The best public transport network on earth, at prices to match. Prices changed on 1 January 2026, and choosing the right pass is worth hundreds of francs.
- The Half Fare Card is the biggest single saving available, CHF 150 for a month since it rose on 1 January 2026, and one Zurich to Zermatt return at full fare is roughly CHF 150 on its own.
- Saver Day Passes start at CHF 52, or CHF 29 with a Half Fare Card, and are demand priced - book as early as you can, up to 6 months ahead.
- SBB Mobile is the only app you need, covering trains, buses, boats, trams and most cable cars nationwide, with EasyRide check-in check-out charging you the cheapest fare automatically.
- Trains are punctual to the minute and connections are designed to work - a 4 minute change is a real change, not a gamble - and no reservation is needed on domestic trains.
- The motorway vignette is CHF 40 and compulsory; driving without one is a CHF 200 fine plus the CHF 40. Buy the e-vignette online against your number plate before you arrive.
Choosing a pass
Get this right first. It is the biggest single saving available to a visitor.
| Option | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Half Fare Card | CHF 150 for one month | Anyone travelling more than about CHF 300 worth |
| Saver Day Pass | from CHF 52, or CHF 29 with a Half Fare Card | Big single days out |
| Swiss Travel Pass | multi-day, rose about 5 percent on 1 January 2026 | Dense sightseeing, museums included |
- The Half Fare Card went up from CHF 120 to CHF 150 on 1 January 2026. It still pays for itself quickly: one Zurich to Zermatt return is roughly CHF 150 at full fare.
- Saver Day Passes are demand priced. Book as early as you can, up to 6 months ahead, and the price climbs as the date nears.
- The Swiss Travel Pass includes most museums and many mountain railways, which is where its value sits rather than in the trains alone.
- Point-to-point tickets and day passes did not change price in 2026.
The apps
- SBB Mobile is the only app you need. It covers trains, buses, boats, trams and most cable cars, nationwide, with live platform changes.
- EasyRide inside SBB Mobile is check-in check-out ticketing. Swipe in when you board, swipe out when you leave, and it charges the cheapest fare. It is the simplest way to travel without thinking about zones.
- Contactless card readers work in Zurich and several other networks if you would rather not install anything.
- 12Go sells Swiss trains and buses alongside the rest of a European itinerary, which is useful if Switzerland is one leg of a longer route.
Using the network
- Trains are punctual to the minute and connections are designed to work. A 4 minute change is a real change, not a gamble.
- Timetables repeat hourly, so if you miss one, the next is at the same minutes past.
- Reservations are not needed on domestic trains. Just get on.
- Postbuses reach every village, including places with no road you would drive yourself.
- Boats on the lakes are part of the same system and covered by the same passes.
Driving
- The motorway vignette costs CHF 40 and is compulsory on motorways and semi-motorways for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. The 2026 one runs from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027.
- The e-vignette is linked to the number plate and can be bought online before you arrive.
- Driving without one is a CHF 200 fine plus the CHF 40.
- Speed enforcement is severe. Fines scale with income for residents and are heavy for everyone, and serious speeding is a criminal matter with vehicle confiscation.
- Winter tyres are not legally mandated but you are liable if you cause an accident without them, and mountain passes close in winter regardless.
- Trains beat driving almost everywhere here. Parking in city centres is expensive and scarce.
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