The role of buses in Swiss public transport

Buses complement the extensive train network of Switzerland. Swiss buses mainly:

  • get you to towns that don’t have a rail station;
  • travel within cities and towns;
  • connect districts, villages, and streets in rural areas.

You rarely get to choose your mode of transport in Switzerland. If you want to travel from A to B, you can fill this out in the timetable, and it will show you whether to travel by train, bus, cable car, or anything else. If there is a train service connecting two towns, there usually isn’t a bus service too.

The national yellow Postbus and other buses

The Postbus

The yellow Postbuses service longer routes in Switzerland. They transport you between villages, get you to remote valleys, and cross beautiful passroads in the Swiss Alps. On some routes in the mountains, the buses only operate from spring to fall. So always consult the timetable. Reservations are mostly not needed, except for a few panoramic Postbus trips.

Other buses

In addition, there are lots of other bus networks in Switzerland, operated by all sorts of regional or local companies. They cover transport in larger cities and their surroundings.

Just as with train traveling, it doesn’t matter which company operates your bus. You just take the one that shows up in the timetable, regardless of the company. You don’t need reservations for these buses.

Pay for the bus with a ticket or rail pass

Bus traveling with a rail pass

If you have a rail pass that’s valid for a particular bus route, you don’t need an additional ticket. Just show your rail pass to the bus driver when entering the bus. If you don’t have a rail pass that fully covers the route, you need an extra ticket.

Bus travel with a ticket

Learn how traveling with bus tickets works here.

Reservations for Swiss buses

Reservations are mostly not required

Most Swiss buses don’t require a reservation. You just show up at the bus stop and board with your valid ticket or rail pass.

A few Postbus routes do require reservations

Reservations are required for a few scenic mountain routes serviced by Postbuses. The way in which you need to make reservations, differs per ride. You may need to do this online, by phone or with the PubliCar app. This app allows you to reserve a small bus for a small travel party in remote areas.

How to tell if you need a reservation

The timetable shows whether you need reservations for your bus trip. Alternatively, you can find routes with mandatory seat reservations using the link provided here. How to make reservations is explained for each route.

Bus schedules in Switzerland

All buses can be found in the general Swiss timetable. There’s no need to consult separate bus schedules.

Scan QR codes at Postbus stops

Most stops of the Swiss Postbus network display a QR code. You can scan this for real-time data. This way, you can see when your bus is expected to arrive. This is usually on the scheduled time or with minimal delays, just as with Swiss trains.

More practical information for your bus journey

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Other websites of interest

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Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.