What your pass actually does on a mountain
Mountain railways and cable cars sit in five tiers, and which tier you land in is decided by the mountain, not by the pass you bought. Three summits are covered outright. Twenty-four knock half off the mountain ticket. Rochers-de-Naye takes 60% off, the deepest reduction anywhere. Jungfraujoch takes a quarter off one section of the climb. Five give you nothing at all and charge you the counter price like anyone else.
Covered in full Three of them
Free at Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos
- No mountain ticket to buy on top of your pass
- The whole ascent, not just the approach
Half price The big group
50% off at 24 mountains
- Your pass buys the reduction, you buy the mountain ticket
- Paid at the valley station on the day
Jungfraujoch One leg only
25% off the final section
- The reduction lands on the last leg and nowhere else
No reduction Five summits
None off the mountain ticket
- Full fare at the window whichever pass you hold
Your pass already covers the trains, buses and boats that get you to the valley station, so the tier only decides what happens above it. That holds whether you bought 3 days or 15, first class or second.
Find your mountain
Every summit below has its own page with its tier, its fare and what your pass leaves you holding. If you already know where you're going, jump straight to it. If you're choosing a base first, the three fully covered mountains are all within reach of Lucerne, which makes central Switzerland the cheapest region to spend a mountain day in.
Central Switzerland and Lucerne
FreeArth-Goldau · 1h from ZurichMount RigiEvery route up is covered, including the lake boat from Lucerne.Others pay CHF 76See Rigi →
FreeStans · 1h from ZurichStanserhornIncludes the CabriO, the only open-top double-deck cable car in the world.Others pay CHF 82See Stanserhorn →
FreeSchwyz · 1h 30mins from ZurichStoosThe steepest funicular in the world is covered. The two chairlifts at the top are not.Others pay CHF 23.30See Stoos →
Half priceKehrsiten by boat · 1h 30mins from ZurichBürgenstockThe boat from Lucerne is free. The Hammetschwand lift at the top is not covered at all. Half off the funicularSee Bürgenstock →
Half priceAlpnachstad or Kriens · 1h 30mins from ZurichMount PilatusGetting to either valley station costs you nothing, and the climb is half price.You pay CHF 42See Pilatus →
Half priceEngelberg · 1h 45mins from ZurichMount TitlisEngelberg is free to reach. Only the cable car above it is discounted rather than covered.You pay CHF 51See Titlis →Bernese Oberland and the Jungfrau region
Only 25% offKleine Scheidegg · 3h from ZurichJungfraujochFree as far as Wengen and Grindelwald, then a quarter comes off the final leg and no more.You pay about CHF 176See Jungfraujoch →
Half priceStechelberg or Mürren · 2h 45mins from ZurichSchilthornFree as far as Mürren, then half price on the cable cars above it.You pay CHF 57.50See Schilthorn →
Half priceWengen or Grindelwald · 2h 30mins from ZurichMännlichenHalf price from either side, and the start of the easiest famous ridge walk in the region. Half off either ascentSee Männlichen →
Half priceGrindelwald · 2h 30mins from ZurichGrindelwald FirstThe Cliff Walk is in the ticket. The zip lines and the carts are not.You pay CHF 38See First →
Half priceWilderswil · 2h 15mins from ZurichSchynige PlatteMid June to late October only, and 50 minutes each way on the cogwheel. Half off the cogwheelSee Schynige Platte →
Half priceInterlaken Ost · 2h from ZurichHarder KulmThe shortest and cheapest of the Interlaken viewpoints, and a signed walk from the station.You pay CHF 25.50See Harder Kulm →
Half priceBrienz · 2h 15mins from ZurichBrienzer RothornA steam cogwheel that only runs from June to late October.You pay CHF 48See the Rothorn →
Half priceMülenen · 2h 20mins from ZurichThe NiesenLate April to early November only, on the longest staircase in the world.You pay CHF 34See the Niesen →
Half priceGrindelwald · 2h 30mins from ZurichPfingsteggThe cheap, quiet Grindelwald mountain, though the toboggan and the Fly Line cost extra.You pay CHF 16See Pfingstegg →
Half priceKanderstegOeschinenseeThe lake and the hour-long walk up from Kandersteg are free to everyone.You pay CHF 16 in winterSee Oeschinensee →Valais, Zermatt and Saas-Fee
Half priceZermatt · 3h 15mins from ZurichGornergratDon't buy the full-price ticket online if you are holding a pass.You pay CHF 66 in summerSee Gornergrat →
Half priceZermatt · 3h 15mins from ZurichMatterhorn Glacier ParadiseThe highest mountain station in Europe, and the priciest ride in the country.You pay CHF 50 to 60See the Glacier Paradise →
Half priceZermatt · 3h 15mins from ZurichSunnegga and RothornThe cheapest Zermatt viewpoint. Carrying on up to Rothorn is CHF 30 to 35.You pay CHF 13See Sunnegga →
Half priceSaas-Fee · 3h 15mins from ZurichMittelallalinIt opens in two windows a year, so check the dates before you plan around it.You pay CHF 39.50See Mittelallalin →
Half priceFiesch · 2h 30mins from ZurichEggishornThe best view of the Aletsch Glacier. Bettmerhorn, opposite, gets no discount at all. Half off the cablewaySee Eggishorn →Lake Geneva and the west
Half priceCol du Pillon · 3h 30mins from ZurichGlacier 3000The Peak Walk suspension bridge is in the ticket rather than charged on top. Half off the cablewaySee Glacier 3000 →
60% offMontreux · 2h 45mins from ZurichRochers-de-NayeThe only mountain where the pass takes 60% off rather than half.You pay CHF 28.80See Rochers-de-Naye →Ticino
Half priceCapolago · 3h from ZurichMonte GenerosoThe cogwheel from Capolago is the highest ride in the Lugano area.You pay CHF 36 in summerSee Monte Generoso →
Half priceLugano-Paradiso · 3h from ZurichMonte San SalvatoreIn midsummer it runs to 22:30, which makes it the best evening view in Lugano.You pay CHF 16See San Salvatore →
Half priceCassarate, Lugano · 3h from ZurichMonte BrèThe sunniest of the two Lugano mountains, and the quieter one.You pay CHF 15See Monte Brè →
Half priceRivera-Bironico · 2h 30mins from ZurichMonte TamaroThe family mountain of Ticino. The rope park and the coaster cost extra. Half off the cablewaySee Monte Tamaro →
Half priceLocarno · 3h from ZurichCardada-CimettaHalf off the cableway above Orselina, but only a quarter off the Locarno funicular below it.You pay CHF 25.50See Cardada →Eastern Switzerland
Beyond the mountain ticket
The rest of the passEverything the pass coversThe trains, boats, towns and museums that come with it, beyond the mountains.See what is included →
The rest of the passWhat the pass doesn't pay forThe extras that stay yours on a mountain day, so nothing at the counter surprises you.See what is left out →FAQ
Which mountains are completely free with the pass?
Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos. On those three the ascent is part of your pass and there's no mountain ticket to buy.
How does the Jungfraujoch discount work?
You get 25% off, and only on the final leg of the journey. Everything before that leg is treated the way the rest of your travel is treated.
Does getting to the foot of the mountain cost extra?
The trains, buses and boats that take you there are covered by the pass, so the approach is usually already paid for. The tier decides what happens on the leg above the valley station.
Do longer passes or first class give better mountain discounts?
No. The tier belongs to the mountain, so a 3 day pass at $313 (€270) and a 15 day pass at $615 (€507) in second class buy the same reduction on the same summit.
What happens at the five mountains with no discount?
You pay the full price on the board, the same as someone with no pass at all. Your pass still covers the journey to the bottom.
Can anyone buy a Swiss Travel Pass?
You have to live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein to buy one.
