Breathtaking scenery awaits you in Switzerland - take it all in while you travel around by train. Even better, buy a Swiss Travel Pass – not only will you get to enjoy unlimited travel on Swiss trains, but you'll also be able to use buses, boats, cable cars and public transport in more than 90 cities.
On this page, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the different Swiss rail passes, how to use them, FAQs and much more. Need more information on the Swiss rail network? Check out our dedicated travel guide to trains in Switzerland.
What’s a Swiss Travel Pass?
The Swiss Travel Pass is a rail pass that lets you travel around Switzerland as much as you want by train, bus and boat for a set amount of travel days. You can use a Swiss Travel Pass if you’re a tourist and permanently reside outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
What types of Swiss Travel Pass can I buy?
There are a few types of Swiss Travel Pass you can buy:
Swiss Travel Pass
With a Swiss Travel Pass, you'll get:
- Unlimited train, bus and boat travel for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days
- Unlimited travel on panoramic trains such as the Glacier Express, Bernina Express + Gotthard Panorama Express (seat reservation fees apply)
- Unlimited public transport usage in more than 90 cities
- Free admission to over 500 museums
- Mountain excursions (some included; some discounted)
- Children aged 6 - 15 get free travel when a parent holds a Swiss Travel Pass and a Swiss Family Card
- Children under 6 travel free of charge
From CHF 244 (around £222 / $300)
Swiss Travel Pass Flex
With a Swiss Travel Pass Flex, you'll get:
- Unlimited train, bus and boat travel for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 non-consecutive days
- Unlimited travel on panoramic trains such as the Glacier Express, Bernina Express + Gotthard Panorama Express (seat reservation fees apply)
- Unlimited public transport usage in more than 90 cities
- Free admission to over 500 museums
- Mountain excursions (some included; some discounted)
- Children aged 6 - 15 get free travel when a parent holds a Swiss Travel Pass and a Swiss Family Card
- Children under 6 travel free of charge
From CHF 279 (around £253 / $344)
Other Swiss rail passes
There are some other types of Swiss rail passes you can buy to save money on your train journeys. Keep reading for more details.
Swiss Half Fare Card
If you’ve planned a couple of trips around Switzerland and want to save money, why not buy the Swiss Half Fare Card – you’ll get one month of up to half-price tickets on most trains (both in First and Second Class), buses, boats, and public transport. Children under the age of 16 travel for free if accompanied by an adult who is a holder of a Swiss Family Card.
Like the Swiss Travel Pass, you can use the Swiss Half Fare Card if you’re a permanent resident outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
From CHF 120 (around £109 / $148)
Tell-Pass – Central Switzerland
If you’re travelling around Central Switzerland, this is the right pass for you. The Tell-Pass is an all-inclusive transport pass which provides unlimited travel on trains, buses, boats and mountain railways across the Lake Lucerne region in Central Switzerland.
You can choose between 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 consecutive days of travel. You can also get discounts on different attractions and museums in the region with the Tell-Pass.
From CHF 190 (around £173 / $234)
How does a Swiss Travel Pass work?
Receiving your Pass
Once you complete your booking with us, you’ll receive an email with your Pass attached as an e-ticket and ready to be used – no paper, no fuss! Important: Keep this email safe, as your Pass won't be saved in your account like standard tickets - you'll need the ticket attached to the email to travel.
Using your Pass
The Swiss Travel Pass is so easy to use – simply jump on board the train, bus, boat or cable car you want and you’re good to go! All you need to do is to show it to the ticket inspectors when asked.
If you're using a Swiss Travel Pass Flex, you must activate your Pass via activateyourpass.com before starting your trip. Your receipt will contain all the information you need.
Take a look at our dedicated page on how to use your Swiss Travel Pass for more details.
Some trains require seat reservations
Panoramic trains like the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express usually require a seat reservation, which will come at an additional cost. Make sure you book your seat in advance if you plan to travel on one of these trains.
Refunds
We get it - plans can change. Even the most flexible of rail passes sometimes can't keep up. If you need a refund on your Pass, you're in luck - we offer 100% refunds on Swiss Travel Passes up to one day before the set start date.
After that, exceptional partial refunds are possible – if you need help refunding your pass, reach out to our friendly customer service.
Do I need a Pass?
It's worth weighing up whether point-to-point tickets or a Pass could be best for your plans. If you want total flexibility over when you travel, perhaps a Pass is best for you. If you want to book your tickets way in advance (and maybe save some money!) then point-to-point tickets could be cheaper and suit you best. Always do your research!
Other Rail Passes to travel around Europe and beyond
At Trainline, we sell international rail passes for many countries and continents across the globe, including Europe, Great Britain and Japan. Keep scrolling to see which passes you can buy with us, tap the blue button to book your pass straight away or tap 'Find out more' to read our dedicated guides to each pass.
Interrail
With the Interrail Pass, you can discover Europe by train and travel across the continent with 10,000 destinations to discover.
Suitable for:
European residents travelling around Europe
Multi-country and single country passes available
Trips from 1 week to 3 months
Eurail
With the Eurail Pass, you can discover Europe by train and travel across the continent with 10,000 destinations to discover.
Suitable for:
Non-European residents and non-European passport holders
Multi-country and single country passes available
Trips from 1 week to 3 months
BritRail Pass
Using the BritRail Pass, you can explore England's cities and coasts, Scotland's Highlands and Wales' scenic coasts using one simple ticket.
Suitable for:
All non-UK passport holders travelling within Great Britain
Travelling by train around England, Scotland and Wales
Trips from 2 days to 2 months
Japan Rail Pass
Discover all that the Land of the Rising Sun has to offer with a Japan Rail Pass. Travel between regions, cities and Japan's biggest attractions with one simple pass. With Trainline’s partner, 12Go, you can buy one online today. By clicking the blue button below, you will be taken to the website of our official partner, 12Go.
Suitable for:
All non-Japanese residents and non-Japanese passport holders
Visiting more than one city in Japan
Travel on bullet trains, local trains and buses
Regional rail passes in Japan
Just sticking to one region during a visit to Japan? Regional passes allow for unlimited travel (for a certain time period) within one region and could be a cheaper option. With Trainline’s partner, 12Go, you can buy one online today. By clicking the blue button below, you will be taken to the website of our official partner, 12Go.
Suitable for:
All non-Japanese residents and non-Japanese passport holders
Shorter trips
Travel on bullet trains, local trains and buses
Swiss travel inspiration
Check out some of the most popular ways to spend your time in Switzerland. Our travel experts have put together exciting itineraries to get you inspired.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still need some answers about the different Swiss Rail Passes, have a look at some of the most commonly asked questions by rail travellers in Switzerland below.
When should I buy a Swiss Travel Pass?
We recommend you buy a Swiss Travel Pass if you’re planning to travel around Switzerland quite frequently and you want to save time and money – you’ll be able to jump on any train at any time without having to wait to buy a single ticket first.
How much is the Swiss Travel Pass?
The price of the Swiss Travel Pass may change based on the type of pass you want to buy. For example, the Swiss Travel Pass Flex is from CHF 279.
Where can I buy the Swiss Travel Pass?
You can buy your Swiss Travel Pass online with us. Simply click on the ‘Buy your Swiss Pass’ button at the top of the page and you’ll be redirected to our Passes page, where you can buy the type of pass you’re interested in.
Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover the Golden Pass Line?
Yes, you can travel with the Swiss Travel Pass on the Golden Pass Line, as well as on other panoramic routes, including the ones served by the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express.