travel switzerland by bus

• ABOUT LOST IN SWITZERLAND
• HOW TO GET AROUND SWITZERLAND
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT
• SWISS TRAVEL PASS
• TICKETS AND OTHER TRAVEL PASSES
• SWISS ACTIVITIES
• ITINERARIES

LAST UPDATED: July 31, 2024

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The ultimate guide to using public transport in Switzerland

You know how it goes.

You land in a new country, get the stamp in your passport, grab your bag and make it through customs. Next, you try to figure out how the public transport system works around here to make your way into the city.

But all those options can be overwhelming and you have about a million questions you don't know the answer to.

Should you have booked your train ticket in advance? Are trains even a thing here or are buses more popular? Should you buy tickets as you go or would a travel pass work out cheaper? 

That‘s where this guide comes in. By the time you’re done here, you’ll know just as much , if not more than the average Swiss about the public transport system in Switzerland.

1. The public transport system of Switzerland

Public transport in Switzerland is efficient, (mostly) punctual, and literally all over the place .

If you sum up all the railway tracks running across this little country, you’ll end up with over 5.300 kilometres  (3.300 miles).

That’s a lot. 

That’s the distance from Vancouver to Halifax . Or from Ushuaia to São Paulo. Or from Cairns to Sydney. Return . Quite impressive for a country half the size of Lake Superior, isn't it?

Summing up all means of public transport like buses, trains and Postauto lines, the whole network contains roughly 29.000 kilometres (18.000 miles) and looks something like this:

The Swiss public transport network (click here for a more detailed map)

2. Means of public transport in Switzerland

2.1 trains in switzerland.

In terms of trains, Switzerland is a country of superlatives.

No other European nation covers as much ground on the railway tracks as we do. In 2019, we travelled a whopping 2.400 kilometres (1.500 miles) by train.

Additionally, since summer 2016, we've been proud owner of the world's longest railway tunnel: the Gotthard Base Tunnel . It is 57 kilometres (35 miles) long and reduced the travel time between Zurich and the Canton of Ticino by 30 minutes, or 20%.

As you can imagine, trains are by far the fastest and most convenient way to get around Switzerland. If you open this map , you will see the red lines running up and down the country. They represent the railway lines that are served by Intercity, Interregio, Regio, suburban trains and mountain railways.

The major train company is called SBB , or CFF in French and FFS in Italian, which stands for Swiss Federal Railways .

Apart from SBB, there are over 70 more railway companies completing this dense network.

Switzerland has one of the densest railway networks in the world

2.2 Long distance buses in Switzerland

Long-distance buses aren't really a thing in Switzerland. The Swiss are a (proud) nation of train riders. 🙂

However, bus companies have been on the move across Europe lately and it is now possible to travel within Switzerland by bus. Check the Flixbus or Eurobus websites to find your connection.

While long-distance buses are definitely cheaper than trains , they come with a few downsides.

• Trains run several times per hour between major cities, while buses only run a couple of times per day.
• Buses take a lot longer to reach their destination than trains because they drive more slowly and get stuck in traffic.
• A bus ticket ties you to a specific service . This means you can't spontaneously travel at a different time, which is possible by train. 

2.3 Postauto buses in Switzerland

No corner of the country is too remote to have one of those iconic, yellow Postauto buses running through. The yellow lines on this map don't even come near to covering their whole territory.

To dig a little deeper into this extensive network, visit the regional section on the Postauto website . 

While Postauto buses are very common and popular in remote regions and villages, they also serve most cities and their suburbs.

As the name suggests, they were originally used to transport mail. But over time, Postauto gradually started carrying people as well, which is all they do nowadays.

The shiny yellow Postauto buses take you anywhere in Switzerland.

2.4 City buses in Switzerland

In addition to Postautos, cities and certain bigger villages also have their own local bus network. You can find a list of all local bus lines on this website . 

City buses often run quite frequently. Especially in larger cities. Depending on the size of the city and the time of day, you’ll see anything between 30-minute down to two-minute intervals.

2.5 Trams in Switzerland

Trams aren't that widely spread in Switzerland and the only places with notable tram networks are Zurich, Basel, Bern and Geneva.

Trams are in charge of connecting the cities as well as their suburbs to the centre. They usually run quite frequently – sometimes up to every two minutes. In Basel, there's even a tram running across the border to Weil am Rhein in Germany. 

A little word of warning from a country girl 😊 Trams can be an aggressive species and if you'd like to do ensure your physical wellbeing, look out for them in the city centres. They have a tendency to favour honking over breaking. 

As they do all over the world, I suppose.

2.6 Passenger ships in Switzerland

With all those lakes and rivers, it only makes sense that passenger ships are another easy way to get around Switzerland. Where there's a white line on this map , there's a passenger ship or a ferry.

Since those ships are quite slow in comparison to all the other means of public transport, they're not really used by commuters . So if you're in a hurry to get from one place to another, maybe skip this one. 

However, if you have time and fancy taking in some stunning views or even embark on a steamboat, visit this website to find out more about everything that's available.

Please be aware that it can get quite crowded during summer on a sunny day. While I've never run into the situation where they stopped letting people on board, it might make sense to be at the pier a few minutes before departure.

On a little side note, services don't run with the same timetable all year round. Make sure you double-check the departure time before you set out on your cruise.

Catch a steamboat...

... or a regular ship in Lucerne to travel around Switzerland

2.7 Cable cars in Switzerland

Technically speaking, cable cars aren't part of the public transport system and most of them don’t get any financial support from the government. Nevertheless, they still deserve their spot on this map in the shape of black lines.

To use a cable car, you usually have to buy some sort of an extra ticket . And those are rarely cheap.

However, most cable cars accept the most common travel passes , which I will talk about further down in this post. So make sure you show them any kind of ticket or travel pass you might already have.

Probably the coolest cable car ever: The CabriO at Stanserhorn near Lake Lucerne

2.8 FAQ: What people also ask about public transport in Switzerland

Is public transport in switzerland expensive.

Unfortunately, it is. Quality definitely has its price here.

Luckily, there are a few ways to optimise your travel costs by buying a travel pass or a Supersaver Ticket. 

I will talk about both of these in the next sections of this post. 

What's the difference between first and second class coaches on Swiss trains?

There are two main differences between first and second class coaches on Swiss trains. Price and legroom.

• A ticket in the first class costs up to 75% more than the same journey in the second class does.
• If you prefer more legroom and some extra peace and quiet, you might prefer the first over the second class.

Is it worth travelling first class on Swiss trains?

Generally speaking, our  second class coaches are of very high quality and if you travel outside of rush hour, you should have no problems feeling comfortable in a second class coach. 

However, if some extra peace and quiet and more legroom is a priority to you, you will enjoy your journey more by travelling first class. Just factor in the considerable 75% price difference. 

How long does it take to travel across Switzerland by train?

Not long at all.

With Switzerland being so small, it takes just under four hours to travel from St. Gallen to Geneva and less than three hours from Basel to Lugano. 

If you travel with the fast intercity trains , that is. 

Of course, there are slower and more scenic trains that take longer. But if you're starting your trip in Zurich, it will take you no more than one to two hours to reach any other major city in Switzerland. 

How do I know when my train, bus, Postauto or ship leaves?

The best way to find your timetable is by using the SBB website or the SBB app .

3. Tickets on Swiss public transport in general

3.1 one journey = one ticket.

In Switzerland, it doesn't matter which company or means of transport you travel with. The price will always be the same. You pay for your journey from one place to another, regardless of who runs it.

For example,  if you go from Zurich to Zermatt , you need to change trains in Visp. The first part of your trip is operated by SBB, while the second part belongs to MGB (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn). But your ticket from Zurich to Zermatt covers  both rides .

The same goes if part of your journey is operated by a  different means of transport . Let’s say you travel from Zurich to Stein in the Appenzell region. After getting off the train in St. Gallen, you need to change to a Postauto bus. Your ticket from Zurich to Stein covers the whole journey.

3.2 Tickets are flexible and never sell out

Tickets are valid for a certain time span and not for a specific service. If you buy a ticket from Bern to Zurich, you’re free to take any train leaving from Bern to Zurich on the day of travel . You're also free to get off along the way and continue your journey later that day.

Therefore, tickets aren’t limited and reservations aren't necessary. Whether you buy it two days or two minutes in advance, you’ll pay the exact same price. This doesn't go for Supersaver Tickets, but we'll get into that later.

3.3 Have your ticket when you get on

Once you're on the train, you need to have a valid ticket in your pocket. On certain trains, you can buy one from the ticket collector but I only suggest doing that in an emergency as it costs you extra.

If you see the sign below, it means you can't buy a ticket on the train and you'll pay 100 CHF if they catch you without one.

With buses and Postautos, it's a different story. You have the option to buy a ticket on board – either at the ticket machine or directly with the driver.

If you see this sign, you can't buy a ticket from the ticket collector.

4. Your ticket options

4.1 point-to-point.

What is it?

If you travel between cities that aren’t part of the same fare system (more about that later), you need a point-to-point. This allows you to catch any train running between your origin and destination , either one way or return.

You don’t have to use it for a specific train and once you begin your journey, you can get off along the way

The point-to-point t icket is best for you if you are...

• travelling between cities
• not using public transport on a regular basis
• only in Switzerland for a short amount of time

With a ticket from St. Gallen to Bern, you can get off in Zurich and hop back on whenever you’re ready.

You’re free to add on as many stops as you like. As long as you don’t miss that last train to Bern because one-way tickets are only valid for one day.

Where can you buy it?

At the ticket counter: The easiest place to buy your ticket is at the counter. They sell any ticket imaginable and answer your questions about public transport.

At the vending machine:  Alternatively, pick one of the many SBB vending machines standing at every train station.

Online:  The SBB website lets you buy tickets with or without creating an account. You can either print your ticket or display it in the SBB app. The app will ask you for an account, though.

Through the SBB App:  The  SBB app is a tool I recommend to anyone travelling through Switzerland. It lets you buy tickets, displays your online tickets and comes with an extensive timetable feature.

4.2 Zone Ticket

Switzerland is split up into over 20 fare networks . Each of them consists of several zones and if you travel within one of those networks, you need a Zone Ticket instead of a point-to-point ticket.

The Zone Ticket is best for you if you are...

• using local transport  within a fare system
• staying in the  same area and not visiting any places outside the fare system

To get from Zurich airport into the city, you’ll be travelling within the fare network of ZVV. In this case, you need a ticket for all the zones between the airport and the main station.

Depending on how many zones your ticket is for, you have between one and two hours to use it on any means of transport within those zones.

Zone Tickets are available in the same places as the point-to-point tickets. You can either go through the counter, the vending machines, the SBB website or the SBB app.

You have some extra options here, though.

Postauto and city buses:  To get your Postauto or bus ticket, pick one of the following options:

• Vending machine at the bus stop (in and around cities)
• Vending machine inside the bus (in and around cities)
• Pay the driver (in more remote places)

If you don’t already have a ticket once your bus arrives and you can’t see a vending machine anywhere, just get on through the front door and ask for a ticket.

Trams:  Every tram stop has a vending machine because you can’t buy a ticket from the driver.

Ships:  Not all companies are part of a fare network but certain Zone Tickets are valid for ships as well. To make sure you get the right ticket, I suggest getting one on board or at the counter by the pier.

Show them all your (local) tickets so they can give you your cheapest option.

ZVV commercial advertising one ticket for everything - trains, trams, buses and ships

4.3 City Ticket

The City Ticket is a combination of the two tickets above  and is only available for  certain participating cities . It comes in handy if you combine an intercity trip with a local journey.

The City  Ticket is best for you if you are...

• using  local and intercity  transport in the same journey
• not  using public transport on a regular basis

If you travel from Lausanne to a place somewhere in the city of Bern, you catch the intercity train for the first part of your journey. Once you’re in Bern, you change to the local city bus or the tram. The City Ticket covers both rides.

It also works the other way round, where you use local public transport only in Lausanne and then add the point-to-point ticket to Bern.

