Train passes for travel in Switzerland and Austria

Use the SBB Mobile app to see the cost of trains/gondolas in the Berner Oberland area. But be aware that the app assumes that you have the Half Fare Card (HFC). So the actual price is double what you see.

Have you looked at the HFC? It will give you a discount on the Jungfrau pass. It will also give you a discount on the journey from Zurich to Murren.

For the Austrian days:
Price out the journey from Grindelwald to Salzburg. Once in Salzburg, a new Salzburg Mobility ticket starting in May will provide free transport for a pretty extensive area around the city.

Then price the journey from Salzburg to Vienna. In Vienna, look at the weekly pass. Might be cheapest option for local transport.

A couple things to keep in mind, The Gornergrat gives no discount with the Eurail Pass, but it does give a discount of 50% with the Half Fare Card. That saves 66 CHF right there. And you get a discount of 65 CHF on the 6-day Jungfrau Travel Pass. So that already saves you more than the 120 CHF cost of the HFC.

Getting the HFC might change you calculus of your Eurail Pass. You could also buy Saver Day Passes with the HFC for the Glacier Express ride. You can buy these now for your travel date for what looks to be 59 CHF for 1st class.

I would probably just buy tickets for St Mortiz to Salzburg and Salzburg to Vienna, and check prices on Westbahn for that one.

PS. To get the discount on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, it has to be charged to a Swiss Pass, which is an actual charge card, not to be confused with a Swiss Travel Pass. That is problematic for a visitor.

ungfrau

Thanks so much! I’m recalculating a few prices. There are so many options :)
Where do I find info on the Saver Day passes and do I have to get the Half Fare Travel pass first? Is it the Swiss Half Fare card or the Half Fare Card?

We are traveling on the excellence package on Glacier Express and purchased the reservation but not the ticket. If we get the Saver Day Pass do I still need to go online on the glacier express and get a first class ticket?

I also noted somewhere in the forum something about setting up an account on the app (or apps) before buying any ticket or passes to better track? But I can’t find the info. again. Any suggestions on steps to purchase?

www.sbb.ch/en has info on Saver Day Passes. Under "Tickets" then click on "Day Passes", then "Saver Day Passes". Click on your travel date to see current prices, 1st & 2nd and with or without Half Fare Cards. You do not need the Half Fare Card to buy now, you just have to have it when you travel.

With a 1st class Saver Day Pass for your travel date, you do not need a ticket as the Pass is your ticket. You paid the big bucks or Excellence class.

Thanks Sam!
What is the difference between the Half Fare pass and the Swiss half fare pass ( if anything)
Besides the Saver Day Pass, do you think there is any urgency to get the other half fare pass or reservations on any other routes we are taking?

Thanks travel4fun for the Salzburg and Vienna suggestions! I’ll look into those.
Any day trip suggestions from either town?