Zurich, St Gallen, St Moritz, Disentis via scenic route, rail pass
In late January, a traveler plans to take multiple scenic train routes in Switzerland, visiting Zurich, St. Gallen, Bergun, and Disentis over six days. They are looking for advice on whether the Swiss Travel Pass or other options offer good value for their itinerary filled with day trips.
- Consider the Swiss Travel Pass for flexibility and free museum entries during your travels.
- The Graubunden Pass might be cost-effective for your specific routes in the Graubunden region.
- It's usually better to check full fares for accurate pricing when comparing pass options.
- Don't overlook local train reservations as some may not need one, and check the SBB Mobile App for schedules.
AI-generated summary-
Hi
In late January we’re taking the train from Zurich to St Gallen for 2 nights with a possible day trip via train to Appenzell. Then taking train to Bergun/Bravuogn for 2 nights and may take a day trip by train to Alp Grum and back via St Moritz. Then train (via the scenic route) to overnight in Disentis and following day, scenic train route (Gotthard) to Zurich. [We do love Swiss trains!]Basically, a lot of trains … but doing rough sums / checking The Man in Seat 61’s excel spreadsheet, no Swiss passes seem helpful for fare savings. Am I missing something? It may be, on a couple of days, we would “break even” with the Day Saver Pass …
Also, it may save to book some local trains in advance but should I wait till after mid-December for the European Train Timetable to be confirmed in case timings change, or does this only really affect intercity trains and not regional ones?
Any thoughts would be much appreciated, thank you.
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Hello HillFarm10
I am very puzzled by this thread. You say ‘We do love Swiss trains!’. You give an itinerary which involves a lot of train travel. Why are you not investing in Swiss Travel Passes (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/)?
Remember that the STP gives you the complete freedom of the world’s best public transport system. But there are also intangible benefits
Intangible Benefits of the Swiss Travel PassWith the STP You can ‘hop on hop off’ as the mood takes you. That freedom is worth a lot, even if you cannot quantify it in Dollars/Pounds/Swiss Franks/Euros etc.
You can change your mind as to where you are going even in mid-journey. That is something you cannot do if you have bought point-to point tickets.
The STP gives you free entry to a lot of museums and the like. (Very useful if the weather is bad.)
(And how do you value all that time you are spending sweating over spread sheets?)
Kind regards
Roger
Hi Roger
Part of the fun for me is “travelling” independently and on a budget and the research is almost as fun as the trip. To date, I’ve had some absolutely amazing experiences in Switzerland (even sitting up with the driver on one train as it descended the mountain, enjoying Belle Époque carriage etc) and I’ve already bagged bargain Eurostar and TGV tickets.
However, the STP is so very expensive – CHF379 each for 6 days travel! I know my desired route so am very unlikely to hop-on-hop-off (my partner has walking difficulties) and if there is a white out, we will hunker down snug in a hotel. 🙂
It would seem the STP is less suitable for a “value approach” but definitely great for those who want a hassle-free holiday and are willing to pay accordingly.
Many thanks for replying – much appreciated.
Hi hillfarm101,
Based on your plans, I would recommend either getting the Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/) or a Swiss Half Fare Card (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/).
You can use our spreadsheet to compare the prices: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/tickets/compare/There is no need to reserve seats on Swiss local or regional trains. You can download the SBB Mobile App so you can check public transport schedules on the go. Further details on how to use the timetable here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Anna
Make sure when you look up fares that you are seeing full fare. Normal is to show half fare already. In several trips to Switzerland we chose the half fare card. In checking afterwards, we found it did save money. Enjoy your travels.
Hello Hillfarm10,
I find that you will be spending a few days in the Graubunden canton. You may like to consider investing in a Graubunden Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/graubundenpass/), the cost for which for covering all areas in this canton in 2nd Class are as follows:
1. For 2 consecutive days: CHF 125 / 95 (Full Fare / Half Fare Card)
2. For 5 consecutive days: CHF 175/140 (Full Fare / Half Fare Card)
A Half Fare Card will cost CHF 120, and will make economical sense if you are planning to buy a good number of point-to-point tickets during your travel throughout Switzerland.
The Graubunden Pass will enable you to cover Bergun, Alp Grum, St. Moritz, Disentis, Filisur (for good views of the Landwasser viaduct), Chur, Arosa, etc. While travelling primarily within the Graubunden canton in March this year, I had found the 5-day Graubunden Pass the cheapest of all the available options. As indicated by Roger in his post, a Pass of this type will give you the flexibility of travel anywhere within the Graubunden zones (Northern / Southern) which is a big help considering unforeseen situations that may necessitate sudden changes of itinerary (due to weather, personal circumstances, etc.).
