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.
Hi,
I have been doing some research for my upcoming trip to Switzerland from 13th – 23rd May. I am reaching you to get some help in planning my itinerary. Actually, I am travelling with my family (wife, son 3.5 years and daughter 1.3 years) on 13th May arriving to Geneva and then travelling on 15th May to Interlaken and stay their till 21st May and do half day trip from Interlaken and then on 21st May back to Geneva and fly back on 23rd May.
Through my initial research I shortlisted the following places
Day 1 (15th May) check-in and just roam around Interlaken (chocolate factory).
Day 2 – roam around Interlaken / harder kulm/ kids train etc
Day 3 – Lauterbrunnen and/or Wengen and/or Murren and/or Grindelwald (may be any 2 venues/ a short walk/trekking would be great)
Day 4 – Spiez and Thun (going via cruise and coming back via train visiting castle)
Day 5 – Lucern (via golden pass if worth it or else via normal train)
Day 6 – Zurich (Optional)
Day 7 – Back to Geneva
Now keeping in mind that we have two kids (using stroller and baby carrier) and walking stamina is not high, and a temperature below 12 degree Celsius is cold for usJ, do you think it’s a good itinerary? Do you suggest some changes in the plan or recommend new places. As we are travelling from Middle East so I am sure any scenery would be amazing for us. We don’t want to have a very tiring schedule (more of an easy going). We don’t want to go on very high altitudes plus do you think during 2 week of May we can visit Flower Park in Allmendhubel?
Regarding travel pass, can you suggest which one will suit us? Do you think half-card is better or Swiss pass for 8 days? Also if you can recommend for above itinerary for each trip what mean of transport we should use (train, cable, bus etc.)
I know I have asked so many questions but I would be really grateful if you can answer them
Thanks in advance
RmR,
Your itinerary looks quite good. You seem to only have one or two things planned for each day, and even with kids that should be easy. Switzerland is very well organized and modern, so it’s easy to get around, even with kids. On Day 3 as long as the weather is fairly clear I’d recommend taking the cable car up to Murren and then walking down the hill to Gimmelwald. The scenery is stunning, especially when you are between the two towns and entering Gimmelwald. It’ll be downhill on a paved footpath, so it’s quite easy.
I wasn’t familiar with the Flower Park in Allmendhubel, but it looks very nice. Murren is at 1,638 meters and most people only seem to have altitude problems at more like 3,000 meters. Also, you’ll be walking on flat or downhill, so it’s not very strenuous.
I’d think that the Half Fare Card would be best for you. The kids can travel free and for CHF120 per adult, you should easily save enough to pay for the card. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
My plan is started from Frankfurt to Bern, and from Bern to Wengen.
Then Wengen to Milan though Spiez/Brig.
Do you think half fare card or swiss travel pass is better for this case?
Do you have any alternatives from Wengen to Milan?
Thanks.
Hello! I am very confused about passes! Ive tried and tried to work tge costs out!
9 june geneve aeroport- montreux
10 june golden pass montreux – lauterbrunnen
Already reseved VIP seat
11 jun maybe boat thun or first
12 june lauterbrunen – jungfraujoch – grindewold – interlarken lauterbrunnen
14 jun lauterbrunen – zermat
14 jun gorgernat
15 jun glacier express zermatt-chur
Reserved seat already purchased
16 jun bernina express chur – tirano -milan centrale
Reserved sewt already purchased
I figure the 8- day pass is about 250chf more with mountain trains than the half fare. Though i havent thought of a 2-day pass (glacier/bernina) and hslf fare for the start of the trip???
Oh its so hard! Really really appreciate your help!
Pipes,
I agree that it’s confusing and I’ve even written to the Swiss Travel Pass people to explain why it’s confusing. I think the 8-Day Pass will be a good buy for you since you are doing so many longer and more expensive train journeys. It can be hard to get good value out of the shorter ones, but once you get to 8 days it’s easier.
You’d have to look up those train prices on sbb.ch to see if the Half Fare Card would save you money. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Appreciate your advise on my plan for 18 to 29 Dec 2017 trip:
1. 2 Adults, 2 youth and 2 Kids under 14 yrs old
2. 18th Dec – Zurich to Lucerne (Lucerne base for next 5 nites)
3. 19th Dec – Lucerne area sights
4. 20th Dec – Mt Rigi or Pilatus
5. 21th Dec – Mt Titles – Snow Park
6. 22th Dec – Lugano (not sure yet)
7. 23th Dec – Lucerne to Interlaken (base for next 5 nites)
8. 24th Dec – Zermatt Matterhorn
9. 25th Dec – Bern
10. 26th Dec – Montreux or Lausannne or Geneva
11. 27th Dec – Ski Experience by Outdoor Sport Interlakeno
12. 28th Dec – Interlaken to Zurich (stay for 1 nite) – Go Rhine Falls
13. 29th dec – Depart from Zurich airport
We plan to buy 15 day Swiss Travel Pass for Adult, youth and family card (worth?).Looking to stay at apartments or hotels with kitchenette.
Any advise much appreciated.
Thanks
Jee
Jeeazi,
Your plan looks really good and I think the Swiss Travel Pass will be good value for you. On shorter trips it can be hard to get enough benefit out of it, but on a longer trip it’s fairly cheap on a per-day basis, so it should work well. You’ll even have time to do more than is on your list on many of those days.
The Zermatt day will be a long one, however, as it takes a bit over 2 hours from Interlaken to Zermatt before you can get on the scenic train there. But as long as you start early, you’ll be fine and it will be gorgeous.
The Swiss Family Card is free and it will allow one child to ride for free with an adult using a Swiss Travel Pass. You can get it once you get to Switzerland, or they may send them to you with your Swiss Travel Pass. This looks very well planned and I don’t really have anything else to say. Bon voyage. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Many thanks for your detailed responses thus far. I am unsure what so many of us would do without your expert knowledge!
A few further questions for me before I begin my travels in 2 weeks.
Is the best way to travel from Interlaken to Schilthorn by getting a train from Interlaken to Stechelberg and then getting the cable car up from there? Also on the Schilthorn website it gives me two options. One being a single trip and one being a roundtrip – which would need to be booked if I arrive to Stechelberg?
Also is the revolving restarant very busy on Schilthorn, should we pre book or can we book on the day?
I will also be visiting Kandersteg to go on the Mountain coaster at Oeschinen. I have tried to book the train from Interlaken to Oeschinen. Would you say it is easier to book the cable car up to Oeschinen on the day and just book the train from Interlaken to Kandersteg before hand?
Do you have any views on what the hike would be like from Oeschine down to Kandersteg?
Do you think that it would be easy to cover Interlaken to Schilthorn to Oeschine on one day or is it best to do Schilthorn on one day and Oeschine on the other day?
In regards to the travelling I will be doing in Switzerland:
Zurich to Interlaken
Interlaken to Schilthorn
Interlaken to Kanderstg
Interlaken to Zurich Airport
Would you say that the above train journeys will be the same fare if I book it now or if I book it on the day of travel from a ticket machine?
Thank you
Toral,
I’ll try your questions in order…
Yes, the best way to Schilthorn is Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen by train, then the bus to the cable car station in Stechelberg, then the cable car up. It’s all described in my article about what to do in Switzerland.
It’s technically possible to hike all the way up to Schilthorn and walk back down, so they sell cable car tickets for only the portions you want. You can buy a round-trip ticket when you get to Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen or anywhere else in Switzerland, unless you want to walk part of it.
The revolving restaurant at Schilthorn is quite big. It might fill up on the busiest days of the year, but I’d think on most days you can just get a table once you get there. Seriously, it holds several hundred people.
I’m not familiar with the mountain coaster, but I’d say it’s safe to book it when you get there. Switzerland is one of the rare countries where tickets are the same price no matter when you book. I doubt it would sell out, but maybe Tripadvisor reviews would mention that. I’m also not familiar with the hike from Oeschinen to Kandersteg, unfortunately. If it’s a popular downhill hike then I have a feeling it’s fairly easy and in very good shape. Switzerland keeps things in top condition in general.
If you start early you should be able to do Schilthorn and Oeschinen on the same day. If you start in Interlaken it will take about two hours to get to the top of Schilthorn, and two hours back. If you spend an hour up there it’s still only 5 hours, so you’d have half a day left. If you are in town for two days it might be better to do one each day, but you should be able to do both on the same day if needed.
Those domestic train tickets are the same no matter when you buy them. Since Schilthorn alone costs about CHF110 return, you could probably save money with a Half Fare Card for CHF120, but it will be close. You should be able to get the current fares on sbb.ch right now. They only sell them one month in advance. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi,
Does the 3-day Swiss pass includes the transportation from airport to Interlaken, if I want to stay at interlaken?
Once I am at Interlaken, does the swisspass includes all the regional transportion cost within interlaken?
Said,
The Swiss Travel Pass covers all normal trains in Switzerland, and this includes all the trains that go from the Zurich or Geneva Airports to anywhere else in the country. Both airports have stations on the main line, so you don’t even have to go into the city to change trains to get somewhere else.
Once you are in Interlaken you will receive a card from your hotel that allows free public transportation, which includes riding the normal trains between the two stations there, for the duration of your stay. A Swiss Travel Pass also allows for free travel on the normal trains to get to the mountain attractions, but it only allows a 50% discount on some cable cars (some are 100% included) and a 25% discount on the Jungfraujoch tourist train.
So yes, it does cover all regional transportation, but only a discount on the private cable cars and tourist trains in the mountains. -Roger
Hi agaon Roger,
I would like to know among Wengen,Lauterbrunnem,and Grindelwald,which would you highly recommed to stay overnight? I would be going to Jungraujoch,and i would need some place that easily can find restaurants and groceries,and have a great view of the mountain. 🙂
Kelvin,
All three towns are nice. I’d probably pick Wengen or Grindelwald. All 3 of them are at the base of mountains in the Alps, but Wengen is at the highest altitude, and Grindelwald is second. Honestly, they are all gorgeous, so you might just pick the one with the best hotel deal within walking distance of the train station. They are all fairly small villages of about 2,000 to 4,000 residents.
The large supermarkets in all of those towns is called Coop, and it’s bigger than you’d expect for towns that small. Each of them is located literally across from or next to the train station, and that’s also true of both of Interlaken’s train stations. There are also small restaurants near each of those train stations, so you’ll be fine at any of them. Most locals take the trains themselves, so the villages are built around the train stations. Long story short, any of them would be great. Lauterbrunnen is a bit easier to reach, but also a bit farther from Jungfrau. Best of luck with this. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thank you for your quick response.
In your blog you mention that the train cost of zurich to Interlaken is approx 50CHF however when I have used the SBB mobile app to check my train costs it is showing 140CHF for this specific train from Zurich to Interlaken only.
Which is why I am considering the Swiss travel pass.
Would you suggest it is cheaper to buy the train tickets on the day of travel instead?
Toral,
I just checked again and the slower trains (2 hours 51 minutes) from Zurich to Interlaken are CHF51 each way in 2nd Class. The faster trains (1 hour 55 minutes) are CHF70 each way in 2nd Class on the SBB.ch website. If you book a return ticket on the fast train it is CHF140. Or 1st Class one way is CHF123.
Unlike virtually every other European country, Switzerland puts its domestic tickets on sale only 30 days out, and the fares are the same no matter when you buy. Pretty much every citizen owns an annual Half Fare Card, so the trains for them are fairly cheap. You can buy a Half Fare Card for 30 days for CHF120 or so, and that will be a good deal for many travelers who are also doing Jungfraujoch and Schithorn etc. I’d think the SBB mobile app is the same prices as everything else. A Swiss Travel Pass could be worth it to you if you are taking several expensive trips in a few days. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Thanks Roger. I will buy both passes. It would be a real bummer to restrict what we do because our Swiss flex pass only covers half the days. Thanks again.
Hi Roger, thank you for such a useful blog.
I would love to know your thoughts on which is the best pass or tickets to buy for my upcoming trip.
Friday to Sunday – In Zurich
I will then catch a train from Zurich to Interlaken
I will spend Sunday to Wednesday in Interlaken.
Whilst in Interlaken, I would like to do Jungfraujoch railway and also an observation deck maybe Schilthorn.
I would also like to take a train from Interlaken to Kandersteg to do the mountain coaster.
Then I will return to Zurich on Wednesday.
Can you advise if the Swiss Pass is the best option for the above?
Toral,
I’m glad you find it helpful. Since it looks like you are doing more mountain attractions than longer scenic train trips, I think a Half Fare Card would be better value for you. It provides a 50% discount on Jungfraujoch railway as well, while the Swiss Travel Pass only gives you a 25% discount. The train rides on your list don’t look like they’ll be enough to justify the higher cost of the Swiss Travel Pass. Have a great trip and let me know if you have other questions. -Roger