Swiss Mountain Railways and Excursions 2026: Tickets, Prices and Pass Discounts Compared
+6The best mountain excursions in Switzerland cost between CHF 75 and CHF 250 per adult in 2026 (about US$91 to US$302), and what you actually pay depends more on your rail pass than on the mountain. With a Swiss Travel Pass, Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos are free, most other mountain railways cost half, and the Jungfraujoch gives 25 percent off. With a Half Fare Card nearly everything is half price. This guide compares the eleven classic excursions by region, with 2026 prices, pass discounts and an honest view of which one fits which traveller, and links to a detailed guide for each. Two of them we know first-hand: we rode the Schilthorn cable car and the Brienzer Rothorn steam railway, and watched the boats on Lake Brienz, during our week in the Bernese Oberland from July 4 to 11, 2026. The others, from Pilatus to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, we researched from the operators’ 2026 price lists, checked in October 2026.
Tickets for Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis, Gornergrat, Jungfraujoch and more at the operators' prices, for example the Rigi day pass from CHF 84; free cancellation up to 24 h before on most. Oct 2026.
Compare mountain ticketsSwiss mountain excursions 2026 at a glance
| Excursion | Base | Adult return 2026 | Swiss Travel Pass | Half Fare Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jungfraujoch | Interlaken, Grindelwald | from CHF 249.20 (Grindelwald) | from CHF 188.80 | from CHF 129.60 |
| Schilthorn (we went) | Lauterbrunnen | CHF 115 from Stechelberg | CHF 45.70 | CHF 57.50 |
| Grindelwald First | Grindelwald | CHF 72 to 76 | CHF 36 to 38 | CHF 36 to 38 |
| Brienzer Rothorn steam train (we went) | Brienz | CHF 98 | CHF 49 | CHF 49 |
| Pilatus Golden Round Trip | Lucerne | CHF 119.80 | CHF 42 | CHF 59.90 |
| Rigi day pass | Lucerne | CHF 84 | free | CHF 42 |
| Titlis | Engelberg | CHF 102 | CHF 51 | CHF 51 |
| Gornergrat | Zermatt | CHF 132 summer, CHF 102 winter | CHF 66 / 51 | CHF 66 / 51 |
| Matterhorn Glacier Paradise | Zermatt | from CHF 120 (Oct 2026) | CHF 60 | CHF 60 |
| Lake Lucerne boat day pass | Lucerne | CHF 86 | free | CHF 43 |
| Lake Brienz boat day pass | Interlaken, Brienz | CHF 75 | free | CHF 37 |
Operator prices 2026 and Swiss Activities, checked October 2026; Schilthorn and Rothorn prices as we paid them in July 2026. Details and sources in each linked guide. US dollars: multiply by 1.21 (1 CHF = 1.21 USD).
- How to choose your mountain
- Which pass makes which mountain cheaper
- Bernese Oberland: Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, First, Rothorn
- Around Lucerne: Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis and the lake
- Zermatt: Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
- Mountains in winter
- Booking: why “from” prices mislead
- Which excursion is worth it for whom
- FAQ
How to choose your mountain
Choose your mountain by where you stay, not by fame: the excursions cluster around three bases, Interlaken for the Bernese Oberland, Lucerne for Central Switzerland and Zermatt in Valais, and a mountain two hours away by train costs you half a day before you even start. Within each base, the choice comes down to three questions.
- Do you want glacier and snow, or green views? Jungfraujoch, Titlis and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise have ice all year. Rigi, Pilatus, Grindelwald First and the Rothorn are green in summer, with snow peaks across the valley.
- How high are you comfortable? Above 3,000 metres (Jungfraujoch, Titlis, Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise) some people get headaches. Below 2,500 metres (Rigi, Pilatus, First, Rothorn) altitude is no issue.
- What does your pass cover? The same mountain can cost nothing, half or full price depending on your ticket. That is the next section.
Weather beats every plan. A summit in cloud is money lost, so keep two or three mountain options for your stay, check the webcams in the morning, and book tickets that you can cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Which pass makes which mountain cheaper
The Swiss Travel Pass makes Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos free and halves most other mountains; the Half Fare Card halves almost everything; the regional passes go further and make some big mountains completely free. Before you buy single tickets, check this table.
| Pass | Free mountains | Half price |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss Travel Pass (from CHF 254 for 3 days) | Rigi, Stanserhorn, Stoos; Stechelberg to Mürren | Pilatus, Titlis, Schilthorn beyond Mürren, First, Rothorn, Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise; Jungfraujoch 25 percent |
| Swiss Half Fare Card (CHF 150 for a month) | none | almost all mountain railways, plus trains and boats |
| Bernese Oberland Pass (from CHF 240) | Schilthorn, Brienzer Rothorn, Schynige Platte, Männlichen and more | First, Titlis; Jungfraujoch 25 percent |
| Lucerne Travel Pass (from CHF 240) | Rigi, Pilatus, Titlis and the Lake Lucerne boats | |
| Saver Day Pass (from CHF 52) | Rigi (accepted as free ticket) | not valid on Pilatus |
For a whole trip, the question is which pass covers the most of your plan. Our maths with real fares is in the guide to the Swiss Travel Pass, the regional options are compared in our overview of Swiss rail passes, and for a week in the Bernese Oberland our Bernese Oberland Pass calculation shows our own numbers.
Travelling without a car? The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses and boats across the country and gives discounts on many mountain railways. Our pass guide shows when it pays off. Tip: Klook often shows discount codes at checkout (in October 2026 for example 5% off orders over US$300); whether one applies to the pass you see in the cart.
Check Swiss Travel Pass prices
PDF · 18 pagesFree PDF guide
Planning the Bernese Oberland? Don't go without this.
Our free guide, made from our own week there: the 11 places really worth your time, a ready-made 3-day route, and the pass trick that cuts the Schilthorn from CHF 115 to CHF 45.70.
- The 11 best places on one hand-drawn map, all within an hour of Interlaken
- A 3-day route that puts the Schilthorn on your clearest morning
- The ticket mistake that costs many visitors over CHF 100
- When to reach the famous Iseltwald pier before the crowds
- Every link with a QR code: use it on your phone or print it
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Bernese Oberland: Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, First, Rothorn
The Bernese Oberland around Interlaken has the most mountain excursions within reach of one base: the Jungfraujoch as the expensive highlight, the Schilthorn for the best view of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, Grindelwald First for activities, and the Brienzer Rothorn for a steam train ride. This is the region we know first-hand.
Schilthorn. We went up on July 9, 2026 and paid CHF 115 each from Stechelberg; at 13:39 the clouds cleared from Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and that view from the Piz Gloria terrace is the reason we would recommend it over almost any other mountain in the region. Our Schilthorn guide has the day in detail.
Brienzer Rothorn. On July 8, 2026 we took the steam cog railway from Brienz, CHF 98 return, about an hour each way, with Lake Brienz turquoise below. It is the most nostalgic ride in the region, and the Bernese Oberland Pass makes it free. Details and our tips with a dog are in the Brienzer Rothorn guide.
Jungfraujoch. The “Top of Europe” at 3,454 metres costs from CHF 249.20 from Grindelwald in summer 2026, including the mandatory seat reservation, and from CHF 129.60 with a Half Fare Card. We did not go up on this trip; our Jungfraujoch ticket guide compares every starting point and pass.
Grindelwald First. A 25-minute gondola from Grindelwald, CHF 72 to 76 return, with the free First Cliff Walk, the Bachalpsee walk and paid rides like the First Flyer. Our Grindelwald First guide shows when the Adventure Package beats single tickets.
Lake Brienz. Between mountain days, the boat from Interlaken to Iseltwald, Giessbach and Brienz is the relaxed option: day pass CHF 75, free with the Swiss Travel Pass. On July 10, 2026 we watched the paddle steamer Lötschberg come into Iseltwald; the Lake Brienz boat guide has fares and the best route.
The plain cable car ticket, booked online from the Swiss ticket shop
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Ticket via Viator. Check which sections are included before you book: the official round trip from Stechelberg is CHF 115.
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For travellers based in Lucerne who want the Bernese Oberland in one day.
Check prices & availabilityAround Lucerne: Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis and the lake
Lucerne is the easiest base for mountain days without a car: Pilatus and Rigi start within an hour by boat or train, the Titlis is 43 minutes away by train to Engelberg, and the lake connects everything. Many visitors combine two of them over two or three days.
Pilatus. The Golden Round Trip by boat, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, cable cars and bus costs CHF 119.80, but only CHF 42 with a Swiss Travel Pass, because the boat and bus are already covered. It runs from May to October; in autumn 2026 the cable cars from Kriens close for maintenance from October 19 to November 27. Our Pilatus Golden Round Trip guide explains which ticket to buy.
Rigi. The gentle “Queen of the Mountains” with Europe’s first mountain railway, free with the Swiss Travel Pass and, less known, with the SBB Saver Day Pass. Without a pass the day pass costs CHF 84. Our Rigi tickets guide shows the cheapest way for every situation.
Titlis. The snow and glacier mountain near Lucerne: CHF 102 return from Engelberg, CHF 51 with a pass, Cliff Walk and Glacier Cave included. Beware the “from CHF 38” on booking sites, which is only the middle station Trübsee, and note that the rotating Rotair cable car is closed until December 11, 2026. All details in our Titlis tickets guide.
Lake Lucerne. The boats link Lucerne with Vitznau for Rigi and Alpnachstad for Pilatus, and five historic paddle steamers still run. The day pass costs CHF 86, free with the Swiss Travel Pass. Our Lake Lucerne cruise guide has the fares and the lunch cruise. If you only have a day from Zurich, our day trips from Zurich compare train and tour for Lucerne, Titlis and the Jungfraujoch.
Boat, cogwheel railway, cable cars and bus; May to October. With a Swiss Travel Pass buy the mountain-only ticket instead.
Check prices & availabilityNot needed with a Swiss Travel Pass, which covers boat and Rigi.
Check prices & availabilitySummit return CHF 102 plus Ice Flyer CHF 12; Cliff Walk and Glacier Cave included.
Check prices & availabilityTickets for Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis, Gornergrat, Jungfraujoch and more at the operators' prices, for example the Rigi day pass from CHF 84; free cancellation up to 24 h before on most. Oct 2026.
Compare mountain ticketsZermatt: Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
In Zermatt the choice is between two very different views of the Matterhorn: the Gornergrat cogwheel railway for the classic pyramid across the valley, and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car for glacier and snow at 3,883 metres. If you only do one, most first-time visitors are happier with the Gornergrat.
Gornergrat. 33 minutes from Zermatt to 3,089 metres, CHF 132 return in summer 2026 and CHF 102 from November, half with a pass; the railway does not run from November 2 to 14, 2026. “From CHF 66” online is the one-way fare. See our Gornergrat Railway guide.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Europe’s highest cable car station, about 40 minutes from Zermatt with two changes, from CHF 120 return in October 2026, half with a pass. Children under three may not go to the top. Our Matterhorn Glacier Paradise guide compares it in detail with the Gornergrat and explains the Peak2Peak ticket that combines both.
Return or one way, 'Zooom the Matterhorn' included, free cancellation up to 24 h before. Choose 'return' for the full trip.
Check prices & availabilityEurope's highest cable car station at 3,883 m, Glacier Palace and viewing platform included.
