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 require your help is finalising my plan:
a) Mt first half of stay in Switzerland is a group tour wherein I would be visiting Interlaken, Bern and Mt Titlis (my stay would be in aderbonden)
b) Then I have three 3 days extra (from 24 August 2018 and I would start from Zurich)
c) I plan to visit Rhine Falls, then Schilthorn excursion, Mt Rigi and Mt Pilatus on 24 August 2018. I would be staying in Lucerne for 24 and 25 August 2018 night
d) Not sure of what should be done on 25 and 26 August 2018. I was planning to take Bernine express but thinking that would be too hectic. Can you suggest the itinry for 25 and 26 August 2018.
Thank you
Virenda,
Doing Mt Rigi and Pilatus on the same day is challenging and you’d really have to hurry to do both. You might consider doing Rigi as part of the boat tour on the lake and adding some other stops on that boat tour, and doing Pilatus the next day. Schilthorn takes about 4 hours or more from Interlaken and back, and Rhine Falls is about two hours each way by train from Lucerne. In other words, I think you already have enough to do on your trip, and that’s assuming the weather is going to be good for all of it. So I would space out your big attractions a bit more and then do some smaller things in between if you have time. -Roger
I can not thank you ENOUGH for this article. My girlfriend and I literally have 8 days of travel before ending up in Zurich for the end of the trip (and flight back to the States). And the cost/benefits of the pass are EVERYTHING to us since, obviously, we won’t be looking any lodging or sticking to a firm travel plan since the weather is so important when it comes to Switzerland travel and sightseeing.
So, the 8 day pass seems like an absolute no-brainer to us. The big questions I have involve the Glacier Railway. I just went on the website and it says you can’t book a reservation more than three months out (that’s fine). But I am curious about…
1) The other lines that run on the Glacier Railway. A few days back I kept getting alternative routes via Google that went through Zurich and the like, yet I’ve heard that there are a lot of “Regular” trains that go along the same railway. Is this true?
2) Is it necessary to reserve a Glacier Railway ticket for mid-October (we’ll be on it the weekend before they slow down for the winter)?
3) Our itinerary basically would consist of hopping on a train from Basel to St. Moritz on a Thursday afternoon/evening and then hopping on the Glacier Railway (or perhaps a train that does the same line) that morning. How reliable are the 8 hour overnight trains or the 4+ hour express ones? Would this connection be too tight (arrive after 8 AM and then try to get on a Glacier line train by 10 or so)? Obviously, we would not want to miss a reservation on the Glacier Railway proper and potentially have to spend a day in St. Moritz in offseason if no more outgoing trains are available, etc.
BTW, we want to start at St. Moritz instead of Zermatt because we will be doing a ton of stuff on the western side of the country.
Anyway, I know this question is kind of complicated, but it’s a big deal for us since we’re trying to get on that route pronto to begin our travel period after her Basel conference. Tight connections, reservations and trying to beat the closure of that line for the season are all big issues for us.
Casper,
I appreciate the kind words and I’ll be happy to try to help.
1) Parts of the Glacier Express are on a busy main rail line, and the panorama carriages are only a small portion of the carriages on those trains. I haven’t take the full Glacier Express myself though.
2) For the panorama carriages I would reserve as early as you can because you’ll also be able to reserve specific seats. I think most of those are sold out eventually, but mid October is the beginning of the slower period, as you mention. You can ride in a normal carriage with no reservation at all.
3) Swiss trains are famously punctual and almost every train leaves and arrives exactly on time. It’s pretty amazing, even compared to Germany where many trains arrive late. So you should be fine unless you get incredibly unlucky.
Your trip sounds fabulous and I think it’ll work well. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello Roger,
I would appreciate your feedback on our Itenary for Switzerland in September. Your website is amazing !!!! it really helped me plan our trip. It is full of great information. Thank you for all the details. I would like your advice whether we should get a swiss half card or Swiss pass. We will be in Switzerland for 7 days, so not sure if I should just invest in the 8 day pass and enjoy without worrying.
Here is my plan. I would also appreciate feedback if this is a good itenary, would you recommend anything different.
day 1 – arrive in Basel Airport – bus to airport and train to Lauterbrunnen ( staying in Lauterbrunnen)
day 2 – visit Murren – Grimmelwald -Schilthornbahn
day 3 – jungfraubahn
day 4 – train to Bern – site see (open to other recommendations)
day 5 train to Luzern – sleep in Luzern
day 6 -luzern site see – can’t decide between mount Pilatus or Rigi – or maybe neither – appreciate your feed back
day 7 – go to Lake Como – thinking of taking the William Tell Express Scenic train – also open to recommendations
-Not sure how to get from Lugano to Varenna ( Maybe Bernini Express partially ) – please advice
So this is it. Please help me decide if the 8 day Swiss Pass will be better (even though we are staying 7 Days) or the half card.
-one more thing – do you recommend we buy our pass at the Basel Airport (before taking the bus to the train station )or on line in advance.
Thank you very much. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Lena
Lena,
Your itinerary looks quite good. One suggestion I’ll make is to keep your plans flexible when you get there and keep close track of the weather. As I’ve said many times before, it can be cloudy or foggy or rainy on the tops of those mountains any day of the year and there is no point in going up if it’s bad. So the best plan is to have a list of things you want to do and then do them as soon as you are able when the weather is good. Visiting Bern is a really fun day and you can do it when it’s foggy on the mountaintops early in your stay, or go on Day 4 if the weather is nice all the time.
From Lugano you can take a train to Monza and switch to the suburban train that goes to Varenna and it takes about two hours. But I think there is also a bus from Lugano that goes to one of the towns on eastern shore of Lake Como and you can take a ferry from that one to Varenna.
As for the Swiss Travel Pass or the Half Fare Card, it’s tough for me to say unless I were to add up the prices of each of the things on your list. The 8-day Pass is pretty good value on a per-day basis so I think you’d have an easy time getting great value out of it (the shorter ones are more challenging for that), and the full pass includes Mt Rigi and Schilthorn along with the boat and many cable cars you’ll probably take. So my hunch is the pass is the better choice, especially if you’ll be taking a big part of one or two of those scenic trains.
Personally I would buy the pass online and print it from home. You can buy it at the airport, but it can be a hassle and sometimes the queues are long. As long as the price is the same (and I think it is) I think it’s an advantage to have the pass when you arrive so you can skip the queue after a long flight. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I will be travelling to Switzerland in October together with my husband and 2 children, aged 5 and 7. We planned to go to Jungfraujoch, Bern and either Mount Pilatus, Rigi or Titlis. We will be staying at Lucerne and will be travelling in to Lucerne from Paris and will be leaving Lucerne to Salzburg. We will be getting Eurail pass. Do you think it is necessary to purchase Swiss Pass in addition to the Eurail pass?
Thank you very much!
Sherene,
A Eurail Pass will get you free rail travel, of course, and a 25% discount on Jungfraujoch and most of those other mountain attractions. It’s hard to imagine a Swiss Travel Pass being good value on days when you also have a valid Eurail Pass, since you’d be paying for both of them. However, if you are getting Eurail Flexi passes where you have a certain number of valid days within two months, a Swiss Travel Pass or even the Half Fare Card might be good to use while in Switzerland. You’d really have to add up the costs of the things you would be doing. And as I’ve mentioned before, now Schilthorn is fully included with the Swiss Travel Pass and it’s across the valley from Jungfraujoch so it’s a MUCH better choice if you have a Swiss Travel Pass. I’m happy to try to help more if you have other questions. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I will be travelling to Switzerland next month and would be buying the Swiss half fare travel pass.
I need to book online tickets for my internal travels. Should i first purchase the pass and then book the tickets on https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html.
How does it work??
i stay in India and it is p//ass in physical copy or soft copy. from when do i purchase the pass??
Bhushan,
The Half Fare Card can be purchased online and then printed at home. Interestingly, you can even buy half-fare tickets before you buy the Half Fare Card, but when you get on the train with a half-fare ticket you also have to show a valid Half Fare Card in order to use them. As long as you are sure you are going you might as well buy the Half Fare Card online and then buy the train tickets online. When you are buying the tickets there will be an option that allows you to apply a discount. You click on the slider thing and the top choice will be Half Fare. Buy the half-fare tickets and then show your valid Half Fare Card when the ticket person comes by on the train. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi,
My husband and I are travelling to Switzerland in August 2018. We will be staying in various air bnb’s in hamlets and cities including, Lausanne, Lugano, and Lucerne. We plan to do Mount Pilatus and other sight seeing via hikes, trains, boats etc.
We will be in Switzerland for 13 days…. Should we get the Swiss travel pass or the half fare card?
Thank you!
Sarah,
For such a long stay I think the 15-day Swiss Travel Pass makes a lot of sense. The per-day cost of the 2nd Class version would only be about US$40 for the 13 days of your trip, and with all that sightseeing and traveling you should be spending at least US$100 per day on trains, cable cars, and boats and whatnot, and sometimes a lot more. The Half Fare Card would be much better value than buying as you go, but I really think the Swiss Travel Card is a better deal for anyone staying close to 15 days like that. Best of all, since so many things are free/included, you’ll be able to do much more than you would if you had to pay for each thing (even at 50% off). Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thank you for your informative article. It is really helping out a lot in my planning!
I will be travelling alone in September and was wondering if I could get a second opinion on my itinerary and what pass to get.
