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Best travel pass?

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Hello! Traveling to Switzerland for the first time in a few weeks. Hoping someone can recommend which pass would be best for getting around. We will have 3 adults, 1 youth age 18, 2 children ages 14 and 11 (children will be free).

Day 1- arrive in Zurich. Train to Lausanne. Explore town.

Day 2- more Lausanne. Visit Montreux, Chillon, Vevey, ferry on lake Geneva.

Day 3- Day trip to Bern, and possibly Lucerne. Explore highlights of both cities, then back to Lausanne.

Day 4 Train to Murren via Golden pass express from Montreux.

Day 5 & 6 Murren, Gimmelwald, Schilthorn, Trummelbach falls

Day 7 Murren during day, then head to Zurich in evening

Day 8 Fly out of Zurich in morning

Not sure if we should get an 8 day pass, or half fare pass, or something else. And should passes be purchased in advance or just when we arrive in Zurich? Would love to hear your recommendations!

Thank you!

Posted by
21142 posts

8-day Swiss Travel Pass does indeed look right for you. You can buy when you get to Zurich.

Day 3 might be a stretch going all the way to Luzern for a day trip. Bern should be fine for a day. You could go to Zurich on Day 7 by way of Luzern and stop for a few hours. It is a more scenic route.

Posted by
5604 posts

I'd skip Bern, and spend the day in Lucerne. Enjoy the the beautiful boat ride to the cogwheel train to Mt Rigi. Another option is the open air cable car to Mt Stanserhorn. These are all completely covered with the STP.
It also depends on what non- train ways you may use the pass, such as boats rides, ferries, Museums (Chateu Chillon, eg).

It's easy explore Bern as you leave the Berner Oberland, as you go thru Bern. Get off the train and wander around, then onto Zurich.

If the price is close, I always go for the convenience, which is the STP. It's so nice to just walk onto the boats, trains, etc without stopping to buy tickets. Also, I often do unplanned things, because they are covered by the pass.
Sadly, you just missed the sale on the passes, and there probably won't be another one this year.
I have always purchased the STP in advance, because then I have a digital copy, which I put in my Apple Wallet, eliminating the worry of losing the paper pass .
Have a great trip in this beautiful country!

Posted by
5604 posts

Hopefully you have already downloaded the SBB app. It's very user- friendly, and will give you the travel times. I just looked, and travel to Lucerne is 2 hrs one way, which does make for a long day trip.
Also note that the prices given assume you at least have a half- price card, so when pricing out, take that into consideration.
Safe travels!

Posted by
3125 posts

I like buying the Swiss Travel Pass while in the US so I can print out a copy to have in addition to the electronic copy I add to the wallet on my phone. Plus, then you don’t have to wait in line to purchase it when you arrive. Just hop on a train and go. 😊

You might find my trip report from last June helpful as I was in a lot of the areas you will be in.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-in-switzerland-my-trip-report

Have a great trip!!

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