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.
>>>Lucerne or Interlaken: Which to visit and how long to stay?
The article just above will help you decide on how long to spend in each of Switzerland’s two best tourist areas.
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.
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Hi Roger,
Many thanks for your sharing. I am now planning for a 2-week trip with my hubby to Zurich and Munich and will spend first few days in Zurich to see the scenery.
Below are my planned itinerary:
17 Oct Zurich – city walk
18 Oct Zurich – Luzern – Grindelwald
19 Oct Grindelwald – First – Jungfraujoch – Grindelwald
20 Oct Grindelwald – Lauterbrunnen – Wengen – Murren – Schilthorn – Grindelwald
21 Oct Grindelwald – Bern – Zurich – Munich
Can you pls advise if it is better to go for 1. Half fare pass; or 2. 3-day Swiss travel pass (possible to top up becomes 4-day Swiss travel pass); or half fare pass plus saver pass together? Is it the route on Oct 19 from First to Jungfraujoch then back to Grindelwald will only enjoy 25% off from Swiss travel pass while 50% off from
half fare pass; for Oct 20, the cable car from Mürren to Schilthorn, is it fully covered by the Swiss travel pass but only 50% off fr half fare pass?
I guess driving is not an option if I want to visit those areas, am I right?
I am thinking to stay at Grindelwald for 3 nights from 18-21 Oct, any budget accommodation you recommend? I see many hotels are already sold out, not sure if it is because it is a peak time to visit or they are already closed (due to weather?).
Pls also advise or provide any comments / suggestions you may have on the planned itinerary.
Many thanks in advance for your kind assistance and look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Ivy
Ivy,
I definitely wouldn’t drive between these places if you have a choice. With 4 to 6 people driving can be economical, but it’s still quite stressful for the driver and you’d have to end up paying many parking fees so it becomes quite expensive.
It’s always tough to say with shorter trips like this without literally going through each thing and adding up the cost for each different method. My hunch is that the Half Fare Card is probably your best bet, and you can buy a Saver Day Pass for your Schilthorn day. Those are CHF39 per day with the Half Fare Card if you buy at least two weeks in advance, and it basically gives you a full Swiss Travel Pass for that day. That also allows you to get a full 50% off Jungfraujoch, which will save another CHF50 or so per person.
Most of the smaller hotels in those mountain villages close from October 15 until December 15 because that’s after the main hiking season and before the snow season. Most of them are family businesses so they take the opportunity for a little holiday and to do repairs and such. You should be able to find something in Murren or Lauterbrunnen if you can’t find something in Wengen or Grindelwald. Even if you have to stay in Interlaken itself, you’ll have a great time. I think your itinerary looks great. The one thing to keep in mind though is that the weather at the tops of the mountains can be foggy any day of the year, although it’s usually only half a day at a time. So being flexible with the peak visits is helpful I’m sure it’ll be a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thanks for a detailed suggestion.
if i tell you the fixed travel, on that basis can you please suggest which pass should i go for? I am still not able to decide
on my own.
Fixed travel plan
23rd Sept – will take a train from Colmar to Wengen around 9am.
Will see around Wengen and Lauterbrunnen that day.
24thSept – Wish to take a train to Schynige Platte and come back to Wengen(i am not sure how much time it needs)
plus i wish to cover Interlaken the sae day.
25th Sept – Will catch flight at 6pm from Zurich, so travel from Wengen to Zurich is fixed.
Please suggest anything that i can do on 25th for half day.(i have not inlcuded any cable car or cruise yet!? need suggestion please)
If above travel is covered in Swiss pass, i think i should go for that rather than half price one.
What’s your say?
Deepti,
It’s really just a matter of adding up what you’d spend with a Swiss Travel Pass or with a Half Fare Card or paying separately. I know what many of these things cost, but not all of them so it would take me a long time to add it up myself. Also, for example, Wengen and Lauterbrunnen are a short train ride apart and there are other trains and cable cars in the area, so it really depends on how many of those rides you’d take. If you are on a super low budget you can visit with just a few short train rides and some hiking. But the cogwheel trains and cable cars are really spectacular so if you can afford a few of those you’ll have a more memorable trip. Without knowing anything else I’d probably go with the Half Fare Card for each adult.
You’d start off taking a train from Colmar to Basel and then a series of gorgeous train rides from Basel to Wengen. The Half Fare Card will save enough on the Basel to Wengen part to almost pay for itself already.
In the morning on the 25th you might stop off in Lucern for half a day, which should be on the way. You could put your luggage in lockers at the train station there and then explore the lovely town center and chapel bridge on foot. The lake cruises go from 60 minutes up to several hours and leave right across from the train station. I hope this helps. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I am travelling from Colmar to Wengen(staying in Wengen for 2 nights) on 23rd Sept and leave on 25th to catch flight from Zurich at 6pm. My plan is to visit only the nearby places to Wengen like Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, Schynige Platte.
