Switzerland Transportation FAQs

Even though I usually prefer renting a car for the freedom, I have to admit that Switzerland’s public transportation is so good, it almost feels unfair to compare. Trains, buses, boats, and even mountain cable cars are all part of one seamless network. Everything runs on time, is spotlessly clean, and the views out the window are often just as epic as the destination itself.

Swiss Travel Pass – All-Inclusive Simplicity

The Swiss Travel Pass is the “golden ticket” for travelers who want to use public transport extensively.

• What it covers: Unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats throughout most of the country. It also includes free travel on premium scenic trains like the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and GoldenPass (seat reservations may be extra).

• Mountain transport: Many mountain lifts, funiculars, and cogwheel trains are either fully covered or heavily discounted.

• Museums: Over 500 museums are free with the pass—including big ones in Zurich, Bern, and Lucerne.

• Flexibility: You can buy it for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days.

• Best for: Travelers bouncing between cities and tourist hubs, or those who want a stress-free, hop-on-hop-off experience.

Swiss Half Fare Card – Pay As You Go

If you’re planning fewer long journeys or will mix public transport with a rental car, the Half Fare Card is often the smarter deal. We used this on our trip while renting a car.

• What it covers: 50% off almost all trains, buses, boats, and most mountain cable cars/lifts.

• Flexibility: Valid for one full month from the day you activate it.

• Best for: Travelers who will only take a few long-distance trains (for example, Zurich to Interlaken, then Interlaken to Zermatt), or families who want discounts without committing to consecutive travel days.

Little-Known Facts About Swiss Public Transport

• Precision: If the train schedule says 10:37, it means 10:37. Swiss trains are famously punctual So plan on being at the platform a few minutes early.

• Integration: Your ticket often covers multiple modes. One ticket might include a train, a bus, and even a boat ride, all on the same journey. One of my favorite perks of the Swiss Travel Pass is the free ferry tickets on Lake Brienz and Lake Thun in Interlaken. You can basically do that as an excursion in itself!

• Luggage Services: You can ship your bags ahead between towns and just travel light for the day. I’ve never partaken in that, but it seems like a game changer if you’re hiking hut-to-hut or traveling with kids.

• Scenic Routes: Sometimes the “slower” regional trains are actually the most beautiful, winding along lakes and valleys that the express trains skip.

• Apps & Timetables: The SBB Mobile app is essential. It shows real-time schedules and platform changes, and you can buy tickets instantly.

BIG TRAVELER TIP: If you’re staying put in just one region (like Jungfrau, Ticino, or Lake Geneva), regional passes can be even better value than the nationwide Swiss Travel Pass. For example, the Jungfrau Travel Pass includes unlimited rides on trains, gondolas, and cable cars in the Lauterbrunnen–Grindelwald area.