Purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass via SBB app?
A traveler named James is preparing for a trip to Switzerland in three weeks and is having trouble purchasing a Swiss Travel Pass through the SBB App. He seeks advice on how to buy the pass, especially since he worries ticket offices will be closed upon his late arrival in Zurich.
- You can purchase the Swiss Travel Pass online from the official SBB tourist webshop for a quick digital delivery.
- If you're unable to buy through the SBB App, consider creating an account on the SBB website to access your pass there.
- For a late arrival, buying the Swiss Travel Pass online ensures you have it ready upon arrival without needing to visit a ticket office.
AI-generated summary-
Hi Again,
In preparation for our Swiss visit in 3 weeks I’ve installed the SBB App on my android mobile but it says it doesn’t know where I am [fair enough. Australia is a long way away] and I can find nowhere in the App where I can order a Swiss Travel Pass. I’m not wonderfully tech-savvy so it’s probably my fault, but I’d appreciate any help you can give me.
Cheers, James
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Hi there James,
Purchase options for the Swiss Travel Pass can be found here:
I don’t think there is the option to purchase it via the app as most travelers either purchase online or physically when here.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
James,
If you create an account and purchase the Swiss Travel Pass on the SBB website, you can then access the “Travel Pass” via the SBB App on your phone (it will display under the QR Code icon in the App. I’m not saying this is the ‘only way’ to do it, but this is how I did it and it worked flawlessly. Both ‘pass’ and my wife’s ‘pass’ is accessible in my SBB App. Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip.
Art
Art, Thanks for that. We’ve been to Switzerland before and have always bought our passes at the main station in Zurich. Thia time we are arriving fairly late on a Sunday night and fear that ticket offices will be closed. Consequently we’ve been searching for info about purchasing and I, the male of the marriage, thought I had it sorted: “We can do it on the SBB App!” Wrong again.
I appreciate your advice.
Cheers, James.
Hi Yolanda, thanks for your response.
A traveller, Art, also kindly replied with some details and I’m going to follow his plan.
Fingers-crossed I can get it right this time…
Cheers, James
Hi James,
You can purchase the Swiss Travel Pass online conveniently from this link: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/price
Upon purchase, the Swiss Travel Pass will be delivered by email in PDF format or e-ticket which you can download directly to your smart wallet. Just show this to the ticket inspector during ticket inspection There is no need to link to link the Swiss Travel Pass to the SBB app. More details available here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/howtouse
Regards,
Anna
Hi James!
In addition: if you like to purchase your pass from the official SBB source, I recommend their tourist webshop Switzerland Travel Centre. It’s in the list provided by Anna and Yolanda, and here’s a direct link: https://shop.switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/product/swissPass. Switzerland Travel Centre is specifically geared to tourists from abroad. For many, this is much easier than buying through the domestic SBB website or app.
Here’s some background on railpass purchase options in case you’re interested: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/wheretobuy.
I tried to open an account on SBB website but not able to saying error ! How did you do it ? It did ask me if I have a pass so I clicked no pass ! May be that’s why ? I want to open an account then buy the pass !
TIA
You can buy it when you arrive at Zurich airport ! There is a SBB office even helping you to decide which pass you should buy based on your itinerary!
Hi Fiona,
I recommend buying through Switzerland Travel Centre, which is the official SBB tourist webshop: https://shop.switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/product/swissPass. This is usually effortless, and you’ll receive your digital pass within minutes. There’s no need to add it to any SBB account: https://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/howtouse. You won’t need tickets for all the free rides anyway :-).
Other buying options we recommend are listed at http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/price.
Yes, you can buy your pass at Swiss rail stations too. The downside is that you’ll get a paper pass which can’t be replaced if it gets damaged or lost. A digital pass is always available, and you can print as many back-up copies if you want.
Fiona… Not sure why you’re having trouble “opening an account” on the SBB website. I had no issues. Again, this is the web page for the Swiss Travel Pass that I used to purchase the passes. http://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/inspiration/international-guests/swiss-travel-pass.html
After creating the account on SBB, I then I downloaded the SBB App on my phone. I signed into the App with the credentials used to open the SBB account and both 15-Day Swiss Travel Passes were there and accessible. We arrive in Switzerland on Sept. 12. Hope this helps. Hope you all enjoy your trips.
Thanks ! I am able to open an account on my iPhone from a link from a fellow traveler on Facebook ! Feel so weird so I dug a little deep and I think The webpage is SBB.ch but it’s actually different somehow ! I believe the SBB I was in is for local ? But anyway I got the account registered!
Hi Fionatravel,
Good to know you managed to register an account on the SBB app. Hope your purchase for tickets and pass goes smoothly with the app.
Let us know if you need more info.
Regards,
Anna
I’d recommend to take Annika’s advice and simply purchase via the official SBB tourist web shop at https://shop.switzerlandtravelcentre.com. It’s safe and very easy, you’ll have your pass in 5 minutes. No need for apps or registering anywhere. The app is still useful for train schedules, but not needed for anything else.
so you purchased your STP in your sbb app?
I am not able to do that on SBB website.
thanks
Hi, I am leaving next week so Now I just get into purchase part of planning. but I found out it is rather confusing with so many websites and names ( swiss travel pass vs swiss pass, and SBB. ch vs Swisspass. ch etc. I have to google the difference for each as some will not let me go through) at first I logged into SBB account ( assumed it is linked with swiss pass account now ) and I purchase half fare card while in my account but I keyed in all my visa card payment information but it did not go through. I tried many many times. just like last time I was not able creat an account on SBB website but somehow I created in swiss pass website by using the same logging information.
later I got out as I googled saying the sbb account is for resident and as a tourist I do not need to register/create an account. Now I read your above and realize the same — using SBB app for my journey planning etc. and buying 1/2 fare card via website– switzerlandtravelcentre.com and get an PDF print from email.
so now my question is : how am I going to pay my point to point ticket while using SBB app? if SBB website did not let me store my credit card information ( can not buy my travel pass) How does that work? may be SBB mobile app will let me store credit card information ? is it safe to store ? Can I use easy ride function in my app?
Thanks
Fionatravel
James, were you able to do what Art did? I am too having a hard time buying on desk top SBB website and it keeps saying error. same as edit my profile information. I had to do it on my mobile SBB app.
I know it is easy just to buy from swiss travel center and get an PDF copy via email but as some others said they had no problem buying it from SBB website. and some taught us to buy the ticket while in SBB account you will have QR code stored in the phone/App. I am not sure as I have not done it. just curious what is the outcome for you.
I give up and buy it from swiss travel center on line and get a copy — old fashion way I guess 🙂
hope you had a good trip
Hi fionatravel,
Seems you’ve had quite an adventure with your pass purchase.
Just so we are on the same page, did you manage to purchase your Swiss Half Fare Card or do you still need some assistance?
You should be able to store your credit card, any problems there, best to contact SBB directly.
Easy Ride: it’s open to tourists but it’s actually not often, used by tourists, as there are often better value options like the Swiss Travel Pass, one of the regional passes, the Saver Day Passes or Supersaver tickets.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi fiona,
The domestic SBB webshop is known to sometimes have problems accepting foreign credit cards. I’m not sure if that’s what’s going on. But you’re right, just keep things easy and get your pass with Switzerland Travel Centre: https://shop.switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/product/swissHalfFareCard. They’re fully geared to visitors and payments from abroad.
As for getting your 50% discounted tickets: you can buy them via SBB, but from many other websites too: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/switzerlandhalffare/price. I agree with Yolanda: if you keep running into problems when buying tickets through SBB, you can best contact them directly.
Maybe the below pages can help you a bit with the names that look a lot alike. We’ve explained the differences there:
Thanks ! I just buy it online instead of trying within the account like others said!
I have one more question : when my PE to montreux train is almost full with 2nd class , only left some seats here and there which I don’t want , so I am thinking just upgrade it to first class , do I need to reserve seats for first class ( I can not see if the seats are full since I have not upgraded yet)
thanks
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