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 am after a bit of advice on what travel card to purchase
My partner and I are flying into Geneva on Friday then spending 3 nights in Murren
Whilst staying in Murren we have paragliding already booked which includes hotel pick up, but will be looking to travel up to the Schilthorn and possibly Jungfraujoch is there any trips/activities around Murren that you would recommend
And what travel pass would you recommend or would we be better off purchasing separate tickets
Thanks
Kind Regards
Karl
Karl,
My hunch is that the Half Fare Card would be your best value, but it really depends on which things you end up doing and if you also do some train rides. If you are focusing on the Interlaken area you might look into the Regional-Pass Bernese Oberland because it’s cheaper than the full Swiss Travel Pass and it gets you free train travel in that area as well as 50% off Schilthorn and a few other expensive things. The Half Fare Card can pay for itself very quickly, so it’s a better option than buying individually unless you have very limited plans aside from the paragliding. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hello Roger, Loved reading your advice so I’d like to ask you a couple of things. My fiancee and I will be traveling in about 2 weeks and this is pretty much the itinerary :
Zurich-Lucerne
Lucerne (doing mt pilatus)
then off to Bern- then Thorn (Interlaken)
Visiting Lauternbrunnen, Gimmelwald & Murren
My fiancee suggests we skip Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn since we’re doing mt Pilatus but I’m not sure about it. Suggestions???
then going to Montreaux and Gruyeres seeing a castle there
then Geneva for just 1 day
then back to zurich
1- Any suggestions as to any of the above not being worth and adding another destination instead,
2- if we’re doing Pilatus to experience the steepest cable acar ride should we then skip the other mountains
3 would the Swiss pass or half pass make more sense with our case.
and Lastly: Should we take Any goldenpass lines?
Sorry forgot to mention our trip will last 8 days
Appreciate your advise
Thank you
Geraldina,
I think your plan looks quite good. Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn are the two highest and most dramatic peaks in Switzerland and it would be great if you could do at least one of them. Schilthorn is now fully included in the Swiss Travel Pass and it takes less time to visit so that one is my preference for most people. Pilatus is quite good as well, but I prefer those others.
I wouldn’t spend time in Geneva unless there is something specific you want to see there. It has a lovely location on a lake, but the city itself isn’t very interesting compared to all of the other places you are considering, and Montreux is really the same situation. I would focus more on the mountains and scenery and not spend time in the cities unless you have things in mind you want to see there. Bern is really nice for a day or so, but I’d still recommend Interlaken and Lucerne for most of your visit.
The Goldenpass is very scenic, and the full route takes most of a day. If you are going between Lucerne and Montreux then it’s worth it to do the slower route through the valley on the Goldenpass, but pretty much all trains in Switzerland are very scenic and for most people I don’t think it’s worth going out of the way if it’s not on your route already. If you’ll be in Switzerland for 8 days then the Swiss Travel Pass will almost certainly be the best choice, and you’ll have time for the Goldenpass and at least Montreux even if you only see Geneva from the train. I hope this helps. -Roger
Roger,
Thank you for such a comprehensive blog. The blog is very informative and has helped me tremendously in planning our upcoming trip to Switzerland. We are going to be in Switzerland for 6 days in July. Here is a rough itinerary we were planning:
Day 1 – Train from Zurich airport to Interlaken (arrive in Interlaken in the evening and sightsee)
Day 2 – Interlaken to Grutschalp/Murren/Schilthorn
Day 3 – Interlaken to Jungfraujoch
Day 4 – Half day trip from interlaken to Geissbach Falls and lake steamer cruise on Lake Brienz
Day 4 Evening – Train from Interlaken to Lucerne
Day 5 – Lucerne to Mt. Pilatus
Day 6 – Lucerne to Bern
Day 7 – Lucerne to Zurich Airport and fly out
Would you suggest any changes to the itinerary? Is the cruise on Lake Brienz and the Geissbach Falls really worth it for half a day or would you suggest we do something else? We have to arrive in Lucerne on the night of Day 4.
Lastly, would you suggest a Swiss Pass or a Half day pass from convenience and cost perspective?
I would appreciate your insights. Thanks in advance.
Meera,
I’m happy to try to help. Your itinerary looks very good and well planned. I actually haven’t done a cruise on Lake Brienz or been to Geissbach Falls so it’s hard for me to say. Switzerland is packed with many of Europe’s most amazing and dramatic sights, so it’s hard to go wrong. I think I’d check the tripAdvisor reviews on those places and see what recent visitors are saying. Most likely they will be very positive, which seems to be true for almost everything in Switzerland.
It’s hard to say if the Swiss Travel Pass would be cheapest for you compared to the Half Fare Card, but it’s definitely more convenient because you can just hop on trains and cable cars with no reservations. You’d have to add them up to be sure, but as long as you are doing Schilthorn I think the Swiss Travel Pass will probably save more. Also, if you have the full pass you can always do more things in between the planned ones. For example you might take a scenic train from Lucerne to Bern rather than the fastest direct train. Sorry I can’t be more sure about this, and let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi
a group of us (6) will be traveling from Tirano to Lucern on the 20 August, staying one nigt in Lucerne and then fly out from Zurich round 19:00.
We would like to take the Bernina express to Chur and from there to Lucerne. The Bernina arrives round 3:55 in Chur. If we want to go to MT Rigi, what would be the best option? to do it on the following day, or can it maybe be done on route to Zurich? Would the Swiss travel pass save us some money. We will also spent the day in Tirano up until the departure of the Bernina express and was thinking of traveling in the area, but I suppose this is Italy and the pass won’t work over there?
Doret,
It’s correct that the Swiss Rail Pass is useless in Italy. I’m not sure I understand the rest of your questions. Visiting Mt Rigi from Lucerne will take at least 4 or 5 hours and it’s best done as part of the boat cruise that will add another hour or two to it. I’m sorry if I misunderstood the question and please ask again if I did. Most likely the Half Fare Card will be a better choice unless you are spending more time in Switzerland. -Roger
Hi
I love your advice and website, I will be heading to Switzerland this July for 8 days and would like to seek your advice on whether a full Swiss pass or half card would be better
Day 1 Zurich- lucern
Day 2 staying in Lucerne
Day 3 Lucerne to Chur and then on to glacier express headed for Zermatt
Day 4 in Zermatt
Day 5- head from Zermatt to Interlaken, staying at murren
Day 6 likely to go to Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn
Day 7 frim Interlaken to vevey
Day 8 from vevey to Geneva airport
Jon,
Since you are staying 8 days I think the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass will save you the most money. And now that it fully includes Schilthorn it’s an even better buy. With that pass you’ll also be able to do many other things that aren’t on your list because they will almost all be included, such as the boat ride in Lucerne and some of the other cable cars. -Roger
Thanks Roger,
So i can modify like in place of Mt Titlis , i will visit Mt Rigi but cannot change Jungfraujoch.
So in this case for 3 day travel swiss pass will be better or still half fare card is better?
Also is there benefit of not standing in ticket line for swiss travel pass, right?
Thanks again
Best Regards,
Anupam
Anupam,
I would think the Swiss Travel Pass would be a better option if you use it for Mt. Rigi, and it DOES cover the trains part of the way up and down Jungfrau, so it’s not quite as expensive as if you had no card. But really the only way to be sure is to add up the things on your list using the different methods and see which is cheapest. I don’t have all of the fares memorized and I wouldn’t want to steer you wrong with my guess.
You can buy a Swiss Travel Pass in Switzerland from any major train station and the queues usually aren’t too long, but if you buy at the airport or in Zurich you might have to wait 30 minutes so you might as well buy online and print it at home for no charge. Once you have a Pass you can ride most things for free without a ticket or reservation, so it does save some time. Have a great trip. -Roger
Dear Roger,
I have gone through most of your suggestions and helping hands for the best Switzerland trip.
I am also planning to visit Switzerland for 4 days from 4th June ’18 to 7th June ’18. We the family of 6 ( Parents + 2 Kids ( 12, 14 ) and wife and myself) will be travelling from Belgium, Brussels to Switzerland.
I need your suggestion for the below 2 queries please…
1. Which pass is better ( Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare card or Swiss Family Card). From your review I understand that Kids fare will be 0 if parents are accompanying but can you please confirm which pass would be best for me.
2. Based on your suggestions in the email chain, I am planning my iternary as below.
Day 1 : Geneva airport -> Interlaken -> Schilthorn and then Gimmelwald and Murren.
Day 2 : Jungfraujoch
Day 3 : Lucerne lake, city tour etc.
Could you please share your suggestion if this looks ok or please suggest.
Thank you for your time.
Srinivas,
As long as your flight into Geneva lands early enough, your plan looks very good. It’s hard to say if the Swiss Travel Pass or the Half Fare Card is a better choice, but both options would be better than buying individually. With either of those cards you can have the kids come along for free if you request a Swiss Family Card along with the one you buy. My hunch is that the Half Fare Card will be the better choice because it gives a much larger discount on Jungfraujoch, but of course Schilthorn is now free with the Swiss Travel Pass so it’s a closer call. Really the only way to be sure is to figure out how much each thing costs and compare them. Your list is short so it shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes or so. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi,
Me and my mother is travelling to switetzerland, our itinary is:
on 1st day we are going from zurich bus station to Interlaken.
on 2nd day, Interlaken to Jungfrau and back to Interlaken.
on 3rd day, Interlaken to Glaciers 3000 and then go to Lucern via Intelaken.
On 4th day, Lucern to mount titlis and back to lucern
on 5th day, lucern to zurich airport.
Can you please tell which one to choose : swiss travel pass or half day
Best Regards,
Anupam
Anupam,
Especially since you are planning on doing Jungfraujoch, I think the Half Fare Card will be the better choice. The Half Fare Card gets you that 50% discount on Jungfraujoch compared to only 25% for the Swiss Travel Pass, and both of them give the same 50% discount on Glacier 3000. If you were going Mt Rigi instead of Titlis and/or Schilthorn instead of Jungfraujoch then the Swiss Travel Pass would save more because those places are fully included. Have a great trip. -Roger
Thanks Roger and we realise they are in the same area, we want to spend Christmas in Interlaken and around the lower area, maybe a day trip to Lacern, Zermat or Titlis etc and then spend a week up higher and have a few days snowboarding. We figured that there might be a lower chance of snow in the village /town in interlaken so might have a higher chance in Grindelwald. Would the idea of heading to Zermat or Titlis have an affect on the type of pass we purchase? also would you recommend taking a half price train from Grindelwald to Basel and the the train to Paris or just booking it all from Grindelwald. Thanks for your insights.
Hi Roger
Great post, thanks for all the info, all be it complicated.
We are going to be in Switzerland for 2 weeks over Christmas and new year. We have 1 week in Interlaken and 1 week in Grindelwald accomodation booked, we are then off to Paris for a week after that.
Looking for advice on travel, need o get from Zurich to Interlaken on day 1 and the leave on day 14 either to Basil and train to Paris or back to Zurich and fly to Paris.
Looking to potentially do Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn and maybe a day trip to Zermat from either Interlaken or Grindelwald.
Looks like there is a 15 day pass but looks expensive, if we have the half price will that last he duration of our visit?
2 adults and one child under 3.
Would love to get your insight.
Dale
Dale,
That sounds like an amazing trip. I assume you realize that Grindelwald is in a valley very close to Interlaken, so you’ll be in the same general area the whole time. I think the Half Fare Card, which is good for 30 days, will be your best value. Especially if you’ll mostly be focused in one area, it would be hard to get good value out of the full pass. However, you might also consider supplementing the Half Fare Card with a Flex version of the Swiss Travel Pass where you pay for 3, 4, or 8 non-consecutive days of the full pass within one month. You can use it on consecutive days, but you don’t have to. The 3-day version of it goes for CHF259 in second class, and Schilthorn by itself costs around CHF105 (although only CHF52.50 with the Half Fare Card). In other words, if you plan on a few days where you’ll be taking long train trips or other expensive things, the Flex pass would be cheaper than just using the Half Fare Card or buying individual tickets.
There is also the Day Pass version that you can buy 30 to 14 days in advance and that one gives you a nice discount if you also have the Half Fare Card. Those are all discussed in the article above. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger