Seat reservations for Swiss trains

Regular trains in Switzerland do not require seat reservations. You can buy tickets immediately before boarding and choose any seat you want.

Note: Panorama trains like Bernina Express and GoldenPass Express do require seat reservations. Learn more here...

For regular Swiss trains, you can optionally reserve seats for some routes, mostly longer inter-city routes like Zurich-Bern, Bern-Geneva, Zurich-Lugano.

How to know if I can reserve a seat?

When looking at the train timetables in SBB.ch or SBB Mobile app, you will see a little R symbol next to trains that allow seat reservations.

How to book the seat reservation?

When booking the ticket, you can click the "Seat Reservation" button to add that to your purchase. You cannot choose a specific seat, but you can select a preference for the restaurant car or family carriage with a play area.

What if I have a Swiss Travel Pass?

If you have a valid Swiss Travel Pass, you don't have to buy a ticket. But you can still reserve a seat. Use the SBB Mobile app to look up the train route you want to travel. Start the process to buy the ticket, but select the "Seat Reservation Only" option so you only pay for the seat, not the ticket.

Do kids need a seat reservation?

If you are reserving seats for your group, you need to reserve seats for each person that needs a seat. This includes any child that needs a seat, even if your child does not need a ticket (under 6 or traveling with Swiss Family Card or Junior Card). If you have a baby or toddler that can sit on your lap for the full journey, you do not need to reserve a seat.

How many seats can I reserve?

As many as you need. Swiss trains usually have groups of 4 seats together facing each other. So if your group is 5, you may want to make separate reservations so 2 people sit together and 3 people sit together.

How far in advance to reserve seats?

These seat reservations can usually be made shortly before departure, but best best the night before.

What is I miss my train?

Note that the seat reservation is only valid for that specific train at the specific time. If you miss the train, your point-to-point train ticket may still be valid for the next train, but the seat reservation is not.