If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland and trying to figure out which transport pass makes the most sense, you’re not alone. It might just be the most complicated question to answer.
You may have heard of all the different options there are in terms of travel passes and tickets.
If you’re not familiar with the Swiss public transport system yet, I recommend you read my guide first to get a good idea of what our trains, boats, buses and cable cars are all about.
The Swiss public transport system is one of the densest in the world.
Figuring out which ticket or travel pass to buy is no easy question to answer.
If you’re already familiar with it and you’ve read about the Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card, you might be wondering which one makes most sense for you.
In this post, we’re going to look at exactly this question.
If you can’t be bothered to figure it out yourself, I’ve got good news for you. In my Travel Pass Calculator service, I’ll do the heavy lifting for you and tell you which one is best for you based on your itinerary.
To get started, we need to cover a few basics by explaining the difference between the two.
What is the Swiss Travel Pass?
In short, the Swiss Travel Pass is a fully prepaid travel pass that lets you ride nearly all public transport in Switzerland for free during its validity period. That includes:
- Trains, buses, boats and most mountain railways
- Urban transport in over 90 towns and cities
- Premium panorama trains like the Glacier Express (seat reservations not included)
- Free or discounted entry to over 500 museums
You can buy it for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive or non-consecutive days.
For more in-depth details like pricing, how exactly it works, what different types there are and what exactly is included, read more about the Swiss Travel Pass here.
What is the Swiss Half Fare Card?
The Swiss Half Fare Card is a lot easier to explain. There’s one price and one duration as opposed to the Swiss Travel Pass, which comes in lots of different variations.
Instead of giving you unlimited travel, it gives you 50% off the tickets you buy in Switzerland – including trains, buses, boats and many mountain excursions.
You still need to buy individual tickets, but at half the price. The card is valid for one full calendar month and costs 120 CHF.
You can read more about the Swiss Half Fare Card here.
Key differences at a glance
|
Feature |
Swiss Travel Pass |
Swiss Half Fare Card |
|---|---|---|
|
Type |
Unlimited travel |
50% discount |
|
Validity |
3-15 consecutive or non-consecutive days |
1 full calendar month |
|
Upfront costs |
Higher (172 CHF – 755 CHF)* |
Lower (120 CHF) |
|
Seat reservations |
Still required on scenic trains |
Still required on scenic trains |
|
Buying individual tickets? |
No (only for mountain railways) |
Yes |
|
Museum access |
Free for 500+ museums |
Not included |
|
Mountain railways |
Free or discounted on many** |
50% discount |
* There are lots of different prices for the Swiss Travel Pass. In my example, 172 CHF is the price for the 3 consecutive days pass for youth in 2nd class and 755 CHF is the price for the 15 non-consecutive days pass for adults in 1st class. You can view the complete price table here.
** Every mountain railway company has different discounts applying for Swiss Travel Pass holders. Some, like Mount Rigi or Stanserhorn, are free. Most other give between 25% and 50% off. I’ve got a separate post about finding out whether your Swiss Travel Pass is valid that you can check the trip you’d like to take.
When the Swiss Travel Pass makes sense
Choose the Swiss Travel Pass if:
- You’re travelling intensively – for example, changing towns every day or covering large distances across the country
- You want the convenience of hopping on and off trains, boats and local buses without stopping to buy tickets
- You plan to visit several cities, towns and museums – especially if you’re interested in culture and sightseeing
- You’re planning to use panoramic trains like the Glacier Express, Bernina Express or GoldenPass Line (note: seat reservations still needed)
- You enjoy the freedom of being spontaneous with your schedule, since you don’t have to calculate ticket prices in advance
It’s the best option for travellers who want to see as much of Switzerland as possible in a limited time. Without worrying about ticket machines or travel budgets.
The Swiss Travel Pass is valid on all scenic trains (Photo: Switzerland Tourism / André Meier)
It also gives you free access to several museums and chocolate factories.
When the Swiss Half Fare Card is better
Go for the Swiss Half Fare Card if:
- You’re travelling less frequently, staying in one place for a few nights at a time and making occasional day trips
- You plan to mix public transport with other modes of travel. Like renting a car for part of your trip or exploring a single region in depth
- You’re planning to take only a few scenic or mountain trains
- You’re okay purchasing discounted tickets individually
- You’re a budget-conscious traveller who doesn’t mind planning routes and prices ahead of time
