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.
International travelers can use a variety of Swiss railway passes and transportation cards to save 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. Interrail and Eurail passes are also excellent value when traveling on Swiss trains.
→ See the Switzerland transportation map for the validity of the Swiss Travel 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 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, 6, 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, or day tickets (only CHF19 per day).
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.
Are the Swiss Travel Pass and Flex Pass Good Value?
At first glance, the Swiss Travel Pass and Travel Pass Flex may look expensive. However, after checking regular Swiss train fares at Swiss Railways, it is easy to calculate potential savings. For example, a standard Geneva to Zurich train ticket is CHF92 (CHF157 first class) — more than the daily price of a pass.
Interrail and Eurail passes may work out even cheaper, but keep in mind these only cover trains and not many further buses, trams, and boats like the Swiss Travel passes.
Buying the Swiss Travel Pass to Save on Transportation in Switzerland
The Swiss Travel Pass prices range from CHF254 for a second-class (CHF405 first-class) three-day pass to CHF499 (CHF787) 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. However, you can also buy it at major Swiss train stations and usually online too. The Swiss Pass is also available from Rail Europe or even through Get Your Guide. Buying 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 travel 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 a 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, 6, 8, or 15 days, freely selected 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.
Swiss Day Tickets for Children and Youths in 2026
Day tickets for children and youths are often excellent deals. Children 6 to 16 pay only CHF19 (CHF31 first class) per day, while a group of youths (up to 4), all younger than 25, may travel together for CHF80 (CHF120 first class) per day. It is available to anyone and is not linked to any other passes.
The price of the Swiss Travel Pass Flex ranges from CHF289 (CHF461 first class) for three days to CHF519 (CHF819 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.
It is easiest to buy the Swiss Travel Pass Flex before traveling to Switzerland, but it can also be purchased at major Swiss train stations. The Swiss Travel Pass Flex is available from Rail Europe 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 — CAREFUL half-fare tickets are the default choice.
- Switzerland Transportation Map (Maps of 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).
