Swiss Travel Pass guide for UK travellers
Facts checked in November 2026 against operator sources.
The Swiss Travel Pass gives unlimited travel on trains, buses and boats across Switzerland for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days, plus city transport in more than 90 towns and free entry to over 500 museums. In 2026 it costs from CHF 254 in 2nd class, roughly £230. Whether it saves you money depends on how many long travel days you plan, and for some trips the cheaper Swiss Half Fare Card wins. This guide shows the sums.
What the Swiss Travel Pass is
The Swiss Travel Pass is the national rail pass of the Swiss Travel System, the body that markets Swiss public transport to visitors. It is sold only to people who live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein, so UK residents qualify. You choose a start date, a length of 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days and a class, and from that morning you can board almost any train, bus, boat or tram in the country without buying another ticket.
The official name of the product is Swiss Travel Pass. Older guidebooks still call it the Swiss Pass, which was its name until 2015. A sister product, the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, covers the same network on days you pick freely within one month.
The pass in numbers
- 5 lengths, 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days.
- 90 plus towns and cities where trams and local buses are covered.
- 500 plus museums with free admission, Chillon Castle among them.
- 3 mountain excursions fully included, Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos.
- Up to 50% off most other mountain railways, and 25% off the final climb to Jungfraujoch.
- 11 months, how far ahead you can buy.
Swiss Travel Pass prices in 2026
Prices are set in Swiss francs by the Swiss Travel System and are the same wherever you buy. Authorised sellers are not allowed to undercut them. The sterling column is our conversion at about £0.91 to the franc and will move with the exchange rate.
| Consecutive days | 2nd class | Approx. in GBP | 1st class | Per day, 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | CHF 254 | about £230 | CHF 405 | CHF 85 |
| 4 days | CHF 309 | about £280 | CHF 492 | CHF 77 |
| 6 days | CHF 399 | about £361 | CHF 634 | CHF 67 |
| 8 days | CHF 439 | about £398 | CHF 697 | CHF 55 |
| 15 days | CHF 499 | about £452 | CHF 787 | CHF 33 |
Adult prices valid 1 January to 31 December 2026, source Swiss Travel System, checked November 2026. No official price list for 2027 start dates had been published when we checked.
Two things stand out. The daily cost falls steeply as the pass gets longer, and the 15 day pass costs only CHF 60 more than the 8 day pass. Travellers under 25 pay 30% less, for example CHF 311 for 8 days in 2nd class. There is no senior discount. Flex prices, youth prices and the places to buy are on the prices page.
What is included, and what is not
Fully included
- Trains of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and nearly all private railways, including the Rhaetian Railway to St. Moritz and the Matterhorn Gotthard line to Zermatt.
- Buses, including the yellow PostBus routes over the alpine passes.
- Boats on Lake Lucerne, Lake Geneva, Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, Lake Zurich and other lakes.
- City transport, trams and buses in more than 90 towns and cities, Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Basel and Lucerne included.
- Panoramic trains, the fare on the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, GoldenPass Express, Gotthard Panorama Express and Luzern to Interlaken Express.
- Three mountains, Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos. At full fare a Rigi day ticket costs CHF 84 and the Stanserhorn return CHF 82.
- Museums, more than 500 of them. Chillon Castle near Montreux, CHF 15 at the door in 2026, is free with the pass.
Discounted only
Most high mountain railways sit outside the free network. The pass gives 50% off Pilatus, Titlis, the Gornergrat railway and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable cars, and 50% off the Schilthorn above Mürren. Jungfraujoch is the exception that catches people out. The pass takes you free as far as Grindelwald or Wengen, then gives only 25% off the rest, which leaves about CHF 179 to pay in summer.
Not included
Seat reservations are never part of the pass. The Glacier Express charges about CHF 54 per seat and the Bernina Express CHF 32 to 36 depending on the season, on top of any ticket or pass. Travel to and from Switzerland is not covered either. The full lists are on what the pass includes and trains, buses and boats.
