swiss travel pass 1 month

Navigate to myswitzerland.com

Destinations

Your swiss holiday time.

Holiday destinations

• Summer holiday destinations
• Winter sports & ski resorts
• Family destinations

Attractions

• Top attractions
• UNESCO World Heritage sites / biospheres
• Travel by train, bus or boat
• Top museums
• Swiss Parks
• Scenic nature

Experiences

Additional content about subnavigation experiences.

• Family excursions
• Food & Wine
• Group excursions
• Guided tours

Summer & Autumn

• Bicycle & Mountain bike
• Adventure & Sports Summer
• Zoo & animal experiences
• Ski and snowboard
• Cross-country skiing
• Snowshoe and winter hiking
• Tobogganing
• Winter excursions
• Christmas in Switzerland

Cities & culture

• Parks, Gardens and Squares
• Architecture

Experience Tour

• Car, motorcycle - Grand Tour
• Train, bus, boat – Grand Train Tour
• Mountain excursions

Accommodation

• Typically Swiss Hotels
• Wellness & Spa
• Family Hotels
• Bike Hotels
• Boutique Hotels
• Inspiring Meeting Hotels
• Swiss Historic Hotels
• Luxury hotels
• Winter sports hotels

Other types of accommodation

• On the farm
• Bed and Breakfast
• Mountains huts
• Group accommodation

Transport & Stay

• Travel to Switzerland
• Barrier-free travel
• Tickets public transport
• Service & support
• Money and shopping

About Switzerland

• General facts
• Custom and tradition
• History of Switzerland
• The Swiss Art and Culture Scene
• Health Travel
• Sustainability

Weather & Climate

• Climate in Switzerland
• Snow Report
• Water and pool temperatures
• City offers
• Touring offers
• Wellness offers
• Nature and outdoor offers
• Offers for families

Where are you from?

• België (Nederlands)
• Belgique (Français)
• Deutschland
• Netherlands
• Russia (Россия)
• Schweiz (Deutsch)
• Suisse (Français)
• Svizzera (Italiano)
• Switzerland (English)
• United Kingdom
• Canada (English)
• Canada (Français)
• China 中文简体
• China 中文繁体
• Gulf countries العربية
• Japan 日本
• Korea 한국어
• United Arab Emirates
• New Zealand
• International

Language, region and important links

• Slovenština

Service Navigation

• Help & Contact

Swiss Travel Pass

Exploring Switzerland has never been easier! For foreign guests, the all-in-one ticket Swiss Travel Pass is the key to Switzerland’s public transport network.

This single ticket enables visitors to explore Switzerland from end to end by train, bus and boat on 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days. With the Swiss Travel Pass Youth, young people up to their 25th birthday travelling through Switzerland benefit from a 30% discount off the regular Swiss Travel Pass ticket fare.

• Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat.  View area of validity
• Unlimited travel on premium panoramic trains (seat reservation fees and/or surcharges apply).
• Unlimited use of public transport in more than 90 towns and cities.
• Free admission to more than  500 museums .
• Mountain excursions included:  Rigi ,  Stanserhorn  and  Stoos
• Up to 50% discount on many other mountain excursions.
• Up to 30% discount on SBB RailAway offers. Available at all ticket counters within Switzerland.
• Children from their 6th up to their 16th birthday accompanied by at least one parent (holding a Swiss Travel System ticket) travel free of charge with the complimentary  Swiss Family Card .
• Children under 6 years of age who are accompanied by a holder of a valid Swiss Travel System ticket travel free of charge.
• The Swiss Travel Pass is available as e-ticket.

Information

• A seat reservation and/or supplement is required to travel on some trains/buses/boats such as Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Gotthard Panorama Express and Palm Express.
• Swiss Travel System tickets are available to persons with residence outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein
• 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)

General provisions and legal information

Price – adult.

Valid on consecutive travel days.

Validity: 01 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2024

Price – Youth

Valid on consecutive travel days, for young travellers up to their 25th birthday (30% discount). 

Swiss Family Card

With the Swiss Family Card , children from their 6th up to their 16th birthday travel free of charge.

On request, a Swiss Family Card is provided free of charge, entitling children from their 6th up to their 16th birthday to travel free if accompanied by at least one paying parent.

Bonus Benefits with the Swiss Travel Pass

Regional passes, sales outlet swiss travel system.

The Swiss Travel Pass (Flex, Youth) – Everything You Need

The Swiss Travel Pass is the perfect pass for those who want flexibility on their trip to Switzerland , but do not want to pay the full price on what is one of the most expensive transport systems in Europe.

You can choose if you want 3, 4, 8, or 15 days of travel within a given month. And, which class of travel you wish to use.

With the standard Swiss Travel Pass, you are expected to travel on consecutive days (in a row). If you don’t, you lose those days.

The Swiss Travel Pass Flex allows you to choose which when you want to travel. So, if your trip is not 100% planned or you want to have some flexibility, you can choose when to apply for the pass. You simply use the given day when you book your ticket to travel.

The Swiss Travel Pass (Standard and Flex) also comes with a massive list of other benefits including discounts on mountain trips, free entrance to museums and use of public transport in cities on the days you choose (see more below).

Details, Benefits & Conditions

Benefits of the swiss travel pass & flex.

• Unlimited travel free on the chosen days – train, bus and boat ** See Map Of Valid Travel Areas
• Unlimited travel on city public transport (over 90 cities & urban areas) ** See Map Of Valid Travel Areas
• Free travel on premium trains (such as: Glacier Express, Golden Pass, Bernina Express etc. * Seat reservation required, surcharge applies for that)
• 50% discount on many mountain cablecars and trains (some free, see next point)
• Free mountain excursions to: Pilatus, Rigi & Schynige Platte
• Free access to museums (500 museums)

Traveling With Children

Children can travel free when :

• Between the ages of 6 and 16 , who are accompanied by at least one parent (holding a valid Swiss Pass) with the complimentary Swiss Family Card (available upon request)
• Under the age of 6, who are accompanied by a parent with a valid Swiss ticket

Delivery Of Passes

The Swiss Travel Pass can either be ordered online and delivered per post or courier OR printed at home.

Paper passes that need to be delivered are subject to delivery fees.

Seat Reservations

• In general, seat reservations are not required on regional Swiss trains (although they can be purchased if you wish). Simply enter the train and take any available seat in the class you have purchased.
• Tip: Travel during peak periods (public holidays, school holidays) seat reservations on major lines may be necessary to avoid standing (ask when traveling)
• Reservations are required on special trains such as: Bernina Express, the Chocolate Train, the Glacier Express and the Gotthard Panorama Express. Also required for international trains.

* Seat reservations can be made within 90 days of travel (ie. not a year ahead)

Swiss Travel Pass Validity Map

The following is a map of the Swiss travel system in its entirety. You can use the Swiss Travel Pass on the majority of the lines (boat, train, bus).

Click Here To Open Map (Downloadable PDF)

Swiss Travel Pass Prices

The following are the prices for a Swiss Travel Pass for the number of consecutive days you wish to travel in a month, and the class of travel (1st or 2nd) you wish to take. You have the option of traveling for 3, 4, 8, or 15 days in total.

Remember, buying this standard pass means you should be traveling every day. Otherwise, the Swiss Travel Pass Flex below is a better option.

Swiss Travel Pass Adult

Swiss travel pass youth, (under 26 years old), swiss travel pass flex prices.

The following are the prices for a Swiss Travel Pass for the number of days you wish to travel within a given month, and the class of travel (1st or 2nd) you wish to take. Remember, buying this standard pass means you can choose to travel on whichever day you want. That means it will cost a little bit more, but the flexibility is often worth it, especially if you are staying multiple days in one location and not moving around much.

Swiss Travel Pass Flex Adult

Swiss travel pass flex youth.

* Fares for the Swiss Travel Pass are estimated only due to currency fluctuations. Check current prices when purchasing.

Swiss Half Fare Card

Another option is the Swiss Half Fare Card, which is something locals use to get tickets for half price. The challenge for short-term visitors like yourself is that the cost is rarely worth it.

As of the time of writing (early 2022) the Half Fare Card cost 120 CHF (around 120 USD) for one month. 

It provides you with 50% off all train, bus and boat tickets as well as various discounts on most mountain gondolas.

About the Author Roger Timbrook

Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!

• Overview Guide
• 1 Week Itinerary
• Train Journeys
• Epic Drives
• Stunning Lakes
• Historic Castles
• Lauterbrunnen
• Grindelwald
• Chocolate Tours
• Swiss National Park
• Majestic Mountains
• Spectacular Waterfalls
• Famous Things
• Tasty Fondue
• 10 Day Itinerary
• Cherry Blossoms
• Tokyo Shrines
• Dos and Don’ts
• Osaka Guide
• Osaka Itinerary
• Osaka or Kyoto
• Kyoto Day Trips
• Matsumoto Castle
• Tokyo Luxury Hotels
• Island Hopping
• Best Campsites
• Driving Tips
• Beaune, France
• Barcelona Itinerary
• Spain Itinerary
• Greece Itinerary
• Italy Road Trips
• Berlin Day Trips
• Norway Northern Lights
• Netherlands National Parks
• Mostar, Bosnia
• Best Airlines
• Midwest Ski Resorts
• Florida RV Parks
• Washington RV Parks
• Oregon RV Parks
• Utah Camping
• Texas Camping
• Chicago National Parks
• East Coast National Parks
• Colorado National Parks
• Joshua Tree
• Yellowstone
• Alberta Hikes
• Flashlights
• Water Filters
• Sleeping Pads
• Solar Lanterns
• Tent Brands
• 4-Person Tents
• 4 Seasons Tents
• Backpacking Tents
• Beach Tents
• Cabin Tents
• Multi-room Tents
• Pop-up Tents
• Truck Bed Tents
• Underwear (Men)
• Backpacks Under $100
• Microspikes
• Boonie Hats
• In The World
• New Zealand
• Hardisde Luggage
• Lightweight Luggage
• Luggage Sets
• Spinner Luggage
• Durable Suitcases
• Duffel Bags
• Kids Luggage
• Teen Luggage
• Space Saving Luggage
• Business Carry-Ons
• Garment Carry-Ons
• Suitcases Under $50
• Travel Briefcase
• Zipperless Suitcases
• Rolling Briefcase
• Luggage Straps
• Luxury Brands
• American Tourister
• AmazonBasics
• Delsey Chatelet
• Anti-Theft Backpacks
• Backpacks Under $50
• Baby Carrier Backpacks
• Cooler Backpacks
• Backpacking Backpacks
• Climbing Backpacks
• Backpacks for Back Pain
• Beach Backpacks
• Hiking Backpacks
• Business Travel Backpacks
• Laptop Backpacks
• Backpacks for Tablets
• Commuter Backpacks
• Travel Backpacks (Men)
• Travel Backpacks (Women)
• Waterproof Backpacks
• Wheeled Backpacks
• Down Jackets
• Down Parkas
• Fleece Jackets
• Hardshell Jackets
• Rain Jackets
• Softshell Jackets
• Eco Friendly Jackets
• Gore Tex Alternatives
• Heated Jackets
• Lightweight Jackets
• 3-in-1 Waterproof Jackets
• Parajumper Jackets
• Rain Poncho
• Ski Jackets
• Travel Hoodies
• Travel Jackets
• Winter Coats
• Helly Hansen
• Mammut Jackets
• Patagonia Nanopuff
• Survival Jackets
• Flower Captions
• Waterfall Captions
• Tree Captions
• Sunset Captions
• Sunflower Captions
• Rainbow Captions
• Paddle Boarding Captions
• Hot Air Balloon Captions
• Kayaking Captions
• Airplane Captions For Instagram
• Forest Captions

Swiss Travel Pass FAQs: Helpful Answers for 2024

The Swiss Travel Pass is designed for backpackers, city hoppers, families, and railway lovers. It offers a cost-effective way to travel across Switzerland by public transportation.

You’re probably wondering: How much does it cost? And are there any discounts? We often get these and many other questions about the Swiss Travel Pass.

Deciding whether the Swiss Travel Pass is right for you can be overwhelming. Our comprehensive overview of benefits could be a good starter. But first-timers will end up with many unanswered questions, still.

So, we decided to answer them once and for all. We've got you covered, from where to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass to its activation and available discounts to the refund policy. Whether you're a curious first-time visitor to Switzerland or want to plan a Swiss itinerary for your friends from abroad, keep reading for answers to the most common Swiss Travel Pass FAQs.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Swiss Travel Pass

Purchase and refunds.

The Swiss Travel Pass is valid for consecutive periods of 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days and must be activated within six months of the purchase date.

The Swiss Travel Pass can be purchased on the official SBB website, at SBB ticket offices and authorized resellers, or worldwide through online travel agencies such as RailEurope .

The Swiss Travel Pass is available for anyone with a permanent residence outside of Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. This includes any foreign nationals and Swiss people with a permanent address abroad. It’s important that Swiss who live abroad can produce the following forms of identification while traveling on a Swiss Travel Pass: a Swiss passport, plus a residence permit, driving license, or residence certificate from abroad.

Yes, the Swiss Travel Pass offers discounts for children and teenagers up to 16 years. Youth from 16 up until their 25th birthday enjoy a 30% discount with the Swiss Travel Pass Youth. However, there are no discounted rates for senior citizens. Children up to 6 years travel for free on all Swiss public transport. From the age of 6 to 16, they travel for free with a parent who is a holder of a Swiss Travel Pass and a Swiss Family Card. The latter is a free add-on that can be requested at a train station or during the online purchase of a Swiss Travel Pass. On the SBB website, simply add the child as a passenger under “‘Add passengers” in order to receive the Swiss Family Card automatically.

The Swiss Travel Pass price does not vary between online outlets and ticket booths in Switzerland. But time is money, and purchasing it in advance may save you precious time during your trip. Simply skip the lines at the ticket office and hop onboard public transportation! You can buy the Swiss Travel Pass a maximum of 60 days before the day you want it for, right up to the day before travel.

You can secure your Swiss Travel Pass up to 11 months ahead , ensuring availability during peak seasons and potentially benefiting from early booking discounts. Early purchase also lets you focus on other trip planning aspects.

Yes, you can get a refund if the Swiss Travel Pass is returned to the vendor before you start using it. If you have already started your journey, you may get a partial refund if you provide proof of illness or injury, if you had to stop your trip unexpectedly, or if you have a confirmation from a railway office.

If you lose your Swiss Travel Pass, contact the Swiss Federal Railways as soon as possible by submitting a loss report . They can cancel the pass to prevent unauthorized use and issue a new one at a fee. However, If you lose your pass or it gets stolen, you cannot get a refund.

Unfortunately, travel passes can only be refunded if they are returned to the issuing office prior to the first day of validity. Generally speaking, you cannot change dates of an active pass.

The Swiss Travel Pass is available as a PDF attachment that can be downloaded to a mobile device. We recommended keeping a printed copy as a backup, just in case you run out of battery on your smartphone. Both paper and digital versions are accepted, but it is important to carry a photo ID each time you travel.

Buy a Swiss Travel Pass at GetYourGuide

Purchase the Swiss Travel Pass online at the most reputable vendor starting at CHF 244. You will receive an immediate email confirmation with a PDF ticket.

What the physical Swiss Travel Pass contains:

How much does the Swiss Travel Pass cost in 2024?

As of January 1, 2024, the prices for the Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Travel Pass Flex will increase an average of 5.9 percent compared to 2023. The prices for both passes will continue to be offered for 3, 4, 6, 8, and 15 days.

Swiss Travel Pass Price 2024: Fares, Discounts, Price Changes

What's the difference between the consecutive swiss travel pass and the swiss travel pass flex.

There are two types of Swiss Travel Passes: the consecutive Swiss Travel Pass. and the Swiss Travel Pass Flex. Both passes offer unlimited travel on the Swiss Travel System network, but there are some key differences between the two.

The consecutive Swiss Travel Pass is valid for a specified number of consecutive days , such as 3, 4, 8, or 15 days. You can use the pass for continuous travel within the specified days.

On the other hand, the Swiss Travel Pass Flex allows you to choose a certain number of non-consecutive days within one month.

For example, if you have a 15-day Flex pass, you can travel for 15 days within one month, but these days do not have to be consecutive. The Flex Pass is ideal for travelers who wish to have more flexibility in their itinerary and have the freedom to choose when and where to travel.

When choosing between the two passes, consider your travel itinerary, stay duration, and budget. If you plan to travel extensively around Switzerland and visit many museums, then the Swiss Travel Pass is a good option. However, the Swiss Travel Pass Flex is a better choice if you want more flexibility in your itinerary and have the freedom to choose when and where to travel.

Activation and logistics

The Swiss Travel Pass for consecutive days does not need to be activated. When you purchase your pass from an online travel agent, they send an email directly to your account. You will receive a PDF file containing a QR code the train staff can check and scan. You may also receive a link in the email that will allow you to add the code to any wallet app on your smartphone. Alternatively, you may print out the PDF on a sheet of paper. The pass is ready to be used if it contains information such as your start date, passenger name, and birth date. If you have purchased a consecutive ticket, you must fill in your start date during the check-out. Your pass will automatically be activated on that particular date and run for the preset number of days. Once in Switzerland, present the pass and your passport or ID to the conductor on board.

The Swiss Travel Pass Flex must be activated in Switzerland before each day of travel. There is a dedicated website where you have to enter your ticket reference number and name to validate the travel days.

A travel day on the Swiss Travel Pass Flex is based on the calendar day, allowing for travel within the validity period of the pass. However, remember that travel days are not calculated on a 24-hour basis, and the final day of validity ends at 5 AM on the following day.

The Swiss Travel Pass is unavailable for purchase by Swiss residents, as it is primarily marketed toward tourists visiting Switzerland. It is only available to those with a permanent residency outside of Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Swiss residents have other options, such as the Half Fare Card, the GA, or other regional passes that may suit their travel needs.

Benefits and perks

No, the Swiss Travel Pass does not guarantee a seat on a train. With a valid pass, you can board any train that has seats available, including trains such as the Glacier Express that explicitly require a seat reservation. Contact the conductor to make a seat reservation on the spot.

The Swiss Travel Pass covers most of the public transportation services in Switzerland. Some private transportation services may require an extra fee or reservation. Have a look at the area of validity map to see exactly which lines are included.

The Swiss Travel Pass offers free entry to over 500 museums and other attractions. Some special exhibitions and events may require an additional fee, even with the pass. Download a list of participating museums or read our suggestions for free Swiss Travel Pass museums to visit.

You bet. The Swiss Travel Pass is available in both the first and second classes. Make your choice during the check-out when you purchase the pass, but remember that you can pay the differential to first class if you ever decide to upgrade on the spot.

The Swiss Travel Pass allows unlimited travel on all trains, buses, and boats operated by the Swiss Federal Railways and other participating companies, including the famous Glacier Express and GoldenPass Express lines.

Yes, city transportation is a key benefit of the Swiss Travel Pass. It is valid for transportation to and from the airports in Zurich, Geneva, and Basel, as well as other airports in Switzerland.

Is the Swiss Travel Pass the same as the Swiss Pass?

Good question! No, the two passes are not the same. Consider the Swiss Travel Pass a golden ticket for tourists, granting them access to various transportation options. Swiss Pass is the former name.

Today, the SwissPass is a chip card and digital account intended for Swiss residents. It lets them load annual public transport passes and other products onto an electronic card.

As a tourist, it's important to remember that the Swiss Travel Pass and SwissPass are two distinct products, each catering to different needs. Adding your Swiss Travel Pass to a SwissPass online account would be like trying to use a library card to buy groceries - it simply doesn't make sense.

Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as it will depend on your individual needs and preferences. The Swiss Travel Pass offers many benefits that can greatly enhance your travel experiences in Switzerland.

Key benefits include saving money on transportation, free access to museums, and the convenience of not purchasing individual tickets.

Read our dedicated post to find out: Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?

Get our ultimate free guide! Swiss Travel Pass: How to make it work in 2024

The free guide includes a round-trip itinerary starting in Zurich for budget travelers. It “hacks” a three-day Swiss Travel Pass to make it last for a five-day stay…

Got any more questions?

We hope to have answered your pressing Swiss Travel Pass FAQs. If you have any additional inquiries, please leave a comment or send an email. We will research the answer and reply as soon as possible.

Definitive Swiss Travel Pass Solo Traveler’s Guide (2024)

Benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass in 2024

Swiss Travel Pass Overview and Insights for 2024

Dimitri Burkhard

As the founder, editor, and community manager of Newly Swissed, Dimitri owns the strategic vision. He is passionate about storytelling and is a member of Swiss Travel Communicators. Dimitri loves discovering new trends and covers architecture, design, start-ups and tourism.

Cancel reply

We are traveling to Switzerland in July and our must do is the Glacier Express from Brig to Chur. If I purchase the Swiss travel pass that will get us on the train but then we need to purchase and actual seat, is that correct?

You may also like

Telling time in Switzerland: how not to miss those trains

"What's the time in Switzerland?" This seemingly simple question gets a bit more complex in the country of watchmaking.

Would you “write” a bike?

While it sounds like something Dr. Seuss would say, Write a Bike is actually an artistic concept by Swiss designer Juri Zaech. Let’s hope that Juri finds a way to actually produce these concept bikes, because I would...

Swissminiatur in Melide – How to See Switzerland in an Hour

Swissminiatur brings back memories from my childhood. My sister and I would bug our parents constantly to take us to miniature Switzerland in Ticino...

Newly Swissed GmbH Langrütistrasse 1A, 8635 Dürnten Switzerland +41 78 949 03 53

Copyright © 2024 - Newly Swissed GmbH. All rights reserved.

• Everyday Life
• Food & Wine
• Travel & Tourism
• Book Reading
• Concert/Dance/Musical
• Food/Gourmet
• Stand-up/Theater/Movies
• Workshop/Seminar/Tour
• Add an Event
• What We Like
• Meet the Team
• Press Coverage
• Advertising
• Contact us or book us

Download our e-book: 77 Facts about Switzerland

The Matterhorn Gotthard Railway between Disentis and Andermatt.

The 'loetschberg' steamship is the flagship of the fleet on lake brienz in the bernese oberland., glacier express on the landwasser viaduct near filisur, can you issue print@home swiss travel system tickets.

The Swiss Travel Pass, the Swiss Travel Pass Flex and the Swiss Half-Fare Card can be issued as a print@home ticket / eTicket (you must print out the ticket).

Who is eligible to purchase a Swiss Travel System Pass nor Ticket?

Swiss Travel System passes and tickets are available to anyone who is resident outside Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Are the tickets refundable?

In the case of loss or theft, it is not possible to refund tickets.

Please contact us directly if you are unable to travel due nto sickness or accident or if you would like to exchange your paper Swiss Travel System pass or ticket. An exchange is only possible before the date of departure and within working hours. Please note our opening hours if trying to contact us (Monday to Friday from 08:00-17:00 and Saturdays from 10:00-16:00).

Important: Print at Home Tickets are non-exchangeable, non-refundable.

Swiss Travel Pass

What is the swiss travel pass youth.

The Swiss Travel Pass Youth is valid for those aged 16-24 years on the first day of travel and offers a 15% reduction on nthe normal adult price. The Swiss Travel Pass Youth entitles you to all of the same benefits as the Swiss Travel Pass.

Which Museums are included in the Swiss Travel Pass?

The Swiss Travel Pass offers free entry to more than 500 Museums , including the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Château de Chillon and the Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum.

How long is a Swiss Travel Pass valid for?

The Swiss Travel Pass is valid for 3, 4, 8 or 15 consecutive days in 1st or 2nd class.

Where is the Swiss Travel Pass valid?

The Swiss Travel Pass is valid on the whole boat, rail and Postbus network in Switzerland, as shown here .

Which mountain excursions are included?

Trips up to Stoos, Brunni, Klewenalp, Stanserhorn and Rigi are included in the Pass. A 50% reduction is offered on most other mountain and cableways (Gornergrat, Titlis, etc).

Is the Swiss Travel Pass valid on Swiss Panoramic Railways?

Your ticket price is included in the Swiss Travel Pass but seat reservations are compulsory and a supplement must be paid non most routes. It is possible to pay for a class upgrade if you have a 2nd class Pass but would like to travel in 1st class non one of these services.

Are there any further inclusions?

The Swiss Travel Pass also offers free entry to more than 500 museums throughout Switzerland.

What is the Swiss Travel Pass Flex?

The Swiss Travel Pass Flex is valid for 3, 4, 8 or 15 days of your choosing in 1st or 2nd class within one month. On listed travel days, pass holders are entitled to all of the same additional benefits as the Swiss Travel Pass. Please note however, that on the days between specified travel days, additional benefits, such as 50% discounts and museum entries, are not valid.

Swiss Family Card

What is a swiss family card.

A Swiss Family Card allows children aged 6-15 years to travel free of charge when accompanied by a parent.

How can I get a Swiss Family Card?

A Swiss Family Card can be issued free of charge when at least one parent is travelling using a Swiss Travel System Pass.

What about children under 6?

Children aged 0-5 years travel free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult.

Swiss Half Fare Card

What is the difference between the swiss half fare card and the swiss travel pass.

The Swiss Half Fare Card entitles you to 50% discount on the whole boat, rail and Postbus network in Switzerland. An additional ticket is needed if you wish to use public transport with the cities. Please ensure that you show your Swiss Half Fare Card together with any additional tickets if you are subject to an inspection at any time.

Will I get a discount on mountain railways or museum entrances?

Most mountain railways honour the 50% discount offered by your Swiss Half Fare Card. There is no reduction on museum entrances.

How long is the Swiss Half Fare Card valid for?

The Swiss Half Fare Card is valid for one month. It is not possible to extend this period. Please be aware that the reduction offered can sometimes be less than 50% due to reserved minimum pricing (eg. short journeys, city transport networks).

When you want to travel by train in Switzerland, your best option is the Swiss Travel Pass . This travel pass covers all forms of travel (Swiss trains, buses, trams and boats) in Switzerland for a variety of different timeframes.

So, if you want some flexibility in your travels through Switzerland then the Swiss Travel Pass is the perfect travel pass for you.

You can choose from a range of travel times from 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days. And on those days you can travel for “free” using any form of transport except for most mountain gondolas and cable cars.

Now, if you think that is the perfect way to travel around Switzerland for you, then read on for more details.

Table of Contents

Pros And Cons Of A Swiss Travel Pass

A Swiss Travel Pass has a lot of benefits but also some cons. So, before making a decision about this travel pass you should check out the pros and cons below.

Swiss Travel Pass Pros

There are so many benefits to the Swiss Travel Pass it is hard to list them all. Here are the main ones:

• unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat
• unlimited travel on most panoramic trains (eg. Glacier Express , GoldenPass )
• unlimited use of public transportation in over 90 cities & towns and cities
• 500 museums you can enter for free (and a few discounted)
• free travel on these mountains: Mount Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos
• 50% off travel on many popular mountains
• children under 6 travel free
• children between 6 and 16 travel free if they get a Swiss Family Card

Swiss Travel Pass Cons

There are also some downsides you should be aware of. Although most are not a big deal, it pays to be informed about travel in Switzerland before you go. Here are some cons I think you should know:

• Many mountain trains and cable cars are not included, and they are expensive
• It only makes sense to use the Swiss Travel Pass on big trips (otherwise buy the ticket separately)
• The exact number of days you need might be complicated to work out (you might over- or underpay)
• The Swiss Travel Pass is expensive (but if you use it correctly it will save you lots of money)
• You will need to pay for smaller trips when you are not using the Swiss Travel Pass (if you choose Flex)

Swiss Travel Pass Prices

Of course, you want to know the the Swiss Travel Pass costs. Here is a breakdown of the pass by number of days and classes.

Swiss Travel Pass

The standard Swiss Travel pass is valid on consecutive days of travel. This means your pass is valid for this many days from when you use it. You cannot pause it.

Swiss Travel Pass Flex

The Swiss Travel Pass Flex is a more flexible option, but also a little more expensive. You can use it for specific days of travel within a one-month period, from the start date you specify. So, if you only plan to travel large stretches on specific days of your trip then this is the option for you.

Swiss Travel Pass Youth

The Swiss Travel Pass Youth is for under 25-year-olds. You get the same Swiss Travel Pass with the same benefits only at a 30% discount.

Here are the prices for the Swiss Travel Pass Youth:

Panoramic Trains Included in the Swiss Travel Pass

As the Swiss Travel Pass includes almost all public transport in Switzerland, you might be wondering what panoramic train rides are included too. There are certainly quite a lot, so it is hard to list them all, but here are the main panoramic trains you can ride while using your Swiss Travel Pass :

• Glacier Express
• Golden Pass Line
• Bernina Express
• Gotthard Panorama Express
• Rigi Cogwheel Train

Related Reading

9 incredible benefits of the swiss travel pass, free museums with the swiss travel pass.

I have created a post listing many of the best free museums you get access to with the Swiss Travel Pass, as there are around 500 of them. This means that many of the things you want to visit and would otherwise spend money on while traveling in Switzerland are also free with the Swiss pass . Just to give you an idea of what is included here are a few:

• Landesmuseum in Zürich
• FIFA Museum 
• Olympic Museum in Lausanne
• Matterhorn Museum in Zermatt
• Château de Chillon (Castle) in Montreux
• Maison Cailler in Broc (Chocolate tour)
• Museum Tinguely in Basel
• The Castles in Bellinzona

Swiss Travel Pass Cancellation Policy

No matter where you buy your Swiss Travel Pass , it is possible to cancel your Swiss Travel Pass before the first day of usage.

If you have already started using your Swiss Travel Pass, you may be eligible for a partial refund:

• in the case of accident or illness (with supporting documents)
• If you return it to the place of purchase
• if you return it to an SBB railway office

There are no guarantees of refunds, however, if you have not used it for the full time you paid for, just go to your local SBB railway office wherever you are in Switzerland and see what they can do for you. In my experience over 20 years, they are usually very helpful and will do whatever is possible within the rules.

Swiss Travel Pass versus SwissPass

The SwissPass is a digital public transport card used by locals in Switzerland while the Swiss Travel Pass is a pass meant for tourists and travelers. The SwissPass is the basis for purchasing tickets on public transport while the Swiss Travel Pass offers free travel on all public transport and discounts on most mountain transport.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to activate the swiss travel pass.

There is no specific activation of the Swiss Travel Pass. It is valid from the date you choose when you purchase the pass. However, for Swiss Travel Pass Flex users you do have to activate the individual dates on the app or website using a login you have to organize on the site.

Can you buy the Swiss Travel Pass in Switzerland?

Yes, you can buy the Swiss Travel Pass inside Switzerland. You can make the purchase at any Swiss railway station office. The only limitation is that you cannot be a Swiss resident.

In practical terms, this means that when you arrive in Switzerland at, say, the Zurich Airport, you can go straight to the SBB railway ticket counter and get the Swiss Pass there. The only disadvantage is the waiting time in line.

What is not included in the Swiss Travel Pass?

The Swiss Travel Pass does not include travel on the majority of mountain railways and cable cars. There are a couple included like Rigi and Stanserhorn, however, for the rest you get a discount of 25-50%.

Is it cheaper to buy a Swiss Travel Pass in advance?

This Swiss Travel Pass is the same price if you buy it ahead of time or when you arrive in Switzerland. However, there are sometimes discounts on the Swiss Travel Pass website many months in advance. This is not predictable or on every pass type though.

Can you get a refund on the Swiss Travel Pass?

Normally, you can only get a full refund on the Swiss Travel Pass when you cancel one day before or earlier . You must do so at the same place as you purchased the ticket. If you are already using the Swiss Travel Pass, the only way to get a refund is if you provide proof of illness or accident to a Swiss Railway ticket office in person.

More On The Swiss Travel Pass

General information, scenic trains, mountain trips, pass comparisons.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Our Free Swiss Tips Guide

Popular destinations, important pages, on social media, travel planning, certified swiss travel expert.

How to Buy, Activate and Use the Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass is an all-in-one transport pass that makes it easier and more affordable to travel around Switzerland, where the public transport system is renowned for its efficiency. 

Also sometimes referred to as the Swisspass, Swiss Train Pass or Swiss Pass, the pass is valid for various durations.

It even gives holders access to discounted travel on many mountain railways and cable cars as well as trains, buses and boats. 

Now you have decided to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass, where do you buy it? When and how can you activate it? And how do you actually use the Swiss Travel Pass? 

In this guide we cover everything you need to know before setting off on your travels around the incredible country of Switzerland. 

From how to buy the Swiss Travel Pass and whether or not your type of pass needs activating to how to use your pass on the go, this article covers it all. 

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

What's in this Article

Where to buy the Swiss Travel Pass

Let’s get started by taking a look at where you should buy your pass. 

First, you need to decide whether to purchase a regular Swiss Travel Pass (for travel on consecutive days) or a Swiss Travel Pass Flex. The differences are explained in > this article.

Then it’s super simple to purchase a Swiss Travel Pass. I recommend you buy the pass via GetYour Guide , an authorised reseller of Swiss Travel System.

What’s great about using GetYourGuide is that they offer full refunds on many products, including the Swiss Travel Pass, if you cancel up to 24 hours before use. 

Consecutive Day Swiss Travel Pass Prices

Swiss Travel Pass Flex Prices

How to buy your Swiss Travel Pass step-by-step

The GetYourGuide site is also really user-friendly. After clicking the link to purchase your pass ( this link for the consecutive day pass and this link for the Flex pass ), the first step is to choose how many adults, youths (aged 16 to 25) and children (aged 6 to 15) are travelling. 

This can be done directly beneath ‘About this activity’. Kids aged 5 or under don’t need a ticket or a pass, as they travel for free.

Next, select the start date you want: you can skip through months here by clicking the arrow on the top right.

Then, when you have selected the date you will first use your pass, click on ‘Check availability’. 

Now you can choose the pass you’d like to buy.

Add the pass you want to your cart. 

📍 I recommend double checking at this point that you have selected the right class of travel and duration. 

Then click ‘Checkout’. 

Next it’s just a case of adding your billing details as with any online purchase. 

You’ll also be asked to complete the full names and dates of birth for each traveller. Make sure these match your passports exactly to prevent any problems later on. 

How you’ll get your Swiss Travel Pass

Once you have made your purchase, when and how is your pass delivered? 

The Swiss Travel Pass (for travel on consecutive days) will be emailed to the address you provided in the booking process, and will come in the form of a PDF attachment which can be downloaded to your mobile device.

I highly recommend printing a paper copy of this as a back-up, though you can simply present the mobile version when using transport in Switzerland. 

While both paper and digital versions of the pass are accepted, your phone could suddenly run out of battery and then you’d have no way of proving you have a pass! 

You should also carry your passport or another form of photo ID each time you travel. 

> Click here to buy your Swiss Travel Pass

How you’ll get your Swiss Travel Pass Flex

If you purchase a Swiss Travel Pass Flex, you will receive a purchase receipt and a voucher by email.

The voucher is NOT valid for travel.

Each day you wish you travel you should activate your pass (see the instructions below). By doing this, you will receive a valid ticket for travel on that date.

> Click here to buy your Swiss Travel Pass Flex.

When and how to activate the Swiss Travel Pass

There is often confusion about whether or not a Swiss Travel Pass has to be activated. The answer varies according to the type of pass you’ve bought so follow the instructions below to learn how to activate your Swiss Travel Pass.

Activating your Swiss Travel Pass (consecutive days)

The regular, consecutive days Swiss Travel Pass does not need to be activated. All you need to do is show it to the ticket inspector when requested.

Activating your Swiss Travel Pass Flex

The Swiss Travel Pass Flex, however, must be activated in advance and before each day that you use the pass. You can do this via Activate Your Pass here .

Your pass should be activated before your first trip, and you’ll need to enter your reference number as well as your full name and date of birth. 

For every travel date you activate, a valid ticket will be generated. This e-ticket can then be seen at activateyourpass.com . You can show this e-ticket to the ticket inspector on your phone or tablet, or use a printed copy. 

What if your plans change along the way? 

If you have already activated a travel date that you want to change, the Swiss Travel Pass allows you to change these as much as you want to until the start of each validity period.

The validity period commences at 23:59. Once the clock hits midnight, you can no longer change or deactivate this particular ticket. 

For example, if you have activated your Swiss Travel Pass Flex to be used on 17 July and you no longer wish to use your pass that day, you can change the date of travel until 23:59 on 16 July.

How to use the Swiss Travel Pass

So now let’s cover how to use the Swiss Travel Pass Flex or consecutive-days pass. 

When travelling with a Swiss Travel Pass – either consecutive days or Flex, you simply board the train and sit wherever you wish in the correct carriage for your class of travel. 

The only exception to this is when travelling on the Bernina Express or Glacier Express, which we cover below.

When requested by the ticket inspector, simply present your Swiss Travel Pass.  You may also be asked to present some photo ID, such as your passport to verify that you are the pass holder.

Using the Swiss Travel Pass on panoramic trains

The Bernina Express and Glacier Express , two of Switzerland’s most famous premium panoramic trains, are the only Swiss trains on which reserving a seat is compulsory.

The actual ticket price of the journey on these trains is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass but seat reservation fees are compulsory and should be purchased online well in advance of your travel date.

Seat reservations for the Bernina Express can be purchased here and Glacier Express seat reservations can be purchased here .

On all other panoramic trains* – Luzern – Interlaken Express, GoldenPass Line and Gotthard Panorama Express – seat reservations are not required. Simply board the train and sit anywhere in the correct carriage for your class of your travel.

*Note that the Gotthard Panorama Express only offers 1st class train travel. If you hold a 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex you must pay a class upgrade for this journey.

Additionally there is a compulsory supplement of CHF 16 for each passenger that travels on the Gotthard Panorama Express. > Purchase class upgrades and the compulsory supplement here .

Using the Swiss Travel Pass on buses, boats and mountain transport

Don’t forget that Swiss Travel Pass holders can also use boats, buses and some mountain transport services. Even when this isn’t the case, you may qualify for a generous discount as a pass holder. 

When boarding boats and buses, simply show your Swiss Travel Pass when you enter.  For free (where applicable) or discounted travel on cable cars, funiculars and mountain railways, present your pass at the ticket counter.

Selected museums also allow pass holders to enter for free. Just show your Pass at the ticket counter.

Travelling beyond the Swiss border with a Swiss Travel Pass

When travelling to an area beyond that covered by the pass – such as into another country – you’ll need to buy a ticket for that sector. This will apply, for example, to journeys into France, Italy, Germany or Austria. 

International tickets are generally not available for purchase on the Swiss Railways website or app so we recommend buying them from the railway of the country concerned.

The Swiss Travel Pass covers travel as far as the major rail border points of Basel and Le Chatelard-Frontiere on the French border, Chiasso on the Italian border, Konstanz on the border with Germany and St. Margrethen on the Austrian border.

Some postal bus services within Liechtenstein and Austria are also covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.

You can view a map of the Area of Validity of the Swiss Travel Pass > here .

The SwissPass app 

Is there a Swiss Travel Pass app? No, there isn’t.  

Many travellers notice a reference to the SwissPass on the SBB Mobile app however this refers to a digital travel account for residents only. 

A SwissPass account is for Swiss citizens only, not tourists, and is a separate product that uses a chip and pin card.

The Swiss Travel Pass doesn’t have to be added to an app. All you need is to be able to show the ticket inspector a paper or digital copy, and photo ID if requested.

The excellent SBB Mobile app ( which we explain here ) can be used for checking timetables but it is not necessary (or possible) to connect your Swiss Travel Pass to the app.

Another app that is useful is the Swiss Travel Guide app which has an integrated map and timetable and points out more than 500 Swiss highlights.

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. 🇨🇭

Buying, activating and using the Swiss Travel Pass summary

The Swiss Travel Pass allows you to use the clean, fast and efficient public transport system in Switzerland. It can be used on trams, buses and boats as well as trains, and can save you a lot of time and money. Exclusive free entry to museums and generous discounts can also apply. 

Buying your pass is easy, and purchasing it through our preferred supplier means you won’t even lose money if your plans change, as long as you cancel 24 hours before the start date. 

Only the Swiss Travel Pass Flex requires activation, which is easy to do via this link . 

Once you have your chosen pass, I recommend taking a paper copy as well as the digital version as back-up. Also carry your passport or other photo ID in case it’s requested. 

Unless you want to travel on the popular scenic Swiss train routes, seat reservations are not normally required. 

Wherever your Swiss Travel Pass takes you, I’m sure you’ll fall in love with beautiful Switzerland and will want to return time and time again!

How to Buy, Activate and Use the Swiss Travel Pass – Summary

Now that you have read this guide, you can confidently buy, activate (if necessary) and use your Swiss Travel Pass.

This all-in-one transport pass is the perfect hop on hop off ticket for travelling in Switzerland.

🇨🇭 Ready to buy yours? > Click here to buy the Swiss Travel Pass and > Click here to buy the Swiss Travel Pass Flex .

If you’re still unsure whether the pass is the best value for your trip, we answer the question Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it? here .

Switzerland Travel Essentials

Swiss Travel Pass

Private Transfers

Rail Packages

Self-Drive Packages

Accommodation

Sightseeing.

Jungfrau Travel Pass

Berner Oberland Pass

Group Tours

Private Tours

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

Mountain Excursions in Switzerland Discounted with the Swiss Travel Pass

How to Get from Zurich to Grindelwald

We travelling to Switzerland.

© Holidays to Switzerland 2024. All Rights Reserved . About • Privacy Policy • Disclaimer/Disclosure • Contact

We use cookies that are necessary for running the website and for providing you services. Additional cookies are only used if you consent to it. They serve statistical purposes or for displaying individual offers and ads. For more information, read our data protection statement and cookie policy .

By clicking "Agree" you consent to our use of cookies.

Swiss Travel Pass

Starting From USD 261

Book Swiss Travel Pass

Type of pass continuous.

• Unlimited travel within the set selected days For example: If you choose Consecutive 8 Days Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel unlimited times on Swiss Public Transport for 8 days.
• Pass is valid from the selected start date For example: If select start date as 1 st Jan 2024, then your pass is valid till 8 th Jan 2024 midnight.

Type of Pass flexi

• Unlimited travel within 1 month from the selected start date For example: If you choose Flexi 8 Days Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel unlimited times for 8 days in one month
• Pass is valid from the selected start date For example: If you select start date as 1 st Jan 2024, then your pass is valid till 30 th Jan 2024 and you can unlimited travel any 8 days within these 30 days.

Type of First class

• The First Class pass means a passenger can access the first-class sections of public transport like Train and Boat.
• In a train, the first-class seating is more spacious and have a separate section
• In a boat, the first -class section is the upper deck of the boat

Type of Second class

• The Second Class pass means a passenger can access only the second-class sections of public transport.

Combo Offers

Combo Offer Conditions

• Last date of purchase: 30 th Apr 2024
• Offer applicable only on the 2 nd Class ticket of the Swiss Travel Pass
• Important Note: No two promotions / offers can be clubbed together.

About Swiss Travel Pass

Swiss travel pass is the ideal ticket to travel across switzerland..

You can enjoy unlimited access by public train, bus, and boat to visit more than 90 cities, reach peaks of many mountains, and sail through beautiful lakes in Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass. You also benefit from free entrance to 500+ museums, discounted city tours, and access to private and scenic trains with a pre-requisite seat reservation.

Swiss Travel Pass offers children up to the age of 16 travel free of charge, just select Swiss Family Card when you purchase your pass. There are two broad types of Swiss Travel Pass: Continuous and Flexi, with an option to choose from 3, 4, 6, 8, and 15 days. So, whether you are travelling alone or with family, Swiss Travel Pass is the most preferred option to experience Switzerland, while helping you save money in your journey.

The Swiss Travel Pass is a must-have for any traveller to Switzerland.

Apart from it being an ‘all-in-one’ pass which allows a traveller to access all modes of public transportation within the country, it also offers numerous other benefits on the mountain excursions.

You can use trains, buses and even lake ferries to reach any destination including popular cities like Montreux, Lausanne, Zermatt, Geneva, Bern, Basel, Zurich and Lucerne.

Just reach your station or bus terminal or pier and hop on to the next available train or bus or boat for your destination. Allow them to take you through the most picturesque sceneries of your dream destination.

The Switzerland Rail Pass is the perfect partner whether you are looking to travel from town to town, or up to the mountains or off into the sunset on a cruise, hop on and off trains, buses and ferries at any time according to your wish for the day or time.

You only have to remember that there are some scenic train and bus routes that require a mandatory reservation. It would be wise to check with the ticket office before you board any such transport as it may not include in your Swiss Travel Pass cost .

If you are not looking to travel to a new destination but only within the town you are staying at, you can still use the Swiss Pass to move around town on the local buses or trams.

This way you can cover each of the towns and their attractions seamlessly with your Swiss Pass and make the most of it.

It is jam packed with bonuses! Free public transportation, discounted city tours (check at the local tourism offices in each place or at the stations), free entrances to over 500 museums, free boat trips and more are included in your Swiss Pass price.

The Swiss Travel Pass benefits not just passengers who want to be constantly on the move.

If you are one of those travellers who wants to spend time in each place and move to other places only after a few days, you can opt for the Swiss Travel Pass Flex which will allow you to use your days as and when you need them within a period of one month.

So be it the adventurous, the avid or the leisure traveller, you will have the chance to make the most of your Switzerland Rail Pass. Switzerland tourism also benefits from such an inclusive pass that eases the overall cost of the travellers and helps in exploring the alpine country freely.

Don’t forget your Swiss Pass is the most family friendly pass ever! It allows your children under 16 years to travel absolutely FREE with the Swiss Travel Pass Family Card !

Types of Swiss Pass

Validity: Valid on 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days Both the above passes are available in 1st and 2nd class and also offer the youth pass option for travellers under 25 years of age.

There are 2 types of Swiss Travel Passes:

Continuous and Flexi Swiss Passes

• Continuous Swiss Travel Pass The pass allows the passengers to travel on consecutive days depending on the number of days the pass is purchased for.
• The Swiss Travel Pass Flex This pass offers the same services and benefits as the Swiss Travel Pass but gives greater flexibility since it allows you to utilize the chosen number of days within a one month period.

Major Benefits of Switzerland Rail Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass is packed with benefits, some of which are listed below

• Unlimited Free travel on all public buses, boats and trams and trains in over 90 cities
• Free travel on panoramic trains (reservations may be needed)
• Free admission to over 500 museums
• Free mountain excursions: Rigi, Stoos and Stanserhorn
• Up to 50% Swiss Travel Pass discount on other mountain excursions
• Children under 16 years of age accompanied by at least one parent holding a valid Swiss Travel Pass, travel FREE with the Swiss Family Card.
• Available in electronic version making it really simple
• The Swiss Travel Pass is worth it when compared to multiple single-journey tickets

How and Where to Buy Swiss Travel Pass

Make sure that your Swiss Travel Pass is purchased from a reliable supplier. You can buy Swiss Travel Pass online on swisstours.com and the same will be instantly sent to your email id.

How to choose your Swiss Rail Pass

Depending on your Switzerland itinerary , create your Swiss Travel Pass itinerary. If you are in Switzerland for a short duration, it would be best to have a pass covering your entire stay. This way you will be able to use the pass on a daily basis for intercity and local public Switzerland transport as well.

If you are staying for a relatively longer period and are sure you will not be travelling every day, then you may want to consider the Swiss Travel Pass Flex so that you can use it only for your intended days of travel.

Basic steps to identifying your ideal Swiss Pass would be

• List your travel days and requirements
• Find out the point to point sector fares for the same
• Compare it to the cost of the available Swiss Pass cost

What are Swiss Travel Pass Inclusion?

Your Swiss Travel Pass offers unlimited travel all the public boats, trains, trams and buses in 90 cities and towns in Switzerland.

It also includes free transport to some of the mountains and discounted travel on many others. The pass also allows free entrance to over 500 museums on your Switzerland trip.

Top free museums

The Switzerland Train pass allows free entrance to almost 500 museums.

Some of the more popular ones are the Open-air museum in Ballenberg, The Tinguely Museum in Basel, the Richard Wagner Museum in Lucerne and the Einstein Museum in Bern.

Free and Discounted attractions

The Swiss Travel Pass allows free travel to some really popular mountains.

Travel to them for some amazing views over towns, lakes and nearby regions.

Just show your Switzerland train pass at the base stations of these mountains and take the next available transport to the peaks.

Free mountain excursions

• Stanserhorn

Top discounted mountains with Swiss Pass

Enjoying mountain excursions is always included in every traveller’s things to do in Switzerland

No Switzerland tour package is complete without visiting the most popular mountains. There are many mountains in each region that you can visit.

Your Swiss Travel Pass will allow you to avail of either discounted fares to reach these peaks by train, funicular or cable cars.

Some of the most popular mountain excursions and the places that you can reach them from are as follows :

• Jungfraujoch , Interlaken
• Mount Titlis , Lucerne
• Mount Pilatus, Lucerne
• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Zermatt
• Gornergrat, Zermatt
• Sunnegga Paradise, Montreux
• Glacier 3000 , Gstaad

Free boat cruises

Your Switzerland Rail Pass also covers the transport on some of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland. Some popular cruises listed below. You just have to show your pass and hop on these cruises

There are also other lake cruises in Switzerland like the boat trip on the Rhine from Basel, on which you can use your with Swiss Travel Pass discount.

How to use a Switzerland Train Pass

The Switzerland Pass is super easy to use. All passes are now electronic passes making it really simple.

The Swiss Travel Pass 2022 is a pre validated pass. It is ready for travel once you have received and printed the same.

The PDF file that you receive will have a code that train staff can scan from your smart phone. However, officially you need a printout too, which is why it is always good to carry an A4 sized printout of the swisspass with you at all times

Once your swiss rail Pass is valid, you can use it for the number of days you purchased it for. The time of start does not matter.

The swisspass works on calendar days, which means if you have an 8 days Switzerland itinerary and purchased an Swiss Pass 8 Days starting on the 5th of May, the pass will be valid till midnight on the 12th of May.

You do not need seat reservations for trains and buses in Switzerland. You can simply board with your Swiss Travel Pass.

However there are exceptions - the panoramic trains like the Glacier Express which require a mandatory seat reservation at an extra cost. Seat reservations are not included in the swiss rail pass cost.

If you are travelling to a mountain or using any other discounted service, you must keep in mind that one of your Swiss Travel Pass will be used that day. You will be requested to show your Swiss Train Pass and the purchased mountain voucher at the boarding point of such services.

Electronic passes or e-Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Rail Pass is an electronic pass.

The electronic Switzerland Rail Pass can be shown on your smart phone or as an A4 size print whenever requested for by the checker.

Remember that you must also have your passport in hand incase it is asked for along with the Swiss Travel Pass.

Where is the Switzerland Travel Pass valid

Your Switzerland Travel Pass is valid throughout the country. Some of the most popular places that you can visit and stay at with your Swiss Train pass are

It is the industrial, financial, and cultural centre of the country and one of the most cosmopolitan and dynamic Swiss cities. Throughout the city centre, green space extends to the shores of Lake Zürich, which are lined by attractive public parks, and up to the slopes of Zürichberg.

Zürich’s lively and well-preserved Altstadt (Old Town), part of the city centre, boasts an architectural legacy including the Romanesque Grossmünster, built by Charlemagne in the 700s; the 13th-century St. Peter’s Church; and elegant guild houses and patrician residences, some of which are used as restaurants or for civic functions.

Among the must see places in Zurich are the Grossmünster, The Fraumunster, Uetliberg- Zurich;s own mountain, Zurich Lake and the famous Bahnofstrasse where you can see all the high end luxury shops and indulge in some retail therapy. Don’t forget your Swiss Pass price includes the tram network of the city making all these places very accessible to you.

Lucerne or Luzern as it is called, is divided into two parts by the Reuss River, which is crossed by seven bridges within the town.

Lucerne has one of the most picturesque settings in Switzerland. The Spreuerbrücke (1407), which is now considered the oldest bridge, is roofed and decorated with 56 paintings including scenes from the Dance of Death from the early 17th century.

Until its destruction by fire in 1993, the Kapellbrücke or the more popularly called Chapel Bridge, was the oldest bridge.

The old town is distinguished by well-preserved 14th-century town walls with nine watchtowers, quaint alleys, and squares. It houses the old town hall, the historical museum, St. Peter’s Chapel, the Hofkirche, the Lion Monument and the Swiss Museum of Transport .

You can use your Swiss Train Pass to cover the things to do in Lucerne town using its buses and boat cruises.

You can take one of the free boat cruises or opt for the Lucerne Dinner Cruise or the Saphir boat cruises both of which are discounted on the Switzerland Travel pass

Interlaken is a town in Central Switzerland in the Bernese Highlands. The town gets Its name from its position nestled between 2 lakes: Lake Brienz to the east and Thun to the west. It is one of Switzerland’s oldest and most frequented summer tourist resorts.

The main attraction of this tiny town is its main avenue, the Höheweg, which is lined with numerous watch and jewellery shops, souvenir shops and hotels that range from modest hostels to luxury and boutique hotels.

Interlaken commands a magnificent view of the Jungfrau to the south and is a starting point for many Alpine excursions.

Closer to home it has the Harder Kulm which you can visit for a lovely snack and an amazing view over the town. Your Swiss Travel Pass allows you to travel on the buses and trains that connect this city and run between Interlaken ost (East) and West.

Interlaken is also a perfect base if you want to stay for a few days and cover the rest of the country from there. Among the things to do in Interlaken includes the Trummelbach falls, and Giesbach Falls.

The nearby towns of Thun, Brienz and Grindelwald are also a huge attraction. You can also take a boat cruise for free on the Lakes with your Swiss Travel Pass or else opt for the adrenaline pumping jet boat cruise (payable).

The town itself is at an elevation of 5,302 feet and commands some of the finest views in Switzerland and is also a popular centre for mountaineering and winter sports. Cableways are numerous, and the highest in Europe leads up the Klein-Matterhorn.

Equipped with your Switzerland Train pass, you can visit one or more of the most popular mountain excursions: the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise with Swiss Pass discount, the Gornergrat or the Rothorn Paradise.

Zermatt is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Switzerland in winter .

Your Swiss Travel pass allows you unlimited access on all of these peaks.

A town that offers it all, lakes, mountains and vineyards, Montreux offers a picture perfect landscape.

It is the perfect base from which you can cover the full Geneva region including Geneva and Lausanne.

Montreux and the nearby region has been immortalised by many celebrities. Freddy Mercury’s album cover for Made in Heaven is picturised here, Charlie Chaplin chose to spend the last 2 decades and more of his life in the region. Visit the Chillon Castle, walk the lake promenade, visit the casino and enjoy the unmatched beauty of this lakeside resort with your convenient Swisspass.

Take a boat cruise and reach Lausanne, visit the nearby cheese factory in Gruyeres or the buildings of the UN and the famous jet D’eau in Geneva.

Your Switzerland Train Pass will allow you to get up close to all of the must-see places in the region

Montreux and the nearby region has been immortalised by many celebrities. Freddy Mercury’s album cover for Made in Heaven is picturised here, Charlie Chaplin chose to spend the last 2 decades and more of his life in the region.

Visit the Chillon Castle, walk the lake promenade, visit the casino and enjoy the unmatched beauty of this lakeside resort with your conveneient Swiss Travel pass.

If you are on honeymoon in Switzerland , Montreux is a must-visit place for you.

Your Switzerland Train Pass will allow you to get up close to all of the must-see places in the region.

Lugano, the largest city in the Canton of Ticino is situated in the Southern Italian speaking belt.

Lugano lies in a bay on the northern side of Lake Lugano, surrounded by numerous mountains offering splendid viewpoints. Thanks to its mild climate, Lugano is a popular all round tourist destination.

Lugano is famous for its lake promenade with lush green vegetation, parks with sub- tropical plants and wood carvings.

It also has 2 mountains which make for nice excursions Monte San Salvatore and Monte Brè, give you an outstanding panorama of the town, Lake Lugano and the alpine scenery.

From Monte Brè there is a walk down to the village of Brè, which has preserved its typical Ticino village centre, and enhanced it with works of art.

From the San Salvatore another popular walk leads down through the beautifully situated Carona to Lake Lugano at Morcote. Taking a boat trip back to Lugano is a splendid way to round off the day.

Other excursions are to the fishing village of Gandria, up the Monte San Giorgio or the Monte Generoso or to the Lilliput world of Switzerland in Miniature at Melide.

All in all Lugano is a place to eat, chat and enjoy the mild Mediterranean atmosphere. The Swiss Travel Pass will help you to discover this regions. You can use it on the buses, boats and trams that connect the region.

Taking a boat trip back to Lugano is a splendid way to round off the day. Other excursions are to the fishing village of Gandria, up the Monte San Giorgio or the Monte Generoso or to the Lilliput world of Switzerland in Miniature at Melide ( Swiss Miniatur ).

All in all Lugano is a place to eat, chat and enjoy the mild Mediterranean atmosphere. The Swiss Pass offers you to discover this regions. You can use it on the buses, boats and trams that connect the region.

Scenic routes on Switzerland Train Pass

All you need to do to avail of this amazing journey is purchase a reservation for the segment needed and then use the same with your Switzerland Travel Pass.

Journey time:

Total journey time: The entire route takes almost 5.5 hours.

Segments: Montreux to Zweisimmen, Zweisimmen to Interlaken, Interlaken to Lucerne

Highlight: VIP seats Montreux to Zweisimmen

Your Swiss Travel Pass offers you to travel on some of the most beautiful routes and trains that the country offers.

Glacier Express

Sit back and prepare to be amazed!! You are aboard the Glacier Express, the slowest express train in the world!!

The panoramic journey on the Glacier Express through the Swiss Alps is one to remember. Start off in St. Moritz, the playground of the rich and famous and travel to Zermatt, the home to the world's most photographed mountain, the Matterhorn.

This 8-hour journey takes you over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels. Along with the eyes, feast your palate as well! Order the meal freshly prepared on board and served at your seat.

All you have to do now is learn more about the route through the Alps via headphone – making sure you don't miss a single highlight.

To make the experience even more special, opt for the Glacier Express Excellence The new Excellence Class sets standards as high as the mountain peaks along the legendary route.

All you need to do to avail of this amazing journey is purchase a reservation for the segment needed and then use the same with your Switzerland Train pass

Total journey time: 7.30 hours

Zermatt to St Moritz or vice versa

Along the way: Oberalp pass, Rhine Gorge, Landwasser viaduct

Bernina Express

Go from snow- capped mountains to palm fringed lakes all in a day! Switzerland’s South is arguably the most stunning. It is also the melting pot of its various cultures and languages.

Traverse through this enchanting wonderland of diverse landscapes through towns dotted with castles, lake rivieras and UNESCO World heritage sites on the unique Bernina Express journey via bus and train.

Travel in Spring if you want to see the perfect combination of green valleys and lots of snow in the mountains. In winter, the section from St. Moritz to Tirano is especially worth it.

Book the most famous routes from St Moritz to Lugano via Tirano in Italy on this famous train and bus combination and make your holiday truly special with a discount with the Swiss Pass .

All you need to do to avail of this amazing journey is purchase a reservation for the segment needed and then use the same with your Switzerland Rail Pass

Average journey time: 4 hours

Chur / Davos / St Moritz to Tirano

Bus from Tirano to Lugano

Highlights: 196 bridges, 55 tunnels, UNESCO World Heritage site

Golden Pass Line

A cross-country journey like no other! The 3 train journeys that make up the amazing Golden Pass Line route takes you from the pristine Lake Geneva region, past the Bernese Oberland and into the historical heart of Switzerland.

Start your Switzerland Tour by taking off from Montreux say goodbye to the Mediterranean ambience and the views of Lake Geneva.

In Zweisimmen, be prepared for a treat if you have booked early enough and are privileged enough to get the seats with the drivers eye view. Then sit back and relax on the Lucerne Interlaken Express which passes through amazing lake vistas and the Brunig pass before getting you into Lucerne.

Why To Buy Swiss Travel Pass

• Unlimited Access to Rail, Boat, and Bus in 90+ Towns and Cities
• Free Entry at 500+ Museums
• Up to 50% Discount on Many Mountain Excursions and Rail Travel
• Children Entry Free

How It Works

Select your swiss travel pass.

Choose the right Swiss Travel Pass that suits your requirements in terms of number of days, and class of travel.

Confirmation

Follow the step-by-step booking procedure which allows you to view rates, select total number of passengers and see your total amount payable before you make the final booking.

Make the Payment

After selection of the pass and submission of your details (name, date of birth, email id etc.) you will be directed to the 3D secured payment page where you can make payment by Debit/ Credit Card/ Net Banking/ UPI.

Time to Travel like a Swiss

Once you have made the payment, you will immediately receive a confirmation email from us. You can download your e-Swiss Travel Pass from your email (a download link will be in the email).

* If you need assistance in selecting the right Swiss Travel Pass for you, please contact us.

* If you are travelling to multiple countries in Europe, you can also book rail passes of other countries with us.

Photo Gallery

FAQs on Swiss Travel Pass

What is a swiss travel pass.

A Swiss Travel Pass is a pass that allows you to access unlimited travel on a train, bus, boat, and tram across Switzerland’s public transport and provides up to 50% discounts on excursions.

Where can I use my Swiss Travel Pass?

You can use your Swiss Travel Pass in the whole Swiss Travel System : in all trains, post buses, trams & even boats.

How do I book the Swiss Travel Pass online with Swisstours?

• Book your pass on www.swisstours.com by clicking on the Swiss Travel Pass tab on the home page.
• From the list of passes, select the Swiss Travel Pass that suits your travel requirements in terms of the number of days, 1st or 2nd class and consecutive or Flexi days’ pass.
• If you need help selecting the most appropriate pass, contact our specialists at [email protected]
• After selection of the pass and submission of your details (name, date of travel, and other mandatory information) you will be directed to the payment page to make the payment.
• Once the payment is complete, you will immediately receive an e-Swiss Travel Pass voucher in your email as an attachment.

How can I validate my Swiss Travel Pass?

Effective 1st September 2015, the Swiss Travel Pass is a pre validated & closed dated pass.

The traveller will need to provide their first day of use of the pass while making the booking. This date will be printed on the pass.

Travellers must carry a valid passport in order to travel with this rail pass.

What is an adult pass?

A passenger 25 yrs and above is entitled to purchase an adult Swiss Travel Pass.

What is a youth pass ?

A person under 25 yrs can purchase a youth Swiss Travel Pass.

Are there family passes?

The Swiss travel system offers the Swiss family card. This card provides free travel for children under 16 years when travelling with atleast one parent.

What is the difference between a Consecutive-day pass and a Flexi pass?

A consecutive-day pass provides unlimited rail travel on all days for the chosen duration of the pass. This pass is preferred by those who wish to travel every day during their stay in Switzerland. A flexi pass is valid for a specific number of days which can be used consecutively or non-consecutively within a longer period. This pass is preferred by those who wish to travel only on certain days during their stay in Switzerland.

Till what age can children travel free on the Swiss transport system?

Children under 16 years of age accompanied by at least one parent can travel free on the Swiss travel system. Children travelling without parents can still avail of a 50% discount on the Swiss travel pass.

Is reservation on trains compulsory if I have a Swiss Travel Pass?

Swiss Travel Pass is valid on trains operated by SBB (Schweizerische BundesBahn), the national railway company of Switzerland. For domestic trains operated in Switzerland, seat reservations are not required. Exceptions are the special scenic trains such as Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Golden Pass and Wilhelm Tell Express. For these trains, a supplement and/or seat reservation is required for Swiss Travel Pass holders.

What is the cancellation charge if I am unable to use my Swiss Travel Pass?

• Refundable up to 2 days prior to first date of validity with an administrative fee of CHF 10 per pass.
• Thereafter, no refund. If pass is used or flexi days are activated, non-refundable.
• Once the pass has been cancelled the passenger will not be able to use it.

Can Mountain excursions be bought along with the Swiss Travel Pass?

Yes, you can surely buy the mountain excursions online with the Swiss Travel Pass and benefit from upto 50% discounted rates. Once you have purchased your Swiss Travel Pass you can add the desired mountain excursions to your shopping cart and pay for all services at one go.

• Unlimited travel on train, bus and boat ( area of validity and benefits ) 
• Unlimited travel on premium panorama trains: Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Golden Pass MOB, Gothard Panorama Express and Luzern Interlaken Express (seat reservations cost extra).
• Unlimited use of public transit in more than 90 towns and cities.
• Free admission to more than 500 museums ( www.museumspass.ch )
• Pass includes mountain excursions to Brunni, Klewenalp, Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos. 
• Up to 50% discount on mountain railways and cable cars (25% on Jungfraujoch).
• Passholder fares on Lyria
• Passholder fares on NightJet routes including Switzerland

Bonuses are subject to change and may require use of a travel day.

travellers should confirm bonuses locally.

Available for adult and youth travellers in first and second class. Youth travellers must be under 25 years old on the first day of travel. Valid for residents outside of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Passes are prevalidated at time of purchase .

The Swiss map is required to travel, either printed or via the following link: area of validity and benefits   

Refundable up to 2 days prior to first date of validity with an administrative fee of CHF 10 per pass. Thereafter, no refund. If pass is used or flexi days are activated, non refundable. The transaction fees are non-refundable. 

Swiss Travel Pass 2024: What’s Included & What’s Not (& Is It Worth It)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: March 25, 2024

When planning a trip to Switzerland, you’ll likely see the Swiss Travel Pass mentioned everywhere.

But what exactly is the Swiss Travel Pass, what does it include, where can you buy it (hint – here ;)), and is it worth it?

We get so many questions from our readers about the Swiss Pass (and Swiss Pass Flex), which discounts it offers, and whether it covers some of the most popular destinations in the Swiss Alps. Many first-time visitors find it a bit confusing and I keep answering the same questions all over again…

So to save all of us some time, here is our complete guide to the Swiss Travel Pass. It should answer all your questions, give you a good overview of what exactly is included (and what is not), and help you decide whether it’s worth getting it for your trip.

READ ALSO: Switzerland Itinerary for First Trip

What is the Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass is a ticket for international visitors that includes unlimited travel on public transportation in Switzerland for a selected number of days. You can buy this pass for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days of travel.

All the information is available on the official website of the Swiss Railways (SBB), but apparently, it’s still too confusing for many people (thus, this article).

TIP: You can also find the most important information in a nutshell and purchase the pass on GetYourGuide . We recommend this website for all tickets/tours/passes and we personally use it for all our trips, not just in Europe. It’s very simple to use.

Good to know: Traveling by train is the most convenient way to cover bigger distances in Switzerland and explore many of the nicest places in the country (not just cities, but also mountains). Furthermore, public transportation in Switzerland is very efficient and we sometimes joke that you can set your watch by how punctual the trains are. So for the majority of international visitors, it doesn’t even make sense to consider renting a car, and that’s what makes the Swiss Travel Pass so popular.

Below, you can find our explanation of what is and is not included with the Swiss Travel Pass, and how it differs from the Swiss Travel Pass Flex. Read on!

Swiss Travel Pass vs. Swiss Travel Pass Flex

To make things a bit more confusing, there are two types of Swiss Pass: the regular one and the Flex Pass , which is 15% more expensive.

What’s the difference? Both these passes include exactly the same tickets and offer the same discounts (that differ depending on your age). The main difference is that the flex pass allows you to freely choose on which days you use it within its month-long validity, whereas the regular pass is valid on consecutive days (depending on which validity you choose, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days).

So, for example, you are visiting Switzerland for 5 days and you plan on traveling by public transport daily during your entire stay. In that case, you can simply get a regular pass for 5 days.

On the other hand, if you are in Switzerland for a longer time, but will be visiting different regions and spending a few days in each before traveling further, then it’s better to get a flexible pass. That way, you can use it only on those days when you will be taking public transportation a lot. Further below, you can find a bit more information about how to use both these passes.

Important to know! This is where it starts to get confusing to foreigners visiting Switzerland for the first time because they think that they will be using public transport every day, also in the mountains. But there is a big difference between let’s say an inter-city train between Zurich and Geneva or a train that brings you to Gornergrat in Zermatt or Jungfraujoch in Berner Oberland.

!!! The majority of gondolas, funiculars, and mountain trains are not part of the Swiss public transport network (and thus not included with the Swiss Travel Pass). However, to make things yet a bit more confusing, there are a couple of exceptions here too. You can find more info below, but first – how much does it cost.

How to use Swiss Travel Pass & Travel Pass Flex

For all passes , you can either print it on a white A4 paper or show an electronic version of the pass on your smartphone or tablet. You can also add it to your Apple Wallet, for example. Since the pass is issued in your name, you might be asked to show your ID as well.

Using the regular Swiss Travel Pass is pretty straightforward since it’s valid for a set number of consecutive days. You’ll simply have to show a printed or electronic version of the pass.

Using the Flex Pass is a bit more complex since you can choose the specific dates on which you will be using it. To avoid misunderstandings, you will have to activate the dates on which you want to use your pass online on this website . It’s important to activate the dates before your first journey, so e.g. you cannot do it when you are already on a train.

You will get all the information and clear instructions when you get the pass, so don’t worry about it too much in advance. Also, you can still adjust your chosen dates as long as you do it before midnight at the start of the day on which you want to use it.

How much does the Swiss Travel Pass cost in 2024?

The price of the Swiss Travel Pass depends on several factors: your age, the number of days, and whether you opt for a regular pass or flex. In addition, you can choose to travel in the 2nd Class or upgrade to 1st Class.

Additional discounts: Children under 6 are free of charge. Children from 6 to 16 travel free when accompanied by a paying parent (you need to order a ticket for them, but it’s free, and you will get the necessary instructions). Youth from 16 to 25 get almost 30% discount.

Here are the prices of the regular pass in Second Class in 2024 for adults:

3 DAYS: 244 CHF. 4 DAYS: 295 CHF. 6 DAYS: 379 CHF. 8 DAYS: 419 CHF. 15 DAYS: 459 CHF.

Good to know: Flex Pass costs 15% more and you’ll have to pay over 55% extra if you opt for First Class tickets.

As you can see, the longer the duration, the cheaper the price that you pay per day. If you just get it for 3 days, it costs you about 81 CHF per day, whereas if you get it for two weeks, it costs you just around 30 CHF per day – a huge difference!

Further below, you can find our observations on whether it’s worth getting the Swiss Travel Pass. But first, let’s take a look at what exactly is included.

What is included with the Swiss Travel Pass

This is what IS INCLUDED with the Swiss Travel Pass:

• Unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats that belong to the public transport network. So all the inter-city trains as well as trams and buses in more than 90 towns and cities are included. Passenger ferries (not cruises) on Lake Lucerne or the lakes near Interlaken are included as well.
• Unlimited travel on premium panorama trains (however, there might be extra fees for advance seat reservations). These include the famous Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Golden Pass Line, and a few other panoramic train routes.
• Free entry to over 500 museums in Switzerland . You can find a complete list of all the museums here .
• Free travel on the following mountain excursions : Mt Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos. All of these are located close to Lucerne and are among our top recommendations for the best day trips from Lucerne .
• Up to 50% discount on mountain excursions all over Switzerland. So you get a big discount on the majority of the cable cars, mountain trains, funiculars, etc. There are also discounts on certain lake cruises and similar.

Below, you can find a bit more info about what is not included with the Swiss Pass (but where you get a discount).

What is not included (but gives you a discount)

Because I get this question almost daily, here is once again an explanation of what IS NOT INCLUDED with the Swiss Travel Pass.

Mountain excursions are not included with the Swiss Travel Pass (with the exception of Mt Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos as mentioned above), but you do get a discount on most of them. Under ‘mountain excursions’ they mean cable cars, gondolas, funiculars, cogwheel trains, trains to the mountain peaks, etc.

Here are a few examples of the most popular mountain excursions that our readers ask about and where the Swiss Pass does not include free travel, but gives you a discount:

• Grindelwald-First cable car – 50% discount.
• Mt Pilatus cable car and/or cogwheel train – 50% discount.
• Mt Titlis gondolas – 50% discount.
• Schynige Platte railway – 50% discount.
• Oeschinensee cable car – 50% discount.
• Gornergrat railway and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise gondolas – 50% discount.
• Jungfraujoch – about 25% discount. Or about 40% if you only go to Kleine Scheidegg.

There are many other destinations in the Swiss Alps where you get similar discounts with the Swiss Travel Pass.

Also, most lake sightseeing cruises are not included, whereas regular, scheduled passenger ferries are included with the Swiss Travel Pass. So if you are taking a ferry that stops in various places, your pass will be valid, but if you want to take a scenic cruise on e.g. Lake Geneva or Lake Lucerne, you’ll have to pay for it.

Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?

One of the most frequently asked questions by our readers is whether it’s worth getting the Swiss Travel Pass. My answer is always the same – it depends. Here are a few examples:

If you are traveling around Switzerland for a longer time (6-10 days or more) and plan on visiting many different areas all over the country using public transportation, then the Swiss Travel Pass is definitely worth it. The pass gives even better value if you are traveling with children.

If, however, you are only coming for a few days, renting a car, and/or planning on staying in one region in the mountains (where this pass only gives you a discount and not free travel), then it’s usually not worth it. In that case, look for a regional card of the area that you are visiting.

Most likely, your trip includes a mix of destinations that you only visit for a day as well as others where you stay for several days. In that case, you can look up the prices of all the mountain excursions that you are planning to do, see how big the discount is with the Swiss Travel Pass, add the price of the pass itself, and then compare that versus the prices of individual tickets of all the transportation and places you plan to visit. (Good luck with the math! It’s doable, but you’ll need a lot of time and patience).

In most cases, the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it, especially if you are traveling for at least 6-8 days and are visiting multiple destinations in Switzerland. Plus, it saves you lots of time, research, and math. Another advantage is that you can just take the next suitable train, boat, etc. without having to waste time looking for tickets.

Furthermore, you can always opt for a Swiss Pass Flex that you only use on travel-intensive days. And then get a regional card to use on the other days, when you are staying in one area. The longer you stay in one place (typically, 3-4 days or longer), the better value you get with the regional cards.

Where can you buy the Swiss Travel Pass?

You can buy the Swiss Travel Pass online, at every major railway station in Switzerland (including Zurich or Geneva airports), and also at some tourist offices in the main cities.

We recommend getting it online in advance as it will save you time and stress (you’ll have enough to think about upon arrival as it is).

You can get the Swiss Pass on the official SBB website , but also via various online retailers, such as our GetYourGuide as mentioned before (our personal favorite one-stop shop for all tickets). The price is normally exactly the same everywhere and you get the same discounts for kids, etc.

At the moment of writing, GetYourGuide allows you to cancel for free up to 3 days in advance (and it’s really easy to cancel or amend your tickets). You can buy a regular Swiss Travel Pass here and a Swiss Travel Pass Flex – here .

In any case, it’s best to buy your tickets at least a few days before your trip. When you purchase a pass, you will receive detailed instructions on how to use it (or how to activate the individual travel dates if you opt for the Flexi Pass).

So, this is our guide to the Swiss Travel Pass. I hope that it answers all your questions and helps you decide whether it’s worth it for your trip.

TIP: If you are planning your itinerary in Switzerland, check out our Switzerland travel page . It contains an overview of all our travel guides for a wide variety of destinations all over the country. We live in Belgium and Switzerland is just a half-day drive from home. So we visit Switzerland at least a few times a year – in summer as well as in winter. On our blog, you’ll find many detailed guides for all of our favorite places.

READ ALSO: Traveling to Europe: How to Plan a Trip & Useful Tips

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Saturday 30th of March 2024

Hi Jurga My wife and I will be traveling to Swizerland and planning to go thru several places from Zurich to Lucerne - Interlaken -Lauterbrunnen-Murren-Wengen-Gimmewald-Gridelwald and train to Milan.

Is the Swiss Pass a good option getting around for 10 days?

Thursday 4th of April 2024

Hi Robert, yes, if you are staying for 10 days and plan on using public transportation daily, a Swiss Pass definitely a good idea.

Sunday 24th of March 2024

Thanks. Good information. One question: If I buy a flex pass for, say, 6 days, but will be in Switzerland for 9 days and 8 nights, is the pass good for local busses, say in Bern or Zurich, on days I am not traveling between regions, without it counting as a full day of use?

Monday 25th of March 2024

@Jurga, thanks for the helpful answer. We'll buy two 8 day passes. Only 20 Francs more than the 6 day flex pass. Cheers!

Hi Bruce, I'm afraid that any use will count for that day (also museums, buses, etc.). With the flex pass, you will have to activate the dates on which you are using it online (you'll get the instructions when you get the pass) and if someone checks it on the day you didn't activate it for, you may get a fine. It might be simpler/cheaper to buy a local ticket if you need it for just one or two short rides on those days and keep your Swiss Pass for the days when you embark on the much more expensive journeys.

Sunday 3rd of March 2024

Thank you Jurga, for your Travel Pass explained, you saved my sanity! The official sites are good but not usually for a first-time visitor. Like how you explained one should board the N1 trolley and not the bus from Lucerne railway station to get to Kriens. Additionally, your guides to Lucerne and the various day trips from the picturesque city are very insightful. I am now confident with my decision to take the acclaim Swiss public transportation from Geneva to Lucerne in the spring for a girls' trip. Fingers crossed ;)

Monday 4th of March 2024

Glad to help, Jacqi. Have a great time in Switzerland!

John Altshuler

Tuesday 27th of February 2024

Most helpful discussion of the various Swiss passes I've seen so far.

Wednesday 28th of February 2024

Glad to help, John. Have a great time in Switzerland!

Finding Alexx

| Bucket list adventures around the globe

Switzerland , Europe , Train travel · February 14, 2024

Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it? An honest review

Planning your trip to Switzerland but wondering is a Swiss Travel Pass worth it? After trying out a couple of different travel passes in Switzerland, here’s a super detailed breakdown of the Swiss Travel Pass, when they’re worth it, when they’re not worth it, and some real-life calculations showing how much you could save on your itinerary.

• Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
• Share on Pinterest Share on Pinterest

If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of getting a Swiss Travel Pass for your upcoming Switzerland adventure, you’re in the right place.

It’s one of the ultimate countries to explore via public transport, with a world-class network of trains, buses and boats getting you from A to B with epic views on the way, but we all know Switzerland can be pricey, and that goes for transport too.

We all want to get the best bang for our buck and make sure our travel planning time is being put to good use, no one wants to waste time on confusing spreadsheets or overspend on train tickets.

As an avid travel nerd, and a bit of a Switzerland fangirl, I’ve visited the country four times in recent years for epic train journeys so I’m pretty clued up on Swiss Travel Passes and the other travel pass options. I’ve put together this ultra-detailed blog post to help you navigate the Swiss Travel Pass maze.

The Swiss Travel Pass ain’t cheap, but is it worth the money to make your Switzerland trip seamless and cost-effective? The short answer is that sometimes it is, but to really help you figure out if the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it we’ve got to look at how it works, specific example itineraries and alternatives that might be better.

Whether you’re a solo adventurer, a family looking to make unforgettable memories, or a group of friends wanting to experience Switzerland’s lush landscapes, this guide is going to tell you all you need to know about the Swiss Travel Pass and how to figure out if it’s worth it for your trip.

Summary: Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?

If you’re just looking for a quick answer to the question ‘is a Swiss Travel Pass worth it?’, the annoying answer is: it really depends .

Based on my personal experience and the calculations at the end of this blog post, the Swiss Travel Pass (I’ll refer to it as STP in this blog post) is pretty much always better than buying point-to-point, full fare tickets, but the Swiss Half Fare Card can often end up being even better value .

To know for sure whether a STP is worth it, you need to write down all the transport you’re going to use during your Switzerland trip and calculate the point-to-point tickets vs. what it would cost with a Swiss Travel Pass vs. the Swiss Half Fare Card.

I can’t tell you whether the STP will be worth it for you just based on the cities/towns you’re visiting or the number of days you’re in Switzerland. It will totally depend on what mountain excursions you want to do, if you’re taking any panoramic trains, and if you know your itinerary well in advance or if you’ll be booking things last minute.

However, there are some scenarios in which a Swiss Travel Pass is *generally* either worth it or not worth it.

The Swiss Travel Pass is probably worth it when…

• Your itinerary includes the Glacier Express and another one or two panoramic trains
• You’re planning on using the public transport system to get between cities every couple of days at least
• You hate the idea of planning and just want to be able to stay flexible and jump on trains when you feel like it
• You’re visiting multiple cities but don’t plan on using any or many of the mountain railways or cable cars
• You’re happy to keep your mountain excursions to Rigi and Stanserhorn (the two that are free with the STP)
• You’re wanting to book most of your trip pretty last minute, within a few days of travel
• You’re doing the Grand Train Tour (all five panoramic trains)

The Swiss Travel Pass probably isn’t worth it when…

• You know your itinerary two or three months in advance and can pre-book tickets without needing them to be refundable
• You’re in Switzerland for three days or less
• You’re just visiting one or two cities or sticking to a specific region
• You plan on taking 3-4 or more mountain railways and cable cars (the Half Fare Card will probably be better)
• You want to go to Jungfraujoch ( Jungfrau’s regional travel pass offers the best Jungfrau deal)

All you need to know about the Swiss Travel Pass

What is the swiss travel pass.

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

It’s designed for tourists and allows you to hop on and off trains, buses, and boats at your leisure, for a set number of days (either consecutive or flexible).

Swiss Travel Pass vs. Swiss Travel Pass Flex

The Swiss Travel Pass lets you choose from 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days of travel. You choose a start date for your pass and you’ll have unlimited access to public transport for the length of time your pass is valid for. Ideal for those who will be utilising the transport network each day of their trip.

The Swiss Travel Pass Flex offers all the same benefits but with the flexibility to choose the days you want to travel within one month. Choose a 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 day Flex Pass and ‘switch on’ a travel day when you know that day is going to be worth it. This is ideal for longer trips and if you’ll have days that you won’t be using transport enough to make it worth using a ‘travel day’.

What does the Swiss Travel Pass include?

• Unlimited travel on buses, boats and trains across the Swiss Travel System network
• Free travel on panoramic trains like the Gotthard Panorama Express, Glacier Express and Bernina Express
• A couple of free mountain excursions ( Stanserhorn and Rigi )
• 50% off most other mountain railways and cable cars
• Free public transport in 90 cities
• Free entry to more than 500 museums

What does the Swiss Travel Pass not include?

• Seat reservations on panoramic trains (most trains in Switzerland don’t require reservations but the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and a couple of others have either mandatory or recommended reservations)
• The mountain excursion to Jungfraujoch (but you do get a 25% discount)
• Mountain railways and cable cars like Gornergratbahn, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Titlis and Pilatus (but you do get a 50% discount on most of them)
• Private lake cruises

Swiss Travel Pass prices

Here are the prices for adult passes in 2nd class. 1st class passes are about 60% more expensive than the prices you see below.

Prices valid as of 1 February 2024, they typically put prices up annually at the most so these should be valid for the remainder of 2024.

Can you get a discount on a Swiss Travel Pass?

If you’re between 16 and 25 you’re eligible for the Swiss Travel Pass Youth, this gives you a 30% discount on the pass prices above.

Kids aged between 6 and 16 (until their 16th birthday) accompanies by at least one parent (holding a Swiss Travel System ticket) travel free of charge across the network with a complimentary Swiss Family Card.

Kids under 6 travel free of charge across the network, no Swiss Family Card needed.

There are no senior discounts for the STP unfortunately.

How to use a Swiss Travel Pass

Where to buy a swiss travel pass.

You can easily buy a Swiss Travel Pass online from the comfort of your home or while you’re already on your way to Switzerland.

Just keep in mind that you must have a valid STP if you’re taking advantage of the benefits, i.e. if you jump on a train with the plan to buy your STP once you’re on it, and you get asked for your ticket before you have a chance to buy it, you’ll get fined.

Is there a Swiss Travel Pass app?

There’s no Swiss Travel Pass app, but you can manage your pass online.

Once you purchase your STP you’ll be emailed a receipt with details on how to activate your pass.

If you’ve got a Swiss Travel Pass (with consecutive days), you simply need to show the QR code (on your phone or printed if you prefer) to the people checking train tickets.

If you have a Swiss Travel Pass Flex, you need to activate a travel day for each day you want to use the pass. You can do that at https://activateyourpass.com. Bookmark that URL on your phone or laptop for easy access.

Do you need to make seat reservations with the Swiss Travel Pass?

Most trains, boats and buses in Switzerland are reservation-free, meaning you can hop on and off with your pass without paying any additional supplements.

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

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

How to book mountain railways with the Swiss Travel Pass

If you want to take advantage of one of the mountain railway or cable car discounts with the STP, you can book these online and select ‘Swiss Travel Pass’ in the ‘discount’ dropdown. Just remember to activate a travel day for that day.

You can also purchase tickets at the relevant mountain railway/cable car station and show your pass to get a ticket at the discounted price.

How to calculate if the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it for your trip

I get loads of messages from people sharing their rough itinerary and asking me if a rail pass is worth it, but unfortunately it’s a bit trickier than just looking at the cities you’re going to over six days and then knowing whether it’ll be good value or not.

Here are some deeper dives into how to truly figure out if the STP 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 Travel Pass 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 STP 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 STP 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 STP 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 STP 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 STP you need based on your trip length
• Total up the columns!

Your spreadsheet should look something like this:

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.

If you have no idea about your itinerary

If you don’t know your itinerary yet, and want to just go with the flow while you’re in Switzerland, it’s a little trickier to determine whether the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it.

The best way to do this is to consider the value of the pass per day, and make sure that you’re likely to save at least that cost if you used the pass. In the most basic of calculations, if the Swiss Travel Pass is going to save you more than the below prices on average per day across your trip, then it’s worth it.

Here’s the cost per day of the prices (as of 1 Feb 2024):

If you’re planning a ten day Switzerland trip but don’t know where you’re going yet, consider whether you’re likely to save at least 55CHF per day on average by using buses/trains/boats and utilising discounts on mountain railways and cable cars. If so, then an 8 day Swiss Travel Pass Flex could be worth it for you (assuming you will have two days of your trip where you’re not using the pass).

Swiss Travel Pass vs. Half Fare Card if you don’t know your itinerary

This is the biggest question people what to know when they’re considering if the Swiss Travel Pass or the Half Fare Card are better, but if you don’t have your itinerary you need to either need to come back to this stage later in your trip planning, or take a good, hard look at your priorities and pull a rough itinerary together.

At the minimum, you need to:

• Figure out the cities you’re likely going to get between
• Choose the mountain excursions you definitely want to do (keeping in mind Rigi and Stanserhorn are free with the STP)
• Determine whether a Glacier Express trip is a must-do for you (probably Switzerland’s best trains)
• Determine whether Jungfrau is a must-do for you (iconic Top of Europe)
• Figure out how long in advance you think you’ll know your plans

From here you’ll have a rough idea like this:

• 2 x intercity trips
• 2 x Glacier Express trip
• 2 x mountain excursions (the free ones on the STP)
• Not keen for Jungfrau
• Wants to confirm plans a before travel, to keep the trip very flexible

With this in mind you can out together the spreadsheet just using rough searches and dates for your routes. It’s not going to give you exact pricing relevant to your route, but it will at least give you a good idea on if the STP or the Half Fare Card will likely come out on top.

Pros of a Swiss Travel Pass

• No need to buy tickets for trips on the trains/buses/boats on the public network, just jump on and show your pass to the driver, ticket staff or train controllers
• Free entry to 500 museums
• Free public transport in most cities/towns
• Free access to Rigi and Stanserhorn mountains
• Discounted access to many other mountains (usually 50% but 25% for Jungfrau)
• Covers the whole ticket cost of the expensive panorama trains, which saves you a whopping 159CHF on a Glacier Express 2nd class ticket or 272CHF on 1st class. You still need to pay the 44-49CHF seat reservation, but a Half Fare Card would still require you to pay 79.50CHF for the 2nd class ticket on top of the reservation.

Cons of a Swiss Travel Pass

• Expensive up-front price
• Only for a set number of days which is annoying if you need a pass for the number of days in between, e.g. 5, 7, 10 or 12
• A maximum of 15 days on the pass, compared to the Half Fare Card which is valid for one month
• Only 25% discount at Jungfrau (compared to 50% on the Half Fare Card)
• You might pay for days you don’t end up using to their full potential (e.g. if you don’t travel on one of the days of the pass, or if you end up doing a short trip which would have been cheap without the pass anyway)

Is a Swiss Travel Pass worth it? Four example itineraries

I want to share four example itineraries to show you the value of the Swiss Travel Pass vs. point-to-point tickets, and I’ve included the Half Fare Card in there too.

Each of these example itineraries is using prices for tickets booked one month in advance. Keep in mind that if you book any later than one month in advance, 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
• Interlaken to Schiltorn day trip
• Interlaken to Jungfrau day trip
• Interlaken to Zermatt
• Zermatt to St Moritz (Glacier Express)

Here’s a spreadsheet showing the breakdown:

The Half Fare Card ends up being 30% cheaper than buying full fare tickets, and 17.4% cheaper than doing the same trip with a Swiss Travel Pass.

Ten days in Switzerland: Swiss Travel Pass budget breakdown

My ten day Switzerland itinerary is longer and includes five mountain excursions + two epic 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.

Here’s the breakdown:

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.

Free mountain railways only

Let’s throw a spanner in the works and say you’re taking my ten day Switzerland itinerary 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.

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

Short trip with free mountain railways only

I’m determined to find a way where the Swiss Travel Pass comes out on top, and I think I’ve found one.

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. Here’s the breakdown:

We got there in the end! 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. 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.

Swiss Travel Pass alternatives

I’ve talked about the Swiss Half Fare Card a little bit already but here’s some more info on that, plus a bunch of other alternatives you could consider instead of the Swiss Travel Pass.

Swiss Half Fare Card

The Swiss Half Fare Card is exactly what it says on the tin, it gives you half-price fares across the Swiss Travel System network.

There are a couple of key benefits to the Swiss Half Fare Card which make it a great option in lots of scenarios:

• It gives you 50% off most mountain railways and cable cars at half price, sometimes this is the same as the Swiss Travel Pass but in some cases, like Jungfrau, it’s even more of a discount
• It’s only 120CHF and lasts a whole month

And the disadvantages:

• It only gives you 50% discount on the tickets for the panorama trains like the Glacier Express, you still need to pay the full seat reservation
• You have to pay 50% for Rigi and Stanserhorn mountains, which are free with the Swiss Travel Pass
• You need to purchase tickets for each train, bus and boat, unlike the Swiss Travel Pass where you just show your pass to be allowed on. You can easily book them on the SBB app or website, just make sure you’re clicking the half-fare discount.

Book your Swiss Half Fare Card >>

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 is pretty much never the cheapest option if you’re travelling in Switzerland and plan on taking at least a few trains during your time there.

If you’re travelling last minute, the point-to-point tickets can be significantly higher (like twice as high) as what you might have seen if you checked prices two months ago.

Regional passes

To make things really confusing, different regions in Switzerland sometimes have their own travel passes that cover public transport and offer various discounts on mountains.

If you’re happy to spend a bit more time on your calculations, you might want to add up what a regional pass would cost in conjunction with a Swiss Half Fare Card that you could use for the rest of your trip.

Tell Pass in Lucerne region

• Unrestricted travel on rains, buses and boats and aerial cableways throughout the Lake Lucerne region
• 100% discount on mountain excursions like Rigi, Stanserhorn (both free with an STP) and also 100% discount on Pilatus and Titlis (STP only gets 50% off most cable cars and mountain railways)
• 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 consecutive days
• Passes start from 120CHF in winter and 190CHF in summer
• Cheaper price per day than the Swiss Travel Pass, could be used in this region and then a STP or Half Fare Card for the rest of the trip

Find out more about the Tell Pass Summer >>

Find out more about the Tell Pass Winter >>

Berner Oberland Pass in Bernese Oberland

• Unrestricted travel on public transport in the Bernese Oberland region, from Lucerne to Berne to Saanan to Domodossola
• Includes free travel on more than 25 mountain cable cars, including Grindelwald-First, Harder Kulm and Schynige
• Boat trips on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are included
• 3, 4, 6, 8 or 10 days
• Starts from for the 240CHF full fare but you can bring that down to 168CHF if you own a Swiss Half Fare Card
• 50% discount from Mürren to Schiltorn and from Engelberg to Titlis
• Discounts from local suppliers like cheaper activities, restaurant offers etc.
• Free travel to Kleine Scheidegg and then 50% off the final stretch to Jungfraujoch for 99CHF (instead of 138CHF)

Find out more about the Bernese Oberland Pass >>

Jungfrau Travel Pass for Jungfrau region

• Unlimited travel on boat. buses, trains, cable cars and most mountain railways in the Jungfrau region
• Includes Interlaken and boats across the lakes, Harder Kulm, Lauterbunnen, Mürren, Wengen, Grindelwald and the train from Kleine Schedegg to Eigergletscher
• You can get the return train from Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch for a special price of 63CHF (low season) or 75CHF (high season)
• Prices start from 210CHF for a full fare Jungfrau Travel Pass but you can bring that down to 165 if you own a Swiss Half Fare Card
• The Jungfrau Travel Pass runs in summer but there’s a separate Jungfrau Travel Pass Winter which is slightly different as there are no boats running on the lakes and you know have access to the Jungfrau region’s ski fields

Find out more about the Jungfrau Travel Pass >>

Zermatt Peak Pass

• Unlimited travel (not valid for skiing) on the following lifts and trains: Zermatt-Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Zermatt-Gornergrat, Furi-Riffelberg and Zermatt-Rothorn
• Admission to Glacier Palace, use of Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn between Randa, Tasch and Zermatt
• Local buses also included
• You get a 25% discount with a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass
• One day pass is 172CHF full fare and 129CHF with a Half Fare Card
• If your only mountain plans in Zermatt are 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 >>

Eurail/Interrail Passes

If your time in Switzerland is part of a bigger trip, like spending a couple of months in Europe, you could look into getting a Eurail (for non-European residents) or Interrail (for European residents) Global Pass to cover your trains inside and outside of Switzerland.

• Covers most trains across Europe but reservations might be required (particularly expensive in France and Italy)
• Free travel on most of Switzerland’s public inter-city trains
• Seat reservations required for panoramic trains
• Doesn’t include mountain railways or cable cars but you might get a discount (usually 25%, some give 50%)
• Doesn’t cover public transport within a city
• Doesn’t cover buses or boats, but you might get a discount on some lake cruises
• 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, so I’d recommend looking into splitting your trip. You could use a Eurail Pass for your journeys between cities like Zurich to Lucerne or Zermatt to St Moritz on the Glacier Express, then get a Half Fare Card or regional pass like the Tell Pass to cover your mountain railways.

Find out more about the Eurail Global Pass >>

Find out more about the Interrail Global Pass >>

Saver Day Pass

A Saver Day Pass is almost like a one day Swiss Travel Pass, giving you unlimited travel across the Swiss Travel System network for one day (from midnight until 5am the next morning).

• The cost of the Saver Day Pass varies, it’s cheaper if you book it in advance and it’s non-refundable, so you need to know what day to buy for
• Could be good if you’re planning on visiting Switzerland for only a few days and just want one or two big adventure days with long trains
• Also great if you’re in Switzerland for work or family reasons and will only have one day to be able to explore, book your Saver Day Pass in advance and you’ll be able to go wherever you want
• No discount on most mountain railways
• Combinable with the Half Fare Card

Book a Saver Day Pass on sbb.ch >>

Swiss Travel Pass FAQs

Is the 1st class swiss travel pass worth it.

The value of a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass totally depends on your travel preferences and budget.

Most Swiss trains on the Swiss Travel System network have 1st class carriages with have more spacious seating and comfier seats, and they’re usually less busy than the 2nd class carriages, which means less noise. 1st class carriages usually have two seats on one side and a single row of seats on the other, so for solo travellers they’re great as you won’t need to sit next to someone.

If you have a 1st class pass that also gives you access to book 1st class tickets for the Glacier Express which is an incredible experience and definitely worth the money if you can afford it.

I personally go for the 1st class pass because I like to work on long trains and I find this easier in a cabin where there’s a single row of seats so I’m not typing away next to a stranger.

But if you’re just travelling for normal sightseeing, in a couple or a family/friends group, and aren’t fussed on the 1st class Glacier Express experience, then just go for 2nd class and save that money for your adventures.

Is Jungfraujoch free with Swiss Travel Pass?

The Jungfraujoch journey is not entirely free with the Swiss Travel Pass , but the pass entitles you to a discount.

Getting to Grindelwald or Wengen is fully covered by the pass. From there, you receive a 25% discount on the train or cableways to reach Jungfraujoch.

Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover the Grand Train Tour?

If you’re up for a major adventure, the 1280km Grand Train Tour is a bucket list train journey worth considering.

The tour consists of eight different trips that combine to create a figure-eight-ish round trip, mostly train but some bus and boats thrown in for fun, and includes the five premium panoramic trains.

The Grand Train Tour is completely covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll just have to pay for seat reservations on the Bernina Express, Glacier Express and Gotthard Panorama Express.

Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover all mountain railways and cable cars?

The Swiss Travel Pass covers a couple of mountain railways and cable cars, like Rigi and Stanserhorn.

Other mountain railways and cable cars are discounted:

• Pilatus (free to reach Kriens or Alpnachstad by bus, train or boat, then 50% off for the train and cable car to Pilatus)
• Titlis (free to Engelberg, 50% off to the top)
• Schiltorn (free to Mürren or Stechelberg, then 50% off the cable car to the top)
• Jungfraujoch (free to Grindelwald or Wengen and then 25% off)
• Grindelwald-First (50% off)
• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (50% off)
• Glacier 3000 (50% off)
• Gornergratbahn (50% off)
• Schynige Platte (free to Wilderswil, then 50% discount)

What is the Swiss Rail Pass?

The terms “Swiss Rail Pass” and “Swiss Travel Pass” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to the same product: the Swiss Travel Pass.

The final verdict: Is a Swiss Travel Pass worth it?

Well this was a long one! The final verdict is this:

The Swiss Travel Pass is almost always cheaper than buying point-to-point tickets, BUT the Swiss Half Fare Card is often even better value.

If you want to stay flexible and would prefer the freedom to jump on an off trains as you choose, the convenience of the Swiss Travel Pass is probably worth the extra you might pay vs. a Swiss Half Fare Card.

Alternatively, if you don’t mind purchasing tickets for each trip, and you want to do mountain excursions that aren’t free with the STP, then the Half Fare Card will probably end up being a better deal for you.

Buy your Swiss Travel Pass >>

Buy your Swiss Half Fare Card >>

I hope this super detailed breakdown of the Swiss Travel Pass has helped you answer the question “is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?”.

MORE SWITZERLAND TRAVEL INSPIRATION:

• How to spend 10 days in Switzerland
• How to spend 5 days in Switzerland
• 33 Instagrammable places in Switzerland
• Rigi vs Pilatus vs Titlis vs Stanserhorn: Which one to visit?
• The cheapest place to ski in Switzerland: Liddes Ski Hostel
• 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 Half Fare Card 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?

MORE EUROPE TRAVEL INSPIRATION:

• The perfect two month Europe itinerary
• A Europe Christmas market itinerary by train
• The most beautiful train rides in Europe
• 27 Europe holiday ideas to inspire you
• How to use a Eurail Pass
• Is a Eurail Pass worth it?
• The ultimate Italy bucket list

You’ll Also Love

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• SEE ALL BLOGS
• GET INSPIRED
• DESTINATIONS
• SOLO TRAVEL
• TRAVEL PLANNING
• BLOGGING RESOURCES

Join my email list

Subscribe to be the first to know about new blog posts, travel hacks, giveaways and more.

Finding Alexx is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

• About Finding Alexx
• Work with me
• Privacy policy

Copyright © 2024 Finding Alexx

Swiss Voyages

Switzerland Destination Management Company

Swiss Travel Pass FLEX

Switzerland by swiss travel pass.

Switzerland, the hub of tourism in Europe has earned its name as it provides to its visitors a vast range of exotic natural beauty with lush green alpine meadows, high alpine peaks, mountain passes, pristine lakes, gushing rivers with glacial waters, beautiful & cozy Swiss Chalets, excellent gourmet services, world class hotels and the unparalleled Swiss Travel System which is considered as the 8th wonder of the world.

Undoubtedly,  the Swiss Travel System being a wonder as it provides quick connections with highly optimized time tables that make every city, town, village and even mountain tops accessible with quite impressive frequency.   Travelling by Swiss Travel System is the most impressive way of exploring the country.  The wide range of products of Swiss Travel System ensures that there is an appropriate ticket to match your specific needs and travel plans. With this system one can choose from a plethora of destinations on its network of over 20’000kms by Train, Tram, Boat and Buses.

Swiss Travel Pass for adult and youth

A highly recommended powerful travel tool for every tourist traveling to Switzerland allowing unlimited access to the entire Swiss rail, bus, tram and boat network for consecutive days. There are passes for 3, 4, 6, 8 and 15 days Anyone who is neither a permanent resident of Switzerland nor the Principality of Liechtenstein is eligible to buy these passes. Children under the age of 16 years travel free of cost with their parents. Youth below the age of 25 years get a special discount of 15%.

Swiss Travel Pass Flex

Advantages:.

• Unlimited travel on entire Swiss public transport system including Train, Bus, Tram and Boat.
• Free travel on all of the panoramic routes like Glacier Express, Bernina Express, GoldenPass Line, Gotthard Panorama Express, Chocolate Train, Pre-Alpine Express etc.
• Free travel on public transport in 75 towns and cities
• Free admission to more than 500 museums
• 25-50% discount on most of the mountain railways and cableways
• Free travel to Chamonix in France, Konstanz (Lake Constance) in Germany, Domodossola in Italy.
• Children under age 16 travel free of charge when accompanied by at least one parent holding a Swiss Family Card

Information:

• Panorama routes may be subject to a seat reservation charge
• Only persons domiciled outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein are entitled to purchase this  ticket.

Any questions related to Swiss Travel Pass FLEX?

Whatsapp Us

🟢 we are online

WhatsApp us

SWISS TRAVEL PASSES AND BENEFITS

What does swiss travel pass cover​, discover the swiss travel pass benefits and discounts for 2024 : explore flex, regional pass, and swiss half fare card benefits for your swiss railway adventures.

Discover the ultimate convenience and flexibility in Swiss travel with our range of passes. Whether you opt for the Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, the Swiss Half Fare Card, or the Swiss Regional Pass, you’re set for an unforgettable journey. Enjoy the Swiss Travel Pass benefits including:

• Unlimited travel across Switzerland by train, bus, and boat.
• Embark on the Premium Panoramic Train journeys: Glacier Express , Bernina Express , and GoldenPass Express . 
• Complimentary public transport in over 90 Swiss towns and cities.
• Free entry to 500+ museums. Explore the full list .
• Complimentary mountain excursions to Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos .
• Enjoy up to 50% discount on other mountain excursions .
• Avail up to 30% off with SBB RailAway offers at any Swiss ticket counter.
• Kids (6-16) travel free with the Swiss Family Card when accompanied by a Swiss Travel ticket holder.
• Children under 6? They travel at no cost.
• Choose the e-Ticket Swiss Rail Pass for seamless travel convenience.

Swiss Travel Pass

Available for durations of 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days.

Provides unlimited travel across the Swiss Travel System network, including trains, buses, and boats.

• Offers free or up to 50% discounted mountain excursions .

Upon purchase, you’ll receive an e-Ticket , ready for your Swiss adventure.

No additional ticketing or reservations are required (with exceptions for certain panoramic trains), offering a hassle-free travel experience.

Ideal for extensive exploration of Switzerland’s stunning landscapes.

• Price from CHF 244
• Swiss Travel Pass Pricing Overview 2023-2024

Swiss Travel Pass Flex

The  Swiss Travel Pass Flex  offers  non-consecutive day  travel options.

You can select 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 travel days within a  one-month  period .

It covers the extensive Swiss Travel System network, allowing unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats.

The pass  requires activation  each day it’s used , offering ultimate flexibility.

Upon purchase, a  proof of purchase  is provided, which becomes an e-ticket upon activation each day of travel.

The pass offers free or discounted excursions to numerous mountain peaks.

Certain panoramic train journeys with the Flex pass may require reservations.

Ideal for travelers desiring control and flexibility in their Swiss itinerary.

• Price from CHF 279

Swiss Half Fare Card

The  Swiss Half Fare Card offers 50% discount  on travel throughout the Swiss Travel System network.

The card is valid for  one month  from the date of issue.

It covers trains, buses, and boats across the country.

It also includes a 50% discount on most mountain railways.

• Offers free or up to  50% discounted mountain excursions .

Upon purchase, a proof of purchase is provided which can be exchanged for a physical card upon arrival in Switzerland.

Ideal for long-stay and make occasional trips or those with self-drive plans

The Swiss Half Fare Card offers an affordable way to explore Switzerland at your own pace.

• Price from CHF 120

Swiss Family Card

The  Swiss Family Card  offers free travel for children aged  6 to under 16  when accompanied by at least one parent with a valid Swiss Travel System ticket.

The card is  free of charge  and  can be requested at the time of purchasing a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, or Swiss Half Fare Card.

It’s valid for the same duration as the accompanying parent’s Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, or Swiss Half Fare Card.

The card covers the same extensive network as the parent’s pass, including trains, buses, boats, and most mountain railways.

This makes the Swiss Family Card an excellent choice for families traveling together in Switzerland, offering significant savings.

Swiss Travel Pass Youth

The  Swiss Travel Pass Youth offers a 30% discount  on the standard Swiss Travel Pass prices for young travelers  aged between 16 and 25 years .

It provides unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats across the Swiss Travel System network.

The pass includes free or discounted excursions to several mountain peaks.

Upon purchase, a proof of purchase is provided, which serves as your e-Ticket .

Certain panoramic train journeys may require reservations.

The Swiss Travel Pass Youth is an affordable way for young travelers to explore the beauty and diversity of Switzerland.

• Price from CHF 172

Swiss Travel Pass Youth Flex

The Swiss Travel Pass Youth Flex offers a 30% discount on the standard Swiss Travel Pass prices for young travelers aged between 16 and 25 years .

Provides non-consecutive day travel, allowing travelers to choose between 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 travel days within a one-month period .

Enables unlimited access across the Swiss Travel System network, covering trains, buses, and boats.

Grants holders free or up to 50% discounted excursions to numerous mountain peaks .

Each day of travel requires prior activation, catering to spontaneous plans and ultimate flexibility.

A proof of purchase is handed upon buying the pass, which transforms into an e-Ticket upon daily activation.

Some panoramic train journeys and mountain excursions might need reservations in advance.

The pass is a perfect blend of affordability and adaptability, ideal for young travelers aiming to experience the diversity of Switzerland.

• Price from CHF 197

Berner Oberland Pass (Regional Pass)

Ideal for deep exploration of the Swiss Alps: The  Berner Oberland Regional Pass .

Offers unlimited travel for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 10 consecutive days.

Provides access to trains, buses, boats, and mountain transport  within the Bernese Oberland region .

Covers popular destinations like Interlaken, Jungfrau Region, Thun, and Lucerne.

Includes  discounted excursions  to peaks such as Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn , and First.

Perfect for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in Switzerland’s dramatic alpine scenery.

• Price from CHF 240

Tell-Pass-Central Switzerland (Regional Pass)

Regional pass for  Central Switzerland : The Tell-Pass.

Offers unlimited travel for 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 consecutive days.

Access to trains, buses, boats, and selected mountain railways.

Covers scenic areas around  Lucerne, Lake Lucerne, Rigi, Pilatus , and Titlis .

Ideal for explorers focusing on the heart of Switzerland.

Secure your Swiss Travel Pass for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days and receive your instant e-ticket complete with a QR code. Step off the plane and onto a train in Switzerland without the hassle of activating your pass.

Q: Do we need to reserve train seats, or can we just board with our Swiss Travel Pass e-Ticket?

A: With the Swiss Travel Pass , you have the freedom to board most trains in Switzerland without needing a reservation, allowing for spontaneous and flexible travel. However, for premium panoramic trains like the Glacier Express , Bernina Express , and the GoldenPass Line , seat reservations are required to secure your spot and enjoy the breathtaking scenic journeys these routes offer. For regular trains and most intercity connections, you can simply hop on and enjoy the ride. It’s always wise to verify specific train requirements in advance to ensure a smooth travel experience.

This question is part of our FAQs , including those on Swiss Travel Pass benefits . For more detailed information, please visit the Swiss Travel Pass FAQs page here .

"Choosing SwissASAP for my Swiss Travel Pass was a game-changer. Not only did I get the best price, but the process was seamless, and the added discounts made exploring Switzerland even more enjoyable. Highly recommend!"

Pongpat Kitsanayothin

Senior Manager, International Tax and Transaction Services, Ernst & Young LLP, Chicago

Swiss Travel Passes Premium Panoramic Train Mountain Excursions Grand Train Tour of Switzerland Stories Swiss Travel Pass FAQs ภาษาไทย About SwissASAP

After Sales Support: [email protected]

Other Services

Paragliding in Interlaken Switzerland Travel Itinerary Hotels in Switzerland

Info/Partner with us: [email protected]

Who is SwissASAP.com?

SwissASAP , Yo ur Global Gateway to Swiss Travel Pass  is an online market partner  with  Swiss Travel System AG  and   STC Switzerland Travel Center AG . We are a trusted website to purchase  Swiss Travel Pass,  the best option of traveling in Switzerland .

We are honored to have received the  Swiss Travel System Excellence Expert Award for 2023 by   Swiss Travel System AG , and to be recognized as a  Qualified Switzerland Travel Expert for 2023-2024  by  Switzerland Tourism .

©2023 SwissASAP. All Rights Reserved.