Day pass with half-fare
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Day Passes for Public Transport – Which One Suits You Best?
A day pass for public transport is the perfect companion for your trip through Switzerland. There's a suitable ticket for almost every need. Whether you're travelling alone or with friends, want to bring your dog for a day, or plan a bike excursion, the right day pass sets you up perfectly.
And as you'll soon discover, you can save quite a bit of money if you play it smart. Depending on your trip, an SBB day pass can even be a cheaper alternative to the Swiss Travel Pass.
What all day tickets have in common (except the bike day ticket) is that they are valid throughout the entire Swiss public transport network. So, you can use them without restrictions on trains, buses, trams, postbuses, most boats, and even selected mountain railways to explore every corner of Switzerland. You can find a map with all valid routes here in the interactive GA coverage area of the Swiss public transport system.
In addition, in combination with a day pass, you also benefit from RailAway discounts of between 10 and 30% at excursion destinations.
What day passes are available for public transport?
The range of day passes covers a wide variety of needs. New tickets are continuously added to meet even more demands. The table gives you an overview of the day passes before we take a closer look at each one in detail. |Day Pass |Requirement |Notes |Price (from)| |-------------------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|------------| |Saver Day Pass |Bookable with or without Half Fare |The earlier you book, the cheaper it gets |29 CHF | |Half Fare Day Pass |Only available with Half Fare card | |75 CHF | |GA Youth Tandem Day Pass|GA Youth, child or trainee |Companion must be under 25 years |20 CHF | |Friends Youth Day Pass|Valid for 1-4 people, also without Half Fare|All must be under 25 years |80 CHF | |Children's Day Pass|Age: 6 to 15.99 years |Valid alone, with other children or adults |19 CHF | |Dog Day Pass |Valid accompanying person's ticket required|Dog travels in the same class as your ticket |25 CHF | |Bike Day Pass |Valid ticket required |Reservation sometimes compulsory |14 CHF | |School Day Pass |Valid for groups of 10 or more |Reservation via SBB form |15 CHF |
Savings Day Ticket
Let's start with a really interesting offer. With the Savings Day Ticket, if you book at the right time, you can benefit from very attractive prices. Combined with the half-fare card, the Savings Day Ticket is already available from 29 CHF. However, you have to act quickly and sometimes search a bit. These tickets can be booked six months in advance and are limited in quantity. That means once the cheapest price is sold out, the next best price will apply.
Note that this day ticket is tied to a fixed date and cannot be cancelled. So if you buy one and the weather ruins your plans, you won’t get your money back.
You can buy the Savings Day Ticket with or without a half-fare card for either 1st or 2nd class. |Savings Day Ticket|Price with Half-Fare Card|Price without Half-Fare Card| |-----------|-------------|--------------| |2nd class|from 29 CHF|from 52 CHF| |1st class|from 49 CHF|from 88 CHF|
Who is the Saver Day Pass suitable for?
Once you know the day you want to travel through Switzerland, it's worth keeping an eye out for a Saver Day Pass. It's valid for almost all trips on the public transport network. The only exception is mountain railways.
Here are some ideas, tips, and additional information on using the Saver Day Pass:
- Take a trip on the Panorama Train. The Saver Day Pass is valid here. However, you also need a seat reservation, which is mandatory on the Bernina Express, Gotthard Panorama Express, and Glacier Express.
- Travel to Rigi or Stanserhorn. These two mountain railways accept the SBB Saver Day Pass, making them exceptions among mountain railways.
- Combine your city trip with a boat ride on the lake. For example, you can take the cogwheel train from Arth-Goldau up to Rigi, do some hiking at the top, or visit the Rigi Kaltbad, then take the train to Vitznau and sail across Lake Lucerne to Lucerne.
- The Saver Day Pass can even be an attractive alternative to the Swiss Travel Pass. If you're staying in Switzerland for a week or more, buying a Swiss Half Fare Card might also be worth it. This way, you get the Saver Day Pass at a reduced price.
- Because the Saver Day Pass is valid until 5:00 AM the next day, you can stay out late and enjoy the nightlife before returning by public transport.
- Note that this day pass is personalized and valid only for the person who bought it. So you can't pass it on if you don't need it.
Day Pass with Half-Fare Card
The Day Pass with Half-Fare Card differs from the Saver Day Pass in two main ways.
- It is available without restrictions and always costs the same (75 CHF for 2nd class)
- You must have a Half-Fare Card or Swiss Half Fare Card to buy this day pass
This means you can buy it much closer to your travel date and adjust to your current plans if you can’t travel on the day you originally wanted. Otherwise, the benefits are the same as with the Saver Day Pass.
Who is the Day Pass with Half Fare suitable for?
The Day Pass with Half Fare is also ideal for trips all over Switzerland. Here are some ideas, tips, and additional information for using it:
- The day pass is not personalized and can easily be passed on if you don’t need it. This makes it great as a gift if you want to surprise someone or take it along on your trip.
- If you’ve always wanted to travel on one of the Swiss panoramic trains, this “regular” day pass lets you save a lot compared to the standard train ticket. The day pass is valid on all panoramic trains — the Glacier Express, the Gotthard Panorama Express, the Bernina Express, and the Golden Pass Line. However, on all trains except the Golden Pass Line, you also need a seat reservation. Though a reservation is recommended even on the Golden Pass Line.
- The day pass costs a bit more than the saver day pass. That's why it’s especially worth it for longer trips. A round trip from Zurich to Interlaken doesn’t quite cover it. But if you’re travelling from Zurich to Lausanne or planning a trip to Ticino, the day pass pays off.
- A really great outing takes you to the Swiss National Park in the Engadine. You can use the day pass for your journey there and return by PostBus to the nearest train station after your hike.
- Since the ticket is valid until 5:00 AM the next day, you can stay out later in the evening and enjoy the nightlife before heading back with your day pass.
Tandem Day Pass GA-Youth
Hey young people! Things are getting exciting for you now.
If you're under 25 years old and have a GA Youth, GA Apprentice, or GA Child, you can take a companion along for just 20 CHF for an entire day. And that means in the class where your GA is valid.
The only condition is that this person must also be under 25 years old. This way, you can explore Switzerland together for a whole day.
Who is the Tandem Day Pass GA-Youth suitable for?
As the name suggests, this offer is aimed at teenagers and young adults. Here are some tips, ideas, and information on how to use this ticket:
- No matter who you have visiting and where they're from, with the [Tandem Day Pass]() you can take them along for a whole day, until 5:00 AM the following day. This way, you can discover Switzerland together without breaking the bank.
- The Tandem Day Pass is especially great if you're hosting someone from abroad. Since your guest might not have a Swiss Half Fare Card, a Swiss Travel Pass, or any other train pass, things can get pricey quickly. But if you're traveling together, your guest can save a lot of money.
- With the Tandem Day Pass, you can both enjoy the nightlife wherever you find a party. It doesn't matter if you want to discover the nightlife in Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, St. Gallen, or Geneva. You travel together there and back.
- Your guest needs to show an official ID to prove that their 25th birthday is still ahead of them. You'll also need to show your GA during the check.
Prerequisite for the Tandem Day Pass GA Youth is one of the following cards:
- GA Travelcard for Youth
- GA Travelcard Familia for Youth,
- Trial GA Travelcard for Youth
- GA Travelcard for Children
- GA Travelcard Familia for Children
- GA Travelcard for Trainees
- GA Travelcard for Disabled Persons or
- 1-month GA Travelcard for Youth
Friends Day Pass Youth
Here’s another day pass that will get young hearts racing.
The Friends Day Pass lets you and up to three other friends, all under 25 years old, travel anywhere within the GA validity area for just 80 CHF! So if you’re traveling as a group of four, it’s only 20 CHF per person, allowing you to go wherever the wind—or the train or boat—takes you.
Who is the Friends Day Pass Youth for?
As the name suggests, the Friends Day Pass Youth is specially designed for young people. If you’re all under 25, there’s nothing holding you back from this great travel deal. Here are some tips, ideas, and information to make the most of this ticket:
- No need for a half-fare card with the Friends Day Pass Youth.
- This day pass is definitely the best deal for backpackers traveling together through Switzerland. Even with a discounted day pass, you won't find a cheaper option. So if you're traveling with friends in Switzerland, no matter where you come from, the Friends Day Pass Youth is your best buddy—as long as you're all traveling together.
- You can enjoy a touch of extra luxury for a small additional fee. In first class, the day pass is only 120 CHF, which is just 10 CHF more per person. Especially when you're sailing on a steamship, it can be a delightful experience.
- Whether you want to explore panorama trains, cities, lakes, nightlife, or mountains, the Friends Day Pass Youth is definitely your best choice and perfectly suited for you.
Child Day Pass
With the Child Day Pass, a child can travel all day long in the second class across Switzerland for 19 CHF, either alone, with other children, or with adults. In first class, the day pass costs 33 CHF. The only requirement is that the child must still have their 16th birthday ahead of them.
Who is the Child Day Pass suitable for?
If a child often travels with their parents or grandparents, they likely have a Junior Card or a Child Companion Ticket. However, these are valid for a whole year, are personalized, and can only be used for travel with those specific individuals.
Thus, the Child Day Pass can be worthwhile when the journey does not involve parents or grandparents. Here are some ideas, tips, and additional information for its use:
- Like all other day passes, the Child Day Pass is valid on all public transport in Switzerland until 5:00 AM the following day.
- The Child Day Pass is ideal for outings where the child, for example, travels with another family.
- If the child takes a trip with friends or visits their grandparents with siblings independently, the Child Day Pass is a good deal, but only if the total travel costs exceed the price of the day pass.
Dog Day Pass
With the Dog Day Pass, your dog can join you for a day of travel. Just make sure you have a valid ticket yourself. Then your four-legged friend pays 25 CHF to come along.
By the way, you only need a ticket for your dog if they are taller than 30 cm. If they are smaller, you can take them for free in a bag or a suitable container.
Bike Day Pass
If you're planning a larger trip with your bike and want to cover part of the journey using public transport, you definitely need a Bike Day Pass in your bag. You can get one for as little as 14 CHF when combined with a valid ticket for yourself. So you don't have to travel far for the Bike Day Pass to be worthwhile. For shorter distances, a half-price zone or route ticket for your bike will suffice. But from 14 CHF onwards, you should switch to the day pass instead of getting single tickets.
You can take your bike in the class where your own ticket is valid. Just remember that trains usually have special compartments set up. There, you can secure your bike to bike hooks.
Keep the following tips and restrictions in mind when using your Bike Day Pass:
- Most cable cars and ferry companies don’t allow bike transport.
- From March to October, a seat reservation is mandatory on Intercity trains. This includes the routes IC2/21 through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (Basel/Zürich–Ticino), and the routes IC5/51 along the southern Jura (Basel–Biel/Bienne, Rorschach/Zürich–Biel/Bienne–Lausanne/Genève).
- On public holidays, the reservation requirement applies to all InterCity lines.
- Year-round, a reservation for the Swiss sections is mandatory on internationally operating trains such as EuroCity (EC), InterCityExpress (ICE), Railjet (RJX), and InterCity (IC) Zürich HB–Singen/Stuttgart.
Day Pass for Schools
This Day Pass is, not as the name suggests, only valid for schools. Kindergartens, trainees, students or homes for the disabled, orphanages and educational institutions also benefit from a low ticket price of 15 CHF per person. Expressly, this ticket is also provided for "Youth + Sport" events and other events of official character.
The Day Pass for Schools may be used by children and young people between 6 and 15.99 years of age. It is valid for 10 or more people, and dogs are included in these 10 people. For every eight children, a maximum of two adults are allowed to use this Day Pass for Schools.
Since additional information such as the exact travel time as well as the place of entry and exit must be provided for the reservation, a form must be filled out in advance at SBB.
