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.
Thanks so much Roger! I will look at swapping Liechtenstein for Interlaken.
Many thanks for coming back to me!
Lisa
Hi Roger
I hope you can help me!
My rough plans for a quick trip to Zurich are:
17-Mar – arrive in the morning head to my base which is a hotel in Zurich. If the weather is okay head to Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls.
18-Mar – Lucerne and cable car to Mount Pilatus.
19-Mar – possibly do a day trip or a tour to Liechtenstein.
20-Mar – wander around the old town and the Lake and then catch an evening flight.
My schedule is flexible but based on the above do you think I should get the day pass for a couple of days?
Thanks
Lisa
Lisa,
Based on your plans I’d say the Half Fare Card is probably your best choice. You’d need to take more of the expensive train rides in order for the Swiss Travel Pass to pay off. That said, you might think twice about the Liechtenstein visit. If you are trying to count countries and be able to say you’ve been to one more then it can be okay, but otherwise it’s a tiny country in a valley that isn’t special at all, and most of Switzerland itself is far more beautiful and interesting. The Interlaken area has the best and most dramatic sights, so I’d go there instead if you can. -Roger
Hello,
we are travelling to Zurich and picking up a hire car before driving to Camping Jungfrau at Lauterbrunnen to stay for 7 nights in June. On our list of activities to do include:
1. Schilthorn cable car. We intend to walk back from Murren to Lauterbrunnen.
2. Grindelwald to to the First cliff walk and other activities.
3. Visit to Bern.
4. Boat trip on Lake Brienz.
5. Harder Kulm cable car.
We are not sure if we should do the Jungfraujoch if we have already done the Schilthorn. We will be doing some other trail walking around the Lauterbrunnen Valley as that is our passion. Do you think any sort of pass would be worth it as we intend to use the hire car to get around.
Thanks
Alan,
A Half Fare Card is probably your best value. The trip to Schilthorn alone will pay for half of it, and the other boat trip and cable car will probably cover the other half. It is good for most things in Switzerland so I’d imagine that in 5 days you’d find at least a few other places to use it for half off. With a hired car it would be nearly impossible to get value out of a Swiss Travel Pass though. Have a great trip. -Roger
thanks roger, i think on evenings we will do just that- enjoy a stroll around the village and take in the hotel and what it has to offer.
i didnt get to finish my last line where i was saying the return flight is 7am on wednesday but if we are taking the train back, we would have to check out of the hotel tuesday night before 9pm in order to catch the hotel shuttle’s final trip to the train station.
the last available train from grindelwald to the airport tuesday night which would 9:20pm to reach the airport at 12:25am which is pretty early for our 7am flight anyway. (there is a 10:20pm train ride but that is an exhaustingly long 7 hr train ride to the airport vs the previously mentioned 3 hr ride)
my question is – is there an alternative way to travel to back to the airport from our hotel at around midnight or 1 am?
also would it make sense financially to purchase a swiss pass then if all we are doing is to and from zurich airport to our hotel at grindelwald, grindelwald first activities, jungfaurjoch, and skii/sledging?
Amy,
I’m sure you could hire a private car or shuttle from Grindelwald to the airport, but it would be very expensive. It’s unfortunate your flight is so early because the Swiss train system starts before 5am from bigger cities, and that’s still not quite early enough to reach the airport on time. I think your best bet would be to book a room at a hotel near the airport and go there as late as you can the night before. A taxi or ride service would probably cost way over US$100 and maybe a few times that. As you’ve discovered, Switzerland doesn’t do all-night service on domestic train routes.
If you’ll be doing Jungfraujoch then the Half Fare Card is almost certainly your best option. It almost pays for itself with just that train ride (CHF120 per person) and it’ll also get you half off all of your other train rides and cable cars in the area. It might even get you discounts on the slopes. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi there. Apologies in advance for yet another bombardment of questions on your page but you seem so helpful and responsive. I deeply appreciate your advice thank you.
