Don't forget that we have a FREE download: How To Pick A Swiss Train Pass! Find it here: aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-swiss-train-pass-guide-2023/ Still need help picking a Swiss Rail Pass that saves you time and money? We're happy to help :) Book a Swiss Vacation Consultation with us! https:/www.aplinsinthealps.com/consultations
Hi, guys！ Your video is very helpful and informative. Thank you very much！ My sister and I will be arriving I Zurich on May 10！！ We're still struggling to decide what passes to buy at this moment. We'd really appreciate your help to find the right passes to buy. We'll arrive in zurich on May 10, and we have booked 5 nights in Wengen to appreciate the peaks and surrounding areas. Then, we'll get back to Zurich for a 4-day visit before heading for Vienna. Which Switzerland passes should we get? Thank you very much for your help！ Lisa N.
Hi my husband and 2 kids who are 12 and 9 are going to Switzerland for 4 days in July and we are not sure what train passes we need. We are staying in Grindelwald for 3 nights and in Zurich for 1 night. We plan on visiting Lucern, Interlaken, etc. and by the way, what train should we take from Milan Italy to Switzerland? Thanks
i need help… i got lost between all these options. Can someone with experience please give me advice on which option is best for this schedule: Basel-Lauterbrunnen- Geneve-Zermatt(Glacier Express to St.Moritz)-St.Moritz-Zurich-Basel. Anyone knows which option is the best? THANK YOU
Make sure you download our free checklist! Because unless you’re only visiting those cities and not riding any transportation once you’re there, it’s not a simple answer. We promise our checklist is designed to make it simple!
Wait until you get there and go to the Swiss Travel Center at the airport train level. Explain to them your length of stay and your needs THEY will give you your best pass options. Their recommendations will be YOUR best bet. I have used several of the options depending on my needs. No use me explaining them.....let the experts at the Travel Center give them to you!
The Swiss Travel Center is certainly a great resource! We’ve used their help plenty of times in the past! Although we find that they don’t always know about the best regional passes, which can be more helpful than the national passes.
Stayed in the Jungfrau region, visiting be car and stayed in Gimmelwald. We followed the recommendation and bought the Jungfrau pass for our family. It was a very costly mistake. We didn't even use it once. When we tried, the activity listed as open on-line wasn't available. So the very frustrating lesson I learned is not to buy tickets in advance, on-line.
So sorry you had trouble! Some transport routes closed for maintenance in the fall, but the Jungfrau travel pass is good for most cable cars and gondolas!
Hi Aplins! I am heading to Switzerland tomorrow. I have purchased half fare card and Bernard Overland Pass online, I printed them out, and I assume that there will be a place to scan the QR code when I purchase tickets at a kiosk? In all the videos I don’t see anyone scanning the half fair card or their Overland pass so I’m not sure how that process works. Also for buses? I do have the half fare card uploaded into my SBB app but again I’m curious, how do use it for trams and buses as well… thanks!
Hi guys! thanks for the video! But please do let the viewers be aware that the Oberland Pass is only available from 1st April onwards for annually! Meaning travelers hitting the country from winter till 31st March doesnt have the option to enjoy the Oberland Pass!
I’m in Switzerland right now and all the videos and the itinerary have been super helpful. However, I would strongly consider the first class Berner Oberland pass. It’s not much more and will save many headaches in finding seats on busy trains. They’re usually all busy and it’s mid-September now. Especially if you’re traveling with older people like parents, get first class.
First Class is definitely helpful during high season if you’d like your own seat! But we always remind people that not all forms of transportation offer a first class section. And this year was unusually busy though mid October!!
We are traveling to Jungfrau region by car, staying for a few days and mostly want to visit Schilthorn and First. Your advice is to buy a Jungfrau pass in this case, if I understand correctly. But since Mürren-Schilthorn is not included, this actually seems WAY more expensive than simply paying regular fare (no travel pass at all) a coming to chf288,-. Am I missing something? Thanks!
Hi, good question! If the Schilthorn and Grindelwald First are the only places where you will ride public transportation, then it is better to just pay full price for these and not buy a train pass. But most people who come will ride transportation every day, which is why we usually recommend the pass in general. Hope this helps though!
This was the video I have been waiting for so long, which gave the answer to the most confusing question i.e. which rail pass to buy in switzerland. Thank you so much guys.
Brett, can you help me which pass to get? Its sooo overwhelming! We are staying 3 nights at interlaken. day 1- doing harder kulm on first day and interlaken town as we will be arriving 1PM. day 2- lauterbrunnen village (maybe murren if we have enough time) and grindelwald (first cliff walk, picnic at bachalpsee) day 3- iseltwald, brienz rothorn railway, cruise on lake brienz/thun? day 4- oenschinensee lake and baulsee lake - staing wt kandersteg day 5- zermatt - maybe just taking the matterhorn railway? basicall just like to see the matterhorn and kot the glacier paradise? then stroll around the town. day 6- going back to zurich for the day. Now the question is, which pass should we get? taking note, that will also cover our trip to zurich? Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks
Hi there! We would probably just buy a Half Fare Card + a 6-day Berner Oberland Pass. You'll need to pay for part of the trip to Zermatt and part of the trip to Zurich, but it will otherwise cover SO much of what you're planning to do. Here's a deep dive into the Berner Oberland Pass: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AW4Uk-c_FD0.html
What do you recommend getting from Basel airport to Thun/Interlaken/ Grindelwald? We do not plan visiting every mountain 2 Adults and 2 Children 6 days Thanks
Hi there! We love just using a Half Fare Card for a simple trip that doesn't have too many mountains. You can also get the Swiss Family Card (for kids 6-15) when you buy your Half Fare Cards.
Do we get 50% discount on “Swiss Travel Pass” or “Berner Oberland Pass” with the “Half Fare Card”? That is, can we buy a 3 day pass (2nd class - full price CNF 244) for CNF 122?
I am planning a 8-day trip to Germany and Switzerland. Could you help plan the itenarry? I want to include Grindelwald and the Neuschwanstein castle along with other points. Solo budget trip
We're sorry, but we don't create custom itineraries :( We do, however, sell done-for-you Swiss trip itineraries online, so be sure to check those out: aplinsinthealps.com/guides/
hi, your videos are really useful. Thanks for creating them. I have a question regarding the swiss family card though. I am travelling with my 7 year old child. We plan to get the half fare card + tell pass + berner oberland pass. Do i need to get a tell pass for my child if i already have the swiss family card? I plan to visit mount titlis and mount pilatus during my visit to lucerne.
Hi there! It depends on where you go. The Saver Day Passes aren't valid on most mountain travel. So be sure to see this map showing where those are valid! trafimage-maps.sbb.ch/ch.sbb.geltungsbereiche?baselayers=ch.sbb.geltungsbereiche.mvp.data&lang=en&layers=ch.sbb.geltungsbereiche.mvp-tk&x=993057&y=5772489.42&z=11.13
Hahaha! Your question at 5:27. Answer: that guy and this gal! :) (But only because I'm familiar with travelling in Switzerland and I'm a geek in that way.) Honestly, your previous videos got me thinking about how I did travel on my many trips, always using the Swiss Travel Pass for its convenience but making me aware of the other options. Since we're going to be there a month this year and I had an itinerary roughed out pretty well I decided to do a spreadsheet comparing ALL types of possibilities that you have mentioned in this and previous videos. Since I'm not into the high touristy mountain excursions and fall under the category of daily travel of some type through 2/3 of Switzerland surprisingly the Swiss Travel Pass was again a winner for me by 64chf; its convenience made it a no brainer. But some of those regional passes are really great values covering wide areas. All should note that some regional passes are available to all for a fee, some are available just by staying in the area (e.g. Ticino Pass, Appenzeller Holiday Pass) BUT you need to check with your lodging in that area to see if they offer the area pass--not all do. Best advice from this Swiss traveler: unless you get joy out of detailed planning for your trip ahead of time, consulting with people who've done the work for you is a bargain--and I get no residuals from saying that :) ! Excellent video, guys!
Hi Laura! We're so glad you enjoy this type of analysis too!! I looked into the Ticino Pass recently, but it seemed like all the others-just giving a small discount on mountain rides. What's been your experience with the Appenzeller Holiday Pass? What all does it cover? Thanks again for your kindness and encouragement, and for "tuning in" to our videos!
Thanks for this info, Laura. I am planning my first family trip with my parents (50+ age) and we will not be exploring the mountains so much but will be going to many areas like Interlaken, Zurich, Zermat, Lucerne, Grindelwald and Jungfrau region. My calculations also suggested that Swiss travel pass would be cheaper (and of course convenient). Thanks for confirming! Thank you very much for your videos Jana and Brett, they are very informative and helpful! :D
@@AplinsintheAlps Sorry, Jana & Brett, I just saw your reply (8 months late). The Ticino pass does cover ALL train & bus transportation throughout the entire canton with small discounts on other transportation & excursions. The Appenzeller Holiday card is similar, but a bit more complex as it allows the same type of travel through 15 zones--one would have to look carefully to see where these zones are and what they cover.
I swear you guys sound exactly like another RU-vid Couple, they have over 3M followers, I am sure you know who I am talking about, but you guys are great too. Excellent video, I am planning my trip to Switzerland very soon.
Re-viewed and re-enjoyed this video because we’re going to Jungfraujoch in May. Please correct me if I misunderstood: We will buy the half fare card and use it to buy the Berner Overland pass, right? Since the Half-Fare card has a validity period. I should then purchase it near the date of our travel to maximize it. Is that correct? We are also coming from Milan on our way to Interlaken. Does this mean I can apply the Half Fare card for the part of our trip that passes through Switzerland? The train from Milan is direct to Spiez so I’m not sure how this would work out.
You've got it! When you buy the passes online, you select the date when you want them to start. And yep - you can use the Half Fare Card to get a discount from Domodossola in Italy (and actually, you could use your Berner Oberland Pass from here too! Just make sure you take the route that goes through Kandersteg, and not the direct route to Spiez). Hope this helps!
Thanks to you two, we're all set to go with our half fare card and berner oberland passes. A few weeks away, and we'll be there. The 1 on 1 consult was so helpful, and I'm a travel planner/hotelier by trade, but the extra few dollars to gain some insights from 2 locals was a great value. Thanks again!
Hey there. So i am coming to switzerland mid october and will be there for around 17 days approx. am coming for work so i would have just 6 days across the 3 weekends to visit. So its not continuous days. I plan to Mainly the jungraugh region, schiltorn, luzerne, mount titlis and also want to take the glacier express if possible. My work is in langenthal and i would be staying there. What pass or combo of passes do you suggest for my include the excursions and for my daily commutes in langenthal area. ? I may have to travel to lugano as well for my work. Am totally confused. Please help 😅
For 5-7 days in the immediate Jungfrau region (just Grindelwald, Mürren, Mannlichen, etc.) would you still recommend the half fare card & the Berner overland pass? Or would the Jungfrau pass be sufficient? We want to ride several trains/lifts per day…
Can you help me with a question? I bought the Swiss Half Fare Card, but now I'm confused. When I search on the SBB app and I don't have a registration on the app, isn't the price that appears there the full price? For example, from Lauterbrunnen to Zermatt, the price is showing: from CHF 46.90, if my card gives me a 50% discount, shouldn't I pay CHF 23.45? Or would the prices they put up already be based on the price using the Swiss Half Fare Card? That would be a trick question.
The prices in the SBB app are full price. You can add travelers/profiles to the app and select the half fare price that way! We have a full tutorial in our Ultimate Guide to Swiss Transportation if you need step-by-step advice with photos!
I've just started researching for Switzerland. Our dates of travel are 27th October 1 week. Then I watched one of your videos and some of the gondolas are closed at this time of year. Is it still worth visiting? Thanks
You really have to make that decision based on where you want to go and what you want to do. If everything (or even mostly everything) you want to see is open, then it could be great! But if a lot of places you want to go will be closed, it's probably worth waiting to come another time. The end of October and early November also usually sees the weather changing quite a bit. Maybe not too much snow yet, but usually it's quite a bit cooler with a lot more clouds and fog. Hope that helps!
Very enlightening! My husband and I planning to go there in Nov for 7 days we wish to see Geneva, Zurich, Lucern, and Interlaken. We’re staying in Interlaken. We wanted to see 1 mountain ride, a boat, and 1 scenic express like the glacier express. Which one to purchase?
Hi im still confuse which pass to buy. I am not European but i will be travelling with my aunt who is German citizen. Kindly help me choose which pass to buy pls. Here's the sample itinerary Oct 8 (tues) -from Milan to Zurich via train Oct 9 (Wed) - Bern and Zurich Oct 10 (Thurs) - fr Cor to St Morits via Bernina Oct 11 (Fri) - Interlaken, & Lucern Oct 12 (Sat) - Jungfraujoch Oct 13 (Sun) - me night Flight fr Zurich My auntie (67 yrs olsld) will be back in Germany via train Kindly help me pls Thank u in advance.
My wife and I enjoyed several of your videos, but found the download on train passes not as helpful as we thought it would be. We arrive Zurich one over night, train to Lucren one over night, then to Laterbruen area for 3 nights (likely staying in Murren - loeved the comparisons) then we head to Venice and depart back to the states from Milan. Half fare card for sure! But does the overland cover the full train cost from Lucern? is it better to get eurorail pass since we will also spend 5 days in Italy?
Hi there, thanks for the feedback! We're always looking to get better...what do you think would have made it more helpful? BO Pass covers direct train from Lucerne to Interlaken Ost. In our experience, we think train prices are cheap enough in Italy that you probably won't benefit from using a Eurail Pass. Hope this helps!
Hi I'm planning to come Switzerland on next month, I wish to purchase Swiss travel pass. With this travel pass I can travel bernina express which is starting from chur to Milan. How it's working. Do I need to pay extra. Please guide me
Hi there! You'll need to purchase a separate seat reservation in advance in order to ride the Bernina Express. But once you have your reservation, your Swiss Travel Pass will work as your ticket for the entire ride!!
@@AplinsintheAlps thanks for the information. I need to select a specific Bernina timing or with one reservation I can travel any of Bernina that scheduled for that day
Thanks! All of your videos were very helpful in planning our recent trip to Switzerland. Plus your Swiss train pass info was very helpful and saves us a lot of money. We bought the Swiss half fare card and the Berner Oberland pass. We traveled to Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt and Geneva and had a terrific time. The SBB app was invaluable. Fun to see the places that were in your videos. We kept an eye out for you guys and saw a lot of people creating content.
You are so kind and generous, thank you! 🙂Sounds like you had a wonderful trip and saw some great Swiss highlights! And saved some money with those great train passes! Sorry we didn’t cross paths - maybe next time 😊
Love to watch your video. Thank very much all the tips. i really wish to download your checklist but must i input credit card to validate my account? i'm struggling of the right travel pass to go for. To reach Zurich on 2nd Oct, one night in Lucern, 2 nights in Wilderswill, 1 night in Mannilichen, 1 night in Lugano then straight to Milan. Itineraries incl Rhines Falls, Grindelwald First, Schilthorn, Gimmelwald, Lauterbrunner, Briwnz, Mannilichen .... Appreciate if to have an insight of what pass to opt for
Your videos are very informative, it helped me alot in planning my next trip. Just one quick question though, if i buy a half fare pass, do i get a 50% discount if i buy berner oberland pass? Thanks alot ❤
I recently purchased a Swiss Travel Pass (second class) and have a few questions about using it: 1. For travel within major stations, like going from Lucerne to Kriens, do I need to purchase a separate ticket through the SBB app or at the station, or can I hop on the train with my Swiss Travel Pass? 2. When booking through the SBB app, do I select “GA Travelcard, 2nd class” under the "Travelcards for Switzerland" section in the passenger info? Is that the correct option for the Swiss Travel Pass? 3. For journeys where reservations are mandatory, like the Glacier Express, do I need to buy the ticket separately in advance? And if my reservation is in first class but my Swiss Travel Pass is for second class, can I upgrade to first class through the app or at the boarding station? I’d appreciate any insights or advice from those who have experience with this! Thanks!
Your video is very informative. I’m planning a vacation and will be staying in Brian’s for 6 days planning on visiting Grindelwald,Lucerne, jungfrau, and interlaken. What travel card should I purchase.
Just got back from an amazing trip to Switzerland! Specifically Grindelwald and Interlaken area. Thanks to your videos, we decided on the Berner Oberland Pass with the Half Fare card which was the perfect choice!!!! I can’t stress enough what a great option this was for all of our adventures. Thank you Aplins in the Alps for your very informative videos 😊
Hi Michelle! I am Deepti Tiwari and am planning a trip to Switzerland, From your comment it sounds like you recently went to Switzerland and know some budget options. Can you tell me any stay options in the whole Interlaken- Lucerne- Grinderwald- Lauterbrunnen region. I kind of want to stay in the villages in a budget friendly option in a very quiet way.
We are over in the Jungfrau region in August, based in Unterseen for 11 nights. Driving in and sleeping in our VW Transporter part campervan. As a family of 4 - (2 adults and 2 kids [15 & 12]) I've opted for the Swiss Half Fare Card which then gets some discount on the Berner Oberland Pass and the Jungfrau Unlimited Summer Pass. Excessive, you might think.... Both passes cross over but we're looking at possibly spending a night at the Monchjochhutte so that equates to 2 days of Jungfraujoch tickets, doing some boaty trips, plus a sneaky day trip down to Milan. Plus some of the more 'normal' stuff like First and the villages. I plan on doing very little driving while we are in Switzerland... Let the train take the strain! Busy itinerary, but I worked out that bagging both passes using a half fare card worked best for us. Plus the Berner Oberland pass gets you down to Domodossola in Italy now, so only tickets for Domodossola to Milano Centrale needed - and as one of the kids is 12, we bagged cheap Bimbi Gratis tickets so it was a lot less than a 'proper' ticketed day trip from Interlaken Ost to Milano Centrale. Just a whole lot of timetable examination and waiting for train numbers to be released! Your videos have been a huge help! Thank You both!
Hi Paul, what a fun trip you have planned! We don't have any experience traveling by camper van, but we've been talking more and more about what a great place this would be to do it! We LOVE that you did the research to figure out which passes were best for you and your family. Hope you have a great trip!
Good question Nicole! With your Saver Day Pass, you can ride on any route where the pass is valid. Check where it's valid here: www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/travelcards/area-validity-map.html
Hi! Amazing video, you're helping so many people! However im still unsure about my situation😅 Me and my friend are staying in Zurich for 3 nights, Fri-Mon. We want to explore Zurich and Lucerne but also check out Mt Titlis & Pilatus, Mt Rigi would also be cool The thing is, I need to be in Wengen Mon evening and a trip there from Zurich + the Zurich area arent covered with the Tell Pass right? In your expert opinion, is that pass still our best option? Thanks in advance!
this is great; so for someone staying in switzerland for 24 days, staying in Zermatt(3), Jungfrau(5), Interlaken(3), Zurich (4), murren(1), luzern(3), Geneva(2), Grindalwald(3) which pass would you recommend? I am assuming half fare card + peak2peak+Tell+Berner Oberland pass?
Hi there! We would definitely choose the Half Fare + the Berner Oberland Pass for your trip plans. But as for the other two passes, it really depends on your specific plans for Zermatt and Luzern. Be sure to get our free download which should provide you with the details you need to make those decisions! aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-swiss-train-pass-guide-2023/
If we are spending all of our trip in the Luzern, Grindelwold, Wengen, Interlokken and Bern area's, do we need the Half Fare Card? It looks like all the major trains, buses and gondola's are covered with the Berner Oberland Pass once we get to Luzern? We do plan on going to enjoy the fun in Grindelwold and possibly riding the train up to the Jungfrau glacier. Help me understand the value of the half fare card in our situation. Thank you so much! Great info on helping to plan our trip.
Hi Chad, great question! The Half Fare Card actually gets you a discount on the Berner Oberland Pass...and in the case of the 6-day, 8-day, and 10-day passes, that discount is equal to or more than the cost of the Half Fare Card! In addition, if you're traveling to or from the airport, you'll save even more with the Half Fare Card, and more still if any of your plans include rides that aren't fully covered by the Berner pass. Hope this helps!
Hi, thank you for the helpful video! I want to ask if I purchase both BOP pass and Half Fare Card, can I get to Jungfraujoch with 50CHF (since with BOP pass there is only 99CHF and combine with HFC we have around 50 CF). Or does it still remain 99CHF? Really hopes that you guys reply this as I have been researching a lot but still have no answers. Thank you in advance!
Such a good question! The cost with the half fare card is 75 CHF during June through August, or 63 CHF any other time. Basically, the Berner Oberland pass already gives a little bit of a discount, but the half fare price is better (and you unfortunately can’t combine them). Glad you asked!
The various Swiss travel tickets are so complicated and I can’t find any Chinese videos about them. Thank you for the analysis, which gave me some inspiration😊
hi, I relly hope you see my comment, Im traveling in octover and after visit the swiss alps. I feel kind of lost with the train that I'm supposed to take from St Moritz to zurich hb, does de day pass include this ride ? and how do I book it after purchase online. please read me. Im trying to find as much info I can but is confusing , My journey will be , St Moritz to Zurich , next day visit the city, next day Titlis go and back. what do you think is the best option
Thank you for your beautiful video very helpful. We are from Australia my husband & I will visit Switzerland this coming December. Zurich + Zermatt + Interlaken ( jungfrau) for 8 days. From your content, looks like we should go to half fare price. Btw, does the train in Switzerland operates on Christmas cause we’re planning to travel Milan on Xmas day. Thanks.
Hello from Singapore! Really appreciate the effort that you guys put into this guide! You’ve earned yourself a new subscriber! ❤️ Also I’m heading over to Saas-fee from Milan in early March to Ski for a few days before heading over to Zurich for my flight back home. Am I right to just purchase the Swiss half fare or should I do the Eurail Global Pass Youth. Thanks in advance 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I have question... I am planning to come with family my wife and son 2 years old from paris to Interlaken via train on 15th nov 23 which is Wednesday and planning to stay in Interlaken itself till 19th nov 2023...where I need to cover jungfruah mountain via cable car one way...panaromic golden express one day and Interlaken village one day and 19th planning to go to Rhine falls nd back to Stuttgart fr Zurich on same day eveving... Can u suggest me which one I need to choose..swiss pass or saver day pass with out without half card? Need your help in this please?
Thank you for all the helpful info! We bought the half fare card, however, I am debating the berner oberland pass as well. I was wondering, do any of these trains need to be booked in advance, for example, a trip to Schynige Platte? And if you have the berner oberland pass, is that an option? Thanks!
Hi Stacey! There's really no reason to book any of these trains in advance. In fact, most don't even allow for that. With the Berner Oberland Pass, you can just get on the train to Schynige Platte without a separate ticket (because the pass works as your ticket). And if you go earlier in the day, the lines shouldn't be too long!
Thanks for the video! For someone who live in Zurich, what is the best train pass for budget daily commuting for other cantons and inside the city? espeacily to use fastest trains
Love your videos! We bought the half fare card and now trying to add the Berner Oberland Pass. You say that it would be 25-40 franc more but all we see is 150 for a 3 day pass. Just want to make sure we aren't missing something. Thanks!
Hi there, good question! What we're referring to is your overall transportation cost. For the example you mentioned, we estimate you'll spend about 25-40 CHF more overall on transportation by adding the Berner Oberland Pass than you would if you don't add it (because it will also save you some money as well). Hope this helps clarify!
Please can you help me which travel pass to get? We will be going to Switzerland in August for 7 days. Overnight stay in Zurich. Then from Day 2 to Day 7 we will be staying in Bern, with trips to Lucerne, Interlaken, Jungfraujoch, Gindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and Zermatt. What's the best travel pass to get please? And thank you xxx
I guess this is one of the most informative videos on Swiss Passes available in RU-vid. Thanks a lot for compiling all the information in one place. I have two questions you might help me with. We're visiting Zermatt (2 days) and then the Jungfrau region (3 days) beginning of September and going to purchase the half fare card and the BO pass (3 days). Q1- will the BO pass cover the journey from Zermatt to Grindelwald if we travel via Visp and the Lotschberg Basistunnel, as showing in the SBB app or do we have to take another route in order to utilize the BO pass during that journey? Q2- During our stay in the Jungfrau region, we plan to do a day trip from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch via Eigergletscher and come down to Lauterbrunnen via the Wengen route. Will the CHF 99 connection ticket be valid for this entire journey in this scenario? Many thanks in advance for your response. Regards...
Thanks always, it's so helpful! I'm staying in Jungfrau Region for 6days and bought the Swiss Half Fare as you suggested and planning to buy the Berner Oberland Pass. I got 2 questions about the train ride, 1. From Zurich to Grindelwald, I see the Berner Oberland Pass covers from Lucerne. Is it wise to pay from Zurich to Lucerne and use the BOPass? 2. From Grindelwald to Milan, I see the BOPass doesn't cover all the way to Milan. In this case, do I buy the full ticket from Spiez to Milan?
Thank you so much for this amazing information! So very organized and easy to understand. In your video you talked about traveling from Lugano, Italy to Interlaken with the Saver Day Pass. You rode the Gotthard Panorama Express Train from Lugano to Fluelen then went by boat all the way to Lucerne. Then took another scenic train from there to Interlaken (can you name this train ride?) How long did the entire journey take you? I'm thinking of doing it in reverse to get to Lake Como. Is that feasible?
Great questions Lana! The train we took from Luzern is called the Luzern-Interlaken Express. This entire journey takes about 8 hours, plus another 40 minutes or so to travel from Lugano to Como. Totally doable, but a bit of a long day.
As you said, Switzerland should really don't confuse people with these kind of 1000 passes and combine in to just one based on region with all activities+ clear map for all specific region :))
Hi, This video is very helpful. Thanks a lot for making such useful content. We are planning to travel in September. We will be coming from Salzberg. Onenight at Luzern, just for city visit and no plans of mountain excursion. Then 5 nights at Jungfrau region and out from Zurich airport. My question is in this case do we need the half pass. My Calculation says OB pass + half pass is 40SF extra than only OB pass. Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi there! Remember that the Half Fare Card gives you a discount on your Berner Oberland Pass (96 CHF savings on a 6-day pass), plus it saves you money on your travel to and from the region, as well as anything else you'll do that isn't covered by the BO Pass. It will certainly save you money compared to not having it!
Does anyone know if the Nessental Triftbahn is included in the Berner Oberland Pass? This is to go see the Trift Bridge! I see reservations are recommended for the gondola, but I don't see a way to apply a half fare card, or the Berner Oberland pass. Thank you, Aplins! Everything of yours has been super helpful, and we love your 7-day itinerary guide.
Y'all this is soo helpful. But how do we use the passes? We purchased the Half Fare card and the BO Pass. How do we book tickets ahead of time if (coming from Italy) half of the way is covered by the HFC and the rest is included in the BO pass? How do we get the BO pass discount in advance?
So glad this video was helpful! We actually have a resource that guides you through the process of purchasing passes, using the passes, booking tickets, and how to book tickets with the discounts from the passes you've purchased! I'll put a link to it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ugnaq5PNofU.html
We are going to Geneva, Interlaken, Grindelwald and wilderswil for 12 days which train pass should I purchase for my family of 4 (2 adults 2 kids under 16 yrs ok) ???
Hi there! Make sure you download our checklist and follow our tips for trips that mostly focus on the Jungfrau Region. You'll find our best advice there!
@@tde1964 you are funny! its our first time from australia to switzerland, so we just want to make sure that we know the rules. we were informed that some places have age restriction, hence the question.
Yikes this is complicated! I’ll be visiting for 10 days next summer, 5 staying in Zermatt and 5 in Jungfrau region so it seems I should buy the half fare card and Oberland pass but should I also buy the Peak Pass for Zermatt? We’ll be doing Gornegrat, Matterhorn Hornlihutte trail, Glacier paradise and probably Rothorn but most likely on separate days. Can anyone offer advice on this?
Hi there! If you plan to do each of those trips on separate days, you'll definitely be better off just using your half fare card as opposed to buying a Peak Pass. Hope that helps!
i am planning to stay at Zurich for 3 days and staying at Grindelwald for 5-6 days when exploring jungfrau region. i am very confused now should i take the berner oberland pass or just take the unlimited season jungfrau pass which i can go to jungfraujoch without additional payment
The Jungfrau Travel Pass offers free travel up to Eigergletscher, but it doesn't cover the last part to Jungfraujoch. So you'll need to purchase a ticket for that section. The Jungfraujoch connecting ticket will cover that route-but funny enough, it's exactly the same price as if you just buy a ticket for that route using a Half Fare Card!
Hi Jana and Brett! Last year we visited the Berner Oberland and your videos were so helpful! This summer we will be spending three days in Zermatt but we will stay in an Airbnb in Täsch. We are a family of 4 (two children of 13 and 14 yo). I am a bit confused thst in the video you state that when you come by car, you should not buy a swiss travel pass or half fare card. I calculated that the half fare card will be the most beneficial to us (going to Gornergrat one day, another day to Glacier Paradise and one day the 5 lakes hike), because in that way we will pay half price for the cable cars AND our children will travel for free with the Swiss Family Pass. Or am I overlooking something? Thanks and regards!
Great question! And I think you found a hole in our recommendations we need to fill! For sure, if you're doing all of those things, the fact that you can get Swiss family cards for your kids makes it worth buying the Half Fare Card. And honestly, the prices for all the lifts increased this year, but the cost for the Half Fare Card didn't, so we might need to update that recommendation even for adults without kids. Thanks so much for reaching out with this question!!
Hello, amazing video. My wife and I are going to Switzerland in Sept 2024. We will definitely be taking your suggestions and getting a half fare pass. Needed to clarify this though, do we both need a half fare? Or can one half fare pass buy all our tickets for two people?
Hi all your information is great, I am planning to visit switzerland next April, I have seen a lot of videos .and still I am confused about what to choose, we will be arriving to Zurich, the same day we will go to Bern for 3 days,while there we will go to visit lauterbrunnen one day visit,and go back to Bern , then the 4th day from Bern to Zermatt for one day,(if the weather permits we will try to take the gondolas to the glaciar palace),the 5th daywe will go from Zermatt to lucern,one day, next day we will go back to Zurich for 2 days and then leave. according to your expertise and information I think is better in this case to get the Swiss Pass (we ae 2 people) correct? what is your oipinion? I really feel grateful for your kindness on these questions, thank you so much.
Hi there! We'd be happy to help you make this decision! Take a look at our Swiss Vacation Consultation options at aplinsinthealps.com/consultations Hope to "virtually meet" you soon!
