I am student that will be in switzerland January- June. Does anyone have suggestions on the cheapest way to travel from in Switzerland to other countries? Any rail pass suggestions? From what I have heard the eurailpass is not widely accepted. Needing some advice on traveling and saving money!!
Posted by
Florida
1450 posts
Look into the half-fare cards. A 30-day HFC costs about 120 SF and gives you 50% discount on all public transportation in the country. There may be longer-duration passes available but the only ones I have heard of were only available to residents, but I am not sure. It's a place to start.
ETA: Fix typo.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Jamie, I'm guessing that if you are staying here for 6 months, you will be "eingemeldet" and be legally a resident, otherwise you hit the 90-day tourist limit.
That being the case, you don't get the 30-day tourist ½ price card (which is actually CHF 120, not 220). Instead you can get the one for residents, CHF 185 for 12 months, details here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/railpasses/half-fare-travelcard.html
This is very good value if you will be doing a lot of weekend escapes during your stay (I guess you will be working or something Monday-Friday).
You then, whenever you want to do a day or weekend trip, just go down the station and buy a ½ price ticket from the machine, and get on the train. Tickets are valid on any train.
Note the annual ½ price card ("Halbtax Abo") has automatic renewal, you will have to remember to cancel when you leave, or they will charge you another CHF 185 12 months later.
Also get the SBB App on your phone for timetables.
The Eurailpass is definitely NOT the thing to buy, it is for tourists and only makes sense, even for tourists if they travel 100's Km every day.
For outside Switzerland, all surrounding countries (France, Germany, Austria, Italy) operate a different pricing system for long distance trains. Tickets are a lot cheaper if bought well in advance (1-3 months). When you buy, you decide on which train you want and cannot change your mind later. If you are planning an excursion, buy early on the Internet, and get a print-at-home ticket.
Local trains are fixed-price, as in Switzerland.
You also need to sort out your daily commuting. Most of Switzerland is covered by local "Tarifverbund" who will sell residents a monthly pass ("Abo"). The details depend on where and which "Tarifverbund".
Posted by
Green Bay
21143 posts
There is also something called Track 7 if you are 25 or under, allows travel for a year within Switzerland for 129 CHF for travel from 7 pm to 5 am. That would work great for week ends away to other parts of Switzerland. It covers 95% of the rails in Switzerland. There is a map of validity on the website. You do need to have a Half Fare Card to go with it.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/railpasses/track-7.html
If going to nearby countries, using regional trains can be very inexpensive. Bavaria, with the Bayern Ticket, or Baden Wuerttemburg with that ticket. Must use regional trains.
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/offers/regional/regional-day-tickets.shtml?dbkanal_007=L04_S02_D002_KIN0060_REGIO-INDEX-LAENDERTICKETS-UNTEN_LZ01
Northern Italy has cheap Regionale trains. Good for Milan, and spots along lakes Como and Maggiore.
France using TER trains are cheap and have 25% off-peak discounts for 25 and under. That would cover nearby places like Colmar, Strasbourg, Lyon.
Lastly, talk to people at the school when you arrive. They may even have better deals.