Ultimate Swiss Train Pass Guide *Updated* | Free Checklist | How to pick a Swiss Rail Pass
NOT buying a Swiss Train Pass is like throwing your money in the garbage! WATCH NOW to find the best Swiss Rail Pass for your Swiss vacation-and save money too!
FREE CHECKLIST DOWNLOAD
➡️ aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-...
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// PASSES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO //
➡️ Berner Oberland Pass
www.getyourguide.com/interlak...
➡️ Swiss Travel Pass
www.getyourguide.com/central-...
➡️ Eurail Pass
www.getyourguide.com/zurich-l...
➡️ Swiss Half Fare Card
www.getyourguide.com/lucerne-...
➡️ Jungfrau Travel Pass
www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfra...
➡️ Tell Pass
www.tellpass.ch/en/shop/ticke...
➡️ Peak2Peak Ticket
www.matterhornparadise.ch/en/...
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00:00 200 Swiss Itineraries
00:45 Table of Contents
01:18 National Swiss Train Passes
02:53 Regional Train Passes
03:24 European Train Passes
04:51 How to pick a Swiss Train Pass
05:44 Visiting Swiss Cities
06:15 Budget Traveler
07:10 Traveling with Kids
08:23 Trips to Zermatt, Switzerland
11:27 Visiting the Jungfrau Region
15:55 Trips to Lucerne, Switzerland
17:42 Jungfrau + Zermatt, Switzerland
19:25 Scenic Swiss Trains
23:12 Jungfrau + Lucerne, Switzerland
25:20 Jungfrau + Lucerne + Zermatt
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// ABOUT THIS VIDEO //
Trains in Switzerland can be overwhelming, so we’re here to simplify Swiss train tickets and Swiss rail pass info!
❓ DO I NEED A SWISS TRAIN PASS?
- Switzerland train travel reaches every corner of this small country, which means that you can use public transportation to get everywhere - Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, Zermatt, Interlaken, and beyond!
- And why pay full price for Swiss train tickets when you can get them for less money?!
❓ HOW DO I PICK A SWISS TRAIN PASS?
Watch our video to discover:
- The 3 different types of Swiss rail passes
- Which rail pass is best for Luzern, Zermatt, Interlaken, and other popular Swiss destinations
- What to buy if you want to ride a scenic Swiss train like the Glacier Express or Bernina Express
- A bonus benefit of the Swiss Half Fare Card
❓ WHAT IF I BUY THE WRONG SWISS TRAIN PASS?
If you follow our FREE CHECKLIST DOWNLOAD, we will give you our best suggestion that blends money savings and convenience.
- Discover why the Swiss Travel Pass is probably NOT a good buy!
- Find out why you may NOT need to buy a train ticket for your kids!
- See why you need a Swiss rail pass AND the SBB app!
- Learn why the Eurail or Interrail pass may cost you MORE in Switzerland!
GET THE FREE SWISS RAIL PASS CHECKLIST HERE
FREE CHECKLIST DOWNLOAD
➡️ aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-...
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// WATCH NEXT //
19 Things To Know About Swiss Train Passes
▶️ • SWISS TRAIN PASSES: 19...
Swiss Trip Planning Guide
▶️ • Swiss Trip Planning Gu...
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// SWISS TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES //
Traveling to Switzerland soon? 👉Buy a done-for-you SWISS TRAVEL GUIDE
▶️ www.aplinsinthealps.com/guides
Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfraujoch, and more!
Need more personalized support? 👉Book a 1-on-1 SWISS VACATION CONSULTATION with Jana + Brett
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// LET’S BE FRIENDS //
SUBSCRIBE to come and see Switzerland with us!
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// GET TO KNOW US //
If you love traveling Switzerland, getting off-the-beaten-path, or having foodie experiences, then you're in the right place!
🙋🏻♀️🙋♂️We're Jana and Brett - Aplins in the Alps.
We help you TRAVEL SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭WITH CONFIDENCE to maximize your experiences while minimizing your budget and planning time.
▶️ Get to know us better by watching our channel from episode 1!
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➡️ FREE SWISS RAIL PASS CHECKLIST DOWNLOAD
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This video and description may contain affiliate links, but we only recommend products and travel gear that we actually use!
#switzerlandtravel #swisstrains #travelswitzerland #swissvlog #swisstravelguide #trainpass #switzerlandtrip #swisstravel
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
Thank you, I appreciate the offer, definitely will use that. 💕
I would like to book a consultation. How can I do this?
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
Hey Aplins! I’ve been binging all your videos for our trip in September :) You guys are awesome and I’m so grateful for all the info we’ve gotten from your channel! We are flying in/out of Frankfurt to visit family but hoping to spend 3-4 days of our week long trip in the Jungfrau region. Could we use a Swiss half fare card to purchase supersaver tickets to get there/back? Just wasn’t sure if it would work on a train that travels outside of Switzerland.
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.
I am so grateful for your videos! You always have the best advice when it comes to train passes. I managed to snag my half fare card when I was in Switzerland in January. It really helped save some money on train rides. Thank you for going through all the passes and helping me figure out the best option for my trip.
This is so encouraging to hear! We love helping others travel with confidence and we're thrilled to hear that we were able to help you choose the best train pass and save money!! Thanks again for sharing:)
Such a detailed comparison. You guys are so good in what you do..❤
That is such a nice compliment! Thanks for the encouragement:)
Thank you for your research and sharing info's. I so appreciate you both. This is huge for me especially on a budget and solo.
We're so glad that we could help you save money and feeling confident traveling alone!
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!
You’re so welcome! That sounds like a fantastic choice!
Thank you Jana and Brett! I really do appreciate your videos, it helps us a lot for our 2024 trip. Thank you also for taking time to read our draft itinerary for July 2024. Great Job! 🎉
We are so glad you've found our vidoes helpful and that we were able to help you plan your trip! Please check back in and let us know how your trip went:)
WOW.... my head is spinning and all I had to do was listen to you both !!!!!. FANTASTIC work guys ...I bet Brett's jaw was sore for days after this spool. Still, a cold beer would have fixed it. You covered all bases and MUCH MUCH more. Thank you. Max Australia.
It is a lot of information and we worked SO hard to make sure to explain it in such a way that would make your train pass purchasing as painless as possible. Thanks for letting us know this was helpful to you.
Great video. Thanks for sharing. I have a question. We want to take the glacier express from Zermatt to Chur and then take the Bernina express from Chur to Tirano. We only gave about 10 minutes to change trains. Do you think it's possible to make that timetable work?
Leaving tomorrow from Hawaii to start working our way there. Whew! This is a huge help! Spending time in Zurich, Lucerne, and the Jungfrau region. Thank you for the best train into out there!
Sounds like your at the beginning of an amazing trip! So glad this video was helpful! Happy Travels!
Thanks for the absolutely informative video 🙏 Question - does the Swiss Half Fare card and BO Pass help with discounts when travelling from airports to Lucerne or Interlaken?
Best video so clearly explained!!! THANK YOU! The Swiss system is CONFUSING :-)
You're welcome! So glad it was helpful. Swiss transportation can be confusing so hopefully you feel more confident after watching this!
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 😊
Hi Jana/Brett, Your videos are so helpful for first timer to Switzerland like me. My question is, can I buy 3 Swiss half fare tickets at one time or should I do it individually, same with Bernese Oberland pass. Do you also have a link to Bernese Oberland pass (in return to help you too) Thanks for your advise in advance
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're so encouraged to hear that we were able to help you pick the perfect train pass! We LOVE that you had an amazing trip!
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?!
Thank you! You guys are amazing :)
You're welcome! Thanks for the support and encouragement.
I really appreciate the level of nerding going on here. You've probably saved me a few spreadsheets... Thanks! I know it's not really your game but a video like this with kids in mind would be crazy beneficial. Again thanks, all your stuff is great!
We’re glad you can appreciate the spreadsheet neediness - we love it! 🤓 Actually a video like that would only be about a minute long. Here’s why: Kids under 6 are always free on transportation everywhere in Switzerland. Kids 6-15 are always 50% off on transportation throughout the country of Switzerland. Kids 6-15 can ride for FREE with the Swiss Family Card when they’re riding with their parents. Kids 16+ are treated like adults. Pretty simple! Hope that helps 😊
Why not try a new app named trainpal which gives me a big surprise 🎉
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.
Thank you for this video! We are leaving in a week for 🇨🇭. I've been nosing into this subject for the last couple of months at night when I have time. It is just too much to get a hold of it all unless you make a spreadsheet 🤔. This video is a huge time saver on the subject, which I would never have sifted through by myself anyhow! Thank you again 🎉
We're so encouraged to hear that this video helped you save time on your travel planning! We hope you have a wonderful trip!
Thanks for the help guys, really well done 👍🏼
You're welcome! Thank you😊
Your video is very informative. i will be travelling soon and I will have a Eurail pass since I am only staying in Swiss for 3 days. Do I have activate/use a day in my eurail along with the ticket if I have to do a jungfraujoch or schilthorn? Or is just really giving me a discount when purchasing those ticket?
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!
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
Wow! Thanks so much for letting us know how helpful this video is. And thanks for using our links; that helps us keep creating helpful content!
That is very elaborate👍 Plus Europe rail ticket now has a discount😮
I guess this is one of the most informative videos on Swiss Passes available in KZhead. 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...
Very informative, awesome work.
Thanks for taking the time to leave an encouraging comment! It means a lot.
Thanks! this is so helpful!
Thank you SO much! Your generosity helps us keep creating!
If I’m doing 3 days in interlaken and 2 days in luzern, should I get the Berner oberland for only 3 days on the days in interlaken? Or get it for 4 or 6 days to cover the luzern days? Half fare card either way! Great video guys
We will be in Europe 4 weeks, traveling to 6 countries. We’re planning on getting a eurail pass. My question is: do you recommend getting the 1/2 fare card and bern ob pass in addition to eurail? (We’re staying in interlaken for 7 nights, montreux for 1 night.) or would that be redundant? Thx you so much! Love your channel!!
Wow what a detailed blog on train passes etc. It enlightened me a lot on what to do . I have a planned trip to Switzerland in 2024. 5 nights in Jungfrau Region our based is Interlaken and 3 nights in Luzern.
Thanks for taking the time to let us know this was helpful! Our goal was to help you feel confident in choosing the right train pass and it sounds like our goal was accomplished!
Very helpful!!! I plan on going back later this year and visit Genève and more of the Jungfrau region
Thanks for taking the time to let us know this video was helpful! We love that you're getting to come back for another visit.
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 🙏🏻🙏🏻
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!
Thanks so much for the encouragement! We're SO glad you felt the 1 on 1 consultation was a valuable investment. We hope you have an amazing trip!
Hey... Steve in NEPA... Is that as in Northeast PA?
@@timmccabe4654 yes it is
Try TrainPal next time! No issues I experienced so far. Many discounts drop and train card sales.
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! I’ll be visiting in July 😊
You're welcome! Enjoy your visit in July:)
Oh wow! I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the passes since we are heading to Interlaken next month via Paris train. This was very helpful! Still trying to figure out which train would require less train changes to reach Interlaken. We'll def purchase the halffare once we reach Interlaken, we are there only for 2 nights so might not do the Bern pass. Thank you!
TrainPal can make a good smooth ticketing experience as well. Offers across Europe and discounts on train cards:))
Hello Aplins!! Thankyou so much for this video.. but still my queries are left unresolved. So, basically we will be travelling to Swiss by end of October to 1st week of November.. first 2-3days in Lucerne, from 1st Nov in Interlaken for 3days and 1 day in Zermatt, next Bernina Express from Chur To Tirano... Could you please please suggest us with the passes to be taken.. I was more positive towards Bernina Overland, but to my luck, its end on Oct31st so not any in the Jungfrau Region can be covered with this pass based on my trip time at that area.. m really bugged what can be done.. So, please do suggest....
I'm planning a road trip to Interlaken from Zurich. We'll roam around places around there itself. Might even go to Zermatt. Does it still make sense to buy the Swiss pass? Thank you so much:)
Great video! What if you're flying into Milan, staying at Lake Como for 3 nights and then head North into Switzerland to fly out of Zurich? Would love to find the perfect train line(s) that would allow my wife and I to stop in some towns, overnight, and take in all that Switerzland has to offer!
I’m going visit Jungfrau & Zermatt 7 day in this December. Thank you for ur VDO very helpful 🎉❤
So glad it was helpful! We hope you enjoy your time here.
Great info, thanks.
You're welcome!
Super usefull informatio n,thanks !!
Thanks for letting us know it was helpful!
You guys are awesome. We appreciate you putting together such good videos. We do travel videos as well and know how much time and effort it takes to put together a clear, concise and all inclusive video. Thanks!
Thanks so much! That is so cool that you do travel videos as well. Where do you travel?!
@@AplinsintheAlps we’re mostly western United States
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?
We LOVE hearing this! So glad we could you help you choose the right passes for your trip:)
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
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.
thank you so much guys!
You are so Welcome!!
Hi my wife Yvonne and myself, Tony, would like to thank you for this video! We got the Half Fare pass and it saved us a TON of $$$ on our Switzerland vacation. We went from Zurich to Zermatt and then worked our way back via Interlacken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Luzern, Lugano and finally back to Zurich. While we didn't take your advice and only pick 3 regions we did enjoy seeing all of these regions and know what we would visit on return someday. THANK YOU !!!!!
We LOVE hearing that we helped you save money! It sounds like you got to see and do a lot! We hope you had a great time:)
I’ve downloaded the pass link and i will be sure to buy tickets via your link guys! This video and other videos you’ve done are so in depth! And it’s free knowledge 🙏🏽🥹 thank you again!!! loving the content 🎉
Thanks so much for your support and encouragement! We love Switzerland so much and want to help others travel here with ease and confidence:) Thanks for letting us know we've been helpful!
Hi! What would you recommend if we are renting a car? Planning on spending most of the time hiking around interlaken and then also would like to do the stoos hike. Thanks!
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 ❤
Never been in Switzerland. It is definitely on my bucket list. Meanwhile I enjoy it through your videos. You just got a new subscriber!!!!
We hope you get to visit here one day! And that our videos and resources will be helpful when you’re planning your dream Swiss vacation 😊 Thanks for subscribing and following along!
Really clearly explained. Thanks
Thanks for letting us know it was clear and easy to understand! Trying to explain the Swiss transportation system/train passes can feel a little overwhelming....there's so much information!
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😊
So glad you found us and that we could be helpful!
I can't thank you enough. Just returned from our trip to Switzerland. My parents were so happy (their first international trip), me and my sister had great fun together. Every time I was telling my family about your channel . Your videos made our trip to Switzerland very smooth and wonderful.I bought Berner Oberland pass and it really helped us. Thank you ..Thank you ..Thank you so much 🙏🙏😇😇😍😍💐💐
We are honored that we got to be a small part of the amazing experience you had with your family! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Thank you .... Thank you .... Thank you so much💐💐 @@AplinsintheAlps
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?
Fantastic video. So helpful! What an effort you've put in all of your videos! Will buy all passes through your affiliate links. We're visiting in July and plan to spend time in Jungfrau area, Zermatt and Luzern As long as the parent has the right ticket, does Swiss Family Card cover kids (6-16 years) for free on all lifts, cable cars and gondolas in Jungfrau and Luzern? e.g. Jungfraujch, Schilthorn and Pilatus? Or are kids (6-16 years) free only on trains and buses but not cables cards, gondolas?
