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.
Hello Roger
I really appreciate all of your time invested in all this information!
On the TripAdvisor you can purchase the day trip from Interlaken to Jungfrau but with the STP I would get a discount? I’ll be there next week and want to purchase my ticket. What would you suggest? Purchase this was travel pass first and then the ticket to Junfrau or the others? Matterhorn Schilthornetc?
I hope you have time to get back to me. This was kind of a quick scheduled trip 🙂
Many thanks Linda
Linda,
In my experience, those package tours sold on Tripadvisor are quite overpriced. They are good for people who are in a hurry and aren’t confident in their abilities, and who have a lot of money. I doubt you’d get a discount on their package if you had a Swiss Travel Pass, but I suppose it’s possible.
If I were you I’d just buy the tickets when you get there. You can buy the whole ticket at any train station. Another thing to consider is that the weather at the top of those mountains can be fogged in for part of the day, any day of the year. As a result, it’s better not to be locked into a departure until you are confident it will be clear enough up there.
I can help you decide whether to buy a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card or buy individual tickets if you let me know what you have in mind in terms of number of days and where you are thinking about going. A Swiss Travel Pass can be a great deal if you’ll be there for 3 days and you want to do the Schilthorn cable car and some of the other expensive things that are included, in addition to a few train rides. I’ll answer within 24 hours because I know you are going soon. -Roger
Such a wonderful and informative blog! My friend and I are going on a river cruise out of Basel in early June. I am trying to determine which would be the most economical way of doing the following itinerary since we only have two days in Zurich before the cruise.
Day 1 – Arrive in Zurich. Take the train into Zurich
Day 2 – Train to Arth Goldau. Cogwheel train up to Mt. Rigi and down again to Vitznau. Ferry to Luzerne. Train from Luzerne back to Zurich.
Day 3 – Train from Zurich to Basel (where we catch our cruise).
Should we just buy full price tickets along the way or would any of the passes you mention above work better for us?
Thank you for your help!
Jane,
I’m glad this is helpful. Your plan seems pretty good, but if you can I’d highly recommend spending those nights in Lucerne instead of Zurich. I discuss it toward the top of my main article on where to go in Switzerland. The short version is that Zurich is very expensive and kind of dull compared to the scenic tourist towns like Lucerne and Interlaken. Also (as you may know), Lucerne is only about an hour by train from Zurich and also the airport.
Either way, my guess is that the Half Fare Card would save you some money because those train rides (including the one to Basel) will be fairly expensive. You’d just have to check the prices on the things you want to do and if the regular full-fare price is more than CHF240 it would be cheaper to get the Half Fare Card.
Another option is the Tell Pass, which covers most things in the Lucerne area. Again, you’d have to add up the costs of what you want to do and add up the different options. Those are your choices and I’m sure you’ll have a great trip. -Roger
Great blog, so many interesting info.
Thank you!
Working on my intinarary and it’s just a mess right now, but I still have time until our departure Feb 10th.
We are in the beginning stages of planning a trip, the first part of March 2019. Could you advise on the best travel pass for our trip?
We will fly into Zurich and travel by train.
Bern (Schilthorn included)
Lausanne (Montreux)
Zermatt
Lugano
Luzern
train back to Zurich.
Can you give your opinion on this? Thanks so much!
Amy,
It could depend on the number of days you’ll be in Switzerland, but for that itinerary I’d imagine that you are planning on something around a week. In that case I’d definitely go for the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass, which will cover Schilthorn and all of your train travel and also nearly all of the boat rides and cable cars you’ll take in these places. Even if you are trying to do this in as few as 6 days the 8-day Pass should more than pay for itself.
Also, I’d recommend spending more time in the Interlaken area rather than just half a day on a trip from Bern to do Schilthorn. Once you get there you’ll realize that it’s the most amazingly scenic part of Switzerland and you’ll be disappointed that you are spending so much time in the cities and so little time at the best scenic areas. The train rides will be fantastic, but it looks like you are planning on staying in cities mostly. Lucerne/Luzern is very nice and scenic so keep that one. Have a scan of my article on where to go in Switzerland for a bit more information. Have a great trip. -Roger
Thanks for the blog and effort to help visitors.
Me and my wife are planning an 8 day trip arriving at Zurich on March 18th AM. Planning to go around Zurich on that day and move to Lucern next day and make it the base. Go all around Lucern including Mt. Rigis, Mt Titlis, Interlaken etc.. Planning to stay till 25th in Lucern and move back to Zurich that night. Return flight next day.
I was planning to buy Zurich Visitor card (24 hour) for 18th, Tell Pass for 19th – 23rd and 2 SDPs for 24th and 25th (52 each without HFC). So, I can cover whatever is not covered by Tell pass using SDP on last two days (May be a visit to Geneva one of those days).
Please suggest whether the above is a right approach. Is SDP is valid everywhere Swiss Travel Pass is. Can I use SDP on Glacier express? Is STP more advisable? Recommendations on the must see using Tell Pass in central Switzerland will be extremely helpful. Thank You.
Rajaram,
My understanding is that a Saver Day Pass is exactly like a Swiss Travel Pass, for one day at a time. I just checked the list and saw that Schilthorn IS listed as covered, and that’s the single most expensive thing that the normal pass covers, so it looks like it’s complete. For the scenic railways like the Glacier Express the Saver Day Pass covers a normal train seat, but to ride in the special panoramic carriages you need to make a reservation and pay a supplement, just like with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Your approach looks like a great strategy and I’m assuming it will cost a bit less than the standard 8-day Swiss Travel Pass. But if it’s only a bit less expensive I’d probably just get the full pass. The thing is, when you have the full pass you will probably use it quite a few times on things that you weren’t even planning. For example, the trains and cable cars within the Lauterbrunnen Valley are covered (except for Jungfraujoch, of course) and they mostly run twice per hour. It’s a stunning area so if you have the pass you can just hop on any train or cable car and then come back an hour later. The same is true in Lucerne. That said, it looks like you’ll have most or even all of that covered with your patchwork approach, so if it’s quite a bit cheaper than the full pass it should work. And you’ve obviously noticed that the Saver Day Passes are pretty cheap if you buy in advance and have the Half Fare Card. I’m impressed with your research. -Roger
(Cont.)
Actually a tour company quoted us CHF2170 for part of our stay of 5 days 4 nights which includes 1st class panoramic train rides with excursion to jungfraujoch + 2 nights hotel stay in Grindelwald and the rest of nts at Lucern & montreux. Dunno, Seems a bit steep because that means we still have to pay for transport for the other days. We wondered if we should just book everything point to point by ourselves, will that work out cheaper you think?
Josephine,
I just saw this other question after I answered the other one. That DOES seem like a very high price and I’m sure you can do the exact same things for less money by doing them yourself. It’s true that most things in Switzerland are quite expensive, especially hotels and restaurant food, and Jungfraujoch costs about US$200 per person itself. But again, you can do Schilthorn free with the Swiss Travel Pass, and that has similar views to Jungfraujoch. Also, Switzerland is a very easy country to get around in and plan your own trip. All the important signs are also in English and almost everyone you encounter as a visitor will speak English pretty well. That’s a bit less true in the French part of the country (Montreux), but even there the hotel and most restaurant employees will speak enough English to help you.
There are a few countries (China being one) where going with a tour makes a lot of sense and can actually be cheaper. But Switzerland is quite easy for the English speaker, and the normal (even 2nd Class) trains are very comfortable and very punctual. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger!
What a fantastic help your site is! We’d like to have your opinion on what kind of pass We should get or should we just buy point to point tickets.
My husband and I will have 9 days, 8 nights in Switzerland in mid April. We will visit and stay with a friend in Zurich for 3 nights. Also 1 night in Bern, 1 in Lucerne, 2 in Grindelwald to visit jungfraujoch and 1 night Montreux. We want to take the scenic trains to these places. Maybe go up mount titlis or schilthorn too.
Is it best to get half fare, a whole pass or poin to point seeing that we will be staying with a friend at the same place for 3 nts and might just take a bus in and around her area?
Josephine,
I’d definitely get the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass for your situation. Even while in Zurich you can get good use out of it with a day trip to Rhine Falls, which is one hour from Zurich by train, and you might do other little day trips or things around Zurich that are also covered. But you’ll mostly use it a LOT when you leave Zurich because it will cover all of your train rides and most of the cable cars and boat rides that you’ll definitely be taking. The pass fully covers Schilthorn, which is an amazing sight, and the normal cost is around CHF105. If you were only staying 4 or 5 days it might be a tougher call and the Half Fare Card could be better, but the per-day price for 8 days is only about US$53 and you’ll get more use out of it almost every day. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hey Roger,
Thanks a ton for the detailed reviews, they have been a great help. Although I still have a few questions.
I am planning an 8-day family trip to Switzerland in mid-March 2019 and am planning to set base at Lucerne. I intend to visit Jungfraujoch, Mt. Titlis, Mt. Pilatus, Stanserhorn, Matterhorn, Schilthorn, Rhine Falls and Zermatt.
My concerns are,
1. Is Lucerne a good base or shall I be looking for Interlaken?
2. In the prevailing weather conditions, should I be visiting Matterhorn?
3. Would an 8-day swiss pass be of value?
4. Could you pls suggest me a few scenic trains to attain the max output of the pass?
Tanmay,
I’m glad this article is helpful. Honestly I’d base yourself for about 3 nights in Lucerne and the remaining nights in the Interlaken area. They are about two hours apart by train so doing Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn while staying in Lucerne would add more than four hours to each of them. Also, both are fantastic for different reasons. Lucerne is a really charming and photogenic small city with the Chapel Bridge at its core and lots of great shops and restaurants and such. The town of Interlaken is smaller and it’s a bit worn out so you are better off staying somewhere in the nearby Lauterbrunnen Valley (Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, Murren, Wengen, Grindelwald). Each of those villages are set in postcard-perfect locations that will be the highlight of your trip. And the main sights are near all of them as well.
Visiting the Matterhorn can be a fun day trip from Interlaken (and too far from Lucerne) as long as you have the Swiss Travel Pass. The mountain itself is really stunning although the rest of the area isn’t quite as pretty as the Lauterbrunnen area.
The 8-day Swiss Travel Pass is definitely the way to go. Kids under 16 (I think) can go along for free if you get the Swiss Family Card, which is also free. The per-day cost for 8 days is a bit over US$50, and with the high prices of Swiss trains and cable cars and such, you should easily average at least US$100 worth of travel each day.
The GoldenPass train goes from Lucerne to Interlaken and then on to Montreux and that’s a great one, which you’ll do part of whether you like it or not. If you take the train to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn that one will also be great. Aside from those I would mostly concentrate on just taking trains to the places and things you want to see. Believe it or not, pretty much every train ride in Switzerland has amazing scenery with the possible exception of a few in the Zurich area. I think they market those special trains for people who want to see a lot in a hurry and may not want to walk around much. Honestly, the trains that go from Interlaken into the Lauterbrunnen Valley will be incredibly scenic, and you’ll be taking those many times just going between the towns.
The other problem with most of the “scenic trains” is that you either have to bring all your stuff on them, or you have to go back in the same day. A 6-hour scenic train ride can be wonderful, but it’s less wonderful if you have to hop on another train at the end to go 6 hours back to where you are staying. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello Roger!
Alexander again. Thank you for your advice and response! We’ll definitely be getting the travel pass. I was just however looking at the sbb site – it asks for validity from a certain date, and would only let me choose until march of 2019. Does that mean we cannot order these more than three months in advance of the day we are using the ticket from?
Thanks!
Alexander,
I wasn’t aware of that, but that does appear to be the case that you actually can’t buy more than two months in advance. It seems odd, but Switzerland doesn’t sell domestic train tickets more than 30 days in advance, which is also very unusual in Europe. It might be that they figure that they’ll deal with fewer refunds and returns if they don’t sell them so far in advance? I’m not sure, but since the price will be the same and they won’t sell out, it shouldn’t make a difference. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger – One additional question I had. Considering the amended itinerary I’ve included in my previous post, would you still recommend the 8-day Travel pass? I know you also mentioned the Half Fare card and Saver Day passes, so I’m wondering if a combination of those on some of the heavier travel days might be better. Thank you!