The role of buses in Swiss public transport
Buses complement the extensive train network of Switzerland. Swiss buses mainly:
- get you to towns that don’t have a rail station;
- travel within cities and towns;
- connect districts, villages, and streets in rural areas.
You rarely get to choose your mode of transport in Switzerland. If you want to travel from A to B, you can fill this out in the timetable, and it will show you whether to travel by train, bus, cable car, or anything else. If there is a train service connecting two towns, there usually isn’t a bus service too.
The national yellow Postbus and other buses
The Postbus
The yellow Postbuses service longer routes in Switzerland. They transport you between villages, get you to remote valleys, and cross beautiful passroads in the Swiss Alps. On some routes in the mountains, the buses only operate from spring to fall. So always consult the timetable. Reservations are mostly not needed, except for a few panoramic Postbus trips.
Other buses
In addition, there are lots of other bus networks in Switzerland, operated by all sorts of regional or local companies. They cover transport in larger cities and their surroundings.
Just as with train traveling, it doesn’t matter which company operates your bus. You just take the one that shows up in the timetable, regardless of the company. You don’t need reservations for these buses.
Pay for the bus with a ticket or rail pass
Bus traveling with a rail pass
If you have a rail pass that’s valid for a particular bus route, you don’t need an additional ticket. Just show your rail pass to the bus driver when entering the bus. If you don’t have a rail pass that fully covers the route, you need an extra ticket.
Bus travel with a ticket
Learn how traveling with bus tickets works here.
Reservations for Swiss buses
Reservations are mostly not required
Most Swiss buses don’t require a reservation. You just show up at the bus stop and board with your valid ticket or rail pass.
A few Postbus routes do require reservations
Reservations are required for a few scenic mountain routes serviced by Postbuses. The way in which you need to make reservations, differs per ride. You may need to do this online, by phone or with the PubliCar app. This app allows you to reserve a small bus for a small travel party in remote areas.
How to tell if you need a reservation
The timetable shows whether you need reservations for your bus trip. Alternatively, you can find routes with mandatory seat reservations using the link provided here. How to make reservations is explained for each route.
Bus schedules in Switzerland
All buses can be found in the general Swiss timetable. There’s no need to consult separate bus schedules.
Scan QR codes at Postbus stops
Most stops of the Swiss Postbus network display a QR code. You can scan this for real-time data. This way, you can see when your bus is expected to arrive. This is usually on the scheduled time or with minimal delays, just as with Swiss trains.
More practical information for your bus journey
Swiss timetable
Point-to-point tickets
Seat reservations
Other websites of interest
- www.postauto.ch: the Swiss Postbus
- www.postauto.ch: Postbus rides that require reservations
- www.postauto.ch: the Postbus PubliCar reservation app
- www.postauto.ch: QR codes at Postbus stops