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.
Hi Roger, thanks for your reply. I was about to buy the half fare card online, and while choosing mode of delivery i want to choose the online option, to avoid the courier charges of CHF 25. It mentioned that they will send the ticket at least 7 days prior to my travel date.
1) wont i need the half fare card details to book my travel from Paris to Murren?
2) since the half fare card is valid for a month. Can i choose the start date for half fare card at least 20 days prior to my actual travel date, so that i receive the half fare card sooner.
3) I read on some travel blog, that i can just book my paris to murren tickets from sbb choosing the half fare reduction, but i don’t need to input any details of the half fare card while buying the paris – murren ticket. I will need to produce the half fare card on the train itself. Is this correct ? Is this is how it works. ?
If so, i can go ahead and purchase the half fare card, train tickets from paris – murren and Murren to Basel with half fare reduction!!??? ….Please advise.
Thank you very much for your never ending support. I rem how disraught i was when i started planning this trip. Thanks to you, i feel much confident about the travel now and feel it is going to turn out to be a life time experience.
God Bless!!
Regards,
Ankit
ANKIT,
You should be able to buy your Half Fare Card and print it at home. Switzerland now allows home-printed tickets AND discount cards.
When you go to book a train ticket using the Half Fare Card, you just find the train you want and when you go to check the fare there will be a pull-down menu that asks you for which discount you want to use. Just click on that and pull it down to Half Fare Card, and the fare will be cut in half. You can then buy it and when you are on the train you just show the ticket-checker your ticket AND your Half Fare Card. So it’s kind of the honor system, except if you try to use a half-fare ticket WITHOUT a Half Fare Card you’ll be fined.
You only need to validate the HFC on the first day you actually use it.
Yes, that blog you read is correct.
Let me know if you have any other questions. I’m sure it’s going to be a great trip. -Roger
Hi Steve,
We are planning to visit Switzerland on 2nd August. Here is our itenary
2nd Aug – Land Zurich around 11:00 AM and then go to interlaken
3rd Aug – Go to Jungfraujoch and return to interlaken same day
4th Aug – Interlaken to Lucerne
5th Aug – Lucerne to Mt Titlis & return
6th Aug – Lucerne to Zurich
Which pass will be more suitable for us (2 adult and 1 child 4 year old)?
Ashish,
The Half Fare Card should be a better value for you. Since you aren’t taking any of the long, scenic train rides, and since you are also doing Jungfraujoch (50% discount instead of a 25% discount with Swiss Travel Pass), it’s clear that the Half Fare Card is the better choice. The child will travel for free no matter what because children under 6 are free in Switzerland. Have a great trip. -Roger
thanks a lot roger. you are right. I am now able to see the route available from murren to basel. as suggested by you i will soon purchase the half fare card and my tickets from paris to murren and also murren to basel airport. as of now the price difference is marginal:
Price for 2 persons:
Paris to Murren with Half fare card = CHF 432, without Half fare card = CHF 584.
Murren to Basel with Half Fare Card = CHF 85, without Half Fare card = CHF 170.
Plus the Half fare card costs CHF 240 for 2.
So without half fare card: CHF 754
With the half fare card: CHF 757
Now i want to check how much the schilthorn trip costs from murren, to further analyse the usefulness of half fare card. Unfortunately, the schilthorn website is not working and sbb website is not showing the prices. Following message comes up “Please note!
Price information is not available for the entire trip. Please take note of the portions of the trip which can be calculated.
For the desired stretch there is no connection available in the SBB Ticket Shop. Please try again by removing all via stations.”
Although i do not want to purchase the schilthorn in advance, as you mentioned it is best to check the weather on the day of the visit and then only buy the tickets, but i still want to know how much i would be saving by using the half fare card. Apart from schilthorn we may also visit near by villages and towns, so there also we may save cost using the half fare card.
Could you please suggest any other way of checking the price for schilthorn.
Thanks a lot for all your help!!!
Ankit
Ankit,
I’ve seen that message on the SBB website myself a few times as well. The price of the cable car from Murren to the top and back will be about CHF20 or so less than from the base. So it would be around CHF85 without the Half Fare Card.
Also, keep in mind that you are almost certain to take at least a few other cable car or train or bus rides while you are there. If you have the Half Fare Card those will all seem cheap, but without it they will seem expensive. Either way, I hope you have a great trip and let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi rogers planning to visit Switzerland 27th July to 3 aug 2017
travelling with family of 4 , 2 adults & 2 kids (12 yrs & 8 yrs)
Day 1 land Zurich 20:30 PM , train to Lucerne
Day 2 trip to Mt Titlis & back after that city tour in late noon
Day 3 golden pas to Interlaken over night interlaken
Day 4 Interlaken to Jungfraujoch back evening goaround nearby villages
Day 5 Interlaken to Zermatt overnoght
DAy 6 Zermatt to Zurich overnight Zurich
Day 7 back to Dubai
will a swiss travel pass be good or swiss half fare card, also do let me know if any space to squeeze some good boat ride or site seeing in this time frame. do I need to book golden pass & jungfrouch trip in advance.
Thanks
Tabrez
T.Sheikh,
In your case it could be close, but I think the Half Fare Card will be better value for you. It offers a 50% discount on Jungfraujoch compared to only 25% off with the Swiss Travel Pass, and they both offer the same 50% discount on Titlis. It doesn’t look like you are taking enough other train rides in order to justify the cost of the 8-day pass that you’d need. Since the Half Fare Card is 30 days, it will cover everything.
You should have time for the 2-hour Lucerne boat cruise, which leaves from just across from the train station, and makes quick stops at all of the nearby villages. And on the day that you travel to Zermatt you’ll have most of the day to do something in the Interlaken area if you like. There are dozens of major hikes and views and attractions in that area, so you have many choices.
For the Jungfraujoch trip it’s best to book when you are actually going. The summer is the rainy season in the Alps and it can get cloudy and even foggy there, but it usually only lasts for a few hours at a time. Jungfraujoch is not worth doing at all if you know it’s going to be foggy at the top, so most savvy travelers check the webcams on top and the weather forecast, and then go right away when conditions are good. Unless you are the last one there, you shouldn’t have trouble getting seats on the train.
As for the Goldenpass, if you want to sit in one of the special panorama carriages, you should make a reservation in advance. Otherwise it’s just simply the train between Lucerne and Interlaken. It’s very scenic, but you can see nearly everything from a normal seat in a normal carriage. Have a great trip. -Roger
and i am still confused if i should buy the half fare card. .
1) I am travelling with my wife (so we are two passengers)
2) Travel includes paris to Murren, schilthorn, day trips to lauterbrunen, gimmelwald, grindelwald, maybe wengen, and other nearby villages, and finally murren to zurich/basel(based on your suggestion to my prev question).
3) half fare cards includes Unlimited purchase of train, bus, boat and some cable car tickets at half price. but in our trip i don’t think we have any bus and boat travels. We will mostly be using train, and cable cars. and this card does not include cable car.
If you do suggest purchasing the half fare card, do you think we should buy it right away & book our tickets from paris to murren & Murren to zurich/basel, or wait till the day of travel( will there be a huge diff in price and availability of tickets).
btw we booked a double room with mountain view at Blumental hotel. Any personal exp staying there?
Sorry i know i have asked way too many questions, it is because it is inherent in my nature to cut costs & plan as much as possible. for which i am troubling you so much.
Ankit
ANKIT,
I didn’t see this additional message so here goes. The Half Fare Card DOES cover the cable cars with a 50% discount, and that includes the cable car up to Schilthorn. The train rides are generally more expensive than the buses and boat rides, so they are the main reason for buying the Half Fare Card, as well as the cable cars, of course.
Train trips within Switzerland are generally the same price no matter when you buy them. But once in a while you’ll see a “supersaver” price pop up. I’d check your dates just to see if a discounted price is being offered. The international portion of the trip, from Paris to Basel, will be cheaper the earlier you buy it. Really, as long as you are sure of your travel dates and times, it’s probably better to buy the Half Fare Card online and the train tickets to Murren as well. It’s rare for Swiss trains to completely sell out, but it can happen, and you won’t save any money by waiting. I always feel better once I have my inbound travel booked, just so there are no surprises when I get there.
The Blumental Hotel is in the heart of Murren and looks like it has a wonderful view. I haven’t stayed there, but I know the location and I think it’s ideal.
No worries with the questions. It seems that other people are reading them and this discussion helps them answer their own questions, so I don’t mind. Bon voyage and let me know if something else comes up. -Roger
hi Roger,
Ankit here again. Hope you are doing good. Finally got my schengen visa!!! I just found that the flight from basel to barcelona is almost half price compared to zurich to barcelona. Just to remind you, i would be staying in Murren from 24th july to 27th July. When checking the tickets (on sbb website)from murren to basel for 27th July, it is not allowing me to book the same. Whereas Murren to Zurich is possible for that date. Would it be possible for you to check the same. Or if you can tell me any other site from where i can book my tickets from Murren to Basel for 27th July.
Appreciate any help…
Regards,
Ankit
ANKIT,
I just checked the Murren to Basel trip on 27-July and I am seeing available tickets for the whole thing. Switzerland generally only allows you to book domestic transport tickets 30 days in advance, so these probably were just released for sale. Hopefully you’ll also find them available. My search was from Murren BLM (the mountain train) to Basel SBB, by the way. Basel has an adjacent train station called Basel Bad BF, which is officially in Germany, so it’s an international ticket. You want Basel SBB if you are going to Paris.
The other complicated thing about this could be that in some cases they won’t let you book cable car rides as part of longer train tickets, even through sbb.ch. The workaround for that is to book a train ticket from Lauterbrunnen to your destination, and then just pay for the cable car and bus when you are there. They are cheap, and the same price no matter when you buy them. They go every 30 minutes all day. Let me know if you need any more help. -Roger
My husband and I will be traveling to Switzerland at the end of July and we will be flying into Zurich. We are both under 26.
Day 1: Land in Zurich in the evening
Day 2: Explore Zurich, take train to Lucerne in the evening
Day 3: Explore Lucerne, visit Mt. Pilatus
Day 4: Explore Lucerne, leave in the evening to Milan
We want to visit Mt. Pilatus and are trying to decide if buying a 3 day Swiss Travel Pass is worth it. Since we are under 26, I know it is cheaper. I am trying to figure out if the entirety of Mt. Pilatus (cogwheel and cable car) is included in the travel pass. I know the train or boat ride to the base is included. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Mikayla,
In my 7.5 years of running this website, the Swiss Travel Pass is still the single most confusing program I’m aware of. From what I can see, Mt Rigi is fully included with a Swiss Travel Pass, but Mt Pilatus is only a 50% discount. Since you don’t seem to be taking too many other train rides, I think it’s possible that the Half Fare Card will be better value, although not by too much. If you keep to that itinerary you mentioned it would come pretty close, I think, and both would be much better than paying fully as you go.
Another thing I can’t help myself from mentioning is that Zurich is pretty dull for a large and famous city, and it’s shockingly expensive as well. Meanwhile, the scenery everywhere else in Switzerland is remarkable and hotels and restaurants even in the touristy mountain areas tend to be a bit less expensive than in Zurich. So if you have specific things you want to see in Zurich, then visit for a day as you plan. But I implore people to NOT spend time in Zurich just because it’s a big and famous city, especially since it’s so expensive. The trains in Switzerland run until around midnight between large cities, so you could probably land in Zurich and take a train directly from the airport to Lucerne, even if you land at 21:00. And you might consider a day or so in Interlaken as well. I hope this helps and I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m nagging you. 🙂 -Roger
Thanks a lot Roger for all the information and prompt replies!
