MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial More than 6 weeks Switzerland: which railpass?
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Hello everyone,
We are heading to Switzerland for 6 weeks over December and January to see our new grandchild. We will also be doing a bit of traveling to France and stuttgart possibly also a few more German cities. With the Swiss rail pass I seem to be only able to get a one month pass but with the eurail I can get unlimited for 2 months which seems better. Does the eurail mean I have to pay for train and bus travel in Switzerland ? Is it Half price . It is just not clear and not sure which is best to buy.
I have previously used the Swiss rail pass but that was only for a week and it was great.
Thanks in advance for your help
Jayne
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Hello Jayne, welcome to MySwissAlps!
How wonderful that you’ll get to stay in Switzerland that long!
A 2-month Eurail Global Pass could indeed be a good choice, as you plan trips to surrounding countries too. What’s covered in Switzerland is explained in detail at http://www.myswissalps.com/eurailglobalpass and https://www.myswissalps.com/eurailglobalpass/validity. You can also download the Switzerland validity map from the last page. In short:
- Most train routes in Switzerland are fully covered, meaning you don’t have to pay anything extra and can simply hop on and off the train.
- Mountain routes are usually discounted. You’ll need an additional discounted ticket.
- Some boat trips are for free, others are discounted.
- Public transportation within cities and most buses are not covered, so you’ll need full-fare tickets for (city) buses and trams.
If you won’t be traveling each day, you can get a Eurail Global Flexi Pass. This allows you to select specific travel days on which you’ll be making your trips within (for example) a 2-month period. Whether the normal variant or the Flexi variant is better, depends on your exact plans.
Another option is to apply for a Half-Fare Travelcard that’s valid for a year. You can get 50% discounted tickets with this card, but only within Switzerland. There’s also a GA Travelcard that provides free traveling by train, again within Switzerland only. Both products are mostly used by residents and not by tourists, so you can best consult the SBB for specifics. Please find information under the header “Alternatives if you stay longer than 15 days” at http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/details.
If you want to calculate which pass is best for your plans, this guide with free downloads can help you out: https://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass.
Does this get you started?
Arno,
Thankyou so much for your fast reply. We are visiting again in April for 3 weeks so it may be more cost effective to buy the yearly pass. You have given me some great information to investigate.
Thankyou again and I will let you know what I find
X Jayne
You’re welcome Jayne!
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