The Ultimate Swiss Trip-Planning Guide | Plan your Swiss Vacation in 30 Minutes

Planning a trip to Switzerland can feel like a full-time job — except you probably already have one of those.

So we’re going to make it easy. 

By the end of this blog, you’ll know when to visit, how long to stay, where to go, how to get around, and what to do once you’re actually here. 

Ready to plan the trip you’ll be talking about for the rest of your life? Let’s jump right in.

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Want to Watch instead of Read?

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STEP 1 | Home Bases in Switzerland 

How many destinations can you reasonably visit during your Swiss vacation? 

Let’s explain this one with a real-life example. A few years ago, we had some American friends visiting Europe. They legitimately went to 9 countries in 2 weeks. I’m not even sure how that’s possible. But we met up with them in Rome, Italy — their last stop. And they were absolutely pooped. 

When you zoom from place to place, you waste time checking in and out of lodging, you lose out if the weather doesn’t cooperate, and you overlook many great local spots in lieu of a few tourist highlights. 

So what can you learn from our friends? That less is more! Lean into the tension that you’ll never be able to see and do everything in one trip. Strike the balance between seeing different places and slowing down to genuinely savor the places you’re in.

• If you have 7 days in Switzerland, choose 1–2 home bases.
• With 10 days, pick no more than 2–3 spots.
• With 2 weeks, choose no more than 3–4 home bases.
• If you have more than 2 weeks, well, you can obviously pick more.

We use the term home base strategically. It means the literal number of hotels or Airbnbs that you will stay in. Because it’s possible, and often easier, to stay in one location longer and take nearby day trips from there instead of changing lodging more frequently. 

Ideally, stay a minimum of 2 nights in each place. But if you need to stay one night near the airport before you fly out, that can often be strategic and doesn’t count toward this home base allowance we just listed. 

Planning your Swiss vacation can be complicated but it doesn’t have to be. And to streamline the process further, we made you a free printable! Fill out the form below to have the Checklist sent straight to your inbox. Then you can literally follow along and plan your entire trip as you read the rest of this article.

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STEP 2 | What type of traveler are you?

We don’t need to give you permission — this is your vacation. But to be totally clear, unapologetically pick the places you want to go, the things your travel group wants to do, and the pace that is sustainable for your entire trip.

But how do you know what fits your travel pace, personality, and preferences if you’ve never been here? Since we launched our business, we’ve observed that travelers fall into 3 very general categories. 

Tom Tourist

Leah Local

Adam All-Around

So who are you most like: Tom Tourist, Leah Local, or Adam All-Around? Check off which travel personality best fits you, or even if you find yourself somewhere in between. Because he or she is going to be your mini Swiss tour guide for the rest of this article.

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STEP 3A | Where to go in Switzerland (First-timers)

If this is your first trip to Switzerland, we are thrilled for you! The bad news is that there is a never-ending list of places worth visiting (as evidenced by the stars and hearts completely overtaking Brett’s Google Map).

But here’s the good news: you can always return again in the future! And there are a handful of regions with plenty to offer Tom Tourist, Leah Local, and Adam All-Around. So that’s why we feel extremely confident in recommending these spots for your first trip to Switzerland. 

(If you’ve already been to Switzerland before, keep reading. We’re going to cover where else you could go too!)

And as you see regions you’d like to visit, mark them off on your Checklist so you remember which ones you’re most interested in!

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Prioritize the Jungfrau Region

First is the Jungfrau Region. If you could only visit one area of Switzerland in your lifetime, we’d suggest this one.

It’s the ultimate mountain playground, with the highest train station in Europe, peaks overlooking turquoise lakes, and jaw-dropping valleys. It’s the picture-perfect postcard of cows in the mountains, chalet villages, endless trails, gushing waterfalls, scenic train rides, and more. The Jungfrau Region is the perfect place to plan your dream Swiss vacation.

• Tom Tourist won’t want to skip Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald First, Schilthorn, Männlichen, Harder Kulm, Giessbach Falls, and the adventure activities.
• Despite the well-marketed experiences, Leah Local won’t feel out of place either. She can wander villages straight out of a postcard, hike on trails without seeing another person, visit mountains only frequented by the Swiss, and even dine in restaurants where the local dialect is more common than English. 
• And as you can imagine, Adam All-Around will think this is the perfect region to blend both the highlights and unique experiences into one trip.

We don’t think it’s possible to oversell the magic of this place. In fact, we live in this region and our 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region is our best-selling Swiss Travel Guide with just shy of 5,000 sales as of recording. 

So how long should you spend in the Jungfrau Region? Aim for a minimum of 5 days, but ideally one full week, to enjoy the best of the mountains, lakes, and villages. Plus, the weather can be fickle and you don’t want to miss out on views of those amazing peaks. For example, we stayed here for 5 days on our honeymoon and didn’t see blue skies until our very last day!

And where should you stay?

• Well, Tom Tourist will want to be in the middle of the action, probably in Interlaken, Grindelwald, or Wengen.
• Wilderswil or Lauterbrunnen might tick all of the boxes for Adam All-Around.
• And Leah Local won’t be at a loss for quaint spots in Wilderswil, Gimmelwald, or even the foothills of Grindelwald. She might even venture onto the lakes in Ringgenberg, Spiez, or Brienz. 

Tip: By the way, we have an article and free download that helps you decide exactly where to stay in the Jungfrau Region based on your preferences. Check it out here!

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If we haven’t met, we’re Jana and Brett, Aplins in the Alps, and we help you travel Switzerland with confidence. 

We binged Rick Steves to plan our 2-week Swiss honeymoon back in 2012. Then we came back again multiple times for longer and longer until we finally moved here full-time in 2023. And as of 2025, we have finally visited all 26 Swiss cantons. 

Clearly we cannot get enough of this country! And you get to benefit from our one and a half decades of experience with every new video, free resource, email, and Swiss Travel Guide we create. 

And just in case you’re wondering, you have our full permission to adapt our advice to fit your travel pace, priorities, and preferences. With that in mind, let’s move on to our second pick for where to go in Switzerland for first-time visitors.

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Lucerne and Central Switzerland

Next we’re going to move on to Lucerne and Central Switzerland.

The city of Lucerne is our favorite Swiss city because it has the best balance of culture, charm, and tourist attractions. It’s famous for its covered wooden bridges, city walls, painted buildings, lion monument, grand churches, and its location right on Lake Lucerne. The little mountain next to town is the best spot for sunset, and the Swiss Museum of Transport is a can’t-miss for families and transportation lovers.

But Lucerne is also an ideal home base for day trips to endless destinations in Central Switzerland

Tom Tourist will love:

• Mt. Pilatus and its dragon legends,
• Panoramic views from Mt. Rigi,
• Seeing snow at Mt. Titlis,
• Riding on top of a cablecar to the Stanserhorn,
• And hiking along the Stoos Ridge Trail, which might be the most popular hike in Switzerland. 

Leah Local, there are amazing places for you too. Instead of Rigi, consider the rolling hills and farm restaurants on Seebodenalp. Or explore the entire valley of Engelberg below Mt. Titlis. Klewenalp and Bannalp are hidden gems you won’t find in most guidebooks either. And then there are towns like Stans and Brunnen and you see why Leah Local or Adam All-Around could spend weeks in Central Switzerland.

Give yourself 3–5 days in Lucerne and Central Switzerland. One day is to soak in the best of Old Town Lucerne, and the rest are for those amazing day trips!

• Tom Tourist of course will want to stay in the Old Town of Lucerne since it’s so central.
• But Adam All-Around and Leah Local will want to scope out the newer part of Lucerne, just across the river from Old Town, or even Engelberg, Stans, Schwyz, or Brunnen — all nearby villages easily accessible with public transportation.

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Montreux and the Swiss Riviera

As a third priority, we recommend heading to Montreux and the Swiss Riviera. It’s in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and has a very different feel than the previous two destinations in the German-speaking part.

Montreux sits right on the edge of Lake Geneva and is well-known for its lakefront promenade, jazz festival, endless vineyards, and Château de Chillon, the waterfront castle just next to town that you won’t be able to miss! 

