SBB Train Tickets and Timetables

SBB stands for ‘Swiss Federal Railways’, the national railway company of Switzerland – it’s also called CFF (Chemins de Fers Fédéraux Suisses) and FFS (Ferrovie Federali Svizzere) in France and Italy respectively. Not only does SBB cover the main train routes across Switzerland, it also connects some rail lines in Germany, Italy and France.

Connecting major Swiss cities like Geneva, Bern, Zurich and Basel as well as the country’s airports, SBB provides a modern and extensive rail network. This makes the train the best mode of transport to discover Switzerland and take in its breath-taking views between mountains, lakes and hills - we've even got a list of Switzerland's best fall hikes for you to discover!

Want to know more about the Swiss train system? Check out our dedicated page about trains in Switzerland and discover the most popular destinations, including the most scenic routes served by Glacier Express and Bernina Express.

Enjoy 20% off* trains across Switzerland and turn your trip into so much more. With no fixed travel dates, it’s the perfect time to plan a summer escape or book ahead for later in the year.

Traveling by train makes it easy to experience everything on offer. You’ll be whisked away to unforgettable destinations like…

• Lucerne: A charming lakeside city with mountain views and a storybook old town.
• Zürich: Switzerland’s lively hub for culture, shopping and dining.
• Interlaken: Your gateway to alpine adventures between two stunning lakes.
• Geneva: A cosmopolitan city set on the shores of Lake Geneva.
• Zermatt: A car-free mountain village at the foot of the iconic Matterhorn.

Use code 20OFFTRAINS at checkout before midnight June 7 and start exploring Switzerland by train for less.

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*Promo Code of 20% discount (capped at £15 GBP or $15 USD) available exclusively on Trainline with no minimum basket value (excluding any booking fees), for the purchase of train tickets to travel on Swiss domestic routes, paid in pounds (GBP) and for US customers based in the US. Promo Code valid once per customer for a trip booked between 11 May and 7 June (inclusive) before 23:59 (BST), limited to the first 1,300 codes redeemed. Promo codes cannot be used in conjunction with any other Trainline offer. We reserve the right to refuse the issue of any Promo Code Offer at any time and to vary any and all elements of each offer at any time without notice. To see the full conditions and restrictions that apply to this Promo Code Offer, take a look at our Terms and Conditions: https://www.thetrainline.com/terms.

SBB provide different kinds of trains with modern design and technology:

• InterCity (IC) and InterCity Tilting Train (ICN) – These are long-distance high-speed trains that can reach up to 200 km/h and connect major cities. They usually provide a First and Second Class (where you can find a Family Area) and come with a restaurant car, as well as plenty of room for bikes and wheelchairs. Despite being equipped with all amenities for a long-distance journey, IC and ICN trains can be quite crowded at peak times as they’re often used by commuters.
• EuroCity (EC) – These are high-speed trains that can also reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. Used mainly on international routes, they offer the same onboard services as IC and ICN trains.
• InterRegio (IR) – These are long-distance double-decked trains connecting Swiss regions and stopping at only a few selected stations. They’re usually equipped with a restaurant car, air conditioning and space for bikes.
• RegioExpress (RE) – This is a regional train that stops at a few stations in a specific region. Most RE trains operate on shorter routes than IR trains.
• S-Bahn (S) – This type of train connects all stations in the urban areas of Aargau, Basel, Lausanne, Geneva, Lucerne, Schaffhausen, Zurich, Zug and Sion.
• Regio (R) – This is a regional train stopping at all stations in a specific urban area and covers all zones that are not served by S-Bahn.

SBB Standard tickets

Standard tickets are one-way or return tickets you can buy either online or at the ticket office. If you buy them online, you won’t be able to make any change to your booking and you’ll have to travel on the date you selected. If you buy them at the ticket office, instead, you can decide when you want to travel – just remember that one-way tickets are valid for one day only, while tickets for a route that is longer than 115 km can be used within 10 days.

SBB Supersaver

Supersaver tickets are SBB’s cheapest fare – they can get you up to a 70% discount on the price of a Standard ticket. These tickets are only available online and can’t be modified nor refunded. In general, the earlier you book, the more likely you’ll find Supersaver tickets – you need to make your booking at least 30 days before your travel date.

SBB City ticket

In addition to the train journey you booked, this train ticket also includes a one-day pass for public transport at the city you’re travelling from or your destination city. The City ticket is valid for one day – you can buy it either online or at the station. If you want to use public transport in both cities, you can get a City-City ticket, which is only available online.

SBB Multiple-journey ticket

With this ticket type you’re entitled to six one-way trips on a given route – Geneva to Lausanne, for instance. The multiple-journey ticket is also perfect for a group of six people travelling together.

You can buy your ticket online, but if you’re travelling on a regional train you’ll need to validate it – the ticket will be valid for 4 hours. In case of a long-distance trip, the ticket is valid from the moment it’s validated until 05:00 the following day.

SBB Saver Day Pass

The Saver Day Pass is a one-day Travel Pass offered by SBB and gives you unlimited travel at any time and anywhere in Switzerland. The earlier you book, the more you’ll save. This Pass is valid to travel in both First and Second Class but it’s non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

SBB train schedule (Fahrplan)