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Swiss rail passes and tickets: your complete guide Copy link to clipboard

Use the rail pass finder to quickly select the best pass or ticket for your Switzerland trip: from the Swiss Travel Pass to point-to-point tickets, and everything in between.

RhB train in Val Bever in autumn
© H. Heij
This page was last updated by Arno on 16 May 2026.
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Must-knows about Swiss rail tickets and passes

  • Point-to-point tickets or day passes are fine for short journeys on just a few days. In most other cases, a rail pass pays off.
  • Nation-wide passes such as the Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card are most popular with tourists.
  • Regional rail passes are a good choice if you want to explore just one Swiss area.
  • Even though they’re often called “rail passes”, they’re actually “public transport passes”: they include Swiss trains, buses, boats, and mountain routes.

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Rail pass finder for your Switzerland holidays

Swiss Travel Pass
SBB train passing Faulensee on Lake Thun.
Switzerland
The Swiss Travel Pass from our experience: how to use it, when it’s worth it, and alternative passes. Show more ►
Swiss Half Fare Card
Rhaetian Railways ticketing machine 1
Switzerland
Discounted travel in Switzerland for a month with the Swiss Half Fare Card: how it works, and my opinion about the card. Show more ►
Jungfrau Travel Pass
Train from Jungfraujoch arriving at Kleine Scheidegg
Jungfrau Region
The Jungfrau Travel Pass is the hop-on hop-off pass for the Jungfrau Region. See how it works and what your other options are. Show more ►

Types of Swiss rail passes and tickets

Point-to-point tickets

Point-to-point tickets

Most Swiss point-to-point tickets include all modes of traveling on the route and are valid all day long. Such tickets …
Ticketing machines in hall of Zurich HB station

Tickets for Swiss residents

Learn about the SwissPass, the GA Travelcard and the Half Fare Travelcard. They’re mostly meant for Swiss residents. They’re not …

Practical help: your best pass and purchase options, seat reservations, discounts

Ticket and pass comparison with MGB train Upper Rhone Valley.

Find your cheapest ticket or pass

Picking the best rail pass for your Switzerland trip isn’t easy. Most people buy the Swiss Travel Pass, but should …
1st class window seat on the Gotthard Panorama Express.

Seat reservations

You don’t need seat reservations for Swiss trains and other public transport. There are exceptions, such as a few panoramic …
Regional train to Tirano at the Bernina Pass

Discounts

Find cheaper rail passes and tickets for Switzerland. About current travel pass promotions, the Swiss Family Card and Junior Travelcard, …
A Glacier Express train near Oberwald

Group discounts

Groups get a discount on their train tickets and passes for Switzerland in some cases. We’ll explain your options.
Info desk with queue at Zürich HB

Where to buy

There are many points of sale that offer Swiss rail passes and tickets. Learn which are best in your case, …

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Arno
Page author: ArnoI have visited Switzerland countless times since 1997. I've explored most of the country, but find myself staying in the Bernese Oberland and Graubünden most frequently. The alps and the rail network remain very impressive, even after all these years.