Half fare card vs Swiss Transfer card combo

Hello everyone,

I am headed for my first swiss trip with my partner; we will be in Switzerland for 5.5 days our itinerary is provided below, request you to kindly let us know which pass would be the most cost effective for both of us.

Thanks in advance.

16 July 2016

Land at Zurich Airport

Train transfer from Zurich Airport to Lucerne

Evening cruise (Day on the lake - 2nd class) on Lake Lucerne

17 July 2016,

Visit Mt. Titlis and the glacier park

18 July 2016

Train transfer from Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen

19 July 2016

Visit Jungfraujoch and the Ice palace

20 July 2016

Train transfer from Lauterbrunnen to Zurich

21 July 2016

Train transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport

Fly back from Zurich Airport

PS: We are both Indian citizens if that may help.

Hi radditz8, thanks for posting here!

In your case, a Swiss Half Fare Card will be more economical than a Swiss Transfer Ticket Combi. You can get your Swiss Half Fare Cards from the retailers listed here. I'd recommend getting print at home passes (no shipping or handling fees involved) from www.swissrailways.com/ en.

Thank you Annika for the response,

I was thinking of getting the pass from raileurope.co.in but I guess then I will have to wait for them to snail mail the passes; I will check out swissrailways site too :)

Hi radditz8,

They do not offer snail mail, only print at home for Swiss Travel Passes. You'll receive the pass within a business day, or a few days at the most: Please see www.raileurope.co.in/ pass/swiss-travel-pass-82. You can get a discount through the promotions listed here. As for other passes, they indeed still print and send them, but it only takes 5 days and delivery is free, so it's not really an issue.

Alternatively there's the Swiss Railways web shop Annika mentioned; they also issue print at home passes if you pick "Online Ticket" from the bottom of the list with delivery options. The Swiss Half Fare Card can be printed at home. The Swiss Transfer Ticket Combi can't.

Thanks Arno and Annika for the assistance,

I had another question; should we purchase tickets from Lauterbrunnen to Jungfraujoch online? Also is train seat reservation recommended between "Kleine Scheidegg – Jungfraujoch" and the other way round.

We were planning to keep our options open to travel to Jungfraujoch either on 18th or 19th of July depending upon the weather.

Also another newbie question; are VISA Forex pre-paid cards accepted at train stations for the tickets or should we get cash in Swiss Francs instead for tickets.

Lastly just wanted to reconfirm that the Ice palace entrance is included in Jungfraujoch rail ticket and likewise Titlis Glacier park entrance is included in Engelberg to Titlis tickets.

Thanks in advance.

Hi radditz8,

You can buy your Jungfraujoch tickets at the spot, right before boarding. Seat reservation is possible but not required. If you want to be flexible I wouldn't pre-purchase tickets or make reservations if I were you. Please find more information at www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch/tickets.

In general, quite some credit and debit cards are accepted at railway stations and by ticketing machines. I'm not sure about the specific type of pre-paid card you mention though. If you have any doubts you'd best contact the SBB. Having some cash at hand is always wise: www.myswissalps.com/sw issfranc.

Entrance to the Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch is included in the ticket price. The Ice Flyer ride to the Glacier Park up at Titlis has to be paid for separately. Links to price overviews can be found at www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch/tickets and www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis/tickets.