This was very interesting thank you! I'm basing myself in Zermatt for 5 nights. I was going to be some hikes from there like the 5 lakes hike, as well as doing some day trips to Lauterbrunnen (possibly Grindelwald, undecided lol) and Oeschinen Lake (via Kandersteg). I'll be catching the train in from france, and train out to germany. Based on this video, it sounds like maybe I should go with the half fare card and maybe the Berner overland pass?? is that right?
Well done, folks! 👍
Thank you!
This is fantastic information, thank you. The Bernese oberland pass is definitely my favourite. When we go (hopefully, summer 2025, my boys will be 16 and 14) so I’ll need to work out child and youth costs too! (The tell pass looks great if you are in somewhere like Engelberg…)
Thanks so much for the helpful info!! Does Saver Day Pass work like a regular train pass but just for the day? We’re only there for less than 3 days. :(
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!
Thanks Jana and Brett! Love all of the information you provide in your videos. Planning on getting the Berner Oberland Pass for our 3 days in the Jungfrau region. Only thing I haven't been able to find out is if you can purchase this once you arrive to Switzerland?
Awesome choice! And great question! Yes, you can buy the Berner Oberland pass from the airport train station once you arrive in Switzerland.
I wish I had found your videos before we bought our eurail pass! Hindsight's 20/20 ughhh thanks for all the effort!
No worries Paul! Now that you have the Eurail Pass, make the most of it by making sure you know what's covered, what's not, and what discounts are available to you.
Thanks for the information
You are welcome!
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.
Hi! We're going to Switzerland next week. Is it rainy season right now and too pack of people?
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!!
Hey Guys. You are doing a great job. Love your content. We(2Adults+1Child 6yo) are going to Switzerland. We are going to Interlaken area for 4 days and thinking of buying Berner Oberland pass with Half Fare for Adults.We got Family card for child through Half Fare card. Do we need CHF 30 kids Oberland pass for the last leg to Jungfrau top of Europe or he will travel free with us?
My partner and I are travelling in December and currently have the itinerary of 1night in Zurich, 2nights in Zermatt, 3nighrs in lucerne, 3nights in Grindelwald and then finishing up with 4nights skiing in Engelberg. We will be travelling from London via the Eurostar. Do we get the eurail pass for 4 days, and then half fare card and the BO pass. Thank you we are trying to fully prepare ourselves from watching your videos
Vry informative.....'m travelling on october to switzerland and I stay in interlaken....should I buy the day pass...??
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.
This was amazing. I can tell you guys were probably corporate professionals who decided to switch to youtube and travel. You guys aren't the usual run of the mill slackers who decided to become youtubers. The efficient, easy to understand way you presented a very complex ticket/travel issue is evidence that you are very smart, hard working pros. Its guys like you who made America a first class power. Thank you from a former New York bank now back in Seoul, S. Korea.
Thank you for your compliments and encouragement! Surprisingly we have never been in corporate work, but we value professionalism, helpfulness, and clarity. (And we both have a bit of perfectionism and nerdiness too🙃🤓) And this isn’t just KZhead for us, it’s a business of which KZhead is a part of - and we love it!!
Hi there! thanks for this very helpful video Could I ask for your advise I am travelling in Switzerland in March for 5 days and will be in flying in to Geneva but flying out in Basel. First is going to Interlaken(Grindelwald & Lauterbrunnen) then to Zermatt and Luzern and the activities I want to do is Grindelwald First, Gornegrat and Mt. Titlis. Do you think I can save with STP or there's other way to save money. I appreciate your help in advance. Thank you.
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.
Dear Aplins! I love your professionalism and friendly enthusiasm. You've inspired me to head to Switzerland this summer. Of all the travel advisory videos, I find your content the most helpful and easy to follow. I think I've watched every video you've made-- some a couple of times!- and I'm recommending you to friends. Since, I'm going to be in Luzerne 2 days and Lauterbrunnen and Brig 5 days, I'll get the half fare card and Berner Oberland pass. Question: These are two separate purchases, right? Or should I buy the half fare card first and somehow upgrade/add onto it with the BO pass? Thanks for providing all the links you provided on your site. 😃
Hi Bradden-Yes, those are two separate passes/purchases!
great job.. new subscribers!
