Switzerland: Travel Cards & Passes
Discounts and Savings on Swiss Trains, Postal Buses, and Boats
Apr 29, 2008
Switzerland’s excellent public transportation system can be expensive but many travel passes, discounted fares, and saving cards are available to bring down costs. The best savings offers on Swiss trains and buses are aimed at locals using the same routes frequently. However, several good deals were specifically designed for foreigners traveling in Switzerland while some local offers are also good value for tourists.
The Swiss Pass
The Swiss Pass is available in several versions including the standard pass for unlimited travel on continuous days, a flexi pass for travel on non-continuous days, saver passes for two traveling together, and a youth pass for under 26-year olds. The Swiss Pass can be good value for travelers planning extensive journeys on Swiss trains, postal buses, and boats. The Swiss Pass is only available to travelers not residing in Switzerland.
- It is worth noting that the Swiss Flexi Pass acts as a Half-Fare Card for all days during its month’s validity when unlimited travel is not used.
The Half-Fare Card (Halbtaxabonnement / Demi-tarif)
The Half-Fare Card gives 50 percent discounts on standard train fares. The Half-Fare Card is valid for one (CHD150 / USD150), two (CHF250 / USD250), or three (CHF350 / USD350) years. In contrast to for example the German Railways Bahncard, the standard Half-Fare Card gives the half-price in both first and second class.
- The Half Fare Card gives 25 percent discounts when buying train tickets in Switzerland for journeys that continue into Germany or Austria.
Bearers of a Half-Fare Card can buy a Day Card that gives unlimited travel for the day on Swiss transportation. It is available in first and second class and in both cases slightly cheaper if only used after 9 am on weekdays.
The Swiss Transfer Ticket & Swiss Card
The Swiss Transfer Ticket and Swiss Card are two special offers that are only available online, from overseas travel agents, or ticket counters at border stations and Swiss international airports. These two offers are popular with travelers to summer hiking and winter sport areas who will only travel on local transportation once at their final destination.
- The Swiss Transfer Ticket is valid for a single return journey from the first port of entry (border post or airport) to the final destination in Switzerland. Travel in each direction must be completed within a day via the most direct route and may be up to a month apart.
- The Swiss Card has the same validity as the Swiss Transfer Ticket but also act as a Half-Fare Card for all days between the two transit journeys. Although it is valid for up to a month, the Swiss Card looses its validity as soon as the return journey has been made.
Whether these offers are value for money depend on the distance traveled as well as the special offers that neighboring countries have for rail travel into Switzerland. The advantage is that the fare is locked in in domestic currency once the fare is paid.
- In addition to these discount cards and passes, several other cheap tickets are available for traveling on the Swiss public transportation system.
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