I do not see any benefit of buying any pass and rather buy tickets.
Can you suggest please considering if i might get some benefit from Colmar until the final day to Zurich to catch flight?
Thanks in advance
Deepti,
It really depends on exactly what you’ll do while you are there. Because the regular prices of Swiss rail tickets and cable cars and lake cruises are so high, nearly everyone ends up better off at least getting a Half Fare Card. They cost CHF120 and will literally get you half off almost all transportation and sightseeing, including your trains from Colmar to Wengen and to Zurich. It’s amazingly easy to do CHF240 worth of travel in even just two days, so if you do more than that the Half Fare Card will save you money.
On the other hand, if you just take those train rides and spend most of your time just hiking around or renting bikes and that sort of thing, it’s possible to visit Switzerland for a few days spending less than CHF240. And the Lauterbrunnen Valley is really gorgeous, even if you don’t do the expensive train rides and cable cars. If you were going to do the Schilthorn cable car (which costs about CHF110 by itself) and one or two other longer train rides or cable cars, a 3-day Swiss Travel Pass could more than pay for itself. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thanks a lot for your advice.
To make things easier for you; let me provide more details (if that helps) –
Day 1 – Arrive in Zurich, from Zurich airport leave for Zermatt by train
Day 2 – Zermatt – Rothorn – Zermatt by Sunnegga Cable cars
Day 3 – Gornegrat – by Gornergrat Train, in the evening leave for Interlaken by train
Day 4 – Interlaken – Schilthorn – Interlaken
Interlaken to Lauterburunnen by train
Lauterburunnen to Grutschalp by cable car
Grutschalp to Murren by Mountain Rail
Murren to Schilthorn (Via Birg) by cable car
Return to Interlaken similarly.
Day 5 – leave for Paris by Train.
Based on this are you able to suggest something?
Nikhil,
It’s still tough to say without actually going in and adding everything up for each pass. I believe the Zermatt things only give 50% off with a Swiss Travel Pass, though I’m not sure. With that in mind I think I’d suggest a Half Fare Card and then also getting a Saver Day Pass for your Schilthorn day. If you buy it at least two weeks in advance it’s only CHF39 with a Half Fare Card and you’ll save a lot more that day than just the Half Fare Card itself. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi,
We (Me and my wife) along with our 11 year daughter are planning to visit Switzerland.
As on now our plan looks like –
Day 1 – Arrive in Zurich, from Zurich airport leave for Zermatt
Day 2 – Rothorn
Day 3 – Gornegrat, in the evening leave for Interlaken
Day 4 – Schilthorn
Day 5 – leave for Paris
Could you please suggest best rail pass for rail/gondola travels mentioned above.
Nikhil,
Based on this information my hunch is that a Half Fare Card for the two adults would be the best value, and your daughter should be able to ride free on many things with a Swiss Family Card that you can get for free at the same time. But if you end up taking more trains and cable cars while you are there, a 4-day Swiss Travel Pass might end up being better. -Roger
Hi Roger
Me and my wife are travelling to Switzerland in Nov2019 and it is 11 days trip.
Now i’m in dilemma whether i should buy a 8-day travel pass or a 15 day travel pass.
If i choose 8 day pass then i’ll have to pay hefty amount of train tickets and if i go with 15 days pass i won’t be able to utilise it properly.
Also i’m not sure if Swiss travel pass is the right choice for me or shall i go with Half fare card.
Looking forward for your suggestion! Thanks in advance !!
Ashish,
That is a tough one. The 15-day pass is only CHF95 more than the 8-day pass, so if you used it 3 days it would only cost you about CHF32 per day. You’d spend WAY more than that if you did normal sightseeing and paid full price. I think the 15-day pass is your best bet, but your other option is an 8-day Flex Pass for CHF467, which is only CHF49 more than the normal 8-day one. With that option you could use the pass for your 8 most expensive sightseeing days, and then you could stay local on 3 other days. For example, if you are staying in Lucerne for a few days you might take one full day to tour the town itself and the Chapel Bridge and the lion statue and whatnot.
Still though, I’d probably just get the 15-day version because it’s only a bit more expensive than the 8-day and it would be nice to be able to hop on any train or cable car or boat on each day of your trip. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
We are the family of 4, 2 children aged 13 and 7 , 2 adults arriving zurich on 18th Sept 1.30pm from air port we straightaway go to rhine falls and later city tour , stay zurich,
19th sept after morning breakfast head to interlaken to check in hotel and from there to mt titlis stay overnight in interlaken
20th sept jungfraujh over nights in interlaken
21 local places like lake brienz,wengen,grindelwald,louterbrunnen,murren and than head to ost station to catch italy train at 4 pm
pls suggest if anything we can add also pls advice which travel card more suitable for us,
Faiz,
Your trip sounds great. I’d definitely get the Half Fare Card for each adult, and when you order that you can ask for a Swiss Family Card, which will get the kids in free for almost everything that they do with you. It doesn’t look like a Swiss Travel Pass would be good value for you, but the Half Fare Card with the Family Card should be perfect. -Roger
Hi Roger,
My mom and I are planning a 15 days Switzerland trip before I start my university in Lausanne. We currently don’t really have a lot planned but we will be arriving at Zurich and heading to Luzern directly. We will be staying in Luzern for 1 week then heading back to Zurich airport to catch a flight to Geneva. After arriving to Geneva, we will head to Lausanne and will stay in Lausanne for 8 days. We are also planning to head to Geneva for a day trip.
