“Who wants to go up?” That was about the extent of our planning.
There were four of us standing in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. We had arrived with no intention of travelling to Mürren. In fact, Mürren hadn't been part of the day's plan at all.
We had originally hoped to visit Fronalpstock, but the weather wasn't cooperating. We checked the forecasts and changed direction, heading instead from our base in Bern toward Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen, where conditions looked a little more promising.
Then we saw the connection up the mountain.
“Who wants to go up?”
Four yeses. So up we went.
There was no discussion about what another ticket would cost. No debate about whether it was worth spending the extra money. No standing at a ticket machine trying to work out fares.
We had Swiss Travel Passes.
And that little moment probably explains the value of the Swiss Travel Pass better than anything else I can tell you.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass Worth It?
After spending four days travelling around Switzerland using a First Class Swiss Travel Pass, our answer is yes—for the right traveller.We had travelled in Switzerland before, so we already knew two things: Swiss public transportation is excellent, and Switzerland is expensive.
The Swiss Travel Pass gave us something beyond simply getting from one destination to another: flexibility. Our journey began in Basel, where we disembarked from a river cruise. From there, we travelled by train to Bern, which would be our base for the next four nights.That was really the only transportation we had firmly planned in advance.
For everything else, we had ideas. Each evening we'd check the weather and decide where we might travel the following day. In a country where mountains and weather have a somewhat complicated relationship, that flexibility proved invaluable.
We didn't have to commit months ahead to specific trains or destinations, and we didn't have to wonder what changing our minds would cost because our transportation was already paid for.
Travelling Switzerland by Train, Bus, Boat and Funicular
I've travelled in Switzerland before, and my expectations for Swiss public transportation were already high, so what surprised me this time wasn't simply the trains. It was the intermodality and connectivity.
Train. S-Bahn. Bus. Ferry. Funicular. Mountain railway. They don't feel like completely separate transportation systems that happen to connect. From a traveller's perspective, they function remarkably like one coordinated Swiss transportation network.
On our first day, for example, we travelled from Bern by S-Bahn to Wabern and continued by funicular to Gurten Kulm. Suddenly you're above Bern, looking across the city with the Alps in the distance. Another day, we arrived in Lauterbrunnen, spotted the connection toward Grütschalp and spontaneously decided to go. Up we went, before connecting with the mountain railway toward Mürren.
It sounds complicated when you write it down, but it wasn't. That's what Switzerland does exceptionally well. Public transportation is also simply part of everyday life in Switzerland. It's for everyone and used by everyone. There's none of the perception sometimes encountered in North America that public transportation is somehow an inferior alternative to driving.
Would I rent a car for this Switzerland itinerary? No.
For the places we visited, the Swiss public transportation system was simply too convenient.
The Swiss Travel Pass Gives You Flexibility
Our original plan one day had been Fronalpstock - I've been there before and know just how spectacular the views can be. But the weather wasn't playing along, so we checked the forecasts and decided Mürren offered us a better chance.
It didn't.
Mürren was foggy. Very foggy. There would be no magnificent views of the Eiger that day. Apparently the Swiss Travel Pass does not include control of Swiss weather. We were undeterred, and as always, something interesting happened. so It didn't really matter.
We wandered around Mürren, found a great restaurant, ordered cheese fondue and local wine, chatted with our Austrian waitress—in German in my case—and simply enjoyed being there.
Plan A had failed. Plan B hadn't exactly delivered either. And we still had a great day. That's travel.
More importantly, changing our destination hadn't required us to worry about tickets we'd already purchased or how much our alternative would cost. That freedom became one of our favourite things about travelling Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Using the SBB App in Switzerland
We used the SBB Mobile app for virtually everything. If you're intimidated by the thought of navigating Switzerland by public transportation, don't be. The SBB app can help plan journeys incorporating trains, buses, boats and other public transportation. It shows connections, platforms, delays, changes and rerouting. There's also a useful “from here” feature that can help you locate nearby public transportation.
We only needed to ask for help once during our four days—and that was in Bern railway station. With its multiple entrances, myriad corridors and considerable walking distances, we found it the least intuitive of the Swiss railway stations we used.
Once you know where you're going, it's fine, and finding where you're going can occasionally be the adventure.
The Swiss Travel Pass Includes Lake Cruises Too
Sometimes the best travel experiences are the ones you didn't plan.
We knew boats operated on Lake Thun—the Thunersee—but taking one wasn't part of our itinerary.
Then there it was. - So we went.
Our transportation that day became a journey aboard the historic paddle steamer Blümlisalp.
Think about that for a moment.
You're crossing a Swiss lake aboard a functioning paddle steamer more than a century old, surrounded by mountains, beautiful lakeside towns and old castles - It's a postcard.
Our First Class Swiss Travel Pass gave us access to the upper deck, where the views were even better. We could enjoy the onboard restaurant and, in my case, run from one side of the ship to the other taking photographs.
For me, the Blümlisalp was the standout transportation experience of our entire Switzerland trip. Although calling it “transportation” seems rather inadequate, as the Blümlisalp deserves a story of her own (coming soon.)
