5 simple steps to using your Swiss Travel Pass

Want to travel through Switzerland using public transportation and discover the most beautiful places in the country? Then the Swiss Travel Pass is your best companion.

You can read a detailed explanation of what this pass includes and how you can use it in our Swiss Travel Pass article.

Here, we'll guide you in five steps on how to choose the right Swiss Travel Pass, where to buy it, activate it, and make the most of it. This way, nothing will stand in the way of your journey through Switzerland.

1. Decide Which Swiss Travel Pass You Need

The Swiss Travel Pass comes in different versions and prices. With the “regular” Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days. In contrast, the Swiss Travel Pass Flex allows you to travel for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days of your choice within Switzerland, but these days must be used within 30 days.

The first step is to decide which pass suits you best. To help with this decision, we highly recommend reading this article about the Swiss Travel Pass first.

2. Buy Your Swiss Travel Pass

Once you’ve chosen the right travel companion, the question arises: where can you buy it?

Good news: We offer both passes directly through Swiss Activities, so you can take care of this step right away. Simply select your start date, desired duration, and class. Then you will be directed to a form where you can enter passenger details.

3. Activate Your Swiss Travel Pass

We often get asked whether you need to activate the Swiss Travel Pass. The answer is simple.

Yes and no...

You don’t have to activate the Swiss Travel Pass. It’s valid from the date you selected at the time of purchase. So all you need to do is bring along the PDF you receive from us after booking.

However, you must activate the Swiss Travel Pass Flex on the days you want to use it. Here’s how:

• Open the PDF we emailed you after booking. It contains all the info you need to activate the pass.
• Go to the website activateyourpass.
• Enter your reference number, first and last name, and date of birth.
• On the next page, select the days you want to travel. Important: Your Swiss Travel Pass Flex is only valid on the days it’s activated.
• A valid ticket will be generated for each activated travel day. You can view, download, or add it to your wallet using the red buttons.
• If you want to deactivate a travel day, you can do so any number of times until 11:59 PM the day before. Please note that once a ticket is activated on the travel day itself, it cannot be changed or deactivated anymore.

4. Install the SBB App

If you're travelling on public transport in Switzerland, the SBB app is a must-have. Download it from the App Store or the Google Play Store. This will equip you perfectly to check timetables and plan your journeys.

5. Use your Swiss Travel Pass

Now you're ready to explore Switzerland with your Swiss Travel Pass. You can show your ticket as an E-Ticket, in printed form, or on your mobile phone. Here are some important points to keep in mind:

• Always show the control staff your Swiss Travel Pass along with an official ID.
• Make sure to activate your Swiss Travel Pass Flex on the day of travel.
• The pass is personalized and cannot be transferred to other people.
• Note that you can't travel for free on mountain railways with the Swiss Travel Pass; you'll need to purchase a discounted ticket.
• If you're traveling with your kids, you’ll receive a free Swiss Family Card in combination with your Swiss Travel Pass. This allows your children to travel with you for free. You can book the Swiss Family Card for free here.

We wish you a great journey with your Swiss Travel Pass.