Switzerland Trip Planner 2026: Costs, Tickets and Passes Calculator
How much does a trip around Switzerland by train, boat and mountain railway cost? Almost everything depends on choosing the right ticket: for the same week, single tickets, the Half Fare Card and the Swiss Travel Pass can differ by several hundred francs per person. Our free calculator shows you the cheapest option for your route and your day trips, with verified 2026 prices and a source for every price.
How the calculator works
You choose where you arrive, where you stay and for how many nights, and the day trips you are planning. The calculator counts your travel days and compares up to seven options: single tickets, the Swiss Half Fare Card, the consecutive Swiss Travel Pass, the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, and combinations with the Berner Oberland Pass or the Jungfrau Travel Pass.
- Train routes: standard fares from the SBB ticket shop (point-to-point ticket, checked in October 2026, valid until the timetable change on December 12, 2026). For 1st class we add the official class upgrade to the 2nd class ticket, exactly as you can buy it.
- Passes: official prices from Swiss Travel System, the Berner Oberland Pass and Jungfrau Railways.
- Day trips: price lists of the mountain railways and boat companies, each with the discount for the Half Fare Card, Swiss Travel Pass and regional pass.
- Children and dogs: children aged 6 to 15 travel free with the free Swiss Family Card when a parent holds a Half Fare Card, Swiss Travel Pass or Flex. For a dog, the calculator adds the dog day pass at CHF 25 per travel day (CHF 27 from December 13, 2026).
We check every price again before the timetable change in December. On December 13, 2026, public transport fares rise by 3.6 percent on average; according to Swiss Travel System, the Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card are not affected. Always check the price before you buy.
Which ticket for which trip?
As a rule of thumb: if you stay in one region most of the time and do day trips, the Half Fare Card for CHF 150 or a regional pass almost always wins. If you travel long distances on nearly every day and use boats and museums, the Swiss Travel Pass from CHF 254 for 3 days pays off. The full comparison with worked examples is in our guide Swiss rail passes compared.
| Ticket | 2026 price (2nd class, adults) | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss Travel Pass | CHF 254 (3 days) to 499 (15 days) | Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it? |
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | CHF 289 to 519 | Flex or consecutive |
| Swiss Half Fare Card | CHF 150 for one month | Half Fare Card for tourists |
| Saver Day Pass | from CHF 52, from CHF 29 with Half Fare Card | Saver Day Pass |
| Berner Oberland Pass | CHF 240 to 435, reduced CHF 168 to 316 | Bernese Oberland Pass |
| Jungfrau Travel Pass | CHF 210 to 330, reduced CHF 165 to 255 | Jungfrau Travel Pass |
Other regions have their own passes: the Lucerne Travel Pass, the Matterhorn Gotthard Pass for Zermatt and Andermatt, the Graubünden Pass and the Zurich Card. Travelling as a family? Read our guide to the Swiss Family Card first.
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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Scenic trains: what the pass covers and what costs extra
The famous scenic trains run on regular lines, so the ticket is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. What costs extra is the seat reservation: CHF 54 per person on the Glacier Express, CHF 40 to 44 on the Bernina Express, CHF 20 on the GoldenPass Express and CHF 24 on the Gotthard Panorama Express. In the calculator you can choose the scenic train on matching routes, and it adds the reservation. Routes, classes and booking are covered in our scenic trains overview and the guides to the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, GoldenPass Express and Gotthard Panorama Express.
Mountain railways and day trips
The big excursions cost between about CHF 75 and more than CHF 200 per adult, and this is where the passes differ most. Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos are free with the Swiss Travel Pass, while the Jungfraujoch, Titlis and Gornergrat only come with a discount. Which summit costs what with which pass is shown in our comparison mountain tickets across Switzerland and in the guides to the Jungfraujoch, Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis, Gornergrat and Grindelwald First.
Checked out but your train or hotel is later? Leave your bags at a luggage spot in Interlaken and enjoy the day without them.
Find luggage storage in InterlakenOur guides by region
We spent a week in the Bernese Oberland ourselves, based in Brienz with our dog Miley. All places, walks and our real costs are in our Bernese Oberland travel guide. For the journey from Zurich, see our guide from Zurich Airport to Interlaken, and for mobile internet, our guide to eSIMs in Switzerland.
Switzerland by train in winter
In winter almost all trains, boats and many mountain railways keep running, but some scenic trains and passes do not. The Glacier Express takes a break from October 11 to December 4, 2026. What runs in the cold season and where you can go sledding is in Switzerland in winter by train and sledding in Grindelwald.
FAQ
How accurate are the prices in the calculator?
All prices come from official price lists and the SBB ticket shop and are checked with a date. Supersaver tickets and Saver Day Passes are not included because their price depends on demand; they can make a ride even cheaper.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it for a week?
Only if you travel long distances on most days. If you stay in one or two regions, the Half Fare Card for CHF 150 or a regional pass is usually cheaper. Enter your route in the calculator to see it for your trip.
Do children travel free in Switzerland?
Children under 6 always travel free. Children aged 6 to 15 travel free with the free Swiss Family Card when a parent holds a Swiss Travel Pass, Flex or the Swiss Half Fare Card.
Is my data stored?
No. The calculator runs in your browser. Only when you click “Copy link to this plan” is your plan stored in the link you can share.
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