Prachi
Hi Roger,
First of all, i want to thank you for clearing out half of my doubts even before posting the questions as i was going through the q&a’s above! This is such an informative blog and really appreciate the systematic way in which you give responses!
Coming to my trip plan, me and my husband would be visiting Switzerland on September 19th till 26th(8 days).. itenery below..
19th -flight to Zurich
19th- Train to Lucerne(no activities as such on 19th)
20-21st – Mt Pilatus and Rhine falls
21st Train to Zermatt by evening and stay there
22nd- visit Matterhorn peak and travel to interlaken by evening
23rd- Schilthorn 24th-visit Jungfrau and travel by train to Montreux
25-26th- chocolate train, chillion castle etc
26th evening- return to zurich and take fight back home
We will be taking the Swiss travel pass for 8 days as I clearly see thats the best option by reading your article
1. Is 3rd week of September a good time to visit Switzerland?(we’ve already booked tickets though! This is just for a confirmation)
2. We need more clarity on Schilthorn as well as Jungfrau part
3. Will it be possible to visit Matterhorn in half a day as we have to travel to interlaken on the same day.
4.any more suggestions from your end which we can include in our itenary?(within the places we are planning to visit)
Thanks in advance 🙂
Sarah,
I’m always happy to hear that this stuff helps.
1. Yes, I think September is a great time. It’s still warm enough to enjoy, and the summer rainy season in the Alps is mostly over so you’ll have a better chance at good weather for each of your mountain excursions.
2. I’m not sure what you mean by this. Schilthorn is reached by a series of cable cars, leaving from Stechelberg, which is near Lauterbrunnen. Jungfraujoch is a special train that goes to the highest train station in Europe. Both are very different.
3. There are several different ways to see the Matterhorn in Zermatt. I think Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, which is reached by cable car, is the most popular. Most people budget half a day for that, or most of the other cable car trips. The train trip from Zermatt to Interlaken takes about 2 hours 20 minutes, so you should have no trouble doing that all in one day. The trains go well into the evening.
4. I think your plan looks very good and I agree that the Swiss Travel Pass will be your best value. It looks like an excellent trip. Bon voyage. -Roger
Hi
first of all thanks for this great site.Hats off to u .it helps a lot in planning trip to Switzerland..
we are 2 adults travelling to Switzerland next week for 7 days…
2 days in Zurich – have some official work so would not be able to do any sightseeing..
4 days in Interlaken.. – planing following trips from interlaken –
on day of arrival from Zurich to interlaken via lucerne (golden pass) do lake Brienz or lake Thun and go to Murren / wengen / Gimmewald
then 1 day top of Europe – Jungfraujoch
1 day mount pilatus and mount rigi;
1 day golden pass till Mountreaux including trip to chillon de castle and Vevey ( cruise on lake Geneva)
last day – early morning Interlaken to Zurich airport for flight..
i am planning for a 4 days swiss travel pass ( 4 days when staying in interaken )
the cost of train ticket from interlaken to Zurich airport is CHF 75 which i will have to pay..
Any suggestion for a different travel pass/ half fare pass??
also kindly advise any suggestion for the changes in itinerary or anything else can be squeezed into comfortably??
what about doing shillthorn in place of pilatus / rigi ??
kindly reply ASAP
Himz,
I think the 4-day Swiss Travel Pass is probably your best bet. You have enough included train rides and other things on your list that it should easily pay for itself, and save you more than the Half Fare Card.
Your itinerary looks quite good. The one main suggestion I’d make it to stay flexible on when you are planning on going to those peak attractions such as Jungfraujoch. It can be rainy and/or cloudy in the Alps in summer, although the storms usually pass quickly. So savvy visitors wait until they check the current weather conditions at the top (there are web cams for all of them, I think), and then go right then. If it’s cloudy up top you can do something else on your list.
Schilthorn is really amazing and since it’s in the Interlaken area I think I’d do it over Pilatus or Rigi. It’s very different from Jungfraujoch. If it’s clear up there, you’ll love it. -Roger