Must-knows before you book seats

  • You usually do not book seats for trains in Switzerland. All you need is a ticket or pass.
  • This applies to buses, boats, and cableways as well.
  • You only need to book a seat for some trains to other countries, and for a few tourist trains like the Glacier Express.
Ticket type: Seat reservation
Season: all year
Valid for max. 1 days

What exactly is a seat reservation? Copy link to clipboard

A seat reservation is a guarantee that a seat is available for you on a specific train. It's almost always a specific seat number, and often a seat you selected yourself while booking.

Seat reservations are only valid for one specific train on the designated date, departure time and route.

Seat reservations are different from tickets or passes, which you use to pay for the ride.

Price of seat reservations in Switzerland Copy link to clipboard

Prices start at CHF 5 per person. The price can be much higher for premium tourist trains. But in such cases, more is included in the reservation price: you not only get a guaranteed seat, but also other perks like panoramic windows, catering, info about the route, and more staff.

Where to book your seats Copy link to clipboard

Below are trusted websites to book your seat reservations. In addition, we explain reservation costs in detail on each of our panoramic train pages.

Glacier Express
Glacier Express reservation
Scenic train trip
Reservation of the Glacier Express. Second, first or Excellence Class.

Offered by Glacier Express: shop.glacierexpress.ch

  • The operator of the Glacier Express
  • No Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps cannot assist if you have questions about your order.
Gotthard Panorama Express
Gotthard Panorama Express reservation
Scenic train trip
Seat reservation for the Gotthard Panorama Express.

Offered by Gotthard Panorama Express: www.gotthard-panorama-express.ch

  • The operator of the Gotthard Panorama Express
  • No Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps cannot assist if you have questions about your order.
MOB
GoldenPass Express reservation
Scenic train trip
Reservation of the GoldenPass Express trains on the Montreux - Zweisimmen - Interlaken section.

Offered by MOB: journey.mob.ch

  • Train operator in south-west Switzerland
  • No Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps cannot assist if you have questions about your order.
This list includes external links to our trusted partners.

How do I know if I need seat reservations?

You don’t need to book seat reservations unless one of the below exceptions applies.

Exception 1: panoramic trains

Some of the popular panoramic tourist trains require seat reservations. Examples are the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, and Gotthard Panorama Express.

Check our scenic train pages for details. Or use the timetable to see whether your train requires reservations.

Exception 2: international trains

Trains crossing the Swiss border into another country may require seat reservations. If so, a reservation is often included if you buy a point-to-point ticket. But you need to arrange for it separately if you have a train pass like the Eurail Global Pass.

Check our international travel guides, or check the timetable to see whether your train requires reservations.

Exception 3: theme cruises on the Swiss lakes

Just like trains and buses, boats do not require reservations. They qualify as regular public transport and you can simply hop on and off.

Exceptions apply to special cruises such as dinner cruises. They require a surcharge for the seat, food, music, and other entertainment that may be included.

Exception 4: special cableway rides

Cableways, funiculars, and cogwheel trains do not require reservations. For some popular mountain routes, advance reservation is optional to prevent waiting time. Our mountain trip pages offer details.

Reservations are usually required for special rides like sunrise or sunset trips, dinner rides, et cetera.

Exception 5: special alpine Postbus rides

For some mountain routes serviced by the Swiss yellow Postbuses, seat reservations are required. Find an overview of bus routes with mandatory reservations here.

When to book seat reservations

Seat reservations are typically available from 3 months prior to the travel date, but sometimes even earlier. They can be purchased online, or at staffed rail stations shortly before traveling. If you need reservations, it makes sense to book them as early as possible, because seats can sell out.

The difference between tickets, passes, and seat reservations

Essentially you pay for two “services” when you travel by train:

  1. the ride
  2. the seat

The ride and the seat are completely separate components.

You can pay for the ride in several ways:

  • with a rail pass that includes free traveling, such as the Swiss Travel Pass. In that case, you don’t need an additional ticket.
  • with a rail pass that offers a discount, such as the Swiss Half Fare Card. In that case, you need a discounted train ticket.
  • with regular full-fare train tickets, required if you don’t have a pass.

You can purchase the pass/ticket for the ride and the seat reservation together, or you can do so separately. You don’t need to have a rail pass at hand to purchase a seat reservation. As long as you possess both your reservation and your pass/ticket when boarding, you’re ready to go.

How to use seat reservations

Train reservations

Your reservation is usually a digital ticket or pdf file. The coach number, seat number, and departure date and time of the train can be found on your seat reservation ticket. Train stations have displays indicating the train composition. This allows you to wait at the correct section of the platform (for example: platform 5, section C).

Seat numbers can be found in the train coaches: either over the windows or on the seats. Especially mind the coach number, as a train has multiple seats with the same number. It’s the coach number that makes them unique (coach 3 seat 22 is different from coach 5 seat 22, for example).

When the ticket controller comes, you’ll show both the seat reservation and the ticket or pass you’re traveling with.

Cableway and boat reservations

If you have reservations for special (dinner) cableway rides or cruises, show your reservation at the ticketing desk, while boarding, and/or when asked for by the staff.

Bus reservations

If you have booked a seat for a bus, you’ll need to show the seat reservation to the driver when you board. You usually won’t be assigned a fixed seat, but your reservation guarantees that a seat is available for you.

Switzerland seat reservations FAQ

  1. Will I have a seat if I don’t book one?

    Yes, normally there are plenty of seats. The Swiss train system is a flexible subway-like network that assumes people get on and off frequently.

    A seat is not guaranteed though. Trains can be crowded during rush hour around the bigger cities. If there are no seats left, you’ll be able to get a seat once people get off along the way.

  2. My train does not require booking seats, but is it still possible to do so?

    If seat reservations are not required for your train, it may still be possible to book a seat. Not all trains offer seat reservations. The timetable shows whether or not you can book seats.

    We recommend not booking seats to be more flexible, unless you’re traveling in a group and want to be sure you can sit together.

  3. What if the train is full and I haven’t booked a seat reservation?

    Unless seat reservations are obligatory for your train, you are still allowed to board and stand until you can find a seat.

  4. I booked a seat but I missed my train, can I take the next one?

    Seat reservations are only valid for the train you booked. If your pass or ticket is valid for the next train (which is usually the case), you can take the next train but you will not have a seat reservation for that train.

  5. I booked a seat but I want to cancel it: what to do?

    Other than most tickets and rail passes, seat reservations for Swiss trains can often not be canceled. To be sure, check with the vendor you purchased from.

Other websites of interest

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More about seat reservations in our blog Copy link to clipboard

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This is how to get your seat reservations for the popular Glacier Express in 2024: my 7 insider tips.

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Arno
Page author: ArnoI have visited Switzerland countless times since 1997. I've explored most of the country, but find myself staying in the Bernese Oberland and Graubünden most frequently. The alps and the rail network remain very impressive, even after all these years.