My husband and I will be traveling to Grindelwald next weekend for 4 days, delayed honeymoon, first experience in snow (we are both from the Caribbean)
Flight arrives at Zurich airport Saturday March 2nd 12pm
Flight leaves Zurich airport Wednesday March 6th 7am
We are not sure what activities to comfortably squeeze in during this trip and if a travel pass would be worth it.
Sarurday2nd March
from our 12pm arrival at Zurich airport, to our hotel at Grindelwald (staying at sunstar hotel in Grindelwald) means we may be checking in 4pm on Saturday. What activities can we do the Saturday evening so we don’t waste that day?
Sunday 3rd March/Monday 4th March/Tuesday 5th
Activities we wanted to do:
As it’s our first time in snow we wanted to do all the fun snow stuff like sledging and possibly TRY to ski. Any advice on such activies and where to do these?
We are lso interested in Grindelwald First activities (cable car up to first and do the first flyer or first glider, first Clift walk) I’m not sure but I think I may need to set aside the whole day for this. Again this begs the question- What activities are available to do on evenings ?
We also wanted to do the jungfraujoch ride. I’m thinking this be a whole day activity as well. Is there anything to do on the evening after the return train ride?
It is such as expensive trip to reach Switzerland from the Caribbean that we don’t want to waste the few days we have there. What activities do you recommend.
We also have an issue with our return time. As our return flight is 7am on Wednesday 6th, the last train ride from
Amy,
I’ll try to help and answer in order…
You’ll be tired that first evening after the long trip, and there aren’t many things to do starting after 4pm so I’d recommend just wandering around Grindelwald. It’s a gorgeous village and you’ll be amazed by the town itself and the scenery. Your hotel may have some ideas for you.
Grindelwald has a snow park and dozens of ski lifts at the edge of the town, so you are staying in the right place. You may have to take a local bus to get there, but it won’t take long.
Again, I’m not sure what you’ll be able to do in the evenings, but I’m sure you’ll have a few options because there will be many hundreds of skiers staying there when you are there and most of them will be looking to have dinner and drinks, and probably other things as well. You might have better luck on Tripadvisor with this question.
Starting from Grindelwald it will take about 5 hours to go up Jungfraujoch and come back down, so you’ll have time to do something else as long as you are able to get on one of the earlier departures. And as I always point out, the weather at the top of the peaks can be foggy any day of the year, although it typically only stays that way a few hours at a time. So it’s best to check the conditions at the top and then book on the next train if it’s clear.
I’d recommend also visiting the nearby village of Wengen, which you’ll go through on the Jungfraujoch ride. And also Lauterbrunnen as well, which is where you’ll change trains for Grindelwald. It’s a lovely little village with a couple of waterfalls nearby set in a breathtaking valley. If you have time you can also go from Lauterbrunnen to the other side of the valley to take the cable car up to Gimmelwald or Murren or all the way up to Schilthorn. It’s all discussed in my main article about where to go in Switzerland.
Having never been to an area like this I understand your concern, but I’m sure you’ll have an excellent time. Honestly, once you see the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the villages around it you’ll be so amazed that just traveling around to get different views will be entertaining enough. The villages I mentioned are all as charming as can be, and just walking around will be very entertaining. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger!
I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel to have found your website, as I was very close to signing up for a group tour to Switzerland. Your information plus the comments of other travelers has given me the confidence to do an extensive journey through Switzerland on my own. My questions are:
1} I will be flying from Detroit on Aug. 30, 2019 as I have a 3 night reservation at Esther’s Guest House starting Aug. 31. What airport do you recommend I fly into?
2} I have total flexibility for the rest of the trip, so if you could design a perfect two week itinerary, what would it be?
3} Should I buy the 15 day Swiss Travel Pass or the 15 day Flex Pass?
4} What site do you recommend I buy the pass on, and is now too soon to buy it?
5} If I buy the 2nd class Swiss Pass, can I ride the Swiss Chocolate Train by just paying the supplement of CHF 39, or do I have to buy a 1st class ticket as they don’t offer 2nd class?
6} Besides Rick Steves book, would you recommend any others?
7} What if I get on a train and there are no seats in 2nd class?
8} Do I buy the panorama seat the day of, or is there a discount if I buy early?
I would like to do as many of the scenic trains as possible, including the top 5, so I could extend my trip a day or 2 beyond the 2 weeks if necessary.
I’m 72 and in good health, buy I probably won’t get back to Switzerland again. I don’t have as many budget constraints as some of your readers, so don’t hesitate to make recommendations based on cost. If you have favorite accommodations in the places you suggest I visit, that would be appreciated. I like to stay at least 2, preferably 3 nights, before moving on.
Again thank you for your wonderful site and your advice re my questions.
Audrey
Audrey,
I’m glad you found this site as well and I think you are making the right move. I’ll answer your questions in order…
1. Zurich is the closest major airport to Interlaken and they have surprisingly good fares. You can take a train from the station at the airport all the way to Gimmelwald on the same ticket.
2. It’s hard to say what a perfect two week itinerary is, but I’d definitely do another day or two in the Interlaken area then at least 3 days in Lucerne. I’d probably do two days in Zermatt and at least one day in the capital city of Bern. I’d probably get the Swiss Travel Pass for 15 days because on a per-day basis it’s quite cheap. With that you can take the Goldenpass train from Lucerne (or Interlaken) to Geneva and back. I’ve got most of my advice on my article on where to go in Switzerland.
3. Probably the full pass if you’ll be there two weeks
4. If you buy the pass through the link on this site you’ll get the normal price and I’ll get a small commission to help provide this service. Prices are pretty much the same on all websites, although once in a while some site will have a little sale.
5. I think the 2nd Class supplement for the Chocolate Train is CHF69.
6. For Europe I really enjoy Rick Steves books and I highly recommend them. His approach is to visit all of the interesting places in a country and then recommend the best ones and tell you which ones are probably worth skipping. Most other guidebooks list everything they can and make each place sound worthwhile, which makes it hard to budget your time to the best places. That said, I like Lonely Planet books as well.
7. If there are no seats in 2nd Class you’d just have to stand until someone got off at the next station. That almost never happens though. The only times that these trains tend to be crowded is departures in the mornings between the bigger cities. In other words, the train from Lausanne to Zurich leaving at 7:45am might be pretty full, but the departure leaving at 9:45am will be more than half empty. So the trick is to avoid trains that are popular with business travelers, and you’ll usually have plenty of seats to choose from.
8. I don’t think there is a discount for panoramic carriage seats, and they do sell out. If you want to take one I’d buy it as soon as you can to lock in the best seat. You can still ride in other carriages on the same train if the panoramic carriages are sold out.
Those scenic trains should be a great choice for someone on a longer trip like this with the Swiss Travel Pass. You’ve seen the recommended hotels for Lucerne and elsewhere on that other Switzerland article I linked to. If you can afford it I highly recommend one of those hotels in Lucerne that overlook the Chapel Bridge like the one I mention, and you’ll have that same view as from my hotel in the photo. That is a very central area for restaurants and such, and it’s close to the train station and boat docks. You’ll enjoy Esther’s Guesthouse and Gimmelwald in general. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Trying to figure out what trains and passes are best for this trip. I’ve booked the plane and hotels, but nothing else. 2 adults and our 5 year old from the U.S. can you help?
Day 1: arrive in Strasbourg mid day, see Notre Dame Cathedral and La Petite France. Stay one night near train station.
Day 2: train to Colmar where we will stay at our base for several days. See Statue of Liberty, Old Town, Musee Unterlinden, Little Venice.
Day 3 and 4: Driving thru France…See Chateau Du Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, see Riquewihr, see Ribeauville, see Munster, drive countryside. Return car in Colmar.
Day 5: Leave Colmar, take train to our base at Wengen for several days. Interlaken day cruise at Lake Thun, hop off to see castle, other sights.
Day 6: Flower park and children’s trail in Murren. Lauterbrunnen waterfalls, with lunch at Piz Gloria. Staubbach and Trommelbach falls, then Wengen cableway to have dinner at the top.
Day 7: Ballenberg Open Air museum, lake Brienz and the steam train ride. Ending with Geissbach waterfall.
Day 8: See St. Beatus Hoehlen and Harder Klum. Leave Wengen, take train to Lucerne where we will stay 1 night. Go on Mount Pilatus gondola.
Day 9: Lucerne walking in town day…See Rosengart collection, Chapel Bridge, Old Town, Museggmauer, Lion statue, and musikpavillion.
Day 10: take train to Zurich, stay one night, see town and museums, head home next day.
I’m not sure there’s enough major train stops to make the SwissPass worth it. But a lot of museums, in town busses probably, and cable cars.
Lesley,
I agree with you that the Swiss Travel Pass might not be your best option, although the 8-day version would work and on a per-day basis it’s quite cheap compared to the average price of trains and the cable cars and such. I think probably the best option would be to buy the Half Fare Card and then buy the Swiss Saver Day Pass for the days (such as your Schilthorn day) when you’d be spending a lot. As long as you buy them more than two weeks in advance and have the Half Fare Card they only cost CHF39. The Half Fare Card will save a lot on its own so you might not need more than one or two of the Swiss Saver Day Passes. Have a great trip. -Roger
Thank you so very much for your prompt response. YOu know, I didn’t even think about the half fare card until you pointed it out. So, I spent a whole day calculating all my transportation expense (as close as it can be) and compare using the STP and HFC. Surprisingly they came very very close. Thr HFC may save me a few CHF, but the convenience of using the STP wins me over. Yes, I will be buying the 15 days STP.
Questions:
1) The Happyrail offers the best price on Swiss Travel Pass, and it allows me to print out the pass at home. Is the STP they issue the same as anybody else? I mean the coverage is the same, right?
2)The Happyrail indicates the Chocolate is covered by the STP. But, Rick Steves guide book said otherwise. Rick Steves guide book indicate 2nd class Pass holder has to pay 69CFH for it. I don’t know who to believe.
3)Lauterbrunnen to Schilthorn is covered by STP. Does it mean that Lauterbrunnen to Gimmelwald is covered too since you have to go through Gimmelwald to go to Schilthorn?
4)At last, do I have to validate my printed Swiss Travel Pass at the train station at Zurich when I first arrive? Is there a special office I need to go?
Thank you so much, Roger, for helping travelers like me. For your time and effort you spent in helping me, I am forever grateful!!!!
Just f.y.i. I added Montreux to itinerary as a backup for destination Zermatt, just in case of bad weather.
Midwest retiree,
I’d never heard of Happyrail, but it appears that it’s the very same Swiss Travel Pass.
Those scenic train lines like the Chocolate Train ARE included free with the Swiss Travel Pass, but you have to pay a supplement for the panoramic carriages on most of them. It looks like the Chocolate train includes fondue and chocolate and cheese on board, so you’d have to pay the supplement to get that. In fact, there may not be any normal carriages on that particular train so the supplement is probably mandatory even if you can take other trains on the same line for free.
Yes, the Swiss Travel Pass covers the cable cars in that area all the way up, and the first stop is Gimmelwald.
You will “validate” your pass yourself. You just have to write the date you’ll start using it in the pass and then when the ticket person on the train asks for your ticket you’ll just show them the pass. The first time you use it they will punch a special hole in it that shows that it’s been recorded in the system. Each subsequent time you use the pass you’ll just show it to them and they will thank you and move on. That’s for the consecutive days passes. If you have a Flexi pass with non-consecutive days you’d write each day in before using it on that day. I’m sure you are going to have an amazing trip. -Roger
Hello Roger
While I was starting to panic as how to put our Switzerland itinerary together, I found your website. It’s like a godsend!
I have quite a few of questions that I couldn’t find answers anywhere and hope you can give me a helping hand.
Travel dates May 25 to June 9.
Zurich > Sachseln where I found a wonderful BNB with very scenic surrounding. Planning to stay 4 nights to do the Mt. Rigi, Mt. Pilatus, Mt. ?Titlis, boat cruise on Lake Luzern and walk around Luzern.
Question: Do you think it is too redundant to do all these mountains? Do you thin 3 nights are enough?
Sachseln > Interlaken area. Stay in Esther’s Guesthouse for 4 nights. Interlaken > Lauterbrunnen > Gimmelwald > Murren > Schilthorn > and Wengen > Jungfraujoch.
Question: do you think 4 nights are too much? Should I stay in Gimmelwald for 2 nts and then Lauterbrunnen 2 nts. Do you think most of the trails in this area are mostly non-passable in late May? Should I use Swiss Travel Pass for the 4 nights here. I am not sure exactly where is covered and what’s not except they cover Schilthorn all the way from the bottom?
Interlaken/Oberland > Zermatt for 2 nights. I heard good things about Zermatt and not so good things. So, I give it 2 nts. If the weather is not so good, where should I go before heading to the Engadine area. I need to come back to Zermatt to start the Glacier Express.
Zermatt > Chur > St. Moritz > Bernina Express to Tirano.
I intend to stay in the Endagine area for 3 to 4 nights. My plan is stay in a hotel that offers the free public transit pass. I will then go and up the Bernina route and stop wherever I want. Eventually I want to go to Munich via Chur > st. Margrethen > Munich
Question:
Should I get a Swiss Travel Pass(STP) for the whole journey? Like a 15 days STP?
Or, should I get a 8 days STP for the first 8 days in Luzern and Interlaken area. Then get a Half Fare Card for everything else?
I am not exactly sure what activities in my itinerary are to be covered by STP.
Can I use the Engadine hotel issued public transit card to do the Bernina Express? Or can I add money to the card to do the Bernina Express?
I do wish you can give me suggestions on more places to go and comments on my existing itinerary.
Thank you for your help!
Midwest retiree,
I’ll try to help and answer the questions as they came up…
Each mountain is a different experience (cable car up, train down etc) and each has a different view, but I’d probably just choose 2 of the peaks in Lucerne so you aren’t spending your whole time there going up and down mountains.
Four nights in the Interlaken area isn’t too much and those sights are all truly amazing. It’s also very expensive and most people are in more of a hurry, so that is why most people only stay 2 or 3 nights. Yes, I’d stay in Gimmelwald for 2 nights and Lauterbrunnen for 2 nights. Gimmelwald will be one of your favorite all-time travel experiences, but the “village” is literally just a couple dozen farms and a few guesthouses in a stunning location. There are only a couple of restaurant options, so in two days you’ll get your fill and the other areas are also beautiful.
The snow on the highest peaks is there all year, but in the villages like Murren it’s usually melted in late March or early April, so by May everything will be clear except for some technical climbs.
My hunch is that you are best off with a Half Fare Card to cover your whole trip, and then buy Swiss Saver Day Passes for each day that you’ll be taking a long train ride or going up a mountain. They cost CHF39 per day if you already have the Half Fare Card, as long as you buy them at least two weeks or so in advance. That way you can buy them for whichever days you need them and not have to use them consecutively.
The weather in ALL of these peaks can be cloudy or foggy any day of the year, and the summer months are actually the wetter months. It’s usually only for half a day at a time, but if you get unlucky it might be foggy on top for a whole day. Zermatt is a charming little car-free town with a few great mountain attractions for different views of the Matterhorn, but overall it’s not as amazing as the Lauterbrunnen Valley area.
Actually, the 15-day Swiss Travel Pass might be your best option because on a per-day basis it’s pretty affordable. You’d have to add up the different options and compare. If you can afford the 15-day Swiss Travel Pass it’s your best bet because you’ll be able to use it to just hop on any random train or boat or cable car without having to pay the 50%.
In my experience those hotel-issued transport passes are only good for local travel, as in the buses or short train rides to nearby towns. My hunch is that it wouldn’t be valid at all on the Bernina Express.
Your itinerary looks fabulous. Nearly everyone else reading this is trying to fit as much into 3 or 4 days as possible, so being able to do ALL of it like this is amazing. If I were you I’d plan on buying the 15-day Swiss Travel Pass and then buy a Rick Steves Switzerland guide (paper or ebook) for detailed advice on the best way to do all of the things on your list. As he says himself, it’ll be the best US$20 you spend on this expensive trip. It looks like you are covering most of the main highlights. You might even consider doing more of the Goldenpass to Geneva and back to Bern. I hope this helps and have a great time. -Roger
Hi Roger
The information you have provided is amazing.I have spent may hours trying to decipher the mystery of the Swiss Travel Passes.
I think I have decided to get a half fare card.
I will be staying in Switzerland with my brother in Schauffhousen and will be there approximately a month in and out.
I have planned a trip and this is where I was wondering should I get a Swiss Pass.
Here goes.
Day 1 Schauffhousen to Zurich to Chur to catch the Bernina Express to tirano. One night in Tirano so that I can catch normal train to Varenna and then a ferry to Menaggio and stay two nights.
Travel by bus to Luggano then onto Bellinzona to look at castles and eventually settle in Locarno for two nights. day trips to Ascona.( Any suggestions here)
The next stage travel to Domodossola to Brig to Visp.
While in Visp for 2 nights.Go on Gornergrat bahn, go to Eggishorn to see Aletsch Glacier. Day trip to Zermatt( A little confused what to see here. Originally I was going to hike up to the Charles Kuonen Bridge but it will be around 19 May and I believe it is closed.)
From Visp I travel to Lausanne and stay 3 nights, here I am planning day trips to Geneva by ferry to see CERN along with a trip to Montreux to do the round trip of Rochers de Naye visit Queen Museum and food museum and Swiss army knife museum.( Other suggestions kindly accepted)
I will then head back to Schauffhousen.
I have then decided in 11 June to travel to to Thun and stay 2 days so I can visit Interlaken, Lucerne and the surrounding area and travel back and climb the suspension bridge.
I really want to fit in Schithorn , Staserhorn and Mt Rigi and Mt Titlis. I will have another 3 spare days to fill as well. Any suggestions to changes to my itinerary or where I can fit this in would be great?
I am flexible, also know that when I catch the Bernina express I wont be using the express bus. Is this a problem.
Any helpful hints or suggestions for my remaining three days would be appreciated. I am traveling by myself and lets say I am a fit mature woman.
Thanks again for all you amazing info about the passes
Yvette,
I’m happy to try to help, and it sounds like you’ve spent a LOT of time planning this amazing trip. You’ll be going to quite a few places that I have yet to go myself, so I don’t think I’ll have much helpful advice for you. It sounds like the Half Fare Card will be perfect for you since it is valid for 30 days. And you should also plan to buy at least a couple Swiss Saver Day Passes, which are discussed in the article above. Since you’ll have a valid Half Fare Card you can buy them for CHF39 per day as long as you buy a couple weeks in advance. For example, on the day you go to Schilthorn and also Mt Rigi, for CHF39 each day you can do everything for free. Again, the trick is to buy them at least a couple weeks in advance because the price goes up as the date approaches.
As for Zermatt, there are several cable cars that take you to different viewpoints for the Matterhorn, so doing one of those is the top day-trip choice for most people. I’m jealous of your CERN trip and that should be amazing. With that much time in Switzerland I’d suggest buying a Rick Steves Switzerland travel guide (in book form or ebook). It will have the best options and suggestions for almost all of the places you’ll be going and it’ll be the best US$20 you’ll spend on this trip. I’m not sure about the Bernina Express options unfortunately.
Sorry I am not of more help on this but you are going to many specific places that I’ve only breezed through or haven’t even visited yet, so by the end you’ll be more of an expert than I am. I’m sure it’ll be an excellent trip. -Roger