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 so much for the great info on here! Just trying to compare my costs of a swiss pass vs the half fare card. Can you tell me what transports are MORE expensive with the travel pass than the half-fare card? Occasionally I see reference that the pass gets a 25% discount sometimes whereas the half-fare card is still half… Thanks very much!
Lori,
The only one where the Swiss Travel Pass costs more is the Jungfraujoch railway, which has a 25% discount rather than the 50% discount with the Half Fare Card. The other expensive nearby attraction is Schilthorn, and both cards provide a 50% discount. The travel pass covers nearly all normal train rides and even the trip up to Mt. Rigi. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
hi Roger,
i came across your website. and it’s a life saver! i got very confused about planning this Swiss trip and would like some suggestions.
we will arrive in Bern on Sept 21st. we have only 4 days (3 full days to explore Swiss).
so according to what i read, this is what we come up with:
day 1 – arrived at Bern in the morning (03:40), stroll around for half a day then around noon take train to Interlaken.
stay in Interlaken
day 2 – Exploring Lauterbrunnen/Gimmelwald/Murren (AND SCHILTHORN – if the weather permits). stay in Interlaken
day 3 – early morning take train to Lucern, explore Lucern
at night take train to Basel (stay in Basel, because our flight the next morning at 9:00 in from Basel, we’re afraid we might not make it .
day 4 – fly home from Basel(BSL) at 9:05
my questions are:
1. do you think it’s better to buy ticket on the go with this type of itinerary or buy the half fare card?
2. is it possible to do the whole thing (lauterbrunner etc) in a day? Or should i split it between day 1 and two. We’re really interested to walk down from Murren to Gimmelwald as you suggested.
3. Stay in Murren/Gimmelwald or Interlaken with this kind of itinerary. I think spending at least a night in the small town would be lovely
4. is it better to stay at Lucern day 3 and early in the morning the next day take train to Basel? or after a day trip in Lucern, we stay in Basel?
Thank you so much for your help!
Sendy,
1. Definitely buy the Half Fare Card. It will pay for itself by the second day, and Schilthorn itself pays for almost half of it.
2. Yes, you can go to the top of Schilthorn first and then take the cable car back down to Murren. You could spend 30 minutes in that town and then another 15 minutes walking down to Gimmelwald, and then get on the cable car for the last step down. Then take the waiting bus back to the Lauterbrunnen train station, and you’ll see the waterfall as you pass. Then you can walk around Lauterbrunnen for 30 to 60 minutes before taking the train back to Interlaken. All of that can be done in 6 hours or so, so you’d have time for something else if you started early.
3. If you can stay in Gimmelwald you’ll love it. Some hotels require 2 nights minimum, but I think some do one night. Murren is also lovely, although it’s much more touristy and crowded.
4. I would stay in Lucerne. There is a train leaving Lucerne at 5:54am and arriving at Basel SBB at 6:55am. Then you take a bus in 10 minutes to the airport from there. The Swiss trains are famously punctual so you wouldn’t have to worry about missing your flight. If that feels cutting it too close then staying in Basel would be okay. The town center is nice looking for a little stroll. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi
My itinerary is for 2 people:
2nd Sept – zurich to interlaken to Beatenburg.
Lake thun boat ride and paragliding.
3rd sept – beatenburg to Interlaken happy inn lodge. Trip to jungfrau and back.
4th sept – interlaken to schilton hotel and back.
5th sept – interlaken to zurich
Kindly recommend should i buy tickets on the go or should i get swiss travel pass or half fare card?
Regards
Sam,
You’ll definitely want to get the Half Fare Card for this. A Swiss Travel Pass is good value for someone doing several longer train trips, but the Half Fare Card is a much better option for someone doing a few shorter train rides and also the expensive mountain attractions. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi
i am visiting switzerland with my husband in mid-october.
DAY 1. 6TH OCT- Arrive at zurich Airport at 9am. travel to interlaken. stay at lauterbrunnen. explore lauterbrinnen for rest of the day.
Day 2. 7th OCT- lauterbrunnen-jungfraujoch.
(lauterbrunnen-klein scheidegg-jungfraujoch-grindelwald-wengen-lauterbrunnen)
Day 3. 8th OCT- Interlaken-winderswil-schynige platte-interlaken OR
schilthorn
(cable car to grutscalp-train to murren- cable car to schilthorn/stechelberg-lauterbrunnen
if weather is not good we will do boat ride on lake brienz and back to interlaken by train from brienz.
Day3. 10th oct- interlaken-lucern. explore lucern city.
day 4- 11TH OCT- do round trip to MOUNT RIGI.
day 5. 12th Oct- LUCERN-ZURICH, explore zurich. take a train to milan from zurich.
this is the itinerary planned so far. can you suggest any way to travel to italy from switxerland by train. our next stop is milan /venice, any city is convinient for us to touch down italy. and which card will suit up our trip. is pariss pass worth it? for 6 days of travel or half fare card? is there a golden pass line from interlakne to lucerne. what else can you suggest.
Poonam,
I’ll try to answer your questions in order…
You can take a train from Lucerne to Milan in 3 hours 17 minutes with one change in Arth-Goldau, which is just north of Mt. Rigi. It’s one of Europe’s most beautiful train rides through the Alps. From Milan to Venice takes 2 hours 13 minutes with no train changes, but the trains in Italy are often late. Milan is interesting for a day or so although it’s not very “Italian” compared to Venice, Florence, or Rome.
The Half Fare Card should be the best value for you, especially as you are planning to do Jungfraujoch.
The Paris Pass is great as long as you are planning on taking the (highly recommend) hop-on, hop-off bus and also the Seine cruise in the evening, along with the other main sights such as the Louvre and the Arch de Triomphe. I can answer questions about that at the bottom of the post linked above.
The Goldenpass train does go from Lucerne through Interlaken and to Monteux. The Lucerne to Interlaken leg is very scenic, but not quite as scenic as the part going through the valley to the west of Interlaken. You’ll enjoy that train ride whether you are in a panorama carriage or not. All of Switzerland is gorgeous, except for the areas just around Zurich, which are still not bad. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
THank you very much roger! You have been very helpful to us.
May i ask for any suggestion on what you think will be the best 6 day itinerary in switzerland for me and my husband (in our 40s) and my 11 year old daughter. Thank you in advance. God bless you
Marie,
Most of my best itinerary advice is contained in my main article on where to go in Switzerland on a short stay. The short version is that the Interlaken area has the most dramatic sights and views so I’d recommend 3 days or so there. I’d spend at least 2 other days in Lucerne, or perhaps all 3. Or you could spend one day in Bern or Zermatt or Appenzell or any other place you fancy. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Thanks so much! My best guess (taking into account the Riviera pass & Ticino tkts we’ll be given at the hotels) is that the 8day pass will save us about $350 total (for the 4 of us). Thanks much for your help!
Hi should I buy the half price pass or 4 day pass for Switzerland as I will stay 2 nights in Interlaken n do the jungfrau scenic train plus any other tourist rides then 2 nights in Lucerne and 2 nights in Zurich I will travel from Interlaken to Lucerne then later to Zurich by train n also use public transport in Zurich to travel to the airport to fly out ?
Can you help me Sarah .
Sarah,
Most of the scenic trains in Switzerland are fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, but for Jungfraujoch you only get a 25% discount off the US$205 or so fare. With the Half Fare Card you get a 50% discount, and that extra discount pays for almost half of your Half Fare Card already. Your other train trips aren’t nearly as expensive, so the Half Fare Card will pay for itself sooner with those as well.
The Zurich Airport is on the normal train line and it’s just 9 minutes away from Zurich central station at a cost of CHF3.40 with a Half Fare Card. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Roger,
Thank you so much for your reply and suggestion.
Actually, I stated extra one day of stay in Switzerland. So total is 6 days. Let say the first day arrive in Switzerland, we are travelling from Venice to Zermatt, we are not travelling anywhere else. And for the last day at Zurich, we will be visiting around at Zurich only.
So if we are buying the 4 days Swiss Pass and the last day in Zurich, probably we will just get a day pass or travel pass of Zurich. Would it be more worth to get the Swiss travel pass than the Half Fare Card in this case?
Also, basically for the train travel between city in Switzerland, is it advisable to purchase online before we arrive at Switzerland or it is alright to purchase them from the counter when we arrive in Switzerland?
Thank you.
Cheers,
Ally
Ally,
I still think the Half Fare Card will save you more, partly because it saves an extra US$50 or so on Jungfraujoch alone compared to the Swiss Travel Pass. And you don’t seem to be doing enough longer train rides or included cable cars to pay for the 4-day Swiss Travel Pass.