Tom Tourist could spend days in and near Montreux. Of course his itinerary will include:

• Château de Chillon,
• The cogwheel train up to Rochers-de-Naye,
• A day trip to the medieval village and cheese factory in Gruyéres,
• Visiting the popular Cailler chocolate museum,
• And taking a tourist train through the vineyards.

Leah Local is going to visit lesser-known museums like Fort de Chillon or the House of Charlie Chaplin. She’ll venture to the quiet villages and restaurants and wineries sprinkled throughout the Lavaux wine region. And maybe she will take a day trip to the Château d’Aigle and La Berneuse mountain. 

Both Leah Local and Adam All-Around are probably going to stop in Vevey as well, our favorite town in the whole region because of the charming streets and waterfront paths. 

2–4 days will give you a great experience on the Swiss Riviera. And as a bonus, it’s close enough to the Geneva Airport that you could spend the night here before flying out the next morning. When it comes to lodging:

• Tom Tourist will probably book his lodging directly in Montreux.
• Adam-All Around might stay in Vevey, just 5 minutes away by train.
• Leah Local could consider staying in a small village in the middle of the Lavaux vineyards. Lutry and Saint Saphorin are two of our favorites! 

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ZÜRICH REGION

And the last region we suggest for first-timers is the Zürich Region. We wouldn’t prioritize this over the other 3 areas on this list, but most travelers usually come through here for the airport. And if you’re already here, there are definitely places worth visiting.

• Tom Tourist is going to spend a lot of time in Old Town Zürich admiring the churches, fountains, and historical neighborhoods. He won’t miss the Lindt Home of Chocolate, Limmat River boat cruise, and a ride up to Uetliberg, Zürich’s local mountain. And if he has the time, he’s probably going to take a day trip to the Rhine Falls, the widest waterfall in Europe.
• Adam All-Around would probably find the Rhine Falls interesting as well.
• Leah Local will take her time scoping out the local cafes and restaurants in Zürich’s neighborhoods outside of Old Town. She will enjoy a quiet ride on the city’s 3 funiculars. And she will probably explore other towns along Lake Zürich, like our favorite of Rapperswil-Jona.

1–3 days is ideal in and around Zürich — especially if you’re already traveling through here. That’s enough time to mix Old Town adventures with one or two day trips. As for lodging:

• Once again Tom Tourist is going to find lodging right in the middle of Old Town.
• Adam All-Around will be interested in District 2 of the city. It is amazing for convenience and a more local feel.
• Leah Local (and possibly Adam All-Around) will stay farther along the lake. Enge and Wollishofen, both in District 2, are just 5 and 10 minutes away from Zürich Hauptbahnhof by train, while Klichberg and Thalwil are only 15 and 20 minutes. 

But hang on, you’re probably wondering, “Ummm, is that it? What about Zermatt, or Ticino, or Appenzell?! What if my European River Cruise ends in Basel? And isn’t Bern smack dab in the middle of the country?” 

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STEP 3B | Where else should you go in Switzerland?  

We’ve already established that we are quite biased about this little country. But we’ve noticed that we’re not the only ones! A ton of our audience comes once, falls in love, and then comes back again. For example, our friend Laura, who has been here dozens of times, is planning two more trips next year!

So if you have more time or if you’re planning a return trip, here are a few more destinations to prioritize. Once again, these are also conveniently listed on your Checklist.

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Zermatt

Of course Zermatt is first on this list. And not just because the Matterhorn is one of the most famous mountains in the world. It’s because every time we visit, we like Zermatt more and more. And I’m pretty sure we’ve spent (collectively) almost a month here. 

Naturally the resort-like village with endless spas and Matterhorn views are reason enough to visit. But Jana’s favorite mountaintop and some of Brett’s favorite hikes in the entire country are here too. 

Now the main reason Zermatt is on our second list is because we recommend making the Jungfrau Region your first Swiss Alps experience. In fact, we have an article where we pit these two destinations against one another… But also, because Zermatt is just one village. So Leah Local will have a hard time feeling like she can get off-the-beaten path without hiking more remote trails or leaving the village entirely. And if the weather is poor or you can’t see the Matterhorn, everyone will be pretty disappointed.

Tom Tourist is going to:

• Visit the highest cable car station in Europe at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise,
• View Switzerland’s highest peak and second-largest glacier from the top of Gornergrat,
• Enjoy the 5 Lakes Trail where a handful of lakes reflect the Matterhorn,
• And watch the goat parade through town.
• Both Tom Tourist and Adam All-Around will probably pet the famous blacknose sheep too. 

But the food here is out of this world, and it’s one of the sunniest spots in the country, and there’s nowhere else in Switzerland that makes it so easy to get up so high in the mountains.

So plan to enjoy 2–3 days here for the highlights, hiking, and the Michelin-star food. But if you’re an avid hiker, you could certainly spend up to a week here like we have on two separate occasions.

• Tom Tourist will want to stay in the middle of the village.
• Adam All-Around might stay in Winkelmatten, a neighborhood on the edge of town just uphill from the Glacier Paradise cable car station, and connected to the rest of Zermatt by e-Bus.
• Leah Local will have a harder time finding her ideal place here, but she’d probably enjoy staying in a mountain hut. For example, she could stay in the Fluhalp mountain hut to see the Matterhorn reflected in Stellisee during sunrise!

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Other Swiss destinations

At this point, the 5 destinations we’ve covered offer a combined 13–22 days of adventures — that’s plenty for most travelers. But if you’ve already been to those spots, here are a few more of our recommendations if you’re curious:

Bern

Bern is a great little town with pedestrian streets, bridges over the Aare river, and even a bear sanctuary. But it’s really best as a day trip or if you’re already passing through. And we’d recommend Lucerne over Bern if you’re looking for a typical Swiss city experience. 

Appenzell

Appenzell has traditional villages, gorgeous (albeit smaller) mountains, alpine lakes, and famous cheese and beer. Oh, and the micro country of Liechtenstein isn’t far from here either!

Basel

If you’re taking a European River Cruise, chances are you’ll pass through Basel. It has a beautiful Old Town and also happens to have one of our top-recommended Christmas Markets in Switzerland. 

Ticino

Sunny Ticino in the south of Switzerland has palm-lined lakes and warm, sunny weather with Italian food and flair. This pairs nicely with a visit to Italy since it’s on the border, and a handful of scenic train experiences like the Gotthard Panorama.

Graubünden

And if you’re interested in untouched mountains, luxury resort villages, or the Glacier Express, you’ll find all of that in Graubünden.

7 days = 1–2 home bases 10 days = 2–3 home bases 2 weeks = 3–4 home bases 2+ weeks = 5+ home bases

5–7 days = Jungfrau Region 3–5 days = Lucerne and Central Switzerland 2–4 days = Montreux and the Swiss Riviera 1–3 days = in and around Zürich 2–3 days = Zermatt

Other places to visit in Switzerland

Honestly, there are even more places we could list! But lucky for you, we’re continually publishing new articles on our blog and one day we plan to cover all of these spots — and beyond.

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STEP 4 | Where to stay in Switzerland 

Now let’s elaborate a bit more on where to stay. Because I get absolutely overwhelmed with decision fatigue when I start browsing online for places to stay and have hundreds of hotels or apartments to choose from. Seriously, how am I supposed to narrow that down?!

First, all of our Swiss Travel Guides have a detailed “Where To Stay” section to help shrink the map a bit further within each region.  

And if you’ve decided to stay in hotels, you’ll definitely want to check out HotelCard. This is what we personally use to book hotels in Switzerland since it offers discounted rates at select partner hotels. And the beauty is that it has about a dozen options per location instead of hundreds. That right there saves me hours of time and headaches. If you use our link you can save 20 CHF on your membership. And the best part is that you can search availability of hotels and prices before even buying the card.

But let’s be real, sometimes you don’t have hours to sift through the search results. Or you’d rather put your mental energy to other parts of your trip-planning process. In that case, we recommend booking a holiday package through the Switzerland Travel Centre. This combines your lodging, train passes, scenic train tickets, and scenic train seat reservations into a single purchase. And you can get a 5% discount on any package if you book using our promo code AFFAPLINSINTHEALPS.

We are affiliate partners with both HotelCard and the Switzerland Travel Centre. That means we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you whenever you buy through our links. We only recommend products and services that we know will help you, and it’s an easy way to support our work so we can continue cranking out invaluable articles (like this one) to help you travel Switzerland with confidence. 

We’ve put each of these links in your Checklist so you can easily find them when you’re ready to book your lodging.

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STEP 5 | Arriving in Switzerland

Before we talk about what to do and how to get around the country, we need to backtrack and mention a few trip-planning basics: how to get to Switzerland, how long to stay, and when to visit.

You can arrive in Switzerland by plane, train, or car. (And maybe boat if you’re on a European River Cruise.)

If you’re arriving by car, there’s a lot of flexibility on how to get here and where to start your trip. 

But a quick word of caution: If this is your first trip to Switzerland, don’t rent a car. You’ll pay a lot of money to rent a car, and then more money for parking, and then even more money to ride transportation up into the mountains since you can’t drive up to most of them anyway. 

If you’re planning to venture more off the tourist track on a road trip, then don’t let us sway you otherwise. But in that case, it’s often cheaper to pick up and drop off your rental car outside of Switzerland. 

If you’re arriving by train, you’ll also have a lot of flexibility. And don’t let Swiss transportation give you a headache. We’ll dive into transportation tips later in this article, including our free Train Pass Selector Checklist!

If you’re flying to Switzerland, there are 3 or 4 options: Zürich and Geneva are the main international airports if you’re flying from outside of Europe, and Basel is a good option if you’re flying from within Europe. But don’t overlook Milan, Italy too, since it’s right across the border and might be just as close to some of your destinations within Switzerland.

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STEP 6 | How much time should you spend in Switzerland?

How much time should you spend in Switzerland? Let’s just state the obvious: stay as long as you can. 

Okay, okay, I know we’re a bit biased. But there is so much to see and experience. Trust us, you won’t get bored in this little land-locked county overflowing with mountains and lakes. 

Aim for a minimum of 10 days, especially if you’re traveling from outside of Europe. Because really the first and last days are for flying and usually day #2 is reserved for overcoming jet lag. So that’s really 7, maybe 8, solid days of vacation. 

And if you’re traveling from within Europe, book at least 7 days in Switzerland, although 10 days or 2 weeks is even more ideal. 

There’s an important hidden principle here: the longer you stay in Switzerland, the cheaper your overall cost per day will be.

• Your flights will cost the same for a 1-week trip or a 1-month vacation.
• The cost per day of a Swiss train pass can be reduced by more than 50% if you stay longer.
• And even some hotels or Airbnbs offer discounts if you stay longer. 

Be sure to check off on your Trip Planning Checklist how long you’ll spend in the land of cheese and chocolate.

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STEP 7 | When to visit Switzerland

A lot of you have set vacation dates without much flexibility. But if you have any wiggle room, here are a few points to consider, with the caveat that “best” is totally dependent on your travel personality and preferences!

Part 7 of your Checklist lists these months, or flip to page 2 and write in your travel dates. (You can also check out this article about the best times to visit Switzerland.)

Now that we have a solid foundation, let’s dig into the nitty gritty details of what to do in Switzerland and Swiss transportation.

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STEP 8 | What to do in Switzerland

If you’re like us, you’ve probably browsed the shelves of the travel section at your local bookstore. Or maybe you’ve watched a few Rick Steves episodes. Perhaps you’ve done a quick internet search. 

And all of those gave you dozens of ideas but no concrete idea of what to actually prioritize and what’s worth skipping over. 

And that’s where we come in. First we’re going to share exactly what we’d do if we had only 1 day in each of our top 5 destinations. Then we have 4 resources to help you fill out your itinerary even more. 

