Basic timetable - the quickest routes between major towns
Use this timetable for the quickest train routes between popular destinations. Some routes may not be available.
Depending on the route, train schedules will be displayed by either happyrail.com or trainline.eu.
Advanced timetable - all public transport, all routes
Must read - How to pay for your trips
The main options are:
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Buy normal tickets for all your trips. This is usually not the cheapest way to travel.
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Buy discounted tickets for all your trips, by getting a Swiss Half Fare Card.
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Do not buy tickets at all, except for excursions, and travel as much as you like, by getting a Swiss Travel Pass.
For more passes and tickets, please see here.
How to find traveling times (advanced timetable)
Enter your departure location, the arrival location, the travel date (day.month.year) and travel time (24 hour format, so 5 PM is 17:00). You can optionally enter a via location if you prefer a specific route and not necessarily the quickest route. Click the button to find all travel options. The location name can be a train station, but also the name of a bus stop, boat dock or cable car station.
The list of travel options presented by the timetable shows the departure time, how long the trip takes, and the number of changes. Click the plus icon of a travel option to see more details. In many cases the timetable also shows the expected occupancy of trains.
Use these names for airports:
All trains can be found through the timetable, regardless whether it is operated by the SBB or another railway company.
How to find ticket prices (advanced timetable)
You can use the timetable to find the regular prices of tickets. That allows you to compare point to point tickets to pass prices. To see the price for a trip, click the red ticket button for your preferred travel option. Then fill out passenger details and select "no discount". Do mind the selection for single versus return journeys. You may see "from" prices being displayed along with the travel options. These are not the regular prices, so be sure to find the real price as explained.
Fill out tomorrow's date when looking for prices. Prices will be the same even if your trip is much later. Prices only change once per year.
For most visits to Switzerland buying a pass is cheaper than buying separate tickets for each trip. You can calculate whether that's true for your plans as well.
Sometimes prices will not be displayed, or for part of the route only. That mostly happens in case of mountain trips with cable cars, funiculars, etc. In such a case you can best visit the website of the transport company for that route to find prices there. Links can be found on each of our attraction pages.
Further options (advanced timetable)
The timetable will show you the quickest way to get from point A to B, unless you force it to display a specific route by entering a via-location. Click "Change" and "Advanced search" link to refine your search. It allows you to find connections with a preferred mode of transport (e.g. just boats, no trains). It also allows you to enter more via-locations. This comes in handy if you prefer a specific scenic route instead of the quickest route.
Seat reservations
Most trains do not require a seat reservation. Exceptions can be found in the advanced timetable. Such trains are marked as 'Reservation compulsory' (you have to book a seat) or 'Reservation possible' (you can book a seat, but it's not required). Reservations will be offered to you automatically if you use the basic timetable.
Tight connection times
The timetable shows where you need to connect from one train to the other. Some connection times are as short as a few minutes. There is no need to worry about that. The Swiss train system is designed for optimal travel times, which sometimes includes a quick connection. Trains will often arrive and depart from the same platform, and you will rarely be the only passenger switching trains.
The timetable only suggests connections that are doable. The connecting train may even wait for delayed arriving trains. Should you miss your train anyway, then there's always a next train.
If you connect to a train you have seat reservations for, a bit more slack can be useful. Reservations are not valid for other trains.