swiss travel pass or half fare

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Swiss Travel Pass VS. Half-Fare Card – Which Should You Get?

It’s no secret that things in Switzerland are pretty darn pricey. And hence, every little bit saved counts! If you’re planning on visiting multiple locations within Switzerland, chances are that you’ll be embarking on numerous train rides. 

The trains in Switzerland are modern, clean and impeccably on time. And not surprisingly, the tickets can cost quite a fair sum too. In such cases, train passes can really be a godsend – especially when they can also be used for discounted mountain excursions, bus rides and more.

swiss travel pass or half fare

Two well-known passes are the Swiss Travel Pass and the Half-Fare Card . 

Extensive research is required to know which to pick; you have to take various factors into consideration such as duration of your trip, which activities you intend to participate in, which types of trains you’re intending to take and so on. The thought of doing all this research might seem incredibly daunting, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be!

Here’s a breakdown of the 2 different passes and their benefits or restrictions.

Swiss Travel Pass

swiss travel pass or half fare

Image credit: Klook

Think of the Swiss Travel Pass as your golden ticket to getting around Switzerland. The Pass can be valid for 3, 4, 8 or 15 consecutive days, depending on the duration of your trip. You can also get the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, which will allow you to use the pass for a certain number of days per month, albeit at a higher price. 

With the Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll be entitled to unlimited rides on trains, buses and boats. You’ll also be able to ride on premium panorama trains such as the Glacier Express , Bernina Express, Golden Pass entirely for free! Do note that you might have to top up for seat reservations or additional surcharges for certain trains. In addition, the pass also grants you free entry into over 500 museums all over Switzerland.

This is great if you’re planning to visit multiple places in Switzerland over a fixed number of days. The Swiss Travel Pass also allows for spontaneity, as you can easily hop on and off trains without worrying about being penalised. The Swiss Travel Pass is also for those who prefer ticketless travelling; all you’ll have to do is to show the conductor your pass and you’ll be good to go!

Costs for a 2nd-class Swiss Travel Pass:

3-day: EUR228 (~SGD356)

4-day: EUR276 (~SGD431)

8-day: EUR410 (~SGD640)

15-day: EUR503 (~SGD786)

Prices are derived from the Swiss Travel Pass website , where you'll also be able to find prices for the 1st-class pass.

As you can see, the Swiss Travel Pass does require quite a significant initial investment that many might balk at. It’s hence apt to do your own research and calculate how much each segment of your trip would cost – just to ensure that your purchase will be worth it.

Read: Places to Visit On Your First Trip to Switzerland

Half-Fare Card

swiss travel pass or half fare

The Half-Fare Card entitles you to 50% off unlimited trains, buses and boats for an entire calendar month. You’ll also enjoy 50% off most mountain excursions – yes, even for Jungfraujoch! – attractions, and premium panorama rides.

The Half-Fare Card is great for those who desire a little more flexibility with their dates; the Swiss Travel Pass will otherwise confine you to a set number of consecutive days. The catch is that you’ll have to buy individual point-to-point tickets with the Half-Fare Card. You can do so either at the train stations itself or online with the SBB app.

Costs: EUR118 (~SGD184)

Price is derived from the Swiss Travel Pass website .

The Half-Fare Card costs significantly less than the Swiss Travel Pass for a whole month – but you’ll still need to factor in all the different train journeys and so on. Similarly, you’d also need to calculate the price of your transportation options and mountain excursions, and do a comparison to see which would be more worth it for your trip.

Here’s a comparison of some mountain excursions and attractions that you’ll be able to embark on – either for free or with discounted rates – with the Swiss Travel Pass and Half-Fare Card:

Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe 

swiss travel pass or half fare

Swiss Travel Pass: Trains to Grindelwald or Wengen are free; enjoy 25% off the train from Grindelwald or Wengen to Jungfraujoch.

Half-Fare Card: Enjoy 50% off the trains to Grindelwald or Wengen and up to Jungfraujoch.

The extra 25% off with the Half-Fare Card as compared to the Swiss Travel Pass can amount to quite a bit, especially as the Jungfraujoch mountain excursion is the most expensive of the lot! 

To put it into perspective, without either travel pass, the return trip from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch itself can set you back roughly around CHF235 (~SGD348) in summer and CHF185-210 (~SGD274-311) during winter and the rest of the year. 

Read:  Journey to Jungfraujoch, Switzerland: Start with the Mannlichen Royal Walk ;  Hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg ;  Things to Do at Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe

Mount Pilatus

swiss travel pass or half fare

Swiss Travel Pass: Trains to Lucerne or Alpnachstad are free; enjoy 50% off the cableway or train from Kriens or Alpnachstad to Mount Pilatus. Alternatively, the bus from Lucerne to Kriens is free as well, on top of the boat ride on Lake Lucerne.

Half-Fare Card: Enjoy 50% off the various transportation methods.

Read: Top Things to Do at Mount Pilatus, Switzerland

Rhine Falls

swiss travel pass or half fare

Swiss Travel Pass: Trains to the Rhine Falls are free; no discount given for boat trips at the falls itself.

Half-Fare Card: Enjoy 50% off trains to the Rhine Falls; no discount given for boat trips at the falls itself.

Read:  Visiting the Rhine Falls Near Zurich, Switzerland

Mount Titlis

swiss travel pass or half fare

Swiss Travel Pass: Trains to Engelberg are free; enjoy 50% off the cable car from Engelberg to Mount Titlis.

Half-Fare Card: Enjoy 50% off both trains to Engelberg and cable cars up Mount Titlis.

Read:  Experience Winter All-Year-Round at Mount Titlis, Switzerland

swiss travel pass or half fare

Swiss Travel Pass: All transports up Mount Rigi are free.

Half-Fare Card: Enjoy 50% off all modes of transportation up Mount Rigi.

Read:  Exploring Mount Rigi, Switzerland

swiss travel pass or half fare

Swiss Travel Pass: Enjoy 50% off trains from Zermatt to Gornergrat.

Half-Fare Card: Enjoy 50% off trains from Zermatt to Gornergrat.

Read:  Catching the Sunrise at Gornergrat, Switzerland

Chateau du Chillon, Montreux

swiss travel pass or half fare

Swiss Travel Pass: Entry to Chateau du Chillon in Montreux is free.

Half-fare Card: No discount for entry to Chateau du Chillon.

Read:  How to Spend 24 Hours in Montreux, Switzerland

Glacier Express

swiss travel pass or half fare

Swiss Travel Pass: Ride on this premium panoramic line for free; however, you’d need to top up CHF43 (~SGD61) for a mandatory seat reservation.

Half-Fare Card: Enjoy 50% off (or more with a Saver Day Pass); exclusive of CHF43 (~SGD61) for a mandatory seat reservation.

Read:  All Aboard the Glacier Express, a Panoramic Train Ride in Switzerland

Which card to get really depends on what you prioritise – I calculated all possible expenses for both cards and found the Half-Fare Card to be more suitable for my 14-day trip.

In a nutshell, here’s what I did for 14 days:

  • Train from Zurich to Lucerne
  • Mountain excursion from Lucerne to Pilatus
  • Mountain excursion from Lucerne to Titlis
  • Mountain excursion from Lucerne to Rigi
  • Train from Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen
  • Mountain excursion from Lauterbrunnen to Lake Oeschinensee in Kandersteg
  • Mountain excursion from Lauterbrunnen to Mannlichen and Jungfraujoch
  • Mountain excursion from Lauterbrunnen to Murren
  • Mountain excursion from Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald
  • Train from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken
  • Panoramic train from Interlaken to Montreux
  • Train from Montreux to Zermatt
  • Mountain excursion from Zermatt to Gornergrat
  • Panoramic train from Zermatt to St Moritz
  • Train from St Moritz to Filisur
  • Train from Filisur to Zurich
  • Train from Zurich to Rhine Falls and back
  • Train from Zurich to Bern and back
  • Train from Zurich to Airport

The full-fare (transportation + activities) of the entire trip would have cost me almost SGD2000. I would have saved around SGD750 with a 15-day Swiss Travel Pass, and around SGD985 with the Half-Fare Card.

swiss travel pass or half fare

I was initially going to opt for the Swiss Travel Pass due to its ticketless feature but eventually decided to go with the Half-Fare Card to save that additional SGD200+. 

I booked most of my tickets online with the SBB app – all I had to do was to select the half-fare option and book my tickets on the spot. When the conductor came around, I simply showed them my e-ticket in my app together with my Half-Fare Card. It was extremely easy and fuss-free! The SBB app also has super-saver tickets, which can help to shave more off your total cost.

Read: Top Tips for Travelling in Switzerland

However, no matter which you pick, investing in a train pass will definitely amount to immense savings. Do remember to do your research before choosing which pass to buy – you won’t regret it!

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Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card (Which One is Best for You!)

By: Author Charles

Posted on October 25, 2023

Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card (Which One is Best for You!)

By far the most asked question when it comes to Switzerland train travel is whether to get a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card.

And when it comes to answering that question, it will always come down to the cost breakdown & convenience factors based on your particular itinerary.

This overview is here to help you make the best-informed decision possible for your trip to Switzerland.

By the end of reading through, I hope you will better understand the thought process between choosing the Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card.

*  Affiliate Disclosure : This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the links provided, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the work I put into TripTins!

1) Switzerland Travel

When traveling around Switzerland, the main mode of transport will be the vast train network that runs throughout all corners of the country.

In addition to the train network, there are also busses, boats, mountain railways, cable cars, & more to help travelers get from point A to point B.

Now, for those taking a trip to Switzerland, odds are these modes of transport will be used frequently. And since Switzerland is not a cheap country to visit, you can imagine that all of these various rides will add up in cost.

That is where Switzerland travel passes come into play.

Instead of paying full fare for each and every train, bus, cable car, and boat ride you take, there are ways to drastically cut down on the costs.

While there are a few different travel pass options to consider (all of which I will talk about), the main two passes are the Swiss Travel Pass and the Half Fare Card.

You can learn more about general transport by reading through the Train Travel in Switzerland guide up on the site.

Switzerland Hikes and Trails

2) Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card Overview

To better help you understand the comparison from a high level, below are the main differences between the Swiss Travel Pass & Half Fare Card:

Swiss Travel Pass

  • The Swiss Travel Pass gives unlimited travel on the public Switzerland train/bus/boat network over a certain period of time for one cost.
  • You can purchase a pass that covers 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days (either Second or First class tickets).
  • While much train, bus, & boat travel is unlimited, not all transport is included . With a Swiss Travel Pass you will get discounted prices on mountain transport (25% – 50% discounts). Some mountain transport is included though (i.e. Mount Rigi).
  • In addition to the transport, there are over 500 museums that are included with the purchase of a Swiss Travel Pass. This can end up saving you hundreds if museums are a large part of your travels.
  • With a Swiss Travel Pass, you do not need to purchase individual train tickets ahead of time . Simply show up to the station, hop on the train, and show the conductor your Swiss Travel Pass and passport.
  • However, when taking mountain transport, you will still need to purchase those tickets beforehand (and receive a discount at the ticket office by showing your pass). Same holds true for some of the scenic panorama train rides, where a seat reservation may be required to purchase ahead of time.
  • The pass can also be purchased as a Swiss Travel Pass Flex . Instead of having consecutive days, you can use it for a certain number of days within a month long time period. This will in turn make it more expensive to purchase, but it may make financial sense based on your itinerary (usually best for those that only plan to travel on a lower proportion of days during their trip).
  • Purchase a Swiss Travel Pass ahead of time to get you all set for Switzerland!

Half Fare Card

  • A Half Fare Card gives you the ability to purchase all your public train, bus & boat transport at 50% off the full fare ticket over a 30 day time period.
  • Similarly, Half Fare Cards also apply to mountain transport , where you will usually get 50% off the full fare rate. There are instances though when the discount may be lower (i.e. 25%).
  • When it comes to museums, there is no discount available . You will simply just need to purchase a ticket to the museum of choice.
  • With the Half Fare Card, you will ALWAYS need to purchase tickets ahead of time (whether they are regular train rides or mountain transport). When buying tickets online or at the ticket office, you will need to choose the “Half Fare” option. Once on the train, the conductor will then check your tickets & half fare card.
  • It is only available to non-residents of Switzerland and Lichtenstein .

Swiss Family Card

One of the top benefits of purchasing either a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, is the free Swiss Family Card that is offered along with it.

In essence, if one family member has a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, then any children between the ages of 6 to 15 years old can travel for free with them (children under 6 do not require a Family Card and can travel for free either way).

This essentially means that if a family of 2 adults and 2 children under 16 are traveling, only the parents need to purchase train passes, while the 2 kids travel for free. What may have first seemed like a much more expensive trip, just turned into half the cost to travel around.

The card can be acquired at any Switzerland railway station across the country.

Other Passes

There are two options for those that are looking for unlimited one day travel in Switzerland – the Saver Day Pass and 1 Day Travelpass.

1 Day Travelpass (Day Pass)

The 1 Day Travelpass (75 CHF) gives you unlimited travel on trains, boats & busses (and some mountain transport) for just for one single day. This can only be purchased if you already have a Swiss Half Fare Card.

The thought here is if you have one big day of travel with some expensive routes, purchasing this pass will end up being more economical friendly for you than just purchasing tickets with the Half Fare Card.

Saver Day Pass

There is also a Saver Day Pass for those that don’t have a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card (although it still can be purchased if you have a Half Fare Card). For one price, you will be able to travel on public trains, boats & busses for free.

Prices vary depending on how early you book the pass (starting at 29 CHF) and can be bought ~60 days in advance.

Switzerland Trains

3) What is Included?

Now that you have a good understanding on what these two travel passes are, let’s talk about exactly what is and what is not included with each one.

What Is Included with the Swiss Travel Pass?

  • All public train routes, bus routes, and boat routes in the country are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
  • Most mountain transport is 50% off with select routes at a 25% discount (and some mountain transport is completely included – Rigi, Stoos, and Stanserhorn).
  • There are also over 500 museums in the country that are covered with the Swiss Travel Pass.
  • Seat reservations for panorama trains are not included, and must be purchased separately.

What Is Included with the Half Fare Card?

  • All public train routes, bus routes, and boat routes in the country will receive a 50% discount with the Half Fare Card.
  • Most mountain transport is 50% off with select routes at a 25% discount (there are even some routes that offer better discounts than the Swiss Travel Pass).

You can check out the map that shows the various areas of validity and discounted routes ( PDF version linked ).

4) Swiss Travel Pass & Half Fare Card Prices

Due to the fact that these two cards work in very different ways, the prices of course will be reflected accordingly.

Swiss Travel Pass Prices

Below are the prices for the Swiss Travel Pass based on number of days & class:

Swiss Travel Pass Prices 2022

Swiss Travel Pass Flex Prices

Below are the prices for the Swiss Travel Flex Pass based on number of days & class:

Swiss Travel Pass Flex Prices 2022

Half Fare Card Prices

Half Fare Card are simply 120 CHF for the 30 days, so that should make things a bit more simple.

Train to Wengen

5) How to Purchase

When it comes to purchasing a Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare Card, you can do so ahead of time online or at train ticket booths.

  • Swiss Travel Pass -> purchase the Swiss Travel Pass online
  • Swiss Travel Pass Flex -> purchase the Swiss Travel Pass Flex online
  • Half Fare Card -> purchase the Half Fare Card online

Grindelwald Activities Switzerland

6) Pros & Cons

To summarize the main pros & cons of the Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare Card:

Swiss Travel Pass Pros

  • For one price, you will have access to all public trains, boats, and busses in Switzerland.
  • There is no need to purchase individual tickets for any of those included rides. Simply show up with your pass and hop on the train.
  • In addition, the pass offers free admission to over 500 museums all throughout the country. This can be very beneficial for those that include museum hopping on an itinerary.

Swiss Travel Pass Cons

  • The pass is only valid for a limited number of days (3, 4, 6, 8, or 15). However, the more expensive Swiss Travel Pass Flex does give you the flexibility to travel a certain number of days over a month’s time.
  • Most mountain transport is not included and you must purchase these tickets separately with a discounted fare (25% – 50%).
  • Seat reservations for panorama train rides are not included and must be purchased separately beforehand.
  • The Swiss Travel Pass is expensive. To figure out if it is worth the purchase, you must do the calculations (and take into consideration the ease of not needing to buy tickets for each ride).

Is Swiss Travel Pass Worth It?

There are several reasons why the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it. Some of these include:

  • If you are planning a lot of travel throughout your trip, especially longer & more expensive routes in the country.
  • Not needing to worry about purchasing individual tickets for the journey (unless its mountain transport). Simply show up and be on your way.
  • The idea that you can always be flexible with your travel plans and change them at a moment’s notice without any financial impact. Since train travel is unlimited, you may have more freedom to go back & forth as you see fit.

Purchase Today : If the Swiss Travel Pass is best for you, don’t forget to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass ahead of time to get you all set for your trip to Switzerland!

Half Fare Card Pros

  • The Half Fare Card is cheaper than the upfront money needed for the Swiss Travel Pass. However, doing the math is always needed to better understand what is the best choice.
  • All public train/bus/boat transport is 50% off. Most mountain transport is 50% with some at 25% (with some routes being even cheaper than the Swiss Travel Pass).
  • The card is valid for up to one month, which does give travelers more flexibility when it comes to traveling.

Half Fare Card Cons

  • With a Half Fare Card, you must purchase tickets for every route you take. This is much less convenient than the Swiss Travel Pass in that regard.
  • There are no museums that are included with the Half Fare Card. If going to a museum in Switzerland, you must pay the full fare.

Is Swiss Half Fare Card Worth It

In general, the Half Fare Card is worth it if you are not traveling as much within your time in the country.

You can still get that large 50% discount on the routes that you do take, and the 120 CHF + 50% discount can certainly be less than purchasing tickets at full cost.

However, if you have more and more travel planned, you may need to consider the Swiss Travel Pass instead.

And remember, with the Half Fare Card, you still need to buy those individual train tickets each time.

Lauterbrunnen Switzerland

7) Example 10 Day Itinerary Calculations

When it comes down to which pass is best for your trip, a financial calculation must be done.

Now, the financials may not be the only deciding factor. You may also consider the convenience factor & flexibility of the Swiss Travel Pass. But of course, the numbers are always important to think about.

Every trip to Switzerland is going to be different. So, without understanding each and every route you want to take, it will be difficult to give an exact answer.

However, I do have several itineraries up on the site. One of which is this 10 Day Switzerland Itinerary . Below is a breakdown of the costs – full fare, Swiss Travel Pass, & Half Fare Card for this itinerary.

There are some assumptions & things to note:

  • Prices reflect second class tickets throughout the trip
  • This would be using the 8 day Swiss Travel Pass, with the first day of use on day #2. Days 1 & 10 would have limited (if any) transport needed anyways.
  • If buying full fare tickets or the Half Fare Card, it is possible to save even more using the 1 Day TravelPass or Saver Day Pass.
  • Assumes overnights in Interlaken during the Jungfrau Region portion of the trip

Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card

As you can see, given the itinerary provided, the Half Fare Card is slightly less expensive compared to the Swiss Travel Pass (~60 CHF).

However, the idea of not needing to purchase individual tickets for most of these journeys + the flexibility to add more transport at no extra cost, makes me still inclined to buy the Swiss Travel Pass in this exact situation.

As I said though – every itinerary is different, and it will all depend on your exact route/s in order to choose the best option for your trip.

Purchase Today : If the Swiss Travel Pass is best for your trip to Switzerland, don’t forget to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass ahead of time!

Lake Lucerne Switzerland

I hope that helps you best decide whether to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to add them in below.

Also, be sure to check out the other Switzerland itineraries and guides up on the site.

Have fun out there and safe travels!

Swiss Travel Pass Half Fare Card

Related posts:

Bachalpsee Lake Eiger Hike Guide

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Sunday 3rd of March 2024

I will be in Zurich for one day and will need a round trip ticket to and from Lucerne. Would I purchase the half off pass?

Sunday 26th of November 2023

Hi. Ok soo on the itinerary and prices. The Swiss pass came out more expensive than the half pass? Sorry if I didn't understand

Hi Jenny - yes you saw that correctly. Take a look at some of the comments I made underneath that though - you also need to think about the flexibility of the pass too / not needing to purchase tickets. The itinerary is only one very specific example, which can easily be expanded based on an individual's travel schedule. Hope you have a great trip.

Saturday 15th of July 2023

I plan to buy flex 15 days STP. Do I need to activate STP if I only use it for a mountain travel discount on certain days?

Sunday 16th of July 2023

Hi Stephen - from my understanding if you use the travel pass for just the mountain travel discount, it still counts as one of your days.

Tuesday 6th of June 2023

We are purchasing a Consecutive Day Swiss Travel pass, do we need to purchase cable cars or mountain excursions (ie Matterhorn) at time we buy pass? Can we use pass to purchase those tickets at a later time to get discount?

Hi there - no need to purchase the cable cars ahead of time. I would recommend doing so the day of just in case the weather is not ideal. You simply need to show up at the ticket office and show your travel pass. They will give you the discount when buying tickets. Enjoy!

Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card

Swiss travel pass vs half fare card

Choosing between the Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card can seem confusing. So, in this post, I am going to break it all down for you.

Which travel pass is cheaper? Which one is better for you? And a whole range of pros and cons.

Table of Contents

Which Is Better – Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card?

The Half Fare Card suits travelers who want complete flexibility and are in Switzerland for less than one month. In comparison, the Swiss Travel Pass is better for travelers who plan on doing long trips in a very specific time frame that is less than two weeks and/or plan on visiting a lot of museums.

The Swiss Travel Pass also suits those who plan on doing more side trips and museum visits, as you get bigger discounts on those, with most Swiss museums being free to enter with the pass.

The exact benefit of each can only be calculated once you know your itinerary. However, here is a rough idea of how the costs may play out.

Train travel in Switzerland

Example Itinerary: Zurich – Lucerne – Interlaken – Zermatt – Zurich

This 8-day itinerary is if you land in Zurich and leave from Zurich and plan on visiting the main attractions. The following are the prices for the Swiss Travel Pass vs Swiss Half Fare Card for tourists.

Swiss Half Fare Card Price

The Swiss Half Fare Card gives you half price travel in Switzerland, so be careful comparing prices. Without the half fare card the following prices are double.

  • Swiss Half Fare Card (one month) – 120 CHF
  • Zurich to Lucerne – 12.5 CHF
  • Lucerne to Interlaken Ost – 30 CHF
  • Interlaken Ost – Zermatt – 41.50
  • Zermatt – Zurich – 62.50 CHF

Total – 266.50 CHF

Swiss Travel Pass Cost

There are two types of Swiss Travel Pass , however, if you only travel 5 days in 8, then either you have the standard pass for 8 days or the flex version for 5 days (flex is only used on the travel days).

  • Swiss Travel Pass (8 days) – 389 CHF
  • Swiss Travel Pass Flex (4 days) – 323.00 CHF

Another option is to choose the Swiss Travel Pass Flex for 3 days ( 267 CHF ) and then pay for tickets separately for the rest like Zurich to Lucerne for 25 CHF.

If you take the longer 8 days standard pass you can also use it for trips around Interlaken and Lucerne, which will also be expensive.

As you can see there are lots of options, so it depends on how much you use each pass and how many side trips you plan on doing.

Related Reading

9 incredible benefits of the swiss travel pass, half fare care pros & cons.

A Swiss Half Fare Card for tourists will cost you 120 CHF and is valid for one month. Using the Half Fare Card you will receive:

  • half the price (50%) off train, bus and boat travel, including regional & city public transport
  • accompanying children between 6-16 travel free with the family card (which is free)
  • 50% off from Interlaken Ost to Eigergletscher (first half of Jungfraujoch trip)
  • Grindelwald First (50%)
  • Schynigge Platte (50%)
  • Harder Kulm (50%)
  • Mt Rigi (50%)
  • Pilatus (50%)
  • Glacier Express (50%)
  • Golden Route (50%)

This one-month Half Fare card is only available to non-residents.

The great thing about the Half Fare pass (or half tax as we call it) is that you can travel wherever and whenever you want and always pay 50% less than the full price when you purchase tickets.

One downside of a Half Fare Travel Card is that it is only valid for a month. Of course, it is great if you are in Switzerland for less than that time!

Also, you don’t get all the extra benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass, like access to museums.

Swiss Travel Pass Pros & Cons

The Swiss Travel Pass is a great way to cover the costs of train and regional travel if you are in Switzerland for a specific period of time—usually 15 days or less.

This allows you to travel for free on the specific days you use it. The Swiss Travel Pass covers all rail, bus, boat and other mountain trips (see below). That also means you can ride on the Glacier Express for free. And, it also includes free access to over 500 museums and significant discounts on some big trips. This means discounts like

  • the Jungfraujoch railway is 25%
  • all other mountain excursions are usually 50%
  • free travel to Stanserhorn and Rigi near Lucerne

And like the Half fare card y ou can get a family card for bringing children along for free. Younger children below 6 travel free anyway.

Swiss Train Fare Examples

Here are some examples to give you an idea of what a train ride in Switzerland will cost you. They are all one-way and full price.

  • Zurich to Lucerne – 25 CHF
  • Geneva to Lucerne – 76 CHF
  • Zurich to Interlaken Ost – 70 CHF
  • Lucerne to Interlaken Ost – 45-60 CHF
  • Lucerne to Zermatt -117 CHF
  • Geneva to Zermatt – 98 CHF

Also, remember that if you have younger children, you can always get the Swiss Family Card for free, which enables your kids to travel with you free of charge. There must always be at least one parent with them for this card to be valid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the half fare travel card the same as the swiss travel pass.

The Half Fare Travel Card is vastly different from the Swiss Travel Pass . It gives you half-price travel on the Swiss travel system and discounts on a few participating mountain trips. The Swiss Travel Pass includes all public transport and many more significant discounts on mountain trips.

Is Swiss Half Fare Card Better Than Swiss Travel Pass?

No, whether you prefer the Half Fare Card or the Swiss Travel Pass depends on how often you wish to travel and how flexible you wish to be.

What Is The Swiss Half Fare Card?

The Swiss Half Fare Card is a pass that allows you to save 50% on all public transport in Switzerland. It also offers smaller discounts on most mountain railway and cable car travel.

More On The Swiss Travel Pass

General information, scenic trains, mountain trips, pass comparisons, plan your trip to switzerland.

swiss travel pass or half fare

14 thoughts on “ Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card ”

We are traveling 5 in the family, all adults, we are planning Zurich,Lucern,Interlaken and Zermat, around 10 to 12 days. We debaiting if the swiss or half card will be better. Alfo we planning Pilatus, Joungfrau and moother horn mountains. We need your advice with one is better.

In your case i believe that half fare card is better, the pass works for 30 days, give you 50% discount in any ride since you are not going to mountains too much.

Hi, we are planning for 15 days trip and heading from Zurich to Zermett, Lauterbrunnen, interlaken and Bern and back to Zurich again, covering a few mountains link Titlis, Rigi, Matterhorn, Murren. Many reviews suggested to buy the Swiss half fare card, but was wondering will it be easier to just buy the Swiss Travel Pass.

Hard to say. The half-fare just gets you 50% off the train/bus tickets. So, you still need to book the tickets and sometimes seats on busy legs. The Swiss Travel Pass is easier in that you only have to choose what day you want to use it (if you have the flex version). The rest of your activities are booked/paid separately in both cases.

hi, I am planning 9 days trip with my partner. We land in Zurich and go straight to Montreux. we visit Glacier 300 the next day along with Gstaad and then next day go to Interlaken via Golden pass. during our few days stay there we will visit Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, Jungfrao, Grindelwald and Bern. We then travel to Lucern and while there we visit Mt Titlis/Mt Pilatus. Finally, we travel back to Zurich and return. What pass will be best for this?

Sounds like the Swiss Pass will be best. Half fare only gives you 50% off train/bus while Swiss Pass gives you free travel on the days you use it (so best for long trips) and also big discounts on mountain trips (Glacier 3000, most around Interlaken etc) and free entry to most museums.

Hi! My husband and I are traveling from Trento, Italy, to Zermatt, then to Lauterbrunnen, Jungfraunoch, and Geneva via Lausanne and Montreux over June 11-15. Is the travel pass or half fare card better? We are considering doing Eurrail from June 5-11 since we will be flying into rome and traveling to Positano, Rome, and Trento. Thank you for any help you provide!

The Swiss Pass is best for the days you want to do longer train journeys. Half tax just gives you 50% off transport. You also have to consider that the Swiss Pass also gives you 50% off most mountain transport (cable-cars, gondolas, etc) and free entry to most museums. So, if you do a lot of sightseeing in Zermatt and Interlaken/Grindelwald the Swiss Pass will help a lot.

With either pass, do we have to reserve travel times for the train or can we jump on whenever we’re ready to move on to the next town?

Seat reservations are only an issue on busy trains, like Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express and sometimes the train to Milan from Zurich for example.

Ashley With the Swiss Travel Pass, does it allow free travel on buses and trams in each city / town

I am looking at the 1st 15day STP for Western Switzerland (trains, buses, ferries, internal town travel ) between Geneva and Zurich

Simple answer is yes – I have sent you an email about it though. This map shows which towns are included (red dot).

Hi My daughter 920 years old) and I will be arriving at Zurich airport and travelling to Rigi Goldau . Fortunately we have a 3 day Rigi pass each, but we are staying for a total of 8 days. We would like to visit stanserhorn and obviously have to travel from and back to Zurich airport. Which swiss pass would you recommend? Many thanks Kelly

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swiss travel pass or half fare

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| Bucket list adventures around the globe

Switzerland , Europe , Train travel · February 23, 2024

Is the Swiss Half Fare Card worth it? An honest review

Wondering if a Swiss Half Fare Card is worth it for your upcoming Switzerland adventure? Here’s a thorough review of the Swiss Half Fare Card and a detailed breakdown of the Half Fare Card benefits, when it’s worth it, how to use it and some real itinerary calculations to show you how much you could save.

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Planning a Swiss getaway but dreading the high costs of getting around? You’re not alone!

Switzerland is great for your camera roll, but less great for your bank account.

This country’s breathtaking landscapes and efficient public transport are world-renowned, yet the cost of Swiss trains, accommodation, activities and food can really add up. If you’re stuck in a loop of budgeting spreadsheets and fare comparisons, take a deep breath—I’ve got you covered.

As a self-confessed Swiss travel aficionado with multiple visits to my name, I’ve navigated the ins and outs of the various Swiss passes on offer, including the Swiss Half Fare Card , to bring you the lowdown.

Spoiler alert: the Swiss Half Fare Card almost always wins.

This Swiss Half Fare Card guide shares tips and tricks to help you get the best bang for your buck, as well as giving you clear examples on when the Swiss Half Fare Card is worth it (and when it isn’t). I’ll also dive into alternatives to the Swiss Half Fare Card, the benefits vs. the Swiss Travel Pass , and help you make sure your Switzerland itinerary is unforgettable and affordable.

Let’s cut through the confusion together and find out if the Swiss Half Fare Card is your golden ticket to exploring Switzerland without breaking the bank.

swiss travel pass or half fare

Summary: Is the Swiss Half Fare Card worth it?

If you just want a quick answer, I can say that the Swiss Half Fare Card is worth it 95% of the time .

Of course the actual savings will depend on your exact itinerary, but at a low cost of only 120CHF for one month, you only need to be taking 241CHF worth of full-fare transport for the Half Fare Card to save you money.

If you’re travelling in Switzerland for a few days or more, visiting 2-3 cities/towns and going on a mountain excursion, you’ll almost certainly save money with a Half Fare Card vs. buying point-to-point full-fare tickets.

The real conundrum is tossing up between the Swiss Half Fare Card or the Swiss Travel Pass , but you’ll see from my calculations below that the Swiss Half Fare Card almost always comes out on top.

swiss travel pass or half fare

All you need to know about the Swiss Half Fare Card

What is the swiss half fare card.

The Swiss Half Fare Card allows you to purchase tickets for trains, buses, and boats across Switzerland at half price, as well as getting 50% off most mountain railways.

You still need to make a booking for each trip (unlike the Swiss Travel Pass where you can just jump on most trains and use the pass as your ticket), but you’ll be able to access the discounted rate by noting the Half Fare Card in the ‘discount’ section.

The Swiss Half Fare Card is perfect for tourists wanting to explore Switzerland by public transport.

What does the Swiss Half Fare Card include?

The Swiss Half Fare Card is valid for one month and gives you:

  • 50% off trains, buses and boats in the Swiss Travel System network across the entire country
  • 50% off most mountain railways and cable cars, including Jungfraujoch, Pilatus, Titlis, Gornergratbahn and Rigi Kulm
  • 50% off most public transport in more than 90 towns and cities

bernina express train in switzerland

What does the Swiss Half Fare Card not include?

  • Seat reservations on some panorama trains like the Glacier Express and Bernina Express
  • Some private railways or special trains (e.g. the Chocolate Train, 22% discount)
  • A few mountain railways or cable cars (some smaller discounts, some no discount at all)
  • Adventure packages up the mountains like Grindelwald (you can get a discount on the transport but not on the transport + activity packages)
  • Lake cruises (the public transport boats are covered, but private lake cruise suppliers aren’t included)

Swiss Half Fare Card prices

The Swiss Half Fare Card costs 120CHF for one month, there are no shorter/longer options and the Card covers both first class and second class travel.

What’s the difference between a ‘Swiss Half Fare Card’ and a ‘Half Fare Travelcard’?

I got a bit confused when I was doing my research, because there’s a similarly-named product called the ‘Half Fare Travel card’ sold by the SBB. This is for Switzerland residents, it’s a one year pass that offers discounted travel.

If you’re a visitor to Switzerland you’ll want the one month Swiss Half Fare Card instead.

swiss travel pass or half fare

Can you get a discount on a Swiss Half Fare Card?

There are some discounts for families travelling with a Swiss Half Fare Card.

  • Kids aged 6 to 16 accompanied by a parent holding a Swiss Half Fare Card, can travel for free with a complimentary Swiss Family Card
  • Kids aged 6 to 16 who are not accompanied by a parent get 50% off Swiss Travel System tickets
  • Kids 5 and under travel for free

There are no discounts for seniors or youth travellers.

Pros of a Swiss Half Fare Card

  • Low cost of only 120CHF
  • Long validity, one month, making it loads cheaper than the longer Swiss Travel Passes
  • Coverage of most boats, buses and trains around the country
  • Discount on expensive panoramic trains
  • Discount on most mountain railways & cable cars (better than the Swiss Travel Pass in some cases)
  • Discount on the entire trip to Jungfraujoch
  • Easy QR code on your phone to scan when your tickets get checked

Cons of a Swiss Half Fare Card

  • You still have to book a ticket for each trip
  • There are additional costs on top of the card itself so you kind of need to plan your itinerary in advance to get a better idea of your expected transport budget
  • Only half price discount on the panorama trains like the Glacier Express which means it’s still pretty expensive (the Swiss Travel Pass covers the whole ticket price)
  • You have to pay 50% of the ticket price for Rigi Kulm and Stanserhorn, whereas the Swiss Travel Pass gets those two for free
  • No free entry to museums (unlike the Swiss Travel Pass)

swiss travel pass or half fare

How to use a Swiss Half Fare Card

Where to buy a swiss half fare card.

You can get Swiss Half Fare Cards from various online suppliers as well as in person at train stations in Switzerland.

Buy your Swiss Half Fare Card from GetYourGuide >>

Is there a Swiss Half Fare Card app?

There’s no need to download an app to use a Swiss Half Fare Card, you’ll simply get the card details emailed to you and can show your QR code when asked.

You should download the SBB app though, this is the official Swiss transport app and is the best option for booking your train tickets.

Do you need to still buy tickets with a Swiss Half Fare Card?

Yes, you still need to buy tickets for the specific trains, buses, boats or mountain transport that you want to take.

swiss travel pass or half fare

Do you need to reserve seats with a Swiss Half Fare Card?

Most trains, boats and buses in Switzerland are reservation-free, meaning you just have to buy your half-price ticket through the SBB website or the relevant train/mountain railway website and you don’t need to pay for a seat reservation.

However, there are some instances where seat reservations are mandatory, like:

  • The Glacier Express
  • The Bernina Express
  • GoldenPass Express Prestige Class
  • Gotthard Panorama Express

You can also choose to reserve seats on some mountain railways like Jungfraujoch to confirm your spot on a specific train (rather than waiting in line).

Seat reservations are not discounted with the Half Fare Card, you’ll have to pay the full reservation cost.

How to book mountain railways with a Swiss Half Fare Card

To get the Swiss Half Fare Card discount, you’ll need to book mountain railways and cable cars through the official website, this will let you access the Half Fare Card discounted price.

There is sometimes a ‘discount’ dropdown box where you choose your travel card/pass, or you can select a specific Half Fare ticket like the example below.

swiss travel pass or half fare

How to calculate if the Swiss Half Fare Card is worth it for your trip

I get countless messages and comments from people asking me what travel pass is best for their trip, and unfortunately it does take a bit of math to figure it out.

Here is a deeper dive to help you figure out if the Swiss Half Fare Card is worth it for your trip.

If you know your itinerary

If you know your itinerary, including what activities you want to do, you can easily figure out if a Swiss Half Fare Card is worth it for you.

  • Write each trip into a spreadsheet, e.g. Zurich to Lucerne or Jungfrau day trip from Grindelwald
  • Create three columns in the spreadsheet, for the full fare price, the Swiss Half Fare Card price and the Swiss Travel Pass price
  • Go to SBB.ch and search each train/bus/boat route you’re taking on the public network. If your trip is within six months then put in the actual date if you can, if it’s outside of six months just pop in a date 5-6 months from now.
  • Note down the price for each trip for the Half Fare Card and for the full fare. The SBB system automatically shows you the half fare price first as the ‘from’ price, you’ll need to select ‘full price’ under travel options to see the actual price without a Half Fare Card.
  • For ‘normal’ trips on the public transport network (i.e. not panorama trains or mountain railways/cable cars), put ‘0’ in the Swiss Travel Pass column as all of these are covered
  • If you’re taking any panoramic scenic trains, check the prices on their website because you’ll need to add in mandatory seat reservations and ensure you’re noting down the correct seasonal prices. They should specify full fare prices, half fare prices and mandatory seat reservations for Swiss Travel Pass holders.
  • For mountain railways like Rigi Kulm or Jungfrau, or for cable cars like Titlis or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, check their websites to take note of the full fare and half fare prices. These websites should also show you a Swiss Travel Pass price but sometimes you’ll need to do a ticket search and select ‘Swiss Travel Pass’ as the discount to see the price.
  • Add in a final row with the pass price, 120CHF for the Half Fare Card and the relevant price for the Swiss Travel Pass you need based on your trip length or number of travel days
  • Total up the columns!

Your spreadsheet should look something like this (all prices are in CHF):

swiss travel pass or half fare

From here, you should be able to clearly see whether the Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card or full fare tickets would offer the best value.

Important:  Switzerland’s public transport system uses dynamic pricing based on demand, which means that the train from Zurich to Lucerne will get more expensive as more people book it. If you see that your trip is cheaper with full fare tickets or a Half Fare Card, lock these in in advance to make sure you get the best price before demand gets higher and the ticket price rises.

swiss travel pass or half fare

If you don’t know your itinerary

If you aren’t sure of your itinerary yet, the best way to figure out if the Swiss Half Fare Card is worth it is to look at how much you’re *likely* to spend on transport.

Because the Half Fare Card only costs 120CHF, you only need to save 120CHF to make your purchase worth it. This means if you’re spending more than 240CHF on transport, it’s going to save you money compared to buying full-fare tickets.

If you’re taking a few inter-city trips and one mountain excursion, you’ll probably hit this 240CHF total transport cost fairly easily, so the Swiss Half Fare Card is worth it for the vast majority of multi-city Switzerland itineraries.

Swiss Half Fare Card vs. Swiss Travel Pass

It’s pretty obvious that the Half Fare Card will save you money vs. buying full fare tickets, but the trickier part is to compare the Swiss Half Fare Card with the more expensive Swiss Travel Pass , especially if you aren’t yet sure of your itinerary.

Your best bet is to try and pull together an itinerary in advance (I have a 5 day Switzerland itinerary and a 10 day Switzerland itinerary to give you ideas), and use the spreadsheet format I mentioned above to really nail down your transport costs.

If you really aren’t sure yet though, here are some key benefits that might help you pick a pass:

  • Half Fare Card is longer, if you’re in Switzerland for more than two weeks then it’ll be better than buying two Swiss Travel Passes to cover your time
  • Swiss Travel Pass covers the whole ticket cost for panorama trains, if you’re taking the Glacier Express this is a 159CHF saving (or 272CHF in 1st class) vs. still paying half that cost with the Half Fare Card
  • Swiss Travel Pass includes two popular mountain railways for free, Rigi and Stanserhorn, whereas the Half Fare Card requires you to still pay 50% of the ticket costs
  • Jungfraujoch however is cheaper with the Half Fare Card, 50% discount vs. 25% discount on the Swiss Travel Pass
  • Most other mountain railways are 50% for both cards, but you pay a lot more for the Swiss Travel Pass itself so the Half Fare Card gives you better value for money on these
  • If you want total flexibility to just jump on whichever train/boat/bus you feel like, the Swiss Travel Pass doesn’t require you to buy any tickets whereas the Half Fare Card means you still have to buy a ticket for each trip you take

👉🏼 I’ve just published a proper breakdown of the two passes, check out my Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card guide

A traveler stands at the summit of Mount Titlis, Switzerland, absorbing the panoramic view of the snow-capped Alps

Is a Swiss Half Fare Card worth it? Four example itineraries

If you’re still confused, I don’t blame you. Finding the best Switzerland travel pass is tricky without having specific prices in front of you!