Wish you all the best for your planning.
Subrata
Hi Subrata
Your message is very helpful, thank you … if making me regretful that we only have 4 days to explore the Graubauden area, 6 days in total in Switzerland.
I think the Half Fare Card goes up to CHF150 next year, or have I got this wrong?The kind messages have made me look at my sums again. Sorry Roger but I’m just intrigued – as well as disappointed – that the travel cards don’t seem to cut it financially … albeit there are other advantages. 🙂
If it isn’t too boring – and for interest only to those who are as sad as me .. my calculations:
Zurich to St Gallen – Regular Price CHF32 Supersaver Flex 22.40, Supersaver 18.40
St Gallen to Appenzell return – Regular Price CHF20
St Gallen to Bergun – Regular Price CHF 61 Saver offer CHF 39, Saver Day Pass* CHF52
Bergun to Alp Grun back via St Moritz – Saver Day Pass* CHF52.00
Bergun to Disentis – Regular Price CHF45, Saver Offer 40.60
Disentis to Zurich via Andermatt – Saver Day Pass*: CHF61
Above = CHF262 in total at Regular Price + 3 days with Saver Day Pass [we may not do Appenzell return or Alp Grum trip, depending on partner’s health which adds further disadvantage of Swiss Half Fare or Swiss Pass financial value]
Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 per adult, Swiss Pass costs CHF379Again, many thanks.
Hello again
Very many thanks for giving us the details of your costings.
2026 prices
You are correct that the cost of the Half Fare Card is going up to 150 CHF. And a six-day STP is going up to 399 CHFYou say Sorry Roger but I’m just intrigued – as well as disappointed – that the travel cards don’t seem to cut it financially …
My answer is that you are not using the cards intensively enough to justify the investment. If you invest in any Swiss public transport pass you do not save money unless you do quite a lot of travelling. That is true of the STP, regional passes like the Graubunden Pass recommended by Subrata, and (as your figures show) it is even true of the Half Fare Card.Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
Hi hillfarm101,
You’re doing a great job figuring out which option is cheapest for your plans! Just to make sure you have everything correct: it can be a bit tricky to compare rail pass options to Supersaver tickets and Saver Day Passes. That’s because the fares you’re seeing for both of these fluctuate and only count if you buy these tickets now. Prices for your travel dates may be different tomorrow, and Supersaver tickets may be sold out.
So in general, it’s safer to use regular full fares when making your calculations.
Further details are here:
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/supersaver-ticket/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/saver-day-pass/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/ – see “How to find realistic prices in the timetable”Hope this helps. Have fun with your preparations!
Hi hillfarm101,
As very rightly pointed out by Annika, rail pass options should not be compared with the cost of Supersaver tickets & Saver Day Passes. Assuming that you opt for a 5-day Graubunden Pass, and looking at the Full Fare prices some time in the 3rd week of January 2026 on the routes that you intend to travel, the cost works out as follows:
Zurich to St. Gallen: CHF 32
St. Gallen to Appenzel & back: CHF 20
Oberalppass to Zurich: CHF 30
5-day Graubunden Pass: CHF 175
Total: CHF 257
The Graubunden Pass will cover up to Oberalppass on the route from Disentis/Muster to Andermatt, and hence I have taken into account the fare only from Oberalppass to Zurich.
The advantage in the above option is the freedom you will have to travel anywhere within the Graubunden canton during your period of stay. This is certainly more advantageous than buying point to point tickets. Also a word of caution regarding the Supersaver tickets. These are valid only for the specific trains for which the tickets have been bought. If due to any reason you miss the train you cannot take a subsequent train on the same route with the same ticket.
Hope the above helps you further with your planning.
Subrata
Hello again.
Subrata’s calculation,s are interesting, but unfortunately they have overlooked one stage of your journey.
You will need to get from from St Gallen (city) to SARGANS. The full fare for that trip is 31.80 CHF. So total cost is now 288.80 CHF.
Sargans is actually just outside Graubunden CANTON. However, if you look at the map of validity of the Graubunden Pass, you will see that the validity of the Graubunden Pass does extend to Sargans (an important railway junction, where the railway from St Gallen to Chur joins the main line from Zurich to Chur.)
I would strongly support what Subrata says in their last paragraph.
Kind regards
Roger
Thanks a lot, Roger, for adding the sector that I had inadvertently missed out yesterday. I am sure that hillfarm101 now has enough inputs to make a decision regarding the upcoming travel to Switzerland.
Regards
Subrata
Thank you so much to everyone for the willingness to share an abundance of helpful information – with this advice I will now decide on my best options. Again, hugely appreciated.
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