Our guides to the Swiss Travel Pass
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it
The honest answer is that it depends on your route, and that the pass is a convenience product as much as a money saver. Swiss fares are high, but so is the pass. On rail fares alone it rarely pays for itself. It starts to win when you add boats, city trams, museums and the three free mountains, and when most of your days involve a long journey.
The real rival is not a pile of full price tickets. It is the Swiss Half Fare Card, which costs CHF 150 for a month and halves almost every fare, including Jungfraujoch. The rule of thumb is simple. Add up the full fares of everything the pass would cover outright. The pass beats the Half Fare Card only if that total is more than twice the gap between the two prices.
- 3 day pass, covered travel worth more than about CHF 208.
- 4 day pass, more than about CHF 318.
- 6 day pass, more than about CHF 498.
- 8 day pass, more than about CHF 578.
- 15 day pass, more than about CHF 698.
Below are three itineraries priced for one adult in 2nd class. Rail fares are ordinary full fares as quoted before the national fare rise of 13 December 2026, rounded, so treat them as close estimates.
Three days based in Lucerne
Zurich Airport to Lucerne, about CHF 30. A day on Rigi, CHF 84. The Stanserhorn open top cable car, CHF 82. Pilatus by boat, cogwheel railway and cable car, CHF 119.80 as a Golden Round Trip. Back to the airport, about CHF 30. Bought separately that comes to about CHF 346. With a 3 day pass you pay CHF 254 plus CHF 42 for the half price Pilatus section, CHF 296 in all. With a Half Fare Card you pay about CHF 323. The pass wins by roughly CHF 50 over full fares and CHF 27 over the Half Fare Card, before counting trams and museums.
Four days of scenic trains
Zurich Airport to St. Moritz, about CHF 84. The Glacier Express route from St. Moritz to Zermatt, CHF 159. The Gornergrat railway, up to CHF 132 in peak summer. Zermatt to Geneva, about CHF 90. Total about CHF 465. With a 4 day pass, CHF 309 plus CHF 66 for Gornergrat, CHF 375. With a Half Fare Card, about CHF 383. The pass wins by about CHF 90 over full fares, and is level with the Half Fare Card. Everyone pays the CHF 54 Glacier Express reservation on top.
Eight days, the classic first visit
Zurich to Lucerne, Rigi, Lucerne to Interlaken, Jungfraujoch, Interlaken to Zermatt, Gornergrat, Zermatt to Geneva with a stop at Chillon Castle. Separate tickets come to about CHF 730. With an 8 day pass you pay CHF 439, plus about CHF 179 for Jungfraujoch and CHF 66 for Gornergrat, about CHF 684. With a Half Fare Card the same trip costs about CHF 523. Here the Half Fare Card is about CHF 160 cheaper than the pass. Two expensive summits and only four real train days are the classic case where the pass loses.
The three examples side by side
One adult, 2nd class, summer fares. Seat reservations are extra in every column.
| Itinerary | Separate tickets | With the pass | With Half Fare Card | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days around Lucerne | about CHF 346 | CHF 296 | about CHF 323 | Pass |
| 4 days of scenic trains | about CHF 465 | CHF 375 | about CHF 383 | Pass, narrowly |
| 8 days with Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat | about CHF 730 | about CHF 684 | about CHF 523 | Half Fare Card |
Our calculations from operator prices and ordinary fares collected in November 2026. Rail fares are estimates.
More cases, including families, under 25s, 1st class and a single region stay, are worked through on is it worth it. The alternatives are set out on passes compared.
Who should buy it, and who should not
- Buy the pass if you move on every day or two, like boats and museums, are under 25, or simply want to step on any train without thinking about fares.
- Buy the Half Fare Card if Jungfraujoch is on your list, if you will stay a week in one valley, or if you travel on fewer than half your days.
- Buy neither for a city break of two or three days with one excursion. A Saver Day Pass, from CHF 52, or ordinary tickets will do.
- Look at a regional pass if you stay in the Bernese Oberland. The Berner Oberland Pass costs CHF 350 for 6 days and includes the Schilthorn.
