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!
I literally have spent hours reading your articles and responses. Amazing job! However I want o ask you something about my intinerary because I am unsure whether Ill save more with the half care card or the 4 day swiss travel pass. I am going in August.
so …
1. Arrive in Zurich Airport (evening) and take the train to Luzerne, stay in Luzerne.
2. Explore Luzern and either Mount Rigi or Pilatus or Titils (if you had to choose one which one would be?, stay in Luzerne.
3. Take train to Interlaken in the morning…leave bag in hostel. Take train to Lauterbrunnen, walk around…then take the train go up to schiltorn, as you suggested get off in Murren, walk down to Gimmewald and then back to interlaken. Night in Interlaken.
4. WWhat else can i do in the interlaken area? ( Mountain coaster …or some hike_? I am not sure)…Night in interlaken.
5. So here is my question, i would like to take the panorama portion on this day from Interlaken to Montreux…. spend the afternoon- night in Montreux…
6. but the next day I have to make it back to Zurich… do you think i should just take the same panorama train back all the way to Zurich…or theres any other stop I can make before I get there? I wanted to go to zermatt but its definitely out of the way now… It doesnt really matter what time I arrive to zurich since I am staying at a friends place..any recommendations? taking in account I will be carrying my bag (not huge just a carry on size).
And in that case taken the golden pass return, is it worth it to get the Swiss Pass?
Thanks so much and Im sorry if youve already answered similar questions but I am just really doubtful.
Laura,
I’m glad this helps and I’ll try to answer your questions.
I think combining Mt Rigi with the lake cruise and the cable car up and the train down is the best of those options.
There are dozens of great hikes in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and Interlaken is the adventure capital of Switzerland so you’ll have many great options for things to do in Interlaken with an extra day.
I’d just take the normal fast train back to Zurich that next day. The panoramic carriages go on a portion through a lovely valley, while the fast train goes through Bern and will provide different views. In fact, you might consider getting off the train in Bern and walking around there for a few hours on your way to Zurich. It’s a really lovely and photogenic town.
If you do Mt Rigi and Schilthorn, which are both fully included with the Swiss Travel Pass, then that might be your best bet. On that extra day in Interlaken you can definitely take more mountain trains and cable cars and such, to get even more use out of it. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
We are travelling to Zurich and then Zweisimmen on 28 May, 2019. We will be staying in Zweisimmen. Could you recommend places to see around Zweisimmen. We fly back on 3 June from Zurich.
We were planning:
Day 1:(29/5)Trip to Interlaken from Zweisimmen and back.
Day 2:( 30/5)Day Trip to Montreux
Day 3 and 4: overnight trip to Turin,Italy
Day5: 2/6: ?
Could you help us plan the itinerary and recommend the type of Swiss travel pass we should puchase for these days?
Anupama,
If you want to see the most amazing scenery I think I’d spend at least one more day in the Interlaken area. Montreux has a lovely and scenic location, but as a city it’s not nearly as interesting as the dramatic Alps scenery in Interlaken and even Zermatt. Interlaken is a little over an hour by train from Zweisimmen, and the trains are notoriously punctual.
As for a rail pass, it all depends on exactly where you’d use it. I think most likely you’ll save the most money with a Half Fare Card instead of a Swiss Travel Pass. Let me know if you have any questions. -Roger
Thank you very much Wade. Much appreciated.
Hi Wade,
I had reached out earlier on your other post and based on your recommendation, have adjusted the itinerary to spend more time at Interlaken.
Now, I am spending 2 nights in Zurich (mainly to visit Rhine Falls), 2 nights in Lucerne, 2 Nights in Interlaken, 1 Night in Zermatt & 2 Nights in Geneva before proceeding to Paris from Geneva. I have a couple of questions which I wanted to check in case you can help with.
1. I analyzed the Swiss Pass and for a group of 4 + 1 9 year old, the 8 day pass works out to EUR 1520 pretty expensive considering INR conversion 😀
However, since we plan to do all the scenic rides and take the trains intercity (Zurich to Lucerne, Lucerne to Interlaken, Interlaken to Zermatt and Zermatt to Geneva), will it workout cheaper? Are all these train journeys covered under Swiss Pass if we take a regular Swiss Pass for 8 days?
For the trip from Geneva to Paris, I guess I need to take a separate ticket? Is Euro Rail pass worth or a better 1 time ticket option is there? In Paris, we do not plan to travel much except for the local sight seeings.
Thanks in advance.
Harish,
That sounds like a solid itinerary. Nearly every train journey in Switzerland is fully covered by a Swiss Travel Pass, except for a few tourist trains like Jungfraujoch, and you also need to pay a supplement to reserve seats in a panoramic carriage on certain scenic trains. All normal intercity trains are covered and you can just hop on board and find a seat. Unfortunately, the only way to know what the best deal is would be to add up the costs of each train you plan on taking.
Also keep in mind that when in Interlaken you can go all the way up Schilthorn for free with the Pass, and near Lucerne you can take the boat cruise and go up and down Mt. Rigi for free, so doing those highly recommended things will save you quite a bit more money. Not only that, when you are actually there you will most likely want to take a few more train rides and cable car and boat rides, so even if the total of all of those tickets with the Half Fare Card is slightly cheaper, you’d end up getting much more use out of the full Pass.
From Geneva to Paris the Pass only gets you as far as the French border, which is basically right next to Geneva. So you’d need a separate ticket for that ride. Eurail Passes are good for long trips where you want to make plans as you go, but for something like this you are best off buying the tickets as far in advance as possible for the best fare. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hey Roger,
I am planning to visit Switzarland in April 2020. We will be travel from Barcelna and end in Paris via Switzarland. Kindly let me know which pass will be good for us, our tour itinerary as follow:-
1. Barcelona to Geneva & reach Interlaken
2. Interlaken to Jungfru
3. Interlaken to Zurich
4. Zurich site seeing & Lucerne
5. Zurich to Paris by train
Is Geneva to Interlaken or Interlaken to Zurich or Zurich to Lucerne free for those who are having swiss travel pass?
Swiss Travel Pass vs Swiss Half Fare Card… which will be better option for us?
Thanks in Advance 🙂
Sayani,
Almost all trains in Switzerland are free for Swiss Travel Pass holders. The only exceptions are a few special tourist trains such as Jungfraujoch. But all intercity trains are covered. If you want to go up Jungfraujoch you only get a 25% discount with the Swiss Travel Pass, as opposed to the 50% discount with the Half Fare Card. Based on the itinerary you’ve written, I’d say the Half Fare Card would save you more. However, you might have a look at my article on where to go in Switzerland for more ideas of what you might do instead. In particular, I wouldn’t even go to Zurich unless you have something specific you want to see there. In almost any country it’s a safe bet to go to the largest city, but in Switzerland the big cities are somewhat dull and the scenery and mountain towns are amazing. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello.
I’m planning on going to Switzerland from Paris so where do you recommend we should go from there? Basel or Lucerne? Based on your articles, i think the best places for me to go on a 3 day trip are Either Basel or Lucerne then Schilthorn and look around Grindelwald, Kleine, Wengen or those places nearby. Do i need a Swiss travel pass? Where do you recommend we stay as well as our base? Thanks!
Faye,
I’d go to the Interlaken area if you only have two or three days, and if you have more than that I’d go to Lucerne. Basel is pretty dull to be honest, even by Swiss city standards. If you went there I’m sure you’d enjoy it and the historic center is pleasant enough, but Switzerland is all about the mountain views and the best of those are in the Interlaken area.
All of your questions are actually answered on my main page about where to go in Switzerland. Once you decide where you’ll stay and which things you want to do, the decision whether to buy a Swiss Travel Pass or just a Half Fare Card will be more obvious. I’m happy to help if you have more questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thank you for this great article.
I read from somewhere that even though the swiss travel pass is free for most scenic trains, but we still need to make seat reservation for this.
Wondering how this works and how to make the seat reservation beforehand?
Cheers,
Bella
Isabella,
Yes, that is true. You can just ride with a Swiss Travel Pass in the regular carriages, but if you want to sit in one of the panoramic carriages you need to make a reservation and pay a supplement. Most people think it’s worth it for the panoramic carriages. To make the reservation you can just Google the name of the train you want to take (Goldenpass, Glacier Express etc) and the top result will usually be the special website for that train, run by the Swiss rail service. That website will allow you to book a seat on a panoramic carriage and it’ll ask you if you have a Pass or not. If you do, it’ll just charge you the supplement. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
We were planning to visit Swiss apls for 3 days.. We will be traveling from Paris to Zurich and Interlaken from there. Will Swiss pass covers the travel from Paris to Interlaken?
Thank you for your reply,
Avni
Avni,
To reach Interlaken from Paris you would take a train from Paris to Basel, which is the first city within the Swiss border, and then you’d switch trains to one bound for Interlaken. A valid Swiss Travel Pass would fully cover the train from Basel to Interlaken, but nothing on the Paris to Basel portion. So you could book a ticket from Paris to Basel and then just hop on a train for Interlaken and show your valid pass instead of a ticket. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Great article. There are definitely lot of things to consider when visiting Switzerland. This article definitely provide useful information. I am not even more confused what places to go. I have 3 days and would like to spend more time in Alps. I would really appreciate if you can recommend something. I will be traveling to and from Zurich.
Thank you in advance!
We are spending 9 days in Swiss and with only the Glacier express being the only iconic train ride we are taking. For three people, I’m unsure if I should just buy tickets as I go or if I Should get the half fare card. Can you please suggest?
Day 1. Zurich to Luzern
Day 2. Local Transportation in Luzern (may get a free pass from the hotel)
Day 3. Train/bus Travels to see villages and attractions in the Interlaken/Bernese Oberland Area
Day 4. Train/bus Travels to see villages and attractions in the Interlaken/Bernese Oberland Area
Day 5. Train/bus Travels to see villages and attractions in the Interlaken/Bernese Oberland Area
Day 6. Interlaken to Brig; Brig to St Moritz on Glacier Express; St. Moritz to Val Poschiavo by train or bus
Day 7. Local Transportation in Val Poschiavo area
Day 8. Local Transportation in Val Poschiavo area
Day 9. Val Poschiavo to Zurich (via. St Moritz ??) and local sight seeing in Zurich
Day 10. Zurich to Zurich airport
Thanks in advance.
Ravi,
It really depends on how many train and cable car rides you’d be taking on those days in the Interlaken area and also what you’d do while in Lucerne. Since you’ll be staying 9 days or so, I think it’s almost certain that your best bet would be to buy the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass to use on Days 2 through 9. It’s not cheap, but once you have it you’ll be able to ride nearly all trains and cable cars and boats and so forth, so it’ll be easy to get great value out of it. For example, going up Schilthorn itself costs about CHF110 and it’s one of the most amazing sights in Switzerland, and fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Going up Mt Rigi near Lucerne is also fully covered.
The passes for 3 or 4 days are more expensive on a per-day basis and it can take some focus to get great value from them, but the 8-day pass (in 2nd Class) is only about CHF52 (US$52) per day, and you’ll be able to get that much use out of it before lunch on most days. And it fully covers the Glacier Express (not counting the panoramic carriage supplement) so you’ll easily get more than your money’s worth. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger