Which Swiss Travel Pass should I pick?
Switzerland has many different passes, so it's natural to wonder which pass would best suit your trip. Below you'll find information on all possibilities.
General information
- One hour on a regular Swiss train costs about CHF 30;
- Children up to 15 years of age travel for free;
- Passengers aged 16 to 25 receive a discount on their pass (already discounted on the price on the website);
- The Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card are valid on all trains in Switzerland, including trains to and from airports;
- Mountain trains and traintickets for tourist trips such as the Glacier Express are included in the pass. Switzerland's four best-known train routes do require a reservation fee:
- Other (regional) trains within Switzerland don't require a reservation;
- The rail pass is also a museum card that allows you to visit most museums in Switzerland for free;
- The Swiss Travel Pass gives discounts on some mountain trains and (train) excursions.
I want to travel through Switzerland for only one or two days
Depending on the length of your trip, you can choose either a ticket or a
Swiss Saver Day Pass.
Tickets
This is probably most advantageous if you are going to make a (short) one-way trip. You can look up your journey in the railplanner. If a ticket is cheaper than a Swiss Saver Day Pass, it will automatically appear. This is often a Supersaver ticket. This is the cheapest ticket offered by SBB. Please note that the ticket can't be cancelled or changed after purchase.
Swiss Saver Day Pass
If you're planning on making a return trip or several trips in one day, the
Swiss Saver Day Pass is probably the best option. This pass allows you to travel through Switzerland in one day without limitation. If this pass is the cheapest travel method for your trip, it'll also automatically appear in the trip planner if you've looked up the trip in the railplanner.
Two Swiss Saver Day Passes are usually still cheaper than a Swiss Travel Pass for three days, so two times a Swiss Saver Day Pass can also be a good option.
I want to travel throughout Switzerland for three or more days
Depending on the order of days you want to travel, you can choose either a
Consecutive or a
Flexible Swiss Travel Pass.
Consecutive Swiss Travel Pass
If you want to travel through Switzerland for a certain number of days in a row, the
Swiss Travel Pass Consecutive is the most economical option. With this, you thus travel for a number of days in a row.
For example: You're in Switzerland from July 1st to 5th. You've purchased a three-day consecutive pass. You travel on 1, 2 and 3 July. On 4 and 5 July the pass is already used up, so you stay in the same place for these days.
Swiss Travel Pass flexible
If you want to travel a certain number of random days within a month, the
Swiss Travel Pass Flex is the most advantageous option. This pass allows you to travel on random days within 30 days.
For example: You're in Switzerland from July 1 to July 5. You've purchased a three-day flexible pass. You decide to travel on 1, 3 and 5 July. The days don't follow each other and you have a rest day after each travel day.
Swiss Half Fare Card
In contrast to the Swiss Travel Pass, the
Swiss Half Fare card also gives a discount on almost all mountain railways in Switzerland. If you plan to travel on many mountain railways and/or you're only going to travel short distances, this can be a good option. With the Swiss Half Fare Card, you then purchase tickets within Switzerland at a 50% discount.
I want to travel for three or more days through just one part of Switzerland
Switzerland also has a number of regional passes. If you're traveling in a selected area of Switzerland, this is probably the most fitting option. The following passes are available for this purpose: