Versão em português aqui
When I started to plan our trip to Switzerland, I considered doing it by car to enjoy its outstanding highways. But then I read a lot and realized that the Swiss Railway System (SBB) is one of the best in the world, if not definitely the best one.
At the beginning it was a bit confusing because I’m not used to trains, but when I completely understood it, made complete sense. It’s not the same as French trains, where you buy a ticket for a specific route, with a specific time and seat. In Switzerland you buy a route and you can get inside any train and choose any seat of that particular route.
But at first you have to specify if you are going to take a train every day or only some days. And if you are going to travel long or short routes. That being said, now it’s time to decide if you are buying a Swiss Travel Pass or single tickets. I researched a lot before deciding. In my opinion, the Swiss Pass is only worth it if you are traveling a lot between places and almost every day. Otherwise – if you are planning to stay in the same place for a few days – it will be better to buy single tickets. But why? What’s the difference between them?
The Swiss Travel Pass is a 3 to 15 day pass, consecutives or not, which gives you free access to several means of transportation on the day of use; it doesn’t matter where you came from or where you are going to. The Single Ticket is issued with a preset itinerary, from point A to B, doesn’t matter which train you will get. This one may be cheaper, but you are more limited. The other one may be more expensive, but you are free to use it as much as you want, the way you want, on the day of use, for 24 hours.
We finally decided to by Single Tickets, as we would be staying for a few days in each destination and we didn’t need to get many trains, basically we were traveling from one point to another. I think it’s well worth it to buy the Half Fare Card since you have up to a 50% discount in almost every kind of public transportation. It’s valid for one month.
It’s important to mention that, even if you by a Single Ticket, you are able to travel from the origin to the destination whenever you want, as long as it’s on the same day indicated on the ticket. In other words, if you want, you can get off in the middle of the way to have lunch and then take the next train, as long as you don’t change the destination and it doesn’t exceed the same day indicated. It was what we did in Luzern, where we got off to have lunch in the city, while traveling from Zurich to Wengen.
🇬🇧 The most important things to know before you go:
➡ Before traveling, download the SBB app, so you can check the trains schedule and available seats;
➡ There are several trains crossing all over Switzerland, so it’s very easy to move around with them, just check the app.
➡ You can choose any train you want on the day of use, but If you buy a discounted single ticket you will have to take the exact trains you have chosen.
➡ If you are traveling with luggages and ski equipment, you don’t have to carry them. The SBB offers door-to-door facilites. Check it out here.
➡ Whether you have bought a single ticket or the Swiss Pass, you don’t have to reserve a seat, unless mentioned with a letter R (bellow picture).
➡ If you want to get an specific train, like the Glacier Express, it’s higly recommended that you reserve a seat, which incurs an extra cost. Curious about the Glacier Express? Then check it out here and… have a nice trip!