This was so helpful. We're visiting Zermatt and Luzerne (2 adults + 1 youth+1 child) would it be OK to buy a Swiss Pass? We're arriving from Milan. Thanks so much for your advise
Hi guys, thanks a lot for the detailed video. Your videos helped us to pick the best pass to travel in Switzerland . And also saved a lot of money 😊. We stayed in the Interlaken region for 4 days, as you guys suggested we bought the Berner oberland pass and Swiss half fare card. We did the glacier walk on top of jungfraujoch and hike to bachalpsee lake, which turned out to be the best hike we did in our life. Thanks a lot for the suggestions and detailed videos. Looking forward to more videos 😊 thanks!
Thank you so much for your feedback! We're so grateful you enjoyed your trip and that we were able to play a small part it it. Do you think you'll come back to Switzerland?!
I just returned from my Swiss holiday and took your advice on the half fare card + Berner Oberland Pass… that saving is huge! Thank you for the advice!
this is what i want to do in september! did u buy on the app ahead of time? i’m a little nervous about when i should purchase and if i can put my bf and i on the same acct
Am also wanting to travel to Zermatt and Jungfrau regions ONLY in late Sept or early Oct for total of 5 days (2 in Z and 3 in J regions). Where did you all go to on your trip and for how many days?
Does the Berner Oberland pass cover the ride up to the Eiger Glacier? They mentioned the Berner Oberland connecting ticket to the Jungfraujoch would cost $99. However if you also have the half fare card, would it be cheaper to purchase the round trip from Eiger Glacier to Jungfraujoch instead of the connecting ticket?
Please Help: Please suggest best pass or combination of passes for my one week trip which will include: Pilatus, Titlis, Lauterbrunnen tour with falls, Murren village hike and schilthorn peak, mannlichen, Interlaken thun or brienze lake boat ride, giessbach falls, iseltwald tour , Grindelwald first
Hi. I am going in early Nov. Below is my itenary. Can I check Swiss Travel Pass will be the most ideal for me? Zurich 1N Luceren 2n Interlaken 2n Milan 2n Florence 2n Rome 3n
Below is our itenary - couple with 2 kids 4 yrs old Day 1 zurich - go to lindt chocolate factory and old city Day 2 zurich to grindelwald Day 3 grindelwald to jungfrauch Day 4 grindelwald to brienz and lake brienz cruise or lauterbrunnen Day 5 gribdelwald to brienz and rotter barn train Day 6 grindelwald to manlicchen Day 7 grindelwald to zurich airport Should we buy normal swiss pass for 6 days
I think I have decided on the Oberland Pass and half fare card, but I’m wondering if the Bernina Express from Milan to Zermatt will be covered on either pass.
Good question! You would just need a roundtrip ticket between Eigergletscher and Jungfraujoch-this costs 75 CHF with the Half Fare Card during the summer, and 63 CHF at other times of the year.
I’m sorry maybe I did the math wrong but… if for example I want to stay at Grindelwald for three days and go one time to each destination included in the jungfrau travel pass, according to the SBB app if I buy single trip tickets every time I would spend significantly less than the 190 that the jungfrau travel pass costs… is this right???
Hi there! We can't know for sure without seeing your math! Just keep in mind you'd also need to travel to, from, and between these locations each day. So the costs can add up. However, for a 3-day trip, you'll probably save money just purchasing tickets with a half fare card (unless you're driving to the area-in this case, the pass really does work well).
Please I need your advice.. I am still confused and can't find the answer for saving my budget. if I will go to Geneva half day, Bern half day, Lucerne 1 day, Interlaken 2 days, Grindewalt & Jungfrauch, Zermat 1 day, Zurich half day. What card I shoud buy? Thanks in advance
WOW! This was so helpful, thank you both. I was going to get the Jungfrau travel pass and paying for regular trains outside that but now I'm definitely getting the half fare card!
Children upto which age travel free with an Swiss Travel Pass / Swiss Half Fare Card ?? Is it 15 or16 years of age. I mean the age is calculated with refence to reaching the age. Like a child born on 1st Oct 2008 can travel free with STP/SHFC till .....?? 30th Sep 2023 or 30th Sep 2024.
This is the best video or podcast I've listened to about Swiss Train passes! It's been so overwhelming to think about and figure out. We will definitely use y'all's links to buy the half fare card and the other for the jungfrau region
Hello guys! Very helpful information but what about people that are only there for a day or two. For example my husband and I are going to fly in to Geneva, stay there for one night and then we’re going to Ringgerberg to spend the day there and Interlaken probably go to the mountains too, spend the night at Ringgerberg. Next day take the train and go to Paris. What travel pass do you recommend to buy for us or buy tickets separately?? Thank you so much for your time!!
Hi Gladys! For this kind of trip, you'll probably benefit most from buying the Half Fare Card and purchasing tickets for any rides you take. You should also get the Interlaken Guest Card if you're staying in Ringgenberg!!
Jana and Brett. My wife and I just purchased the half fare tickets through your web site. We are attempting to add on the Berner Oberland Pass (also through your web site) but are confused as to how to do this. Help!!
Love the content, concise and precise as always! My Fiancé I and are more then halfway through booking our late September honeymoon to Italy and Switzerland, and are really glad we found this channel! Much love from Canada. PS the Jungfrau 7 Day travel guide is fantastic
Thank you so much for the kind words! It sounds like you have an amazing honeymoon planned. We honeymooned in Switzerland too! Thanks for the feedback on the Jungfrau travel guide! We hope you guys have a wonderful honeymoon:)
I love and hate Europe. I was fascinated by the stunning scenery and rich history, but I was overwhelmed by the high cost. I think trainpal's discount coupon saved me.
Great videos thanks a lot. I need a bit of more advise. I am planning 2 weeks in switzerland. 2 adults and 2 kids below 12. The plan: 1 night geneva, 6 nights jungfrau region with one day trip to Luzern (might do 1 mountain), day trip on rhine falls, then 3 nights in Lugano with day trip to Milan and Como, then 2 nights in Zermatt with mountain excursion, then we want to stop at Chamonix on our last day to Geneva. Should we rent a car? If car, what pass we buy with it? If not car, what pass you recommend we buy?
Hi there! We would personally just use the public transportation and skip the car rental. For a specific pass recommendation, be sure to download our checklist and look at the section for trips to the Jungfrau Region + Luzern + Zermatt: aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-swiss-train-pass-guide-2023/ That's where you'll find our best recommendations, even based on specific plans for each location!
Your video is full of valuable information, thanks a lot for that, But May I know if I travel from Italy to Lauterbrunnen by train and stay for 2 nights only, and will come back by train to Italy which pass should I choose? It will be a great help if you reply.
Hello Jana and Brett, We will be in Switzerland for a 10-day land tour with Gate1 Travel. At the conclusion of the trip, we intend to visit the Jungfrau region in Interlaken for 2 days by train from Lucerne. Following that, we will proceed to Basel for our river cruise tour. Could you kindly advise us on the most suitable travel pass for this brief itinerary? Thank you very much for your assistance.
Hello Aplins, Thank you for the wonderful video and information on Swiss Travels. I have 2 adults and a 11 y.o travelling to Zermatt (3 days) and interlaken (2 days). We want to be active in Zermatt and plan to visit Glacier Paradise, Gornergrat and possibly Rothorn and have easy day at Interlaken. Do you have a recommendation on Travel Pass for my travel needs. Can I travel to Zermatt from Paris on Eurail Global Pass? Thank you and Cheers :)
Hi Casey! You can travel to Zermatt using the Eurail Pass, but it won't provide any discounts once you're there. A half fare card might be your best bet, but be sure to follow the recommendations in our download. Hope that helps!
Big confusion 🙋🏻♀️ as per i reas on the website tourists can't buy the half fare card. I read it on the SBB website. Can you throw some light on this? I actually wanted to consider buying half fare card.
There are 2 different Half Fare Cards! The 30 day version is for tourists. The year version is for residents. You’ll want the 30 day version for your trip!
Im going to spend 9 days in Switzerland. Im going to Jungfraujoch, Harder Kulum and Grindewald First. And I also intend to go to a boat ride on lake brienz and thun. Could you please tell me which is the best pass for me? Also, how do I take a look on your itinerary throughout the jungfrau region?
Hi there! You can check out our 1-week Guide to the Jungfrau Region here: aplinsinthealps.com/guides/1-week-guide-to-the-jungfrau-region/ We also give pass recommendations for that itinerary in the guide, or you can use the free checklist we mentioned in this video to help you choose. Have a great trip!!
a 2-day Tell-Pass Summer Card costs CHF190!!! If I am just going to Mt Pilatus and Titlis, the Half-Fare Card or the STP should be enough. I don't see how the Tell-Pass benefits, sorry.
That's why we don't recommend the Tell-Pass to all travelers! If you're going to visiting a lot of places in a short amount of time, it can be convenient. Otherwise, a Half Fare Card is a great option!
Hi, I am going to Geneva and from Geneva I would like to travel to Zermatt, stay 3 days and then from Zermatt back to Geneva, should I just buy day pass and how do I going about booking the train tickets?
Hi there, Thank you for your constant guidance. I have few questions: Can I buy the travel passes from the link which you have provided in this video? Furthermore, for Berner Oberland pass they have shown Reduced price valid with Half fare card? so, I have to buy Half fare card first from SSB website and then enter ticket number to buy BO pass? half fare card is for 1 month I am going for only 6 days is it ok to buy half fare card? I know I am asking lots of question, but only you two can clear my doubts. Thank you so much..
Hi there! Yep, the links in the video should work! Yes, choose reduced price to get the Half Fare discount on the BO Pass. You don't actually have to enter any specific info from your 1/2 Fare in order to buy the BO pass, so it doesn't really matter which order you buy them in. Just make sure your 1/2 Fare Card will be valid for the entire time you have the BO pass and you'll be good to go!
thank you for the awesome videos, really helped by the informarion you gave. from what i know that berner oberland pass only valid from april-october (correct me if i m wrong). i plan to jungfrauch and luzerne in december. is there any substitute pass for berner oberland pass? Thanks
Unfortunately, you're correct! There has been a winter version of the Jungfrau Travel Pass in previous years...so if that's offered again, that might be a great choice for you!
i will stay in interlaken for 4 days (1 day to jungfrau by train and cable car, 2 days to iseltwald and schloss oberhofen by bus) so i don't buy any pass. returning from jungfrau, i will get off the train at Kleine Scheidegg and walk to Wegen or Lauterbrunnen and finally take train to Interlaken Ost. Do I need to buy separate train tickets on the return trip?
