The Swiss Travel Pass, Youth, and Swiss Travel Pass Flex offer savings and discounts to travelers using trains, buses, boats, trams, and cable cars as well as museums in Switzerland.
Several Swiss railways and transportation cards are available to international travelers to make traveling cheaper on Switzerland’s efficient but expensive public transportation network. The Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Travel Pass Youth are great deals for visitors planning extensive travel on Switzerland’s trains, buses, boats, trams, and cable cars. The Swiss Travel Pass Flex is often the better deal for tourists planning a few long journeys and only local travel in between longer transits. Both are available online or from major Swiss train stations. The free Swiss Family Card may be added to any of these passes giving gratis travel to children aged 6 to 16 accompanying parents.
See the Switzerland transportation map (PDF) for the validity of the Swiss Pass.
The Swiss Travel Pass used to be the Swiss Pass but the snappier shorter name is now used only for domestic travelers in Switzerland.
Save with the Swiss Travel Pass on Trains and Transportation in Switzerland
The Swiss Travel Pass is a traditional rail pass allowing for unlimited travel on trains, buses, boats, and cable cars throughout Switzerland for the period of validity. The Swiss Travel Pass is available in several forms and validities ranging from 3 to 15 days – the month passes are no longer sold.
The Swiss Travel Pass is sold for travel on 3, 4, 8, or 15 consecutive days. It is available for travel in first or second class. The youth pass (around 30% off) is available for travelers younger than 25 years. Children 6 to 16 not using the Swiss Family Card or a Junior Card may buy the Swiss Travel Pass at half the adult fare.
Senior passes or couple passes are not available.
The Swiss Travel Pass also acts as a Swiss Museum Pass giving free admission to most museums in Switzerland.
Buying the Swiss Travel Pass to Save on Transportation in Switzerland
The Swiss Travel Pass prices range from CHF244 for a second-class (CHF389 first-class) three-day pass to CHF459 (CHF723) for 15 days of unlimited travel. (It is sometimes referred to as the Continuous Swiss Travel Pass to clearly distinguish it from the flex pass.)
The Swiss Travel Pass is best bought prior to traveling to Switzerland but may also be purchased at major Swiss train stations. The Swiss Pass is available from the various Rail Europe offices or easily bought online through Get Your Guide. Buying the Swiss travel passes abroad will fix the exchange rate price at the moment of purchase and may also save on credit card foreign exchange transaction fees as the purchase will be in local currency. Also buying in Switzerland is not possible at all stations and proof of not residing in Switzerland is necessary.
The Swiss Pass is a good deal for travelers planning extensive travel throughout Switzerland but the flex pass is often a better deal if some days involve only local or no travel.
Save with the Swiss Travel Pass Flex on Trains and Transportation in Switzerland
For visitors not planning many long journeys while in Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass Flex may be better value than the consecutive days Swiss Travel Pass. The Swiss Travel Pass Flex allows for unlimited travel on Swiss public transportation on 3, 4, 8, or 15 days during a one-month period.
The previous Swiss Travel Pass Flex with a Half-Fare Card Combi is no longer sold but any traveler may buy a half-fare card giving a 50% discount on almost all public transportation networks.
The Swiss Travel Pass Flex is available for solo travelers or as a Swiss Travel Pass Flex Youth for travelers under 25.
The price of the Swiss Travel Pass Flex ranges from CHF279 (CHF45 first class) for three days to CHF479 (CHF755 first class) for 15 days of unlimited travel during a one month period.
The Swiss Travel Pass Flex also acts as a Swiss Museum Pass giving free admission to most museums in Switzerland but only on the days selected for unlimited travel.
The Swiss Travel Pass Flex is best bought prior to traveling to Switzerland but can also be purchased at major Swiss train stations. The Swiss Travel Pass Flex is available from the various Rail Europe offices as well as online from Swiss Railways.
More Tips for Saving on Swiss Transportation:
- Swiss Transportation Savings Deals (include information on dogs and bicycles too!)
- Trainline sells train and bus tickets for Switzerland and most of Europe. It is easy to use and often has very good deals for specific trains.
- How to Get and Use the Swiss Pass Card
- Swiss Railways English website for timetables and online tickets — note half-fare tickets are the default choice.
- Switzerland Transportation Map (PDF File showing where the discount deals are valid)
- Save with the Swiss Half-Fare Card on Public Transportation
- International Savings Passes on Swiss Transportation (including information on the Swiss Family Card and international Half-Fare Card)
- Families Save with the Cheap Junior Card on Swiss Public Transportation
- Using the Swiss Travel Pass and Flexi Swiss Travel Pass.
- Buying Swiss Travel Passes from Get Your Guide.
- Book holidays by train from Great Rail Journeys (UK).