If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland, then you’ve probably discovered that not buying a Swiss train pass is like throwing your money in the garbage. But how on earth are you supposed to know which train pass is best for your Swiss vacation?!?
We analyzed over 200 Switzerland trip itineraries in order to find out which of the smorgasbord of Swiss train passes is best for each type of trip!
And, no, Brett didn’t spend forever researching all of this…why would you ask that? 😉
Jokes aside, we have done the research so you don’t have to. But we have a LOT to cover, so let’s give you an outline of where we’re headed.
We’re going to give you specific train pass recommendations for trips to:
- Zermatt
- Luzern
- the Jungfrau Region
- and combinations of those
We will also discuss:
- Scenic Swiss train routes
- Special notes about the Eurail and Interrail Passes
- Traveling with children
- And quite a few other scenarios as well
Which basically means, if you’re coming to Switzerland and have to ride at least one train, bus, cable car, or funicular, then some part of this post will help you plan your trip and save you money!
Just here for the FREE SWISS TRAIN PASS CHECKLIST?
IMPORTANT! 2025 TRAIN PASS UPDATES
The Berner Oberland Pass will have some major changes starting January 1, 2025.
We’ve started crunching numbers and comparing the train pass options 🤓, but it will take some time for us to give you truly helpful and well-researched recommendations instead of random, off-the-cuff answers.
First, download this Checklist.
Then, as soon as it has been updated, we will send you an email to let you know!
We know that you will have questions before then, but thank you so much for waiting patiently as we work behind the scenes to update our recommendations.
Prefer to WATCH instead of Read?
SWISS TRAIN PASSES 101
But before we dive in, it’s important that you have a basic understanding of Swiss Rail Passes. You can place all of these passes into 3 categories, based on where they’re valid:
- National Passes
- Regional Passes
- European Passes
National Swiss Train Passes
National passes can be used year round throughout the entire country of Switzerland. These include the Swiss Travel Pass, the Half Fare Card, and various day passes as well. There’s also something called a GA card, but it’s mostly made for Swiss residents who do lots of commuting, so we won’t be discussing that here.
The biggest difference is that the Swiss Travel Pass and Day Passes can sometimes be used without buying an additional ticket, while the Swiss Half Fare Card always requires you to buy a ticket.
Think of it this way, the Swiss Half Fare Card is basically a 50% discount card for trips throughout Switzerland. You’ll need a ticket every time you take public transportation, but that ticket comes at half price.
The way the Swiss Travel Pass is marketed, it seems as if it’s the one ticket you’ll need for anywhere you travel in Switzerland. And this is true for cross-country travel and trips at lower elevations.
But as you start heading up and into the mountains, the Swiss Travel Pass basically gets downgraded to a Swiss Half Fare Card. It’ll give you a discount on those mountain trains and cable cars, but you’ll still need to buy a ticket costing at least half the price.
There are exceptions where the Swiss Travel Pass will fully cover a mountain excursion (for example, Mt. Rigi, Stoos, and the Stanserhorn—all near Luzern). But when it comes to choosing a train pass, it’s very important to realize that you will likely still have to purchase tickets during your trip even if you buy the Swiss Travel Pass.
Regional Swiss Train Passes
Regional passes can be used in specific parts of the country, but not everywhere, and there are often separate passes for the summer and winter seasons. They work as your ticket, providing free travel to most destinations within the region where they’re valid, or offering discounted tickets where they’re not.
They can be a great value if you’ll spend enough time exploring the mountains, where ticket prices can equal or exceed the cost of a cross country trip. So we’ll be considering regional passes for trips that include Zermatt, the Jungfrau Region, and Luzern.
European Rail Passes
Finally, European passes can be used in Switzerland and beyond all year long, and basically come down to the Eurail and Interrail Passes. For those of you traveling by train to multiple European countries, you’re probably strongly considering one of these passes.
And once again, they can provide great value for the right kind of trip. Cross-country and city-to-city trains are often fully covered—and these routes in Switzerland usually cost quite a bit more than similar distances in other European countries, if you have to buy a ticket.
However, you need to know their limitations as well. Boats are sometimes covered, but more often you’ll get a 50% discount or even no discount at all.
In the mountain regions, you’ll usually get a 25% discount, but sometimes no discount at all. And buses? Well, those aren’t covered anywhere in Switzerland.
So to sum it up, there’s no perfect train pass for Switzerland.
In fact — Switzerland, if you’re reading this, please consider offering a pass that really does cover every ride throughout the entire country. Even if you charge a pretty penny for it, I think lots of travelers would buy it—the simplicity and convenience alone would be worth the money.
Okay, while this Swiss Train Pass 101 section has made you more knowledgeable about Swiss Rail Passes, it hasn’t given you a lick of insight into which pass is best for your trip.
So let’s get to the good stuff.
TRIP SCENARIOS
Like we mentioned earlier, we analyzed approximately 200 trip itineraries, mainly based on travelers who have booked a Swiss Vacation Consultation with us. For each of these scenarios, we’ve considered where and how often the average traveler is likely to use public transportation.
To be 100% certain which train pass or pass combination is best for your trip, you’d need to:
- Price out every single ride you plan to take.
- Then compare it to having a Swiss Half Fare Card.
- And compare that to having a Swiss Travel Pass.
- Or one of the regional Swiss rail passes.
- Or the Eurail…(*brain explodes*)
But honestly, who wants to do that?!
That’s why we made our Free Swiss Rail Pass Checklist! Find the trip scenario that best fits your plans, and rest easy knowing our recommendation is a solid choice for your budget and will save you lots and lots of time trying to figure it out yourself!
TRIPS TO SWISS CITIES
Okay, so maybe you’re a city slicker and really don’t care to visit the mountains or countryside. Well, if you’re only planning to visit a few Swiss cities, you’re in the minority of travelers who are better off not buying a Swiss rail pass.
It’s also helpful to know that most of these cities (Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, etc.) offer overnight visitors a Guest Card that includes free local transportation and discounts to nearby activities.
But what if you’ll venture beyond the cities?
TRAVEL SWITZERLAND ON A BUDGET
First things first, if you consider yourself a budget traveler, it’s really hard to beat the Swiss train pass we recommend in our free download. In fact, this particular pass lasts up to 30 days and offers some mega discounts on Swiss train tickets.
Even if you’re just a discerning consumer who’d rather not pay for stuff you won’t use, this recommendation is ideal. It’s as close to a perfect pass for Switzerland as we’ve found!
TRAVELING SWITZERLAND WITH KIDS
If you’re traveling with children, Switzerland might surprise you with its family-friendliness!
And that starts with some great deals on transportation:
- Kids under the age of 6 travel for free throughout the entire country of Switzerland.
- Kids ages 6-15 travel for half price.
- HOWEVER, kids ages 6-15 can actually travel for free throughout all of Switzerland with the complimentary Swiss Family Card, as long as they are with you and you have a valid ticket or pass.
Once kids turn 16, they’re officially adults as far as normal ticket prices go. However, it’s possible to snag a youth discount on a couple of the passes until the age of 25 or even 28! We designate these Youth options in our free download when it makes the most sense.
We go into a lot more detail and cover even more information about Swiss Transportation in our new Ultimate Guide to Swiss Transportation! We walk you through:
- how to pick an purchase passes and tickets
- how to master the SBB app
- how to ride the trains and buses like a pro
- and lots of other bonuses
SWISS TRAIN TICKETS & THE SBB MOBILE APP
While the recommendations in our free download provide the best balance of cost savings and convenience in each scenario, we don’t want you to think that buying tickets has to be inconvenient. In fact, we really can’t stress enough how easy it is to buy tickets with the SBB Mobile App!
VISITING ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND
(And NOT also visiting the Jungfrau Region or Lucerne, Switzerland)
Most of you coming to Switzerland are not planning a budget trip. It’s not that you aren’t budget-conscious, because many of you are! It’s just that you recognize that Switzerland isn’t cheap, and you’re willing to invest your hard-earned money to see the best that it offers — and one of the biggest draws is the Swiss Alps.
So let’s take a look at train pass options for trips to Zermatt to be in the shadows of the mighty Matterhorn.
The major excursions here are going to be Gornergrat, Glacier Paradise, and Rothorn—and they are not cheap! So is there a pass that covers them all?
Yes there is, and it’s available starting for just 1 day or up to an entire month. But most of you are only in Zermatt for a few days. So should you buy that pass? The short answer is: probably not.
Our free Swiss Train Pass Checklist Download includes the recommendations for a trip to Zermatt, Switzerland:
- The best Pass if you’re spending 1-3 days in Zermatt (for Adults and Youth)
- A bonus tip if you’re traveling in high season
- What to buy if you’re spending 4+ days in Zermatt (for Adults and Youth)
- Which Pass will save you money if you’re going to visit both Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise
- If you need to buy a Pass if you will be driving to Zermatt
- And if the Eurail or Interrail Passes are worth it for a trip here
VISITING THE JUNGFRAU REGION
(And NOT also visiting Zermatt or Lucerne, Switzerland)
I’m pretty sure this part of the country needs no introduction! With its snow-capped peaks, crystal blue glacial lakes, and oodles of alpine charm, this region is can’t miss.
The biggest change this year is that the Top of Europe Pass no longer exists, and none of the available passes will cover you all the way up to Jungfraujoch.
So in place of the Top of Europe Pass, you’re likely to hear about the Jungfrau Travel Pass. It covers many of the top excursions in the region and also includes boat rides on Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. But once again, the most marketed pass is rarely your best option.
Our free Swiss Train Pass Checklist Download includes the recommendations for a trip to the Jungfrau Region:
- The best Pass for 3-5 day trips here.
- In fact, we recommend buying 2 Passes instead of just 1 to really balance money savings and convenience.
- Just how far this powerful pass reaches
- Which pass works for trips that are 6-10 days.
- And we even have a season pass recommendation if you’re going to be here for more than 11 days (and it’s what currently in our wallets right now).
- What to buy if you’re driving to the Jungfrau Region (like Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald)
- Why you probably want to skip the Eurail and Interrail Passes in the Jungfrau Region.
When you’re ready to buy a Swiss Rail Pass…
We’ve included links to purchase all of these passes in your free download. A couple of them are affiliate links, so if this content has been helpful and you’d like to see more like it, then we’d be grateful if you buy your train pass using our links. Thanks!
VISITING LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
(And NOT the Jungfrau Region or Zermatt, Switzerland)
Luzern is, in our opinion, the best example of a small, charming Swiss city. But beyond its covered bridges and city walls, there are seemingly endless mountain excursions available for you to explore. And the 3 most popular are without a doubt Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Rigi, and Mt. Titlis.
There is a Regional Pass available in Luzern, starting at just 2 days, which provides free travel covering just about anything you might imagine doing — including those big three. So, is it best for your trip?
Our free Swiss Train Pass Checklist Download includes the recommendations for a trip to Lucerne, Switzerland:
- The best Pass for a 1-3 day trip here, including just 1 mountain excursion
- And what you should buy instead if you’re visiting for 1-3 days and plan to do 2+ mountain excursions
- Which Pass to buy instead if you’re traveling the long distance from the Geneva Airport to Lucerne, which will save you even more money
- And what to buy if you’re driving to Lucerne
VISITING JUNGFRAU + ZERMATT
(And NOT visiting Lucerne, Switzerland)
It’s pretty simple to figure out the best train pass for trips that focus on just 1 of these regions. But what happens when you start combining them, which is probably the case for your Swiss vacation?
Let’s start with a trip to Switzerland where your two big focuses are the Jungfrau Region and Zermatt, but NOT Luzern.
For starters, always, always, always buy THIS train pass (find out which one in our free checklist). Sometimes you’ll want additional passes, but never in place of this.
Our free Swiss Train Pass Checklist Download includes the recommendations for a trip to the Jungfrau Region and Zermatt, Switzerland:
- What to buy for a 3-5 day trip or a 6-10 day trip to these regions
- How to save money with an extra Pass for Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise
- Why you may even want to buy 3 Train Passes to actually save MORE money!
- Discover which Pass will now cover your trip all the way across the border into Italy
SCENIC TRAINS + OTHER SWISS CITIES
Now let’s pause for a minute, because some of you are probably thinking,
“Brett, this is helpful, and I can appreciate the work you put into this, but I’m also planning to ride the Glacier Express, or the Bernina Express, too — won’t that change things?“
This is a fantastic question, and one we want to make sure and help you think well about. These scenic train rides often cross the country, lasting for up to 8 hours, and can be pretty expensive.
But our YouTube video includes some facts and figures to help you out.
The Glacier Express
- Learn how to get a 50% discount on a Glacier Express train ticket
- Figure out how to buy a Glacier Express train ticket and a train ticket to one of the Swiss Airports for even less
- Why you should NOT buy a Swiss Travel Pass for this ride
The Bernina Express
- Discover which Pass will provide a 50% discount on the Bernina Express
- Or use our recommendation to pay only 40 CHF for a Bernina Express train ticket + a Glacier Express ticket
- Again, why you should NOT buy a Swiss Travel Pass for this scenic train
Saver Day Passes
- Buy this up to 60 days in advance
- Use a Saver Day Pass to score an ultra incredible deal on the Gotthard Panorama Express
- How to upgrade to First Class with this Pass
So the short summary is: you might think you need the Swiss Travel Pass if you’re planning to ride a few scenic trains; but you probably don’t.
Find Specific Swiss Rail Pass Recommendations
VISITING JUNGFRAU REGION + LUZERN
(And NOT visiting Zermatt, Switzerland)
If you’re combining 3-5 days in the Jungfrau Region with a few days in Luzern, the budget choice is a simple Swiss Train Pass. In almost all cases, this will be the cheapest overall regardless of what you end up doing.
But there are some solid options to pay for a little more convenience.
Our free Swiss Train Pass Checklist Download includes the recommendations for a trip to the Jungfrau Region and Lucerne, Switzerland:
- Adult and Youth Rail Pass recommendations for 3-5 and 6-10 day trips
- Multiple Pass combinations that will conveniently save you from having to buy 10+ train tickets
- Which Pass to buy if you’re driving in Switzerland
- What you need if you’re doing multiple mountain excursions near Luzern, especially Mt. Rigi
VISITING LUZERN + JUNGFRAU + ZERMATT
Alright, let’s look at one more scenario. Let’s assume you’ll be visiting all three of these big tourist destinations — Zermatt, Luzern, and the Jungfrau Region.
To keep from sinking too deep into the weeds, it’s simplest just to say that our recommendations for visiting all three of these places are nearly the same as for trips to just the Jungfrau Region and Zermatt, with a few exceptions.
- Why you’ll actually want to buy multiple Swiss Rail Passes to save the most money
- Note the different Pass recommendations for Adults vs Youth
- What Pass to buy if you’re doing a Swiss road trip
BUY A SWISS RAIL PASS WITH CONFIDENCE!
For complete confidence, check out our new Ultimate Guide to Swiss Transportation where we make purchasing and navigating Swiss transportation as easy as 1-2-3!
And after all this, there’s just one more thing left to do: pair your Swiss train pass with our done-for-you Swiss Travel Guides!
Just like with Swiss Train Passes, we take the guesswork out of what to do on your trip to Switzerland, and how to organize your days into an itinerary you’ll love. And we’re adding more destinations to the shelves of our digital shop as we speak!
- Snag our free train pass download (below)
- Grab a Swiss Travel Guide
- We’ll see you in Switzerland!
NOTE: Find the links to purchase these passes in your free download. If this content has been helpful, then we’d be grateful if you buy your train pass using our links. Thanks!
Absolutely awesome both of you. For making it so easy to navigate a very complex Swiss Pass rules. Thank you
So far your videos have made the most sense to me. I’m going to be in Switzerland for this second week in May this year and very thankful for coming across your video which purports to make traveling a little less cumbersome. Thank you so much
Hi Brett and Jana,
I am still a bit confused. We are visiting in July, staying in Grindelwald for 5 nights and will have a car. We want to visit Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Jungfraujoch, Brienz and Lucerne and possibly ride a scenic train at some point to take in as much scenery as we can. Would the Berner Oberland pass and the Swiss half fare card be best? I’m not too worried about budget, I just want to get as much out of this short time in Switzerland as possible.
Thank you so much for you wonderful information.
Hi Anita! Since you’ll have a car, you could either just buy a Half Fare Card, or get the Jungfrau Travel Pass for the days you’ll spend in the Jungfrau Region. No need to buy a Half Fare Card AND one of those other passes though. Have a great trip!!
Hi. Im going to Switzerland in Sept for my 50th bday for 5 days sept 3-7. Im coming from Zurich airport and will be going to interlaken first to do harder klum and isetwald before checking in at our hotel in grindelwald. We will be exploring jungfrau region (except the top of europe) until the 6th. And travel back to zurich that day and leave the morning of 8th. I know i am going to need to buy the 4 day berner pass but i will also be needing a train pass from zurich to interlaken and when we explore zurich. So i want to know which pass to get. Should i also get a haldday card or supersaver pass for my first day (zurich to interlaken), sept 6 (grindelwald to zurich) and sept 7 ?
Hi Irene! We would recommend you get the Berner Oberland Pass and the Half Fare Card, and then just use the HFC to buy discounted tickets for any rides not covered by the BO Pass. Enjoy your birthday trip!!
Thanks to both of you for all your amazing content!
We are visiting Switzerland for 12 days this June. We are a family of four adults, flying into Zurich, spending 4 nights in Lucerne, 4 nights in Interlaken, and two nights in Zermatt. My husband would like to rent a car to stop along the way, but wondering what rail passes would be best. How about the Tell Pass vs the others? what would be best?
Thanks so much!
Hi Dawn! If you do rent a car, then the Half Fare Card would be a great choice to save money without spending too much out of pocket. Hope that helps!
Thanks a lot for your content. Really helpful, after watching and reading your reviews I’ve decided to buy Berner Oberland Pass and the Half Fare Card for 5 days in Switzerland. However, I’m interested in driving and I’m not sure if renting a car will give a better experience. Could you recommend?
Hi Anto! For a trip focused on the Jungfrau Region, we 100% recommend a train pass and skipping the car rental. The car is great if you want to explore off-the-beaten path and outside the Jungfrau Region. Hope that helps!
Hi!
My husband and I will be going to Zurich from May 8th-13th. We are wanting to do a day trip to Lauterbrunnen. I understand most of these recs are for 3+ days. In our case, is it better to just buy our single train ride from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen or is there a better alternative? Is it worth doing a day trip to just Lauterbrunnen?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Viviana! You’re thinking correctly…just buy your ticket for that day. However, look into a Saver Day Pass and see if you can save money compared to just buying tickets. Hope that helps!
Hi Brett. Thank you for the content. I have downloaded your train pass guide but I am confused as to exactly what I need. We will be in Europe for 15 days. We will be starting in London, stopping in Paris for a day and then spending 6 days in Switzerland before heading onto Austria and then finally Germany for the remainder of the trip. I think I need to bye the Eurail Global Pass but then also the Berner Oberland Pass to cover the Swiss Alps we will be spending most of our time in. Do I still need the Swill half fare card also? I thought about forgoing the Eurail pass and only getting the Swiss half card and Berner Oberland pass but our one trip from London to Paris on the Eruostar will cost us half of the Global pass per person. Do you recommend getting the Eurail Global Pass or not. And do I need a swiss pass on top of it? Thank you so much for all your help.
Great question Katie! Maybe consider using the Eurail Pass to get you to your lodging in the Jungfrau Region, then use a Berner Oberland Pass for your time there, and then use the Eurail Pass again once you leave the Jungfrau Region. If you do this, there’s probably no need for a Half Fare Card. But keep in mind that the Half Fare Card saves you 96 CHF on a 6-day Berner Oberland Pass, so that alone almost pays for it!!