At first, we were planning to purchase the Half Fare Card as I don’t think we will take a lot of scenic rides. However, after discussing, we are considering to take a cable car ride (we don’t know which one yet) and may also take the Mt. Pilatus. The biggest problem we are currently facing is that we usually don’t plan our trip beforehand, so a lot of the times we just think of what we can do when we get there. Therefore, I don’t really know if the Swiss Travel Card or the Half Fare Card will be a better choice.
Moreover, I also saw that Lausanne has its own travel card so I was wondering if I need to also purchase that if I have the Half Fare Card or the Swiss Travel Card.
Looking towards to your suggestions and sorry for the unprepared planning.
Kenne,
First off, that is a mighty circuitous route from Lucerne to Lausanne. You can actually take a direct train from Lucerne to Lausanne in 2 hours 16 minutes, and obviously with a Half Fare Card it would be pretty affordable AND a very scenic trip. I’m surprised there are flights between Zurich and Geneva because they are quite close together.
I definitely think the Half Fare Card is your best value. You can also buy a Saver Day Pass (cheap if you buy two weeks in advance) for any days when you’d want to do something expensive like Schilthorn or Mt. Rigi. I also prefer to make plans as I go on longer trips like this, but you can save a LOT of money if you lock in a date at least two weeks in advance for the Saver Day Pass. The good news is that you don’t have to book a specific thing (such as the Schilthorn cable car) so you can do anything you like that day and it would basically be free as long as it’s included in the Swiss Travel Pass. You could even take a train across Switzerland and back with a Saver Day Pass, which could be fun because the whole country is so scenic.
The Half Fare Card should work well with making plans as you go, since everything will basically be half price and very few things sell out in advance.
The Lausanne Travel Card is actually free for guests staying at hotels and hostels there and it gives you free use of public transportation within the city plus discounts on some sights. Interlaken has a similar card, which I think is mainly a strategy to get visitors to use public transportation since it’s bundled into the price of a room. The Lausanne Card is really only good within that area though, so it wouldn’t be valid on, say, trains to Geneva. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Your explanation of the Swiss Rail passes and offers is by far the most helpful I’ve come across – thank you! I have read your detailed posts as well as your helpful recommendations to other confused travelers, like myself. I’m still not sure I have a firm grasp of my best Swiss Pass option for the trip I have planned. I’m hoping you can offer some advice.
My husband and I arrive in Geneva, leaving immediately for the Interlaken area with accommodations in Gimmelwald for three days (thanks to your great suggestions). We hope the weather will cooperate so we can take the Schilthorn or the Jungfraujoch trips. From there we head back to Geneva and leave on a 12-day guided hike. Finally, we will return to Geneva and stay there for two nights with day trips to Gruyere and Annecy in mind.
I suspect the 8-day Swiss Flex Pass is our best bet due to the gap in train travel dates (wile we are on the hike everything is already taken care of).
What do you think? Any other suggestions? Thank you in advance for your help!
Alicia,
I’m glad to hear this has been helpful. Your trip sounds amazing. As for which pass is best, it’s hard for me to know without knowing more about your specific plans during the 8 days you might use a Flex Pass. If those will be busy days with train rides and cable cars and boat rides and such, then the Flex Pass would be your best bet. BUT, if you aren’t doing too many of those things it’s probably better to buy a Half Fare Card and then buy a Saver Day Pass for your Schilthorn day and any other day that you’ll be using it a lot. The Half Fare Card gets you 50% off Jungfraujoch and the Saver Day Pass for CHF39 per day (if you buy it at least two weeks out) gets you all of the benefits of a Swiss Travel Pass on those specific days.
Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Roger,
Thank you so much for your advice. We will do as you suggest and skip Innsbruck and stay one more night in Lucerne. When we leave Wengen for Geneva would you recommend we take the Golden Rail?
Also reference the Swiss Pass, the link on your site doesn’t appear to be working for me. Is it just me or are others having the same problem?
Tim,
If you mean the Goldenpass scenic train, yes I would recommend it. The faster route goes to Bern where you’ll change trains for another fast train to Geneva. The Goldenpass route takes you on a slower train through in incredibly scenic valley. You can book a panoramic carriage on my departures for a supplement, but even the normal train is fantastic and it’s free with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Speaking of the pass, you’ve pointed out a software failure on those links. I just manually fixed it so they are working now. I need to figure out what caused that. Have a great trip. -Roger