Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card? Build your own comparison

Start with a journey list

List every intended rail, bus, boat and mountain journey with dates, passengers and class. Separate city travel from expensive excursions and mark days when you might not travel. Check eligibility and family conditions for each product; do not assume a child, resident or companion is covered simply because the adult holds a pass.

Calculate both totals

For Swiss Travel Pass, start with the pass price and add reservations, supplements and journeys not fully covered. For Swiss Half Fare Card, add the card price to the actually applicable reduced tickets for every planned journey. Use the official area-of-validity maps: neither a name nor a headline discount proves the exact mountain segment is included.

Test the uncertain parts

Calculate a second version in which weather cancels an expensive excursion or you take a rest day. Compare convenience and flexibility as well as money. Confirm refund conditions before buying either product, and do not count a hypothetical discount twice. Keep the calculation dated because fares and product conditions may change.

Choose 3, 4 or 8 days by your travel dates

3 days: a compact trip with travel on three consecutive days. 4 days: travel spread over four consecutive days. 8 days: a longer circuit needing eight consecutive days of coverage. Count calendar travel days, not hotel nights; a longer pass is not automatically better value. SBB also offers 6- and 15-day options. Flex uses selected days within one month, not continuous coverage.

Not everything is included: check mountain-route coverage, seat reservations and supplements separately. Match your pass class to the train and check cancellation terms before paying.

Official pass conditions · Official Swiss Half Fare Card