To help you out even more, I’ve got four example itineraries to show you actual prices if we booked today for a trip in one month’s time. Keep in mind that if you book any later, chances are the prices will be higher.

Five days in Switzerland: Swiss Travel Pass budget breakdown

For this one I’m using my  five day Switzerland itinerary , which includes:

  • Zurich to Interlaken
  • Schiltorn day trip
  • Jungfrau day trip
  • Interlaken to Zermatt
  • Zermatt to St Moritz on the Glacier Express

Here’s the breakdown:

swiss travel pass or half fare

The  Half Fare Card  wins, coming out at 30% cheaper than buying full fare tickets, and 17.4% cheaper than using a Swiss Travel Pass for the same trip.

swiss travel pass or half fare

Ten days in Switzerland: Swiss Travel Pass budget breakdown

My  ten day Switzerland itinerary includes five epic mountain excursions and two scenic panorama train trips. I’ve calculated the below based on an eight-day Swiss Travel Pass Flex, leaving two days for shorter trips or local travel that doesn’t require a pass day.

swiss travel pass or half fare

As you can see, the  Swiss Half Fare Card  comes out on top again! It’s 35.5% cheaper than buying point-to-point tickets, and 10.9% cheaper than using a Swiss Travel Pass Flex.

swiss travel pass or half fare

Short trip with free mountain railways only

Let’s cut down the itinerary length but include longer train trips, a panorama train journey, free mountain excursions and book everything last minute, only a few days before travel.

This trip utilises a four day Swiss Travel Pass Flex and there’s only one additional supplement to pay on top of the travel pass, the Glacier Express seat reservation.

swiss travel pass or half fare

In this instance the  Swiss Travel Pass  ends up being 42% cheaper than the point-to-point full fare tickets, and 14.6% cheaper than the Swiss Half Fare Card.

A red cable car makes its way up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise against a backdrop of rugged, snow-covered slopes, seen through the window of another cable car, showcasing a unique perspective of the ascent during a ten day Switzerland itinerary

Free mountain railways only

Let’s say you’re taking my ten day Switzerland itinerary from above but removing the mountain excursions that  aren’t  free with the Swiss Travel Pass, just focusing on city trips, free excursions and hikes that don’t require cogwheel trains or cable cars.

swiss travel pass or half fare

Much closer this time, the Swiss Half Fare Card saves just 6CHF compared to getting the 6-day Swiss Travel Pass Flex. Both options are still loads cheaper than the full fare.

As you can see, the best pass for your trip really does depend on what you’re doing. Try to figure out your Switzerland itinerary in advance and do some calculations to ensure you’re getting the best value for money!

The Eiger Express offers breathtaking views of Swiss chalets scattered across the lush foothills with dramatic cliffs rising in the background

Swiss Half Fare Card alternatives

I’ve mentioned the Swiss Travel Pass already but here’s some more info on that, plus a bunch of other alternatives that you could use instead of (or in conjunction with) the Half Fare Card.

Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass is your all-in-one ticket to travel freedom across Switzerland’s extensive public transportation network.

  • Unlimited travel on buses, boats and trains across the Swiss Travel System network
  • No need to buy tickets for most trains/boats/buses, your pass is your ticket so just jump on and show your pass to the SBB staff
  • Free travel on panoramic trains like the  Glacier Express and Bernina Express
  • A couple of free mountain excursions (Rigi and Stanserhorn)
  • 50% off most other mountain railways and cable cars
  • Free public transport in 90 cities
  • Free entry to more than 500 museums
  • Choose from 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 travel days, either consecutive (cheaper) or flexible to choose the travel days within a one month period
  • More expensive than the Swiss Half Fare Card
  • Only 50% off most mountain railways which is the same as the Half Fare Card (but the pass is much more expensive)
  • Lower Jungfraujoch discount (25%) vs. Half Fare Card (50%)

Book your Swiss Travel Pass >>

swiss travel pass or half fare

Point-to-point full-fare tickets

A point-to-point, full fare or individual ticket is all the same thing, and it refers to just going to the  SBB website  or a train station to book a trip at the full fare price.

This route is often the least economical choice for those traversing multiple destinations within Switzerland, as costs can quickly add up. Especially for last-minute travel, these tickets can surge to nearly double their price compared to what you might find with advance planning.

Regional passes

Just to throw a bit of a spanner in the works, some of Switzerland’s main tourist regions offer their own local travel passes that might save you money.

These passes can be particularly beneficial if you’re focusing your travels within a specific area, providing discounts on public transport and attractions. When combined with a Swiss Half Fare Card for broader travel needs, a regional pass could give you the optimal value for money.

Jungfrau Travel Pass

  • Unlimited use of boats, buses, trains, cable cars and most mountain railways within the Jungfrau area
  • Special pricing for the return journey from Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch, 63CHF in the low season or 75CHF in high season
  • Includes transport within Interlaken and boats across the lakes, Harder Kulm funicular, Lauterbunnen, Mürren, Wengen, Grindelwald and the train from Kleine Scheidegg to Eigergletscher
  • The pass is priced from 210CHF, but with a Swiss Half Fare Card it drops to 165CHF so you can mix and match the two
  • The Jungfrau Travel Pass is valid in summer but there’s a winter variant that caters to ski field access

Find out more about the Jungfrau Travel Pass >>

A passenger captures the moment on the iconic red train journey from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch, with snowy alpine landscapes passing by in Switzerland

Berner Oberland Pass

  • Covers all public transport within the Bernese Oberland, extending from Lucerne to Berne and even Domodossola
  • Includes complimentary access to over 25 mountain cable cars and boats on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz
  • Prices begin at 240CHF, but owning a Swiss Half Fare Card reduces it to 168CHF
  • Free travel to Kleine Scheidegg and then 50% off the final stretch to Jungfraujoch for 99CHF (instead of 138CHF)

Buy your Berner Oberland Pass >>

Tell Pass in Lucerne region

  • Offers unlimited access to trains, buses, boats, and aerial cableways in the Lake Lucerne region
  • Full access to mountain excursions like Rigi and Stanserhorn as well as complete coverage for Pilatus and Titlis
  • Available for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 consecutive days, with pricing starting at 120CHF in winter and 190CHF in summer
  • No additional discount on the pass price with the Half Fare Card

Find out more about the Tell Pass Summer >>

Find out more about the Tell Pass Winter >>

swiss travel pass or half fare

Zermatt Peak Pass

  • Provides unlimited access to Zermatt-Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Zermatt-Gornergrat, Furi-Riffelberg and Zermatt-Rothorn, excluding ski activities
  • Admission to Glacier Palace, use of Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn between Randa, Tasch and Zermatt
  • Includes local bus services
  • One day pass is 172CHF full fare and 129CHF with a Half Fare Card
  • If you’re in Zermatt for a short trip and just want to do the Gornergratbahn and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, it’s cheaper to just get the Half Fare Card. With the Half Fare Card it would only be 111.55CHF for return tickets for both, compared to the 129CHF for a half-fare discounted one day Peak Pass.
  • If you’re planning on hiking or mountain biking a lot in Zermatt then a Peak Pass might be worth it

Find out more about the Zermatt Peak Pass >>

A hiker in a red jacket stands against the snowy landscape near Rotenboden station, looking towards the majestic Matterhorn, embodying the spirit of adventure in the Swiss Alps

Eurail/Interrail Passes

For those incorporating Switzerland into a broader European journey, considering a Eurail (for non-EU residents) or Interrail (for EU residents) Pass could be beneficial.

  • Covers most trains across Europe but reservations might be required (especially in France and Italy or for long international train trips)
  • Free travel on most inter-city trains in Switzerland but no public transport within a city and no buses
  • Doesn’t include mountain railways or cable cars but there might be some discounts (usually 25%, a few 50%)
  • The Eurail or Interrail Pass generally isn’t as good value in Switzerland as the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card because of the low mountain railway discounts, if you’re exploring Europe by train you could consider combining a Eurail Pass for inter-city transport within Switzerland and then use a regional travel pass to cover mountain railways.

Find out more the Eurail Global Pass >>

Find out more about the Interrail Global Pass >>

Saver Day Pass

The Saver Day Pass acts as a one-day version of the Swiss Travel Pass, offering unlimited travel within the Swiss Travel System for a single day.

  • Cheaper to book in advance if you know your exact travel days
  • Could suit a short Switzerland trip that just has one or two adventure days with long trains
  • Doesn’t work for most mountain railways
  • Combinable with Half Fare Card

Book a Saver Day Pass on sbb.ch >>

A tandem paragliding experience with an instructor and a participant flying over Interlaken, set against the backdrop of Swiss mountains, perfectly capturing the essence of a ten day Switzerland itinerary

Swiss Half Fare Card FAQs

Is there a 1st class swiss half fare card.

No, the Swiss Half Fare Card itself does not have a class distinction like single tickets or the Swiss Travel Pass.

It offers a 50% discount on travel fares, and you can choose to apply this discount to either 1st or 2nd class tickets at the time of purchase.

Can you visit Jungfraujoch with Swiss Half Fare Card?

The Swiss Half Fare Card entitles you to a 50% discount on the whole trip to Jungfraujoch.

Does the Swiss Half Fare Card cover mountain excursions?

The Swiss Half Fare Card covers many mountain excursions, providing a 50% discount on the regular fare for cable cars, cogwheel trains and funiculars, including:

  • 50% off Glacier 3000 cableway
  • 50% off Gornergratbahn
  • 50% off Grindelwald-First cableway
  • 50% off Harder Kulm funicular
  • 50% off Jungfraujoch
  • 50% off cableway to Männlichen
  • 50% off the whole trip to Pilatus
  • 50% off Rigi Kulm
  • 50% off Schiltorn
  • 50% off Mount Titlis cableway

swiss travel pass or half fare

Does the Swiss Half Fare Card cover the Grand Train Tour?

The Grand Train Tour is an epic 1280km journey on eight sections of Switzerland’s transportation network, including five premium panorama train journeys: the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, the GoldenPass Express, the Gotthard Panorama Express and the Luzern-Interlaken Express.

The Swiss Half Fare Card is valid across the whole Grand Train Tour, so you get discounted tickets for all segments of the trip. You do still have to pay full price for mandatory seat reservations on the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Gotthard Panorama Express though.

Does the Swiss Half Fare Card cover public transport?

Yes, the Swiss Half Fare Card covers public transport in more than 90 towns and cities in Switzerland, offering a 50% discount on most trains, buses, and boats within the Swiss Travel System network.

Is there a Swiss Half Fare Card for children?

Children under 16 travel for free with a parent holding a valid Swiss Half Fare Card, they just need to get a free Swiss Family Card .

Children under 5 are free without needing any card.

Can a tourist buy a Swiss Half Fare Card?

Yes, a tourist can absolutely buy a Swiss Half Fare Card! It is specifically designed for visitors and is an excellent way to save on transportation costs while exploring Switzerland.

The card can be purchased online before your trip or at major train stations upon arrival in Switzerland.

On the other hand, Swiss residents have access to the similarly-named Half Fare Travelcard , which gives them the

swiss travel pass or half fare

The final verdict: Is a Swiss Half Fare Card worth it?

The Swiss Half Fare Card is almost always better than buying single tickets, and it often ends up working out as cheaper than the Swiss Travel Pass too.

However, if you’re spending time in the Lucerne or Jungfrau regions then you might benefit from combining the Swiss Half Fare Card with the regional Tell Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass.

The main downside to the Swiss Half Fare Card is that you still have to book tickets for each mode of transport, if you’d prefer to pay more for convenience and flexibility then the Swiss Travel Pass might suit you best.

Buy your Swiss Half Fare Card >>

Buy your Swiss Travel Pass >>

A tourist captures the serene beauty of a lake cruise in Lucerne, an experience to ponder when considering 'Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?'

Hope this detailed Swiss Half Fare Card guide has helped you answer the question “is the Swiss Half Fare Card worth it?”. If you have any questions then please let me know in the comments and I’ll help further if I can!

MORE SWITZERLAND TRAVEL INSPIRATION:

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  • Rigi vs Pilatus vs Titlis vs Stanserhorn: Which one to visit?
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  • 10 reasons to try co-living in Switzerland

MORE SWITZERLAND TRAIN GUIDES:

  • Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card: Which one is best?
  • The ultimate Swiss Travel Pass guide
  • Is the Glacier Express worth it?
  • Is the Bernina Express worth it?
  • Bernina Express vs Glacier Express: Which one should you choose?
  • Is the Jungfrau Travel Pass worth it?
  • Is the Tell Pass worth it?

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  • 27 Europe holiday ideas to inspire you
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Mt Rigi cogwheel train

The Ultimate Guide to the Swiss Half Fare Card [2024]

If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland, then you may well have heard of the Swiss Half Fare Card. This Swiss Half Fare Travelcard does exactly what its name suggests – it entitles the holder to half price tickets for travel within Switzerland. 

If you’re considering buying the Half Fare Card in Switzerland for tourist purposes, then this article will tell you all you need to know. From where to buy your Swiss Half Fare Card and how to use the Swiss Half Fare Card , to the current Swiss Half Fare Card price for first and second class travel.

If you want to know is the Swiss Half Fare Card worth it?, read on so you can make up your own mind. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to decide whether or not the Swiss Half Fare pass is the best option for you. 

Let’s get started by taking a look at exactly what a Swiss Half Fare Card for a tourist entitles you to. 

[ This post may contain compensated links. Please see my  disclosure policy  for more information. ]

What's in this Article

What is the Swiss Half Fare Card?

Bernina Express train crossing a viaduct in Switzerland.

The Swiss Half Fare Card is also sometimes referred to as the SBB Half Fare Card. (SBB stands for Swiss Federal Railways.)

This Swiss half price travel card entitles the holder to buy half price tickets for all public transport in Switzerland which includes trains, buses, boats, trams and mountain railways. 

The Swiss Half Fare Card is valid for 1 month . Though it may seem best suited to those travelling around Switzerland by train, this isn’t necessarily the case.

Even those planning minimal train travel and some mountain excursions can benefit from having the card. It’s therefore a good option for those who are renting a car, too.

The SBB Half Fare Card for tourists entitles you to 50% off train tickets.

It also offers up to 50% off fares on other forms of public transport across the country, and covers more than 90 Swiss cities and towns. This includes travel by boat, bus and mountain railway. 

GET YOUR HALF FARE CARD HERE

Swiss Half Fare Card price

The Swiss Half Fare Card from SBB costs exactly the same whether you plan to travel in first or second class. The price for the Swiss Half Fare Card in 2024 is CHF 120 and you can buy the Swiss Half Fare Card here .

As a general guide, at the time of writing this converts to around USD 130, EUR 120, GBP 105 or AUD 185. (Though exchange rates will of course vary.) 

Whilst the initial cost of the Swiss Half Fare Card is the same regardless of the class of travel, fares for individual journeys differ. 

First class travel costs more than second class travel, but tickets for both classes qualify for a 50% discount with the Half Fare Card.

Swiss Half Fare Card validity

Travelling by train in Switzerland

The Half Fare Card in Switzerland is available to anyone who permanently resides outside the country of Switzerland and the landlocked microstate of Liechtenstein. 

Each SBB Half Fare Card gives the tourist up to 50% off travel for a full month.

It can be used to purchase tickets in both classes of travel, and can be bought all year round and the Swiss half fare travel card can be used as an e-ticket.

The Swiss rail half fare card is valid on much more than only trains. It can also be used to purchase half price bus, boat and mountain railway tickets during its validity.

To see a map of the area of validity of the Swiss Half Fare Card > click here .

This is why it can be worthwhile, even for those who will be travelling around Switzerland by car. 

The Swiss Family Card

Children look out the open windows of the Schynige Platte mountain train in Switzerland.

Adults buying the Switzerland Half Fare Card can also get the Swiss Family Card for free. The Swiss Family Card can be used as a pass for accompanying children aged under 16. 

Do note that this must be ordered at same time as the adults’ half fare card. 

Once you have a Swiss Family Card, kids aged between 6 and 15 inclusive can travel for free. This applies as long as they’re travelling with at least one parent who is a half fare pass holder.

Children aged 5 or under also travel for free within Switzerland but do not need a Swiss Family Card. 

If you do want to make a seat reservation for an adult or child, however, there will be an additional charge for this.

Switzerland Rail Pass Comparison Calculator

How you receive the Swiss Half Fare Card

The easiest way to buy this special Swiss pass half fare card is to order it online . Once you’ve done that, the card will be delivered by email to your inbox. 

You can then use it as you would any digital ticket – though we always recommend printing a copy just for back-up.

How to use the Swiss Half Fare Card 

The Swiss Half Fare Card does not require activation. This happens automatically when you use it for the first time. 

Just make sure you have your passport to hand as well when buying tickets for each journey. 

This is because you do need to be resident in a country other than Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein to be eligible for the pass, and therefore the 50% discount. 

So let’s say you now have the Swiss Half Fare Card. Where to buy your actual tickets for travel?

Screenshot of SBB.ch website showing how to purchase tickets with a Half Fare Travelcard.

Tickets for each journey you want to make can be purchased via the SBB Mobile app, online , or at any Swiss train station via a machine or staffed counter.

However you choose to proceed, simply make sure you have your Half Fare Card and passport to hand when buying. 

Features and Benefits of the Swiss Half Fare Card

Tram in Zurich

For quick reference, here’s a brief summary of the key features and benefits of the Half Fare Card for Swiss travel . 

  • Available to anyone who permanently resides outside Switzerland or Liechtenstein
  • Half Fare Cards can be bought and used all year round
  • Buy via the SBB app, at any train station in Switzerland, or online
  • Available for first or second class travel
  • Can be used as an e-ticket
  • Valid for one month from the first date of use
  • Up to 50% off travel across all of Switzerland
  • A Swiss Family Card is free for accompanying children under 16
  • Holders can buy half price tickets for travel by train, local transport networks such as buses and boats, and mountain railways

> Get your Swiss Half Fare Card here.

Planning a trip to Switzerland? At Holidays to Switzerland we are passionate about sharing our love of Switzerland and helping you to plan the perfect trip. Read our guide to planning a trip to Switzerland to kick start your travel plans and join our free Switzerland Travel Planning group on Facebook to chat with other past and future travellers. Want monthly news and podcast updates, helpful travel tips and special deals sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to Holidays to Switzerland and we’ll send you a bonus copy of our 10 Useful Things to Know Before You Visit Switzerland guide. 🇨🇭 Check out our exclusive discount offers and save on your Swiss vacation. 🇨🇭

Swiss Half Fare Card FAQs

How long is the swiss half fare card valid for.

The Swiss Half Fare Card is valid for one month from the first date of use. You don’t need to validate the card before you travel. It can be bought and used all year round, and for first or second class travel. 

Does the Swiss Half Fare Card cover the Jungfraujoch region?

Yes, the Swiss Half Fare Card does indeed cover the Jungfraujoch region – mountain excursions in the region, as well as travel tickets, are 50% cheaper for card holders.

Can the Swiss Half Fare Card be used on premium panoramic trains like the Glacier Express?

For many people, taking a panoramic train journey within Switzerland is a must. So is there a discount for holders of the Swiss half fare card?

Tickets for the Glacier Express and other premium panoramic trains are available with a 50% discount for Half Fare Card holders. Simply show your Half Fare Card and passport when buying your tickets. 

Does the Swiss Half Fare Card cover cable cars?

Rotair rotating cable car pictured over a snow-covered Mt. Titlis in central Switzerland

The SBB Half Fare Card gives the holder up to 50% off travel by train, bus, boat, tram, mountain railway and participating cable car services.

Can foreigners buy the Swiss Half Fare Card?

Yes, foreigners can buy the Swiss Half Fare Card. In fact, it’s only available to anyone who isn’t a permanent resident of Switzerland or Liechtenstein.

Once you have the card, always have your passport handy when buying tickets, in case station or train staff wish to check your eligibility.  

Are cancellations or refunds available with the Swiss Half Fare Card?

If you need to cancel your card before travel, you can contact SBB or the company you purchased it from to request a refund.

If you buy via Klook , for example, they generally allow cancellation for a full refund as long as you cancel 48 hours or more before the date of travel or validity. 

Are changes to the Swiss Half Fare Card allowed?

Once you’ve used and therefore activated your pass, it’s valid for one month. No changes are thus permitted after this date.

However as with all SBB tickets and passes, you can request a refund from SBB if you need to curtail your trip for a good reason. Evidence may be required, and refunds are entirely at their discretion. 

What is the difference between the Swiss Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card?

The Swiss Half Fare Card differs from the Swiss Travel Pass. The Half Fare Card gives you half-price – rather than free or pre-paid – travel on Swiss trains, buses and some other forms of public transport such as mountain railways and cable cars. 

The Swiss Travel Pass covers all travel by public transport, rather than entitling you to half price travel. Both the Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card are available to non-Swiss residents. 

You can read more about the Swiss Travel Pass here >

The SwissPass is an entirely different product that is only available to Swiss residents. We explain the difference in more detail in this article .

Summary – Is the Swiss Half Fare Card worth it?

Lake Geneva boat cruise

If you’ll be in Switzerland for a month or less and plan to use some public transport services such as trains, buses, trams and mountain railways during that time, then a Half Fare Card is likely to save you a lot of money when buying tickets. 

There are a number of things to consider when deciding if this is the best travel card option for you.

The Swiss Travel Pass may be a better option if you plan to travel primarily by train.

Regional passes covering the Jungfrau region, the Bernese Oberland and the Lucerne area (the Tell Pass) may also be worth thinking about, depending on where you want to go. 

A Eurail Global Pass might also be a better choice if you plan to visit other European countries. 

Find more guidance on which Swiss Pass to choose in this article . 

The best way to work out whether it’s worth buying a Swiss Half Fare Card is to list the main journeys you will take. Then you can check the applicable fares for each trip to find out if the discount offered will cover the initial CHF 120 cost of the pass. 

Many travellers rate the Swiss Half Fare Card very highly, and you don’t need to make too many or very long journeys to benefit. 

If you travel as a family, don’t forget that the Swiss Half Fare Card entitles accompanying children under 16 to free travel, too. This applies when you claim a free Swiss Family Card at the same time as buying your half fare pass. 

Now that you’ve read our Ultimate Guide to the Swiss Half Fare Card are you ready to purchase yours? Buy it here!

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swiss travel pass or half fare

Carolyn Schönafinger

Carolyn Schönafinger is a frequent visitor to Switzerland, the country she fell in love with more than 30 years ago. She now visits Switzerland every year in her quest to explore every inch of the country. Carolyn is a certified Switzerland Travel Expert and she has achieved the Swiss Travel System Travel Expert diploma. She loves sharing her Switzerland travel expertise and helping others to plan their dream Swiss vacation on this website and the Holidays to Switzerland Travel Podcast. Read more

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train rhétique

Swiss Travel Pass vs. the Half-Fare Card to visit Switzerland by train

Last Update: 11/03/2024 78 COMMENTS

Are you planning to visit Switzerland by train ? Then first thing: excellent decision! 🙂 Swiss trains are really a unique experience and a great way to see the country (much easier than renting a car for example if you want our humble opinion). In Switzerland, the public transport network is perfectly developed and you will easily reach your destination (often even faster than by road!)

The Swiss Pass and the half price card: presentation

swiss pass vs half fare

For foreign travelers who decide to visit Switzerland, the train is often cited as the best means of transportation, and frankly,as a Swiss resident I’ll happily confirm this is correct! Afterwards, many are a bit afraid of the rather prohibitive prices of our dear little country… I am not going to tell you here that traveling in Switzerland is cheap, but I will try to present you some options to limit the costs.

As far as trains are concerned, there are mainly 2 solutions available to international travelers:

  • The half-fare card: Sold at 120 CHF for one month, it allows you to benefit from all the trips with a 50% discount. Very quickly amortized, it can really be an excellent option!
  • The Swiss Travel Pass : A pass which was 100% designed for travelers! With this precious pass, you have unlimited access to absolutely all public transport in the country. The pass exists in a classic version (from 3 to 15 consecutive days) or in a flex version (3 to 15 days to be used over a period of 30 days).

train famille

Big bonus for families: With the Swiss Travel Pass or Half-Fare travelcard, children up to the age of 15 travel free of charge! If the parent(s) take a Swiss Travel Pass or Half-Fare travelcard, you can then pick up a Swiss Family Card free of charge at the ticket office on arrival. With this pass, your children up to the age of 15 travel free of charge as long as they are accompanied by a parent with a valid pass or ticket!

Here are the prices of the Swiss Travel Pass 2023 (December 2022 prices):

The Youth prices are really advantageous (from 16 to 24 years old). If you are travelling with kids (under 16) they will travel for free thanks to the swiss family card. If you travel with young adults, the swiss travel pass will usually be a no-brainer for them!

To buy your Swiss Travel Pass we encourage you to go through the Getyourguide website. Why? 2 reasons… the first one being that it allows you to support us in our work on this blog. By buying through Getyourguide you allow us to earn a small commission which contributes to allow us to offer you these free, updated and ad-free contents. All our contents have been written independently without partnership with anyone.

Second point, and not the least. In addition to supporting us, buying via Getyourguide allows you to pay the pass a few CHF less (yes, it’s cheaper than on the official website) and you can cancel your trip for free until 24 hours before the trip (unforeseen events, change of plans, etc).

The Swiss travel pass is for you if…

Description.

Designed for foreign travelers visiting Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass is the ultimate way to get around the country and enjoy many museums. The Swiss travel pass is expensive, but it offers the huge advantage of being a 100% hassle-free solution . Once you have the pass in hand, you can take any regional train, intercity, bus, postal bus, streetcar or even boat.

The only exception would be the few panoramic trains in Switzerland like the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express or the Gothard Express. The Swiss Travel pass is valid on these lines, but you will have to add the budget for the seat reservation (mandatory). If you want to read more about panoramic trains in Switzerland and which ones we recommend the most, check out this blog post. Concerning the cable cars and gondolas, the Swiss Travel Pass works like a swiss GA, which means that for the so-called public services, your trips will be free of charge, but if it is a private company you will have to pay a ticket. Having the Swiss Travel Pass will however give you access to the “half price” fare.

The rather large budget associated with the Swiss Travel Pass means that to “amortize” it, you need to plan to travel quite a bit and/or visit several museums throughout the country. To help you imagine the budget, I have created 3 examples of itineraries in Switzerland at the end of the article and I compare the price depending on whether you take the Swiss Travel Pass, the flex version, a half-fare card or if you simply buy your tickets at full price.

The museums included in the Swiss Travel Pass

There are about 500 museums included in the Swiss Travel Pass, so I won’t make a complete list here 😉 But if you are interested in the latter, you can go and look at the complete list here .

Here is a list of the most famous and popular museums in Switzerland that are included in the Swiss Travel Pass (with their standard entrance fee) so that you can get a first impression of how much you’d save by having the pass:

musées suisse swiss travel pass

  • Musée Olympique de Lausanne, included, 20 CHF
  • Château de Chillon, included, 13,5 CHF
  • H.R Giger Museum, Gruyère, included, 12,5 CHF
  • Gruyère Castle, included, 12 CHF
  • Kunstmuseum, Bâle, included, 26 CHF
  • Paper museum, Bâle, included, 15 CHF
  • Art Museum, Zurich, included, 23 CHF
  • Transportation Museum, Lucerne,included, 32 CHF
  • Museum of ethnography, Genève, included, 12 CHF
  • International Museum of Watchmaking, la Chaux-de-Fonds, included, 15 CHF
  • Ballenberg, included, 32 CHF
  • Barryland, Martigny, included, 12 CHF
  • Fondation Gianadda, Martigny, included 18 CHF
  • etc…

Just with these 13 museums (which are all really great), we already arrive at a bill of more than 240 CHF. I’m sure you won’t do them all, but let’s just say that if you’re planning on doing some of them, it’s a good idea to count these rates in your calculations to see if the Swiss Pass is worth it for you.

The Swiss travel Pass Flex: what if the more expensive pass could save you money?

This sentence may seem very paradoxical I grant you… but keep reading, I promise you it’s true! 🙂 In fact, what you need to know is that the Swiss Travel Pass was really designed to make life easier for travelers and to avoid you having to ask yourself questions. Once you have the Swiss Travel Pass in your pocket, you can move around freely without thinking about prices or tickets, go to the vast majority of museums in the country and enjoy discounts with partner restaurants and stores.

In short, if you don’t want to bother and your budget is relatively flexible, then yes, take the Swiss Travel Pass for your entire stay.

train kleine scheidegg

Nevertheless, on a personal basis, I often recommend to our readers who decide to come and visit Switzerland to take the Flex pass if they stay only one week. Why do I do this? For the simple reason that if you decide to spend a whole day hiking, you will end up “burning” a day of Swiss Pass for a simple transport by postal bus or cable car…

It obviously depends on your style of travel, but if you don’t plan to move every day over long distances and/or visit many museums every day, it might be more interesting to take a shorter Flex pass. Let me explain… Let’s say you decide to come to Switzerland for 7-8 days. The classic Swiss Travel pass would cost you 389 CHF (second class) or 617 CHF (first class). But if during your week you only plan to visit 2-3 destinations (say Zurich, Zermatt and Davos to name 3 of the most famous ones) then it might be possible to take the 3-day Swiss Travel Pass Flex (267 CHF in 2nd class or 424 CHF in 1st class). With the 3-day pass, you would use it for the days when you are doing the long distance distance travels and could include stops en route in other cities for museums. During the days in Zurich, Zermatt and Davos, you could complete the pass with the purchase of individual tickets to take a streetcar or a chairlift if needed… It’s a good bet that you won’t spend the difference just to take 3 buses/trams or a gondola 😉

Note : The longer you stay, the less advantageous it is to take the Flex version. If you come for 15 days, it is better to take the classic!

On the blog, we’ve received lots of questions about which pass to choose. If you’re planning to visit mainly central Switzerland, such as Berne, Lucerne, Interlaken, JungfrauJoch, etc., it could be very interesting to take the Berner Oberland Pass. This pass is a bit like the Swiss Travel Pass, but concentrated on a single region. The prices are similar to those of the Swiss Travel Pass, but it includes more gondolas and private railways that are not normally included in the Swiss Travel Pass (for example, the train that goes up to the Brienzer Rothorn is not included in the Swiss Travel Pass).

note: the pass can be purchased on its own for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 10 days, or as a supplement to the Swiss Travel Pass (which is cheaper and entitles you to use the gondola lifts and private trains, as well as additional discounts).

Important: the ascent to the JungfrauJoch is not included in the pass. The pass does, however, entitle you to the price of the half-fare ticket, which is already quite a saving (around CHF 100 saved by buying the connecting ticket instead of the full ticket)!

The half-fare card is more suitable for you if…

The half-fare card costs 120 CHF and is valid for one month . This offer will be really advantageous for you if you are planning a trip in Switzerland that involves a few long trips between destinations and then several days on site taking occasional regional transport (bus, streetcar, trains for a few stops or boats) etc.

bateau de la cgn

The other aspect that may tip the balance in favor of the half price would be if you are not interested in museums.

Last but not least: your anticipation! Because a good deal with the half-fare card could be to buy day passes at CHF 29 (half-fare price) and to use them on the days of your big trips. These cards are on sale 60 days before the date of the trip. To get the best price, you should buy them as soon as possible.

The Half-Fare travel card can be purchased directly from the official SBB website (no cheaper price via Getyourguide)

But be careful, this method is probably the most economical but it requires a lot of planning and anticipation and especially it doesn’t allow any flexibility on the weather or an unforeseen event in your trip (Supersaver day tickets are neither refundable nor exchangeable). To have all the information on how to buy the Supersaver tickets, go to this article .

Examples of itineraries and cost comparison with Swiss Travel Pass vs. half-fare card

In order to choose the best pass or subscription for you, my best advice would be to plan your itinerary as well as possible (especially the long trips) and to think about how many days you will spend in each place. Once you have this information, you can go on the SBB website and look at how much your different tickets would cost (+ add any museums you would like to visit). From there, it will be easier for you to make an idea of the most adapted formula.

Itinerary in Switzerland: the most beautiful cities in Switzerland in 7 days

In this first scenario we will assume that you want to visit the cities of Switzerland and enjoy some excursions. In this first example, we have decided not to travel “too much”, meaning that we stay in the part of the plateau between Geneva and Zurich. The train journeys are all relatively short (max 3h for Zurich-Geneva):

8 jours suisse

Day 1: Geneva (city tour, ethnographic museum)

Day 2: Lausanne (visit of the city and Olympic museum + detour in the vineyards of Lavaux at the end of the day (UNESCO)

Eiger et Mönch

Day 3-4: Bern + Interlaken (old town and train to Interlaken. On the second day you could for example go to Lauterbrunnen for hiking)

Day 5: Lucerne (visit of the city and the bridge, transport museum)

Day 6: Basel (visit of the old town and art museum)

Day 7: Zurich (old town, art museum and boat trip on the lake)

Day 8: return to Geneva by train with a stop in Fribourg or Neuchâtel)

This very cultural itinerary is typically an example of a case where the question of taking a Swiss Travel pass should not even arise… And yet… the distances being relatively short, the advantage is mainly on the museums. If you only take the transport, the 1/2 fare option wins… So it’s up to you if you want to include a lot of museums or not 😉

Itineraries in Switzerland: A panoramic train tour

For this second example, we will focus more on the mythical trains of Switzerland 😉 Please note that some trains like the Bernina Express or the Glacier Express require a seat reservation and/or a 1st class ticket in addition to the Swiss Travel Pass. In the calculations below, I have included the additional fees in all the options below.

suisse panoramique

Day 1: Zurich-Lucerne-Interlaken

Day 2: Visit to Grindelwald and then GoldenPass from Interlaken to Montreux

vue sur montreux depuis sonchaux

Day 3: Train from Montreux to Zermatt, walk in Zermatt

Day 4: From Zermatt to St.Moritz with the Glacier Express

Day 5: Hiking around St.Moritz

Day 6: From St.Moritz to Lugano with the Bernina Express

Day 7: Lugano to Lucerne with the Gotthard Panorama Express

Day 8: Mount Rigi and return to Zurich

Note: the 8-day Swiss travel pass costs 389 CHF. For this itinerary the following supplements must be added

  • 26 CHF (train) and 16 CHF (bus) for the Bernina Express
  • 49 CHF for the Glacier Express
  • CHF 29.5 for the Gotthard Express (upgrade to 1st class mandatory) + CHF 16.00 seat reservation fee

Routes in Switzerland: The most beautiful views and hikes

For this 3rd itinerary I decided to assume that you like hiking and that you want to come to Switzerland to admire beautiful views (on our blog you will find more than 50 hiking ideas in Switzerland here ).

switzerland viewpoints

Day 1: From Geneva to Martigny with a detour through the Lavaux and the Rocher de Naye

Day 2: Train to Finhaut, hike to the Emosson dam . Then train to Sion

incroyable glacier d'Aletsch

Day 3: Go to Saas Grund to go hiking at the foot of the 4000m Valais. Alternative: Go hike near the Aletsch glacier

Day 4: Train to Davos. Short hike in the surroundings

Day 5: Hike in Davos. At the end of the day, train to Appenzell

Day 6: Hike to the top of the Säntis via the Seealpsee. Descent in cabin and train to Schwyz.

Day 7: Hike to the Fronalpstock and take the Stoosbahn (steepest funicular in the world)

Day 8: Take the train to Mount Rigi and then take the train to Lucerne

mer de nuages pilatus

Day 9: Sightseeing in Lucerne and ride the Pilatus (by cable car)

Day 10: Hike to the Brienzer Rothorn .

Day 11: Heading to Grindelwald and hiking at First

Day 12: Train from Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen and stop at the Kleine Scheidegg (optional ascent to the Jungfraujoch – surcharge of CHF 142 with the Swiss Travel pass or CHF 110 with the half-fare), See the standard rates )

Day 13: Day hike in Lauterbrunnen. See our hiking ideas in Lauterbrunnen

Day 14: Train to Kandersteg and hike to Lake Oeschinen .

Day 15: Head for Jaun to tour the Gastlosen (the small Dolomites of Switzerland) ;), return train to Geneva

  • The above budget does not include the supplement for the Jungfraujoch.
  • The price of the Swiss Pass 15 days is 429 CHF, but we had to add a supplement of 39 CHF for the Pilatus cable car (standard price without swiss travel pass: 78 CHF) and 40.5 CHF supplement for the Brienzer Rothorn (standard price: 81 CHF) and 19 CHF for the Säntis
  • For the Flex Pass, I counted that we used the Swiss Pass for the most expensive days + purchase of tickets the others.

Summary: the Swiss Travel Pass or the Half-Fare Card?

As you can see in the itinerary simulations above, the Swiss Travel pass can be very advantageous. But after that, it is important to note that it will really pay off if you plan to move “often” and over relatively long distances (and see museums). If your goal is to visit 2-3 places in Switzerland and stay several days each time, then it is worthwhile to compare the Travel Pass Flex option to the individual purchase of tickets.

To be honest, there are no ready-made answers to these questions. My best advice for you would be to think about your itinerary beforehand and then do some fare simulations on the sbb.ch website (and if the total of your train tickets exceeds 240 CHF, it will be advantageous to take the half-fare card for 120 CHF).

I personally find the Swiss Travel pass to be a good product. Although expensive, it will offer you a lot of flexibility and once you have it in your pocket you won’t need to think about taking any tram/bus/boat or standard train tickets (for the panoramic trains it is better to anticipate a little bit because the seat reservation can be mandatory).

switzerland by train

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Reader Interactions

swiss travel pass or half fare

Great article on Half Fare Pass Vs Swiss Travel Pass for travel in Switzerland. Thank you. I am planning a trip in Switzerland in May 2023 and note that there are other regional passes as well. This further complicates the fare modelling. For example, in Montreux, there is the Montreux Riviera Travel Card available free at your hotel. It includes free travel on public transport in the region, discounts on museums and more. Another free pass is available in Bern. The Zurich card is not free but also includes free travel around Zurich and discounted museum entry There is also the Bernese Oberland Pass, a bit pricey, but works well in conjunction with the Half Fare Card. So complicated!!!

swiss travel pass or half fare

Hi Brian, Thanks for your message! Yes I know… I mentioned those in our other post about buying the supersaver tickets (another option which could be interesting if combined with the half-fare Pass). Some destinations have really made great efforts to provide a quality-card giving access to lots of things (we stayed 2 nights in Saas Grund this year and were so amazed by all the (quite expensive) cable-cars we could take for free with the guest card. Most mountain resorts have one of these cards, but advantages vary… Do you already have your travel plans set? Generally speaking, the more you travel, the better is the swiss travel pass, but if you decide to stick to 2-3 destinations then the half-fare pass or the supersaver day passes would most likely be a better option (even more if combined with local guest cards or regional passes). We hope you’ll enjoy your stay in Switzerland!

Hi Good article. I with family (4 adults) travelling to Zurich 1 day, Lucerne 4 days and Interlaken 2 days. With mt titlis, Jungfraujoch and mt pilatus and Lauterbrunnen. Strictly no museums. Only sight seeing no activities like parasailing. Which would you recommend? Thanks.

Hi Anand, Hmmm tough choice! Did you try adding up the indivual ticket prices? Since Titlis, Jungfrau and Pilatus are anyway not included in the Swiss Travel pass (you get the half-fare discount though), I would tend towards the half-fare card because the distances between Zurich, Lucerne and Interlaken are quite short and most of your budget will go towards panoramic trains/cable cars for which the swiss travel pass would give you the same discounts. To save even a bit more, you could take a look at the super-saver tickets available for half-fare card holders (but be careful, with those tickets you need to be sure about when you travel because they are bought for a specific train and are non-refundable and can’t be changed).

Hope you’ll enjoy your trip! The program you’re planning sounds amazing! 🙂

2 weeks ago

Hello Can you please help me plan my itinerary for 5 night 6days Switzerland with my base stay at altdorf, i want to visit lucerne, interlaken, zurich. I want to travel everywhere by train from altdorf. So please help me finalise my itinerary and also tell me which pass should i go for. Note: I would be arriving to zurich by flight. Also tell me how to reach altdorf from zurich by train.

Hi Fabienne,

It is a great article! My family of 2 adults and 2 teen (17 & 18 yrs old) flying into to Zurich and take train to Lucerne right away. Using Lucerne as a home base for 4 full days (5 nights) to explore nearby towns. Bern, Basil, Interlaken, Mr. Titlis and Mt Pilatus. I know there is also youth tickets. Would you recommend Half Fare or Swiss Pass? We are not planning to visit a lot of museums, maybe Lindorf or Fifa if we will make it to Zurich. Also, i would greatly appreciate recommendations for one extra day we have in Lucerne. Thank you!

Thanks for your message! Hmmm I think it really depends on how many museums you’d like to visit.The swiss pass has the advantage of beeing super convenient (one card, all included (except for specific cable cars where you’ll have to buy an extension, in your list I see Pilatus and Titlis where you would have to pay extra)). And yes, for the 2 teens, there is a special youth rate which is actually a really good deal (if you get the half fare there is no special discount for youth). So I would say that for the 2 teens, the swiss pass would be the best option, and for you it would be a close call. For the extra day I would either recommend Rigi (https://www.novo-monde.com/en/panoramic-trail-mount-rigi/) which offers beautiful views and it is included in the swiss pass. Alternatively, the Brienzer Rothorn (https://www.novo-monde.com/en/hike-brienzer-rothorn/) or Fronalpstock (https://www.novo-monde.com/en/stoos-hike-fronalpstock-klingenstock/) are stunning excursions as well! We wish you a wonderful trip in Switzerland!

Hi Fabienne I’m really glad I stumbled upon your website! I’m travelling with my 24 year old son to Switzerland in June. We’ll arrive in Geneva (from Paris), where we’ll stay for one night; then to Murren for 3 nights and Zermatt for 2 nights (then on to Milan). I’m thinking the half-fare card would be best for me, with my son getting the Swiss Travel Pass – Youth. However, I’m really unsure whether I need to purchase the Bernese Oberland Pass also. The only big train trips will be to get from one destination to the next (no scenic trains), so it’s mainly things like getting up/down from Murren, we’ll probably go over to Grindelwald First, plus the train and/or cable car in Zermatt. Would really appreciate your advice. Thanks Christina

Hi Christina,

Thanks for your message. Yes I think the swiss travel pass youth is great for your son! For you I agree the half fare would probably be better. For the bernese Oberland pass I think it depends how many excursions you’ll want to do , but genrally speaking these passes are really worth it the longer you stay. For 3 days, I think you won’t spend more than 150 CHF (the bernese oberland pass price for 3 days) in individual tickets since it’s rather small distances. So I would go half fare for you and swiss travel pass for your son. Wishing you a wonderful stay in Switzerland!

Thank you so much for your response. It’s good to get confirmation that I’m on the right track.

Planning for a 12 day vacation from June 2 to June 14 for a family of 4 ( me/ my wife and 2 daughters 15 and 18) What itineary would you recommend and would u recommend Swiss travel pass or half ticket

Hi, I think it really depends what you would like to see 😉 cities/nature a mix? If it is your first time in Switzerland I would recommend you take a look at the panoramic train tour I suggested in the blog post. I suggested an 8-day route, but you could easily extend it to 12 by extending stays in places such as Zermatt or Interlaken where there is a lot to do! If you plan to move quite a lot I would go for the swiss travel pass. If your daughter is not 16 yet, she would travel for free if you take the pass and for your 18 year old daughter there is the Youth Swiss Travel Pass which is really a great deal! Wishing you a wonderful trip in Switzerland!

8 months ago

We are travelling to Switzerland staying Zurich and want to travel around from 3/10 till 9/10 no museums . We do want to do the cable train up the mountains. Any suggestions

Hi. I am planning to visit Switzerland for 4 days. Will be 2 adults & 2 kids below age of 16. Will Luzerne as base will be visiting Geneva; Zurich; Mt Itlis & Jungfraujoch. What would you recommend- Swiss Pass or the half fare card.

12 months ago

Hi, It’s hard to tell, it depends quite a bit on how many museums you’ll want to do and how often you plan on using public transportation in the cities. But with 2 kids under 16 I would tend to advise you to take 2 swiss travel pass for the adults and the free family card so the kids travel for free with you. This is the easy solution and you’ll simply have to count a supplement for Mount Titlis or JungfrauJoch. Have a wonderful stay!

My husband and I are planning a trip time in April for 1 week. I have a brother living in Solothurn so we are making that our base for the week. My husband’s wants to stay local for a few days around Solothurn to visit a few museums and then we are looking at travelling, short enough train rides for example Interlaken, hopefully do sledging for one day. Perhaps Bern for a day and the other day in Lucerne. Mainly sight-seeing and perhaps a boat ride too. Would you recommend the half-fare card please, if only going for 1 week or the flexi, I am guessing half-fare card? Can the half-fare card be put against sledging too do you know? Also, we will be booking a return ticket from Zurich Airport to Solothurn can I use the half-fare card for these trips also? If so, would you recommend I buy the ½ fare card when I arrive at Zurich airport or before? If before, how do I off-set it against my train ticket? Thanks in advance for your help, I really appreciate it and any advice or suggestions you can give.

I think the half-fare could indeed be interesting (I would recommend you try to add up the different prices of the planned trips and see if the total goes over 240CHF). If not, then I would simply buy regular tickets as you go. Solothurn is indeed well located, and the trips you plan are rather short. If you decide to buy the half-fare card, you can do this online on sbb.ch (https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/inspiration/international-guests/swiss-halffare-card.html) and you will receive the pass by email. Since it’s valid 1 month, I would take it for one day before your arrival and then simply buy the half-fare tickets as you go. For your question regarding sledging, it will depend where you plan to go. If it’s a public transportation gondola, then yes, half-fare card would work as well, but if it is a private-run chairlift or gondola, I am afraid this would not work.

Hello, I am traveling to Switzerland with my husband and 16 months old daughter during April 8th to April 23rd(15 days) We will visit Zurich,Lucerne, Jungfrau,Interlaken,Mt.Titlis,Mt.Pilatus,lauterbrunnen,Geneva,Lugano,Bern,Basel…mostly we will try to cover whole of Switzerland..From 8th to 15 th we will stay in Interlaken,16th to 18th in Bern and 19th to 23rd in Zurich. I would like to know what kind of passes we can have with most benefits and where can we use them.

Thanks and Regards Sanjoli

Hello Sanjoli,

Thanks for your message. You plan to move a lot, so I guess the Swiss Travel Pass will most likely be your best option for you and your husband (your daughter being under 6 she will travel for free in any cases). The longer you stay, the more the Swiss Pass becomes interesting (in my opinion), so for your trip I would go for this one (you’ll only have to add a few supplements for the private railways such as Pilatus and Jungfrau, all the rest will be covered including the local bus, boats and trams in the cities) I wish you a wonderful holiday for you and your family

Hello, I am currently planning a 3 days trip for 2 adults. We’re thinking to find a place to stay around Thun as Interlaken area can be expensive, and plan to visit Interlaken, Jungfrau, Grindelwald. Then head to Zurich for our flight back home. So we’re torn between getting swiss pass or half fare pass as we don’t plan to visit any museums. It’d be great if we can get some recommendations or suggestions for the plan from you. Thank you.

I think it depends how many small trips you want to take. But for example: Zurich to Thun is 30.5 CHF (one way) with the half fare, so return trip comes back to 70. Thun-Interlaken return would be 14 and Thun Grindelwald would be 30. Total would be 114 + 120 for the half fare card which make 234 CHF. This is exactly the same as the Swiss travel pass for 3 days (you’ll pay the same for the Jungfrau extension no matter which one you choose). I would personnally go for the Swiss travel pass, because this will allow you to be more flexible and add a few extra local bus/trams without having to worry (but to be honest there will be little difference between the 2 options) Enjoy your trip

Hi Fabienne, We’re a couple and we will be taking the train from Milan to Zermatt, staying for 3 days, then to Interlaken for another 3 days, then to Lucerne for 1 day. Mostly riding up the mountains and taking short hikes, with Jungfrau, Titlis and Pilatus. And boat ride at Lake Brienz/Thun. Is half fare card the better option? No museums. Thank you.

Hi Nesta, I think the best would be to try doing price simulations for the different streches of your trip. Offical prices from Brig to Zermatt, Zermatt to Interlaken, Interlaken to Lucern + a boat tour with the half fare would come to about 100 CHF, to which you’ll have to add 120 CHF for the half fare. So it depends how many cable cars and special trains you’ll take. Where will you go after Lucerne, still travelling by train? The Swiss Travel pass for 8 days is 388 CHF. If in Lucerne you plan to do the Rigi or the Stoosbahn from Interlaken, these would be included.

Have a nice stay in Switzerland!

Hi, My boyfriend and I are going from Zurich (1 day) to Interlaken (1 day) to Grindelwald (2 days) to Zermatt (5 days) and then Yvoire (1 day) and leaving from Geneva. I’m thinking the half fare since we aren’t too keen on museums. Do you suggest this or a different pass?

Hi Rebecca, Thanks for your message. Are you going to stay in Zermatt or are you planning to move around from there? If no, you’ll only have 3 travel days on which you’ll cover quite a bit of distance (Zurich-Interlaken, Grindelwald-Zermatt and Zermatt-Geneva (Yvoire). Yvoire being in France, swiss pass would not be valid here… By adding these major tickets you get to approx 300 CHF (full fare). Thus half fare would cost you 120+(0.5*290)=290 CHF which is more or less the same. I would neverthless take the half fare because this will give you discounts for some cable cars/Zermatt trains and you might want to take a bus or tram in a city. The swiss pass for 8 days is 388 CHF / person, so I guess it would depend on how many extra trips you’ll want to make (taking a boat in Zurich/Interlaken, local buses, etc…). The swiss pass also gives the 50% discount on all non included private trains and cable cars (in Zermatt for example).

I wish you a beautiful trip! Fabienne

Hi. I am planning to visit Switzerland for 5 full days. Will be 2 adults & 2 kids older than 16 (16 & 18). Will Luzerne as base will be visiting Bern, Interlaken; Zurich; Mt Itlis . What would you recommend- Swiss Pass or the half fare card? Also would you please recommend any other day trips? Thank you!

Thanks for your message. I think that for the young adults (16 and 18) the Youth swiss travel pass would be the best option (it’s 253CHF/ person for 6 days). This includes everything except the Mount Titlis where the swiss travel pass gives a 50% discount. For the adults you would need to make more detailed calculations by checking the individual prices on cff.ch (it would probably be a quite close call) As excursions which are included in the swiss travel pass I would highly recommend Mount Rigi just above Luzern (possibility to do a hike on top) as well as the Fronalpstock panoramic hike (by taking the stoosbahn, which is the steepest funicular in the world). You’ll find posts about these two places on our blog: https://www.novo-monde.com/en/stoos-hike-fronalpstock-klingenstock/

We wish you a beautiful stay! Fabienne

Hi Fabienne

My friend and myself are doing a 7 day trip to 1)Lucerne- 1 night (Want to take the golden pass train to Interlaken) 2) 2 nights in interlaken ( going to lauterbrunnen on day 1, going to jungfraujoch and grindelwald on second day ) 3) Zermatt – 1 night (Matterhorn) 4) Zurich – 2 nights

Would you recommend doing a half pass or full)

Thank you so much!

Hi Kiren, Thanks for your message. I did a quick calculation adding up the standard prices (with half fare) for your planned route. This makes about 160-180 CHF in tickets. If you take the half fare (120CHF), this makes a total of about 290-300 CHF. The swiss travel pass for 8 days is 389 CHF which is a bit more. So I would say it depends how many “local” trips you want to do (local bus, tram, boat, short trains). In my calculation, I did not include those, so if for example in Lucern you plan to take a boat, take trams in Zurich, rides to/from the airport, etc I think this would be a very close call. if you plan to add some museums, then swiss travel pass wins for sure. When it’s a close call I would usually tend towards the swiss travel pass because this is a 100% hassle-free solution, no need to worry about buying a ticket, you just hop on any train/bus/tram/boat (except for the Jungfrau which has to be paid extra in both cases). I hope this helps!

Wishing you a wonderful trip in Switzerland!

swiss travel pass or half fare

11 months ago

I’m so confused! We’ll be staying in Grindelwald in August. We would like to do Jungfraujoch (Eigerexpress up and train back down) and then in the afternoon, go to Piz Gloria/Schilthorn. What do you suggest – Half Price Card or Swiss Travel Card? And what route would you take?

swiss travel pass or half fare

Hi Linda, the Jungfraujoch is not included in the swiss travel pass unfortunately. The best way is to book it directly here –> https://www.novo-monde.com/go/getyourguide/jungfraujoch/

swiss travel pass or half fare

Thank you for all your comments so far. I am surprised you are responding to each and every query, thank you again. I guess the Swiss are masterminds of complexities. So many fares and so many options, it’s really hard to choose easily. We arrive and leave from Zurich, 20-26th June. We hope to possibly stay at Interlaken and see the Jungfraujoch regions, travel to Lucerne and then go back to Zurich. Any advice on the Swiss travel pass or half-fare card would be much appreciated.,

Hi Tom, I am trying to reply to everybody because I feel that this swiss pass was initially made to make things easier, but in the end there is still quite a lot of confusion about it. 😉 To me, the swiss pass is really IDEAL for anyone who wants to travel a lot and see many different places. For trips like yours, I would say it is more about how convenient you want to have it. Half fare would probably be slightly cheaper (Jungfrau is not included in the swiss travel pass, so you only get the half fare discount as well. Having the swiss pass will allow you to board any train, bus or even boat without having to think twice (and it includes museums as well, so it depends if you plan to visit some as well?!?). With the half fare, I would say you would end up paying a bit less, but you’ll have to remember to buy a ticket for every single journey (or individual day passes). I wish you a wonderful stay in Switzerland! Greetings from the alps in Valais 😉

10 months ago

Hi Fabienne, We (4 adults) planning to visit Switzerland in June for 5 days from Milan via Barnina route and staying in Zurich as base . Our plan is to do day trips to Mount Titilis one day with a visit to Lucerne on our way back. Next day to Jungfrau region with a visit to Grindelwald or interlacken on our way back to Zurich( as time permits). 3 rd day to mount Pilates from Zurich 4th day to Bern & back 5 th day – to Basel and fly back. We are not interested in museums. We are confused whether we need to take a Swiss pass( 6 day) or half fare pass. Your help would be much appreciated .

Hi, This is such a great article. For our trip, the half fare would be best unless the train from Interlaken to Lake Como is included in the Swiss travel pass. I can not find the answer to this question anywhere….do you know if the travel pass and or the half fare would cover this route? Thank you Yadira

If you take the swiss public transportation from Interlaken to Chiasso (almost lake Como but still in Switzerland), it’s going to be included in the swiss travel pass (in the half fare as well).

Hello, we are traveling to Geneva on business and will have Sunday and Monday for site seeing. Do you have any recommendations? Our first trip ever there and then we are on our way to Italy for 2 days business trip. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Wow, what a great blog. Still torn with deciding. I am traveling in June from zurich to Lucerne by train. I am doing the Classic rountrip to Mt. Rigi, and Silver roundtrip for Mt. Pilatus. I will also travel from Lucerne to Lauterbrunnan and stay there 5 days. There, it will be Jungfrau and Schtilhorn trips, and a day trip to Lake Oeschinsee. Then Lauterbrunnan to Zurich by train and fly home. I’m thinking the 1/2 price fare. I did the 1/2 price in 2019 in Switzerland, but really torn now. I don’t think I am doing any museums. Thank you for your help.

Hi Jackie, Thanks for your message. Yes, I think it’s a close call for such a trip (Pilatus and Jungfrau would not be included in the Swiss Pass, you’d get the same discount as with the half fare). But I think the swiss travel pass (6 days) might be worth it if you plan to travel a bit from Lauterbrunnen (go see Interlaken, Klingenstock, StoosBahn, etc). If you add up your journeys Zurich-Luzern, Luzern-Lauterbrunnen, Lauterbrunnen-Kandersteg(return) and Lauterbrunnen-Zurich, this makes about 200 CHF full fare. If you decide not to take many trains from Lauterbrunnen then half fare is probably sightly cheaper. Enjoy your stay!

Hi Fabienne, thanks for your blog. It helps to clarify some things but I’m still confuse though. My family and I (of which are 5 adults and 3 children under 16) are planning to go to Switzerland this July 2023. From Venice, we’ll be staying first in Lucerne for 2 nights then Zurich for 1 night then go to Paris. We plan to go to Mt. Titlis, Interlaken and Jungfrau. No intentions to see museum. What’s the best option for us? Is rent a car an option? If not and train pass is the best option for us, what kind of train pass is the best for us? Thank you for your response.

Hi Ron, Thanks for your message. I think your train travels will be rather small, so I don’t think the swiss travel pass would be worth it. The half fare would most likely not be worth it neither (train from Lugano to Luzern + train from Luzern to Zurich would be about 100 CHF without discount, thus paying 120 extra to get 50% would not be worth it). As for car rentals I have less experience, but I would tend to favor trains (parking in cities is expensive and reading your travel plan I would assume you would want to drop off the car in a different location than the one you pick it up, this unfortunately comes with a supplement). For your trip from Lugano to Luzern you can can a daily pass for the kids at 19 CHF (cheaper than the regular children price for this trip) –> https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/day-pass/day-pass-children.html

Enjoy your stay!

Hi. Coming from Paris to bern for 2 nights (possible day to Gruyère), then to wengen for 3 nights to explore the area with murren/ jungfraunoch and then to Lucern with a trip to pilatus/riji before heading to Zurich to fly home. Wondering about the Swiss pass vs half fare and oberland pass. Thank you for any advice!

Hi, Thanks for your message. Hmm yes I think this is a close call, getting the half fare + Bernese Oberland or swiss pass. I think it depends if you include Gruyère or not (Gruyère is not included in the bernese pass as far as i know). I think the swiss travel pass for 6 days (359 CHF) would probably be cheaper. The half fare is 120, bernese pass is 150, and then you’d have to add half fare tickets from Geneva to Bern (26), round trip to Gruyère (40), Rigi (60) and then train from Luzern to Zurich (12,5), this makes about 415 CHF. Jungfrau and Pilatus will be extra anyways. Have a nice stay in Switzerland!

Thank you for the response. I know pilatus/jungfrau are extra. Do you know if the Bernese pass/Swiss pass otherwise cover the same cable cars in the area? I believe the boats/trains/buses are the same. Thanks!

Hi, For boats, trains and buses it’s exactly the same yes. For the cable cars I think the bernese pass would be better as it includes more (some are covered by the swiss pass, but the bernese pass seems to cover more). I’ll be honest, I never tried the bernese pass, but reading on their website it seems to cover more.

Namaste, Hi, Hello!!! We (2 adults + 2 children (15 & 9 years young) visiting Switzerland in mid June for 19 days (after 3 days in Paris). Entry and Exit from Zurich. Interested to visit Transport museum – Luzern, Charlie Chaplin museum, Chocolate Factory – Broc, one more can be added. Travel plan is as below: Luzern – 5 days – Rheinfall, Mt. Titlis, CableO Stanserhorn, Stoos (Includes Hike), Mt. Rigi or Pilatus) Wengen – 9 days – Griendelwald First, Schilthorn, Trumelbach falls, Gimmelwald, Murren, 2-3 Hiking, Pls advise the gap days Zermatt – 3 days – Grogernat, Matterhorn, 1 Hike, Laussanne – 1 day – Geneva, Broc Zurich – Last night to catch flight on next day. Kindly advise: 1. Swiss Flex Pass for 15 days or Swiss Half Fare Card 2. Additional locations to cover from Wengen 3. Locations like hotel aescher in appenzell Basically, we want to make best use of our time and efforts during this visit to beautiful country. Thank you in advance.

Hi, Thanks for your comment. I think since you’ll be moving quite a lot, the swiss travel pass would be the best option for the adults (+ get the free family card so that the kids travel for free with you). For your gap days, I would recommend you stop in Kandersteg (from there you can take the train to Zermatt easily) and go see Oeschienen lake + blue lake. These places are stunning and definitely worth a visit. Another place which is stunning and kind of on your way between Kandersteg and Zermatt would be Aletsch Glacier (there is a beautiful hike you can do along the glacier (https://www.novo-monde.com/en/aletsch-glacier-hikes-switzerland) Another place which is really nice, would be the steam train going up the Brienzer Rothorn (https://www.novo-monde.com/en/hike-brienzer-rothorn/). Wishing you a wonderful trip in Switzerland!

Hello, Thanks for the great article.

We are hoping to drive to Geneva ,Zurich or any other city from UK and then park it up in a long stay car park and travel around the country for 7-10 days, do you know any parking options you can recommend?

Many thanks -Ima

Hello Ima, Unfortunately I do not know any long term options in Zurich and Geneva, but generally speaking, the larger the city, the more complicated (and expensive) this would be. I know that in Lausanne (40 minutes from Geneva) there are a few options which cost 8 CHF a day ( https://www.lausanne.ch/vie-pratique/mobilite/parkings-stationnement/p-longue-duree.html) but it is limited to 6 days, in Yverdon it’s 40 CHF for 7 days (https://www.yverdon-les-bains.ch/questions-reponses/detail-de-la-question/en-ce-qui-concerne-les-parkings-de-la-plage-des-rives-du-lac-et-du-centre-sportif-des-iles-suis-je-autorise-a-y-stationner-a-la-journee-ou-suis-je-limite-dans-le-temps) Would you travel by train after that?

Thanks Fabienne, Yes we are hoping to take the swiss pass for 8 days, I think it’s best we fly to Geneva instead of driving, having to manage a vehicle in Switzerland seem like a disadvantage than an advantage while visiting.

I have a question re 1st and 2nd class options in swiss pass though, is it worth the money we pay extra for the 1st class in your opinion? especially if we are doing a lot of travelling in 8 days on trains, we are hoping to stay 10 days and use the swiss pass for 8 days.

Many thanks

Hi Ima, To be honest, second class is already really good in Switzerland. I personnally always choose this option (there are large seats, plugs available in most trains and it’s very comfortable). The main difference and what could justify first class: – During peak hours (early morning and around 5-7 pm), first class tends to be less crowded (but as a general rule, I would try avoiding peak hours on major lines such as Lausanne-Geneva or Bern-Zurich) – For panoramic trains, 1st class offer larger windows – For Gothard express 1st class is mandatory

But anyways, you could easily take second class and simply upgrade for one specific train if you want to enjoy bigger windows for a particular route for example.

This is a great explanation of the different fares. We have decided to base ourselves for 8 days in Wengen, get the Berner Oberland pass and see a good amount of sights in that area. We have rented a car as a party of 5 to drive from Geneva to Lauterbrunnen to park the car and carry on. I’m thinking we may have some time on either our first or last day to visit Zermatt and the Matterhorn. Should we buy a Swiss flex pass or a 1/2 price pass or pay the full fare for wherever the transportation costs are at Zermatt? Are there any other options or discounts with the Berner Oberland pass to see Zermatt or any other areas not in Oberland pass? Thank you kindly. This is the most difficult trip I have ever planned!

Hi, thanks for your message. Honestly, I do not think this would be worth it taking the half fare just for Zermatt. But if you get the 8 days bernese pass then it might be worth it (the bernese pass is cheaper if you have the half fare card as well (https://www.berneseoberlandpass.ch/prices-tickets/) But if I can be totally honest, Zermatt is of course stunning but it’s quite a long drive for the Matterhorn. There are alternatives which would most likely be a bit closer to the bernese oberland (Rigi, Stoosbahn, Brienzer Rothorn,etc.)

Wishing you a wonderful stay in Switzerland!

9 months ago

Hi. We will be visiting in September (family of 6). We will be arriving in Zurich in the afternoon and off to Bern the next day. Plan to go to Interlaken, Laterbrunen and Brig over the period of 4 days in Switzerland then we are off to Milan. What is the best travel pass for us.

For families, the swiss travel pass combined with the family card would most likely be the best option (depending on the age of kids), but you’ll cover quite some distance by train so I would assume this would be your best option.

Enjoy your trip!

1 month ago

Hi, I’m from NYC- traveling to Paris and then to Zurich in late April. Planning to stay in Swiss for 5 nights. We are family of 4 ( 2 adults and 2 kids). Was thinking to base out of Zurich and do day trips to all beautiful places. Is it possible ? Also should I get Swiss half fare pass instead of Swiss pass ?

I’m planning to visit Switzerland this weekend. I will arrive in Bern, 24th June, 9 am in the morning. then I’m wil stay somewhere near interlaken. I would like to explore more on the nature, so I will spend more time on The interlaken, grindelwald, and Jungfraujoch area. Then after that I would like to visit Zermatt & Zurich for a day visit and go back to my hostel in interlaken. I’m only planning to stay until 27th June at night, then going back to paris. Which pass would suit this situation?

Thank you!!

Hi Elsa, sorry I just saw your comment now, I guess it’s too late… Hope you’re having a wonderful trip!

hi Fabienne … my query is re. which pass to buy ? My wife and I plan to journey across Switzerland by rented car covering St. Moritz, Lugano, Zermat, Gstaad and Interlaken over a period of 10 days. We plan to do Matterhorn, Glacier 3000 and Jungfraujoch apart from boat rides and funicular rides. What do you suggest ?

Hi Ash, I think that if you have a car, there would be not much benefit taking any pass (depends how often you would like to take trains instead of your car). Try adding the different tickets prices for the funiculars/trains and cable cars and check if the total goes over 240 in which case half fare would be worth it (half fare costs 120 CHF for a month)

Travelling from Geneva airport to Interlaken on 16 th July (return 23 rd), Myself and son aged 12 yrs. Will be visiting Gimmewald, Wengen, Grindewald, Schilthorn, Murren, Lauterbrunen etc. No musuems. Best option ?

Hi, The best option is for sure to get the swiss family card so that your son travels for free with you. For you, I think it’s a close call, but the swiss travel pass is most likely the most flexible option. If you take it for you it’s 389 for 8 days and both of you can travel unlimited on all public transportation (except for trains/cable cars subject to a supplement such as Jungfrau).

Have a nice stay in Switzerland

Hi, Would love your advice on which rail pass to get

I am in Switzerland for a10 days and see myself using train for 8 of those days

3 nights St Gallen – side trips to Allenzell and Wasserauen – ebenalp cable car 1 night Lucerne 3 nights Lauterbrunnen – will do trips to murrain/wengen/ Klein sheidgg and cable cars in both areas 1 night Bern 2 nights Geneva

I worked out very roughly that the train portion would be about 300 CHF which card would be best seeing I will need to add in cable cars

many thanks!!!

6 months ago

Hi Fabienne Firs of all ket me admire of your help to travellers all around the world. There is a lot of information about passes and discount tickets and i find it somehow confusing. We are planning our 10 day trip from Geneva. We are renting a car. the plan is to visit Zematt (3 days), Spiez (3 days) visiting Lauterbrunnen of course and then Kreuz Jona. we are family of 3 adults and a child 12 years old. Thank You!

Hallo Fabienne, sorry, ich glaube, ich habe meinen ersten Kommentar irgendwo in Ihrem Forum geschrieben. Eine Freundin und ich werden am Ende Oktober nach Interlaken fahren, wir kommen aus Deutschland. Der erste Tag ist nur Anreise. Am zweiten Tag möchten wir Jungfraujoch, Eigergletscher, Grindelwald und Schynige Platte besuchen. Am dritten Tag nach Lauterbrunnen, Männlichen und Harder Kulm fahren. Am vierten Tag nach Zermatt, Gornergrat, Schwarzsee und Matterhorn fahren. Am fünften Tag ist der Abreise.

Ich habe mich erkundigen, es gibt auch Gästekarte Interlaken. Ich bin noch mehr verwirrt, welches Ticket ich kaufen muss, Gästekarte + Jungfrau Travel Pass drei Tage oder Swiss Half Fare Card + Gästekarte + Jungfrau Travel Pass drei Tage oder Swiss Travel Pass + Gästekarte + Jungfrau Travel Pass drei Tage.

Könnten Sie mit Ihrem Rat mir helfen? Vielen Dank

Guten Tag, Es ist tatsächlich eine ziemlich komplizierte Berechnung und ich glaube wirklich, dass es kaum einen Unterschied geben wird. Viele Ihrer Transporte sind nicht durch den Swiss Travel Pass abgedeckt (er bietet nur 50% Rabatt). Ich persönlich denke, dass die Kombi Swiss Half Fare Card + Gästekarte + Jungfrau Travel Pass drei Tage am günstigsten ist. Aber um sicherzugehen, ist es am besten, die verschiedenen Fahrten + Zuschläge zusammenzuzählen und zu vergleichen. Ich wünsche Ihnen einen angenehmen Aufenthalt in der Schweiz

5 months ago

Hello Fabienne, My husband and I are planning our first 10-day trip to Switzerland, arriving in Zurich in late January/early February, and heading straight to Lucern to stay for 3 nights (including a boat trip on the lake), then on to Murren for 4 nights. If the weather is nice, we may ski for 2 days at Schilthorn (lunch at Piz Gloria on one of those days). On non-ski days, we’ll hike, sled or explore the Lauterbrunnen Valley/Interlaken area in a relaxed way. From Murren, we’ll likely return to Zurich for 2 nights. There are only a few museums that interest us. Based on (low) fare calculations on https://www.sbb.ch/en, the only pass that seems to make sense is the Jungfrau Hiking & Sledging Pass, which would be available for a 50% discount with a Half-fare card (CHF380). However, since we’ll be spending most of our time in the Murren area, how about just purchasing a 5-day Jungfrau Hiking & Sledging Pass for CHF468 (https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfrau-ski-region/jungfrau-region-hiking-sledging-pass/) and purchasing other trips a la carte? It seems like I’m spending way too much time on train planning instead of our itinerary…

I am planning to visit Switzerland for 5 days entering from zurich. day 1 straight to bern day 2-4 exploring Jungfrau Region with Interlaken as base (Lake Thun, lauterbrunen, murren, Grindelwald and schiltron – if time allows) day 5 exit Switzerland from zurich

strictly no museum.

I am thinking to buy half fare mix with saver pass while in Interlaken considering the amount of places I would visit or should I get the STP for 4 days? which pass do you think is suitable for me?

Thank you so much for your help!

4 weeks ago

Planning for newly weds in August, both will be 25-yrs-old. They will be coming from Milan. Here’s the general plan: Day 1: Travel from Milan to Jungfrau-region (probably staying in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen or Murren) Day 2-4: Hiking various trails in the region, in both valleys Lauterbrunnen and Grindewald Day 5: Travel to Zurich Day 6: Fly home from Zurich airport

What passes do you recommend?

Hi Lisa, I am not sure a pass would be worth it. The 3 days flex could be an option, but it’s 264 CHF, so I think it really depends on what you are planning during your days on site. If you only plan short distances, I don’t think it would be worth it. Train from Domodossola to lauterbrunnen will be around 66 CHF and the train from Lauterbrunnen to Zurich around 80 CHF. Enjoy your stay in Switzerland

Hello! Thank you for this helpful post! Can you please share your thoughts on what pass we should get…?

Itinerary for July: Sunday – Paris to Lausanne, Lausanne to Zermatt Monday – Zermatt, Gornergrat Tuesday – Zermatt to Zurich Wednesday – Lindt Museum, Zurich to Lucerne; Lucerne to Wengen Thursday – Wengen, Grindewald First Friday – Wengen to Basel, back to Paris

I believe the Swiss Travel Pass is our best option, but do I really need it for 6 days? Or, should I get different passes for Sunday and Friday and just get the 4-day STP? Any thoughts or ideas? All of the different passes are so confusing, no matter how many times I read about them. Thanks so much!

3 weeks ago

Thanks for your message. I think the Swiss travel pass is indeed quite worht it for your stay (you’ll be moving quite a lot). For your travel, I think you’d have to choose between the 6 days continuous or 4 day (flexi) and skip the use on Monday and Thursday. But to be honest, the price difference between these 2 is only 40 CHF (approx) and having it will give you a 50% discount on the Gornergratt train (amount the same amount saved). Gornergrat is never included (private company) but the Swiss travel pass is equivalent to the half fare pass. But yes, I agree it’s a close call and these passes are indeed a bit confusing sometimes. Wishing you a wonderful stay in Switzerland!

Hi, would like to ask which pass should i get? will fly in from Zurich for 10days 9 nights. Interlaken – Lauterbrunnen – Murren – Gindelwald – Jungfrau – Spiez (for first 4days 3nights) Zermatt (3days 2nights) Lucern (3days 2nights) Zurich (3days 2nights).

As i aware that the Swiss pass is available for 8 days and next for 15days. There are no 10 days option available. In that case, what should i get?

I think the best option would most likely to get one of the flex passes. It depends how much you’re planning on moving while in a fixed location (such as Zermatt Zurich or Lucern) and how many museums included in the Swiss pass you’re considering visiting. But maybe the 4 days flex could already be enough (using it only on the days which involve the most travels) or if you plan more side trips, then I would grab the 8 days flex (and not activate it on days you’ll only take a few trams to visit Zurich for example). But if you plan lots of museums and side trips, then I guess the 15 days pass is a better deal since it’s only 21 € more expensive than the 8 days flex. 😉 have a nice stay in Switzerland!

You are wonderful!

Im traveling with husband in May. Taking Bernini Express to Chur on May 13 (have seat res) then heading to other countries by car and will be back in Luzern dropping off car on May 19 and taking train to Interlaken for four nights on May 20. Day trips not set but will try to see Murren, Grindewald, Lauterbrunnen. Try to go to Bern for a day if we can. May depend on weather.. Then heading to Maggiore Lake (Stresa) on May 24. I’m thinking 1/2 Fare and 4 day (6?) Berner Oberland. Or just 1/2 fare and maybe some day saver passes?

Hi, Thanks for your message! I think indeed that the Berner Oberland pass could be the best option since you’re gonna stay in the area. As for the half fare, I am not sure it would be worth it. Having it would save you about 90 CHF on the berner Oberland and then you only take 2 larger trips (Luzern-Interlaken and Interlaken-Stresa). There having the half fare would save you 17 for the first one and 30 on the second one). The half fare being 190, this might not even be worth it. You can always check for the other train journey if you can get daysavers. have a wonderful holiday!

Hello! Your help and advice is so nice and helpful. My daughter and I will be coming first of May. We don’t really care that much about museums but will be doing a lot of walking and hiking. Here are our destinations. What do you suggest? is there a better route we should take? 29-30 Zurich 30 Lucern all day 30 Interlaken 1 Interlaken/Grindelwald/Wengen/Interlaken 2 Jaunfraugh/interlaken/harder klum 3 Lauterbrunnen/Gimmelwald 4 Golden Pass train to Montreux/Lusanne? 5 Brienz/Lucern 6 Lucern/Zurich 7 Zurich/Appenzall/Ebanald/Zurich Any advice would be helpful! I think I have read everything on your blog thus far.

21 hours ago

Hello Angela, May I ask how old your daughter is? If she’s under 15, then I think the Swiss travel pass would be the most suitable for you (she would then travel for free if you get the free swiss family card upon arrival). If she’s between 15 and 24, then I would for sure get the swiss pass for her (prices are really reasonable for the Youth option) and for you I think it would be a close call between berner oberalp pass and swiss travel pass (the berner oberalp includes more things in the area Luzern-Lauterbrunnen such as Harder Kulm and gives 50% off on the train to Montreux, but you’ll have to pay full price for Appenzell and Lausanne while the swiss travel pass will cover all inter-city trains, but you’ll have to pay the 50% price for Harder Kulm) If you decide to get it (either berner oberland or swiss pass for your daughter), I would get the 8 day pass and have it active from the 30th until the 7th (it’s not worth getting it for Zurich unless you plan to visit lots of museums). Enjoy your stay!

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Swiss Half Fare Card

The Swiss Half Fare Card entitles visitors to travel by train, bus and boat and most mountain railways at half price.

It is the ideal companion for short trips and excursions throughout Switzerland. The Swiss Half Fare Card has a validity of one month and can be obtained at nearly every Swiss railway station as well as all points-of-sale worldwide.

  • Up to 50% discount on travels by train, bus, boat and most mountain excursions.  Show area of validity
  • Up to 50% discount on use of public transportation in more than 90 towns and cities.
  • Children above 6 years of age and up to their 16th birthday enjoy free travels with the complimentary Swiss Family Card . They must be accompanied by at least one parent who is a holder of a Swiss Half Fare Card along with a valid ticket.
  • Children below 6 years of age travel free of charge.
  • The Swiss Half Fare Card is available as an e-Ticket to persons with residence outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
  • Validity: one month
  • In Switzerland, fares apply in Swiss Francs as detailed in the chart. (In case of cash payment in EUR, USD or GBP: current exchange rates apply.)

Swiss Family Card

  • As long as they are accompanied by at least one parent holding a valid Swiss Travel System ticket, children above 6 years of age and up to their 16th birthday enjoy free travels with the complimentary  Swiss Family Card .
  • Children from their 6th up to their 16th birthday who are not accompanied by a parent receive a 50% discount on Swiss Travel System tickets and passes.

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Getting around Switzerland — How to Maximise Your Swiss Travel Pass

swiss travel pass or half fare

Here’s how we summited 6 mountains across 11 destinations over 10 days in Switzerland under S$2.3k with the Swiss Travel Pass

First published: 18 Nov 2018

Swiss Travel Pass Infograph 1 - Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Train travel in Switzerland can be pricey, and trust me, we had our share of budget shock when we tallied up the costs for our 10-day Swiss adventure .

swiss travel pass or half fare

Hold onto your seat, because the transportation portion alone added up to a jaw-dropping S$1,913.97 . But with the legendary Swiss Travel Pass we managed to slash our transport expenses to only S$843.87 . Yep, that’s more than 40% off !

Here’s what we wished we knew for planning our Switzerland trip. This guide is quite extensive, so simply click on the section you want more info on:

1) Getting around Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass (What is it, perks, etc.) 2) First Class vs. Second Class 3) Consecutive vs. Flexible 4) Prices and Discounts 5) Swiss Travel Pass vs. Swiss Half Fare Card 6) How to use the Swiss Travel Pass 7) Getting up the most beautiful Swiss Mountains with Swiss Travel Pass 8) Premium Panoramic Train Rides 9) FAQs about the Swiss Travel Pass

Getting around Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass

Train ride over the Landwasser Viaduct - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

1) Local and intercity trains are free — some express trains like the ones mentioned below require a top-up reservation fee (see ‘Premium Panoramic Train Rides’)

2) Buses are free — including the hourly bus from Leuk to Leukerbad (for Leukerbad Thermal Pools), which is a 30-minute ride up the scenic mountain off Leukerbad town.

3) Cogwheels & Mountain Cableways are partially covered — Rigi & Schilthorn are free, while others are available at a 25 – 50% discount. More on that later!

4) Boat rides are free — other than getting from point to point, some boat rides are extra scenic and worth the ride even if it’s long and doesn’t really go anywhere. Scenic rides worth checking out: Lake Lucerne, Lake Brienz and Lake Geneva.

5) Entry to  over 500 museums for free — including the FIFA World Football Museum in Zürich,  Château de Chillon in Montreux and  Matterhorn Museum in Zermatt.

Swiss Travel Pass: First Class vs. Second Class

Switzerland Train - Swiss Travel Pass Guide 101

When buying a Swiss Travel Pass , you’ll have to choose between First Class (premium), and Second Class tickets. Here’s what to expect when buying First Class:

1) Comfort — More legroom, bigger windows, and spacious seats

2) Better Views — Seats with scenic views in panoramic trains and boats (where available)

3) Conducive for Work — Fewer people/noise and more power points

There’s a whopping price difference between First Class and Second Class seats (~S$210 for 3-day consecutive tickets), but if you’re on a budget, the seats in Second Class are more than comfy enough for a long train ride.

Swiss Travel Pass: Consecutive vs. Flexible

Pilatus Cogwheel Train - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

The Swiss Travel Pass comes in options of 3 to 15 days. You can also choose between ‘Flexible’ or ‘Consecutive’ — the latter being the cheaper option.

For the ‘Flexible’ pass, it’s valid for travel days within a one-month period from the starting date. So you can easily change your travel plans as and when!

But if you’re planning to jump from one city to the next in a fixed itinerary, you can consider getting the ‘Consecutive’ pass instead.

Since we had 10 days in Switzerland, we got the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass, rented a car for the first two days, and activated the Swiss Travel Pass on day three.

Swiss Travel Pass: Prices and Discounts

Swiss Travel Pass from Klook - Swiss Travel Pass Guide

We got our Swiss Travel Pass via Klook . Confirmation for the e-ticket was almost instant and all you need to do is save the QR code on your phone. The train conductors will ask for it on board.

Here’s the price breakdown for the Swiss Travel Pass , as of Jan 2024:

Good news for those travelling with children 15 years old and below: they get to travel for free as long as they’re accompanied by an adult with a Swiss Travel Pass. Just request a Swiss Family Card at any railway station!

*Pro-tip: Purchase the pass on Klook rather than the official site for further discounts!

Swiss Travel Pass vs. Swiss Half Fare Card

Swiss Travel Pass vs Swiss Half Fare Card (2024) - Getting around Switzerland

A budget-friendly alternative is the Swiss Half Fare Card , selling for a flat price of ~S$170 — almost half the price of the cheapest Swiss Travel Pass.

The Swiss Half Card gives you 50% off major transportation within a month. Notably, some perks from the Travel Pass are absent, like free museum admissions, and partial discounts for mountain cableways.

How to use the Swiss Travel Pass

Swiss Travel Pass

Once you’ve purchased your Swiss Travel Pass online , you’ll receive a QR code which will be your e-ticket. Save it on your mobile phone so you can show it to the train conductor on board.

For  Flexible Passes ,  register your travel dates so your pass will be valid on the days you’re travelling.

For  Consecutive Passes , your Swiss Travel Pass will be automatically activated on the date selected during booking.

Some trains like the Glacier Express will need reservations beforehand — read more about Premium Panoramic Trains below !

*Pro-tip: Download the SBB mobile app to look up train, boats, and bus timings on the go.

Travelling with the Swiss Travel Pass

Lake Lucerne Boar Ride - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

So how do you maximise your Swiss Travel Pass? We went to Switzerland a while back, and this detailed breakdown lists how we saved over ~S$1k .

Areas we covered: Lucerne, Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfrau, Grindelwald, Montreux, Vevey, Zermatt and St. Moritz, Felisur, Zürich

Mountains:  Pilatus, Rigi, Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald First and Gornegrat

Scenic Trains:  Golden Pass Route (Lucerne – Montreux) and The Glacier Express (Zermatt – St.Moritz)

Getting up the most beautiful Swiss Mountains with the Swiss Travel Pass

Gelmerbahn Funicular - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Let the sights (not the hike) take your breath away 😉

While most Swiss mountains can be hiked up for free, the train rides are experiences of their own. From the iconic ‘Toblerone’ mountain  (Matterhorn) to the highest train station in Europe  (Jungfraujoch) , here are the six mountains we managed to fit into our Switzerland itinerary .

Click Read More for the full guide.

*The Swiss Travel Pass covers all transportation to the starting points listed below.

1) Matterhorn (Zermatt)

Matterhorn view -Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Better known as the Toblerone mountain, climbing to the peak of Matterhorn is a bucket list item for many. But personally, seeing the sunrise light up Matterhorn turned out to be core memory.

Matterhorn at Sunrise from Rifflesee - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

The best viewing spot would be from Rifflesee , up on Gornegrat . Even better if you arrive at dawn before the sun even peaks through the horizon. If the winds are minimal, the lake serves as a perfect mirror of the mountain top.

Matterhorn Gornegratbahn - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

If you don’t want to hike in the dark (or catch more sleep), the fastest way up is via the Gornegratbahn . The station is just outside the Zermatt Bahnoff.

Zermatt Gornegrat Hike - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Get off Rotenboden station, and take a 5-minute walk to Rifflesee. This view was one of the best payoffs given its accessibility. After you’re done at Rifflesee, hop back on the funicular up to Gornegrat station for a panoramic view of the surrounding Swiss Alps.

The hike down is incredibly scenic and straightforward. It takes about 3.5 – 4 hours but you can decide to take the train from any of the four stations along the way (Rotenboden – Riffleberg – Rifflealp – Findelbach). Each station is about an hour’s hike to the next.

When you’re tired, just purchase a one-way ticket down from any of the stations. The lower the station, the cheaper the ticket so it depends on how much you want to hike.

Cost: CHF55 (~S$83) (one-way up to Gornegrat Station) Starting point:  Gorgnegratbahn base station just outside Zermatt train station Swiss Travel Pass:  50% off the Gornegratbahn (CHF27.50, ~S$42 one-way)

2) 5-Seenweg (Zermatt)

Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

If you have more time in Zermatt, the well-marked 5 Lakes Trail (Seenweg) is also worth the hike. The trail passes through five lakes (Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grunsee, Moosjisee and Leisee) with Matterhorn consistently in the background.

You can begin the hike from Zermatt or, save 3 hours by taking the funicular to Sunnegga, followed by the gondola lift to Blauherd where the hike begins. The hike from Blauherd to Sunnegga (which passes through the five lakes) is mainly downhill and should take around 2.5 hours. From Sunnegga, you can take the funicular back to Zermatt.

Cost: CHF39 (~S$56) Starting point:  Zermatt Swiss Travel Pass:  50% off the funicular from Zermatt to Blauherd and cable car from Blauherd to Sunnegga

3) Pilatus (Lucerne)

Pilatus View - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Overlooking the city of Lucerne, Mount Pilatus is famous for its Golden Round Trip, which covers five different forms of transport to ascend and descend the mountain.

Pilatus Cable Car Lucerne View - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

This route is possible both ways, starting clockwise from Lucerne: take a boat/train to Alpnachstad and take a cogwheel * train up to Pilatus Kulm. This cogwheel is famous for being the steepest in the world!

*Note: The cogwheel railway only runs from mid-May to mid-November. Check the exact dates on the site to be sure!

Fräkigaudi Sommer Pilatus Toboggan -Ultimate Swiss Travel Pass Guide

On the descent, take the cable car down to Fräkmüntegg where you’ll find the longest Toboggan sled in the world (CHF8/ride, ~S$11.40). Don’t worry about walking back up as you’ll be dragged on your Toboggan with an attached wire.

From Fräkmüntegg, continue down to Kriens station to catch bus no. 1 back to Lucerne station.

*Pro-tip: Check the weather before taking the boat ride — if the weather isn’t great, save time and take the train instead. The lake tends to fog up on most mornings.

Pilatus Tomslihorn Hike - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

At the top, there are various hikes ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours. We highly recommend the 40-minute hike on Tomslihorn, accessed from the right side of the Pilatus Kulm Restaurant.

Cost: CHF108 (~S$155) (Round trip from Lucerne) Starting point:  You can start from either Alpnachstad or Kriens.   To Alpnachstad, either take a boat (1hr 18mins) or train (17mins) from Luzern. To Kriens, it’s a 5min ride on bus no. 1 and a short walk to the cableway station Swiss Travel Pass:  50% off the cogwheel from Alpnachstad – Pilatus Kulm – Kriens (CHF36, ~S$52)

Pilatus Bahn at Alpnachstad - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Alpnachstad Station

*Pro-tip:  If you’re on the Swiss Travel Flex Pass , save a day on the pass and sign up for a   Half-Day Pilatus Tour   instead — tickets are fully covered from Lucerne station to Pilatus and back.

4) Rigi (Lucerne)

Mount Rigi - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Slightly lower than Pilatus, the peak of  Rigi is at the perfect height for a 360° panoramic view of the surrounding Swiss Alps as well as Lake Lucerne and the city below. But the best part?  Swiss Travel Pass holders get to travel up entirely free!

Cost: CHF72 (~S$103) Starting point:  Arth-Goldau or Vitznau Swiss Travel Pass: Free — cogwheel trains from Arth-Goldau and Vitznau are fully covered

5) Jungfrau (Interlaken/Fiesch)

Jungfraubahn - Swiss Travel Pass Guide

At 3,454m above sea level, Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe and is covered in snow all year round. At the peak, there’s the Spinx Observatory where you’ll get a close-up panoramic view of Mt Eiger and Mönch. On top, there’s also an Ice Palace to explore, and one of the most iconic mailboxes — yes you can actually mail out postcards from it!

Ride up Jungfraujoch - Ultimate Swiss Travel Pass Guide

But perhaps our favourite part of the experience wasn’t so much arriving at the top of the station, but the entire hour-long journey on the train. The views were simply breathtaking, and in hindsight, given more time, it would have been enjoyable as a hike too!

It’s best to visit Jungfrau while based in Interlaken since it’s nearest, but if you’re short on time, check out  Jungfrau on a day trip from Lucerne or even Zurich.

Cost: CHF201.60 (~S$305) (roundtrip from Lauterbrunen) Starting point:  From Lauterbrunnen, take the train to Kleine Scheidegg Swiss Travel Pass:  25% off the train from Wengen Station to Jungfraujoch (CHF132, ~S$189 round trip from Wengen). The first two stops from Lauterbrunnen (bef Wengen) are covered.

6) Schilthorn (Lauterbrunnen) *free with the Swiss Travel Pass

007 Schilthorn -Ultimate Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Schilthorn  is one of the few mountains fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass! From the top, you have a panoramic view of the Bernese Alps and the three big mountains of Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger. On a clear day, you can even spot Mont Blanc.

Thrill Walk at Schilthorn - Ultimate Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Try the 200m Thrill Walk on glass floors and wire ropes across the vertical face of the cliff.

Piz Gloria revolving restaurant - Ultimate Swiss Travel Pass Guide

You might say this looks right out of a movie scene, because it is! At the top of Schilthorn is a revolving restaurant, the Piz Gloria which was featured in the 1969 James Bond movie . Restaurant meals in Switzerland are expensive so if you could only pick one place to splurge, the menu at Piz Gloria is worth the experience. It’s also not a lot more expensive than regular restaurants in the city.

Cost: CHF131.40 (~S$188) (Round trip from Interlaken) Starting point:  Stechelberg or Mürren Swiss Travel Pass: Free — cable cars from both Stechelberg and Mürren are fully covered

7) Grindelwald First

Bachalpsee on Grindelwald -Ultimate Swiss Travel Pass Guide

If you’ve done the first five in this list, you must be wondering by now if this is “just another mountain”. But there are a few reasons why Grindelwald First is worth the trip.

Grindelwalk First Flyer - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

For adventure seekers, the famous route is to first take the gondola up to First Station, then take a glider, mountain bike, and Trottibike scooter down to each station till you reach the base. This is a dream for kids, and kid-at-heart 😛

Grindelwald First Mountain Bike - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

If you’re keen to take on all the rides, there’s an adventure package (CHF120, ~S$172) that includes all the activities and unlimited use of the gondola.

Bachalpsee on Grindelwald -Ultimate Swiss Travel Pass Guide

But before you start your descent, check out Bachalpsee . It’s an easy 40-minute hike from First Station (one-way) and a great place to set up a picnic.

Grindelwald First Cliff Walk by Tissot - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

At the top, there’s also the  First Cliff Walk by Tissot  which I can imagine to be quite pretty, if not for the thick fog that we were engulfed in that day.

Cost: CHF120 (~S$172) for Adventure Package, CHF60 (~S$86) for gondola roundtrip Starting point: From Grindelwald train station, walk 10 mins to Grindelwald Firstbahn, or take 2 stops on bus no. 121, 122, or 123 Swiss Travel Pass: 50% off the Gondola from Grindelwald – First Station (CHF30, ~S$43)

Premium Panoramic Train Rides

Glacier Express - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Travelling by train in Switzerland isn’t just about getting from one point to the next but an experience of its own. I don’t sit still well for long but I was constantly glued to the views beyond the large panoramic windows.

There are five Premium Panoramic Trains in total but here are three we managed to include in our 10-Day Switzerland Itinerary .

1) Luzern–Interlaken Express (Luzern – Brienz – Interlaken) *free with the Swiss Travel Pass

Switzerland Itinerary_Glacier Express View

This route passes through some of the most dazzling lakes, waterfalls, and rivers. The good news is that it doesn’t require reservations, and runs once every hour from 6AM. (check the SBB mobile app to confirm the exact timing)

Airtime Paragliding in Lauterbrunnen - Ultimate Swiss Travel Pass Guide

Interlaken is a great base for many outdoor adventures including paragliding in Lauterbrunnen, hiking in Grindelwald, or even experiencing the world’s steepest funicular!

Frequency:  Every hour from 6:06AM Duration: 1hr 50mins Swiss Travel Pass:  Fully covered, no reservations required

2) Golden Pass Route (Interlaken – Zweisimmen – Montreux) *free with the Swiss Travel Pass

Vevey Big Fork in Lake Geneva - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

The MOB Panoramic train only runs from Zweisimmen to Montreux, but combined with the route above (Lucerne – Interlaken), this makes up the Golden Pass Route and is known to be one of the most accessible yet scenic train rides around. This train doesn’t require reservations, and is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. The train runs 6 times a day, every 2 hours from 8:25AM.

Duration: 1hr 50mins Swiss Travel Pass:  Fully covered. Reservations  not mandatory but recommended during peak seasons in July and August.

swiss travel pass or half fare

Photo credit: goldenpass.ch

From Montreux, the MOB Panoramic train also has special day excursions on the Chocolate Train  to Gruyères, known as the land of chocolate. Swiss Travel Pass holders get a discounted rate of CHF59 which includes the train journey to Montbovon, onboard coffee, and chocolate croissant, as well as entry to the cheese and chocolate factories.

Schedule: 9:50AM – 5:15PM (May – Sep) Swiss Travel Pass:  CHF59

3) Glacier Express (Zermatt – Chur – St Mortiz)

Landwasser Viaduct - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

The highlight of the Glacier Express is the journey between Chur and St Moritz as it passes through the Landwasserviaduct — a 65m high, single-tracked railway viaduct with six impressive arches.

Town of Felisur - Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass Guide

It’s also the “world’s slowest express train” at ~39km/h; but no one’s complaining because it’ll give you ample time to take in the varied landscapes while dining on board. From valleys and canyons to rivers and towns, the train passes through 91 tunnels and 291 bridges!

Frequency: 1 – 3 times/day depending on season Duration: 7hr 50mins Swiss Travel Pass:   Reservations are compulsory and not included with the pass — CHF33 (~S$47) for the entire route, CHF22 (~S$32) for shorter sections of the route. Optional meals are sold separately.

*Pro-tip: For the best views of the Landwasserviaduct, reserve a seat on the right side of train between Chur – St-Moritz. Seats for this train sell fast so book as soon as the window opens (up to three months in advance).

Other Premium Panoramic Express Trains

The two other scenic trains covered by the Swiss Travel Pass are the Gotthard Panorama Express (from Luzern) and Bernina Express (from Chur). Both trains end up in Lugano and require reservations. Note that some of these trains don’t run during the winter season (Mid-October to end March).

Swiss Travel Pass - detailed breakdown

Click on the image to view the full breakdown

We hope this Swiss Travel Pass guide was useful! For a list of all the trains we took with the Swiss Travel Pass, click on the image above !

FAQs about the Swiss Travel Pass

Swiss Rail Pass - Switzerland

1) Where can I find the train timings and routes?

If you’re planning on a computer, check out the SBB website . When you’re on the go, download the SBB app on your phone — available on both the App Store and Google Play — so you can check the train timings while travelling.

2) How do you enter the train stations with a Swiss Travel Pass?

In Switzerland, there are no gantries at train stations so it runs quite heavily on trust. However, scenic trains — especially those that ride up the mountains — almost always have rail staff walking through the cabins to check for tickets/rail passes. Just have your rail pass or phone ready when you’re on the train.

3) Are train reservations required?

Glacier Express view - Switzerland

Only selected premium panoramic trains like the Glacier Express require it. You can hop on and off any of the local trains and buses without reservation or extra tickets.

Reservation fees are not included in the Swiss Travel Pass.

4) Is the Swiss Travel Pass valid on local buses?

Yes! The great thing is you don’t have to fumble for your pass/ticket when boarding. Just board from any of the doors. In our entire trip, there was only one occasion we were asked to show our Swiss Travel Pass on the bus.

5) Is there luggage storage on the trains?

The premium panoramic trains usually have luggage racks with ample space near the doors, but the intercity ones have limited storage. Only cabin/compact-sized luggage can comfortably fit between the seats and overhead compartments on intercity trains.

Surprisingly, it’s actually a lot more convenient to travel around Switzerland with a backpack, especially if you’re staying in Airbnb apartments and hostels because they often don’t have elevators.

6) Misc: Eating on trains? Pets? Toilets?

One of the best things about long train rides is having your lunch with an ever-changing panoramic view at the side. Food is allowed but you might want to avoid bringing food with strong smells. No one will tell you off because the Swiss are nice that way, but it’s good social etiquette nonetheless!

For pets, dogs are allowed on all transportation and 99% of them are really obedient!

Apart from the city trains in Zürich, all other trains we took had toilets.

I dare say if you didn’t hop on a train in Switzerland, you’ve not been to Switzerland. It truly is the quintessential way to experience the country.

This post was brought to you by Klook .

For more travel inspiration, follow our adventures on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube !

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10 comments.

Hi TravelIntern,

How do I get 25% off jungfraujoch tour from Lucerne with the Swiss Railway Pass?

the 25% discount only applies for the ride from Wengen Station to Jungfraujoch. Just make sure you have your Swiss Travel Pass with you during the train rides. You can buy your tickets from Wengen station or from the train staff with your credit card. As long as you have your STP with you, you’ll be charged 25% off the full ticket price.

Hi Cherie, what camera did u use to capture all these beautiful pics?

Thank you! Our team mainly uses the the Sony Alpha series. This trip we had the a73 and a6500.

Hello! How do i reserve the premium panoramic trains?

Hey Lynn, which premium panoramic train were you looking to book? You need to make reservations from the train’s official website for example the Glacier Express can be booked on https://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/ and the MOB train can be reserved here: https://mob.ch/en/reservation-procedure

Hi travel intern, Just wanna ask did you guys did bookings for the Panorama Gondolas at Mt Pilatus?

Hey Xavier, the gondolas run constantly during opening hours so no bookings are needed!

Wonderful recommendations! Which month of the year did you travel to Swiss?

Around August!

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Swiss Travel Pass 2024 review: Is it good value or not?

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

Are you 100% sure where you want to go in Switzerland? This should help

swiss travel pass or half fare

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.

>>> Where to go in Switzerland in 2 to 10 days

Is the Swiss Travel Pass a good deal? Here's the short version

swiss travel pass or half fare

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

swiss travel pass or half fare

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

swiss travel pass or half fare

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

swiss travel pass or half fare

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

swiss travel pass or half fare

Is a Swiss Travel Pass right for you?

swiss travel pass or half fare

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

  • 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
  • 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)

swiss travel pass or half fare

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

swiss travel pass or half fare

  • 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
  • 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
  • 2nd Class fare: CHF90
  • Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 45
  • Rigi round trip
  • Route: Lucerne to Rigi
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Pre-Alpine Express
  • Route: St. Gallen to Lucerne
  • Journey time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Distance: 146 km
  • 1st Class fare: CHF83
  • 2nd Class fare: CHF47
  • Jura Foot Line
  • Route: Basel to Geneva
  • Journey time: 2 hours 40 minutes
  • Distance: 248 km
  • 1st Class fare: CHF132
  • 2nd Class fare: CHF75

Popular Switzerland cable car rides

swiss travel pass or half fare

  • Route: Stechelberg (Lauterbrunnen) to Schilthorn
  • Train type: cable car
  • Journey time: 1 hour
  • Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 54
  • Engelberg to Mt. Titlis cable car
  • Route: Engelberg to Mt. Titlis
  • 2nd Class fare: CHF96
  • Supplement for Swiss Pass holders: 46

The Swiss Travel Pass also includes free museum admission, but…

swiss travel pass or half fare

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.

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Swiss Travel Pass 2024 review: Is it good value or not? " --> All Comments

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Excellent details line by line. I am visiting france for busines trip and would like to go Visit Swiss for just 2 days. I know it is not enough to explore such a beautiful country. I will taking train from Basel SBB to Lucerne and based there for both the days. Upon reaching lucerne, i would like to visit Mt. Titlis with Flyer and few more attractions on day 1 and roam around on day 2 (may be Mt. Rigis) and then leave by train to Lucerne to Zurich. (Not sure whether this trip covered by Swiss Pass). I have checked that the 3 days pass is costs CHF 244. not sure to compare the other fares with this swiss pass (as per me it comes lower than CHF244). Could you please guide me what is the best option? To buy swiss pass or half discount card or just pay as i go?

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I’m glad you found this helpful. That is a tricky one. A Swiss Travel Pass is valid on all normal trains within the country (including Lucerne to Zurich). I suppose the only way to know would be to add up all of the fares of the things you are planning on doing. It might be cheaper to buy them one at a time as sometimes they do have discount or supersaver fares. My guess is that all of those individual tickets might be close to the CHF244, but they could be more or less. Sorry I’m not any more help on this. -Roger

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Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare? Berner Oberland Pass?

Thanks for this great community discussion! I'm still unclear on deciding between a Swiss Travel Pass or the Half Fare version. My wife and I are arriving Zurich, stopping for a day in Bern, then a week in Murren. Adding up the full fares, it's about 650CHF not including travel above Lauterbrunnen. We will be hiking on both sides of the valley, and will be going up Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch. Two Swiss Travel Passes are 778CHF, two Half Fare Passes are 340CHF, and I have no idea about the Berner Oberland Pass. I know full fare is not the best, but what is the smart move regarding passes for us? Thanks!

Just be sure that when you are adding up the fares, you are not using already discounted fares. I have seen it mentioned here that fares shown on the website are assumed to be half fare. I found it marvelously confusing myself (math is hard). I went with half fare.

The 30-day Half Fare Card is 120 CHF per person. You mention 340 for 2, but I believe you are looking at a 1-year subscription.

Where are you going after you depart Muerren? What is the total number of days you will be in Switzerland?

Here is the information on the Berner Oberland Pass prices:

https://www.berneseoberlandpass.ch/prices-tickets/

And the map of validity:

https://www.berneseoberlandpass.ch/assets/Uploads/BLS-BO-Pass-M-23-WEB.pdf

You will see it covers all regular transport from Bern or Luzern, around the Bern Oberland and as far as Domodossola if your are traveling onward to Italy. The high mountain lifts such as Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch get a discount rather than full coverage.

It fully covers the First lift T Grindelwald, and the lift up to Eigergletscher station above Kleine Scheidegg. These are both places you may want to go if you are hikers ( I know I would).

Note that there is a discount on the pass price if you also have a Half Fare card. The discount would cover the cost of the Half Fare Card itself, and you could still use that for travel outside of the BO pass validity.

Total days in Switzerland = 8. Departing Murren to Varenna Italy on day 8. I listed the Half Fare Pass for 2 incorrectly - it is 240CHF.

Next question, how are you getting from Muerren to Varenna? Are taking the Bernina Express or going to fast way via Milan?

I read here from a poster that some of the Swiss passes go on sale April 15. Sorry I don't have more details.

Thanks for the replies. Fast route to Varenna through Milan.

If you buy the Half Fare Cards, you save 130 CHF per person on an 8-day Berner Oberland Pass. Since the Berner Oberland costs 250 CHF with a Half Fare Card, that comes to 370 CHF per person. Use the Half Fare Car to cover the train from Zurich Airport to Bern. Then the train to Muerren is covered the next day and all the trains and lifts on the Wengen up to Eigergletcher. The Schilthornbahn is covered above Muerren at 50%. If you take the slower, more scenic route via Kandersteg, you are covered fully to Domodossola. If you take the faster route which uses the Loetschberg Base Tunnel from Spiez to Brig, then you have to use the Half Fare Card for that.

One advantage of the Berner Oberland Pass over the Swiss Travel Pass is that the lifts and rails above Wengen are fully covered, whereas they are only covered by a 25% discount with the STP.

Thanks for the clear analysis Sam. It will be the Half Fare plus BO Pass for us.

From Domodossola to Chiasso is shown as covered by the BO Pass. Going on SBB website it shows a route to Milano through Domodossola, but I can't determine if the BO Pass helps from Domodossola to Milano Centrale. Trying to decide between the slower, more scenic route versus paying half fare for the faster tunnel route. Advice?

No, once get past Domodossola on the way to Milan, It is Italian railway, and you have to pay for that, although Italian railway tickets are a whole lot cheaper than Swiss railway tickets. If you go from Domodossola to Chiasso via Locarno on the scenic Centovalli Railway, that is covered by the Half Fare Card, but not the B-O Pass. If you went that way, you could just take a taxi from Chiasso station to the ferry dock in Como and take a lake boat to Varenna. That way is slower than just going to Milano Centrale and changing trains to the one to Varenna.

Thanks Sam. It looks like SBB will sell us tickets from Lauterbrunnen to Milano Centrale via Domodossola for 94CHF pp with Half Fare Pass, a 5-hour trip, but I can't seem to figure out how to use the BO Pass for this. The faster tunnel route at 3.5 hours is 117CHF pp. The ferry plan will get us to Varenna too late. Sounds like you know this area well.

What is your travel date? I'll take a look at it.

That 5-hour trip with 3 or 4 changes might still be using the fast route through the Lôtschberg Basistunnel, unless you put in “ Kandersteg” under “via”. Then it will route you on the longer route by regional train, skipping the long deep tunnel between Spiez and Visp. I see a 4.5 hour option for that route.

Question for Sam: can he use the “GA” reduction option to claim credit for the BO Pass for a free ride to Domodossola, assuming they are on the acceptable route? That brings the price down to 10 CHF from Lauterbrunnen to Milano Centrale.

I would say yes to using the GA reduction as long you go via Kandersteg. I looked at it like this: depart Muerren at 8:28 am via Gruetschalp and Kandersteg, arrive Domodossola at 11:54 am. Then buy a Trenord ticket for 15.20 EUR to Varenna-Esino, departing at 12:56 pm, arriving at Varenna-Esino at 5:24 pm after changing trains at Milano Centrale. 1 hour at Domodossola station, time to grab a quick lunch. This routing also gives 1 hour 49 minutes change time at Milano Centrale. Looking at June 8, so all the Italian schedules are showing.

You are an impressive bunch! Travel date is 13 September. I get the impression that the vistas offered by the longer Kandersteg route are preferable to being in a tunnel for extended periods, in the opinion of some. Cost savings are a lower priority than joy, as long as we can get to Varenna late afternoon/early evening. I had no luck in researching schedules that far out, so have tried similar days of the week in earlier months, not knowing if that is even similar. Looking on the SBB website I did see what appeared to be a selection for applicable passes, but did not know if the BO Pass was the "GA" designation. Thanks again!

If you have a valid B-O Pass, you do not need to buy a ticket, you just board the trains. When you get to Domodossola, you can buy a ticket in the station, or from a vending machine, or the modern way, by downloading the Trenitalia app and buying the ticket with that.

Italian train schedules change on June 11, so you will not see any trains on the schedule now beyond that date. Regional trains are the last ones to load, often not until the day before, so just wait until after June 11 to get serious about travel planning. The schedules usually do not change much, if at all. Italians all know the routine, so they don't worry about it. Tourists all have conniptions when they don't see any trains on the schedule for where they want to go in the distant future.

Thanks Sam. It's been a little while - previous Swiss/Italian travels were pre-app days, so I'm in the curious middle on the "who cares? to conniption" scale. We'll get the SBB and Trenitalia apps and look after June 11.

I am curious about the earlier posting suggesting a Pass sale on April 15. No clue where to check.

Another thing to wait and see regarding a Swiss Travel Pass sale.

You can also buy the Italian tickets on-line and print out the ticket. These tickets, as well as tickets bought with the app and displayed on your smart-phone, come pre-validated for specific date and time. Tickets bought in the station or from a vending machine are "open" tickets, so you must remember to validate them in the stamping machine on the platform before boarding the train.

HI Bob! I love Orcas and will be there in a few weeks for our almost annual trip to Beach Haven. I have a similar trip planned but staying 2 nights in Lucern, then Murren for 7, and on to Milan. We will be in Murren at the same time! Anyway, I am curious as to why it would be beneficial to get the BO pass plus the half price card? It seems to me that the BO pass will cover everything except Zurich to Lucern and then Domodssola to Milan. It is all a bit confusing to me as well

Camy - If you're getting a Berner Oberland pass for 8 or 10 days, you're going to be getting a Half Fare card for "free" with the reduction it gives you.

For example...

The 8 day BO pass is 380 chf, but if you have the Half Fare card, the pass is discounted to 250chf, which is a savings of 130 chf. The Half Fare card costs 120 chf. So you come out 10 chf ahead and have the Half Fare card to use for your trips outside the validity zone, which will save you additional money.

If you do the 10 day pass, its 420 chf. But if you have the Half Fare card it's discounted to 275 chf. So after buying the HFC for 120, you're at 395 chf total...So you've saved 25 chf and have the HFC for your trips outside the validity zone.

I think I just found my own answer. The half price card would not cost any extra as it is deducted from the BO pass. So it would help just a bit on the small train fee from Zurich to Luzern which is only about $15 or so. (and probably about the same for Zurich to Bern which is what you are doing) Does that sound about right to some of our experts here?

Wanderweg! I didn't' see your reply before I responded. Yes that makes complete sense now. I have been struggling with all of this and now I am clear. Thank you so much!!! :-)

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

swiss travel pass or half fare

How to Get Around Switzerland: A Guide to Swiss Transportation

Wondering how to get around Switzerland? This guide will help you learn how to use the public transportation system and how to get around by car.

Don’t have time to read a bunch of reviews and blog posts? Here are our top picks for visiting Switzerland:

Wanderlust switzerland guide.

Need a quick day-by-day, open-and-go itinerary for Switzerland? Get my guide and let me do the work for you!

Our favorite Hotels in Switzerland

  • Zurich : Baur Au Lac
  • Lucerne : Burgenstock Alpine Hotel & Spa
  • Zermatt: The Omnia
  • Interlaken : Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel
  • Bern : Hotel Schweiserhof
  • Geneva : Swiss Luxury Apartments
  • Montreaux : Eurotel Montreaux

Getting Around Switzerland

  • Unlimited Train Rides : Swiss Pass
  • Renting a Car : Cheap Rental Cars or Expedia Cars

Our favorite activities and tours in Switzerland

  • Paragliding
  • Lindt Chocolate Tour
  • Lake Lucerne Cruise

How do I get around Switzerland?

There are many ways to get around Switzerland , the two main ways are using public transportation and renting a car. I’ll highlight the best way to get to each destination below. This Switzerland itinerary can easily be used with either a car or by train.

If you choose to get a rental car in Switzerland, I always recommend using this site to compare rates and cars.

If you choose to use public transportation in Switzerland, I recommend getting the Swiss Travel Pass to maximize your time and save you money. The Swiss Travel Pass offers unlimited train rides on most lines, free or discounted gondola rides, and discounts to many attractions though Switzerland.

I find that it’s especially worth buying the Swiss Travel Pass if you are planning to visit Zermatt because the expensive Gornergratt train is quite expensive, and it’s half off with the pass. If you’re comfortable riding trains and buses, I think it’s the best way to travel in Switzerland.

Where do I purchase my Swiss Travel Pass?

You can purchase your Swiss Travel Pass here . Just select the correct number of days for your Switzerland itinerary and check out. The pass begins on your selected date and runs continuously. The Swiss Travel Pass comes in. 3, 4, 6, 8, and 15 day increments.

Swiss Half Fare Card

If you’re unsure of your dates or the amount of time your Switzerland itinerary will be, it might be a good idea to purchase a Swiss Half Fare Card instead. This pass is good for one month and will offer 50% off most trains. There seems to be less of a discount on shorter journeys. I prefer to purchase the more expensive Swiss Travel Pass just for ease of use while I am in the country. But the Swiss Half Fare Card may be a better option if you are only planning on taking several long and expensive rail journeys. You can purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card here .

Renting a Car in Switzerland

If you want a little more freedom during your trip, you may want to consider renting a car in Switzerland . You’ll have the ability to reach some more off-the-beaten-path places that trains can’t reach. Driving in Switzerland is easy, especially if you’re from the US because they drive on the right side of the road. 

Download the SBB App for Switzerland Transportation

SBB App – Public transportation in Switzerland is shockingly punctual, clean, fast, and efficient. The SBB app will tell you when and where to get your trains and buses to take you where you want to go. This is the most important app you’ll need in Switzerland if you’re only traveling by public transportation.

I hope this guide to Switzerland transportation will help you get around the country with ease. Be sure to check out the most beautiful places in Switzerland and our Switzerland Itinerary.

There are lots of pros and cons to renting a car in Switzerland and using public transportation. Here’s a good list

Here is a list of pros and cons for traveling Switzerland by train vs. by rental car:

Traveling by Train in Switzerland

  • More scenic views out the window
  • Can relax and enjoy the ride
  • No need to focus on driving/navigation
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Arrive directly in city centers
  • Less flexibility with schedule/stops
  • Can be more expensive
  • Limited luggage space
  • More flexibility with schedule and route
  • Can stop wherever you want
  • Usually cheaper than train
  • More privacy
  • Can carry more luggage
  • Less scenic views
  • Have to focus on driving
  • More planning required for navigation
  • Have to find and pay for parking
  • More environmental impact

I hope this helps you plan your trip to Switzerland!

The post How to Get Around Switzerland: A Guide to Swiss Transportation appeared first on Wanderlust Crew .

Wondering how to get around Switzerland? This guide will help you learn how to use the public transportation system and how to get around by car. How do I get around Switzerland? There are many ways to get around Switzerland, the two main ways are using public transportation and renting a car. I’ll highlight the [...]

IMAGES

  1. SWISS TRAIN PASS GUIDE: Which ticket is right for me?

    swiss travel pass or half fare

  2. Swiss Half Fare Card

    swiss travel pass or half fare

  3. Your Ultimate Guide to Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card

    swiss travel pass or half fare

  4. Swiss Travel Pass vs. the Half-Fare Card

    swiss travel pass or half fare

  5. How to Buy, Activate and Use the Swiss Travel Pass

    swiss travel pass or half fare

  6. Swiss Travel Pass vs. Half Fare Card (Which One is Best for You!)

    swiss travel pass or half fare

VIDEO

  1. How Expensive Is Switzerland #switzerlandtravel

COMMENTS

  1. Swiss Travel Pass VS. Half-Fare Card

    Swiss Travel Pass: Trains to Grindelwald or Wengen are free; enjoy 25% off the train from Grindelwald or Wengen to Jungfraujoch. Half-Fare Card: Enjoy 50% off the trains to Grindelwald or Wengen and up to Jungfraujoch. The extra 25% off with the Half-Fare Card as compared to the Swiss Travel Pass can amount to quite a bit, especially as the ...

  2. Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card (Which One is Best for You!)

    Below is a breakdown of the costs - full fare, Swiss Travel Pass, & Half Fare Card for this itinerary. There are some assumptions & things to note: Prices reflect second class tickets throughout the trip; This would be using the 8 day Swiss Travel Pass, with the first day of use on day #2.

  3. Swiss Half Fare Card

    Please note: to receive the Swiss Family Card directly, add the child as a passenger under "Add passengers" when you buy your Swiss Half Fare Card online. Children under 6 years of age travel free of charge. The Swiss Half Fare Card is available as e-ticket. For online purchasing, purchase as a "guest". You do not need a login.

  4. Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card: Which one is best for you?

    779.90. (The Glacier Express cost includes a mandatory reservation of 49CHF) 🥇 Another one with the Swiss Half Fare Card taking the top spot, saving just over 10% compared to the Swiss Travel Pass Flex but saving 36.9% vs. individual tickets. The view from the gondola to Grindelwald-First.

  5. Swiss Half Fare Card 2024

    The Swiss Half Fare Card entitles you to a 50% discount on all journeys in Switzerland by train, bus and boat. The Swiss Half Fare Card is valid for one month, including for panoramic routes, gondolas and mountain railways. Offered by Official SBB shop: swissrailways.com.

  6. Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card

    The Swiss Half Fare Card gives you half price travel in Switzerland, so be careful comparing prices. Without the half fare card the following prices are double. Swiss Half Fare Card (one month) - 120 CHF. Zurich to Lucerne - 12.5 CHF. Lucerne to Interlaken Ost - 30 CHF. Interlaken Ost - Zermatt - 41.50. Zermatt - Zurich - 62.50 CHF.

  7. The Half Fare Travelcard on the SwissPass

    The easy way to order: simply load the Half Fare Travelcard onto your SwissPass. Attractive additional services: benefit from a number of discounts on leisure activities as well as car or bike rental, for example. Travel abroad: the Half Fare Travelcard is also valid for international travel. As a rule, the discounts apply to the Swiss portion ...

  8. How to choose a Swiss rail pass: explained in simple steps

    Swiss Travel Pass: 35%: Swiss Half Fare Card: 11%: A regional pass: 3%: Swiss Travel Pass Flex: 1%: Eurail or Interrail Pass: ... In order to do so, visit the relevant pass page (e.g. the Swiss Travel Pass page), download the network map, and check where the pass is valid. You can also browse the lists of covered activities on each rail pass page.

  9. Swiss Travel Pass

    The Swiss Travel Pass / Swiss Half Fare Card / and the Family Card cannot be loaded onto a SwissPass card. You will not receive a customer number or an additional card. Fare/Buy. Offers for adults aged 25 or over. Swiss Travel Pass. Choose 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days of travel.

  10. Is the Swiss Half Fare Card worth it? An honest review

    Swiss Travel Pass covers the whole ticket cost for panorama trains, if you're taking the Glacier Express this is a 159CHF saving (or 272CHF in 1st class) vs. still paying half that cost with the Half Fare Card; Swiss Travel Pass includes two popular mountain railways for free, Rigi and Stanserhorn, whereas the Half Fare Card requires you to ...

  11. Your Ultimate Guide to Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card

    (Important note: 1st-class Swiss travel pass & Half fare card only includes these routes, for other routes under Gotthard Panorama Express, please buy the tickets separately) Step 2: Input your personal details; be sure to choose "Only reservation" or "Half fare" under the Reduction tab to enjoy the discounts.

  12. The Ultimate Guide to the Swiss Half Fare Card [2024]

    The Swiss Half Fare Card from SBB costs exactly the same whether you plan to travel in first or second class. The price for the Swiss Half Fare Card in 2024 is CHF 120 and you can buy the Swiss Half Fare Card here. As a general guide, at the time of writing this converts to around USD 130, EUR 120, GBP 105 or AUD 185.

  13. Switzerland by train: Swiss Travel Pass or Half-Fare Card?

    Great article on Half Fare Pass Vs Swiss Travel Pass for travel in Switzerland. Thank you. I am planning a trip in Switzerland in May 2023 and note that there are other regional passes as well. This further complicates the fare modelling. For example, in Montreux, there is the Montreux Riviera Travel Card available free at your hotel.

  14. Swiss Travel Pass guide for 2024 with prices, inclusions, map

    If you need a pass for 30 days, the most convenient option is to buy two 15-day Swiss Travel Passes of CHF 459 each. The cost per travel day is CHF 30.60, which is good value. Likewise, if you need a pass for 23 days, you can buy a 15-day and an 8-day Swiss Travel Pass of CHF 459 and CHF 419 each.

  15. Swiss Half Fare Card

    The Swiss Half Fare Card entitles visitors to travel by train, bus and boat and most mountain railways at half price. It is the ideal companion for short trips and excursions throughout Switzerland. The Swiss Half Fare Card has a validity of one month and can be obtained at nearly every Swiss railway station as well as all points-of-sale worldwide.

  16. How to Maximise Your Swiss Travel Pass

    Swiss Travel Pass vs. Swiss Half Fare Card. A budget-friendly alternative is the Swiss Half Fare Card, selling for a flat price of ~S$170 — almost half the price of the cheapest Swiss Travel Pass. The Swiss Half Card gives you 50% off major transportation within a month. Notably, some perks from the Travel Pass are absent, like free museum ...

  17. Swiss Travel Pass 2024 review: Is it good value or not?

    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.

  18. Swiss Travel System: tickets for guests from abroad

    Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Travel Half Fare Card - tickets for travelling by train, bus, boat and mountain railway in Switzerland. ... With the Swiss Travel Pass you can travel flexibly and inexpensively in Switzerland by train, bus and boat as a tourist or business passenger.

  19. Switzerland Rail Passes and Train Tips from Rick Steves

    The Berner Oberland Pass costs 25 percent less for those with a Swiss Travel Pass or Half-Fare Card (but it makes little sense to double up on these passes). Kids under 16 can travel with adults on this pass with the purchase of a 30 CHF per-child card that works much like the Children's Co-travelcard described above. Note that the pass is sold ...

  20. Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare? Berner Oberland Pass?

    The 8 day BO pass is 380 chf, but if you have the Half Fare card, the pass is discounted to 250chf, which is a savings of 130 chf. The Half Fare card costs 120 chf. So you come out 10 chf ahead and have the Half Fare card to use for your trips outside the validity zone, which will save you additional money. If you do the 10 day pass, its 420 chf.

  21. Swiss Travel Pass vs Swiss Half Fare Card

    1. 4-day Swiss travel pass. 2. Half -fare card. 3. Any other pass. rockoyster. Participant. 8889 posts. 7 March 2018 at 5:35:11 #877945. Hello Itzswiss, A clearly mapped out itinerary is the basis for deciding which pass (if any) suits. Based on your itinerary you need to do the sums based on the cost of all your planned trips on trains, boats ...

  22. How to Get Around Switzerland: A Guide to Swiss Transportation

    The Swiss Travel Pass offers unlimited train rides on most lines, free or discounted gondola rides, and discounts to many attractions though Switzerland. ... it might be a good idea to purchase a ...

  23. Swiss Rail Passes

    Like the Swiss Travel Pass, you can use the Swiss Half Fare Card if you're a permanent resident outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. From CHF 120. Buy a Swiss Half Fare Card. Tell-Pass - Central Switzerland. If you're travelling around Central Switzerland, this is the right pass for you. The Tell-Pass is an all ...

  24. Travel tickets and subscriptions for Swiss residents

    The GA Travelcard is an annual or monthly rail subscription for the Swiss. It provides free train, bus and boat traveling. The Half Fare Travelcard is an annual subscription for people in Switzerland. It provides a 50% discount. As a tourist, you can get some of these products.

  25. Total

    Swiss Travel Pass. Continuous travel. Choose to travel continuously on either 3 days, 4 days, 6 days, 8 days or 15 days. ... For Swiss Travel Pass with consecutive days, or Swiss Half Fare Card: ticket will be attached to your booking confirmation email as a pdf. Please, print your pass or card prior to boarding your first train. ...