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Ticket type: Seat reservation
Season:
all year
Valid for max. 1 days➤ What Swiss seat reservations cost and when to book them
Prices of Swiss seat reservations
Prices start at CHF 5 per person.
The price can be much higher for premium tourist trains: CHF 40 for example. But in such cases, more is included in the reservation price: you not only get a guaranteed seat, but also other perks like panoramic windows, catering, info about the route, and more staff.
How long in advance to get your reservations
Seat reservations are typically available from 3 months prior to the travel date, but sometimes even earlier. They can be purchased online, or at staffed rail stations shortly before traveling.
If you need reservations, it’s best to book them as early as possible, because seats can sell out.
Video
How do seat reservations work in Switzerland?
What exactly is a seat reservation?
A seat reservation is a guarantee that a seat is available for you on a specific train. It’s almost always a specific seat number, and often a seat you selected yourself while booking.
Seat reservations are only valid for one specific train on the designated date, departure time, and route. You can’t use them for another train on that same route, or for an entirely different route.
Do I have to make reservations?
Generally: no. Seat reservations are not required and not necessary on most Swiss trains. Exceptions are explained below.
The difference between tickets, passes, and seat reservations
Essentially you pay for two “services” when you travel by Swiss trains:
- the ride (for which you must always pay)
- the seat (which is mostly optional)
These are completely separate components. You can pay for the ride in several ways:
- with a rail pass that includes free traveling, such as the Swiss Travel Pass. In that case, you don’t need an additional ticket.
- with a rail pass that offers a discount, such as the Swiss Half Fare Card. In that case, you need a discounted train ticket.
- with regular full-fare train tickets, required if you don’t have a pass.
Do I have to buy a reservation and a pass/ticket together?
No. You can purchase the pass/ticket for the ride and the seat reservation together, or you can do so separately. You don’t need to have a rail pass or ticket at hand to purchase a seat reservation.
As long as you possess both your reservation (if necessary) and your pass/ticket when boarding, you’re ready to go.
Can I reserve seats on all Swiss trains?
No. For some regional trains, reservations can’t be made. The Swiss timetable shows whether you can make a reservation. Our timetable guide explains how.
For which trips are reservations required?
You don’t need to book seat reservations, unless one of the below exceptions applies.
1. Special panoramic trains
Some of the popular panoramic tourist trains require seat reservations. Examples are the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, GoldenPass Express Prestige class, and Gotthard Panorama Express.
Check our scenic train pages for details. Or use the timetable to see whether your train requires reservations.
If you can’t or won’t make reservations for these panoramic trains, you can often take a regional train on the same route for which you don’t have to book seats. These normal trains don’t have the extra benefits of the panoramic trains, and you may have to change trains more often.
2. International trains
Trains crossing the Swiss border into another country may require seat reservations. If so, a reservation is often included if you buy a point-to-point ticket. But you need to arrange for it separately if you have a train pass like the Eurail Global Pass.
Check our international travel guides, or check the timetable to see whether your train requires reservations.
3. Theme cruises on the Swiss lakes
Just like trains and buses, boats do not require reservations. They qualify as regular public transport and you can simply hop on and off.
Exceptions apply to special cruises such as dinner cruises. They require a surcharge for the seat, food, music, and other entertainment that may be included.
4. Special alpine Postbus rides
For some mountain routes serviced by the Swiss yellow Postbuses, seat reservations are required. Find an overview of bus routes with mandatory reservations here.
5. Groups of 10 or more people
Travel parties of 10 or more people count as a group on Swiss trains. If you want to take advantage of discounted group tickets, you’ll have to make seat reservations.
6. Jungfraujoch in high season
In peak months between spring and fall, you need reservations for Grindelwald Terminal-Jungfraujoch and Kleine Scheidegg-Jungfraujoch. Find all details here.
For which trips are reservations recommended?
For most (but not all) public transport rides, reservations are possible. In general, I advise not making them: you’ll travel more flexibly and with less haste without the fixed departure times that come with reservations.
But in the below cases, reservations can be worth it.
1. You’re making a long ride at a busy time
If you’ll be making a long journey of several hours and at a busy time, a guaranteed seat may give you peace of mind.
You can check the expected occupancy for your train in the timetable.
2. You’re taking popular mountain trains and cableways in high season
Cableways, funiculars, and cogwheel trains do not require reservations. For some popular mountain routes (such as the Jungfraujoch in low season and Gornergrat), advance reservation is optional to prevent waiting time. Our mountain trip pages offer details.
Reservations are usually required for special mountain rides like sunrise or sunset trips, dinner rides, et cetera.
3. You want a guaranteed seat in an on-board restaurant
Many Swiss trains have restaurant or bistro coaches. Reservation is not required, but if you’re traveling during rush hour and want a guaranteed seat, you can make reservations.
4. You’re traveling in a party of up to 9 people and want to be seated together
If you’re traveling in a party of up to 9 people and want to be sure you can all be seated together, it’s wise to make reservations.
What a seat reservation looks like
Your reservation is usually a digital ticket or pdf file. You can store the pdf on your phone, and optionally print a back-up copy.
The coach number, seat number, and departure date and time of the train can be found on your seat reservation ticket.
On board the train: finding your seat, what to show to the ticket controller
Where to board the train
Train stations have displays indicating the train composition. This allows you to wait at the correct section of the platform (for example: platform 5, section C).
Learn more about finding your at Swiss rail stations in my practical train travel info.
How to find your seat
Seat numbers can be found in the train coaches: either over the windows or on the seats. Especially mind the coach number, as a train has multiple seats with the same number. It’s the coach number that makes them unique (coach 3 seat 22 is different from coach 5 seat 22, for example).
Seat numbers are usually displayed above the seat.
What to show to the ticket controller
When the ticket controller comes, you’ll show both the seat reservation and the ticket or pass you’re traveling with.
How to tell if an empty seat is reserved
Where to check if a seat is reserved
If you travel without a reservation, you can usually take any empty seat: reservations are not common in Swiss trains. But just to be sure, you can quickly check if an empty seat is reserved by another passenger.
Seat reservation signs can be found at one of these locations:
- above the seats, next to the seat numbers. A reservation is either indicated by a paper label or a digital display. In some cases, the stations between which the reservation applies are mentioned too.
- on the seat’s headrest.
What if you’re accidentally taking a seat reserved by another passenger
You may accidentally occupy a seat reserved by someone else. That’s no problem. The holder of the reservation or the ticket controller will make this clear. You have to find another seat in that case.
How to use cableway, boat, and bus reservations
Cable cars, mountain trains, boats
If you have reservations for special (dinner) cableway rides or cruises, show your reservation at the ticketing desk, while boarding, and/or when asked for by the staff.
Bus
If you have booked a seat for a bus, you’ll need to show the seat reservation to the driver when you board. You usually won’t be assigned a fixed seat, but your reservation guarantees that a seat is available for you.
Switzerland seat reservations FAQ
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Will I have a seat if I don’t book one?
Yes, normally there are plenty of seats. The Swiss train system is a flexible subway-like network that assumes people get on and off frequently.
A seat is not guaranteed though. Trains can be crowded during rush hour around the bigger cities, and on popular tourist routes. If there are no seats left, you’ll be able to get a seat once people get off along the way.
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My train does not require booking seats, but is it still possible to do so?
If seat reservations are not required for your train, it may still be possible to book a seat. Not all trains offer seat reservations. The timetable shows whether or not you can book seats.
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What if the train is full and I haven’t booked a seat reservation?
Unless seat reservations are obligatory for your train, you are still allowed to board and stand until you can find a seat.
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I booked a seat but I missed my train, can I take the next one?
Seat reservations are only valid for the train you booked. If your pass or ticket is valid for the next train (which is usually the case), you can take the next train but you will not have a seat reservation for that train.
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I booked a seat but I want to cancel it: what to do?
Other than most tickets and rail passes, seat reservations for Swiss trains mostly can’t be canceled. To be sure, check with the vendor you purchased from.
➤ Where to book your seats: trusted options
In addition to the options below, you can use the seat reservation explanations and recommended webshops on our panoramic train pages.
- The operator of the Glacier Express
- No Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps cannot assist if you have questions about your order.
- www.postauto.ch: Postbus rides with mandatory reservations
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