How to see Switzerland on a budget with the Swiss Half Fare Card
Wondering what type of transport pass you should buy in Switzerland to save time and money? While the Swiss Travel Pass (STP) is a popular choice amongst visitors, it may not always be the most cost-effective option for your itinerary.
During my numerous trips to Switzerland, I’ve compared different transport passes and have actually benefited more from the Swiss Half Fare Card (SHFC) twice, and I’ll share why. A Half Fare card can provide significant savings on transportation costs, especially when you have flexible itineraries.
Take the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn scenic train from Bern to Zermatt for an incredible day in this winter wonderland
To help you decide if the SHFC is best for you, in this post I’ll cover when it pays off, its advantages, when to purchase it, how far in advance to buy train tickets, and a sample itinerary to help plan your trip.
What is the Swiss Half Fare Card?
The Swiss Half Fare Card allows you to purchase transport tickets throughout Switzerland at a 50% discount. You will need both the SHFC plus the relevant transport ticket to travel.
Discounted tickets can be purchased online or at ticketing machines, and proof of card ownership is only required when checked by conductors on board.
To make the most of the Swiss Half Fare Card, you do need to know what your itinerary for Switzerland will look like in advance. You can find out the cost of train tickets using Klook’s Europe Trains Page or the SBB App and tally up the fares for each leg of your planned trip.
Download the SBB App to start planning your journey with the Swiss Half Fare Card
Once you’ve done that, halve the cost of the fares – this is what the total transport cost will be for your trip after the 50% discount with the SHFC – and then add the cost of the SHFC itself to your total. That may come in cheaper than using the full Swiss Travel Pass, after all!
The SHFC will pay off when one person plans to spend 240 CHF on transport journeys during their trip.
Download the SBB App
We highly recommend that you download the SBB app to plan for your daily travels and also check for the latest train timings.
The SBB app is available on App Store and Play Store
Main benefits of the Swiss Half Fare Card
Here are the key benefits and coverage I found the most useful for the Swiss Half Fare Card:
- Receive 50% discount on train, bus, and boat journeys throughout Switzerland. This includes most mountain lifts or railways, gondola lifts, and panoramic routes (some exclusions apply for privately-operated companies). This also includes discounts for a few mountain railways.
- Receive 50% discount on most public transport throughout Switzerland.
- Use the SHFC for longer stays in Switzerland up to one month, whereas the Swiss Travel Pass ranges from 3 - 15 days.
- As the SHFC doesn’t include entry into museums or other travel discounts, you’re not paying for things you don’t need.
- Valid for 1 month from the time of activation in Switzerland, not from the date you purchase it.
- Children under 16 travel for free with an accompanying adult with a valid SHFC. A free Swiss Family Card is required for this arrangement.
- Available to visitors who reside outside of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Klook Tip: For details of the prices and discounts on panoramic trains and mountain excursions, refer to the Swiss Half Fare Card coverage sheet.
Get 50% off your tickets for your Mount Pilatus excursion using the Swiss Half Fare Card
How to use the Swiss Half Fare Card
After purchasing online through Klook, the SHFC will be sent to your email as a digital QR code to print out or use on your smartphone during your trip.
Luckily, in Switzerland, you don’t need to book transport tickets far in advance. Usually, a few days before or even on the day is fine. There is no allocated seating for most trains, so it is a good idea to arrive around 10 minutes before your train departs.
I recommend having a flexible itinerary to make the most of not having to book tickets far in advance. This will allow you to select the best days for mountain journeys depending on the weather forecast when you’re in Switzerland. However, be aware that these additional tickets may have specific date, time, or route restrictions that can reduce flexibility during travel plans.
Purchasing transport tickets is straightforward. You can book your tickets either through their respective websites or in-person ticket machines for buses and trains, using the “SHFC” or “Half Fare / Children” option at the point of sale for the 50% discount to be applied to the ticket.
When on your journey, simply present the ticket alongside your SHFC to ticket inspectors – and don’t forget your passport, too!
Step back into Switzerland's medieval past in the stunning Old Town of Lucerne.
Example 7-Day Switzerland Itinerary using the Swiss Half Fare Card
Here is a brief overview of a 7-day Switzerland itinerary that benefits from the Swiss Half Fare Card (costs are per person, 2nd class where applicable):
Day 1: Geneva - Explore the cosmopolitan Old Town beside the stunning lake.
Day 2: Bern - See cherry blossoms in spring, meander through narrow streets and browse boutiques in the UNESCO World Heritage town center.
- Geneva to Bern one way cost - 37.80 CHF
Day 3: Zermatt - Take the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn scenic train from Bern to Zermatt for a day of exploration of this incredible winter wonderland.
- Bern to Zermatt return cost - 191.08 CHF
Day 4: Jungfraujoch - Take a train from Bern through Interlaken and board the Zermatterhorn scenic train to the Top of Europe, 3466 meters up!
- Bern to Jungfraujoch return cost - 288.70 CHF
Day 5: Lucerne - Step back into Switzerland’s medieval past in the stunning Old Town.
- Bern to Lucerne one way cost - 33.94 CHF
Day 6: Mt Pilatus - Take a scenic gondola or cog railway from Lucerne up to the mountain summit for hikes, playgrounds, amazing vistas, and more. The Swiss Half Fare Card provides discounts for these mountain excursions.
- Lucerne to Mt Pilatus return cost - 78.00 CHF
Day 7: Zurich - Explore the colorful Old Town and visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate museum.
- Lucerne to Zurich one way cost - 27.44 CHF
Savings with the Swiss Half Fare Card for the above itinerary
- Total cost per person without the Swiss Half Fare Card = 656.96 CHF
- Total cost per person with the Swiss Half Fare Card = 328.48 + 120 (SHFC) = 448.48 CHF
- Per person saving of 208.28 CHF!
*Note that prices vary for scenic trains and gondolas depending on season.
Hop on and see the beauty of Switzerland! Credits: Klook
Why you should get the Swiss Half Fare Card
Thousands of other travelers have used the Swiss Half Fare Card for a smooth holiday. Let's hear from them as well!
“If you have a relaxing itinerary, nothing too hardcore, this card is for you. We visited 1 place per day, so buying a Swiss Travel Pass or Bernese Oberland Pass would be too much for us. It can be used for any public transport in Switzerland to get a half price. The Swiss Half Fare Card also covers most mountain railways, making it a valuable resource for tourists. Highly recommend!”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review by Klook User Que
“If travelling across multiple cities and visiting mountains using trains/gondolas - super worth it. Already covers half of Jungfraujoch’s cost! Also convenient when showing to train inspectors as can show QR code anytime by booking via Klook.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review by Klook User Shirley
Australian-based Alyse is the founder of The Invisible Tourist, a popular travel blog sharing itineraries and travel guides to help tourists better "blend in" on their travels. Her first book, "How to Not Look Like a Tourist: Unlocking Your Hidden Power for Overtourism Solutions" was an Amazon #1 New Release, detailing how to combat overtourism issues to benefit locals and enrich our travel experiences.
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