If we only had one day, we would go to…

Our favorite place in the Jungfrau Region, and quite possibly all of Switzerland, is Mürren. We first visited way back in 2012 on our honeymoon. And without exaggeration, we’ve probably been here 100 times since! It’s a cozy car-free village perched above the cliffs of Lauterbrunnen Valley with imposing views of the iconic Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. It has great cafes and restaurants, and endless hiking trails. Plus a trip to Mürren pairs perfectly with Lauterbrunnen Valley, Gimmelwald, and the Schilthorn.

If we had just one day in the city of Lucerne, we’d explore Old Town, which we already mentioned earlier. And if we had just one day in Central Switzerland, we’d head straight to…well, we don’t actually have a #1 recommendation here but we do think most travelers should pick one of these top 3:

• Mt. Pilatus (the one with steepest cogwheel train in the world)
• Mt. Rigi (which has incredible views of Lake Lucerne)
• Mt. Titlis (with that swaying suspension bridge and snowtubing park)

And the best way to spend a day on the Swiss Riviera near Montreux is to go to Vevey. This village has some of prettiest pedestrian streets and riverfront paths. We always love to walk through the Alimentarium gardens and sit by the main square. You can even catch a boat from here too. Just above town are the endless Lavaux vineyards, which is the perfect place for a nice dinner.

It’s easy to pick what we’d do with one day in Zürich: wander the Old Town historic streets, squares, bridges, churches, and viewpoints during the day. Lindenhof and the Opera House Square are Jana’s favorites. Oh, and Brett has an endless list of amazing restaurants and cafes too. And we’d spend the evening up at Uetliberg. 

Jana’s #1 favorite Swiss mountain peak is in Zermatt, so with just one day we’d ride the cogwheel train up to Gornergrat. It has breathtaking views of the second longest glacier in the Alps, 29 mountains above 4,000 meters, and of course the Matterhorn. Plus it’s famous for blacknose sheep, Switzerland’s highest-altitude hotel, and an alpine lake that mirrors the Matterhorn.

That list is really helpful if you only have 1 day in each place, but hopefully you have much longer! So here are 4 resources to help you craft your full Swiss vacation itinerary:

1 | YouTube

We have an entire library of free YouTube videos for all kinds of places in Switzerland.

2 | Website

Our website is loaded with blog articles and free resources, like our Swiss Train Pass Checklist and Switzerland Packing List for all 4 Seasons.

3 | Weekly Newsletter

Every Saturday we send out an email newsletter with insider tips, behind the scenes info, and advice on what to do in Switzerland. And our inbox insiders always receive a special discount on every new travel guide we launch.

4 | Swiss Travel Guides

Speaking of our Swiss Travel Guides, these are the very best way to plan your trip since they give you everything you need to truly maximize your time. With more than 8,000 customers to back up these minute-by-minute itineraries, they’re a foolproof way to have the Swiss vacation of your dreams.

• Don’t know where to go in each region? We tell you which destinations are can’t-miss, and which ones are great if you have the time. And each Guide includes experiences that Tom Tourist, Adam All-Around, and Leah Local will enjoy.
• Don’t know where to stay? We map out which areas of the town or region make the most sense for that itinerary.
• Don’t know how to get there? We give you specific navigation instructions and even digital maps to follow.
• Don’t know where to eat? Each Guide includes a curated list of our recommended restaurants and cafes, and even which dishes we like to order there.
• Don’t know which train pass to buy? We’ve done the research to help you understand exactly which passes are the best combination of convenience, simplicity, and cost savings.
• Still have more questions? Each Guide has a Bonus PDF to answer the questions like what to do on rainy days, how to save money with the Swiss Coupon Pass, which scenic train rides fit the itinerary, and so much more.  

Do you need to buy a Guide? Nope, you could spend dozens of hours watching our videos and researching these places, then sift through the timetables and opening dates and seasonal closures, then map out how to fit all of your priorities into an itinerary that might work, and then price out each option with or without a train pass. 

But here’s the thing, we’ve done all of that for you. So consider this your invitation to trust our decade and a half of experience in exchange for hours of your time, before and during your trip.

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STEP 9A | Scenic Train Routes in Switzerland 

Next we’re going to talk about Swiss train passes, the last section on your Checklist. Because not buying a train pass is like throwing your money in the garbage. For real, about 95% of you are going to need a train pass in Switzerland. But first, let’s mention the oh-so-popular panoramic train rides. 

Tom Tourist might book the Glacier Express, GoldenPass Express, or Bernina Express. These journeys take train travel to the next level with comfy seats, panoramic windows, and on-board amenities like regional food and wine. But they’re often crowded, especially in peak season. And ticket prices and seat reservation fees might make you cringe. 

Leah Local might prefer to ride those same scenic routes on regional trains. That means the exact same views without premium services, extra costs, or as many people. 

For Adam All-Around, he will want to book some scenic trains, but only when it conveniently connects 2 locations he’s already visiting rather than forcing them into his itinerary. 

In our opinion, here are the most convenient scenic train rides (and the best value) that align with our recommended destinations. The costs may not sound cheap, but they’re quite affordable compared to the 54 CHF reservation fee and 159 CHF full price ticket cost Second Class on the Glacier Express!

And since we’re covering the basics, here’s a quick hitlist of important things to know about Swiss scenic trains.

• Pick the scenic train route that best suits your itinerary. 
• Make seat reservations as far in advance as possible (typically a few months in advance) because these may sell out. 
• You can wait to buy your ticket later, because tickets will not sell out, and may actually be covered by a Swiss train pass. 
• Although you will want to buy in advance if you plan to use Saver Day Passes as your ticket. They are generally cheaper the sooner you buy them (up to 6 months in advance), and often offer the best value for scenic trains.
• Learn more in our Ultimate Guide to Swiss Transportation
• Tip: Book a Holiday Package with the Switzerland Travel Centre and they will book the scenic train route and the seat reservation for you! 5% discount code: AFFAPLINSINTHEALPS.

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STEP 9B | Which Swiss Train Pass(es) should I buy? 

Time for one of the most critical questions of all. Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was one Swiss train pass that covered every single route in the country? I mean, buy it once, scan it a million times, and never worry about not having a ticket or having the wrong pass. 

Unfortunately, that doesn’t exist. (But hey, Switzerland, if you’re readng this, let’s chat. Because an all-in-one train pass would be worth every Swiss franc!)

Instead, you’re left with about 20 different train pass options. Confusing, right?

“Alright,” you say, “No problem. I’ll just pay for tickets as I go.” 

That’s definitely an option. But 95% of the time, you’ll spend a few hundred Swiss francs more per person without a train pass. The math doesn’t lie — you’re truly throwing money away without a Swiss train pass. And sometimes you’ll want multiple passes.

We know it already sounds confusing, but give us a bear with us and we’ll boil it down to the simplest terms. Are you ready? Here we go.

If you value cost savings…

If you value cost savings, opt for the Swiss Half Fare Card. It’s incredibly affordable, it’s valid for an entire month, and it’s basically like a half-off coupon so you can buy tickets at a 50% discount. So you’ll still need to buy tickets every time you travel, but you’ll spend substantially less.

If you value convenience…

If you value convenience, pick the train pass(es) that cover as many of your planned transportation routes as possible and buy as few tickets as possible. This often means using one or more of the regional train passes that offer solid coverage in the mountains, such as the Berner Oberland Pass, Jungfrau Travel Pass, Lucerne Travel Pass, or the Peak Pass.

And as crazy as it sounds, you’ll almost always save more money by buying both a Swiss Half Fare Card AND a regional train pass together!

If you value simplicity…

But if you value simplicity and don’t want to juggle so many passes, the Swiss Travel Pass might make sense for you. It’s valid all across the whole country, which is especially good for covering large distances or riding those expensive scenic trains. But it’s not so great in the mountains since it only offers a discount on most mountain journeys. 

And before we go further, let’s have a little counseling session about your fears surrounding public transportation. A lot of you who come from countries with little public transport are overwhelmed with how to navigate train stations, how to get from Point A to Point B, how to buy tickets, etc. 

Our best advice is to download and learn how to use the SBB Mobile App. It’s the national transport app for Switzerland and the absolute easiest way to buy tickets, search timetables, and navigate from place to place — with or without a train pass.