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.
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 Roger for the above; really helpful. I was planning to buy a half fare card and had a couple of queries:
1. Where do I book the panoramic trains, other sceinic trains, cable cars, mountain excursions etc. online using the half fare card discount?
2. Is it mandatory to pay for seat reservation on the panoramic train even for a regular seat?
Thanks in Advance 🙂
Anubhav,
Sorry about the delayed response as I was moving. You can book your panoramic trains on sbb.com, along with everything else in Switzerland. When you are almost ready to check out it will ask if you have a Half Fare Card or other discount and you can check that you do. You can buy a half fare ticket and then when you go to use it they will ask to see it in person, so you just have to buy it before you actually use the tickets you bought.
On the panoramic trains there are a few carriages configured with different seats and often glass ceilings and in those carriages you need to reserve a seat. But the rest of the carriages are just normal Swiss trains and you don’t need a reservation. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
I plan to stay 12 nights in Lucerne
Want to see mt titlis mt rigi mt Pilates lake Lucerne boat ride
Interlaken , lauterbrennen grindelwald
Is Swiss travel pass or half fare card better.
How much advance we can buy Swiss travel pass.
Annapurna,
When you are staying at least 8 days in Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass is almost impossible to beat on price. The per-day cost is quite low for the longer passes so I would definitely plan on getting the 15-day one, which is only slightly more expensive than the 8-day one. I think you can buy them a year in advance and then just activate them when you arrive. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
If I buy Swiss travel pass all the trains going from Interlaken to lauterbrennen grindelwald Lucerne Zurich will be free .?
May be the cable cars may not be covered I am thinking
Anna,
Yes, with a Swiss Travel Pass, all of those trains are included and many cable cars. For example, on the cable car from the Lauterbrunnen Valley up to Schilthorn, the first two legs to Gimmelwald and Murren are included free, but there is only a 50% discount on the remaining two legs up to the top. It’s fairly confusing, but it’s all listed on the SBB.com website. -Roger
I was wrong. You were right. Sorry for that last post. The GA Pass is given out to non-citizens only if they are frequent visitors, which requires a lot of documentation, which is almost always business related, and almost always includes a local address or office. That said, I’m stunned that the Swiss would price a Swiss Travel Card for 30 days (2 15-day cards) at ~4X the price of a 30 day GA Card. I have four days that we must travel regardless, and will buy four Saver Cards for those days per your suggestion (thanks), plus a 15 of 30 day Swiss Flex Travel Pass … giving me 19 days free rides … plus a 30 day Half Price Card for the rest of the 36 days we are in-country. That appears to be the best combo for us tourists who favor long, slow tours of the countries we visit. Been to this for 22 year now and never have come across so daunting and confusing a transport system before. Best, MPB
Roger: follow-on to the comment of Jan 22 re the GA vs Swiss Travel Passes. It appears the GA Pass at CHF695 for 30 days is available for tourists but only 50% discounts on panoramic trains (see map referenced at site), while the Swiss Pass at CHF675 for 15 days covers those trains 100%. Here’s the sites I’m using:
https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/railpasses/ga/ga-1-month.html
https://swisstravelpass.com/
The GA Pass would be the better buy if you’re only doing one of those ‘big’ trains? What am I not understanding here. Many thanks, MPB
Couples trip to Switzerland. Planning on the 15 day Swiss pass as we’ll be traveling exclusively by train between our base cities then venturing to Interlaken, grindelwald, lusanne, etc. plus the Glacier Express from Zermatt tonSt Moritz. Do you agree 15 day Swiss pass is the right purchase?
Freddy,
Thanks to the low per-day price for the longer passes, I definitely think it’s the best option. And even if it’s a close call, I recommend getting the full pass anyway. It’s really a great feeling to just be able to hop on any train or boat or cable car that you come across, and you’ll definitely find more things to use the pass on once you are there and figuring out your days. I’m jealous! -Roger
We’re planning a 30+ day trip; ‘hub and spoke’ strategy. Four cities, a week each, day trips into each region from there. The math, thanks to you, is becoming much clear. Card names still murky. What is the difference if any between the GA Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass, and Swiss Saver Day Pass? Aside: I can see doing a mix … for instance, 15 Day Flexible Swiss Pass for expensive trip days, and 30 Day Half Price Card for the 50% discount venues and ‘common’ trains etc. Many thanks, MPB
Michael,
The GA Travel Card name is fairly new and I think it’s the version meant for Swiss citizens that get them for the whole year and pay monthly. The Swiss Travel Card is the one with travel and also most mountain tourist trains and museums and such, and the Saver Day Pass is just a one-day Swiss Travel Pass. I think your strategy sounds great and as long as you buy those Saver Day Passes a few weeks out or more, they are very cheap. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thank you for taking the time to explain about the Swiss travel pass. The website doesn’t give much information. My husband and I will be travelling to Switzerland for 18 days from May 23 and leaving from Geneva on the 9th of June. My idea is to purchase the 15 days travel pass and the last leg of our journey is the Jungfrau region and stay there for at least 4 days, after the 15 days of the pass and will purchase the Oberland regional pass. Is it a good idea.