Thank you! Welcome!
Thanks!
Wow! Thank you so much for your generosity. We are so grateful for your support!
Very informative video and thanks alot ❤ I am planning for 10D9N trip to Switzerland mid to end of March 2024 -- 2 nights Lucerne, 3 nights Grindelwald, 2 nights Zermatt (Glacier Express to Chur then train to Zurich), and 2 nights Zurich. Been scratching my head on Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass , could you please advise? (Bernard Overland Pass is unavailable during my travelling period).
I’m struggling!! We’re going from Zurich to Lucerne, then to Zermatt, way down to Locarno and Lugano then over to Montreux. Which would you do if you were me?
Hi. We'll be traveling from Milan to Zurich in the spring and plans to take the Bernina Express from Tiron to Chur. Q - Does the Half Fare card works also on the Bernina Express from Tirano to Chur?' Thanks in advance.
What a wonderful video, You guys are amazing! I truly appreciate your hard work with all the research you've done I'm sure we all are going to have a great time thanks to you!! Can you give me your advise,, Flying into Zurich, heading to Seewis Prattigau for the Cow festival :) then to Mureen, back to Lucerne for 2 days then off to Italy ( Lake Como , Florence & Tuscany towns) for another week. Would the Half Pass be sufficient? Traveling for 16 days Also, being in Murren do you recommend or is it possible to do "Top of Europe from there?? Have a lovely day!!! 🌺
Hi Patty, glad this helped you! It really depends on what you'll do when you're in Mürren and how long you'll be there. But if you plan to explore a good bit in the mountains, we think you'll find the Berner Oberland Pass is a great buy, in addition to the Half Fare Card. And yes-you can visit Jungfraujoch while you're there!!
Hi! Thank you for your video. I don't get about peak2peak. Do I have to follow a specific route or does the ticket give me the right to ride all trains and lifts for free? Ant to go Zermatt-Gornergrat(by train), then to Riffelberg by foot and after to Schwarzsee and Glasier Paradise with a cable car. What is the best option to plan this route?
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!
Very confusing! 🤣 but very good work, great! . Half Fare Pass doesn't include atractions, right? just transportation. Even so, It really worthy to buy it and pay fully on FIRST for example? .. You said too about Italy, i didn't know the pass could be used between cowntry! thanks. Just this route is included in half fare pass? I'll leave from Interlaken to Milan, does have some streitgh route I could pay with this pass?
I am going with some friends to a 7 days trip to Switzerland; 2 days in Zurich, 1 day in Gruyere, 3 days in the Jungfrau region, and a final day traveling in the morning the Glacier Express and then Bernina Express from Chur to Torino, Italy. We all bought the Swiss Travel Pass. For the Jungfrau region, do you recommend to buy any other card, to save some money in the tickets, or only the Swiss Travel Pass?
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!
Thank you for the very informative videos. What I have not seen answered is how a ski pass factors in during winter. We are traveling to Zermatt to ski for 6 days and it looks like all we have to do is buy a ski pass for each day we are there which will allow us to ride all the mountain trains / gondolas all day (is this true even if we do not have ski equipment on?). I know there is no half fare discount on ski passes so is it still worth getting the half fare card to travel from Zurich and back through Andermatt on the Glacier express first class?
We have not lived here during the winter yet so unfortunately I do not know much about ski passes. Now that we are living here, we hope to provide more information about winter activities!
Thank you for the insightful video! I'm planning a trip to Jungfrau + Zermatt in December. Are the Half Fare Card and Berner Oberland Pass advisable for winter travel? I couldn't locate any videos specifically discussing winter passes.
Hi there! Unfortunately the Berner Oberland Pass is not available during the Winter. There is a Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass for the Jungfrau Region, but you might be better off with a half fare card instead, depending on how much you will do in the mountains.