Another version of the City Ticket is the former City-City Ticket. Quite the mouthful, I know. 

A while ago, this one got integrated in the assortment of the City Ticket. With this one, you have the option to add your local transport to your intercity journey in both your starting and ending point. 

Like the point-to-point ticket, you can buy the City Ticket at the counter, most vending machines at the train station, the SBB website or the SBB app.

Buying a City Ticket works out slightly cheaper than buying two separate tickets. Savings range between 2 and 3 CHF for the whole journey.

4.4 Supersaver Ticket

This one is worth its weight in gold. Most long distance connections come with a limited amount of Supersaver Tickets . Discounts are sometimes up to 70% off.

The catch? The Supersaver Ticket is  tied to a specific train . You lose the flexibility of using any train you want and there’s no getting off along the way. They also sell out at some point because they’re so popular. Once you know your exact travel dates, it pays off to check for Supersaver Tickets right away. They’re available 60 days in advance.

The Supersaver Ticket is a very handy invention for those looking to travel cheaper. 

In case you miss your connecting train due to a delay of your previous one, let the ticket collector know. Ideally before you get off at the station. He'll confirm the train's delay and hand you a piece of paper, which you can show along with your Supersaver Ticket on the next train.

If you spontaneously decide to catch a different train , you can get a refund. However, going through this process is a bit of a hassle and costs 10 CHF. So I only recommend getting a Supersaver Ticket if you're sure to travel on that specific day and time.

The Supersaver  Ticket is best for you if you...

• are travelling between cities
• know ahead of time when you’ll be travelling
• don’t mind  losing the flexibility  of hopping on any train you like
• are not  using public transport on a regular basis
• are only in Switzerland for a short amount of time

You can only buy Supersaver Tickets through the SBB website or the SBB app. With both options, you have to go pretty far into the buying process to see if special offers are still available.

4.5 Swiss Half Fare Card

Strictly speaking, the Swiss Half Fare Card is not a ticket. Like the name suggests, it’s a card that gives you 50% off  every ride. Everyone in Switzerland who uses public transport on a regular basis owns one.

The classic Half Fare Card is valid for a whole year but visitors can buy the Swiss Half Fare Card for one month. It costs 120 CHF, which seems like a lot for a discount card. However, since ticket prices aren't cheap in Switzerland, it pays off fairly quickly.

The Swiss Half Fare Card is best for you if you are...

• using point-to-point tickets, Zone Tickets, City Tickets, City-City Tickets or Day Passes on a regular basis

You can buy the Swiss Half Fare card online or at any ticket counter. All you need is your passport or your identity card.

5. Travel Passes

5.1 sbb day pass.

The SBB Day Pass is great if you’re covering a lot of ground in one day. It costs 75 CHF and is only available for Swiss Half Fare Card  holders.

To make most of this pass, you really have to travel far, though. Unless you cut across the whole country in a day, you’re better off buying a normal ticket.

With the National Day Pass, you have access to every means of public transport in Switzerland.

The National Day Pass is best for you if you are...

• travelling long distances within one day (long in terms of Swiss relations 🙂 )
• a Swiss Half Fare Card holder
• only in Switzerland for a short amount of time and a multi-day travel pass wouldn’t pay off.

You can buy the SBB Day Pass online or at any ticket counter.

5.2 Saver Day Pass

In September 2017, the supersaver version of the National Day Pass was released. Prices vary and if you have a Half Fare Card, the Saver Day Pass costs between 29 CHF and 59 CHF. 

Without a Swiss Half Fare Card, expect to pay between 52 CHF and 106 CHF.

Sales open 6 months in advance and since this pass is so popular, the cheapest options sell out quickly.

The Saver Day Pass  is best for you if you are...

• well organised and know ahead of time  what day you’ll be travelling

You can only buy the Saver Day Pass online or through the app, but not through any ticket machines or at the counter.

5.3 Regional Day Pass

The Regional Day Pass is basically a Zone Ticket that's valid for a whole day. As usual, you get 50% off with the Swiss Half Fare Card.

Most fare networks give you a discount on your Regional Day Pass if you set off after 9 am. To find which network has a 9 o’clock pass, check their website .

Like the Zone Tickets, you can buy the Regional Day Pass online , at the counter, the vending machine (at the train station, inside the buses or at the tram stop), directly from the bus driver, the SBB website or the SBB app.

The Regional Day Pass is best for you if you are...

• using public transport within one fare system several times a day

5.4 Swiss Travel Pass

Apart from including every means of public transport across Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass also serves as a ticket to over 500 museums .

This pass is available for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days and you don’t need a Half Fare Card to get one. If you’re under 25 years old, you get a 30% discount.

If you need some help deciding if you should buy the Swiss Travel Pass or not , I've written an article about the subject.

I don’t suggest using the Swiss Travel Pass right after you buy it unless you travel far. Once you validate it, every following day counts. If you land in Zurich and spend your first days in the city, a Zone Ticket works out cheaper than using your Swiss Travel Pass from the get-go.

The Swiss Travel Pass gives you unlimited travel in Switzerland.

The Swiss Travel Pass is best for you if you are...

• are using public transport on a regular basis
• are planning on seeing  every corner  of Switzerland without having to worry about buying tickets
• are travelling several days in a row
• like  museums

You can buy the Swiss Travel Pass either at the counter or directly here  online .

5.5 Swiss Travel Pass Flex

The only difference between the Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Travel Pass Flex is the fact that the it's a little pricier and doesn’t require you to use it on consecutive days. Instead, you can travel on 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days of your choice within a month.

It also comes with a 30% discount for under 25-year-olds and serves as a museum ticket on your travel days. To figure out if this pass is for you or not, read my article about this subject.

The Swiss Travel Pass Flex is best for you if you...

• don’t want to travel every day but rather keep your itinerary  flexible

You can buy the Swiss Travel Pass Flex either at the counter or directly here  online .

5.6 Interrail Pass

This popular rail pass for Europeans comes in two versions: the Global Pass  and the One Country Pass .

Both allow you to use all SBB trains as well as several other companies. Certain private companies , like for example the BOB between Interlaken and Grindelwald, aren’t included, though. But they offer a 25% – 50% discount to pass holders.

Since the Interrail is a popular train ticket, you’re on your own when it comes to local transport. Buses, trams and most ships aren’t included. 

On a plus side, Interrail gives you several benefits. Like a free bus ride from Munich to Zurich, 15% off 43 selected Swiss Youth Hostels and much more .

The Interrail Pass is best for you if you are...

• not staying long enough to make a Swiss Travel Pass pay off
• mainly using the major railway companies
• planning on seeing  every corner of Switzerland (that's accessible by train) without having to worry about buying tickets

You can buy an Interrail Pass through your travel agency at home, ticket counters across Europe or directly here online .

Depending on the pass you buy and with all the restrictions it comes with, Interrail works out 40% to 50% cheaper than the Swiss Travel Passes . 

5.7 Eurail Pass

Eurail is the equivalent to Interrail for non-Europeans . With the difference that Eurail doesn’t offer a One Country Pass for Switzerland. Instead, you can get a Global Pass for your Swiss trip.

The Global Pass covers 33 European countries for different time spans. Starting at 4 days within a month and ending with three months continuous. 

As with Interrail, there are a few restrictions and certain private companies, like for example the BOB between Interlaken and Grindelwald, aren’t included. But they offer a 25% – 50% discount to pass holders.

The Eurail Pass is best for you if you are...

• non-European
• planning on seeing every corner of Switzerland (that’s accessible by train) without having to worry about buying tickets

You can buy your Eurail Pass through your travel agency at home, ticket counters across Europe or  online .

6. Decision time

Congratulations. You now know just as much, if not more, than the average Swiss about your ticket options in Switzerland. The only thing that’s left to do is pick your best match.

My recommendation to get this process started is to make a rough outline of your itinerary, figure out where you want to go and use the SBB timetable to calculate prices for each leg of your journey. That way, you'll soon see which travel pass best suits you or if you're better off buying tickets as you go. 

Actually, I've prepared a spreadsheet for you. This should help you make a decision whether or not buying a Swiss Travel Pass or a Swiss Half Fare Card makes sense in your case.

Bon voyage 😎

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Nice compendium. I think it might be helpful to mention the specific restriction of Eurail Pass on the Berner Oberlandbahn which only gives a 25% discount on purchased tickets. It is a popular area, and Eurail pass holders are always shocked by the notice at Interlaken Ost station that their pass is not valid for onward journeys to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald and beyond.

Thanks for that input Sam. I did mention in the post that there are restrictions to the Eurail and Interrail Passes and linked to the sites that list those exclusions. But maybe it’s not obvious enough. I’ll update the post just to be sure that people don’t get stuck on the BOB without a valid ticket. Thanks for the tip.

Excellent guide on Swiss Transportation I must say!!! You have covered each and every single thing from different transportation options to their ticket & pass-details. Helped me preparing my overall transportation budget for Switzerland. Thank you.. Keep sharing these kinds of articles.

Thank you for your lovely comment. I’m glad my post has been helpful for your planning process 🙂

Thank you for the very informative public transport guide!

I will be heading to St. Gallen for 4 months as an exchange student and I'm wondering if you'll recommend getting the SBB Half Fare Travelcard? I saw that a yearly Half Fare Youth card was available at an affordable price of CHF 120. Is that available for foreigners to purchase as well?

Thank you for your question. If you’re here for four months and planning on using public transport for trips around Switzerland, I would definitely recommend getting a Half Fare Card. And as far as I could find out, the Card is available for everyone. Not just the Swiss To be sure, I recommend you check in with the SBB customer service, though. They will be able to give you an answer that’s 100% reliable.

Hope this helps and enjoy your time in St. Gallen Seraina

Information's shared here is as good as i am on the public transports now! Very informative. Thanks. Gonna visit soon.

Thank you Mahani! Enjoy your time in Switzerland.

Would greatly appreciate your help in terms of which tickets is recommended. We’re planning on going to Grindelwald but it’s not covered with our Eurail. Do you have any suggestions?

Hi, thanks for your question. You can buy your ticket in Interlaken at the train station. I would suggest heading to the counter and telling the person that you have a Eurail Pass and that you’d like to go to Grindelwald. They’ll sell you a ticket that you can then show on the train in combination with your Eurail…

Hello, we'll be in Switzerland for 21 days traveling to (and around) Zurich, Lauterbrunnen, Lausanne, Zermatt, Luzern and back to Zurich. If I read your article correctly, we should get a Swiss Travel Pass Flex for the travel between cities and perhaps a one-month Swiss Half Fare Card for day trips outside of those cities? We're Americans, by the way. We're REALLY looking forward to this dream trip to Switzerland!!!!

Oh, and if we buy those 2 passes, do we still need to worry about the "travel zones" that you mentioned?

Thank you so very much!

Dear Robbie

Thank you for your comment. And WOW, you’re coming to Switzerland for three weeks? This is absolutely fantastic and I’m so happy to hear you’re staying this long. May I ask what month you’ll be here?

As for your questions, I definitely recommend getting the Swiss Travel Pass Flex for 15 days. But for those 6 other days, I don’t think getting a Swiss Half Fare Card will be worth it. Or do you think you’ll be using public transport on every single one of these 21 days? If you have six days where you stay in one place or don’t spend too much money on transport, the Half Fare Card would be a bit much in my opinion.

And if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, you don’t have to worry about travel zones. Just hop on any means of transport you like and off you go 😉 It’s that simple.

For your trip, if you don’t mind, I’d love to give you a recommendation. This blog is „only“ a hobby of mine, which I’ve had to set aside for a bit now because I work for Swiss Activities and therefore don’t have much time to blog. But we are putting together a booking platform for activities in Switzerland and also have a blog you might find helpful. I’ll give you the link in case you want to take a look.

Have a great day, Seraina

Your article was really helpful! Thank you very much! I will take into account your suggestions before buying my next tickets here in Switzerland. All the best!