For trains in Switzerland you want to buy your international ones as early as possible because they are cheaper that way. But for the rides once you are in Switzerland you can buy them as you go or buy them all once you get there. The fares are basically fixed, although it’s worth checking online up to a month in advance because once in a while they’ll offer a “Supersaver” fare on some routes that is much cheaper than normal. However, those are pretty rare on popular routes that tourists use. On the other hand, tickets go on sale online 30 days out, and if you have your schedule figured out you might as well buy them online. You can get print-at-home or smartphone tickets that don’t have a delivery charge, and then you don’t have to worry about anything when you get there. You can buy a Half Fare Card online and then buy Half Fare tickets online as well. You just have to show the ticket person on the train your Half Fare Card along with your ticket receipt. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello Roger,
We are planning for our honeymoon trip to Europe and will be visiting Switzerland.
This is our itinerary in Switzerland. We are confused whether we should choose Swiss travel Pass or Half Fare Pass.
Day 1: Arrive at Zermatt in the evening from Milan, overnight at Zermatt
Day 2: Ski at Matterhorn
Day 3: Travel from Zermatt to Interlaken, overnight at Wengen
Day 4: Jungfraujoch railway from Interlaken
Day 5: Travel from Interlaken to Lucerne (city tour and lake cruise)
Day 6: Lucerne – Mount Rigi roundtrip from Lucerne
Day 7: Travel from Lucerne to Zurich and leave Switzerland
During our visit in Interlaken, we will be staying at Wengen. We will need the cable car for travelling to Gimmelwald or Murren. May we know what is the price for the cable car? Is it a free ride with the Swiss Travel Pass?
Also, during our stay at Wengen, Interlaken, what are the places of visit would you suggest for us other than the Jungfrau day trip?
And anything you’d like to add to my itinerary? Thank you so much.
Ally,
My best guess is that a Half Fare Card would save you more money because you’d need to buy an 8-day Swiss Travel Pass to cover your whole trip. Also there is only a 25% discount on Jungfraujoch instead of the 50% discount with the Half Fare Card.
From Wengen to Murren you have to take a short train ride to Lauterbrunnen and then a short bus ride to Stechelberg and then one 5-minute cable car ride up to Gimmelwald and then one more 5-minute cable car ride up to Murren. All of those are included with the Swiss Travel Pass, but the cable cars above Murren are only a 50% discount. Those 5-minute cable car rides from Stechelberg to Murren are only about US$5 each full price, so about US$10 from Stechelberg to Murren or only US$5 with the Half Fare Card. So they aren’t very expensive and I would still guess that the Half Fare Card would save you more. The two top sights in the Interlaken area are Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn, which are both described in my main Switzerland article. As long as the weather is fairly clear up top, these are two of the most amazing sights in the entire world. And with a Half Fare Card, they are easily worth the price. There are many other hikes and things to see and do in Interlaken, so you won’t get bored. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger, would really appreciate your advice.
We will be in Switzerland for 15 days in january. Family of three adults and one child. We are not skiers or hikers but want to enjoy beautiful scenery on the trains and get around from one city to the next. We are basing ourselves in Zurich, Bern, Luzern and geneva and plan to do train day trips from those bases. We may not however do all the classic panorama trains, but definitely the golden pass, the gotthard route and a ride to Zermatt. I find that the 15day travel pass for three adults seems VERY expensive (in australian dollars) and would appreciate your insight as to the best way to go. We also like cities and towns to explore. Is a half fare card better?
Thanks very much,
Nancy
Nancy,
The Swiss Travel Passes are quite expensive, but so are the train fares. If you are going to be basing yourself in cities rather than closer to the natural sights, it means you’ll be doing return train trips on all of those days. One slightly frustrating thing about Swiss train fares is that they are fixed in price so you don’t get deals on return tickets, even on the same day. You’d just have to go on the Swiss Rail website and add up the price of those train tickets and see how much they’d be with the Half Fare Card and with the Swiss Travel Pass. Since you are actually spending 15 days there my hunch is that the Swiss Travel Pass would end up being cheaper.
Another thing in its favor is that the pass allows free travel on most normal trains but also even on some cable cars and boats etc. That means that with the pass your whole family can go anywhere you want and enjoy these cable cars and other premium attractions for free. You’d likely need 3 travel passes, and the child can go along for free when you get the (free) Swiss Family Card. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger