The main means of transportation for sightseeing in Switzerland are trains and cars. Among them, trains are recommended because there are many tourist mountain trains that go around the Alps and you can see spectacular views that can only be seen there. Here we will introduce how to travel by train in Switzerland in general, tourist mountain trains, and advantageous rail passes. Reading this will make your trip to Switzerland more comfortable.
Check out tourist information for Switzerland here!!
Swiss trains
Trains that run between cities in Switzerland are operated by Swiss Railways, but because there is more than one official language, they have three names: SBB (German), CFF (French), and FFS (Italian).
When traveling, it is convenient to search for train schedules on the following website.
Swiss Railways Homepage
https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
It’s convenient because you can not only search for time but also find out how busy it is.
I always use this site because it allows me to search and make reservations not only for Switzerland but also for neighboring countries.
Rail Pass
Prices are high in Switzerland, so traveling by train is naturally quite expensive. Therefore, purchasing a rail pass can help you keep travel costs low. There are two main types of Swiss rail passes:
・Swiss Travel Pass
・Swiss Half Fare Card
Swiss Travel Pass
This card gives you free admission to many museums and art galleries as well as trains, buses, trams, boats and other public transport in Switzerland. Mountain trains are not free, but a 25% or 50% discount is applied (the discount rate varies depending on the mountain train). You can choose from 3, 4, 8, 6, or 15-day passes, and the price differs depending on whether you use first or second class.
There are also types that allow you to use the above period every day, and flexible types that allow you to use the same number of days in a month, but the flexible types are more expensive. Most people will use the pass every day.
You can purchase the pass at the counter of major Swiss stations or online, but you will need your passport information. The price varies depending on the period of use, the seat, and whether it is a continuous or flexible type, so please check the following website.
Swiss Travel Pass introduction page
https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad/swiss-travel-pass.html
Swiss Half Fare Card
This card gives you half price on train fares within Switzerland. There are no free or discounted admission fees to museums or art galleries, but it does give you half price on major mountain trains. It can be used for one month and costs a flat rate of 120 CHF. When riding the train, you will need to purchase a child’s fare (half price) ticket from the ticket machine. There are stamping machines in stations, but they are for multi-ride tickets and do not take regular tickets, so no stamping is necessary. Like travel passes, you can purchase the card at the counter of major Swiss stations or online, but you will need passport information.
Click here for more information.
Swiss Half Price Card Introduction page
https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad/swiss-halffare-card.html
Travel Pass vs. Half Fare Card
| Travel Pass | Half Fare Card | |
| Public transport | Free | Half price (railways only) |
| Mountain trains | Discounts available (varies by location) | Half price |
| Museums | Free (500 locations) | Not applicable |
| Usage period | 3, 4, 8, 6, 15 days Choose between continuous use or flexible type | 1 month |
| Seats | Choose between 1st class or 2nd class seats | Choose each time and pay half price |
| Price | from 244CHF | 120CHF |
| Items required to board | Travel pass, passport | Half price card, passport Ticket (child fare, no engraving required) |
At first glance, the Travel Pass may seem like a better deal, but when you take into account free admission days and student rates at art galleries and museums, the half-fare card can actually be cheaper, so we recommend that you do the calculations carefully before deciding which one to purchase.
Panoramic Train
There are many trains in Switzerland that allow you to enjoy the vast nature. The most famous of these is the Golden Pass Line that runs between Monterey and Lucerne. There are also many other mountain trains, such as the Brienzbahn, the only steam locomotive still standing in Switzerland, the Pilatusbahn, which climbs a steep gradient of 48 degrees, and the Jungfrau station, the highest station in Europe, which goes up through the Eiger mountain at 3,454 meters above sea level. Each has its own unique characteristics and offers beautiful views. Be sure to present a travel pass or half-price card when purchasing to receive a discount.
Check out tourist information for Switzerland here!!
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