β‘ Quick Decision
- Swiss Travel Pass: Best for 4+ days, includes city transport, boats, and 500+ museums
- Half Fare Card: Best for 1-3 days, or if you're mostly doing mountain excursions
- Both: No reservations needed anywhere in Switzerland (best country for rail passes!)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Swiss Travel Pass | Half Fare Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | CHF 244β740 | CHF 150 |
| Duration | 3/4/6/8/15 days | 1 month |
| Trains | β Unlimited free | 50% off all tickets |
| City transport | β Included | β Not included |
| Boats | β Included | 50% off |
| Museums | β 500+ free | β Not included |
| Mountain railways | 25-50% off | 25-50% off |
| Reservations | β None needed | β None needed |
| Best for | 4+ day trips | 1-3 day trips |
The Mountain Railway Trap
The most misunderstood part of Swiss passes. Neither pass gives you free mountain railway rides. Both give discounts, but the savings vary wildly:
| Mountain | Full Price | Discount | You Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jungfraujoch | CHF 240 | 25% | CHF 180 |
| Pilatus (from Lucerne) | CHF 72 | 50% | CHF 36 |
| Schilthorn | CHF 109 | 50% | CHF 54 |
| Gornergrat (Zermatt) | CHF 98 | 50% | CHF 49 |
| Rigi | CHF 72 | β Free* | CHF 0 |
* Rigi is on the Swiss Travel Pass network. Most other mountains are private railways with 25-50% discounts.
β οΈ Jungfraujoch trap: Many tourists assume the Swiss Travel Pass covers Jungfraujoch. It only gives 25% off β you still pay CHF 180. If Jungfraujoch is your main goal, the Half Fare Card (CHF 150 + CHF 180 = CHF 330) is cheaper than a 3-day Swiss Travel Pass (CHF 244 + CHF 180 = CHF 424).
Scenic Train Pro Tips
The reservation costs CHF 54, but you can ride the exact same route on regular trains for FREE with your pass. Same scenery, no reservation, more flexibility to hop off.
Reservation CHF 16-28. Worth it for panoramic windows. But again, regular trains cover the same route for free with your pass.
The new direct train launched in 2023. Reservation CHF 15. One of the best scenic rides in Switzerland β and fairly new, so less crowded.
The Hidden Gem: City Transport
This is where the Swiss Travel Pass really shines. It includes unlimited city transport (trams, buses, boats) in 90+ Swiss cities. A single Zurich day ticket costs CHF 5.40, Geneva CHF 8. Over 4-6 days, this alone saves CHF 30-50.
The Half Fare Card does not cover city transport β this is the biggest practical difference between the two passes.
Break-Even Math
β γΉγ€γΉγγ©γγ«γγΉγγεΎγͺε ΄ε
- 4+ days in Switzerland
- 3+ cities (Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Bern, Geneva...)
- You want hassle-free travel (no tickets to buy)
- Interested in boat rides (Lake Lucerne, Lake Geneva)
- Museum lover (500+ included)
π« γγΌγγγ§γ’γ«γΌγγγεΎγͺε ΄ε
- 1-3 days in Switzerland
- Mainly doing mountain excursions
- Coming from a neighboring country (just passing through)
- Budget-conscious (buy tickets only as needed)
- Focused on Jungfraujoch
π Official Sources & Booking
- Swiss Travel System Official β Official Swiss transportation network and pass booking
- Swiss Travel Pass Prices β Current Swiss Travel Pass prices and types
- SBB Swiss Railways β Official Swiss Federal Railways booking
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