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.
Roger,
I know it has been said many times from many readers but thank you so much for your wealth of information and for your commitment to respond to repetitive questions for years now.
My wife an I are headed to Europe in a couple of days for a 4 country tour. We will be heading to Switzerland from Austria by train. I have a few questions:
As it stands right now we will be leaving Salzburg for Innsbruck for a night before heading to Lucerne for a night. Is Innsbruck worth it or would you recommend an extra night in Lucerne?
Our Itinerary looks like this as of right now:
Day 1 Buchs Sg to Lucerne (Tour a surrounding mountain)
Day 2 Morning tour Lucerne then train to Wengen via Interlaken
Day 3 Schilthorn
Day 4 possibly Jungfraujoch
Day 5 Train from Wengen to Geneva (Meeting friends)
Day 6 Day trips from Geneva to Lausanne and Montreux then either return to Geneva or go on to Bern.
Day 7 ? Any suggestions for morning.. late train to Zurich
Day 8 Fly home…
Should I skip Innsbruck and spend extra day around Lucerne?
Would 8 day Swiss Pass starting with Buchs Sg to Lucerne be best option since I don’t think I’ll be taking any of the Big 5
Tim,
I’m happy to try to help and I enjoy it. Yes, I’d recommend skipping Innsbruck and spending an extra night in Lucerne. Salzburg is amazing and you’ll love it there, but Innsbruck is primarily a ski area and the town itself is kind of a dud compared to the other places you’ll be going.
Of those choices for Day 6 I’d recommend Bern if you can manage it. The cities along Lake Geneva are each really lovely, but they are really mostly about business as far as the sights otherwise. Bern is not only the capital, but it’s got a lot of historical things to see in a small space, and its location on a winding river is also fantastic. I’d spend part of Day 7 there as well. You could squeeze in a visit to Rhinefalls, which isn’t far from Zurich and most of that will be covered by the travel pass, so that’s another option.
I think the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass will be ideal for you. The per-day cost is pretty reasonable considering the cost of all the trains, cable cars, and boats you’ll be taking. And you’ll also find plenty of other things to do that it covers while you are there as well. It’s really wonderful to be able to just hop on almost any train in a spectacular country like Switzerland and not worry about buying a ticket or how much it costs. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thanks for a must useful and friendly blog.
I am looking for the timetable of the Glacier Express trains and can’t find it. Can you please help me locate it?
Thanks.
Jacob
Jacob,
Here is the Glacier Express timetable, and there is a PDF version you can click to download near the top of the page. Best of luck. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I would be travelling to Swiss and Paris this month. Please find the below itinerary and kindly suggest the best way to commute within Zurich, Lucerene and Paris.
Since my rail tickets are already booked from Zruich to Lucerne and Lucerence to Paris would the pass made it really worth for my itinerary. Should i consider doing any changes.
Please also suggest should I consider buying a pass in Paris. I will be eagerly waiting for you valuable suggestion.
01: Arrive Zurich – Explore Zurich
02: Zurich – Full Day Trip to Black Forest and Rhine Falls in Germany.
03: Rail tickets booked for Zurich – Luzern. Lake Lucerne Dinner Cruise.
04: Lucerne – Full Day Excursion to Mt. Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe) incl.
05: Lucerne – Full Day Trip to Mt. Titlis incl.
06: Rail tickets booked for Luzern to Basel and Basel to Paris. Effile tower
07: Paris – Half Day Louvre Museum and Half Day Versailles
08: Paris – Explore the city
09: Depart Paris
Regards,
Sugar
Sugar,
I’m not sure I understand the question. It looks like you’ve got almost everything booked already. Zurich doesn’t have many attractions, but the main sights that are there are mostly clustered along the river between the train station and the lake, so many people just walk between them. Lucerne is quite small so it’s a real pleasure to explore on foot. The lake cruises leave from just in front of the train station, and the Chapel Bridge is about a 5-minute walk from there.
In Paris you’ll probably want to get around on the Metro system. It looks like you’ve got a tour on your first day and on your second day you’ll probably only take the Metro 3 or 4 times (depending on where your hotel is) so I don’t think a pass would be helpful. This looks like a great trip and I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Its my first time travelling to Swiss and will be travelling in Dec.
My itinerary are as followed,
Zurich to luzern (3 days) (Mt Pilatus, Mt titlis)
Luzern to interlaken (3 days) (jungfraujoch)
Interlaken to montreux (1 day)
Montreux to zermatt (1 day)
Zermatt to Zurich (1 day)
Zurich to Munich
Would like to ask whether which pass should I get? And is it a must to reserve the seats or which popular route should I reserve my seats in advance. How do I travel to Zurich main station train from the airport and will I be able to use the Swiss pass? Any must go places in December?
Thanks
Rachelle,
On a visit as long as this I’d highly recommend an 8-day Swiss Travel Pass. On a per-day basis they only cost around US$56 and it’s very easy to spend twice that amount or more on trains and cable cars and lake cruises and so forth. It only gives you a 25% discount on Jungfraujoch so you might consider doing the Schilthorn cable car instead since it’s fully covered.
The only time you’d want to reserve a train seat would be if you are going to take one of the panoramic carriages on the certain scenic trains such as the Goldenpass. On the normal city-to-city trains you can normally just hop on board and find a seat. If you go from, say, Lausanne to Zurich at 8AM you might find the train to be crowded, but most of the time there are plenty of seats.
The train from Zurich Airport to Zurich main station takes about 10 minutes and they depart about 10 times per hour during the day. If you buy a Swiss Travel Pass online (or if you buy it at the airport train station) you can just hop aboard and show your validated pass when they ask for your ticket. As for must-go places in December, I think you are already visiting the best ones and I think the Lauterbrunnen Valley is the most beautiful spot any time of year. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger!
I have been surfing many web pages on the different swiss travel passes and I think yours is the most informative and useful one I have read! Thank you so much for the research and information!
I would like to seek your advice on my itinerary for 4 pax. We are arriving Switzerland from Munich (Day 1) and will be leaving for Milan (Day 10). Throughout our stay in Switzerland, we are going to stay in Lauterbrunnen throughout.
We intend to take day trips to the following places in our 10 days in Switzerland:
Day 3 – Interlaken
Day 4 – Jungfraujoch
Day 5 – Zermatt
Day 6 – Zurich
Day 7 – Luzern, Mt Titlis
Day 7 – Luzern, Mt Pilatus
The remaining days will likely be own leisure around Lauterbrunnen.
Can I seek your advice whether we should purchase the Half Fare Care or the Swiss Travel Pass? Our schedules do not really allow us to take the long scenic train rides, even for our trip from Switzerland to Milan.
Hope to hear from you and thank you so much for this informative page!
Sam (:
Sam,
I’m so happy to hear that this is useful to people. First off, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is indeed beautiful and it’s a great hub for seeing everything around Interlaken, but it’s not really a great base to visit Zermatt or Lucerne or Zurich. Each of those is about two hours away by train each way, so visiting those places would require a minimum of four hours on a train each of those days. I’d recommend staying in Lucerne to see the sights there, partly because it’s a really gorgeous town.
Most likely your best bet will be the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass. It’s really a great deal for anyone staying in Switzerland that long. It comes out to a bit over US$50 per day and it’s VERY easy to spend US$100 per day just on train rides, especially if you stay in Lauterbrunnen the whole time and take those long rides so many days. If you stayed in Lucerne for that part of your trip and maybe passed on Zurich (there isn’t much to see there) then maybe the Half Fare Card could be cheaper. Also, if you do the Swiss Travel Pass you should think about doing Schilthorn instead of Jungfraujoch because it’s fully covered (and also amazing) and also Mt. Rigi instead of Titlis or Pilatus because it’s also fully covered. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thanks for your detailed articles, these articles helped me to plan my Switzerland trip.
Trip details are given below –
Person – 2 (Me and my wife)
Period – any weekend in Second Half of September
Pass – Swiss Travel Pass
Itinerary –
Day 1 –
1. Zurich Airport at 9:00 AM
2. Zurich Airport -> Rhine falls
3. Rhine Falls -> Mt Rigi
4. Mt Rigi -> Lucerne -> Interlaken (Overnight Stay)
Day 2 –
1. Interlaken -> Jungfraujoch -> Interlaken
2. Interlaken -> Schilthorn
3. Schilthorn -> Interlaken -> Bern (Overnight Stay)
Day 3 –
1. Bern City
2. Bern -> Montreaux
3. Golden Pass Line (11:44 AM)
4. Lucerne to Zurich Airport (return flight 9 PM)
I will be travelling from and coming back to Amsterdam as I work here.
Special occasion is my wife’s birthday which is on Day 2. It’s my humble request to give suggestion on pass and itinerary. Also would like know about any special place to celebrate birthday.
Regards,
Pranit
Pranit,
Your schedule will require early starts each day and great determination to get all of that in. Most people like to do Jungfrau on one day and Schilthorn on another. Doing both of them the same day will take close to 10 hours, and then you’d have a one-hour train to Bern after that. It can be done if you start early enough. Your Day 1 is also very busy and I hope your flight lands very early.
Another thing to consider is that the weather is somewhat unpredictable every day of the year in the Alps. It can be clear in the morning on tops of those mountains and then foggy in the afternoon, or sometimes the other way around. So on quite a few days it’s not even possible to do both of those because they don’t operate when they know visibility is zero on top.
Bern is a nice city and the train from Bern to Montreux and back is very scenic, but I think Interlaken (specifically the Lauterbrunnen Valley) is much more scenic and Lucerne is also very photogenic. I’d recommend staying the first night in Lucerne and the second night in the Interlaken area. You still might be able to do that train ride on Day 3, but the Interlaken area might be a better and less hectic choice.
