Navigating the Swiss Travel System

Switzerland offers visitors breathtaking landscapes of snow-covered peaks, lush hillsides and rushing streams, along with an endless supply of outdoor adventures like mountaineering, skydiving and hot air ballooning. The beautiful and varied landscape is a huge draw for tourists every year and the country’s extensive and easy-to-use public transportation system makes it possible for visitors to access and experience it all firsthand.

By using the Swiss Travel System it is easy to base your stay in one city, such as Geneva, Bern, Zurich or Lucerne, and utilize the travel system to take daytrips across the country. The purchase of a Swiss Travel Pass from the Swiss Transport Authority allows you to utilize all forms of public transportation with an inclusive pass that includes nearly unlimited access to buses, trains and boats that travel to more than 90 cities and towns within the country. Once you possess your pass there are no reservations needed for your passage, simply hop on and hop off your desired mode of transportation.

The travel pass also includes numerous perks, such as mountain excursions to popular locations such as Rigi, Schilthorn and Stansherhorn and a 50 percent discount off other mountain excursions, free admission to more than 500 museums around the country and 30 percent off railway tickets that aren’t included with the pass.

The pass is specifically for tourists, therefore you must reside permanently outside of Switzerland in order to purchase one. They are available in three-, four-, eight- and 15 consecutive day passes with additional options to use your pass for a number of non-consecutive days within a month.

Tickets for the Swiss Travel System can be easily purchased here through Rail Europe. A three-day pass starts at $242.