How to buy and use the pass
- Pick the length and the start date
Count the days between your first and last long journey, not the nights of your holiday. Arrival and departure days often need only an airport transfer.
- Buy online up to 11 months ahead
The price is identical from the railway, from the Swiss Travel System shop and from authorised sellers such as GetYourGuide. Add children aged 6 to 15 at this stage so that each receives a free Swiss Family Card.
- Save the e-ticket
The pass arrives as a PDF with a QR code. Keep it on your phone and carry a paper copy as a spare.
- Carry your passport
The pass is valid only with the original passport or national identity card. A photo on a phone is not accepted.
- Board without a ticket
Ordinary Swiss trains need no reservation. Show the QR code when the conductor comes round.
- Reserve the panoramic trains separately
Glacier Express and Bernina Express seats sell out in summer. Book the seat as soon as your dates are fixed.
Mistakes that cost money
- Assuming Jungfraujoch is half price. It is 25% off from Grindelwald or Wengen, and a CHF 10 seat reservation is compulsory from May to October.
- Starting the pass on arrival day. If you land in the evening and only ride to your hotel, start the pass the next morning and buy one ordinary ticket.
- Buying 1st class by default. It costs about 59% more. Swiss 2nd class is clean and comfortable, and the windows are the same size.
- Buying the Golden Round Trip on Pilatus. The pass already covers the boat and the bus. You need only the two half price mountain sections, CHF 42 in summer.
- Forgetting the passport. Without the original document the pass is not valid and you can be charged the full fare.
- Choosing Flex without a reason. It costs CHF 20 to 40 more, and its museum entry and mountain discounts work only on activated days.
Getting to Switzerland from the UK
The pass starts at the Swiss border. Flights from the UK land at Zurich, Geneva and Basel, and all three airports are on the pass network, with a station under the terminal at Zurich and Geneva. Travelling by rail, the usual route is Eurostar to Paris and a high speed train on to Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Zurich. That international leg needs its own ticket. If you come by train, an Interrail pass can cover both the journey out and your days in Switzerland, which changes the comparison. See passes compared.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Swiss Travel Pass in pounds?
The pass is priced in Swiss francs. At about £0.91 to the franc in November 2026, the 2nd class pass costs roughly £230 for 3 days, £280 for 4 days, £361 for 6 days, £398 for 8 days and £452 for 15 days. Your card provider's rate on the day decides the exact amount.
Can UK residents buy the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes. The only condition is that your permanent residence is outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein. You show your passport with the pass when tickets are checked.
Does the pass cover the Glacier Express?
It covers the fare, which is CHF 159 in 2nd class for the full route. It does not cover the compulsory seat reservation of about CHF 54.
Is Jungfraujoch free with the pass?
No. Travel is free as far as Grindelwald or Wengen, then you get 25% off. In summer that leaves about CHF 179 to pay, plus a CHF 10 seat reservation between May and October.
Which mountains are free with the pass?
Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos are fully included. Most others, such as Pilatus, Titlis, Gornergrat and Schilthorn, are half price.
Do children need their own pass?
Children under 6 travel free. Children from 6 to 15 travel free with a parent who holds a pass, using the free Swiss Family Card, which you request when you buy. A child of that age travelling without a parent pays half the adult pass price.
Is there a pass for one or two days?
No, the shortest pass is 3 days. For a single long day the Saver Day Pass, from CHF 52 in 2nd class when booked early, is the usual answer.
Can I get a refund if my plans change?
Only before the first day of validity, and under the conditions of the seller you bought from. Once the pass has started there is no refund for unused days, so check the cancellation terms before you pay.
Is 1st class worth the extra?
For most people, no. It costs CHF 697 instead of CHF 439 for 8 days. You get wider seats and quieter carriages, and it is required for the Excellence Class on the Glacier Express, but the scenery is the same.
Will the price go up in 2027?
Ordinary Swiss fares rise by 3.6% on average from 13 December 2026. When we checked in November 2026, no official 2027 price list for the pass had been published. Look at the price shown for your start date before booking.