As for a special birthday place I think your best choice is the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant on top of Schilthorn. It’s a very large restaurant that makes a revolution each hour so you can see the scenery fully while enjoying a really good Swiss meal. The prices are actually similar to other restaurants in Switzerland, which means they are high, but not outrageous.
I think if you definitely want to do Jungfraujoch then a Half Fare Card is probably your best choice. If you also want to do Schilthorn and Mt Rigi then getting a Saver Day Pass for those days could also save money. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello Roger
Really nice blog and you have been awesome in helping out fellow travelers.
My wife and I are flying to Switzerland on the 28th (reaching Zurich early morning) and will be flying out of Zurich on the 2nd afternoon. Our plan is as follows
28th Fly to Zurich by 8 AM, train to Gimmelwald or Murren and check in. Roam around Gimmelwald
29th – Schilthorn and stay and Gimmelwald
30th – ??
31st – Stay at Lucerne – roam around Lucerne
1st – Stay at Lucerne – Mt Pilatus or Riga
2nd – Get to Zurich in the morning. Afternoon flight out from Zurich
We are thinking of getting a half fare card for each of us but are wondering what do we do with the extra day in our hand, and also if we need to get advance day passes for the day to schilthorn or not. We are not interested in Jungfrau. Any suggestions?
Attud,
I’m happy to try to help. Your plan looks good. It’s hard to recommend something specific for that extra day. You might Google ‘things to do in the Lauterbrunnen Valley’ or Interlaken and see what appeals to you. There are loads of great hikes that are popular, including one where you take a short cable car ride up from Wengen and hike down the hill to the next train stop. There are waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen as well. You’ll have no problem filling that day and the rest of your time. There are even many adventure sport activities all around the Interlaken area.
The Half Fare Card should save you quite a bit, and getting a Saver Day Pass as well for at least your Schilthorn day should be great, and possibly the day you take the Lucerne lake cruise and go up Mt Rigi. Let me know if you have any other questions. Also, Gimmelwald is amazingly gorgeous and charming, but it’s a tiny village so I probably wouldn’t stay there for more than 2 nights. -Roger
Hello Roger,
I am travelling with my wife to Europe. Planning to buy Eurail global (15 consecutive day) pass. The Swiss itenary is:
31 Aug Vienna to Zurich by rail
1 sep Zurich
2 Sep Zurich to lucern
3 Sep Lucern…..day trip to Mt Titlis or Rigi
4 Sep Lusern to interlaken with short trip to Gstaad and bacK
5 Sep Interlaken….day trip Jungfrau
6 Sep Interlakin….Grindleworld trip and then leave for Venice in the evening
Kindly suggest the Swiss pass to cover this and also suggest if the plan is fine.
Regards
Xuhaib,
Your plan looks very good. I’d probably just go from Vienna to Lucerne all at once and spend another night there or in Interlaken because Zurich isn’t nearly as interesting and it’s extremely expensive. Based on this itinerary I think a Half Fare Card would be your best option. If you are planning on using your Eurail Global Pass while in Switzerland then you won’t need a Half Fare Card. The Eurail Pass will cover your train rides on intercity trains and it will give you a 25% discount on Jungfraujoch and Mt. Titlis or Mt. Rigi.
You can get those 25% discounts (I think) without using a travel day on your Eurail Pass, but you’d obviously need to use a travel day to ride for free on the trains themselves. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi,
We plan to be in Switzerland for 6 days. Can you suggest if it is worth buying Swiss Pass? Also would you suggest any changes to the itinerary?
Day 1 – Reach Interlaken around 4 PM from Paris by train (via Basel)
Day 2 – Grindelwald + Mount Jungfrau
Day 3 – Golden Pass route from Interlaken and come back
Day 4 – Reach Lucerne + lake cruise
Day 5 – Mount Titlis
Day 6 – Reach Zurich + Rhine Falls tour
Day 7 – Flight from Zurich in the morning
Thanks so much for your advise.
Shri,
Your itinerary looks really good. I think the Half Fare Card would probably be the best value. You might also look into getting a Saver Day Pass (which is only CHF39 with a HFC) for the day you go do the Goldenpass. The rest of the days the Half Fare Card alone should probably be the best value. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Robert,
Thank you so very much for your inputs. I will definitely incorporate them wherever I can, Sorry if the questions are repetitive, It’s our very first trip to Europe..
* So for Saver pass Card- will i be buying for 2 days? (Mt. Rigi and Schilthorn both?) and for 2 adults and one child, right? Half fare Card will not work for those mountains?
* Unfortunately my stay is booked for Murren and Gimmelwald and they’re not willing to cancel now :/
* But I still have to book my stay for Lucerne, any suggestion on those days(19-22 Sept?)
* Do I need reservations especially for(Jungfraujoch and Golden pass line)?
* Any suggestion for 25th?