Thank you for your lovely comment and you’re very welcome. I’m glad you’ve found this article helpful.

I’m planning to visit Switzerland for 6 days, Oct 5-Oct 11 (flying into Zurich and flying out of Geneva). I’m staying in Zurich for all but the very last night of my trip. Just makes it easy instead of packing/repacking the luggage. I’m staying in Zurich West (

That said, I’d like to visit Interlaken, Lucerne, Bern, Swiss National Park, and other areas during my time there. And, since I’ll be visiting for 6 days (not counting Oct 11th as I will fly out in the morning), I’m thinking of purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass for 6 days.

Just wanted to get your thoughts if that’s the suitable option.

Hi, that sounds like a very cool plan you’ve got there. And yes, I definitely recommend buying the Swiss Travel Pass. Especially since you’re doing all these day-trips. It’ll be worth it. Enjoy your trip, Seraina

Hello, Thank you for this guide. It is really helpful! As well as othere articles. If I may ask whether the following is correct. As I've read so much that I already do not believe my eyes:) We are going to be in Switzerland for 7 days. 2 adults and a child of 9 years old. Regarding a child I read that there is a Junior travel card costing 30 chf. Do I understand it correctly that a child can travel free of charge throughout Switzerland with this card if accompanied by a parent? So no need to pay for smth additionally? We won't use ships and cable cars. And it seems then it is needed to get a SwissPass for a child (the Junior card will be valid for 1 year) or just get a paper Junior card (valid for 30 days). Also as I understood if a parent buys a Swiss travel pass or a Swiss half fare card, a child can travel for free with a parent (it is just necessary to add a child when buying one of the mentioned cards). It is true? Half fare card does not always mean getting exactly 50% discount, doesn't it? In some cases the discount can be less? I'm trying to decide what would be the better value for money for us. We are going to stay in Schwerzenbach (ZH) and travel to Zurich and back at least 4 days during our stay (plus traveling from/to Zurich airport), as well as doing 1 day return trips to the following destinations: Bern, Lucerne and maybe Stein am Rhein. Thank you.

Thank you for your comment. I‘m glad you‘ve found the articles to be helpful😊

Now for your questions: Buying a Swiss Travel Pass won‘t make sense in you‘re case because you‘re not taking super long or expensive day trips. I recommend buying a Swiss Half Fare Card for the adults and the Junior Card for your child instead. And then just buy the tickets as you go. Maybe you can profit from some saver tickets or a saver day pass if you book ahead of time. And yes, your child will travel for free with one of the parents.

I recommend going to the counter at Zurich airport to ask about the Junior Card once you arrive in Switzerland. As for the Swiss Half Fare Card, you can buy that online here: https://www.swissactivities.com/en-ch/rail-pass/swiss-half-fare-card1/

Hope this helps and enjoy your trip. Seraina

Thanks a lot for the quick answer Seraina! Have a nice weekend!

Hi there! Thank you for all the information! I wonder if you can help me and figure the best fares during my time in Zurich. We are spending 4 days and 3 nights in Zurich. One night one, we arrive quite late so we will just get dinner and staying in. On day two, we plan to visit the mountain roller coaster in Gelmerbahn ( can you tell us what is the best way to get from Zurich to Gelmerbahn?). And, on day three, we will hang around within the city of Zurich. I heard Trams are great transportation traveling within the city?

We are two parents and three teenagers ( 17 years old, 15 years old, and 13 years old).

So, please help and there are so much information and we are just not sure what is the best passes ( if we even need a pass). I heard there is a children day pass…will all trains and transportation all free with purchasing a children day pass/?

Hi Erin, thanks for your comment and your questions. I’ll try to answer them as well as I can. I don’t think getting a Swiss Travel Pass or even a Swiss Half Fare Card will be worth it if you only go to Gelmerbahn one day and use the trams in Zurich on another day. So I’d suggest you buy a Saver Day Pass as soon as you know your travel dates. One for each family member that’s older than 16. For your two kids that aren’t 16 years old yet, grab a children’s day pass . This will definitely be your cheapest option, as the ticket from Zurich to the valley station of Gelmerbahn is quite expensive. Also, you can read more about the Gelmerbahn here in this article I wrote about Swiss mountain railways. Please note that this mountain railway only operates in sommer, though. To find your connection from Zurich, I recommend downloading the SBB app or visiting the SBB website to check the timetable. As for Zurich: Yes, trams are a good way to get around. Also, you can do a lot of the city by foot because everything in the centre is within walking distance. There are also buses operating but trams are the way to go in Zurich. Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

Thank you so so much! I didn't know anything about Saver Day pass and Children's day pass, and they are indeed way cheaper comparing to getting it from the SBB. I just wanted to confirm that with the Saver day pass and Children's day pass, the pass is valid to use for any form of transportation? We will definitely be using buses and trains on our second day of traveling from Zurich to Gelmerbahn ( I know mountain train is not included in these passes) . Once we purchases the passes, do we need to get the trains tickets/ bus ticket for our trip? How would it work? I believe the mountain railway opens in June ( our trip should be on June 18) but I will check it again before I purchase the passes.

Happy to help. I’m glad you found something that works. And yes, both passes are valid on all means of transport. To confirm, you can check this page , which shows where the day passes are valid. Actually, the day passes are your tickets. You won’t need to buy anything else and can hop on the train, tram, bus of your choosing on the day you bought them for. You just need to buy your Gelmerbahn ticket, which I recommend you do online to reserve your spot as this train gets super busy. If you refer to my mountain railway article that I shared with you, you’ll find more information about Gelmerbahn and your booking options. It operates between 1st June and 20th October. Enjoy your trip Erin!

Hi.Going to switzerland this August with my family.2 adults and 1 16 Yr.old for 9 days and we are landing in zurich but staying in lucerne.We loved to see lucerne region including mt.pilatus and Lake lucerne for the 1st 2 days and travelling everyday upto day 7to interlaken,brienz grindelwald, lauterbrunnen,rhine falls.day 8 will be zurich and booked a hotel for overnight stay before going home. Is swiss pass worth for our travel plans. Please help !!! Thank you.

Hi Mary, thank you for your question. I think in your case the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass definitely makes sense if you’re planning on taking so many trips form Lucerne. If you like, you can book your ticket right through this link . You find all the information you need about this travel pass as well as all the options and prices listed so you’re prepared for your trip. Enjoy your time in Switzerland! August is a great month to visit. Seraina

Great article!

Thank you Nick 😊 I appreciate your kind words.

Do I need to Validate my Swiss Travel pass each time I get on a new portion of my trip.? In Switzerland for two weeks.

Hi Kris, if you have a Swiss Travel Pass Flex, then you need to activate it for each day that you use it. However, if you have a Swiss Travel Pass that’s valid on a certain amount of consecutive days, there’s no need for activation. You can find more information about this topic in this post . Hope this helps, Seraina

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Swiss Travel Pass.

Discover Switzerland with just a single ticket: The Swiss Travel Pass takes international guests to the most beautiful places in the country on flexible and affordable public transport.

The Swiss Travel Pass gives you unlimited travel by train, bus and boat, as well as many other advantages.

The advantages for you.

• Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat
• Unlimited travel on premium panorama trains (seat reservation fees and/or surcharges apply)
• Unlimited use of public transport in more than 90 towns & cities
• Free admission to more than  500 museums Link opens in new window.
• Mountain excursions included: Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos
• Discount of up to 50% on other mountain excursions
• Discount of up to 50% on leisure travel offers

Swiss Family Card.

With the Swiss Family Card, children aged at least 6 and under 16 travel free of charge when accompanied by a parent with a valid Swiss Travel Pass. 

Offers for adults aged 25 or over.

Choose 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days of travel.

Prices effective until 31.12.2024. Prices and product specifications subject to change.

Swiss Travel Pass Flex.

Valid on 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 freely selectable days within one month.

Offers for young persons under 25.

The Swiss Travel Pass Youth gives young persons under 25 a 30% discount on the Swiss Travel Pass. It offers the same validity.

Swiss Travel Pass Youth.

Swiss travel pass flex youth., important information about the swiss travel pass..

• The Swiss Travel Pass has been developed for guests from abroad. It is available to persons permanently resident outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
• The Swiss Travel Pass is available online or at any staffed public transport point of sale.
• For online purchasing, purchase as a “guest”. You do not need a login.
• The Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Family Card cannot be loaded onto a SwissPass card. You will not receive a customer number or an additional card.
• Children aged under 6 travel free. 

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Getting Around Switzerland: Guide to Public Transportation

• How to Ride the Train
• Trams and Buses

Free Travel Passes and Paid Options

Mountain and lake transportation.

• Car Rentals
• Bikes and Scooters

The central European country of Switzerland is connected by an extensive system of trains, trams, buses, cablecars, and ferries, which transport residents and visitors to most corners of the nation and onward to other destinations in Europe. The Swiss train system is legendary for its cleanliness, efficiency, and ease of use and is an excellent way to tour the country. Bright yellow PostBus buses connect to smaller towns and more remote areas, while trams rumble through most larger Swiss cities. Mountain destinations are reachable via a vast system of cablecars and funicular railways, while Switzerland's famous lakes are served by frequent lake ferries. Scenic trains and lake steamers round out Switzerland's comprehensive public transportation system.

How to Ride the Train in Switzerland

If you're taking the train in Switzerland, your first stop should be the Swiss Federal Railways  (SBB) website. Except for a few scenic routes, SBB runs all the regional, commuter trains, and high-speed trains in the country. You can tell the difference between these based on letters used in the route number.

• R, RE, and IR are regional trains that are slower, cheaper, and stop at all or most stations between two major hubs.
• IC or ICN (the N is for "night") are fast trains that connect major cities but do not stop at smaller towns along the way.
• S or S-Bahn trains are frequent commuter trains that connect cities and suburbs. If you miss an S train, there's usually another one coming soon after.
• Cities not served by train are served by bright yellow PostBus buses. These tickets can be purchased through the SBB site, which will automatically suggest bus travel when train travel is not available.

The SBB website sells one-way or round-trip tickets between Swiss cities and other cities in Europe . They also sell City Tickets, including the train to that city, public transportation in the town, and a travel pass that typically allows access to several touristic sites.

• To purchase a ticket or research schedule options, insert your point-to-point destinations, date, and preferred travel time. You'll be presented with a list of options and can select the train or trains that work best for you.
• Once you've selected your route, enter your passenger information. You'll have the option to purchase a City Ticket or upgrade to First Class. While First Class coaches are usually less crowded and more spacious, Second Class coaches are clean and comfortable.
• Here's an important detail: When SBB shows a fare, the "half-fare Travelcard" discount is applied. This is a card you must purchase. Since you probably won't be traveling with this card (see more below), you must select "No discount" in the discount cards field. Your ticket price will double as a result.
• Complete your purchase with a credit card. You will be issued a voucher, which you can either print out or keep on your handheld device.
• Your ticket will not show a seat reservation, as these are usually not required on domestic Swiss trains. Board a first- or second-class carriage, depending on your ticket class, and find a seat. A conductor will pass by and scan your ticket. A sign in each coach displays the next station, so you'll have plenty of time to gather luggage and exit the train when it stops.
• Children up to 16 years of age travel free with a parent, so long as that parent has a valid ticket. But you must pick up a Swiss Family Card before traveling—it's available at every station or point of sale.
• For travelers with disabilities, select "Barrier-free travel" from the pull-down menu labeled "Standard view" to see only trains that have wheelchair-accessible carriages.

If you buy tickets at the SBB counter or office in the train station, you'll have the option of reserving a seat in advance. Ticket agents all speak English, so if the online system is daunting, you can get all the help you need in person. There are also ticket machines in all stations.

For information about the Swiss Travel Pass and whether it's a smart option for your trip to Switzerland, read this more detailed article about train travel in Switzerland .

Getting Around Cities on Trams and Buses

For travel within Swiss cities, trams and buses are often the answer when the distances are not walkable. Basel, Bern, Bex, Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel, and Zurich all have extensive electric tram systems that take commuters and visitors to most corners of the city and out into the suburbs. Some historic trams are still in operation, and these are always fun to climb aboard.

The city tram networks are complemented by a system of buses, most of them electric "trolleybuses," that serve areas where the trams don't go. Your tram or bus ticket usually works for both methods of transportation, as long as you stay within the time limit on your ticket.

Depending on the city, tram/bus tickets are sold based on a relatively complex system of zones, calculated by distance from the city center. As a tourist, most of your travel is likely to be within one or two of the most central zones. The good news is that most primary and secondary Swiss cities provide free city passes to all hotel guests, which allow for unlimited use of local public transportation and free or discounted admission to area attractions and experiences. In mountain areas, the pass often includes free ski lift and cablecar access, and in Switzerland's lakefront cities, the pass usually includes free or discounted boat transport. The pass will be given to you when you check into your accommodation and is offered in the following locations:

• Appenzeller
• Montreux Riviera
• St. Moritz and Pontresina (summer only)

Other cities and regions sell travel cards, including local transportation, ski gondolas and mountain railway, passage on lakes and riverboats, and free or reduced admission to dozens of museums and attractions. These include:

• Bernese Oberland
• Lake Geneva
• Tell Pass (Lake Lucerne)

Note that you're not obligated to purchase one of these cards, We recommend them for their ease of use, but you can also opt to buy single transport tickets and pay-as-you-go at museums.

There are more than 10,000 named mountains in Switzerland, and hundreds of them are reached by a spiderweb-like system of cable cars, ski gondolas, funiculars, and cogwheel trains. Some transport riders up to ski slopes or viewing platforms, while others are the sole method of reaching towns like Zermatt, Rigi, and Mürren. These systems are run by local or regional authorities or are privately owned and managed. Lower departure points are often within walking distance of the nearest train station.

Among Switzerland's thousands of lakes, Geneva, Lucerne, Zurich, Lugano, and Constance (Bodensee) are among the largest. These lakes and others are served by seasonal and year-round ferries and tour boats. Some boats, like select routes in Zurich, are part of the public transportation system and are included in local travel passes. Others are run by regional or private entities and can be used either as a way of getting from one lakefront city or town to another or simply enjoyed as a scenic boat ride.

Car Rentals in Switzerland

We strongly recommend sticking with public transportation when visiting Switzerland. And the country's new "Swisstainable" initiative encourages visitors to keep their travels as green as possible. However, if you wish to hire a rental car, you'll find Swiss roads are well-maintained, clearly marked, and, except for some nerve-jangling mountain passes, easy to drive. All major rental car companies have desks in major Swiss airports and cities.

If you rent a car in Switzerland, it will have a toll sticker, called the motorway vignette, which grants access to the Swiss national road network. You cannot legally drive a car in Switzerland unless it has this vignette affixed; if you rent a car outside of Switzerland and plan to cross the border into the country, check the following with your rental agency first:

• Notify them that you will be driving into Switzerland. Some companies don't allow certain makes and models of cars to cross European borders, and a few don't permit any of their vehicles to enter Switzerland.
• Ask if they can sell you a Swiss motorway vignette. If they can't, you can buy one at a gas station near the Swiss border in Austria, France, Germany, or Italy, or you can buy one at the border crossing—choose the tollbooth lane for cars with no vignette.

Bikes and Scooters in Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the best-suited countries in the world for exploring by bike or e-bike. A nationwide system of bike paths, the majority of them paved, make it possible to travel by bike across all or part of the country—you'll seldom have to share the road with vehicular traffic. SwitzerlandMobility has a complete guide to bike trails in Switzerland, including information about where to rent bikes and e-bikes.

In Basel, St. Gallen, Winterthur, and Zurich, e-scooter share programs, similar to bike share programs in other cities, allow you to download an app, add your credit card information, and then scan a QR code to hop on an available electric scooter and go. The apps will tell you the location of the nearest available scooters, which you just leave parked on the sidewalk when you're done with them.

Related Articles

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Swiss Travel Pass

Swiss travel pass flex, half fare card.

Your Passport to Swiss Travel Pass Experience

Experience the best of switzerland with unlimited travel and exclusive benefits.

Welcome to MySwissTravelPass.com , your gateway to an incredible Swiss adventure. The Swiss Travel Pass is your all-access pass to explore the stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and rich culture of Switzerland with ease and convenience. Whether you’re planning a short visit or an extended stay, our range of pass options ensures you get the most out of your journey. Travel seamlessly across the country’s extensive public transport network, including trains, buses, and boats, and experience the freedom to explore at your own pace with the Swiss Travel Pass 2024 .

With the Swiss Travel Pass, you gain access to a 29,000-kilometre network covering the most beautiful corners of Switzerland. Enjoy unlimited travel on Switzerland’s comprehensive public transport system, allowing you to visit more than 500 museums and exhibitions for free. Discover the benefits of the Swiss Rail Pass and make the most of your Switzerland summer holidays.

Key Benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass:

Unlimited travel and convenience:, unlimited travel:.

Enjoy unlimited access to Switzerland’s extensive network of trains, buses, and boats with just one pass. Travel seamlessly across the country and experience the freedom to explore at your own pace.

Flexible Options:

Choose the pass that best fits your travel plans. Our options include 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15-day passes, allowing you to customize your Swiss adventure.

Convenience:

Skip the hassle of buying individual tickets and save time. Simply hop on and off public transport with ease, making your travel experience smooth and stress-free.

Cultural and Scenic Exploration:

Premium panoramic trains:.

Take in the breathtaking scenery on Switzerland's iconic premium panoramic trains, including the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and GoldenPass Express, all fully covered by your pass.

Mountain Excursions:

Enjoy up to 50% discounts on thrilling mountain excursions. Ride cogwheel trains, cable cars, and funiculars to some of Switzerland's most spectacular peaks.

Museum Access:

Gain free entry to over 500 museums and exhibitions across Switzerland. Dive into Swiss art, history, and culture without any extra cost.

Family-Friendly and Cost-Effective:​

Family-friendly:.

Travel with your family without worrying about extra costs. Children under 16 travel for free when accompanied by a parent with a valid pass. Additionally, teens under 25 enjoy a youth rate with a 30% discount.

Experience significant savings compared to individual tickets. The Swiss Travel Pass offers unbeatable value, making it the smartest way to travel in Switzerland.

Special Offers:

Take advantage of seasonal promotions and discounts, providing even more value and making your Swiss adventure affordable and memorable.

Why Buy Swiss Travel Pass with MySwissTravelPass.com?

At MySwissTravelPass.com , we are a proud partner with Rail Europe, the largest distributor of European rail products. We are dedicated to providing the best travel solutions for travelers from around the world. With our user-friendly platform, you can easily purchase your Swiss Travel Pass online and start planning your adventure right away. Our team of experts is here to provide support and guidance every step of the way, ensuring you get the most out of your trip to Switzerland. With our strong support team, you don’t need to worry both before and after your purchase. We are always here to help.

Ready to explore Switzerland? Get your Swiss Travel Pass today and unlock the ultimate Swiss travel experience. Book now and start your adventure!

Key Swiss Travel Pass Options:

• Swiss Travel Pass (Best Seller) : Offers unlimited travel on consecutive days throughout Switzerland, perfect for those who want to explore continuously without interruption. Experience the ultimate convenience with the Swiss Travel Pass. Simply identify your start date and the number of days (3, 4, 6, 8, or 15-day options), and the system will generate an e-ticket that is automatically activated.
• Swiss Travel Pass Flex : Provides the flexibility to travel on non-consecutive days within a month, ideal for travelers who prefer a more flexible itinerary or are planning longer stays. The Swiss Travel Pass Flex adapts to your unique travel schedule. Customers activate their own e-ticket for the day they specify to travel.
• Half Fare Card : Enjoy 50% off most trains, buses, boats, and mountain railways, making it a cost-effective choice. This pass is particularly suitable for customers who travel by rental car but want to use the benefit of mountain excursion discounts.

Swiss Travel Pass (Best Seller)

• Enjoy limitless travel across the Swiss Travel System network.
• Available in 3, 4, 6, 8, and 15-day options.

• Choose your travel days flexibly within a month.
• Access the Swiss Travel System network for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 non-sequential days.

• Explore Switzerland at 50% off standard fares.
• Valid for trains, buses, boats, and select mountain railways.

Explore the beauty of Switzerland with the convenience and freedom of the Swiss Travel Pass . For more information and to purchase your pass, book now. Your adventure awaits!

MySwissTravelPass.com is your trusted source for Swiss travel pass. We aim to make your Swiss journey as seamless and memorable as possible

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Welcome to Switzerland Travel Centre! You are welcome to contact us by e-mail or by phone on +41 43 210 55 00 .

Swiss Travel Pass

Buy your Swiss Travel Pass and discover the most beautiful corners of Switzerland by public transport. Choose the most coveted Rail Pass for visitors from abroad and take advantage of  unlimited travel  in Switzerland by train, bus, boat during  3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days .

What's included?

In addition to unlimited access to Swiss public transport, you get the following benefits:

• Up to 50% discount on most mountain railways such as Gornergrat, Pilatus, Jungfraujoch. Exception: Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos are free. More information on this detailed map of validity .
• Free entrance to over 500 museums
• Free Swiss Family Card for families - Children up to their 16th birthday accompanied by at least one parent travel free of charge throughout Switzerland.
• For the panoramic trains, an additional seat reservation is required.

The Swiss Travel Pass can only be sold to non-residents of Switzerland or Liechtenstein.

Could also be of interest to you

Swiss Travel Pass Flex

Swiss Half Fare Card

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Holidays, Swiss made.

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Holidays SWISS Made

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SWISStours Recommended

Swiss Travel Pass

Unlimited travel on train, bus, and boat across Switzerland

From USD 285

Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe

Europe's highest altitude railway station at 3454 metres.

Mount Titlis

World’s first revolving cable car offering you a magical 360° panoramic view.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Europe’s highest and largest snow sport destination at 3883 metres.

Glacier 3000

Amazing attractions: Alpine Coaster – the highest bobsleigh track, Husky sled rides & the snow bus.

Mount Pilatus

Known as the Mountain of Dragons, Pilatus boasts the world's steepest cogwheel railway.

Save more with your flight tickets

Select your flights and choose your Swiss Chalets

Select your flight and choose your Swiss Travel Pass - one pass for travel by train, boat, and bus

Customize your itinerary with stay, rail pass, attractions, and flights all in one place

• Switzerland

• 1 Zurich City Tour
• 2 Lindt Home of chocolate
• 3 Swiss Transport Museum
• 4 Mt. pilatus
• 5 Mt. titlis
• 7 Harder kulm
• 8 Grindelwald First
• 9 Matterhorn glacier paradise
• 10 Glacier 3000
• 11 Aletsch Arena
• 12 Diavolezza
• 13 Swiss Miniatur
• 14 Charlie Chaplin's World
• 15 Schilthorn
• 16 Sunnegga
• 18 Brienz Rothorn Bahn

Duration: 3 hrs 15 mins

Luzern Interlaken Express

Duration: 1hr 50 mins

Duration: 5hr 30 mins

The slowest express train in the world

Duration: 7 hrs 30 mins

Bernina Express (train):4 h - 4 h 30 min

Bernina Express (Bus): 3 h

Popular Packages

Chalet Style Holiday - Interlaken

7 Nights / 8 Days

Glimpses of Switzerland & Paris

Live it up in Lucerne

Tops of Switzerland

4 nights / 5 days

Swiss Highlights

Popular packages by swiss tours.

4 Nights / 5 Days

From USD 632

From USD 1047

Magic of Glacier Express

6 Nights / 7 Days

From USD 1076

From USD 1065

From USD 605

Guided Day Tours by SWISS tours

Discover the best of Switzerland with guided tour activities.

Take a guided stroll through the Old Town, embark on a pleasant boat trip Lake Zurich, and visit the world's largest Lindt Chocolate museum with unlimited chocolate tasting.

