Public transportation in Switzerland features a well-established network of buses, trams, trolleybuses, trains, and ferries. All of them follow a meticulously designed schedule where one form of transport is synchronized with another. You need to pay for your trip independently at special machines, online, or at ticket counters, indicating the start and end points of your journey (this is printed on the ticket).
Switzerland is divided into zones, within which there is a unified price for all types of transportation. For example, in Zurich, the price reaches 4.4 francs for a one-way ticket, 2.7 CHF for a short-distance trip, and a day pass for two zones costs 8.8 CHF. The fare increases if you need to cross more than two transportation zones.
Useful Information! Before traveling in Switzerland, download the SBB Mobile app. This is the official application of the country’s main carrier, which allows you to plan a route from any point in the country to another in a matter of seconds.
The Swiss transport system is not only perfectly organized but also quite complicated, and the cost of a mistake in the form of fines starts at 75 francs. This is why there are several types of travel passes for foreigners in Switzerland, the most popular of which is the Swiss Pass.
What is the Swiss Pass?
The Swiss Pass is a unique system that makes your journey through Switzerland more enjoyable without significant expenses. It is a single travel pass designed exclusively for foreigners, allowing free use of all public transport services, including inter-regional trains and ferries. Which Swiss Pass to choose, how much it costs, and who can buy it at a 50% discount? Answers are in this article.
Which Swiss Pass to Choose: Features, Prices, and Discounts
As of 2021, there are four main types of Swiss Passes.
Swiss Travel Pass
The basic option that allows you to not pay for travel on all public transportation in Switzerland (excluding mountain regions) for a certain period. It also allows you to purchase tickets for the mountain cable car at half price and grants access to almost 500 museums in the country.
Price of the Swiss Travel Pass:
First Class:
- Three consecutive days – 369 CHF
- Four days – 447 CHF
- Eight days – 663 CHF
- Fifteen days – 810 CHF
Second Class:
- Three consecutive days – 232 CHF
- Four days – 281 CHF
- Eight days – 418 CHF
- Fifteen days – 513 CHF
Important! Swiss Pass for children aged 6 to 16 costs half as much as for adults, and for schoolchildren and students under 26, it is sold at a 15% discount.
The Swiss Travel Pass is suitable for tourists traveling to two or more cities in Switzerland. Current prices for reference:
- A one-way ticket within the city costs 4.4 CHF
- The cost of a one-way trip on intercity trains starts at 13 CHF for a half-hour trip, for example, from Zurich to Winterthur. Getting from diplomatic Geneva to the same city costs 83 CHF.
- The average entrance fee to a museum is 10-12 francs.
Note! The main difference between first and second class is the greater distance between passenger seats. Whether it is worth paying at least 40% more for such a privilege is up to you.
Swiss Travel Pass Flex
This pass operates on the same principle as the basic Swiss Pass but gives you the choice of the period during which it will be valid. After the first use, the system counts a month, during which you have the right to free travel for 3 days NOT CONSECUTIVELY (or more, depending on the tariff).
Important! You do not need to specify when you will use the Swiss Pass directly when purchasing – the days will be counted automatically during trips.
Price of the Swiss Travel Pass Flex:
First Class:
- Three days – 424 CHF
- Four days – 514 CHF
- Eight days – 742 CHF
- Fifteen days – 890 CHF
Second Class:
- Three days – 267 CHF
- Four days – 323 CHF
- Eight days – 467 CHF
- Fifteen days – 563 CHF
Buying this pass is beneficial only for those who plan to visit Switzerland more than once within 30 days and visit several cities, or for those who travel on a complex route, stopping in each area for a few days.
Beware of fines! A travel ticket in Switzerland is valid only if you have a passport on which it was issued. If during the trip you cannot provide the required document to the controller, you will be fined 100 francs + you will still need to compensate for the cost of the ticket.
Swiss Coupon Pass
The Swiss Coupons Pass contains 100 exclusive discount coupons for various attractions, tours, and restaurants.
- Savings of up to 4500 Swiss francs on the most visited tourist attractions in Switzerland.
- It covers all tourist regions: Basel, Bern, Lucerne, Zurich, St. Gallen, mountainous St. Moritz, Lugano, Zermatt, Interlaken, festival Montreux, Geneva.
Discounts are available on:
- Tourist attractions, adventure parks, museums.
- Guided tours on foot, by bus, mini-train, and Segway.
- Swiss Federal Railways SBB (discounts on money exchange and Mondaine watches).
- Restaurants (Swiss and international cuisine).
- Swiss castles.
- Swiss mountain and cruise tours and gastronomic experiences.
- Entrance tickets to swimming pools and thermal baths.
- Rentals (cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and sports equipment).
The cost of the Swiss Coupon Pass is 49 CHF. The validity period is 1 day.
Swiss Half Fare Card
A monthly subscription for a 50% discount when buying tickets for trains and almost all types of public transport. Note that for short-route buses and trams with minimal fares, as well as promotional tickets for other types of transport, the Half Fare Card provides a smaller discount.
For all new bookings: free cancellation 4 working days before the first day of validity.
- Up to 50% discount on most mountain excursions.
- Children under 16 travel for free if accompanied by at least one parent.
Price of the Half Fare Card
A single tariff of 120 francs is set for the purchase of this type of travel pass. Buying it is beneficial for tourists who have come to Switzerland for a long period to travel through several cities.
Where to Buy a Swiss Pass
In specialized travel agencies. On the official seller’s website — www.swiss-pass.ch. Despite not having to pay intermediaries, the price will not be much lower than in agencies because the order will include the delivery cost of the travel pass – plus 15-18 francs to the price of the Swiss Pass. At the airports of Zurich, Basel, or Geneva.
Geneva-Cointrin Airport
To issue a Swiss Pass, you only need a passport. Children under 16 are entitled to free travel with one of their parents who have obtained a Swiss Pass.
Important! The Swiss Transfer Ticket is the only type of travel pass that cannot be purchased directly upon arrival in Switzerland. It must be obtained before arriving in the country.
The Swiss Pass is a convenient system that allows you to significantly save on travel in certain situations. Enjoy the beautiful views of Switzerland without significant expenses. Have a good trip!
