Must-knows about regular Swiss train tickets

  • Regular tickets, or point-to-point tickets, allow either one-way or return travel from one location to the other.
  • If you purchase a Swiss Half Fare Card, you can buy tickets with a 50% discount.
  • Instead of a ticket for each trip, you can get a pass for unlimited trips.
  • A ticket is bought for a route, so it can include other modes of transport than trains only. It might include a train journey and a short bus ride, for example.
Ticket type: Public transport ticket
Season: all year
Valid for max. 1 days
Included area: Switzerland

Examples of ticket prices in 2024 Copy link to clipboard

This gives you an idea of ticket prices in Switzerland. Note that there are passes that include all of these trips for free.

RouteOne-way or returnClassPriceMore information (prices for other routes, prices for Swiss Half Fare Card holders)
Zurich Airport - ZurichOne-way2ndCHF 7happyrail.com
Basel - InterlakenOne-way2ndCHF 64happyrail.com
Geneva - ZurichOne-way2ndCHF 92happyrail.com
Zurich - ZermattOne-way2ndCHF 130happyrail.com
Zurich - ZermattOne-way1stCHF 222happyrail.com
Zurich - ZermattReturn2ndCHF 260happyrail.com
Zurich - ZermattReturn1stCHF 444happyrail.com

Where to buy your tickets Copy link to clipboard

Omio
Trains in Switzerland
Find train tickets for all of Switzerland.

Offered by Omio: www.omio.com

  • Train tickets for Switzerland and beyond
  • Compare train, coach, and plane prices for international journeys.
  • Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Trainline
Trains in Switzerland
Train travel in Switzerland – train tickets, top routes and destinations.

Offered by Trainline: www.thetrainline.com

  • Train tickets for Switzerland and beyond
  • Compare train and coach prices for international journeys
HappyRail
Rail travel in Switzerland
All train tickets for Switzerland, including Supersaver fares.

Offered by HappyRail: www.happyrail.com

  • Excellent prices in all currencies. No additional fees.
  • Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
  • Experienced team of train travel experts
This list includes external links to our trusted partners.

Discounts on Switzerland train tickets Copy link to clipboard

It's always worth checking if you can save money with a Supersaver ticket. Apart from that, Swiss Half Fare Card holders always get a discount. And several other travel passes allow free traveling.

If we know about any other promotions, we'll list them below for you.

Omio
Omio Spring Promotion
This promotion ends 1 April 2024

Get 10% off train, bus, and ferry bookings. Use coupon code SPRINGFTW. Offer valid for new customers, maximum discount is €10. Also works for travel in other countries than Switzerland.

These promotions are offered by our trusted partners.
Find other promotions

How to save money on Swiss train tickets

For tourists who travel every day, buying full-priced tickets is rarely the cheapest option. A pass for unlimited travel is often cheaper, and always more convenient. If a pass is not cheaper in your case, there’s always a way to get a 50% discount, and sometimes more, on point-to-point tickets. Compare your options with our free tools before you decide.

This is how to save money on regular tickets:

  • Consider a Swiss Half Fare Card to get a 50% discount on all of your tickets.
  • If you only need tickets for longer journeys on one or two days, and if your travel dates are fixed, Saver Day Passes can be cheaper than tickets.
  • If you can commit to a fixed departure time, check if a Supersaver ticket is available.
  • If you’ll be traveling for more than two days, a travel pass is usually cheaper.

FAQ about Switzerland point-to-point tickets

  1. Do I need to buy tickets early?

    No. Regular domestic tickets for Switzerland do not need to be bought in advance. The main reason to buy online in advance is convenience: you’ll save time at the station because you avoid the ticket office, ticketing machines, and possible queues. Regular tickets do not sell out. Also, the price will be the same regardless of when you buy.

  2. Can I break my trip?

    Yes. Regular Swiss train tickets are flexible, meaning you can take any train along the route during the date of validity. You’re allowed to get off along the route and then board another train to complete your journey. You’re not allowed to travel the same section of the route twice though.

    An exception applies to tickets for zone systems, for example in Zurich. Such tickets allow unlimited travel within a zone or area for a certain period of time. You can break your trip, but you need to complete it before the ticket expires (for example: within 2 hours). Time limits can be found in the timetable and on your ticket.

  3. Do I need seat reservations?

    Mostly: no. Almost all Swiss trains (and other modes of transport) do not require reservations.

  4. Where can I buy tickets?

    Tickets can be purchased online, through the staffed desk during opening hours of train stations, and from ticketing machines.

  5. How long is my ticket valid?

    Normal Swiss point-to-point tickets are valid the entire day: from midnight of the specified date until 05:00 am on the following day (so 29 hours in total).

    Supersaver tickets work differently. They’re valid for one specific train and departure time only.

    In addition, you can come across zone tickets offered by Swiss urban or regional fare networks. Zone tickets allow travel within a specific area for a certain period of time, for example for 2 or 4 hours. Such time and area limits are displayed in the timetable and by resellers offering Swiss tickets.

  6. Can I take any route between the departure and arrival location on my Swiss ticket?

    No. You’re only allowed to travel by the route(s) specified on your point-to-point ticket. If you want to travel from A to B on another route, you’ll have to specify “via-stations” when purchasing your ticket.

    Note that exceptions may apply to zone tickets from urban and regional Swiss fare networks: these may be valid for several routes within a particular area and timeframe. Such time and area limits are indicated in the timetable and by the resellers you can buy your tickets from.

    If you don’t want to be tied to a specific route, consider a day pass or a multiple-day rail pass that grants unlimited travel.

Other websites of interest

  • www.sbb.ch: urban and regional fare networks in Switzerland

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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.