Trains, buses and boats covered by the pass
Facts checked in November 2026 against operator sources.
The pass is valid on practically every scheduled train, bus and boat in Switzerland, including private railways, PostBus routes and trams in more than 90 towns and cities. Ordinary trains need no reservation. Panoramic trains are covered for the fare, but the Glacier Express charges about CHF 54 and the Bernina Express CHF 32 to 36 for the compulsory seat.
Railways
Switzerland has dozens of railway companies and one ticketing system. The pass is accepted by Swiss Federal Railways and by the private lines that tourists use most.
- SBB, the national network, including InterCity trains between Zurich, Bern, Geneva, Basel, Lucerne and Lugano.
- Rhaetian Railway in Graubünden, to Chur, Davos, St. Moritz and over the Bernina Pass to Tirano.
- Matterhorn Gotthard Railway, from Visp and Brig up to Zermatt and across the Oberalp Pass to Andermatt.
- BLS, around Bern, Interlaken and through the Lötschberg.
- Zentralbahn, Lucerne to Interlaken over the Brünig Pass, and Lucerne to Engelberg.
- MOB, the GoldenPass line from Montreux to Zweisimmen and Interlaken.
- Bernese Oberland Railway, from Interlaken to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, and the rack railway to Wengen.
You do not need a seat reservation on any of these ordinary services, and trains do not sell out. You board, sit in the class shown on your pass and show the QR code. That freedom is a large part of what you are paying for.
Panoramic trains, what the pass covers
The fare is included on all of them. The seat is not.
| Train | Route | Fare without a pass, 2nd class | Seat reservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Express | Zermatt to St. Moritz, about 8 hours | CHF 159 | about CHF 54, compulsory |
| Bernina Express | Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano | about CHF 96 from Zurich to Tirano | CHF 36 in high season, CHF 32 in low season, compulsory |
| GoldenPass Express | Montreux to Interlaken | Covered | Optional, compulsory in Prestige class |
| Luzern to Interlaken Express | Lucerne to Interlaken Ost | about CHF 34 | Optional |
| Gotthard Panorama Express | Lucerne by boat to Flüelen, then train to Lugano | Covered | Compulsory reservation or supplement |
Reservation fees and fares for the Glacier Express and Bernina Express from secondary sources, checked November 2026. Confirm the fee when you reserve.
How to avoid the reservation fees
The Glacier Express and the Bernina Express run on ordinary railway lines. Regional trains use the same tracks, cross the same viaducts and need no reservation. With a pass they cost nothing extra.
- Bernina line. Hourly regional trains run between St. Moritz and Tirano. In summer some carry open air carriages. You change trains more often than on the Bernina Express and the windows are smaller, but they open, which photographers prefer.
- Glacier Express route. You can cover Zermatt to St. Moritz on regional trains with changes at Visp or Brig, Andermatt, Disentis and Chur or Reichenau. It takes about as long. The Landwasser Viaduct, on the section between Chur and St. Moritz, is crossed by every Albula line train.
The panoramic trains earn their fee in other ways, a guaranteed seat, commentary, meals served at the table and no changes. If that matters to you, reserve early. The Glacier Express does not run during an autumn maintenance break of several weeks from mid October.
Buses
The yellow PostBus network reaches the valleys that the railways do not. Routes over the Furka, Grimsel, Susten and Nufenen passes run in summer and are included, as are the everyday routes to villages such as Saas-Fee. A few tourist routes ask for a small alpine supplement or a seat reservation, which the driver or the timetable will indicate.
Boats
Scheduled boats on the major lakes are part of the network.
- Lake Lucerne, including the paddle steamers to Vitznau for Rigi, to Alpnachstad for Pilatus and to Flüelen.
- Lake Geneva, between Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux and Chillon.
- Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, either side of Interlaken.
- Lake Zurich, Lake Constance and the Ticino lakes within Swiss waters.
Boats are slow and seasonal, with a thin timetable in winter, but they are where a pass adds real value. A long lake crossing is expensive as a single ticket, and with a 2nd class pass you can pay the difference on board for a seat on the upper deck.
City transport and airports
Trams, buses and suburban trains are covered in more than 90 towns and cities. That includes the train from Zurich Airport to the city, the train from Geneva Airport, and the trams of Basel, Bern and Zurich. Many Swiss hotels hand guests a free local transport card anyway, so do not count this benefit twice when you do your sums.
1st or 2nd class
1st class has three seats across instead of four and is noticeably emptier at commuter times and on summer weekends. On boats it gives access to the upper deck. It does not get you a better view on ordinary trains, and panoramic carriages exist in both classes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to reserve seats on Swiss trains?
No, not on ordinary services. Reservations are compulsory only on the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Gotthard Panorama Express and a few other tourist trains.
Is the train from Zurich Airport covered?
Yes. The airport station is on the SBB network and the pass is valid from your chosen start date.
Does the pass work on trains to Italy, France or Germany?
Only as far as the Swiss border point. The Bernina line to Tirano, just inside Italy, is included. Beyond that you need another ticket.
Can I take a regional train over the Bernina Pass without a reservation?
Yes. Regional trains run hourly between St. Moritz and Tirano and need no reservation, so with the pass they cost nothing extra.
Are night trains included?
The fare within Switzerland is covered, but couchette and sleeper supplements are not.
Are cable cars and funiculars covered?
Where they are the public link to a village, generally yes. Sightseeing lifts to summits are usually discounted by 50%. See what the pass includes for the list.