72625 posts
Hi Faith1234,
You don’t need to buy a ticket for every connection. You buy one ticket for the whole route: from say Zurich to Interlaken with a change in Lucerne. The ticket covers the entire route to Interlaken – you just need to follow the timetable and change trains in Lucerne (for example).
72625 posts
>> Would like to ask if it will be very challenging to meet the train connection if we stop to buy tickets at every station?
Apart from not having to buy separate tickets every time you change trains within the same day, you don’t have to queue at a counter to buy tickets. You can also buy them at a ticket machine, or in the SBB App on your mobile device.
To buy tickets in the SBB App, you’ll first need to register and provide credit card details, and will need internet access to buy the ticket. Once you have bought the ticket, it can be displayed on your mobile device without being connected to the internet, and you don’t need a paper copy to show the conductor. You must make sure your phone has enough charge to display the ticket though!
Alpenrose
72625 posts
Good point on the cell charge Alpenrose!
I spent a day in Basel with an old friend of mine and realized when leaving for Zurich that night my phone was at 8%! I turned it off until the conductor came for my ticket (though no one checked me in the end)!
Faith, we have a list of good web pages and Apps listed on our “about Switzerland” page here.
72625 posts
Hi .. its my first time to switzerland. Need some advice. If we purchase the swiss travel pass .. do we still neef to buy anymore tickets . I undetstand that it covers train buses and boats. How diff is the swiss trsveland the half fare card . Appreciate yr help. Thx
8889 posts
Hi Faith,
Lucas and Alpenrose have given you some sound advice but I don’t think anyone has mentioned that even if you buy your tickets at a station you don’t have to buy them on the day of travel. You could for example buy a couple of days worth of tickets at any time convenient to you if your plans were settled for those days.
The SBB App is great though.
8889 posts
Hi Clen and Welcome to MySwissAlps,
You really should start a new thread for your question.
But in the meantime have a look at http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/howtouse.
The only tickets you would need to buy are for those trips, typically cable cars which only offer a 50% or 25% discount with the Swiss Travel Pass.
The Swiss Half-fare Card is described here http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecard. You still have to buy a ticket for every trip – it’s just that you get 50% discount on ticket price.
You should also read “How to choose the best travel pass” (http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass).
72625 posts
Thanks all for the helpful advise!
Few more questions.
- How do I select ‘Swiss Half Fare’ when I purchase the tickets online, via app or at the counters?
- If I purchase the Swiss Half Fare today via RailEurope, the 1 month validity is from today or from the day I validate the card? And where/how can I validate the card?
Thanks!
72625 posts
Thanks Lucas! That means I can purchase the Half Fare ticket today and date selected at point of purchase will be the date the 1st day of the 1 month begins (cuz the half fare is valid for 30 days).
72625 posts
I’m not sure I’m reading your sentence correctly….but you can buy the pass for whatever start date you want. It is then valid for 30 days. 🙂
You can read about how to use the Swiss Half Fare Card here.
72625 posts
Sorry to confuse you =x
Yeps you are reading my question correctly 🙂 On the RailEurope SG website, I have to input ‘First Travel Date’. This date will be the date the card will be ‘activated’?
72625 posts
Yes, exactly. It will be valid for 30 days starting on that date.