What $541 buys you across eight days
Eight consecutive days, activated from the start date you pick at checkout, at $541.39 in second class or $859.56 in first. At the going rate of CHF 1 = $1.2357, you need about CHF 438 of travel to break even in second class, or CHF 696 in first. That sounds like a lot until you notice Zurich to Zermatt alone is CHF 125 and a Gornergrat ticket at full fare is CHF 132.
Eight days is the first length where you stop planning around the pass and just travel. Six days makes you choose between the Bernese Oberland and Zermatt. Eight doesn't.
Eight days works out at $67.67 a day, the biggest drop in the range
Every extra day you buy makes the pass cheaper per day, and the eight day is where the curve really bends before the 15 day takes over.
| Length | Cost per travel day, second class |
|---|---|
| 3 days | $104.41 |
| 4 days | $95.27 |
| 6 days | $82.01 |
| 8 days | $67.67 |
| 15 days | $41.03 |
Going from six days to eight costs $49.33, which is two extra days of unlimited trains, boats and buses for less than one Zurich to Zermatt ticket. Compare that with the 3 to 4 day step at $67.83, where you pay more for one day. First class runs $107.45 a day on the eight, against $166.49 a day on the three. Full numbers for every length are on the price page.
One thing worth knowing before you commit: a 4 day Flexi at $430 comes in $62 under a 6 day Continuous. If your trip is really two big travel days at each end and a lot of sitting still in the middle, the Flexi maths deserves a look.
Two regional passes don't cover the train between the regions
The obvious alternative to eight days of Swiss Travel Pass is buying one pass for the Bernese Oberland and one for Zermatt, so here's what those actually are.
- Berner Oberland Pass, 8 days, $353.33. That price is the holder rate, and it's only sold to someone who already has a Swiss Travel Pass or a Half Fare Card. It stacks on top of one, it doesn't replace one.
- Jungfrau Travel Pass, 8 days, $406.27. Full price, no holder discount needed, so this one is a genuine standalone alternative. It runs April to October only.
- Zermatt Peak Pass, about CHF 320 for four days in summer and CHF 250 in winter. Swiss Travel Pass holders get 25% off, which brings summer down to roughly CHF 240.
Stack the two genuine standalone options and you're at $406.27 plus about CHF 320, against $541.39 for the eight day pass. And neither of them covers Interlaken to Zermatt, so that journey is on you at full fare on top. The regional passes are excellent if you're staying put in one valley for a week. For two regions in one trip, they lose before you've bought a single connecting ticket. More on that comparison on the is it worth it page.
An eight day itinerary from Zurich through the Bernese Oberland to Zermatt
This is the trip the eight day pass is built for, and the franc figures are what the pass saves you on each day.
- Zurich. Airport to the city centre, CHF 7, then Zurich to Lucerne, CHF 27. City transport in both is CHF 12 a day and it's included.
- Lake Lucerne. A boat across the lake is CHF 45 at full fare and free with the pass, then Rigi is CHF 76 and costs you nothing on top.
- Lucerne to Interlaken. CHF 40 for one of the best cheap train rides in the country, then Harder Kulm above town, CHF 51 full fare and CHF 25.50 with the pass.
- Schilthorn. CHF 115 full fare, CHF 57.50 held against the pass, and the whole Lauterbrunnen valley climb thrown in.
- Grindelwald and the lakes. Trains, buses and boats around the Bernese Oberland, all on the pass, no per-ticket thinking required.
- Interlaken to Zermatt. Covered by the pass and covered by neither regional pass, which is the whole argument in one train ride.
- Gornergrat. CHF 132 full fare, CHF 66 with the pass, and the best seat in the house for the Matterhorn.
- Zermatt back out. Zermatt to Zurich is CHF 125, or Geneva CHF 120 if you're flying out the other side.
Add up the savings on that run, leaving the Interlaken to Zermatt leg out of the sum entirely, and you are past the CHF 438 break-even. Every city tram, every lake boat and that whole middle region day is profit.
What you still pay on the mountains when you hold the pass
Some summits are fully covered and some give you half off, so it's worth knowing which is which before you plan your days.
| Mountain | Full fare, CHF | With the pass, CHF |
|---|---|---|
| Rigi | 76 | 0 |
| Stanserhorn | 82 | 0 |
| Harder Kulm | 51 | 25.50 |
| Pilatus | 94.20 | 42 |
| Titlis | 96 | 48 |
| Schilthorn | 115 | 57.50 |
| Gornergrat | 132 | 66 |
| Jungfraujoch | 234.80 | 176 |
The pass also gets you into around 500 museums for nothing and puts you on every scheduled lake boat, which is the bit people forget to count.
Jungfraujoch is the one trip where a Half Fare Card beats the pass
Look at that last row again. Jungfraujoch only gives pass holders 25% off, so you still hand over CHF 176. A Half Fare Card, $184.98 for 30 days or about CHF 148, halves the whole route and brings the same trip down to CHF 117.40. That's CHF 58.60 cheaper on one excursion.
It doesn't flip the decision on an eight day trip, because the Half Fare Card gives you nothing free and you'd be buying half-price tickets for every train, boat and city tram for eight days. But if Jungfraujoch is the single thing you came to Switzerland for and you're otherwise not moving much, run that sum properly.
Glacier Express and Bernina Express reservations are never covered
The Glacier Express fare is CHF 159 and the Bernina Express is CHF 125, and the pass covers both fares in full. What it doesn't cover, ever, at any pass length, is the compulsory seat reservation: CHF 54 on the Glacier Express and CHF 44 on the Bernina. Budget for it, because you can't board without one.
FAQ
How much does the Swiss Travel Pass cost for 8 days?
$541.39 in second class and $859.56 in first. That's $67.67 and $107.45 per day respectively.
Is the 8 day Swiss Travel Pass cheaper than two regional passes?
Yes. A Jungfrau Travel Pass for eight days is $406.27 and a Zermatt Peak Pass is about CHF 320 in summer, and neither covers the trains between Interlaken and Zermatt.
How much travel do I need to do to break even on the 8 day pass?
About CHF 438 of travel in second class, or CHF 696 in first. A Zurich to Zermatt ticket is CHF 125 and Gornergrat is CHF 132 at full fare, so it adds up faster than you'd expect.
Does the 8 day pass cover Jungfraujoch?
Only 25% of it. Full fare is CHF 234.80 and you still pay CHF 176 with the pass, which is the one excursion where a Half Fare Card does better at CHF 117.40.
Is it worth upgrading from 6 days to 8 days?
The step up costs $49.33, which is less than one Zurich to Zermatt ticket for two extra days of unlimited travel. It also drops your cost per day from $82.01 to $67.67.
Do I still pay for Glacier Express seat reservations with the pass?
Yes. The CHF 159 fare is covered but the CHF 54 reservation is not, and the same goes for the Bernina Express at CHF 44.
Are the 8 days consecutive or can I spread them out?
Consecutive, running from the start date you choose at checkout. If your travel days are clustered at the ends of the trip, a 4 day Flexi at $430 may suit you better.
