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Switzerland Travel Passes?

Posted by (Ohio) on

Hi, I could use some help with our transportation options for Switzerland.

The plan is to fly in to Zurich and take the train to Murren. We’ll be staying in Murren for 6 nights. We would like to do some hiking and trips to the Schilthorn and to the Jungfrau. Then we will take the train to Basel to begin a Viking River cruise.

This is the info I found on the SBB website regarding the cost of point-to-point tickets:

Zurich Airport-Murren 47

Murren-Wengen 9.1

Wengen-Murren 9.1

Murren-Lauterbrunnen 5.7

Lauterbrunnen-Murren 5.7

Murren-Schilthorn (round trip) 82.2

Murren-Wengen 9.1

Wengen-Jungfraujoch via Kleine Scheidegg (round trip) 176

Wengen-Murren 9.1

Murren-Basel 40

Cost of train/lift tickets $393

Half the cost of above tickets $196.5

Cost of Swiss Half Fare card (purchased online before we depart the US) $120

Total cost of Half Fare card & discounted train tickets (196.50+120) $316.5

Based on this, we would save $76.50 by purchasing the Half Fare card. Is this correct?

I also looked at the 8-day consecutive second-class Swiss Pass which is $399 but there is only a 25% discount on the Jungfrau so that takes it up to $531.

It looks like the Half Fare card is the way to go but I’d appreciate any help/advice. Thank you!

Donna

Posted by
7209 posts

Your conclusion is exactly what I always recommend. If you want the biggest savings for your $$$ then choose the Half Fare Card. If you want ease of travel then choose the Swiss Travel Pass.

Posted by
8889 posts

Donna Those prices are wrong
The "headline" "from" price quoted by SBB is the price with at half price card. you need to go further and tick "no reduction" to get the full price. But, the full price is always exactly double the price with a half price card (except for very short trips).

For example:

  • Züirich Flughafen (airport) - Mürren: Full price CHF 94, with half price card, CHF 47
  • Mürren - Basel SBB: Full price CHF 80, with half price card CHF 40.
  • Mürren - Wengen: Full price CHF 18.20.

And, the prices are in CHF (Swiss Franks), not '$'. The half price card for one month costs CHF 120.
This increases your budget, but makes the Half Price Card even better value.

The totals are now CHF 393 with a Half Price Card, or CHF 786 without. This may make the 8-day pass economical.

Posted by
2161 posts

Hi Chris, thank you for your help! I honestly thought I had this figured out.

I don't want to mess up the transportation part of this trip and I don't want to miss anything that needs to be purchased before leaving the US. Appreciate your help.

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