Zurich Tour with Cruise and Chocolate

A super saver package combining Europe’s biggest waterfall along with an afternoon city tour of Zurich

Rhine Falls and Zurich City Tour

Discover the Europe’s biggest waterfall, and the Laufen Castle. Explore the medieval village Stein am Rhein on a guided walk.

Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein

Enjoy this classic combination of Zurich city tour by bus, guided walking tour of the Old Town with a one-hour boat trip on Lake Zurich!

Zurich City Tour with Lake Cruise

You’ll find the right ticket for your journey from our wide range of public transport tickets. No matter whether you’re travelling alone, with your family or by bike. Purchase your ticket via app for your journey by Postbus or train. Valid throughout Switzerland.

Purchase your ticket via app!

Purchase tickets via sbb mobile. climb aboard with peace of mind..

Enjoy travelling on public transport – simply download the SBB Mobile Target not accessible app and plan your trip (search for the ideal timetable, obtain information about connections using station maps, benefit from special offers and much more) and purchase your ticket.

SBB EasyRide

Do you want to stop having to worry about your ticket when travelling by Postbus, tram, train or boat, and just get on and off without deciding where the journey is heading?

It’s easy with the SBB EasyRide Target not accessible   function. All you have to do is swipe to check in and out at the beginning and end of the journey. EasyRide will calculate the best price for you at the end of the day.

Purchase a ticket via the ZVV app. Climb aboard with peace of mind.

The ZVV app will accompany you on your journeys using public transport. Discover the fastest connections throughout Switzerland and get the right ticket with just a few clicks. You also have the option of purchasing ZVV and Z-Pass travelcards as well as multiple-trip cards directly via the app. Thanks to the ZVV app, you’ll be smart, quick and conveniently on the go.

Information on the ZVV app can be found at zvv.ch/app Target not accessible .

No app? Purchase ZVV tickets by phone

Since mid-March 2024, passengers have been able to purchase their ZVV ticket or travelcard by phone from ZVV Contact Customer Service (freephone number 0800 988 988). All it takes is a call with a landline or mobile phone and a single ticket is loaded onto the SwissPass by a ZVV Contact member of staff. There’s no need to go to the counter or ticket machines. Payment is via invoice.

More information at Purchase ZVV tickets by phone Target not accessible

Simply swipe and climb aboard. Arrive stress-free.

FAIRTIQ. The simple travel experience.

• ...is valid across Switzerland.
• ...recognizes the route you travel.
• ...automatically calculates the cheapest fare.

With FAIRTIQ, you don’t have to plan your journey in advance. Simply check in with a swipe before your journey, and the app takes care of everything else.

Download the FAIRTIQ app Target not accessible now.

Where can I purchase my ticket?

Ticket apps and online shops.

For example, via the SBB Mobile Target not accessible , FAIRTIQ Target not accessible or ZVV Target not accessible apps

Ticket machines

Ticket machines from PostBus or other transport companies at transfer locations.

Railway stations/salespoints

At salespoints Target not accessible or counters at staffed railway stations.

A limited range of tickets is available on Postbuses.

Product range

Tickets for one-way and return journeys.

Tickets for one-way journeys and return tickets are valid on the chosen route and can be purchased from ticket apps, PostBus sales outlets, at ticket machines and from PostBus drivers. The ticket for a one-way journey and the return ticket is valid for one day, irrespective of the distance.

Multiple-trip tickets

Multiple-trip tickets are ideal if you travel frequently on the same route. With the multiple-trip ticket, a cancellation card, you can travel six times on the corresponding route. The tickets are non-personal and transferable, and several passengers can also use them together. Multiple-trip tickets are valid for one year. They are available at counters, ticket machines, from drivers and from most public transport apps.

Day passes for the Half-Fare Travelcard

With the 1-day travelpass, you can travel for one day in the same way as with a GA Travelcard and enjoy unlimited mobility in public transport. 

• Find out more
• Order Half Fare Travelcard (German version) (PDF, 1.2 MB)

Children and young people

• Children up to the age of 6 travel free of charge.
• Children up to the age of 16 travel at a reduced fare with single, return and multiple-trip tickets.
• Receive discounted “Junior” route and network travelcards up to the age of 25.

The Day Pass Children is available for children under the age of 16. A child can use it to travel throughout Switzerland alone, together with other children or with adults for a whole day, in the same way as with a GA Travelcard.

The Day Pass Children costs 19 francs for 2nd class and 33 francs for a 1st class journey. It is valid for one day within the GA Travelcard area of validity.

Children’s Co-Travelcard

With the 30-franc Children’s Co-Travelcard, children aged six to 15 can travel throughout Switzerland for a whole year, accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

The Children’s Co-Travelcard is available for all accompanying adults (grandmother and grandfather, godmother and godfather, neighbour, aunt and uncle, childminder, family friends and acquaintances, etc.) aged 16 and over.

Purchase a Children’s Co-Travelcard:

• The Children’s Co-Travelcard is available to purchase at all staffed salespoints. When purchasing the travelcard, both the accompanying adult and the travelling child must be specified. You will need a separate travelcard for each different combination of child and accompanying adult.
• To make the purchase, please bring a passport or another form of official identification for the child. The document must specify the child’s date of birth. There is no restriction on the number of Children’s Co-Travelcards that may be purchased.

The Children’s Co-Travelcard is valid wherever the Half Fare Travelcard can be used. It also enables children to travel free of charge or at reduced prices on many tram and bus routes operated by local transport companies. Find out where the Children’s Co-Travelcard is valid by visiting the Junior Travelcard and Children’s Co-Travelcard Target not accessible webpage or any staffed salespoint. On any given journey, an accompanying adult may travel with a maximum of four children who hold valid Children’s Co-Travelcards.

• More information can be found at SBB | Children’s Co-Travelcard

Junior Travelcard

If you’re a parent who travels regularly with your own children, we recommend the Junior Travelcard. With the Junior Travelcard, children between the ages of 6 and 16 can travel free of charge on public transport when accompanied by a parent. The accompanying parent must have a valid ticket.

• More information can be found at SBB | Junior Travelcard

Group ticket

Travelling in a group is well worth it. Groups of 10 people or more travel for 30 percent less. Detailed information can be obtained from PostBus salespoints or from PostBus drivers.

Dogs and small animals

Dogs and small animals with a height at the withers of up to 30 cm may be carried free of charge in suitable travel containers such as cages or baskets. A reduced second-class fare must be purchased in all other cases.

If you have a valid GA Travelcard or ticket (with a Half Fare Travelcard or are under 16 years old), your dog with the Day Pass Dogs will enjoy free travel for a day by train, boat, Postbus and on tram and bus routes in most cities and conurbations.

The Bike Day Pass and the annual bike pass offered by Swiss transport companies are now valid on the entire PostBus network.

Find out more about the various offers:

• Bike Day Pass
• Annual bike pass
• Multiple Day Bike Pass
• Short journeys for bikes

You can buy tickets for bikes and Bike Day Passes directly from Postbus drivers. Annual bike passes are available to purchase at PostBus salespoints in Bern, Bellinzona, Lugano, Saas-Fee and Sion, at Swiss Post branches in Flims Dorf and Lenzerheide, as well as at other public transport salespoints or at www.sbb.ch Target not accessible . For longer journeys, we recommend purchasing a Bike Day Pass.

Special fares

• Children with a Junior Travelcard/Co-Travelcard, accompanied by their parents, can take their children’s bike, children’s trailer bike or kickboard free of charge.
• When taking their bikes, children and young people between the ages of 6 and 16 receive travel discounts for families. If you have a Junior Travelcard/Co-Travelcard or a Familia GA Plus, PostBus will transport the bikes of children and young people free of charge (but only if accompanied by their parents or a parent).
• You pay twice the transport fare for special bikes (such as tandem bicycles, recumbent bicycles or tricycles).
• For bicycle trailers with a maximum width of 60 cm, the same prices apply as for the bike.
• Some fare networks apply special fares. These fares must be checked on the relevant websites.

More information can be found at Travelling with a bike .

International tickets

For guests from abroad, we recommend the Swiss Travel System.

You can choose between various flat-rate tickets and discounted tickets for trains, Postbuses or boats, allowing you to travel independently and flexibly throughout Switzerland.

Non-valid tickets

The following tickets are not valid on PostBus routes:

• Interrail and Eurail Passes
• The APT travelcard for the visually impaired

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Rich Content Section

Public Transportation in Switzerland: All You Need To Know

Traveling by public transport in Switzerland is one of the best ways of getting around. Car rentals are very expensive and parking is too. On top of that, the public transport system is so extensive, it often makes sense to go with a train. Especially if you are not moving around a lot.

Parking is also a pain in Switzerland and costly, so even if you have a car, it is often more of a burden when you get to your destination.

So, what are the options when it comes to Swiss public transport? What modes of transport in Switzerland exist and how much is it going to cost you?

Let’s find out…

Table of Contents

Trains are everywhere in Switzerland, and they are the best way of traveling long distances (city to city) or even to regional towns if there is a rail network. Which there often is.

The trains also connect with one another very well and are almost always on time.

There are a few companies offering long-distance bus travel in Switzerland, like Eurobus and Flixbus , however, they are something I would use more to travel outside the country than within.

The more common mode of bus travel in Switzerland is either with a Post Bus, which is a train alternative in more mountainous and regional places. Or with a local bus within a city or town.

Trams are quite common in larger Swiss cities like Zurich , Bern, Basel and Geneva. They are super convenient and quite punctual. Usually, when you are in a city you will combine a tram with a bus or another tram to get to your destination.

Boats and Ferries

Switzerland is also full of lakes. Getting around on these wonderful blue jewels is often done with a local boat or ferry. Don’t sweat it because the Swiss have also made this really simple. Boats are an integral part of the public transport system and are another way to you can get conveniently to a specific location.

Switzerland is also full of ski resorts and therefore has a lot of cable cars or mountain railways. So, once you get to the bottom of the mountain by train or bus, your next step may well be to take one to the top.

Travel cards for Public Transport

If you are visiting Switzerland then it is more than likely that you will benefit from a travel pass while you are here and the best option is the Swiss Travel Pass.

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Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass is a prepaid pass that will allow you unlimited travel on all modes of public transport (except some cable cars and mountain railways – but you get a discount – usually 50%). It also includes a huge range of museums that you can enter for free.

You can choose to have a pass that runs for all days or a specific period of a certain number of days in a period.

That way, you can use the pass to cover the more expensive legs of your journey, including connections with other trains and buses to your hotel. Then, if you have smaller trips when you are there, you can pay for those separately and save money in the process.

Half Fare Travel Card

This is how locals get around in Switzerland. The Half Fare travel card or Half Tax as it is often known is a card you buy once and get 50% off all public transport from then on.

As a visitor to Switzerland, you can opt to get a Half Fare Card for a month, you just have to work out if 50% off all your major journeys adds up to more than the cost of the card. Then it makes sense to get this instead of buying tickets separately.

Individual Train Tickets

If you wish to buy a train ticket for just one journey, whether that is one way or return, you can always do that at a railway station. There is always a ticket machine or ticket office at major train stations and you can buy them ahead of time or on the day.

If you are just visiting and don’t wish to learn the intricacies of the Swiss federal railways I would always go to the ticket counter to be sure you get the right one. The machines are convenient, but often confusing for a visitor I find.

You should always have a valid ticket before you catch a train because you cannot buy tickets once you are on board.

City Tickets

If you are heading to any of the major cities you can also choose to get a City Ticket which includes the public transport within that city too. That way, you can just arrive in your destination city and get on any bus, tram, or train within the city limits for the whole day.

Supersaver Tickets

Another great creation from the SBB is their supersaver ticket . If you buy your train tickets ahead of time for a specific journey (day and time) they will give you a discount. It is often quite decent, you just have to be sure that you are really going on those exact trains on that day. Otherwise, you will get a fine.

You can grab these on the SBB website directly or via the SBB app .