Thank you! ❤
Thanks a ton for making an updated version too! Could you please suggest best travel pass for my itinerary will be travelling in mid-June - Land in Zurich Lucerne - Pilatus (only toboggan run), Titlis (top) Interlaken-Grindewald First(all adventure activities)-Jungfraujoch(top)-Zermatt (only till riffelsee) Bern (thun-spiez) Bern to Zurich/Basel for a flight to amsterdam
There is free checklist download in the description that will help you find the right pass for your trip! Check it out!
This video saved us a fortune. Although we discovered that if you’re travelling with kids and have bought the Swiss half fare card, the Berner Oberland pass always works out more cost effective than the Jungfrau travel pass simply because the Swiss family pass can be used in conjunction with it. If you have that pass, you only need to buy a Berner Oberland pass for the adults and kids travel for free. We were in the Jungfrau area for 3 days and the B.O. pass worked out 50 CHF cheaper (25 CHF per child) than buying the Jungfrau pass.
So glad we were able to help you save money!!! Thanks for sharing!
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!
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!
Hello! We will be visiting Switzerland for the 1st time in April. We will have our car and only be there for 4 days in: Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken area - so you recommend the jungfrau travel pass? Are most of the lifts and gondolas open in mid-April so it still makes sense to purchase the pass? Thanks!
If the Bernese Oberland Pass is not available in winter, what passes would you recommend for jungfrau & zermatt regions?
Hi guys! Can I buy a Swiss travel pass in advance? Where do I buy it before I actually arrive in Switzerland? 🇨🇭
Hey guys, great content. Would you recommend getting the Berner oberland Pass if you are visiting interlakken for 1 day from Lucerne?
Hi there! For a day trip from Lucerne, we'd just use our Half Fare Card. Or if you'll have the Tell-Pass, that would cover the trip to Interlaken!
Exceptional as usual. Thank you both. You suggest that there are affiliate links but I think you said not for the half fare card. I would like to help in a small way if there is an affiliate link to buy the Berner Oberland Pass and I'm assuming I need to buy the half fare pass first.
Thanks so much for your support! There's no need to buy the half fare card first (as long as you'll have it when you travel). You can find the affiliate link for the Berner Oberland Pass in our free download. Thanks again!
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 great videos, very helpful! For inter city trains with a changover, I see 6 to 10 minutes to change train. Will thaf be enough. And what hsppens if i miss a connecting train? Buy a new tickef for remainder of the journey? Thanks
Ooh, good question! Usually, swiss trains are very precise and the quick changes aren't a problem. But if you miss a train, don't worry-if you purchase a normal ticket, it's good for that route the entire day. And most trains/buses come at least once every 30 minutes.
@@AplinsintheAlps Thanks for the reply! just confirming normal ticket would mean a ticket I buy from sbb using half fare card concession applied, right?
Hi dear Aplins, thank you a lot for the good explanation. I liked all your video, sooo professional. I have a question a bout the swiss pass card. I will travel to swiss for a week, i will stay 3 days in Lautrebrunnen and grindelwald, i will hike and visit a round. I thought to buy just the half fare card. what do you think? Best regards
Did you check out the free download that was link in this video? If not, check it out! There is a step by step check list that will help you choose the right train pass for your trip!
Hi! Good content! Helpful! I have a one quick question. Ill be staying in the Jungfrau region only for 2 days. Yes, real quick only. :( but worth a try! Ill be coming from the netherlands. So basically, my journey will start from zurich airport to interlaken. Then i will spend my two days in Jungfrau region only then will be back to zurich airport. I heard from my hostel that they will provide a guess pass which may be used in the public transpo in interlaken. I would also like to experience Top of Europe. My question is, is the swiss travel pass recommended for me? Or is there any better pass? Sept 16-17 2023. Thanks in advance and happy viewing! ❤
Hey! Glad you're getting some time in Switzerland, even if it's only for a few days! Check out the free download (it's linked in the video description!) It will help you determine exactly what pass you need!