Should I get the Swiss travel pass?

It is 254 CHF 2nd class, so that comes to about $330 US at current exchange rates. Remember, if your scenic train is the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express, the seat reservation fees are separate and not covered by any pass.

What are your plans exactly?

There is something called a Saver Day Pass that is fairly low cost when purchased well in advance that gives unlimited travel for a specific day. That could be as low as 52 CHF. ($67).

We are flying into Zurich on April 30th. Train to Zermat on Friday May 1st. Then train to Grindelwald Saturday May 2nd. And then on May 4th Monday train from Grindelwald to Zurich.

So do you think the saver card would help us?

Well, according to your itinerary, you are traveling 3 days out of 4, so you would need a 3-day Flex Pass, which is more expensive, 289 CHF. Now the other thing, you are spending 2 nights with one full day in Grindelwald. I assume you will want to do some travel on that day, and you get no discounts with the off day on the Flex Pass. So you might as well spring for the 4-day STP for 309 CHF.

The Half Fare Card at 150 CHF will save money, as you have just over 300 CHF worth of full fare tickets. One more suggestion, go to Zermatt directly from Zurich airport if you are not getting in too late. It is a 4 hour train ride, and staying 2 nights in Zermatt will give you a better chance of seeing the Matterhorn.

Great information Sam, thank you. When you said to consider the half fare card what were you basing the “full fare of close to 300 chf” on? Sorry I think I’m a bit confused on the half fare card. Are you suggesting we get the HFC instead of the STP?

Oh also thanks for the suggestion of going to Zermatt on Thursday but our flight doesn’t get in until 7:00 pm.

A 2nd class full fare ticket from Zurich HB to Zermatt is 130 CHF. Zermatt to Grindelwald is 97.80 CHF. Grindelwald to Zurich HB via Luzern (you said you wanted a scenic train ride) is 64.80 CHF. That comes to 292.60 CHF.

Now consider that you will almost certainly be doing other journeys along the way. In Zermatt, you may want to ride to Gornergratbahn to view the Matterhorn. In Grindelwald, the train to Kleine Scheidegg, or lifts to Grindelwald First. The Half Fare card will give you 50% discounts on all of these. Plus a discount for the train from Zurich airport into Zurich center.

You can get additional savings with the Saver Day Pass bought at the Half Fare price. So for Zurich to Zermatt, it is likely to cost about 44 CHF when bought several months in advance, So instead of paying 65 CHF with the HFC, it would cost you 44 CHF. Same applies to Zermatt to Grindelwald.

Saver Day Pass prices increase as you approach your intended travel date, so you must buy well in advance to get a good price. They are nonrefundable, so you must be sure of your travel.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/offers/saver-day-pass

The Swiss Travel Pass is often the most expensive way to travel, although it does have a convenience factor. With the HFC, you still have to buy individual tickets (unless using a Saver Day Pass). The STP does not include items like the Gornergratbahn or lifts and trans above Grindelwald, but does give discounts on days it is activated.

One last thing, you do not need to buy the HFC to buy the Saver Day Passes in advance at the HFC price. You only need to have the HFC when you are actually travelling, so you can buy it when you arrive.
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Half Fare Card plus purchasing tickets for your planed routes is almost exactly the same cost as a 4 day STP.

• HFC = 150
• Zurich - Zermatt = 65.00
• Zermatt - Grindelwald = 48.90
• Grindelwald - Zurich = 44.40

= 308.30

4 day Swiss Travel Pass = 309.00

The only way to go cheaper is with the Saver Day Passes (as Sam suggested) for the days you are traveling a great distance…but check current prices because they are the cheapest 6 months before your travel date.

https://www.sbb.ch/en/offers/saver-day-pass

So is this correct? If I purchase the HFC for 150 CHF and then purchase Saver Day Passes for May 1-4 each at 49 CHF which equals 196 CHF. So the total of that is 346 CHF.
Then I use the saver day pass for any train on those days? I don’t pay anything more?

Or another option is don’t buy the HFP. Just buy the 4 days of full price Saver Day Passes which total 244 CHF.

Does this sound right?

Since May 4 (Grindelwald to Zurich) is only 32.40 CHF with the HFC, you would not want to use a Saver Day Pass for that. Just buy the ticket outright.

Or another option is don’t buy the HFP. Just buy the 4 days of full price Saver Day Passes which total 244 CHF.

The Saver Day Pass does not give discount prices for things like the Gornergratbahn, or Kleine Scheidegg, or Grindelwald First. Thus I would not recommend that.

Sam are you seeing these prices for fares on the SSB site?

Yes. You need to click through each train. The site assumes you have a half fare card so you have to deselect this and select "point-to-point". Many times they will show Supersaver prices which are only valid for that specific train on that day, thus are not flexible. Saver Day Passes are fully flexible for a specific day.

Oh ok. That makes more sense now. So if I get a saver day pass I can use it anytime on that specific day? And more than once right?

(Grindelwald to Zurich) is only 32.40 CHF with the HFC

I am seeing 44.40 to the airport (which is where I am guessing you want to go). Unless you buy a super saver ticket - which you can do for this leg if you want to. It is for an exact route and time, non-refundable. Indicated by a % sign beside your chosen journey in the SBB app or online.

So if I get a saver day pass I can use it anytime on that specific
day? And more than once right?

Yes. It is valid for basically anywhere that people live in Switzerland (so that those people can take advantage of it as well)…but not valid to go up mountain lifts to recreational areas, such as the ones Sam listed above. That is why he is saying you can benefit from a Half Fare Card (or the Swiss Travel Pass) - both provide discounts on mountain lifts.

What are your plans for May 3 in Grindelwald? If you are exploring right there, maybe going up First Mountain, there is no need for a Saver Day Pass for that day. Even going to Mürren return will be cheaper than the 49.00 Saver Day Pass for that day.

So is this correct? If I purchase the HFC for 150 CHF and then
purchase Saver Day Passes for May 1-4 each at 49 CHF which equals 196
CHF. So the total of that is 346 CHF.

Yes...but a 4 day Swiss Travel Pass is 309.00

In the end you can save a bit of money by choosing HFC + Saver Day Passes (if you only get three of them, or just two and buy your ticket to Zürich Flughafen), but compared to the total cost of your trip it will be minimal, so just go with what suits you best.

Important question to think about - are you going up mountain lifts? I can't imagine that you are not...but still you never know.

Note that May 1 is a holiday here. Since you are going to very tourist oriented areas you will likely not really notice, but all shops and things in most of Switzerland are closed this day. Trains and other public transport runs as usual.

I am seeing 44.40 to the airport (which is where I am guessing you want to go)

It is cheaper going via Luzern, 35.40 CHF to Zurich airport with the HFC. OP stated desire to take at least one scenic train ride and here is an opportunity.