Navigating Swiss Trains
Switzerland is known universally for a few things…decadent chocolate, rich cheeses, beautiful landscapes, and their efficient rail system. In fact, they have an entire museum dedicated to their transportation systems in Lucerne and if you get the chance to visit, you should!
The Swiss Federal Railways (otherwise known as SBB) is government-funded and was established in 1901. Renowned for its timeliness, the SBB is often ranked first among European national rail systems, and when you are traveling between multiple cities on holiday, this is critical! I can count on 2 hands the amount of times my train was delayed or had a complication in 1.5 years (and I take one almost everyday for work!).
Another interesting aspect about the SBB, is that you can book and manage your trips all from their app. This makes keeping track of your journeys and tickets, perfect for ticket inspectors. That being said, your ticket may not always be scanned as checks are random but I do not recommend pushing your luck!! The fines for riding the SBB without a ticket can be pricey and can even result in failure to ride with subsequent offenses.
Growing up in the middle of the United States, I was not versed on utilizing public transport. Navigating multiple trains, subways, and buses in a day may seem like second nature to some, but to me (and many others!) this is second nature. Therefore, I have prepared a guide to using the SBB so your holiday is smooth sailing….or shall I say riding!
Where to begin?
Switzerland Travel Apps
When traveling in a country different than your own, it can be confusing which apps to use for purchase of tickets. It is no surprise that the SBB has one of the best apps for ticket purchasing. You can of course do this from your desktop or the ticket counter if you choose.
Another app that I recommend is City Mapper. This is great if you are trying to go from Point A to Point B and need to decide what bus, metro, or train stop is the best for your journey. If you use City Mapper, you will still need to purchase your tickets through the SBB.
Travel Pass Options
Like most things these days, buying your train tickets in Switzerland comes with many options. This can be confusing (and costly) if you choose the wrong type of ticket or passes. I recommend evaluating the SBB website for a thorough explanation but here is a brief overview of ticket and pass options that are available for non-residents. For purchasing and more detailed information, visit the Travel Pass page on the SBB Website.
Swiss Travel Pass
If you plan to travel a lot and want no-fuss, the Swiss Travel Pass is your best option. This pass includes unlimited travel by all modes of transportation (train, bus, boat, and more!) and is valid for consecutive days of your choosing. This pass even includes free entry to museums but it does come at a steep cost.
Swiss Travel Pass Flex
This pass offers the same benefits as the Swiss Travel Pass but you have a bit more flexibility as you are not tied to consecutive days. You can choose the amount of travel days to use the flex pass within a one month period. Again, this is a great option for no-fuss travel but is a more expensive option.
Swiss Half Fare Card
This is my favorite option, especially if you are spending a few days in a single city. For the Swiss Half Fare Card, you pay for a set amount to buy all tickets at 50% of the regular fare. This is a great option if you would like flexibility and your trip does not require unlimited travel within cities rather a few bigger journeys.
Saver Day Pass
If you plan to have a big day of travel, you may decide to purchase a Saver Day Pass for unlimited travel for one day across all SBB modes of transport. The downside to purchasing this type of pass can be that it does not include discounts on mountain lines and there are no refunds once bought.
SBB Ticket Options
If you opt to use a half-fare card, saver day pass, or regular ticket, you will purchase all tickets on the SBB app. Lets take a look at the purchase screen.
Once you have put in your point A to point B locations and selected your train of choice, you will see many different options on the screen. Here is a breakdown of the choices:
One way ticket: ticket from Point A to Point B.
Round trip ticket: ticket that can be used at any point during the day to take you to your destination and back.
2nd class: Regular ticket with no seat reservation
1st class: More room and typically less crowded
Regular offer (point-to-point): ticket that can be used at anytime during the day purchased for (yes, this means you are not tied to the specific time you purchased the ticket for!)
City ticket add-ons: city tickets that can be used if you are riding within the city
Saver offers: Ticket that is valid only for the selected connection (this means you must take the train at the time the ticket is purchased for
Supersaver Ticket Flex: ticket that is valid only for the selected connection but is 50% refundable
SBB Site Navigation
Using the SBB Mobile App or desktop can seem confusing upon first use, but I promise it is very user friendly! To begin, you will want to ensure that you have set up a user profile with your established travel pass for easy purchasing. Once your travel pass is connected to your profile, you will see the correct ticket prices every time.
Quick Ticket Purchase Guide
Use your current location or type in your origin and your destination with the date and time for your travel. Remember, if you are purchasing a Regular offer ticket, it can be used at any point during the day it was purchased for.
Choose from the list which train you would like to take.
PRO TIP: If you see a % on a train, this means that a saver offer is available!
Once you select the train of your choosing, click the big red button at the bottom to purchase your tickets!
When you are on this page, you can see the train car legend to know if your train will have a restaurant, business space, etc.
Tips & Tricks
Wanting to have more flexibility? Purchase a regular offer (point-to-point) ticket that is valid until 5:00am the following day.
The SBB checks at random so don’t risk the system and be caught without a ticket!!
Looking to save money? Book your tickets early! If you book tickets in advance, you will have more opportunities to purchase a saver option rather than a regular offer.
When choosing your train, try to avoid very high occupancy trains (3 little people). If you cannot avoid the busy trains, it is not the end of the world but do be prepared to stand!
There are no seat assignments unless specifically asked to do so when booking your ticket.