Is First Class on the Swiss Travel Pass Worth It?
For us, yes. First Class offered better seats, generally more available space and a noticeably quieter environment. We travelled off-peak, which matters, but we rarely had difficulty finding seats. We only had to stand once, courtesy of a large group of tourists and one gentleman who had apparently appointed himself guardian of several seats for family members who hadn't yet arrived.
Second Class gets you to exactly the same place at exactly the same time. For many travellers, it's the sensible choice. First Class doesn't make Switzerland's transportation system work any better, but it does make the experience more comfortable. For couples who value additional space and quiet, I'd certainly consider a First Class Swiss Travel Pass. For a larger family or group, the additional cost may be harder to justify.
On the Lake Thun ferries, I'd personally choose First Class again. The upper-deck access, additional space and better vantage points made a genuine difference—particularly for photography.
As always, it comes down to the traveller and the budget.
Can You Use the Swiss Travel Pass in Liechtenstein?
Here's something that may surprise you. Yes, your Swiss Travel Pass can even take you into Liechtenstein.
Liechtenstein was one part of our trip that actually was planned. The fun was that one member of our party didn't know about it.My sister-in-law had wanted to visit Liechtenstein, so we decided to make it a surprise. We travelled by train from Bern through Zürich to Sargans. From the railway platform at Sargans, it was roughly a one-minute walk to our LIEmobil bus connection for Vaduz.
She still hadn't figured out what we were doing. Then our bus crossed the Rhine. “Welcome to Liechtenstein!” we said. Our surprise “lunch in Liechtenstein” mission was a success.
Even better, the LIEmobil buses to and from Liechtenstein and within Liechtenstein are included with the Swiss Travel Pass, so there was no need to stop in Sargans and figure out another fare or buy a separate transportation pass. We simply continued our journey.
The weather was beautiful, she was delighted, and once again we were struck by the connectivity. We had travelled across Switzerland by rail, stepped off the train at Sargans and almost immediately continued by bus into another country—all using the same Swiss Travel Pass.
And yes, Vaduz was absolutely worth visiting.
The Real Value of the Swiss Travel Pass Isn't Just the Price
So, is the Swiss Travel Pass worth the money?
For us, unquestionably.
But I think people sometimes ask the wrong question: You can add up the individual cost of every train, bus, boat and funicular you intend to take and compare that total with the Swiss Travel Pass price. As a travel advisor, that's exactly what I would do when helping a client decide.
But there's another kind of value that's harder to put into a spreadsheet: Flexibility.
During those four days, we never asked “How much is this going to cost us now?” and that matters.
Without a Swiss Travel Pass, you can absolutely travel around Switzerland using individual tickets. You can plan your itinerary, price the journeys and purchase what you need. But once your transportation is prepaid within the Pass's coverage, a little bit of friction disappears.
The weather changes? Go somewhere else.
See a boat you hadn't planned to take? Take it.
Spot a funicular? “Who wants to go up?”
Go.
The Swiss Travel Pass doesn't necessarily make you a more spontaneous traveller, but it does give you the freedom to be one.
Who Should Buy a Swiss Travel Pass?
If you're spending several days travelling around Switzerland and want the flexibility to explore different destinations, the Swiss Travel Pass can make tremendous sense.
If you're staying primarily in one city, however, a local transportation pass or individual tickets may be more economical.
Museum lovers should also take a closer look at the Swiss Travel Pass too. Admission to many museums is included, while discounts are available on certain mountain transportation and other services outside the Pass's full coverage.
The important thing is not to buy a Swiss Travel Pass simply because you're visiting Switzerland.
Buy it because it fits the way you're going to travel.
Travelling Switzerland With Luggage
One lesson from our trip: if you're taking day trips, leave your luggage at the hotel. Bern worked well as a central base for exploring Switzerland, although next time I'd choose a better hotel location than Wankdorf.
Being able to unpack once and use Switzerland's train and public transportation network to explore was considerably more appealing than constantly changing hotels.
If you do need to travel with luggage, railway station lockers can be useful—but they fill quickly, so don't assume one will always be available. Staffed luggage storage can become expensive very quickly: We stored six bags at Zürich Airport for about eight hours and paid CHF 93. Ouch.
Our Swiss Travel Pass Review: Would We Buy It Again?
Absolutely.
Would I automatically recommend a Swiss Travel Pass to every client travelling to Switzerland?
No.
The question is simple: Where are you going, how long are you travelling, and how much flexibility do you want?
From there, compare the Swiss Travel Pass with individual tickets and local transportation options.
For our four days travelling through Basel, Bern, Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Thun, Zürich and Vaduz, the Swiss Travel Pass was absolutely the right choice.
It carried us by train, S-Bahn, bus, funicular, mountain railway and historic paddle steamer. It allowed the weather to change our plans without changing our budget. It took us into the fog above Lauterbrunnen, across Lake Thun and even across the Rhine for a surprise lunch in Liechtenstein.
And perhaps that's the best way I can describe the value of the Swiss Travel Pass.
In Switzerland, sometimes the journey isn't simply how you get to the experience.
Sometimes the journey is the experience.
