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,
Thank you for all this great information! My husband and I are traveling to Switzerland in September, our rough itinerary is below. Based on my own research, and what I’ve read here, I’m leaning towards getting the Swiss Travel Pass. Would appreciate your thoughts. I have included Jungfraujoc in the itinerary, but now that Schilthorn is included in the pass, I may take it out.
Day 1 – Arrive Basel, check-into hotel, explore city on foot or maybe do boat tour on the Rhine.
Day 2 – Take regional train(s) to Wengen, check into apartment, explore town, have dinner.
Days 3-7 – Hike various trails in Wengen, Murren, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. Day trip up to Jungfraujoch. Day trip up to Schilthorn. If we have time maybe do boat trip on Lake Thun and day trip to Bern.
Day 8 – Take regional train(s) to Zermatt. Check into hotel, explore town on foot.
Day 9 – Take cogwheel train up to the Gornergrat to see the Matterhorn. Hike back down.
Day 10 – Take either regional train or Glacier Express to Lucerne.
Day 10-13 – Explore Lucerne: Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Rigi, boat trip on Lake Lucerne, day trip to Zurich.
Day 14 – Take train back to Basel.
Day 15 – Fly home.
Thank you.
Lea,
This sounds like an amazing trip. The Swiss Travel Pass can be pricey for stays of 3 or 4 days, but the longer versions and especially the 14-day version are excellent value. You’ll be able to get your money’s worth in the first 5 or 6 days and then everything else will seem free. Also, the Swiss Travel Pass covers many things like boat rides and shorter cable cars that you’ll come across while you are there, and being able to just hop aboard is a huge benefit.
Overall your itinerary looks amazing. Few of us have the chance to spend two weeks in Switzerland like this so I’m not used to seeing so many places included. You are definitely hitting all of the major sights and including the best train rides as well. You’ve obviously done your research so well done on that. I don’t have much else to say. Let me know if you’ve got any specific questions and I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thanks for the response. This really helps. Would you suggest buying the half fare card online in advance or we could buy the card and all travel tickets once we arrive in Zurich?
Rucha,
I’d buy it in advance online. You can buy a version for your smartphone that is delivered instantly for no fee and you can validate it once you get there. That is true for the Half Fare Card as well as individual train tickets. When buying individual tickets online it will ask you which discount you are using and the top choice will be 50% reduction. You can buy those tickets even before you buy a Half Fare Card. You just have to show the ticket AND the Half Fare Card to the ticket person as they come through the carriage. You could buy in person, but sometimes the queues are long and since there is no delivery fee you might as well buy it online in advance. -Roger
2 Adults and 14 year old travelling:
30 June zurich-Zermatt
Gornergrat
1 July zermatt-geneva
2 July Geneva-Wengen
Jungfrau
4 July Wengen -Bern
5 JUly Bern- Zurich
What kind of pass should we buy?Its rather confusing:)
Thanks
Rucha,
The Swiss Travel Pass and the fare options are definitely confusing. If you are doing Jungfraujoch then the Half Fare Card is almost certainly your best bet because it will get you a 50% discount, which almost pays for the CHF120 Half Fare Card by itself. A Swiss Travel Pass only gets you a 25% discount on Jungfraujoch so it probably wouldn’t be good value for you. -Roger
Hi Roger,
First of all, thanks a lot for this informative blog.
We are planning a 5 day trip to Switzerland end of July. Below is the itinerary that we have planned.
Day 1 – Reach Zurich in the morning and do a city tour and stay in Zurich.
Day 2 – Rhine Falls and in the evening take train from Zurich to Wilderswil and stay in Wilderswil
Day 3 – Take train to Jungfrau(Good morning ticket) and then in the evening lake Brienz/Thun. In the evening/night take train to Lucerne and stay in Lucerne.