Hi! Great info! I think I get it, but just to be sure: we’re heading to Zermatt (from Venice) for a few days (planning on doing the Glacier Paradise Gondola and the Gonergatt, but on different days) then off to Interlaken (to visit Harder Kulm and Jangfrau) and off then to explore Lucerne for a day. Sounds like the Berner Oberland and Half Fare Cards and not the Tell Pass are my best bet? How far in advance is it recommended to buy train tickets?
Hi Ray, that sounds like a pretty good plan! If you buy online, you just need to purchase at least 3 days before your trip. But there’s really no reason to buy far in advance. Have a great trip!
Hai..
We three adults , first time to switzerland. From Zurich to Lucerne 2 nights and then to interlaken 3 nights. We plan Mt rigi, Mt titlis, grimdelwald fist, lauterbrunnen. Then we go to Munich and austria. What pass should we buy? I’m confused.. please help. Thank you in advance
Hi Normala! Make sure to download the free checklist…it provides a recommendation the exact trip you’re planning to take!
Hi Brett,
Thanks for the great tips! My family of four (two teens [18 and 15]) will use the Eurail pass coming from Paris to the Air bnb at Erlenbach Im Simmental (15 mins from Spiez). We will spend 2.5 days in the JUNGFRAU area. We want to do the cruise at Lake Brienz/Thun Lake, Lauterbrunnen waterfall tour, Murren, Schilthorn, Grindelwald First, and Bachalpsee Lake. Is it possible? If so, will the half-fare cards be enough (2 adults, 1 youth, 1 child [free with Swiss family card])? Thanks
Hi Chris!! If you’re staying in Erlenbach, you’ll probably find the Berner Oberland Pass really handy. Maybe do that instead of Half Fare Cards, and get the 30 CHF Children’s BO Pass for your youngest child. Hope this helps!
Hi Brett
We are travelling to switzerland in two weeks and we want to explore offbeat places by car, but we also want to experience a train journey just for the feel of it. But no seats are available on glacier express, what other train journey would you recommend where we will get the seats and views both?
Hi there! We love the GoldenPass Express as well as the Luzern-Interlaken Express!
Hi Brett,
My husband and I will be in the UK then Europe late July. After taking in the Olympic opening ceremony in Paris July 26 we were thinking of heading to Amsterdam for a few days then would love to visit Zermatt before returning to Paris for an Olympic event. I’ve spent hours trying to look at trains or flights from Amsterdam to Switzerland and then onto Zermatt and then back to Paris but am lost as to the best way to get there and back. I’ve just requested your free train guide but if you have any advice I’d greatly appreciate it!
With Gratitude- Lisa & Ray
Hi Lisa and Ray! For trains outside of Switzerland, we find trainline.com to be a really helpful website. And of course, within Switzerland, all of your navigating and booking can be done on the handy SBB Mobile App. Enjoy your trip!!
Hi Brett!
My 12 yr old daughter and I will be headed to Switzerland in July after visiting family in Frankfurt. We already have train tickets from Frankfurt to Interlaken West where our Airbnb is. We will be in the area for 4 nights and would like to see Grindlewald, Lauterbrunnen and maybe Jungfraujoch. On the 5th day we will need to take a train to Zurich to stay the night before catching our flight home to the states.
What train pass/passes do you recommend?? Thank you in advance!!!
Hi Dena! If you haven’t already, check out the free checklist you can download — it’ll give you our exact thoughts!
Enjoy your trip!
Hi Brett, we are in Milan Italy now and out of the blue we wanted to visit Switzerland as we are so near! Thus having very little time planning!!
We want to do zermatt (Matterhorn ) Interlaken, Jungfrau (not end of the Europe), and Lucern. We plan 4-5 days for this and will flying home to Singapore from Zurich.
What is the best pass to get?
Hi Jit! For such a quick trip with so many mountain destinations, we recommend the Swiss Half Fare Card. Enjoy!!
