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Swiss travel pass vs half fare card and BO pass

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We will be traveling from Zurich to Lucerne (staying 2 nights) and traveling to Stoos to hike the ridge, then to Wengen for 4 nights, Murren for 4 nights, and off to Zermatt for 3 nights and then back to Zurich.

We were planning to get the half fare card and BO pass for the trip. Since we are staying in the mountains and plan to hike a lot (no museum tours) we are not clear on what would be covered when staying in Wengen and Murren by the STP and if we should just get the STP or the half fare card and BO pass. Are there gondolas in the moutain areas that are covered by the BO pass that are not covered by the STP? We are not planning to do Jungfrau but will do Shillthorn. We also understand that neither pass cover Gornergrat and mountain trips in Zermatt but could provide a discount.

Thanks.

Posted by
22497 posts

https://www.berneseoberlandpass.ch/assets/Karte/geltungsbereich/e4_BOP_Panoramakarte_650x300mm_2025-v2.pdf

This shows the are of validity for the BO Pass. Note it only provides discounts for the train from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, just like the STP. It does include the Schilthornbahn and Maennlichen cable car. It will also include the train as far as Brig if you take the route via Kandersteg. Half Fare Card will give discounts for everything else including the Gornergratbahn.

Posted by
11 posts

Thanks Sam for the comparison. We have looked at your link and the BO validity map. I have tried to do a spreadsheet to compare pass options. We just don't know how many times in the 8 days we will be there that we will be going up and down the mountains or if we will be staying near Wengen and Murren to hike or going to Lake Brienz and Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, etc. to try and take it all in.

Would you:

1)Get the STP

2) Get the half fare card and the BO

or
3) Just get the half fare card for the whole trip?

These are the options we are struggling with since we have never been there.

Thanks again.

Posted by
22497 posts

The STP also only gives discounts, only 25% (like the BOP) for trains above Wengen. With the BOP, rides on the Maennlich cable car and Schilthorn cable car are full covered. The STP gives 50% discounts on these, as well as the Gornergratbahn.

You would need a 15-day STP. Given everything, I would go with the Half Fare Card plus the BOP. It will save you money and not be terribly inconvenient to buy the tickets you will need. Get an account at SBB (ironically called a Swiss Pass) and download the app to buy tickets on the fly.

Posted by
11 posts

I have the app on my phone and it has an option to set up Easy Ride. I can't find anything about the pros and cons to this. Does anyone know how this works and if I should set it up if I use the half fare card and the BO pass for my travels?

Thanks.

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