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. And this article about where to stay while in Lucerne should be helpful.
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.
Sure noted Roger. Thank you for the advice!
Hi Roger! Need your help and advice if my husband and I should purchase the Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half-Fare Card. Our travel plans in Switzerland coming August are as follows:
3 Aug – Zurich Airport to Lucerne
4 Aug – Walk around Lucerne
5 Aug – Lucerne to Thun
6 Aug – Thun->Interlaken->Lauterbrunnen-> Kleine Scheidegg->Jungfraujoch->Thun
7 Aug – Thun to Milan
Thank you 🙂
Cheryl,
The Half Fare Card should be the better value for you. Since it gives a 50% discount for Jungfraujoch compared to the 25% discount with a Swiss Travel Pass, that gives it a big advantage. The Swiss Travel Pass is really only better for those who are doing at least a couple of the longer scenic train rides. The peak attractions are typically better value with the Half Fare Card. Have a wonderful trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I have a friend who has just been relocated to work in Geneva, Switzerland for a duration of a few years. I and another friend will be visiting him and this is the the first time we are travelling to Switzerland and throughout I will stay in his apartment (except for one night in Interlaken).
If all three of us were to stay in Interlaken for a night and take a day drip from Interlaken up to Jungfraujoch, and then return to Interlaken, and ultimately return to Geneva, should I get the half fare pass? Any other pass that can help us save money as we travel from Geneva to Interlaken and to Jungfraujoch (ultimately will return to Geneva)?
Would your answer be different if I add in one more trip: the cable car ride up to Schilthorn (that means going to Jungfraujoch and also Schilthorn)?
Thank you Roger.
Jo,
I think the Half Fare Card will be your best bet whether you do one of those amazing peak attractions or both. Just one trip from Geneva to the top of Schilthorn and back should pay for the Half Fare Card, and Jungfraujoch almost covers the cost by itself, even without the normal trains from Geneva and back. The Half Fare Card is really an excellent deal for anyone who wants to do more than just a couple normal train rides in Switzerland. And once you have it you’ll find that the other little things like cable cars and cogwheel trains are suddenly a reasonable price. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger. The Swiss Travel Pass is available in a Print@Home version. If I buy online, can I travel with that print version ? Or should I have the card, too ?
I’ve seen that if you buy online, you get at home the card and pay for the delivery. Thank you.
Ancuta,
Yes, the Print At Home version of the Swiss Travel Pass is valid exactly like the old fashion version that you get in person or by post. As far as I know you won’t have to pay to have a physical version of the pass delivered. I haven’t used this method myself in Switzerland, but I’ve done it in many other European countries and it’s very standard now. Have a wonderful trip. -Roger
Hi Roger.
I will buy the Swiss Travel Card. I want to know how can I make only reservation on normal train, without paying the train ticket ( because the ticket is included in the Swiss Travel Pass ). Thanks !
Maria,
As far as I’m aware, the normal intercity trains in Switzerland do NOT require a seat reservation at all, so you just climb aboard and show your pass to the ticket person when they come by. The panorama carriages require a seat reservation, but normal carriages on the same trains do not. Trains that leave Switzerland will require a seat reservation, but if you are just going from one place in Switzerland to another, you can just hop aboard. -Roger
great information here, but i still have trouble deciding if swiss travel pass or half fare pass or neither is best option. we’ll take train zurich to interlaken, spend 4 nights in interlaken, then train to milan, italy. any suggestions about a discount pass … it seems unlikely it will be worth it. we are 2 adults and 2 teens, ages 17 and 13, so the 13 year old gets half price fare without any pass, free with a pass.
also, what would you recommend for our 3 full days in interlaken area. we’re thinking about schilthorn if it’s a clear day, maybe schynigge platte but don’t know if it makes sense to do both of those if similar; very interested in lautterbrunnen valley with all the waterfalls, would also like to explore small villages (maybe grimmelwald?), and maybe aare gorge. can any of these be combined in one day? are there other “must sees” in the area? we don’t want a lot of time on transportation, would like easy walks but not strenuous hiking. would appreciate any feedback.