Day 4 – Pilatus – The Golden Round Trip and stay in Lucerne
Day 5 – Chapel bridge walk/Explore Lucerne and then in the evening take train from Lucerne to Zurich and then take flight from Zurich to home in the night.
Can you please tell me how much the transportation would cost for the above? Is it better to take a Swiss pass or Half Fare card. Not sure whether this is a good itinerary for a 5 day trip. So please feel free to include some better sight seeing tours/scenic train rides. We are fine to do a 6 day trip also if there is any must see places.
Thanks in advance!.
Regards,
Arun
Arun,
I’m happy to try to help. In my opinion, the Lauterbrunnen Valley next to Interlaken is the most beautiful area in all of Europe and I highly recommend spending at least 2 or 3 days there if you can. Visiting Jungfraujoch on a day trip will take you into the heart of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, but you’ll miss most of it if you only spend 6 hours or so there.
Also, you might have a scan of my article on where to go in Switzerland. Near the top I discuss the fact that Zurich is kind of a dud of a tourist destination compared to the amazing scenery of the rest of the country. Zurich is also super expensive so I would maybe spend a few hours there and move on or skip it altogether.
Whether it’s best to get a Swiss Travel Pass for 4 days or just go with the Half Fare Card will depend on how your itinerary ends up. If you go up the Schilthorn cable car instead of the Jungfraujoch train then the Swiss Travel Pass makes more sense because Schilthorn is fully covered and Jungfraujoch is only a 25% discount. But if you do Jungfraujoch instead of Schilthorn then the Half Fare Card is almost certainly the best bet because it gives you a 50% discount. Have a look at that article and if you change your itinerary a bit I can help you figure out the best option. The only way to be sure is to add it all up and see which would be cheaper. -Roger
Hi there! A couple from Canada doing a few days in Switzerland. There is so much math in all this, and you seem to be the expert. We want to do the following:
July 2-3 – Wander Zurich (arrive by flight)
July 4 – Train to Sargans, spend afternoon in Liechtenstein, then train to Lucerne.
July 5 – Lucerne
July 6 – Lucerne to Zermatt
July 7 – Zermatt (probably a cable car etc)
July 8 – Glacier Express to Chur – then take a train to Innsbruck
It should be noted from there, we are doing a month in Austria/Slovakia/Slovenia/Croatia/Italy. We will be buying a Eurail Pass for those countries. We are getting the 15 non-consecutive days, and are only using 12 of them or so. Can the Eurail be of any use in Switzerland? Should we get a 3 day non-consectuive Swisspass and then use Eurail? Should we do a half price card? Just use our Eurail. So many options. Advice?
Lisa,
A Eurail Pass can be used on the normal intercity trains in Switzerland, but it only gives you a discount (usually 25%) on most cable cars and mountain trains and such. As a result it can be hard to get good value out of a Global Eurail day. It’s all very confusing, but it’s made a bit easier by the fact that (unlike in most other countries) the domestic train tickets within Switzerland are the same price no matter when you buy them (going on sale 30 days in advance). So it’s just a matter of looking up the fares on the trains you will take by using a travel date within 30 days of today, and adding up how much it would cost paying individually vs. using a Eurail Pass day vs. buying a Half Fare Card.
Since you seem to have 3 extra travel days anyway it really won’t matter if you are only getting, say, US$70 value out of that day if you don’t have a better use of them. In other words, using those 3 travel days on your three most expensive days seems to make the most sense. And you’ll get a 25% discount on most boats and cable cars and such, so it probably won’t be worth buying a Half Fare Card only to save another 25%. That Glacier Express day is an obvious one, although keep in mind that you’ll have to pay a supplement if you want to ride in the panoramic carriage. And probably July 4 and July 6 as well. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi
Thanks for your reply
Me,my wife and two kids(6 & 13 yrs) are entering in Switzerland from venice in last week of july.
Night stays:-
2 night zermatt
4 night Wengen
2 night Luzern
I would like to take half fare card.
Two Saver one day pass.