Day 1: Zurich to Interlaken. Interlaken OST to Iseltwald
Day 2, 3: Iseltwald (hiking, kayaking Lake Brienz)
Day 4, 5: Iseltwald to Gimmelwald (Mountain Hostel) (Exploring the area, paragliding, Schilthorn, possibly Via Ferrata)
Day 6, 7: Lucerne, Mt Rigi
Day 8: Lucerne to Zurich
Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Soojin,
Your itinerary looks really good. Considering you are doing Schilthorn AND Mt Rigi, and both of those are fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, I’m thinking one of those will be your best option. You can also use it for some of the cable cars and boats you might take for your hiking trips. And you might also consider a couple scenic train rides as well. In other words, if you do ONLY the things on your list, the Half Fare Card might actually be slightly cheaper. But if you buy the Swiss Travel Pass you can do many more things that are included, so you’ll have a much richer trip. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi,
My husband and I are travelling to Switzerland in August 2018. We are staying for 13 days in air bnbs. I am very confused as to whether we should buy the swiss travel pass or half fare card. Please help!
We will be staying in places around Lausanne, Lugano, and Lucerne. We want to do lots of site seeing whether it be from hiking or trains etc. We will need to take buses or trains from our rental homes to larger cities.
Which pass should we be buying?
Thank you!
Sarah,
As mentioned in the article above, it really depends on how many longer train rides and mountain-peak attractions you’ll be doing. On a 13-day trip the Half Fare Card will definitely be cheaper than buying individually. The 15-day Swiss Travel Pass will probably be your best value and you can do a lot more for less money if you get it. But if you aren’t going to be riding many trains or boats or cable cars then the Half Fare Card will be your best choice. -Roger
Dear Roger Wade,
I think I finally found someone who can help me.
we are a family of 3, 2 adults and 1 youth (23 yrs old), going to be in Switzerland for 4 days in July 2018.
Day!: Interlaken to Jung Frauch.
Day2: Interlaken to Luscerne (overnight in Luscerne)
Day3: Mt Titlis
Day4: Luscerne to Geneva (Golden Pass). Then off to Paris
Please advice, should I take a 4-day STPass or het a half fare card.
Would really appreciate your input.
Thank you very much
Rusnani,
Based on what you’ve mentioned I think the Half Fare Card will be the best value. If you were doing more train travel or if you were going up Schilthorn and/or Mt. Rigi then the full Swiss Travel Pass might be better, but especially for Jungfraujoch the Half Fare Card is cheaper and it saves you more. By the way, a 23-year-old is an adult by any definition when it comes to travel, so it’s really 3 adults even if they are different generations. Have a great trip. -Roger
Dear Roger Wade,
Sir,
Very much delighted by the information given in this site.
Now like to have your kind guidelines about the following:
We two aged persons 62 and 66 years of age) want to see Switzerland for 4 days. We like to go for must see mountain tops like Mt. Titlis, Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, 3000 glacier, Interlaken,rhine water falls etc. We don’t have any idea how to do day wise to complete the sight seeing. Hence kindly guide for a day wise budgeted tour itenary indicating the central place where we can stay and go for sight seeing. What type of passes we need to buy to save the costand what are the additional cost involved in respect to sight seeing only. What the important cities in Switzerland we need to visit as a tourist if you feel right only. What will be the total cost of sight seeing only. Also please note that we like to stay in centrally located place (Is Interken is ok in this matter as per your kind guideline??) and in a hostel type accommodation to save the cost.
Can you also guide for 3 days Paris must see sight seeing like must see museums, monuments, lido show, Paris night illumination tour, river cruise, catacomb visit etc. Like to have your guideline for a day wise itenary.
Please reply per return mail and oblige
Regards,
AK Paul
Kolkata
India
AK Paul,
I’m happy to try to help people plan their trips, but I generally don’t type out full itineraries so I don’t think I can answer all of your questions. Also, I’m based in the US at the moment and I sometimes am not able to answer comments on the websites on Saturdays or Sundays, although I do try.
Most of the information that will be helpful is in this article about where to go in Switzerland. In four days I’d spend either 2 or 3 of them in the Interlaken area and the remaining day or two in Lucerne. It’s best to try to go to the mountain peaks as early in the day as possible, since they are often clear in the morning and sometimes foggy or cloudy in the afternoon, although sometimes it’s the other way around. For that reason it’s hard to plan a specific itinerary for each day because it’s best to be flexible and only visit places when you know you’ll have clear weather. And if it’s cloudy on the peak you can spend a few hours in the town or do a boat tour or something else. You’ll have plenty of wonderful things to keep you busy, but you can’t always do them in the exact order you first planned.
You’ll either want to get a Half Fare Card or a Swiss Travel Pass. The only way to be sure which one is the better value is to add up the things you plan on doing and see how much they’d cost with each. For most people the Half Fare Card is the better deal, but if you take enough train trips or go up Schilthorn (now it’s fully included) then the Pass can be a better deal.
As for Paris I highly recommend the hop-on, hop-off bus tour, which takes about three hours and leaves from in front of the Eiffel Tower. It’s my favorite bus tour in Europe because it gives you great views of nearly every interesting sight. And I highly recommend taking the Seine River cruise around sunset if you can because it shows you the lights of Paris and all of the gorgeous bridges and flood-lit buildings. Both of those are included in the Paris Pass, and that is also something you should consider. Even if you don’t get a Paris Pass, that website shows you nearly all of the most famous attractions, which should help you plan your days. I’m happy to answer any other specific questions that you have. -Roger