Zone Tickets

Another thing to be aware of is the zone system within Swiss regional areas. This especially applies to major cities and the like.

When you buy a bus ticket or even local train or tram tickets you will be asked on the machine either to choose a destination or which zone you want.

The trick is to explore the map on or near the machine and work out where you are going or will likely go that day. It can be confusing and tricky to get it right, which is why I always recommend either city tickets or going to the ticket counter at the main station.

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Switzerland: Discover all the cities you can travel to by bus

• Basel/Weil am Rhein
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Switzerland by bus

Traveling by bus in Switzerland is definitely one of the safest and cheapest ways of traveling while ensuring at the same time that you don't miss out on the beautiful natural landscapes around the country. Thanks to the well connected bus network between Swiss cities it is easy to reach the majority of the most popular destinations within the country in a day.

Table Of Contents

Intercity buses in switzerland.

In Switzerland intercity buses are available on more than 2 travel combinations, while traveling with an average speed of 65 km/h . Of course, intercity bus routes via highway have a higher average speed. The majority of the Swiss intercity buses are comfortable long distance coaches, but older vehicles might be used on busier travel days.

The timetable for popular intercity bus routes like Zurich - St. Gallen or Zurich - Lucerne can be found online, but for some shorter intercity bus routes you might have to go to the bus station. Tickets are sold both online and on the spot, but after the COVID-19 pandemic an increasing number of travellers prefer buying their tickets online.

Domestic routes

As mentioned above there are more than 2 domestic intercity bus travel combinations in Switzerland . Below you will find some of the most popular Swiss travel routes with minimal or no stops along the way:

Travel Zurich to St. Gallen

Travel Zurich to Lucerne

Travel Zurich to Bern

Travel Zurich to Lausanne

Travel Zurich to Basel

Travel Zurich to Lugano

Travel Zurich to Geneva

Travel Zurich to Zurich (Airport)

Travel Zurich to Fribourg

Travel Zurich to Solothurn

Travel Zurich to Geneva (Airport)

Travel Zurich to Nyon

Travel Zurich to Martigny

Travel Zurich to Biel/Bienne

Travel Zurich to Vevey

International routes

From Switzerland there are international bus routes to neighboring countries such as Italy , Germany , and France, as well as to other countries such as Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina , and Kosovo.

The majority of these international bus lines are daily departures, that are operated by various Swiss bus companies.

Most of the International bus departures drive from Zurich , Lucerne , and Geneva . Of course, there are also some international bus departures from other cities throughout the country. Below we have listed the most popular international bus routes:

Travel Zurich to Rijeka

Travel Geneva to Chamonix

Travel Zurich to Zagreb

Travel Zurich to Zadar

Travel Lucerne to Rijeka

Travel Zurich to Crikvenica

Travel Lucerne to Zadar

Travel Lucerne to Zagreb

Travel Zurich to Split

Travel Lucerne to Crikvenica

Travel Geneva to Annecy

Travel Zurich to Sibenik

Travel Zurich to Trogir

Travel Lucerne to Sibenik

Travel Lucerne to Osijek

Airport buses in Switzerland

If you are flying to Switzerland you will land in one of 3 airports located throughout the country. From the majority of Swiss airports you have a bus shuttle to the nearest largest city and in some cases even intercity buses to other cities in the region. Click on the airport name below and read more about getting to and from the airport.

International airports:

Zurich (Airport)

St. Gallen (Airport)

Geneva (Airport)

Domestic airports:

Lausanne (Airport)

Bern (Airport)

Bus companies in Switzerland

There are over 21 bus companies operating in Switzerland . 11 companies offer intercity bus lines , 3 companies drive airport shuttles , 2 companies operate regional and local lines , 6 bus companies offer bus rental and 6 companies offer bus tours . The bus companies are located in 11 cities throughout the country. The majority of companies can be found in Zurich and Geneva .

11 intercity bus companies operating in Switzerland are very different in size. The largest Swiss company Alpine Fleet connects more than 20 cities , whereas the smallest intercity bus company EBA Eurobus Geneva only has service to 1 cities . Below we have listed some of the most popular bus companies in Switzerland . Full list of bus companies in Switzerland can be found here .

Bus stations in Switzerland

In most cities there is a dedicated bus station, in smaller cities the bus station might be a parking lot with a shelter or a section on the road marked for multiple buses. In some cities buses also stop at public road bus stops or at gas stations and hotel parking lots. In larger cities you will find bus stations with amenities like toilets, luggage storage, kiosks, fast food restaurants and other useful services for travellers. In Switzerland there is a total of 14 bus stations , below we have listed 10 of the most popular bus stations, for a full list of bus stations in Switzerland click here .

Biel/Bienne

Hire a coach in Switzerland

Swiss bus rental companies offer coaches for any kind of group trip, whether it’s a transfer from the airport to your hotel, or single and multi day excursions to the many sights in Switzerland . Rest assured you will be able to find a suitable partner. If you are travelling during the high season, it is advisable to book your bus in advance to secure one of the best vehicles for your group. Here you can see a list of some companies offering bus rental in Switzerland :

• Drusberg Reisen
• Domo Reisen
• Zelic Reisen
• Bogojević Reisen
• Swiss tours

Public transportation in Switzerland

In the majority of larger Swiss cities , public transportation is available, in the cities like Bern or Basel you have an extensive network of buses connecting all suburbs to the centre of the town.

Buying tickets for public transportation varies from city to city, sometimes they are bought at dedicated sales points and other times they are bought on the bus for example, so be sure to check which options are available for the city you are travelling in.

Here is a list of some Swiss companies operating both local and suburban bus lines.

• Verkehrsbetriebe St.Gallen
• Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe
• Transports publics Lausannoise
• Verkehrsbetriebe Lucerne

What to see in Switzerland

As a visitor of Switzerland, you have lots of great Swiss sights to visit. Some of the most popular sights are Oeschinen Lake , Zoo Basel ( Basel ), and Grossmünster ( Zurich ). That said, there are a lot of other sights in Switzerland worth visiting! Some of the sights do not have an entrance fee, whilst others charge for entrance. Below you will find a list of the most popular sights in Switzerland:

Oeschinen Lake

Grossmünster

Crans-Montana

Chillon Castle

Zürich Opera House

FAQ about buses in Switzerland

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Guest cards and tickets

In most Swiss destinations, guests get a guest card if they book one night’s stay or more, or can buy one at a discount. Almost all of these allow you to use public transport for free and to benefit from discounts on numerous attractions and activities.

Zurich and its region

Zurich Card : Gives you free travel on public transport in the city of Zurich and the surrounding area, free or discounted admission to 43 museums and many other benefits. 

Cityticket Baden: Book one night’s stay or more for free use of public transport, along with other benefits and discounts. 

Bern region

Lenk-simmental.

Simmental Card : Book one overnight stay or more and benefit from a range of free or discounted offers. Summer and winter vary. 

Bern Ticket : Book one night’s stay or more in the city to get free travel on the public transport network in and around Bern.

Brienz guest card : Free village tour in Brienz and discounts on cable cars and mountain railways and on leisure activities.

Nature Park Card : Book one night’s stay or more and get free travel by PostBus, as well as a surprise gift made of Diemtigtaler wood and other benefits. 

Interlaken Guest Card : Free travel on public transport and various discounts at numerous excursion destinations when you book one night’s stay or more.

Habkern / Beatenberg

Guest Card : When you book one night’s stay or more, you can enjoy free travel on public transport and various discounts at numerous excursion destinations.

Lake Thun PanoramaCard : Book one night’s stay or more for free travel with the STI bus and PostBus in the Lake Thun region. In addition, numerous discounts on activities in and around Thun. 

Bernese Oberland

Berner Oberland Pass: Free travel by train, bus, boat and many cable cars and mountain railways, as well as discounts with various partners on the selected days. Only in summer.

Gstaad Card : Free use of public transport in Gstaad and the Lenk-Simmental region when you book one night’s stay or more, together with numerous benefits and discounted offers. Only in summer.

Graubünden Pass

Arosa Card : Book one night’s stay or more for free use of cable cars and mountain railways, public transport and leisure facilities, as well as various discounts.

Various guest cards : with each guest card, you benefit from discounts and free offers.

Lucerne - Lake Lucerne

Tellpass : The card gets you free travel on trains, buses, boats and several cable cars and mountain railways, along with discounts on leisure activities on selected days. 

Seetal Lucerne

Lucerne Region Guest Card : Booking one overnight stay or more gives you numerous discounts on cable cars and mountain railways, museums and other leisure activities. 

Lake Sempach region

Guest card : Book one night’s stay or more to get numerous discounts on cable cars and mountain railways, museums and excursions.

Lake Geneva area

Lausanne Transport Card: Book one night’s stay or more to get free use of public transport in the Greater Lausanne area, together with unique discounts and numerous benefits in museums and stores, and other leisure time offers. 

Montreux Riviera Card : free use of public transport and attractive discounts on excursions and leisure activities when you book one night’s stay or more. 

Geneva City Pass : Explore the city of Geneva for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Purchase of the City Pass allows free use of public transport as well as free or discounted admission to attractions and activities. 

Lake Geneva Region

Regional Pass : Buy a five or seven-day pass, and get free travel on public transport on two or three days, and a 50% reduction on the others. Only in summer.

Free Access Card: Free use of public transport in the region and other attractive discounts when you book one night’s stay or more. Only in summer.

Ticino Ticket : One night in a hotel, youth hostel or camp site entitles you to the Ticino Ticket free of charge. This allows free use of public transport as well as discounts on cable cars and mountain railways, boat trips and tourist attractions. 

OSKAR : Can be purchased for CHF 15 when two nights or more are booked (children half price). Guests benefit from free public transport within the Ostwind fare zone, as well as a host of free holiday experiences. 

Appenzell Holiday Card : Book three nights or more to get free use of public transport in and around Appenzell, attractive discounts on cable cars and leisure activities (additional offers vary depending on the season).

Basel region

BaselCard : When you book one night’s stay or more in a Basel hotel, free public transport and access to Basel Guest Wi-Fi and attractive reductions on leisure activities.  

Baselland Guest Pass : Free use of public transport in the Basel region if you book one night’s stay or more, as well as discounts on various leisure activities. 

Aargau Solothurn region

Wellness Pass in Aargau : When you buy the pass you get one admission each to Bad Schinznach, Thermalbad Zurzach and the Sole Uno Wellness World – a total saving of 15%.

Jura & Three-Lakes

Jura Pass : Gives you free use of public transport within the Vagabond fare zone when you book one night’s stay or more, as well as attractive discounts for a wide range of leisure activities. 

Neuchâtel Tourist Card : Free use of public transport in the canton of Neuchâtel when you book one night’s stay or more, as well as free admission to museums, and other discounts.

Vallée de Joux

ValPass: Book one night’s stay or more to get free use of regional public transport and discounted admission to several sights. 

Fribourg region

“Passeport La Gruyère” : Benefit by booking hotel accommodation through the regional tourism office. Free travel on public transport, as well as discounts on museums, cable cars and mountain railways, and various activities.

Cross-regional and nationwide offers

RailAway : Benefit from travel by public transport and discounted leisure experiences.

Adventure Card : Free travel on the entire MGBahn network, on BLS trains between Kandersteg, Brig and Domodossola, on the SBB line from Brig to Salgesch as well as on all PostBus routes in the Upper Valais on the selected days, plus various discounts. Only in summer.

• 10 min read

The Ultimate Guide to Public Transport in Switzerland

Updated: Aug 12

Switzerland has an excellent network of trains, trams, buses, boats, cable cars and mountain railways. While in principle easy to use, the public transport system can be complicated to understand in terms of different ticket options and how to buy them. In this article, I will take you through the things you need to know, including the lesser-known ticket options that are available. All prices are quoted as of July 2023.

Buying Tickets

There are several ways to buy your ticket, whether in person, using a ticket machine, online or via an app.

Paper Tickets

SBB Travel Centre

Public transport point of sale

Blue ticket machine (for rail travel)

Local network machine (for local trams and buses)

From the bus driver on routes where there is no ticket machine at the stop where you get on

Call the SBB Contact Centre (0848 44 66 88; CHF 0.08/min)

Virtual Tickets

SBB.ch SBB Online Ticket Shop

Local public transport app

Monthly / Yearly Tickets (Photo ID needed)

Paper tickets at SBB Travel Centre

Regular Ticket Types

There are many different ticket options to choose from. In most cases, holders of a Half Fare Travelcard get up to 50% discount on the standard fare price, as well as children from ages 6-16. For more details see the Travelcard section below.

Point-to-Point Tickets

Single tickets allow for one-way travel within the period indicated on the ticket from the point of departure to the destination in one direction only. Single tickets can be purchased using a destination or by zone. Return tickets allow for two-way travel within the period indicated on the ticket from the point of departure to the destination and back to the original departure point.

Point-to-point tickets are valid for the calendar day specified at the time of purchase. The period of validity starts at midnight and ends at 5am the following day. If a ticket is valid for several days, the validity period ends at 5am on the day following the last day of validity.

Multiple-journey Tickets

If you travel frequently (but not enough to buy a monthly pass) on the same route, then the multiple-journey ticket is a good option. This ticket entitles you to take six single journeys on the route selected and offers a 10% discount compared to purchasing individual single tickets.

This ticket is non-personal and therefore transferable and can even be used for several passengers traveling together at the same time. The multi-journey ticket must be validated before departure at a ticket validator on the platform (for long-distance services and S-Bahn trains) or at local ticket machines (for local transport).

Local service tickets are valid for a maximum of four hours from the time of validation while long-distance service tickets are valid on the day of validation and up to 5am on the following day.

One of the newest features on the SBB app, EasyRide , allows you to buy tickets on the fly! Check in before your journey in the ‘EasyRide’ tab in the SBB mobile app by swiping from left to right. Get on, change as often as you like and check out again when you reach your destination by swiping from right to left. The EasyRide ticket is valid across the entire GA Travelcard network and you can travel as often as you like by train, postbus, boat and urban transport.

Once you have checked out, EasyRide determines the route you travelled and subsequently books the right ticket for you, taking into account any SwissPass Travelcards you have (i.e. Half Fare or Regional Travelcard), charging you for the cheapest ticket for your journey. If the price of all your journeys in one day exceeds that of a Day Pass, the cheaper Day Pass price is automatically charged.

Special Tickets

City-Ticket

The City-Ticket includes the journey between your selected place of departure and destination as well as a day pass for local public transport at the place of departure and/or the destination. Available for 1st and 2nd class travel, as a single journey, and outward and return journey.

Supersaver Tickets

Supersaver tickets are available for most public transport routes and offer a discount of up to 70% on the standard ticket price. The supersaver ticket is valid only for the selected date of travel and the selected train connection. It is not possible to upgrade class, change routes or change trains using a supersaver ticket.

The number of supersaver tickets is limited and the offer is based on availability. Supersaver tickets can be purchased up to 6 months in advance of the desired date of travel. If you have a Half Fare Travelcard, then this allows you to obtain up to a maximum of 70% discount. Supersaver tickets can be bought via SBB.ch or on the SBB mobile smartphone app.

Group Tickets

Groups of 10 or more can travel for less (30% discount) on public transport with a Group Ticket. They are ideal for companies, clubs, private groups, schools and youth groups. Available at half price for adults with Half Fare Travelcards and children and young people (aged 6-25). You need to book your group journey at least two working days before the intended departure date, either online, at an SBB Travel Centre or by calling the SBB Contact Centre. For group Day Pass options, see Day Passes below.

Tickets for Children

Regular Tickets

Children under 6 travel free of charge throughout Switzerland. Children aged between 6 and under 16 who are traveling alone or with an adult, pay half price or the minimum fare for their ticket if cheaper. For more children's ticket options, including the Junior Travelcard (CHF 30 per year for unlimited travel when accompanied by an adult), keep reading.

Saver Day Pass

With the Saver Day Pass you can travel throughout Switzerland for a day on all routes in the GA area from as little as 29 CHF, with a Half Fare Travelcard and from 52 CHF without a Half Fare Travelcard. The Saver Day Pass is available for both 1st and 2nd class. Saver Day Passes are available in different price bands within different advance booking periods and availabilities, so the earlier you buy, the lower the price. As with the standard Day Passes, Saver Day Passes are available from 6 months in advance up to the day before your intended day of travel. Saver Day Passes are valid on the selected day up to 5am the following day and are available for 1st or 2nd class travel.

Child Day Pass

The Day Pass for Children is available for children under 16, costs CHF 19 for 2nd class and CHF 33 for a 1st class journey and is valid for one day within the GA Travelcard area of validity.

School Day Passes

The Day Pass for schools is available for school classes and youth (under 25) for groups of 10 or more for CHF 15 per person for 2nd class travel.

Day passes are also available for youth as well as a Tandem pass for GA holders, see here for details. For information about Day Passes for bikes and dogs, see the Dogs, Bicycles and Luggage section below.

Travelcards

When you buy a Travelcard such as the Half Fare or GA Travelcard for the first time, you will automatically receive a SwissPass card. You will need a valid official ID card and recent passport photo to finalise your first purchase. After this, the Travelcards can be renewed on Swisspass online or at a public transport point of sale. With the SwissPass Mobile app, all public transport Travelcards can be checked digitally.

Half Fare Travelcard

Purchasing a Half Fare Travelcard is considered a good investment. It is valid for one year from purchase and provides a 50% discount on travel across Switzerland. It costs CHF 185 for the first year and CHF 165 for the second and subsequent years (loyalty discount of CHF 20). For Youths the first year costs CHF 120 and subsequent years CHF 100.

GA Travelcard

With a GA (Generalabonnement) Travelcard, you can enjoy unlimited travel on SBB trains, most other railways, as well as on most public transport in Switzerland. The GA Travelcard can be purchased monthly or yearly, for 2nd and 1st class. There are various types of GA Travelcards available:

Adults (aged between 26 and 64 (women) or 65 (men))

Children (age 6 to 16)

Youth (age 16 to 25)

25-year-olds

Seniors (women aged 64 and above, men aged 65 and above)

Disabled Persons

Duos (for couples or persons living in the same household together)

For an adult, a monthly GA card costs CHF 340 (2nd class) or CHF 545 (1st class), while a yearly GA card costs CHF 3860 (2nd class) or CHF 6300 (1st class). It makes sense to have a GA card if you are living in one city and commuting regularly to work in another, and additionally travel often within Switzerland.

Please note that when you buy a GA Travelcard you are taking out an indefinite contract. This means that your subscription will automatically be extended / renewed at the end of your chosen period of validity (i.e. one month or one year). And you must be aware that every GA Travelcard has a minimum contract term of 6 months, regardless of payment interval. After that, you decide whether to continue your travelcard or cancel it at the end of each travelcard month, giving notice of one month before.

Night GA Travelcard

The Night GA Travelcard allows unlimited travel to under 25-year-olds between 7pm and 5am the following day, for those who enjoy being out and about at night.

Junior Travelcard

With the Junior Travelcard, children aged 6 to 16 can travel throughout Switzerland free of charge for a whole year when accompanied by a parent. The parent accompanying the child must have a valid ticket for 1st or 2nd class, then the child can travel with them in the relevant class for free. The Junior Travelcard costs just CHF 30 per year and if you have more than two children the Junior Card is free for all children after the first two, just show your other two Junior Cards when you make the purchase, taking along the child’s passport or official ID.

Children’s Co-Travelcard

The Children’s Co-Travelcard is the same as the Junior Travelcard, except that the accompanying adult does not have to be the child’s parent. The accompanying person and child must be specified upon purchase. A separate Travelcard is needed for every combination of child and accompanying person. A maximum of four children with valid Children’s Co-Travelcards can be accompanied by one specified adult. The Children’s Co-Travelcard is not valid for schools, institutions, associations, companies, institutions, and organisations, etc., that are travelling as a group.

Dogs, Bikes and Luggage

Travelling with Dogs

Small dogs up to a shoulder height of 30cm can travel with you free of charge. They should be in a suitable carrier (i.e. a basket or a bag) and fit under the seat. Larger dogs need their own ticket. A Dog Day Pass costs CHF 25 and allows your four-legged friend to travel with you for a whole calendar day on trains, ships, postbus lines, and tram and bus routes in most Swiss cities and urban areas. You as the accompanying person need a valid ticket. Dog Day Passes are not class-specific and may be used in 1st and 2nd class.

Travelling with Bicycles

If you plan to go on a journey and want to take your bike with you, your bike will need a ticket too. For shorter journeys, you can buy a Point-to-Point Bike Ticket, or if you are planning a longer route you can get a Bike Day Pass for CHF 14 per bike, per day. Children under 16 can take their bike with them for free, provided they are accompanied by someone who is 16 or over.

On some trains, bike space reservation is compulsory so it is best to double-check this when planning to take your bike with you. The Bike Day Pass is not class-specific and can be used in 1st and 2nd class; you as the accompanying person need a specific class ticket.

If you are planning a multiple-day trip with your bike, you can buy a Multiple Day Bike Pass for CHF 84 which can be used on 6 days of your choice and must be validated each time before the journey starts. This ticket is also transferable and can therefore be used by several people to take their bikes with them. To do this, you validate one field per person.

Luggage Special

SBB offers 'door to station' luggage services which can be especially helpful for people travelling with skis (and other large pieces of luggage). You can have your luggage collected from any address in Switzerland or Liechtenstein and two days later it will be delivered to selected hotels and holiday destinations. You can check online to see if your destination is listed. Prices start at CHF 44 for 4 pieces of luggage (bicycles not included).

Other Special Offers

SBB has various offers where you can enjoy attractive discounts on leisure activities and the journey there and back by public transport. There are monthly offers with an up to 30% discount, as well as seasonal offers providing variety throughout the year, be it winter in the snow, spring in the city, outdoor fun in the summer or autumn in the mountains.

If you are looking for day trips, events or group excursions, then the reduced-price RailAway offers might be just the ticket! With discounts on leisure experiences such as trips up a mountain, boat rides, zoo and animal parks, family-friendly fun adventures, wellness, concerts and festivals, there are a large range of excursions for everyone. RailAway offers are available for individual travellers (individuals, couples, families, small groups up to 9 people), as well as for schools (from 10 or more people). RailAway offers for individual travellers can be purchased online.

Snow’n’Rail

Catering to winter adventurers, SBB’s Snow’n’Rail offer lets you hit the slopes for less. These deals give discounts on train and bus tickets (20%), ski passes (10%), and ski rentals (15% with Intersport Rent). Some offers also give discount on luggage transport and ski lessons. To qualify for a Snow’n’Rail offer you need to purchase a minimum of a bus or train ticket and a ski pass. Get on the pistes more quickly and easily by loading your Snow’n’Rail Ski pass directly onto your SwissPass, allowing you to bypass the queue and head straight through the turnstile. Look out for seasonal offers on the SBB website.

Final Thoughts

Phew! Well, I hope that the above was helpful in explaining the numerous options for travelling on Swiss public transport. I highly recommend getting yourself out and about and exploring this beautiful country, in every season of the year. I leave you with a picture of me enjoying a boat ride on Lake Lugano as part of a Day Pass day out. Enjoy exploring!

https://www.sbb.ch/de

https://www.bdm.bs.ch/Weiteres/SBB-Tageskarten.html

https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/railpasses/ga/ga-travelcard-area-validity.html

https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable/mobile-apps/sbb-mobile/easyride.html

https://www.swisspass.ch/

Alison Waterfield is a Brit who has been in the Basel area for over a decade. She currently resides in Oberwil, where she enjoys having countryside on her doorstep as well as town being only a short tram ride away. She loves cooking, baking and anything food-related and is a beginner food stylist and photographer. She enjoys being in nature and relaxing doing anything wellness-related, as well as engaging in creative activities such as abstract and fluid art and crochet.

• Experience Switzerland

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A Visitor's Guide to Basel

• Aargau region
• Basel region
• Bern Region
• Fribourg region
• Geneva region
• Graubünden region
• Jura & Three-Lakes Region
• Lake Geneva region
• Lucerne Region - Lake Lucerne
• Region Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein
• Ticino region
• Valais region
• Zurich region
• Avalanche course
• Bungee jumping
• Carriage rides
• Chocolate factory
• Competition
• Cooking course
• Cross country skiing
• Eating with locals
• Escape room and games
• Exhibitions
• Food & Drink
• Ice climbing
• Indoor amusement park
• Lift tickets
• Llama and alpaca trekking
• Monster Scooter
• Mountain bike
• Mountain tour
• Natural attractions
• Night sledding
• Paragliding
• Photo course
• Private Car Tour
• Racing simulator
• SBB Day Pass
• Scenic flight
• Scenic train
• Shooting and Throwing Sports
• Ski touring
• Snowboard Rental
• Snowboarding
• Snowshoeing
• Stand up paddle
• Summer tobogganing
• Swiss Rail Passes
• Trail running
• Train ticket
• Travel preparation
• Via ferrata
• Virtual Reality Games
• Virtual Travel Companion
• Wakeboarding and Wakesurfing

Public transport in Switzerland - everything you need to know

Public transport in Switzerland has one of the densest networks in the world. The railroad is the most important means of transport. There are more than 5300 km of railroad network in Switzerland. In addition, there are buses, streetcars, mountain railroads and passenger ships, with which you can easily reach almost every corner of Switzerland.

Saver Day Pass SBB - starting at 29 CHF

The Saver Day Pass is available at dynamic prices up to 6 months in advance. The earlier you book, the cheaper you travel. With this pass, you can travel throughout Switzerland without restrictions and use all means of public transport.

Validity: All day

Swiss Travel Pass

With the Swiss Travel Pass you have free travel throughout Switzerland by boat, bus or train. You travel wherever you want, on 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive travel days.

Swiss Half Fare Card

With the Swiss Half Fare Card you get a 50% discount on your trips by bus, train, boat and most mountain railroads. You can travel throughout Switzerland within one month.

Bernese Oberland Pass

With the Bernese Oberland Pass, you can travel throughout the Bernese Oberland on public transport for 3 to 10 consecutive days. You will also receive attractive discounts and benefits from around 40 bonus partners.

Swiss Travel Pass Flex

With the Swiss Travel Pass Flex you have free travel throughout Switzerland by boat, bus or train. You travel wherever you want, on 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 freely selectable travel days within a month.

Friends Day Pass for Youth SBB

The Friends Day Pass for Youth is an incredibly attractive offer for young people under 25. With up to three other people, you can travel all over Switzerland at an unbeatable price.

Day pass for Swiss Half Fare Card holders

The SBB Day Pass can be booked in combination with a Half-Fare Travelcard or a Swiss Half Fare Card. You can then travel the whole day on the public transport network throughout Switzerland.

To open this article, we dare to take a self-generated thesis. We claim that the quality of a country's public transport can be measured by how the population reacts when a train is slightly delayed.

Or would you feel sorry in a country outside of Switzerland when you hear the announcement: "We are currently running three minutes late. We apologize for any inconvenience." ?

Believe it or not, but in this country this minimal delay can already cause red heads and increased heart activity. From the reactions that can be observed time and again in Swiss stations and trains, you will inevitably conclude that public transportation in Switzerland must be phenomenal.

And there is definitely something to that.

In hardly any other country is the public transport network as dense and well developed as in Switzerland. That's why we will devote this article entirely to public transportation, while other articles will cover detailed information on the available train tickets in Switzerland and tourist passes for your train trip in Switzerland .

Trains in Switzerland

When it comes to train travel, Switzerland is a country of superlatives.

No nation in Europe covers as many kilometers by rail as the Swiss. In 2019, we put a whopping 2400 km per capita under our wheels. That's about as far as from Rome to Stockholm or from Vienna to Madrid.

In addition, Switzerland has been the proud owner of the longest rail tunnel in the world since 2016: the Gotthard Base Tunnel. This masterpiece of construction replaced the Seikan Tunnel in Japan, which successfully defended its podium position for 28 years. Thanks to the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the travel time between Zurich and Lugano has been reduced by 30 minutes, or 20%.

By far the biggest player in the Swiss rail universe is SBB, short for Swiss Federal Railways. Of the total Swiss rail network, which amounts to over 5300 km, SBB operates a total of 3236 km. However, SBB is by no means alone in the pack. In 2015, 73 other railroad companies carried their passengers from Geneva to St. Gallen, from Lugano to Basel and on all other routes in between.

Swiss Activities Tip: Switzerland is not only known for its many trains, but also for its beautiful landscapes. Fortunately, these two can be perfectly combined in the form of panoramic trains. Read more about the 5 most beautiful scenic trains in Switzerland here.

• Traveling in the two-class system

Anyone traveling by train in Switzerland has the choice between traveling in 1st or 2nd class. The two classes differ mainly in the following respects:

• Price-wise, the two classes differ quite a bit. The difference is a considerable 75%. A trip from Basel to Zurich costs 34 CHF in 2nd class without discount, while the price in 1st class is 60 CHF
• The space in 1st class is quite a bit more comfortable. Apart from rush hours, there are significantly fewer people traveling than in 2nd class. And those who appreciate a certain amount of legroom, a more comfortable seat, or more peace and quiet in general will prefer a 1st class trip.

Swiss Activities Tipp : A good opportunity to travel by train at a reduced price is the limited availability of SBB Supersaver tickets . It may happen that the 1st class fare is lower than the 2nd class fare. It is rare, but when booking a Supersaver ticket, it may be worthwhile to compare the 1st class price as well.

• The different trains in Switzerland

In Switzerland, there are three types of trains: Intercity, Interregio and regional trains. At the SBB you can have a look at an overview map , which shows the public transport in Switzerland.

The fastest way to travel is by Intercity trains, which stop at only a few stations. So it is possible to get from St. Gallen to Lausanne with only 10 stops. For comparison: The Interregio already stops six times between St. Gallen and Zurich alone.

Interregio trains run between major cities, but stop at key stations along the way.

The regional trains run the slowest and make a stop at (what feels like) every station. Sometimes they run with stops on demand. This is mentioned either on a digital display on the train or during the announcement. So if you are traveling on a regional train, also known as "Bummler" , you may have to press a button to get off at your desired stop.

• The punctuality of Swiss railroads

Entire doctoral theses could be written, heated discussions held and complex studies drawn up on the punctuality of public transport in Switzerland. For the sake of simplicity, we'll confine ourselves for the moment to a somewhat casual statement that will interest you above all if you're pressed for time.

Basically, trains in Switzerland are very punctual

Roughly speaking, the punctuality of the SBB is around 90%. Playing poker and hoping that the train will wait for you will only lead to a pleasing result in 10% of cases.

• Trams in Switzerland

Only four cities in Switzerland have significant streetcar networks: Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Basel. The streetcars are on the one hand responsible for the fine development in the cities and on the other hand for the development of the surrounding agglomerations. They often run at very frequent intervals - sometimes every two minutes - and in the case of Basel, they even extend beyond the national border.

Sometimes they seem to come out of nowhere, which can be dangerous, especially for the country bumpkins of this world. Especially near the main station, it's worth taking a second look behind before you cross the street. Streetcars have the right of way over pedestrians and accordingly prefer to ring the bell instead of braking. In the past, this has caused one or the other near cardiac arrest for me.

If you are aware of this, however, you should be able to live in peaceful coexistence with the streetcars.

• City buses in Switzerland

Switzerland's 125 bus companies are responsible for regional services. The buses usually have one or more points of contact with rail traffic or with other bus lines. These points of contact are usually coordinated in terms of timetables, which makes it relatively easy to get from one place to the next in Switzerland without a car

In terms of frequency, the schedules vary widely. In the city centers, certain lines run every two minutes, while in less densely populated areas they run every 15, 30 or even every 60 minutes.

• Postbuses in Switzerland

One of the most typical means of transport in Switzerland is the Postbus. Squeaky yellow and in single or double-decker versions, they reach even the furthest corners of the country. The more remote you are on the road, the greater the chance that you will encounter a Postbus somewhere.

They are especially common in hiking areas, but they also make their way through the traffic in city centers or agglomerations. The postbus network covers over 1600 km, which is equivalent to the distance from Anchorage in Alaska to La Paz in Bolivia.

As the name suggests, post buses were once responsible for transporting mail. In addition, postbuses also transported people, but at some point it became difficult to reconcile the different needs. Therefore, towards the end of the 20th century, the decision was made to completely separate passenger transport from postal transport. In remote areas, it can happen that the popularly used "Posti" still occasionally transports truths. As a rule, however, you are the only reason why the post bus is fetched from the garage.

Swiss Activities Tip : Postbuses are perfect if you plan a hike with different starting and finishing points. Often you can reach your starting point by public transport and at the end of your hike you can get on another post bus line. This way you don't have to choose a round trip or do the same route twice. It is best to check the timetable in advance, as the post buses do not always run regularly in remote regions.

• Long-distance buses in Switzerland

Since the Swiss travel mostly by train, long-distance buses within the country are rather a side effect with a very meager offer. There are indeed several larger bus companies such as Flixbus, Eurobus and Eurolines, which operate without restrictions across the border. But within Switzerland, it is not quite easy to cover a distance by long-distance bus.

For example, international bus lines are not allowed to carry passengers who do not have their starting point or final destination abroad. And even within national borders, services are only permitted if they do not significantly compete with existing public transport. Whatever criteria are used to determine this..

Bus companies have to comply with a few more rules, which often prevent them from offering connections within Switzerland at all. For you, however, these rules are not relevant. Unless you are interested in the labor law requirements for bus drivers.

Sometimes you can find certain offers between bigger Swiss cities on Eurobus, but even then they only run a few times per day.

• Cable cars in Switzerland

Strictly speaking, few cable cars belong to the public transport system and are not co-financed by the state like trains, buses and post buses. Nevertheless, they are an important element for transportation. Especially in the tourist mountain areas you will often find them, because they offer a good opportunity to cover certain strenuous ascents or descents during your hiking in Switzerland with much less muscle power.

Most railroads accept the common railway passes and train tickets - such as the Swiss Travel Pass , the Interrail, the Half-Fare Card or the General Abonnement (GA) - to a certain extent.

There are indeed cableways that are completely assigned to public transport. These are those that provide access to areas that cannot be reached in any other way, such as by a post bus line or by train. A list of all Swiss cable cars that are fully part of the public transport network and are within the validity range of the GA and the Swiss Half-Fare Card can be found in this overview .

• Passenger ships in Switzerland

You can get around Switzerland not only by land, but also by water. Most Swiss lakes and rivers have passenger ships, which means you can take a boat trip . These ships are often used for recreational activities, as they travel much slower than a train or bus.

However, there are exceptions, such as the ferry between Meilen and Horgen. This is quite interesting for commuting, since the connection across the lake is much faster than a train or car ride around the lake. Otherwise, the general rule is: use the ship if you have time, want to enjoy a beautiful view or you have always wanted to travel on a historic paddle steamer.

Swiss Activities Tip : Even though a ride on the ship is wonderful when the weather is nice, a rainy, overcast day also has its charms. First, there are usually fewer people on the road during bad weather , and second, the mystical atmosphere brought by low-hanging clouds and dark mountain sides can be very impressive.

Table of contents

Discover leisure activities

Top destinations.

• Lauterbrunnen
• Brienzwiler
• Château-d'Oex

Top Activities

Top attractions.

• Harder Kulm
• Jungfraujoch
• First Cliff Walk
• Museum of Transport
• Mount Titlis
• Lake Lucerne
• Schynige Plate
• Lake Geneva
• Eiger Glacier
• Glacier Gorge Grindelwald
• Lake Brienz
• Chillon Castle