Swiss Travel Pass - Your complete guide

Hassle-free travel in Switzerland

If you're planning a trip to Switzerland, you've probably heard about the Swiss Travel PassSwiss Pass or Swiss Travel System, as it is also known.

Okay, but what is this pass? Is it really worth it? How do I buy it? Which types? Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it for families?

I'm going to answer all your questions in this article.

Let's start at the beginning:

What is the Swiss Travel Pass?

It's a Swiss Travel Pass that allows you to travel around 29,000 km of Switzerland's public transport network! But the Swiss Travel Pass doesn't just entitle you to take the train, bus or ferry, it also entitles you to visit more than 500 museums throughout Switzerland.

Remember, Switzerland is a very expensive country and in the end the Swiss Travel Pass can be cheaper than everything else.

But Cris, is it really worth it? I'm going to buy it now! Calm down, let's do the math, it's not always worth it. I'll explain everything and we'll see.

Pros and cons

Pros →

• You have all the tickets in a single ticket
• You don't need to buy the next train, just get on and that's it (check if you're on a route that doesn't require a reservation).
• Savings! The sum of all the attractions usually costs more than the pass
• Switzerland's most coveted trains are included in the pass (there is an extra booking fee for the Glacier and other special trains, stay tuned)

Against →

• Without the right planning, you can buy the Swiss Travel Pass for nothing
• Use the pass less than necessary
• Choosing tours with extra fees

Is the Swiss Travel Pass really worth it?

It depends! How many days will you be in the country? Are you just going to stay in the hotel or are you going to walk around the city a lot? Will you be changing cities? Are you going to wander around Switzerland a lot or have you chosen just one city? Are you going to see a lot of museums or mountains? Will you want to take the panoramic trains?

One thing I can tell you, if you're only staying in one city or less than 3 days in Switzerland, forget about the Swiss Travel Pass! The pass can be bought for a minimum of 3 days and starts at 211 euros, the cheapest! It's expensive, but in the end it may be worth it.
Do the math on how much everything would cost separately and compare, that's the best way to know if it's worth it or not.

Tip: Remember, even if the Swiss Travel Pass is a bit more expensive than separate tickets, it's still worth it! Don't forget that the pass gives you entry to over 500 museums, see the list here

Our experience with the Swiss Travel Pass

We spent 8 days in Switzerland and didn't spend a thing on public transport! Even going to the mountains, since some of them like the Schilthornare included in the pass. But I'll talk about that in a moment.

To give you an idea of the cost of transportation within the city, if we were to pay for the bus that took us from Lucerne's main station, Bahnhof Luzern, to Stans, we would have shelled out 8 Swiss francs! And the journey is very short. Public transport in Switzerland is not the cheapest.

Golden tip: Check with the hotel you're staying in to see if they give out public transport vouchers! Our hostel in Interlaken gave us a public transportation card for the city.

Swiss Travel Pass is ideal for families

Those of us who travel as a family know that expenses are at least doubled, but usually more than that. So anything with free benefits for the little ones is welcome.

And in the case of the Swiss Travel Pass, it's even better, as children up to the age of 6 travel for free. But it doesn't stop there...

From the age of 6 to 16, children accompanied by at least one parent with a Swiss Travel Pass also travel for free.

But don't worry, you don't just get on board and that's it! At the time of purchase, you have to inform them that the child will be with you and then they will be given the Swiss Family Card.

Okay, so which Swiss Pass should I choose?

If you've done all the research into whether or not it's worth using the Swiss Travel Pass, that question has almost been answered.

Let's get to the point: the Swiss Travel Pass can be chosen by days, and by whether or not it can be used consecutively.
There is also a Swiss Travel Pass which only gives you discounts.

Swiss Travel Pass from 211 euros*

• Unlimited travel on consecutive days
• Unlimited travel on trains, buses, boats and public transport in cities
• Valid for 3, 4, 8 or 15 days
• Free entry for over 500 museums
• Ticket includes: mountain excursions to Schilthorn, Stanserhorn, Brunni and Rigi
• Up to 50% discount on most mountain excursions
• Children under 16 travel for free if accompanied by at least one parent
• Available as a print-at-home ticket
  

Swiss Travel Pass Flex from 243 euros*

• Unlimited travel on flexible, non-consecutive days within 1 month
• Unlimited travel on trains, buses, boats and public transport in cities
• Valid for 3, 4, 8 or 15 days
• Free entry for over 500 museums
• The ticket includes (only on validated days): Mountain excursions to Schilthorn, Stanserhorn, Brunni and Rigi
• Up to 50% discount on most mountain excursions on validated travel dates
• Children under 16 travel for free if accompanied by at least one parent
• Available as a paper ticket for delivery or pick-up at Swiss airports

Swiss Hald Fare Card from 109 euros*

• Unlimited half-price tickets on trains, buses, boats and public transport in the cities
• Travel from Swiss border or airport to destination
• Free entry to over 500 museums
• Up to 50% discount on most mountain excursions
• Children under 16 travel for free if accompanied by at least one parent
• Available as a print-at-home ticket

*Figures refer to June 2019

Even with this information you still haven't made up your mind? No problem, the Swiss Travel Pass website will help you make up your mind.
Click here and provide your travel information and he'll suggest the best pass for you

How to use the Swiss Pass

Now that the hard part is over, let's have some fun! How do I use my pass? With your Swiss Travel Pass in hand, you can board and disembark at any time from the transportation of your choice.

You only need to validate your pass when you first use it, this is done by a stamp made by the train inspector.

However, if you are using the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, make sure you enter the date of travel on the day you use it. If you don't, the inspector may interpret it as fraud.

Whether on the train, bus or ferry, use is unlimited for the chosen period, so you can use and abuse it. You just need to show your pass along with your valid passport and bear in mind that if you are caught on transport without your pass, the fine is steep.

Validity of my Swiss Travel Pass

The validity of the pass begins when it is validated and lasts until 5 a.m. on the last day of travel.

For example: if you validated your pass at 11pm on the 1st and your pass is for 3 consecutive days, it will expire in the early hours of the 3rd to the 4th. So you've only had two days and 6 hours! Be careful and plan well.

Booking

Don't go thinking you've got your Swiss Pass and won't have to spend any more. You will!
Some trains require seat reservations, so be aware of this.
I can already mention two that are the most coveted and require prior reservation: Glacier Express e Bernina Express.

These are the most popular and most beautiful trains in Switzerland, which is why you need to pay this fee.

As for the other trains we used, they were very smooth, I didn't need to make a reservation and they were never crowded, you could just get on, sit down and be happy.

ALERT!!!!

The Swiss Travel Pass is personal and non-transferable! Keep it with you at all times, as I've already said, riding on any form of transport without your pass can earn you a hefty fine.

The trains, ferries and buses don't have turnstiles, but there are always inspectors to check that everyone has their tickets.
The pass must be presented together with the passport with the same name.

Can anyone buy the Swiss Travell Pass?

No! If you live in Switzerland, forget it. See other passes and options for traveling in Switzerland.

Is all Swiss transport covered by the pass?

No! But the Swiss Travel Pass covers around 29,000 km of Switzerland's extensive public transport network.
And to make full use of all these benefits, it is advisable to download the app or have the map showing all the options at hand.

App Swiss Travel Pass

This app will not only help you plan the Swiss train routes you need to get to your destination, but it will also give you useful information about the platform you need to go to and provide you with real-time updates, so you'll know whether or not the train is going to be late. Well, being late is rare in Switzerland. The service is very punctual.

Remember, Swiss Travel System passes are not only valid on train routes, but also on boats and buses!

However, be very careful: in the same way that the pass is valid for some forms of transport, it is not accepted on all trains, such as those used for the Jungfrau.

Have I answered your questions?

I hope I've helped you with this beautiful new itinerary. I've written this text to help you have the best experience on this beautiful trip. Switzerland is simply incredible and deserves to be explored to the full. I'm already looking forward to returning in the summer.

See also:

Mount Pilatus

The most beautiful pool in Switzerland

See you next time

Cris pelo Mundo was supported on his trip by the Swiss Travel System, but this post is true to my impressions.