Swiss Travel Pass: what it covers and whether it pays off
One ticket for trains, buses and boats across Switzerland, city transport in more than 90 towns and entry to more than 500 museums. Whether it pays off depends on how much you move and which mountains you want to climb.
Is it worth it?
Take the pass if you change base during the trip and ride long train legs on most days. If you stay in one village and mostly go up its mountains, the Swiss Half Fare Card at CHF 150 for a month often works out cheaper, since mountain railways such as Pilatus and the Gornergrat give the same 50% with either card.
What the pass covers
Unlimited travel on the Swiss public transport network, panorama trains included at the base fare.
Trams and buses in more than 90 towns and cities, so the airport transfer and city hops cost nothing extra.
Free entry to more than 500 museums, from the Château de Chillon and the Swiss National Museum to the Olympic Museum and Gruyères Castle.
Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos cost nothing more with the pass. On other mountain excursions it gives up to 50% off.
What it does not cover: seat reservations on the panorama trains. On the Glacier Express the reservation is CHF 54 per person and journey, mandatory, and no travel card reduces it.
2026 prices
Swiss Travel Pass, consecutive days
| Days | 2nd class | 1st class | Youth, 2nd | Youth, 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 254 | 405 | 179 | 285 |
| 4 | 309 | 492 | 218 | 346 |
| 6 | 399 | 634 | 282 | 447 |
| 8 | 439 | 697 | 311 | 492 |
| 15 | 499 | 787 | 356 | 557 |
Swiss Travel Pass Flex, days of your choice within one month
| Days | 2nd class | 1st class | Youth, 2nd | Youth, 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 289 | 461 | 204 | 335 |
| 4 | 349 | 555 | 246 | 390 |
| 6 | 424 | 674 | 300 | 475 |
| 8 | 459 | 729 | 325 | 514 |
| 15 | 519 | 819 | 370 | 580 |
CHF per person, 2026 fares. Youth means up to the 25th birthday. Children from 6 to 15 travel free with a parent who holds a pass (Swiss Family Card, issued free), and children under 6 need no ticket at all.
Pass or Half Fare Card?
The Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 and runs for one whole month. It gives up to 50% off trains, buses and boats, panorama trains, mountain railways and gondolas, and city transport in the same 90-plus towns. It is sold only to visitors who live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and it comes with the free Family Card for children from 6 to 15.
On the mountains the two cards often give the same thing: Pilatus and the Gornergrat take 50% off with either one. So the pass only pulls ahead on the valley legs. Add up your train journeys between bases, halve them for the Half Fare Card, add CHF 150, and compare with the pass price for your number of days.
Real fares, destination by destination
Fares checked with the operators for our guides, with and without the pass. Each guide details what the pass does on every leg.
| Fare | Without | With the pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WengenInterlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch, return, May to October 2026 | 261.20 | 177.20 | See the guide |
| MürrenMürren to Schilthorn, return, adult fare valid to 12 December 2026 | 91.40 | 45.70 | See the guide |
| ZermattMatterhorn Glacier Paradise, adult return, 2026 fare | 120.00 | 60.00 | See the guide |
| LocarnoCardada return, adult, fares valid 20 December 2025 to 8 November 2026 | 32.00 | 16.00 | See the guide |
| AsconaCasa Anatta, full adult price | 12.00 | 0.00 | See the guide |
| PilatusPilatus, Kriens to Pilatus Kulm and back, adult | 84.00 | 42.00 |
CHF, adult. Fares as published by each operator, checked in September 2026.
Buying and activating
Online on SBB.ch or at a staffed ticket office in Switzerland, up to 11 months ahead.
The consecutive pass shows in the SBB Mobile app only if you bought it on SBB.ch while signed in, with the same login. A pass bought as a guest or through a reseller cannot be added later.
With the Flex pass, activate each travel day at activateyourpass.com before the first journey of that day. A day you have not activated is not covered.
Frequently asked questions
Which mountains are free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
Three: the Rigi, the Stanserhorn and Stoos, with nothing more to pay. On other mountain railways, such as Pilatus or the Gornergrat, the pass gives up to 50% off, so plan those as a separate cost.
Does the pass cover the Glacier Express?
The travel itself, yes, but not the seat reservation, which is mandatory and costs CHF 54 per person and journey in 1st or 2nd class. No travel card reduces that fee, so add it to the budget.
Do children need a pass?
Children under 6 need no ticket at all. From 6 to 15 they travel free with a parent holding a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, on the free Swiss Family Card, so a family usually buys passes for the adults only.
Consecutive or Flex?
The Flex pass lets you pick your travel days within one month, for a few francs more: CHF 289 against CHF 254 for three days in 2nd class. It pays off when you spend quiet days in one village between long transfers, as long as you activate each travel day before your first journey.
Can I use the Half Fare Card if I live in Switzerland?
No. The CHF 150 Swiss Half Fare Card is sold only to people who live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and you must carry your passport or ID for inspection.
Pass sorted? Now pick where to sleep.
Prices and availability change daily in the Alps, especially in July, August and over Christmas.