Hi Brett – my wife and I will be visiting Switzerland over the 1st week of Aug and have hired a car to explore the country. Aside from driving through the mountain passes, we will be doing a day-trip to Zermatt (Tasche) to get as close as possible to the Matterhorn; 2 days in Interlaken (via Berne) for the Jungfrau region and Lauterbrunnen as well as a day-trip to Luzern before returning to Zurich.
I realise we need to purchase tickets for specific trains/cable cars to the Matterhorn and Jungfrau region. Given we will have a car should we just buy the specific tickets (which ones?) for these sites or also buy the Half Fare pass? And should we buy them asap as I suspect given it will be peak season? Thanks!
Hi Borun! If you ride even 3 or 4 trains or cable cars into the mountains, you’ll probably save money with a Half Fare Card. That’s probably what we would do! No need to buy your tickets in advance, though — we always buy ours on our day of travel. Have fun!
Hi Brett!
We are planning a trip and staying in Zurich(3 days), Grindelwald (4 days) and Zermatt (2 days). We plan on doing day trips in each of the cities.
Do you recommend the Berner Oberland with Swiss half fare pass or just the Swiss Travel pass for all those days?
Hi Emily! The Half Fare Card + Berner Oberland Pass would be perfect in our opinion!
Hi Brett, thanks for the video and the download! We are doing an extensive trip from Geneva, to Zermatt, to Jungfrau region, to Lungern, to Zurich, to Lucerne, over to Bern, and back to Geneva for a total of 12 days. We think the Berner Oberland Pass and the half fare card is the way to go?
Hi Kevin, that’s what we would do!!
Hi Brett – in October on day 1 we will be traveling by train from Domodossola, arriving in Lauterbrunnen midday, visiting Wengen, Murren and taking gondolas and trains to walk local trails before leaving early afternoon on day 3 for Zurich, flying home the morning of day 4. Is the BO Pass our best option or do you recommend also getting a Half Fare Card?
Hi Frank! A 3-day BO Pass would be great. You’d only need to add the half fare card if you plan to visit the Schilthorn and/or Jungfraujoch too. Enjoy!
Hi Brett!
Your videos are super helpfull! I will be travelling from Bern to Grinderwald. I remember that one train will be detached on the way to go to Lauterbrunen and the other one to Grinderwald, but I don’t remember exactly where and how it happens. Could you post a link to a relevant video or explain it one more time to me, so I don’t mess up my journey?
Best regards,
Katarzyna
Hi Katarzyna! When you board the train in Interlaken Ost, just make sure you get on the back section of the train. There are signs all over the platform showing you where to board for Grindelwald and where to board for Lauterbrunnen. So be on the lookout for those and you should be just fine!!
Thank you so much for your in-depth videos of the Jungfrau region. My husband and I will be traveling with our son, daughter-in-law, and three adult grandchildren for an 8 day Swiss trip. We have booked a hotel in Grindelwald and the hotel owners said we need the Jungfrau pass which we will purchase from them, plus they will give us the hotel pass that covers some of the gondolas, etc. We will be traveling by train from Zurich to Luzern to Interlaken to Grindelwald and back. We may go to Luzern or Zermatt for one day.
My questions: Do we need to purchase the half fair Swiss train pass or the full fair Swiss train pass and do we need either of them for the entire 8 days or just the first and last days?
Since we are purchasing the train passes for all 7 of us, are we able to transfer the individual passes to each person? For instance, if our grandchildren want to spend a night exploring Interlaken and we don’t go with them, we don’t want them to pay for that excursion.
To be honest, I have more questions but the transportation portion of the trip is the most confusing.
Thank you and happy adventures.
Hi Anita! We very much recommend the Berner Oberland Pass + 1/2 Fare Card for the itinerary you’ve mapped out. The Jungfrau Travel Pass will be much more limited. And unfortunately you can’t transfer passes between people.
We understand that Swiss Transportation can be very confusing! Be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Swiss Transportation, which me made to answer all your questions! https://aplinsinthealps.com/guides/ultimate-guide-to-swiss-transportation/