Four day BO Pass.
*
_Means I m confused between STP VS HFC+Two Day saver card+4 Day Bernard Oberland Pass_* .
My Itinerary as follows..
Please guide me ..
Day 1. From venice to zermatt .
Nightstay at Zermatt
Day 2. Nightstay at Zermatt.
Matterhorn and/or gornergrat
Day 3.Use of Saver day Pass. Towards montreux, vevy, Lausanne and Geneva lake.
Than towards golden pass line to interlaken.
Check in Wengen Airbnb.
Day 4. Start using of 4 Day BO Pass.
Depending on weather to visit schilthorn/Jaugnufrau.
Take train all the way to Jungfrau Peak
Come down Kleine Scheidegg/Grindelwald
Spend evening walking in Wengen town
Day 5 Golden pass line towards Sannen
Glacier 3000.
Bern,lake thun ride,Harder kulum
Day 6. . Depending on weather to visit schilthorn/Jaugnufrau.
Visit Schiltorn & Piz Gloria
Come down to Birg, do the Skyline Walk
Day 7. Check out from Wengen
Luggage at interlaken station
Visit Schynigge Platte by cog wheel train
Lake Briens – take the lake cruise.
Take Brienzer Rothorn Railway.
Then towards Luzern
Night stay
Day 8. Use of second saver day pass.
Luzern Mt Titlis and Mt Pilatus.
Evening boat ride.
Day 9 check out from hotel
Luggage at railway station.
City tour
Then onward journey to Paris .
Is it ok???
What your suggestions.
I am waiting for your reply
Thanks.
Tarak,
Again, your planning is really impressive and I don’t think I could have done better myself even if I spent many, many hours on it. The strategic use of the Saver Day Passes should give you a lot for your money. When you get there you may find a couple of your days to be a bit too ambitious, and perhaps you’ll have more free time on a couple other days, but generally I think you have a very realistic schedule that should be filled with highlights and good value.
As for the Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card vs Berner Oberland Pass, you’d really have to just add up the totals and see which version saves the most money. They are all offered by the same company (SBB – Swiss Rail) and they are all legit, so it’s just a matter of figuring out which combination is cheapest. Personally, I prefer to have the pass rather than the Half Fare Card if the totals are close. With a full pass you can always find included things to spontaneously do while you are there, while with the HFC you still may not want to pay 50% since most things are quite expensive. Let me know if you have any specific questions. -Roger
Roger,
Thanks for your reply on June 6th. I just have one more question. Would the Regional Pass in Berner Oberland work better since most of our transportation will be in that region?
Beth,
The Bernese Oberland regional pass is great value as long as enough of your travels are within its range. If you are staying in the Interlaken area for most of your expensive journeys, it should work out well. The only way to be sure is to add them all up and see what the difference would be between that and the Swiss Travel Pass or the Half Fare Card. Have a great trip. -Roger
This is a great post. It helped lot and now is the tricky part. I am buying eurail global pass so Switzerland is covered right?
second thing, what can i cover in 4 days and utilize the trains?
Here is the plan: Zurich – lucern – mt rigi, tiltas and pitus
Glacier express , intrleken , glaciar 3000 , what else?
Can I travel by car as well?
R,
Yes, the intercity trains in Switzerland are covered by a Global Eurail Pass, but most cable cars and boats and mountain trains only get a discount (usually 25% off) with a Eurail Pass. So you can, say, ride from Zurich to Lucerne to Interlaken for free with a valid Eurail Pass, but most of the other things you’d want to do would only be lightly discounted. For this reason Eurail Passes aren’t great value in Switzerland unless you’ll mainly just be riding the normal trains. And for the scenic trains with panoramic carriages, you’d need to pay a supplement to ride in those seats. That’s also true for Swiss Travel Pass holders, and the normal seats on those trains are very scenic anyway.
Traveling around Switzerland by car is actually doable if you are going between the tourist towns like you are planning, though I still think taking trains is much more enjoyable and more scenic. Parking at those mountain attractions or at the cable car stations below them is quite expensive. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi
Me am my wife entering in Switzerland from venice in last week of july.
We have more interest in exploring alps and mountains.
We would like to do at least two scenic train.
In interlaken area we would like to explore local towns.
We will keep checking the weather and accordingly change the dates for visiting Jungfrau.
Night stays:-
2 night zermatt
4 night Wengen
2 night Luzern
I would like to take 8 days swiss rail pass/half fare card??
My Itinerary as follows..
Please guide me ..
Day 1. From venice to zermatt
Day 2. Matterhorn and gornergrat
Day 3. Morning if weather not permitte gornergrat in last day
Then towards Wengen/lauterbrunnen
Day 4. Depending on weather to visit schilthorn/Jaugnufrau.
Take train all the way to Jungfrau Peak
Come down Kleine Scheidegg/Grindelwald
Spend evening walking in Wengen town
Day 5 Golden pass line towards montreux
Return via bern.
Day 6. . Depending on weather to visit schilthorn/Jaugnufrau.
Visit Schiltorn & Piz Gloria
Come down to Birg, do the Skyline Walk
Day 7. Check out from Wengen
Luggage at interlaken station
Then lake thun
Visit Schynigge Platte by cog wheel train
Lake Briens – take the lake cruise.
Take Brienzer Rothorn Railway(is it covered in STP??)
Then towards Luzern
Night stay
Day 8. Luzern
Mt Titlis and city tour
Day check out from hotel
Luggage at railway station.
Then Mt rigi/Pilatus/Gothard scenic train.
Then in evening
onward journey to Paris .
Please guide me for this itinerary.
For first day what to do for travelling from visp to zermatt??? As i would like to start 8 day STP from next day.
Is it ok???
What your suggestions.
I am waiting for your reply
Thanks.
Tarak,
Your itinerary looks extremely well planned. There are two trains each hour going from Visp to Zermatt and it only takes a bit over an hour, so it shouldn’t be too expensive. You can buy your ticket once you get there and the price will be the same as if you buy it in advance online. You’ve done an excellent job taking the weather conditions into account with backup plans and all that. I also love to plan my trips in advance so at least I know the best options and I think you’ve done great with that. On the other hand, and especially with the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll find things along the way that you’ll want to do as you go. And you’ll have plenty of time each day (especially in the evenings) to consider other options and get advice from the hotel staff and other guests as to which are the best things to do the next day. Let me know if you have any specific questions. -Roger
Hi Roger! Will be visiting Switzerland the end of August. Not sure what rail pass I will need or if I should pay as I go.
8-23 Arrive Zurich take train to Lucerne
8-24 free day in Lucerne. Possible trip to one of the mountains
8-25 Lucerne to Wengen
8-26 Wengen
8-27 Wengen
8-28 Wengen to Paris
While in Wengen will want to spend time in Lauterbrunnen, Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, Murren, Klein Scheidegg, Grindelwald and do some mild hiking. Would appreciate some input. Thanks
Beth,
It’s hard to say which pass is better without knowing which things you’d do on which days. You’ll either want a Half Fare Card or a full Swiss Travel Pass. My hunch is that the 4-day Swiss Travel Pass for the 24th through 27th would be the best value and you’d definitely be able to make good use of it because it covers so many expensive things in those areas. The pass would fully cover Schilthorn as well as Mt Rigi near Lucerne and the boat cruise to reach the train and cable car. However, the Swiss Travel Pass only gives you a 25% discount on Jungfraujoch so it would cost around CHF150 instead of about CHF100 with the Half Fare Card.
The way the weather changes on top of those mountains it’s possible that you might not be able to do both on those days anyway. I’d probably focus on Schilthorn and if the weather is clear on that last day you can go up Jungfraujoch if you are still in the mood. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger