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.
Thanks a lot. You are awesome. I will buy Half rate card then. Can you please tell me from where I should buy this.
One more question – Is there any scenic train trip that starts from Lucern or Interlaken area and not much time consuming and can be finished in half day.
Hi Roger,
My wife and I are planning a month long trip to Switzerland to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Our itinerary includes arriving in Zurich airport in late September 2017, travelling to Luzerne for 3 nights, staging out of Lauterbrunnen for 5 nights, working in a 3 day side trip to Venice, taking the Bernina Express for 2 nights in St. Moritz, adding the Glacier Express to Zermatt for 2 nights, going by train and bus from Zermatt to Chamonix for 3 nights, travelling by train to Montreux to catch the Golden Pass and heading to Bern and then Basel before returning to Zurich in late October for a return flight back to the US. We may try a side trip for 3 days to Paris from Bern but not sure. I’ve learned quite a bit from your article and guidance. We plan to take cog railways, lifts and other mountain trains in the Alp locations where we stay. I already plan to purchase a Swiss Travel Pass flex for 15 days for each of us. I’m concerned that we will use up the pass with several days still for travel in Switzerland. I’ve read about a flex/half fare card combi but have not seen where to buy it nor its cost. Would you suggest we buy the combi pass? Do you have any suggestions about the itinerary? Appreciate your help and advice.
Hal,
Congratulations! This sounds like an amazing trip, and I think I see your issue. If you are in Switzerland for 20 to 22 days, obviously not counting your time in Italy or France, it would be pretty easy to burn through those 15 days with a few days still left.
I’ve also seen mentions of a Swiss Travel Pass flex combined with a Half Fare Card, but it seems like they aren’t actually bundled anywhere, so it would be a matter of buying one of each. As you’ve probably seen, the Half Fare Card costs CHF120 per person for 30 days. My hunch is that it would be a wise purchase for you. For one thing, if you plan on doing the amazing Jungfraujoch railway, the Half Fare Card provides 50% off, while the Swiss Travel Pass only provides 25% off. Since it costs about CHF200 return per person, that is a savings of CHF50 right there, which almost pays for half of the Half Fare Card.
So if you bought both you’d be at around CHF620 per person and it would cover all of your train trips and allow you at least a 50% discount on the private railroads and cable cars. It seems like a worthwhile splurge, to allow you to freely do everything you want and keep costs down a bit. The other option would obviously be to just get the 15 Days Pass and white-knuckle it, hoping that you’ll build in enough days when you aren’t riding trains or doing major sights. If it were me, the extra CHF120 is a small price to pay to allow you guys to just do whatever you want, without worrying about having to pay for very expensive trips in the last few days. .
I think your itinerary in general looks great and very well planned. You’ll have plenty of time while you are there to learn about other attractions and options, and with the Travel Pass you’ll be able to do most of them for free. My only other comment is that my brother lives in Germany, just over the border from Basel. I’ve visited the city a few times and find it quite boring compared to even other Swiss cities, and especially compard to Venice or Paris. In other words, if you don’t have anything in particular you are going to Basel to see, you might skip it. Bern is lovely though, so go there for sure. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Day 1 (15th May) : We (me and my wife) will reach Geneva airport at 9 AM. Go to the Airport station, keep the suitcase in the station locker and take a bus/tram for old town. Explore Geneva for 2/3 hours and come back by 1 PM to the station. Take train to Lauterbrunnen, check in hotel in Lauterbrunnen, explore the area.
Day 2 (16th May): Start early morning do the Jungfraujoch and come back and explore Interlaken area.
Day 3 (17th May): Explore Interlaken more and come back to hotel by 12 noon. Take luggage and go to Murren. Stay in Murren and explore the village, explore Gimmelwald as well.
Day 4 (18th May): Do something in the 1st half and at noon go to Interlaken station and from there to Lucern. Check in Lucern hotel. Explore Lucern.
Day 5 (19th May): Excursion to Mt. Titlis (morning) and Mt. Pilatus (afternoon). Explore Lucern in evening.
Day 6 (20th May): Leave for Zurich by train, reach Zurich at 9 AM, store the luggage in the locker and just walk around to have a brief feel of the city by bus/tram. Leave Zurich to Innsburg at 3 PM.
This is my plan. Now I need your help in below. I am a nature lover but cannot do too much hiking (1 hour max) but Can walk for 7/8 hours a day. On below questions you just say it, I trust your judgement and follow it blindly.
1) Please tell me if there is any issue you are finding in the plan, can you suggest anything so that I can fine tune it? Something like visit Lucern, or Stay in Interlaken not in Lauterbrunnen, or from Geneva go directly to Murren and then next day come down. I am staying in Lauterbrunnen because one of friend told me when you can stay in the Alps why to settle for entry point of Alps which is Interlaken.
2) On day 2nd half what to do exactly? So please suggest me what to do exactly?
3) On day 4th can you please suggest what exactly to do in the first half of the day?
4) What would you suggest to visit in Zurich in 4/5 hours? I know it’s too less but just to have a feel of the city. How would you want us to go there (bus/train/trum).