Check prices & availabilityMountains in winter
Most mountain railways run in winter, but some classics change: the Pilatus cogwheel railway and the Golden Round Trip pause from late November to May, the Brienzer Rothorn steam railway only runs in summer, and the Gornergrat and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are cheaper in winter. Rigi, Titlis, Schilthorn and the Jungfraujoch run all year, apart from short maintenance breaks.
Winter also brings its own excursions. The Jungfrau Region has some of the longest sledding runs in the Alps, from the Eiger Run at Kleine Scheidegg to the Fox Run above Wengen, with the train up from about CHF 31 and sled rental extra; our guide to sledding in the Jungfrau Region lists every run with prices.
Booking: why “from” prices mislead
Booking sites show the cheapest option of a product as the “from” price, and for mountain tickets that is often not the trip you want. We checked the suspiciously low prices in October 2026: the Titlis “from CHF 38” is the return to Trübsee, not the summit (CHF 102), and the Gornergrat “from CHF 66” is the one-way fare, not the return (CHF 132 in summer).
Our partner Swiss Activities charged the operators’ prices on every mountain we checked: Pilatus CHF 119.80, Rigi CHF 84, Titlis with Ice Flyer CHF 114, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise from CHF 120. The advantages are mobile tickets in English, all options on one page, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before on most products, which is valuable when the weather decides. If you have a pass, select the reduction during booking, or skip the ticket entirely where the pass already covers it, as on Rigi.
Which excursion is worth it for whom
For a first trip to Switzerland with one big mountain day, the Schilthorn or the Jungfraujoch from Interlaken, Pilatus from Lucerne and the Gornergrat from Zermatt give the strongest experience for the money. For families, Rigi and Grindelwald First work best; for snow in summer, the Titlis.
- Best view for the money: Schilthorn with a pass (CHF 45.70) and Gornergrat in winter (CHF 102, half with a pass).
- Best for families: Rigi, because children up to 15 ride free with an adult; Grindelwald First for the activities.
- Best with a Swiss Travel Pass: Rigi (free), Pilatus (CHF 42), Schilthorn (CHF 45.70).
- Best glacier experience: Jungfraujoch with the Aletsch Glacier; Titlis and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise as cheaper alternatives.
- Best railway: Brienzer Rothorn by steam and the Pilatus cogwheel railway at 48 percent.
- Honest warning: do not stack two mountains above 3,000 metres on one day, and do not pay full price for a summit in cloud.
Tickets for Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis, Gornergrat, Jungfraujoch and more at the operators' prices, for example the Rigi day pass from CHF 84; free cancellation up to 24 h before on most. Oct 2026.
Compare mountain ticketsFAQ: mountain excursions in Switzerland
Which mountains are free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos are free. Most other mountain railways cost 50 percent, the Jungfraujoch 25 percent from Grindelwald or Wengen.
What is the cheapest mountain excursion near Lucerne?
Rigi: free with the Swiss Travel Pass or Saver Day Pass, CHF 84 without. Pilatus with the Golden Round Trip costs CHF 119.80, or CHF 42 with a Swiss Travel Pass.
Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn?
The Jungfraujoch is higher, with glacier and the railway through the Eiger, from CHF 249.20 without a pass. The Schilthorn gives the better view of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau for CHF 115, and we found it worth every franc on a clear day.
Is it cheaper to buy mountain tickets online?
Usually not cheaper, but more flexible. In October 2026 Swiss Activities charged the operators’ prices, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before on most products.
Which mountains are open in winter?
Rigi, Titlis, Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, Gornergrat and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise run in winter, apart from short maintenance breaks. The Pilatus cogwheel railway and the Brienzer Rothorn steam railway do not.
How many mountains should I plan for a week?
Two or three, with spare days for the weather. More than one high-altitude mountain per day is tiring and expensive.
Each excursion has its own detailed guide, linked above. For the planning around it, from passes to luggage, see good to know before you go, our own week is in the Bernese Oberland guide, and the panoramic trains that connect the regions are compared in our guide to Swiss scenic trains. Every other destination starts on the Swiss Detours home page.
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