Ultimate Comparison Of The Most Popular Swiss Train Tickets

I think it’s safe to say the Swiss federal railway system is one of the most reliable public transportation systems in the world. Trains in Switzerland are generally very punctual, comfortable, and clean. And most Swiss people, including myself, love it. Many don’t even own a car because the next bus, train, boat, or tram is never far. On average, every person travels a whopping 2.400km by train per year! 

One thing that is often confusing for visitors and sometimes even locals alike is the jungle of ticket types and rail passes. But, once you know how to navigate it there is actually some good saving potential. To help you find the ideal ticket is what we are trying to achieve with today’s comparison of the most popular Swiss train tickets. Here are the  ticket types we are going to take a closer look at in this article:

• Point-to-Point tickets 
• Day Passes
• Rail Passes
• SBB Discount Cards 

Most main ticket types have multiple subcategories, so feel free to skip to the appropriate section if needed!

The Most Popular Point-to-Point Train Tickets

The first category of point-to-point tickets is ideal for occasional journeys within Switzerland, day trips, (one-day) excursions, or very short stays when a rail pass or Swiss Travel Pass is not quite worth it. Plus, you can always combine all those tickets with a Swiss half-fare card for an additional 50% discount. The prices depend on the distance, travel class, and travel date. 

Within this ticket category, the following ticket types are the most popular:

🎫Ticket Type	💸Price Range	📍Where To Purchase	🚀Best For
Standard Outward and Return Tickets	Varies Depending on Distance & Travel Class	Train Stations, SBB App, SBB website Trainline.com, SBB Travel Center	Flexible point-to-point trips
Saver Tickets	Up to 70% Cheaper than Regular Price	Trainline.com, SBB Website, SBB App	Bargain hunters and travelers with fixed travel plans
Multiple-Journey Tickets	Varies Depending on the Number of Journeys & Travel Class	SBB Ticket Machine, SBB Travel Center	Mid-Size Travel Groups and multiple Trips between two fixed Destinations
City-Tickets	Depends on Distance & Travel Class	Trainline.com, SBB Website, SBB App, Travel Center, and SBB Ticket Machines	One-day City Excursion in Switzerland
Class Upgrade & Seat Reservation	Varies Depending on Class Upgrade & Train	SBB App and SBB Website	International Trips or Travelels during Peak Hours

Standard outward and return tickets

Standard outward and return tickets offer a fuss-free way to travel between two Swiss stations on the same day. Standard tickets never sell out and always have a fixed price, irrespective of the expected occupant or train type. Standard tickets are easy to buy and purchasable via a third-party provider, the SBB app or website, at the ticket machines in the train stations, and even at travel centers.

Saver tickets 

Saver tickets are special types of train tickets that give savvy travelers a hefty discount discount of up to 70% on the regular ticket price. In fact, if you go for a saver ticket, check the prices for both, first and second class tickets, because I noticed the savings are often even bigger with first class tickets.

The catch is that those tickets are attached to one specific travel date & train connection. Because the idea of those saver tickets is to relieve train connection with a high occupancy rate during peak hours, you will almost never find those tickets available between 07:00-09:00 am and 04:00-07:00 pm or on weekends. But in all fairness, Avoiding these hours, if possible, is far more convenient anyway!

How to spot a Saver Ticket 

If you are booking your ticket on an external booking platform like trainline.com check out the ticket type, on the SBB app and website, train connections with saver tickets available are marked with a %-symbol.

Pro Tip: Saver tickets are often sold out quickly on the Swiss railway website & app but there is far less competition and more availability on an external ticket broker like trainline.com so I recommend you search for it there first. 

Now, let’s move on to the pros & cons:

Multiple-journey tickets

Multiple-journey tickets are an interesting innovation from the Swiss railway network. Unlike traditional tickets, these give you the flexibility to embark on six separate journeys between two Swiss destinations at a discounted rate. Multi-trip tickets only exist in paper format, but the Swiss railway company has very recently announced they will no longer sell them as of December 2024. So make use of them as long as you can!

The multi-journey ticket is always cheaper than the six individual tickets. And, because they are not personalized, you can even buy one ticket for six people, for instance.  

 Unfortunately, they are currently only available in paper format. However, don’t let that fact diminish their value. Offering substantial versatility for your travel plans, these long-lasting tickets might just be the convenient solution you’ve been seeking.

Just a heads up here, tough: You need to activate your ticket at one of those attention-grabbing (kind of old-looking) orange machines spread across the platforms in all Swiss train stations (one time per traveler and trip). 

City-Tickets

Are you based in Zurich but have a city trip to Bern on your bucket list, for example? A City ticket provides you with the flexibility you need. Unlike other tickets, they include local public transportation in the city of origin and/or destination and are valid for one full day. So you can use as many buses, trams, and even boats as you like once you arrive and don’t need to worry about an additional ticket. 

Class upgrade & seat reservation

When discussing Swiss train tickets, we must also briefly mention class upgrades and seat reservation options. If you choose to upgrade your class or reserve your seat, you are treating yourself to an enhanced travel experience.

I would mainly recommend considering seat reservations & class upgrades on designated scenic routes and a few international trains where seat reservations are a must-do. Remember, Swiss trains do their best to ensure comfort for your journey.

The Most Popular Day Passes in Switzerland 

The next category of popular ticket types is day passes. They offer unlimited travel within Switzerland on all trains, buses, trains, and boats; only some mountain railways and touristic trains are excluded. Multiple types of day passes are available: 

🎫Day Pass Types	💸Prices	📍Purchase Location	🚀Best For
Saver Day Pass	From CHF 29.-	Train Stations, SBB App, SBB website, Trainline.com, SBB Travel Center	Early bookers
Standard Day Pass	From CHF 78.-	Train Stations, SBB App, SBB website, Trainline.com, SBB Travel Center	Those planning extensive travel on a specific day
Day Pass for Children (6-16 years)	From CHF 19.-	Train Stations, SBB App, SBB website, Trainline.com, SBB Travel Center	Families traveling with kids
Friends Day Pass for Youth	From 80.-	Train Stations, SBB App, SBB website, Trainline.com, SBB Travel Center	Groups of youths traveling together

Safer Day Pass 

The Saver Day Pass, like the reputable Swiss knife, gives you full access to public transportation within Switzerland. The ticket offers a lot of value, especially for greater distances within the country and extensive traveling on a specific day. In fact, you can even use public transportation until 5 a.m. the next morning, so even if you decide to party hard, you will still get home. 

Safer day passes are available in first—and second-class coaches, and the pricing structure is simple: The earlier you book, the better your chances of availability, and the more you will save. 

Day Pass for the Half Fare travelcard

If you decide to combine a day pass with that half-fare card (with one-month validity and specifically designed for visitors), the actual ticket price is probably cheaper than that tempting restaurant visit at the train station. But don’t forget to consider the initial investment of 120 CHF in your calculations. You will usually make up for it again within 1-3 trips. 

Day Pass for children 

Although I don’t have any kids myself (yet), I am sure you want to know more about the Day Pass for children. With it, your kids aged between 6 and 16 can travel with you or even on their own. 

As they say, the early bird catches the worm. That’s especially true for the Day Pass for children, which is valid for travel throughout the day from the moment the first train leaves until the last one calls it a night.

Whether your kiddos prefer a taste of luxury in the first class or are happy nestling in the second class, both tickets are quite affordable: CHF 19 per day in the second class and CHF 33 per day in the first class. 

Friends Day Pass For Youth 

The Friends Day Pass for Youth has a special place in my heart. I have UNFORGETTABLE memories of going to festivals, concerts, and soccer games throughout the country with some of my friends. You can take advantage of this and explore Switzerland with your travel companions, too!

The ticket was specifically designed for groups of young travellers under the age of 25 (and really all members of the group need to be under that magic age).  What’s really making it a great deal is the fact that up to four people can travel on the same ticket. If you divide with three other friends, all you have to pay is 30 Swiss francs per person for a first-class ticket day pass. 

Most Popular Rail Passes 

Rail Passes are the equivalent of the Swiss GA, valid for multiple days. The Swiss Travel Pass is specifically designed for visitors from abroad (which also means you need a permanent address outside Switzerland and Lichtenstein to qualify for a purchase). 

Depending on your itinerary and how long you plan to travel around the country, you will often make up for the investment quite quickly, especially if you count on the various other benefits that come with it. 

Unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats across Switzerland,  free use of public transportation in more than 90 Swiss cities – free admission to more than 500 museums and exhibitions, and up to 50% discount on mountain railways and cable cars are just a few of the added benefits. 

However, if pricing is your main concern and you are not planning on visiting many museums and mountain excursions, there are also some alternatives (mainly an Interrail Pass or a Swiss Half-far card) worth a thought. 

🎫Rail Pass Types	💸Prices	📍Purchase Location	🚀Best For
Swiss Travel Pass	From CHF 244.-	Trainline.com, SBB Travel Center, SBB Website	For short visits between 3-15 days
Swiss Travel Pass Flex	From CHF 279.-	Trainline.com, SBB Travel Center, SBB Website	Flexible travel days within one month
Swiss Travel Pass Youth	From CHF 172.-	Trainline.com, SBB Travel Center, SBB Website	For travellers between 16 and 25 years
Swiss Travel Pass Youth Flex	From 197.- CHF	Trainline.com, SBB Travel Center, SBB Website	Flexible travelling for young adults between 16 and 25 years
Interrail Pass	From 283.- EUR	Trainline.com, interrail.eu, SBB Travel Center	Multi-country trips in Europe (but a one-country pass for Switzerland is also available)
Regional Pass	Depending on location	Trainline.com, local tourism offices	Regional travel within one destination in Switzerland

Swiss Travel Pass 

The classic Swiss Travel Pass is the most convenient and most sold Swiss Travel Pass. It is available for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive travel days in Switzerland. In my opinion, it is the best “buy once and never worry about it again” solution. It is also great for first-time visitors and people who don’t want to spend a lot of time comparing and figuring out different ticket options. 

If you look at the pricing, it has its costs, but it is definitely a very good product for extensive traveling during your stay in my opinion. 

Swiss Travel Pass Flex

The Swiss Pass Flex is a variation of the Classic Swiss Pass and comes with all the same benefits. Instead of being valid on consecutive days, you can activate it for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days within one month. These days don’t have to be consecutive to each other. Therefore you can effectively choose the days you really need it most and travel a lot. 

Here is the pricing overview: 

Swiss Travel Pass Youth

The Swiss Travel Pass Youth is easy to explain. It’s a variation for travelers between 16 and 25 years at a discounted rate. 

Swiss Travel Pass Youth Flex 

It offers the same flexibility as the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, with a discount for young travelers between 16 and 25. 

Interrail Pass 

The Interrail Pass is comparable to a Swiss Travel Pass but on a European level. There are two different types of Interrail Passes. Let’s first look at the one-country pass for Switzerland. In my option, it is comparable with a Swiss Travel Pass Flex. You can choose your one-country pass for Switzerland to be valid for 3,4,5,6, or 8 days within one month.

Prices start at 164 Euros per adult in second class and 210 Euros in first class, which makes it considerably cheaper than the Swiss Travel Pass at first sight, but keep in mind the validity is strictly limited to trains. Boats, mountain railways, and local public transportation are not included. 

A real plus, on the other hand, is the discounted fares for young adults (12-27 years) and seniors (60+ years).

Next up is the Interrail Global Pass, which is perfect for entire trips through Europe if Switzerland is only one stop on your itinerary. Flex passes, usable for up to 15 days within two months, and continuous passes for up to three months are available. 

Regional Passes in Switzerland 

Regional passes are almost like the secret magic pill nobody talks about. But let me tell you, they are really great for exploring one specific destination in Switzerland. By destination, I don’t specifically mean one city; that wouldn’t make sense because everything is so close here. 

Instead the country is divided in different tourism regions like the Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region or the Lake Geneva Region in the west.

Unfortunately, only a few destinations offer Regional Passes so far; here are the ones that you can currently choose from:

• Lemon Alps Regional Pass 
• Tell-Pass Regional Pass (Lucerne Lake-Lucerne Region)
• Berner Oberland Pass 
• Zurich Card 

Most Popular SBB Discount Cards

Let’s examine some additional discount cards and whether they are available for visitors from abroad. 

Swiss half-fare card

Swiss Half Fare Card for tourists is a perfect add-on if you are exploring the country for a couple of weeks, in my opinion. This gem allows for a month’s worth of travel at half the price on trains, buses, and boats throughout Switzerland. 

Priced at CHF 120 for adults, it quickly becomes a wise investment after just 5-6 train rides in second-class intercity trains. In the first class, the breakeven point is even faster. Let’s look at an example: 

Route	One-way second Class Ticket without half fare card in CHF	One-way second Class Ticket with half fare card in CHF	Savings in CHF
Zurich Airport to Bern	59 CHF	29.50 CHF	29.50 CHF
Bern to Geneva	53 CHF	26.50 CHF	26.50 CHF
Bern to Lucerne	41 CHF	20.50 CHF	20.50 CHF
Bern to St. Gallen	75 CHF	37.50 CHF	37.50 CHF
Bern to Lugano	92 CHF	46 CHF	46 CHF
Total Savings			160 CHF

GA

GA is the equivalent to the Swiss Travel Pass but valid for one year. Due to this limitation is is only an option for Swiss residents. 

Tips to save money while traveling on Swiss trains 

Before we conclude the article, I like to share with you my two favorite tips to save money. 

Make a travel plan, compare and choose the best ticket type 

My first piece of advice is to meticulously map out your journey. I’ve found that a well-thought-out travel plan is the cornerstone of an unforgettable trip. Start by asking yourself: How many destinations are on your wish list? Are day trips and excursions part of your dream itinerary? What about leisure activities that might catch your fancy along the way?

Once you have a clear picture, you’ll find it remarkably easier to make a rough estimation of your travel needs.

This exercise isn’t just about listing places; it’s about understanding your travel style and what you want to focus on during your trip.

For instance, if you’re keen on exploring the vibrant museums and attractions in Zurich, Geneva, and St. Gallen and taking a few day trips to each destination, a Swiss Travel Pass might be your best companion.

Conversely, if you’re focusing on the Lake Lucerne region only, a regional pass could offer more bang for your buck.

Here’s how to approach it:

1. List Your Destinations: Every city, town, or mountain you wish to visit.
2. Count Day Trips: Note how many separate outings you’re planning.
3. Identify Leisure Activities: Whether it’s museum hopping or a scenic boat ride.
4. Compare Ticket Types: Based on your plan, weigh the benefits of a Swiss Travel Pass, a Half Fare Card, or a regional pass.

This methodical approach has always steered me towards making cost-effective and convenient travel decisions, ensuring I enjoy every moment in Switzerland without worrying about spending way to much on public transporation. 

Look for discounted supersaver tickets

The second piece of advice would be to look out for supersaver tickets. These gems are a game-changer for budget-conscious travelers, offering considerable discounts on standard point-to-point tickets. The catch? They’re mostly available outside peak travel hours. However, isn’t one of the joys of vacation the freedom from the nine-to-five schedule? 

Super saver tickets must be purchased at least 12 hours in advance and are only available online, not at the ticket machines. If you look for this discount sign, you can easily spot them.