thanks much, becca
Becca,
Especially if you are going to do Schilthorn or Schynige Platte, I’m very confident that a Half Fare Card would be very good value. As you probably know, it costs CHF120 for each person over 15, and it’s good for 30 days. Since it literally gives you a 50% discount on almost everything in Switzerland, it pays for itself with CHF240 worth of rides. Schilthorn alone costs half of that, and getting from Zurich to Interlaken and from Interlaken to the Italian border will make up the difference by themselves. In other words, transportation in Switzerland is annoyingly expensive if you are paying full price, but pleasantly affordable with the Half Fare Card.
Most of the short cable car rides will cost around CHF10 each way, and if you really want to enjoy your time there you’ll be doing quite a few of those. So really in my opinion it’s best to just pay the CHF120 for the Half Fare Card and then try to get as much use out of it as possible when you get there. And of course the 13-year-old can travel free along with someone with a pass, so it’s really a great deal.
I haven’t done Schynige Platte myself, but it looks to be quite different from Schilthorn, even though they are both lookouts in the same part of the Alps. The views from each peak are surprisingly different, and each magnificent. Schilthorn is reached by a fun cable car ride and there is a revolving restaurant on top called Piz Gloria, as well as a pretty good James Bond attraction that is included in the price. The food and drink prices at Piz Gloria are similar to other Swiss restaurants (none of which are cheap), so having lunch and a drink up there and enjoying a full revolution of the view is something you’ll never forget, as long as the weather is decent, as you mentioned.
My advice for Schilthorn is to take the cable car all the way up and then on the way down get off in Murren. Walk around there a bit and then walk down the hill 15 minutes to Gimmelwald, which is a tiny farming village that shares a jaw-dropping Alpine view. Then take the cable car down to Stechelberg from there. You can do many little hikes, most of which are flat or downhill, by taking cable cars like this. Jungfraujoch of course is the other top attraction, and it’s very different from Schilthorn as well. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Great blog! I’m trying to unravel information about a trip we are making as a family of four (2 adults; 2 children under 13) to Wengen (24 July – 9 August). We are flying in and out of Zurich. Would like to take the train from Zurich to Interlaken via Lucerne if possible, although it looks like going via Bern might be more expedient. Once in Wengen, we are doing various trips by train, cable car and boat on Lakes Thun and Brienz. Will certainly look to visit Jungfraujoch, Gimmelwald and Murren but would also potentially like to venture further afield if we can make the train times/tickets/logistics work.
Really want some advice about which pass is best to get for the length of stay and the most cost effective version for a family. Obviously Wengen is car free, so potentially will be using the train a good deal.
Any help much appreciated.
Best wishes,
Andrew
Andrew,
This is a tricky one. It looks like your trip will be 16 days, which is a long time in Switzerland for most people. The obvious choices would be the 15-Day Swiss Travel Pass or the 30-day Half Fare Card. The Swiss Travel Pass really does become a very good deal for longer trips like that because the per-day price becomes so low. My hunch is that the pass would be a better deal than the Half Fare Card. I’ve used Eurail Passes and the like quite a few times, and I can’t tell you the joy of just being able to hop on any train as you please. The pass also covers many of (but not all) of the cable cars and cogwheel trains, which it sounds like you’ll be going on quite a bit if you are staying in Wengen.
You only get a 25% discount on Jungfraujoch compared to 50% off with the Half Fare Card. But aside from that I think you could save much more with the full pass. Once you have a pass like that you’ll find many places to go and things to do that you might not even if you had to pay 50% for them.
With either one you’ll be able to get a free Swiss Family Card, which will allow the kids to ride free with you guys on normal trains and some cable cars as well. Switzerland can be very good value for families with that card. You’d still have to pay for the kids on Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn, but again, you’ll save so much in other ways that it’s a small price to pay. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Roger, Can you give us some of your expert advice and opinions regarding our plan:
My wife and I are meeting our daughter in Geneva. We arrive on June 8th. We plan to be in Geneva with our daughter until June 11. Our plan is to rest and walk on the 8th, visit CERN on the 9th and on the 10th, Saturday do a day trip somewhere. We were thinking about Gruyeres then would go back to Geneva (with daughter). We had thought to go to Gruyeres via Montreux to take advantage of the golden pass train. On Sunday, we head to Lucerne. We stay one night, then head to Interlaken area for two days. We are staying in both Murren and Wengen, and plan to sightsee, hike and head up the mountain. On June 14th, we return to Geneva and head home on 15th.
Can you help us tweak the above to take the most advantage of the routes/scenery, etc. and let us know if in your opinion if a travel pass is worth it, and if so which one?
Thank you so much.
Teodoro,
I answered some similar questions for someone named Bee in the comments below the main article on where to go in Switzerland. I’m guessing that is your wife? Either way, after reading that if you still have questions, let me know. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Your site is really helpful and I’ve bookmarked for future reference!
My family of four (me, husband and two boys that are 9 years old) along with my brother in law will be staying in an Airbnb in Bonigen from July 9-13. Just wondering if it would be worth for us to get a Swiss Pass or not. Here’s how we’ll be coming/going:
7/9 – Basel SBB to Interlaken OST
7/10-7/12: open to adventures (maybe ropes course or zipline, hiking, Jungraujoch, etc.)
7/13 – Interlaken OST to Milan
Any suggestions is greatly appreciated! Thank you much in advance!
Lucy
Lucy,
The key to which pass, if any, is the best deal for you would lie in what you want to do on those 3 days in the Interlaken area. I’m no expert on a lot of the pure adventure stuff in that area such as the ropes courses and ziplines and whatnot, although I do know that those things are popular there. Most of those activities would not be covered by the Swiss Travel Pass or a Half Fare Card, as far as I know. But Jungfraujoch, which is quite expensive, is covered for a 50% discount on the Half Fare Card and only a 25% discount on the Swiss Travel Pass.
Aside from Jungfraujoch, the other top highlight in the Interlaken area is Schilthorn, which is covered by a 50% discount with either card. Hiking, obviously, is mostly free, but most of the best Alps hikes are accessible by taking a cable car or cogwheel train up and then walking down or coming down the same way you went up. I’m not sure how much this helps, but you really have to figure out if you want to focus more on the things that are covered by the Swiss passes or more of the private adventure attractions in the area. Based on that answer, you’ll probably know which pass to get or not. That Half Fare Card would probably pay for itself just for the train rides you are taking in and out of Switzerland. You should also be able to get a free Swiss Family Card, which will allow the boys to ride for free with the parents. Have a great trip. -Roger
Roger,
Thank you for the great information. I am finding it to be very helpful. I have one question that I am hoping you can clear up for me.
My family (party of 6) will be spending 4 nights in a hotel in Grindelwald later this month. We plan to spend our entire time in the mountains. We will be taking the train up to Jungfraujach and visiting places such as Gimmelwald, Murren, Wegen, etc. My question for you is whether buying a travel pass makes sense? I am unclear if these passes will provide a discount on the various cable cars/trains on the mountain. Any clarity you can provide would be much appreciated.
Ps, we have a rental car and our rental property provides free parking.
Thank you in advance and keep up the great work,
Bill
Bill,
A Swiss Travel Pass does indeed cover a few of the cable cars and cogwheel rail lines where cars can’t go, and it gives a 50% discount (only 25% on Jungfraujoch) to the others. But since you’ll have a car I really doubt you’d get value out of one. I’d say that you’ll be best off with the Half Fare Card, which gives a 50% discount on Jungfraujoch, and that ride alone almost pays for the Half Fare Card. You’ll get very good value out of that.
And you can definitely drive to some of the places you want to visit, even if you have to take cable cars into the mountains such as in Gimmelwald and Murren. With free parking in Grindelwald like that, you should be able to get the best of both worlds. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger