begins in mid December, but some will still be open. If the weather is clear you should go up to Schilthorn or do the Jungfraujoch railway, or both. They are expensive but you’ll never forget them. If you don’t want to do those or if the weather is cloudy you should still go up to Gimmelwald and Murren for a look around, and you can do some of the other walks and see the Interlaken sights.
I wouldn’t recommend a Swiss Travel Pass unless you want to do at least two scenic rail journeys, and you don’t have time for those. -Roger
Hello Roger,
First thing first, thank you for such a generous blog! It answered most of my questions. I just wanted to share our itinerary to get your expert advice.
Aug 13th – landing in Geneva and spending the night in Montreux
Aug 14th – take the Golden Pass train from Montreux to Interlaken and transferring to Gimmelwald
Aug 15th – Staying in Gimmelwald & exploring the area
Aug 16th–Schilthorn
Aug 17th – reaching Lucerne – spending the day exploring Lucerne
Aug 18th – Taking the day trip to Mt.Titlis
Aug 19 – reaching Bern
Aug 20th – catching the train to Paris rom Bern
Most of the time people are starting their journey from east and going to west where as we are landing in Geneva and then trying to make our way to Bern. We still have to decide which Travel pass to go for. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Jeannie,
Thank you for the kind words. Your itinerary looks fantastic and very well balanced. Montreaux has a gorgeous location so it should be a nice quick stop.
One comment I’ll make is that as long as the weather is clear, which it usually is in August, then you can easily do Schilthorn and the walking tour of Gimmelwald and Murren in the same day. If you are staying in Gimmelwald then it takes about 60 minutes to be up top of Schilthorn. Even if you have lunch there (the revolving restaurant has normal prices and good food in spite of the amazing location), and you spend 30 minutes in the James Bond attraction, you can be back in Murren by 2pm. You can spend two hours walking around that town and then 15 minutes walking down the hill to Gimmelwald. Gimmelwald itself is a gorgeous place that you’ll never forget, but you can literally walk the whole town in 20 minutes. It will be nice to walk around and see it before having dinner at one of the restaurants up there. After that, you’ve seen the whole area and you could spend the other day exploring something else in the Lauterbrunnen or Interlaken area.
As for the Swiss Travel Pass, it looks like you are borderline for it being good value. If you add another train ride or the Jungfraujoch train, it’s probably good value. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Fantastic :-)! Thank you for the valuable and quick response :-)!
We are going to take your advice and combine the activities for Aug 15th & 16th into one day and do Jungfraujoch on Aug 16th. I still have one question though, Should we go in for the Golden Pass train while going from Interlaken to Lucerne or just stick to the normal train?
Cheers
Jeannie,
If you are referring to the special panoramic carriages, they are nice but the normal carriages are also really nice and the views are great from them as well. If you can get a reservation for a special carriage it would be fantastic, though I’m not sure how much extra they are worth. Have a great trip. -Roger
Many thanks :-)!
Hi Roger
Thank you very much! I would love to do the Jungfraujoch like you said but unfortunately, as you can see they are filled pretty full, and i have to choose one or the other, can’t do both so maybe will go next time!
Oh sorry Roger for envying me because i thought you had been there before! But I beieve you will have this chance later on so hopefully this day will come to you soon =)
Thanks once again
Cheers
Steven
Steven,
I understand that you can’t do it all. And I have been to almost all of the places on your list. It’s just that Switzerland is one of those places where you can go back again and again and enjoy it each time. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hello there,
Me and my partner are intending to travel to Switzerland in mid Feb next year and the good thing here is Australia promoting 8 days Swiss Pass plus 2 bonus days free so we have 10 days/9 nights and going to take advantage of it and this is the following intinerary we plan to do and I would like to ask your comment of what you think of it?
Feb. 13 – Arrival Zurich Airport 10 AM, transfer to Lucerne, check -in at hotel and then Mt. Rigi excursion, overnight in Lucerne
Feb. 14 – Excursion to Mt. Titlis (morning) and Mt. Pilatus (afternoon), overnight in Lucerne
Feb. 15 – Transfer from Lucerne to Interlaken Ost in early morning, check-in at hotel, then Schilthorn excursion, overnight in Interlaken Ost
Feb. 16 – Transfer from Interlaken to Montreux via Golden Pass. Promenade and Water Castle, possibly Roche de Naye. overnight in Montreux
Feb. 17 – Transfer from Montreux to Zermatt, rest of day at leisure, overnight in Zermatt
Feb. 18 – Excursion to Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise, overnight in Zermatt
Feb. 19 – Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, overnight in St. Moritz
Feb. 20 – Transfer from St. Moritz to Appenzell, overnight in Appenzell
Feb. 21 – Transfer from Appenzell to Zurich. Check in hotel & drop baggage. Visit Berne for the day. Overnight in Zurich
Feb. 22 – Sightseeing in Zurich. Flight back home in the evening for 7pm
Thank you once again and great blog you have =)
Cheers
Steven,
Thank you. Your itinerary looks fantastic and filled with nearly every highlight in Switzerland that I am aware of, except for perhaps Jungfraujoch. Since you have enough time to do all of this, and you will be doing so many of the more expensive scenic train rides and attractions, the Swiss Travel Pass will be a great deal for you. I envy this trip and I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi there,
Me and my wife will be travelling to Switzerland for 5 days 4 nights, but not sure which pass (swiss travel pass or half fare travel pass) we should get for better deal. Below are our itinerary:
Day 1 – Zurich airport – Interlaken Ost
Day 2 – Interlaken Ost – Murren – Gimmelwald – Lauterbrunnen – Interlaken
Day 3 – Interlaken Ost – Jungfraujoch – Interlaken Ost
Day 4 – Interlaken Ost – Lucerne
Day 5 – Lucerne- Zurich airport
Thanks a lot for the advise. 🙂
Zhi,
For the train journeys on your list, just buying tickets as you go will be your best option. The Swiss Travel Passes are really only good value for people who want to do at least two of the long scenic rail journeys. Jungfraujoch is a private railway and you could get a discount for that, but not a free ride. And all your others are fairly short (2 hours or less) normal train rides. The fares in Switzerland aren’t exactly cheap, but they are always the same price and the distances are mostly short so they aren’t too expensive either.
The cable car from Lauterbrunnen up to Murren is only about CHF10 each way. If you want to go all the way up to Schilthorn and the observation deck, it’s around CHF150 return, and it’s highly recommended and worthwhile if the weather at the top is good. But even on that, you also only get a discount with the Swiss Pass.
If you are sure of your travel days you can check the SBB.com website for the train fares. In some cases they’ll show a “supersaver” price that is about half the normal price, but those are rare. Otherwise, just buying the tickets as you go will be the cheapest way. The trip is going to be amazing and the trains are incredibly nice, so it doesn’t feel like a ripoff when you are there. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger, would appreciate your input on my trip planner.
Basically, my mum and I will be based in Lauterbrunnen for 4 nights, we’ll be coming from Salzburg. Ideally we’d like to take a day trip to Lucerne besides sightseeing in Murren, Gimmelwald and Schilthorn.
I’m probably getting too overwhelmed with flows of information and cannot seem to work out which Pass to purchase. I thought about purchasing 4dys Jungfrau/Schilthorn Holiday Pass and then pay single tickets for all other destinations.
In your opinion, would you recommend I purchase combined passes of Half Fare Pass & Holiday Pass or stick with above plan.
thank you in advance!
Sylvia
At your website, the price for an 8-day Swissflexipass is $363 per person. When Iclick on the link to RailEurope, the price jumped up to $429 per person. Why? I have not found the sme price twice, and every time I go to a website, the price seems to go up. I need help!
Anne,
For one thing, this site lists prices in Swiss francs (CHF) and Rail Europe shows them in US dollars for US citizens. Still, those currencies are similar so that only accounts for about US$15 of the difference. It appears that Rail Europe (which is owned by the French and Swiss railways) adds in the service charge early in the process, while on the main site they add it in later. Try another site and hopefully you can find a lower price. I’ll look into this. -Roger