How, when and where to purchase transport tickets when in Switzerland
A traveler is looking for advice on paying for public transport in Switzerland. They want to know if they can pay with a credit card when boarding or if they need to buy tickets beforehand. Getting information on where to purchase tickets and payment options is essential for their trip.
- In larger towns and many smaller ones, you must pay before boarding public transport at ticket machines that accept cards and cash.
- Investing in a Swiss Travel Pass covers all public transport, making travel easier and more convenient.
- You can use the SBB app to pay for tickets, which is very straightforward.
- Hotels in some Swiss cities often provide a free citycard for local public transport, so check with yours.
AI-generated summary-
hello,
can I pay when I get on to public transport with a credit card or do I need to purchase a ticket before hoping on? If I need to purchase prior to hoping on where do I buy the ticket and how can I pay?
thanks in advance for your help.
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This is an extremely broad question. In the larger towns (and some smaller ones ) you MUST PAY BEFORE BOARDING. This has been the rule for over fifty years! There will be ticket machines at the stops. The machines usually take both cards and cash. But two other points.
If you invest in (as I always do) a Swiss Travel Pass, that covers all public transport, including local buses and trams.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/
In many Swiss cities, your hotel will issue you with a free ‘citycard’ (the name varies from place to place) which gives free travel on the LOCAL public transport WITHIN the city.
Thanks Roger, I will have a half fare card. Can tourist pay via the SBB app??
Sorry, but I don’t know. But if you invest in a Swiss Travel Pass all your ticketing anxieties vanish in a flash!
Glen, from my research, yes you can pay with the app. I have my app set up with my credit card details and have so far paid for three Saver Day Passes.
I plan to get the Half Fare too, and after we leave the BO area, will be using it, together with the app, for all our public transport needs.
Whilst the Swiss Travel Pass might be easy, it is many hundreds of CHF more expensive for our trip than getting the HF and the BO (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/) and just buying a couple of tickets.
You need to pay before you board the train, cable car, or boat. Sometimes you can pay on the bus. You can pay on the SBB app. It is very easy to do. Have a nice trip!
Hi glen,
Yes, you must have a valid ticket or pass before you board transportation here. Ticket inspectors can appear ‘out of no-where’ and they are fairly strict with penalties.
In addition to the replies above, if you have time, take a read of our “how it works” guide, in the link below. You will find your questions answered and lots of additional useful information:
Online purchase options for your Swiss Half Fare Card here:
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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