5) On Day 5th, Are these both on the same direction or I will have to come back to Lucern and start the 2nd Excursion?
6) Now the most important question: I shared with you all the train/boat/ Excursion we are doing. Considering all these will you suggest us to buy ‘4 day Swiss Travel Pass’ or ‘Swiss Half-Fare Card”? I know I am not doing any scenic train trips, seeing the itinerary do you still recommend to include a ‘scenic train trip’? If yes then exactly which day and from where.
I know I have asked too many questions and you will have to spend a good amount of time in calculation to answer me question 6. But I will be very very grateful to you for this.
Regards,
Rajib
Rajib,
I’ll try to help.
1) Your plan looks quite good. I think doing Titlis and Pilatus on the same day might be challenging because each of them is normally a half-day attraction and it takes time to get from one to another. I think staying in Lauterbrunnen is a good idea, but you could also stay in Wengen or Grindlewald, which are both part of the way to Jungfraujoch. All of them are lovely mountain towns, with Lauterbrunnen being more on the valley floor. Also, Geneva has a nice location along the lake, but the town itself is quite dull. It’s very famous because of all the organizations that are based there, but it’s not really a tourist town, so you might even want to skip it.
2) and 3) I really prefer not to make a firm suggestion of exactly what you should do. There are many wonderful views and hikes, and just wandering around those smaller towns is quite nice for a few hours. I’d suggest buying a guidebook or going to a website with Interlaken activities so you know what the options are and you can choose among them.
4) Zurich is very expensive, but it is a nice town for a few hours. If you can join one of the free walking tours, which encourage you to tip them at the end if you like it, I think it would work out well. The tour is mostly flat, and goes mostly alongside the river on both sides. I think there are also tour buses, but you can see more on a walking tour, and the main center of town isn’t very large.
5) Pilatus is just above the town of Lucerne, while Titlis is about 30 km to the south. You have to go through Lucerne main train station to get from one to the other, so it would take well over an hour.
6) I think the Half Fare Card would be better value for you, since it gives you 50% discount on Jungfraujoch compared to 25% off with the Swiss Travel Pass. And since you aren’t doing any of the longer scenic train trips, the savings would add up faster with the Half Fare Card. Sorry I couldn’t answer all of them for you. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thank you so much for doing all of this research and putting everything together! I’ve gotten so much out of both this article, and your other about where to stay for short visits.
I am traveling with my aunt from Germany to Switzerland, arrive June 30th, depart July 4th. We are planning to stay in Murren (your other article helped us decide this!) Based on what I have read so far, I don’t think a pass will save us any money, but I’m not sure. Would you mind giving some advice based on our itinerary? Thanks!
June 30: Flight arrives in Zurich airport around 8 AM. Transfer from Zurich Airport to Murren. Go up Schilthorn Observation Deck. Overnight in Murren.
July 1: Transfer to Junfraujoch (day trip). Overnight in Murren.
July 2: Transfer to Meiringen to see Reichanbach fall (day trip). Overnight in Murren.
July 3: Day hikes around Murren. Overnight in Murren.
July 4: Transfer Murren to Zurich Airport. Might make stops along the way. Flight departs 9 PM.
The order for July 1-3 may change depending on weather.
-Heather
Heather,
I’m very happy to hear that my research and advice has been helpful. Your itinerary looks wonderful and well planned. Murren will be a good base and it’s a lovely little town, but you might also consider staying there only one night and then moving to Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen, both of which are transit hubs in the area. Murren is 2 short cable car rides up the mountain towards Schilthorn, so it’s ideal for visiting Schilthorn, but it means taking those two rides down and then back up to see anything else around. The cable car runs every 30 minutes and it will cost around US$10 each way at full price. It’s a lovely ride, but after the first couple times the novelty will wear off.
If you stay in Lauterbrunnen or in Interlaken itself, you’ll already be closer to everything except Schilthorn. Oh, and I highly recommend walking down the hill from Murren to Gimmelwald at least once, as Gimmelwald is a very different little farming village that is worth a stroll.
Either way, I think you’d save money with a Half Fare Card, as described in the article above. It’ll give you 50% off all of your train rides, cable cars, and Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch, for US$120. Those last two are so expensive that the Half Fare Card will pay for itself on those two alone. They are also spectacular and worthwhile, so being able to save money with the Half Fare Card makes it even better.
As always, let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Firstly thanks for the information here.
Me and my girlfriend are going to Grindelwald from Frankfurt on 30/4 by train and plan to stay there for 3 days before travel to Venice.
Could you advise any interesting place or iternaries for this? and is it advisable to buy swiss travel pass or halffare pass?
I am also confused with the train ticket to Jungfrau, should we buy the return ticket as well?and can you advise how much is the price if without the travel pass? Thanks.
Kelvin,
I answered what I could in the other question. The fares from Interlaken to Jungfrau and back are in the article above. It’s CHF205 or so from Interlaken, so it’ll be a bit less leaving from Grindelwald, but not much less because the expensive part is going high up in the mountain. You should think about buying your ticket just before you want to go. Those peak attractions can be rainy or foggy, even during the summer, so it’s ideal if you know it’ll be clear up there when you go. If you lock in a time and it’s really foggy up there, it’s barely worth going. Best of luck with this. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Me and my girlfriend are planning to visit Jungfrau.
We will reach to Frankfurt on 29/4 and travel to Grindelwald on the next day by train.
We plan to have 3 days stay in Grindelwald, before travel to Venice. Could you please recommend us where should we visit, and is it advisable to buy swiss travel pass or half-fare pass? and what is the fare from Grindelwald to Jungfau? Thanks.
Kelvin,
The two best attractions in the Interlaken area are Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn Observation Deck, which is reached by cable car. Aside from those things there are scores of hikes and other things to see and do, and it’s just a matter of taste. I’m not sure of the fare from Grindelwald to Junfrau, but it’ll be around CHF190 return. Schilthorn is a bit cheaper but also expensive and also very much worth it. If you are going to do one or both of those attractions then a Half Fare Card is probably the better choice. The Swiss Travel Pass allows for free train travel on the regular trains, but only a 25% discount on Jungfraujoch. Since it doesn’t look like you are going too many regular or scenic trains, the Half Fare Card should easily pay for itself and save you more. Have a great trip. -Roger
Thanks Roger,
Can I do the Bernia Express and the Gotthard Express simultaneously.Should I spend the night at Lugano?I will start from Zurich and end up in Zurich.
As the situation is I plan to do at least 3 Scenic trains and Jungfraujoch. In such a scenario should I go for a 4 day pass or a Half fare pass?
Appreciate is you can advise me as a travel expert and a fellow traveller.Thanks.Jeet.
Biswajit,
It does look like you could do one of those scenic trains and stay in Lugano and do the other one the following day, reaching Zurich. You’ll probably want to enter the trips into sbb.ch to get the times and make sure it works in the way it looks on the map.
As for which pass to get, a Swiss Travel Pass would cover the train rides, although you’ll have to pay a seat reservation supplement on the panoramic carriages and some others, and also a 25% discount on Jungfraujoch. A Half Fare Card is obviously cheaper but it covers half the cost of each ride and half of Jungfraujoch. Since each scenic train has its own price depending on starting location, you’ll have to run the numbers. My hunch is that a 4-day Swiss Travel Pass would probably save you more because you’ll be doing extra train rides to and from Zurich as well. -Roger
Hello Roger,
I am glad that I came across your blog.Very informative.I am staying 4 nights in Zurich and 2 nights in Geneva.I will be staying at AIRBNB residences with Strict Cancellation Policy.
As the situation is I will have to do all my trips from Zurich for 3 days and Geneva for 2 days.
Please advise me on the Pass and the Scenic train rides that I can do staying at the locations.
Please include Jungfraujoch and the Golden Pass.
I don’t mind spending my entire Swiss holiday on the train.I may be able to spend one night in Lugano if the journey needs.Thank you,Jeet.
Jeet,
I do try to answer questions about these articles, but I’m not really a travel agent or trip planner. It’s a bit of a shame that you are staying in the cities because the smaller towns such as Interlaken and Lucerne are nicer and cheaper as well. Jungfraujoch is a special tourist train that leaves from the area just above Interlaken, and it’s quite expensive. A Swiss Travel Pass only gives you a 25% discount on that. But the pass allows free travel on all regular trains, and they are all very scenic in Switzerland.
I wrote about all of the scenic trains and their routes in the article above. From Zurich you can get to any of them in a couple hours, and the Swiss Travel Pass would cover everything except for your seat reservation on the special panoramic carriages if you want to take one of those. It’s probably easiest to look at a map of the scenic train rides and choose the ones that are easiest to reach from Zurich and Geneva. The trains in Switzerland are all very nice and punctual. If you have specific questions, let me know. -Roger
Hello,
This is really very useful information. I am visiting mid-April and will be staying at Lucerne for 4 days. I need to decide if to take Golden Pass journey or not. If I understand the train would be covering same route to and fro. So is it worth if I take this journey and return back to Lucerne the same night ? Also does the panoramic train and normal train have different routes? Thanks !
Paresh,
The Golden Pass has you transfer to a smaller train that goes through a very scenic valley. You can get from Lucerne to Montreax faster by going around that valley and staying on the high-speed tracks, so you can take two different routes for at least part of the way. There are a few panoramic carriages on a few morning departures each day, but they aren’t different routes. You can take the Golden Pass route at any time of day, but you don’t get the option of panoramic carriages except in those special departures.
I’ve done the whole Golden Pass and it’s really beautiful, but almost every train ride in Switzerland is beautiful. So if you are short on time you could just take the fastest trains between the cities you want to visit, and you’ll love the views. If you want to experience the panoramic carriages, which I haven’t, then you have to take the special departures. You’ll have a great time no matter what you choose. -Roger
Thank you Roger! Extremely helpful, and reassuring as it confirms what I was thinking. – Jacquie