Swiss Travel Pass: Advance Purchase Savings?

The Swiss Travel Pass is a good option for those looking to explore Switzerland's beautiful scenery and food. The pass offers unlimited rides on trains, boats, buses, and premium panorama trains across the country for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive or non-consecutive days. It also includes free entry to around 500 museums and discounts on other modes of transportation.

The Swiss Travel Pass can be purchased online or at larger train stations in Switzerland. It is recommended to buy the pass at least a week in advance to allow time for printing or adding the pass to your phone. The pass can be purchased up to 6 months in advance, but it is only valid on the specified date chosen during the booking.

When deciding between a first-class or second-class pass, consider that first class offers upgraded seats, more spacious seats, additional power outlets, quiet zones, and sometimes meal services. However, second-class seats are still comfortable and roomier than trains in neighbouring countries.

For those who are not planning to do many long train rides, the Swiss Half-Fare Card may be a better option. This card offers a 50% discount on all trains, buses, and boats in Switzerland for up to 30 days, as well as discounts on public transportation in 75 cities and towns.

The Swiss Travel Pass can be purchased up to six months in advance

The Swiss Travel Pass is a great option for those looking to explore Switzerland's stunning scenery and world-class transport system. And the good news is that you can purchase it up to six months in advance, ensuring you have one less thing to worry about as your travel date approaches. This lead time gives you the flexibility to plan your trip meticulously, allowing you to make the most of your time in this beautiful country.

When buying your Swiss Travel Pass, you have the option to select consecutive or flexible travel days. The consecutive pass is valid for the selected number of days from your chosen start date, whereas the flexible pass allows you to choose specific travel dates within a one-month period. This option is perfect if you want to spend more time at each destination without feeling rushed.

In addition to the travel days, you also have the choice between first and second class carriages. First class offers upgraded seats in panoramic trains and boats, more spacious seats, additional power outlets, and quiet zones. On the other hand, second-class carriages are still very comfortable and spacious, providing an excellent travel experience.

When purchasing your Swiss Travel Pass, you can choose to receive a physical ticket or an e-ticket, which you can print or show on your phone. The e-ticket option is available on the official Swiss Travel Pass website and other authorised websites.

Remember that the Swiss Travel Pass covers various forms of transportation, including trains, buses, boats, and mountain lifts. It also includes free entry to select museums and discounts on certain mountain excursions and railway offers. So, whether you're visiting Zurich, exploring the Matterhorn Mountain, or enjoying the views from Lake Lucerne, the Swiss Travel Pass has you covered.

So, if you're planning a trip to Switzerland and want to make the most of your time there, consider purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass up to six months in advance. With its flexibility, wide coverage, and additional benefits, it can be an excellent investment for a hassle-free and memorable Swiss adventure.

The Swiss Travel Pass is valid for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days

The Swiss Travel Pass is an all-in-one ticket that allows you to travel across Switzerland on flexible and affordable public transport. The pass offers unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat, as well as many other advantages.

The pass is available for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days of travel. It is also available as a flex pass, which allows you to select the dates you wish to travel on within one month. The pass is valid for six months from the purchase date and can be purchased up to 11 months in advance.

The Swiss Travel Pass offers the following advantages:

• Unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat
• Unlimited travel on premium panorama trains (seat reservation fees and/or surcharges may apply)
• Unlimited use of public transport in more than 90 towns and cities
• Free admission to more than 500 museums
• 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
• Children aged 6-15 travel free of charge when accompanied by a parent with a valid Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass is available for anyone with a permanent residence outside of Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. It can be purchased online or at any staffed public transport point of sale.

The Swiss Half-Fare Card is a cheaper alternative to the Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Half-Fare Card is a great option for those who are planning to travel a lot by train during their time in Switzerland. The card offers 50% off all train, bus, boat, and mountain railway tickets for a whole month. This includes travel in first or second class.

The Swiss Half-Fare Card is available to anyone who permanently resides outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It can be purchased online and used as an e-ticket, or you can print it out. The card does not need to be activated and will automatically be activated when used for the first time.

The Swiss Half-Fare Card is particularly useful for those who are planning to take a few of Switzerland's famous scenic train rides, such as the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express. The card also covers travel on public transport in 75 towns and cities, and offers free entry to around 500 museums.

The Swiss Half-Fare Card is valid for one month and costs CHF120 for adults, with children aged 6-15 travelling for free with a family card. This is a cheaper alternative to the Swiss Travel Pass, which offers unlimited travel across the Swiss travel system for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days.

The Swiss Travel Pass offers discounts on mountain excursions

The Swiss Travel Pass offers a lot of benefits, including free travel on trains, buses, and boats, as well as discounts on mountain excursions. The pass covers travel on consecutive or non-consecutive days, and you can choose from 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15-day passes.

Mountain excursions in Switzerland are heavily discounted with the Swiss Travel Pass, and in some cases, fully covered. This is a great advantage as Switzerland is a country that is almost two-thirds covered by mountains. The Swiss Travel Pass offers free excursions to Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos, and additional mountain excursions at discounted rates of up to 50%.

• Mount Rigi Excursion: This excursion is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Mount Rigi can be reached by a combination of cog railways and cable cars. There are multiple ways to get there, including by boat from Lucerne to Vitznau, followed by a cogwheel train up to Mt. Rigi. Alternatively, you can take a train from Lucerne to Weggis and then a cable car to Rigi Kaltbad. The Rigi railway is Europe's oldest mountain railway.
• Stanserhorn: Stanserhorn is another mountain excursion that is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. To get to Stanserhorn, you first need to travel from Lucerne to Stans, then take the historic funicular railway to Kälti, and finally board the CabriO cable car for the journey to Stanserhorn. The CabriO is an open-air aerial cable car, offering a unique travel experience.
• Jungfraujoch: The Swiss Travel Pass offers a 25% discount on the Jungfraujoch excursion. To reach Jungfraujoch, you can take a train from Interlaken to Kleine Scheidegg via Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, and then change to the Jungfrau rack railway. Alternatively, you can take the Eiger Express, a brand new gondola, from Grindelwald to the Eiger Glacier, and then change to the Jungfrau rack railway.
• Schilthorn: The Swiss Travel Pass offers a 50% discount on the Schilthorn excursion. To reach Schilthorn, you can take a cable car from Stechelberg or a combination of cable car and train from Lauterbrunnen. Both routes go via Murren, where passengers take the Schilthorn cableway to the summit. Schilthorn is famous for its appearance in the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."
• Mount Titlis: The Swiss Travel Pass offers a 50% discount on the Mount Titlis excursion. To reach Mount Titlis, take the Lucerne Engelberg Express train from Lucerne to Engelberg, and then walk to the cable car station. The cable car ride has two sections, first from Engelberg to Trübsee, and then from Trübsee to Titlis on the Rotair gondola, the world's first revolving gondola.
• Mount Pilatus: The Swiss Travel Pass offers a 50% discount on Mount Pilatus tickets. Mount Pilatus, also known as the 'Dragon Mountain', can be reached by the world's steepest cogwheel train from Alpnachstad or by aerial cable car from Kriens via Fräkmüntegg. The Golden Round Trip includes travel one way via cogwheel train and the other way by cable car.
• Gornergrat: The Swiss Travel Pass offers a 50% discount on the Gornergrat excursion. The excursion involves taking a cogwheel train from Zermatt to Gornergrat, which offers spectacular views. At the summit, you can visit an old observatory, a hotel, and a restaurant, and enjoy stunning views of the Matterhorn.
• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: The Swiss Travel Pass offers a 50% reduction on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise excursion. This excursion involves taking the Matterhorn Glacier Express cableway from Zermatt to the Kleine Matterhorn, the highest accessible peak in Switzerland.

These are just a few examples of the mountain excursions that are discounted with the Swiss Travel Pass. The pass offers a convenient and cost-effective way to explore the beautiful mountains of Switzerland.

The Swiss Travel Pass includes free public transport in 75 Swiss towns and cities

The Swiss Travel Pass includes free public transport in 75 towns and cities. This means that you can travel around Switzerland with ease, without having to worry about purchasing individual tickets for each journey. The pass covers a variety of transport options, including trains, buses, boats, and even some cable cars. It is also valid for travel on certain routes to neighbouring countries such as Italy and Liechtenstein.

The Swiss Travel Pass is a great option if you plan to use public transport a lot during your trip to Switzerland. It covers both long-distance travel between cities and shorter journeys within the cities themselves. You can purchase the pass for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days, and there is also a flexible option that allows you to select the dates you want to travel. This flexibility is perfect if you want to stay longer in each location and move on to the next destination at your own pace.

The Swiss Travel Pass can be purchased online and sent to you as a PDF that you can print at home or show on your phone. It is also available for purchase at Swiss train stations. If you are travelling with children, you can request a free Swiss Family Card, which allows children aged 6-15 to travel for free with a parent.

In addition to free public transport, the Swiss Travel Pass also offers discounts on various attractions and excursions. These include popular scenic trains such as the Glacier Express and the Golden Pass, as well as mountain excursions like the Jungfraujoch Railway and the Schilthorn cable car. The pass also includes free entry to around 500 museums in Switzerland.

Overall, the Swiss Travel Pass is a great option for those who want the convenience of unlimited travel on public transport in Switzerland and wish to save money on attractions and excursions.

Frequently asked questions