The Options at a Glance
Visitors who live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein can choose between a handful of passes from the Swiss Travel System:
- Swiss Travel Pass: unlimited travel by train, bus and boat on consecutive days (3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days), plus city public transport and free entry to more than 500 museums.
- Swiss Travel Pass Flex: the same benefits, but you choose your travel days within one month.
- Swiss Half Fare Card: valid for one month, it gives 50% off train, bus and boat tickets and most mountain railways and cable cars.
- Regional passes: products such as the Berner Oberland Pass, Tell-Pass (Lake Lucerne region) and Jungfrau Travel Pass cover one area in depth.
All of these are only for people permanently resident outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
What They Cost in 2026
Prices were adjusted on 1 January 2026. A consecutive 3-day Swiss Travel Pass in second class costs CHF 254 for an adult, with longer passes costing less per day. The Flex version costs more than the consecutive pass for the same number of days. The Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 for one month, up from CHF 120 in 2025. Youth fares for travellers aged 16 to 24 are discounted by roughly 30%.
Exchange rates move, and the official sites state that the price shown at checkout is binding, so treat these figures as a guide and confirm them when you buy.
What the Swiss Travel Pass Covers
The Swiss Travel Pass is closest to an all-inclusive ticket:
- Trains, buses and boats across the Swiss Travel System network
- Public transport in more than 90 towns and cities
- Free trips up Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos
- Up to 50% off most other mountain railways, such as Gornergrat, Titlis and Schilthorn
- Free entry to more than 500 museums
It does not include seat reservations on panoramic trains such as the Glacier Express and Bernina Express. Those are paid separately. The Jungfraujoch railway and some other summit lines are discounted rather than free.
What the Half Fare Card Covers
The Half Fare Card halves the price of almost every public transport ticket you buy during its month of validity, including most mountain railways and cable cars. It has no museum benefit. Its strength is flexibility: you pay as you go, so there is nothing wasted on days you stay put, and expensive excursions such as summit railways are halved.
How to Decide
Write down your planned journeys and look up the full fares in the SBB Mobile app or on sbb.ch. Then compare:
- Full fares total versus Half Fare Card price plus half of those fares. If you spend more than about CHF 300 at full price, the Half Fare Card already pays for itself.
- Half Fare Card total versus Swiss Travel Pass price for the same days. The Travel Pass tends to win when you travel long distances every day, use city transport a lot and plan to visit several museums.
As a rule of thumb, a fast-moving itinerary that changes base every day or two suits the Swiss Travel Pass. A slower trip with one or two bases and a few big mountain excursions often works out cheaper with the Half Fare Card. If you plan to spend most of your time in one valley, a regional pass may beat both.
Families and Young Travellers
The free Swiss Family Card lets children aged 6 to 15 travel free when accompanied by at least one parent holding a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card. Children under 6 travel free anyway. Request the Family Card when you buy the parent's pass. Travellers aged 16 to 24 pay youth prices on the Swiss Travel Pass and get a discount on the Half Fare Card too.
Buying and Using Your Pass
Passes are sold through the Swiss Travel System website, SBB, authorised resellers and staffed stations in Switzerland. Most are issued as a digital ticket you show on your phone with your passport. The Half Fare Card can be cancelled before its start date under the seller's conditions, and pass-holders must still book compulsory reservations separately. If you are unsure, start by pricing your three or four longest journeys: the answer is usually clear within a few minutes.
