Swiss Travel Pass: Unlimited Travel on Train, Bus & Boat
About This Experience
The Swiss Travel Pass is the country-wide rail, bus and boat ticket, and it matters on this site for one specific reason: it takes 50% off the Gornergrat Railway fare. It does not cover the Gornergrat outright - no all-Switzerland pass does - but on a trip with several mountain excursions the discount stacks up quickly.
The pass covers unlimited travel on the public rail, bus and boat network across more than 90 towns and cities, free entry to over 500 museums, and free travel on a handful of mountain railways outright, including Rigi, Stoos and Stanserhorn. Most other mountain and cableway excursions - Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise among them - are reduced rather than free.
It comes in two shapes. The Continuous pass runs on consecutive days from your chosen start date and needs no activation. The Flex pass gives you a set number of travel days to use within a month, activated online on the days you travel. Children under 16 travel free with a paying parent on a Family Card.
Highlights
- 50% off the Gornergrat Railway and most other Swiss mountain excursions
- Unlimited travel on trains, buses and boats across more than 90 towns and cities
- Free entry to over 500 Swiss museums
- Free travel on the Rigi, Stoos and Stanserhorn mountain railways
- Children under 16 travel free when accompanied by a parent with a pass
What's Included
- ✓ Unlimited public train, bus and boat travel for the validity period
- ✓ 50% reduction on most mountain railways and cableways, including Gornergrat
- ✓ Free entry to 500+ museums
- ✓ Free travel on the Rigi, Stoos and Stanserhorn railways
- ✓ Digital pass delivered by the provider after booking
Not Included
- Seat reservations on panoramic trains such as the Glacier Express and Bernina Express
- The full Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise fares - these are reduced, not free
- Food, drinks and accommodation
What to Bring
- Passport or ID card, which must match the name on the pass
- A charged phone to display the digital pass
Good to Know & Caveats
- The provider issues the digital pass separately, typically within 24 hours of booking - the GetYourGuide confirmation is not itself the pass
- A Continuous pass activates automatically on your chosen start date; a Flex pass must be activated online on each travel day
- Passes run midnight to midnight on the dates selected, not 24 hours from first use
- Once issued, a pass cannot be amended - a change means cancelling and rebooking
- Cancellation is permitted up to 48 hours before the start date, not the usual 24
- Do the arithmetic first: for a short Zermatt-only trip, individual tickets are often cheaper than a pass
Meeting Point
No meeting point - the pass is delivered digitally by the provider after booking and is shown to inspectors on your phone.
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.8/5 by 2,068 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
It became very easy with Swiss Pass. All the public transport was included which made our daily commute tension free. Additionally it had some free and half fare attractions included which definitely saves you fortune
— Muhammad, August
Swiss Travel Pass is a great purchase if you're going to be in Switzerland for l9nger period of time. Goves you free access to most Trains Buses and Boats and Museums If not free most scenic trains are discounted like the Mt Pilitus Cogwheel and several Mountain Express trains through the Alps . Very handy to be able to just walk onto a boat and show Swiss Pass. Buying through GYG also has the Cancellation option if your trip is delayed or cancelled . Do your research on how many public transport trips you will do to see if the Pass is Economically worth while .
— Darren, August
Honestly the best way to travel in Switzerland and so easy just download the ssb train app as well and plan ahead were you want to go as every train runs on time and don't forget you get half price tickets too for some attractions
— rizwan, August
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Gornergrat Railway free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
No. The pass gives a 50% discount on the Gornergrat fare, not free travel. The same is true of most Swiss mountain excursions - only a short list, including Rigi, Stoos and Stanserhorn, is fully covered.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it just for Zermatt?
Usually not on its own. It earns its keep when you are also crossing the country by rail and doing several mountain excursions. For a Zermatt-only trip, price up the individual tickets first.
What is the difference between Continuous and Flex?
Continuous runs on consecutive days from your start date with no activation needed. Flex gives you a number of travel days to spend within a month, each activated online on the day you use it.
Do children need their own pass?
Children under 16 travel free with a parent holding a pass, using a Swiss Family Card. Register it when you book.
When do I receive the pass?
The provider sends the digital pass separately, usually within 24 hours of booking. Your GetYourGuide confirmation is a booking receipt, not the travel document.