Thank you and looking forward for your reply.
Tricia,
That sounds like a great idea. The Oberland regional pass is a great deal as long as you are staying only in that area, and after 15 days with the full pass, you’ll have seen and done everything else so you can focus on the amazing Lauterbrunnen Valley. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I am traveling for my 67 retirement birthday in Switzerland, arriving in Geneva on May 13 June 4. I need ypur advise and assistance if it is better for me to purchase The Swiss Half Fare Card? I will travel to Interlaken for 3-4 nights, to lucerne for 4 nights, Basel 4 nights back to geneva. Can I use the Swiss Half Fare card for busses for the 3 cities I mentioned?
May 28 will be traveling in Milan, Italy for 5 nights back to geneva. Can I use the card to go around geneva with. The Swiss Half fare card?
I will appreciate your kind attention and response.
Thank your
Jean Macaranas
Jean,
My understanding is that the Half Fare Card is valid for 50% off all transportation within Switzerland except a few of the private mountain railroads and cable cars, so it should get you 50% off on public transport in Geneva and all other towns, along with the trains between cities. The procedure is similar in all cases where you go to a ticket machine or a ticket window and ask for a half-fare ticket. Interestingly enough, most of the tickets they sell are half fare tickets because most Swiss residents buy an annual one. The only thing you need to remember is when they check your ticket on a train or bus, if you show them a Half Fare ticket you also need to show a valid Half Fare Card. It should be easy and nearly everyone you’ll encounter will speak decent English in those places. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Comment*we will be arriving in Zurich June 16 and taking the train to Bern for one night. Then on to Lauterbrunnen for 1 night, Interlaken for 3 and Lucerne for 2. We will be doing the Golden pass also. We we be better with the Swiss pas or Swiss half with the Oberland pass. June 23 we need to be in Basel for a river cruise. A little confused about the passes. HELP
Mary Ann,
That is a close call and it would depend on what you would do in each area. You’d have to add up all of the things you’d do and check each one. However, I think you’d probably get more use out of the full Swiss Travel Pass. With those days in Lucerne and the Golden Pass and the trip to Basel, those things could add up to quite a lot even with the Half Fare Card. Again, it mostly depends on what you’d do while in Lucerne, and I’d recommend getting the full pass and doing the boat cruise and going up and down Mt. Rigi, which is all fully included. My hunch is you’d save more money that way and definitely have more peace of mind. When you have the full pass it’s really nice to just be able to hop on and off those amazing trains and cable cars, while with the Half Fare Card the fares are still a bit pricey. Have fun and let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger, two retired women plan to spend 10 days in Switzerland starting from Zurich finishing Innsbruck via rail. We like to do as many scenic trains inclding Jungfrau & Bernina.
Would you mind giving us some ideas as to what cities & how many nights to stay. Initially, we had 2 nights in Zurich, 3 N in Lucern, 3 N in Interlaken, 3 N in Chur, 2 N in Innsbruck but found we need to change trains for some of the routes.
As we have luggage we feel it’ll be a bit of an issue changing trains. Your advice will be most welcome. Thank you.
Teresa,
That sounds like a great trip. As I mention so often here, I wouldn’t stay in Zurich any longer than you’d need to see things there high on your list. It’s very expensive and fairly dull, especially compared to the amazing scenery in the country. I’d spend 1 night there just for a quick look. I think 3 or 4 nights in the Interlaken area, and specially in the Lauterbrunnen Valley will be the highlight. And 3 nights in Lucern should be great as well. Two nights in Chur should be good before or after the Bernina Express. And I think 2 nights in Zermatt could be great as well.
The Bernina Express will be fantastic, and you can do most of the GoldenPass just going between those cities as well. Fortunately, pretty much every train ride in Switzerland is extremely scenic, with the exception of the suburbs of Zurich, and even those are pretty nice. So my advice would be to choose the places you want to visit and mostly just enjoy the amazing scenery between them. Speaking of that, Innsbruck is primarily a ski and snowboard center and not really a great tourist town aside from that. If you could visit Salzburg instead you’d enjoy it more (unless you are going skiing), although that might mess up your onward travel plans.
Another thing to consider is the weather, as it can actually be foggy or cloudy on the mountain tops any day of the year, and the summer tends to be the rainy season. In other words, it really helps to be flexible and have a backup plan. For example, if you are planning on doing Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn on a particular day and it’s looking like terrible weather that whole day (there is no point in going up mountains if there is zero visibility at the top), you could go to Bern for the day or even for a night. Bern is the most interesting and scenic of the Swiss cities, and in 10 days you might find a good day to visit. Doing the Swiss Travel Pass for a 10 day trip is great because it gives you the flexibility to change your plans in an instant. The only train reservations you need are for the panoramic carriages on the specific scenic routes, and otherwise you can just climb aboard and go anywhere with the pass. I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger