10 Train Travel Hacks Only Swiss Locals Know 🇨🇭🚂
If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland and want to make the most of its amazing train system, this video is for you. I’m sharing 10 train travel hacks that only Swiss locals know.
Switzerland is known for its world-class train system, but only locals know how to make the most of it. By the end of this video, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to travel efficiently, save money, and uncover the true beauty of Swiss train travel.
For travel tips about Switzerland visit https://switzerlandinsider.com
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Links I promised in the video 🤝
Train Passes 🚂 (on switzerlandinsider.com):
– Swiss Half Fare Card: https://switzerlandinsider.com/swiss-half-fare-card/
– Saver Day Pass: https://switzerlandinsider.com/saver-day-pass-and-supersaver-tickets-in-switzerland/
– Swiss Family Card: https://switzerlandinsider.com/swiss-family-card/
– Swiss Travel Pass: https://switzerlandinsider.com/swiss-travel-pass/
– Seat Reservation: https://switzerlandinsider.com/do-you-need-to-reserve-a-seat-on-swiss-trains/
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Mountain Tops ⛰️:
Klewenalp: https://youtu.be/AU_eiErjmI4
Stanserhorn: https://youtu.be/_KANMhM2dmE
Pilatus: https://youtu.be/e0S4j3XEfMw
Titlis: https://youtu.be/F4mCANAEfdw
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10 Travel Hacks only Swiss locals know: https://switzerlandinsider.com/10-travel-hacks-only-swiss-locals-know-train-edition/
10 Tourist Mistakes to Avoid in Switzerland: https://switzerlandinsider.com/top-10-tourist-mistakes-to-avoid-in-switzerland/
Official SBB website: https://www.sbb.ch/en
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Timestamps of this video:
0:00 Introduction
0:22 Hack 1: Panoramic Trains
1:39 Hack 2: Seat Reservations
3:10 Hack 3: Kids Area and Silent Zones
3:55 Hack 4: Swiss Half Fare Card
4:54 Hack 5: Saver Day Passes
6:20 Hack 6: Supersaver Tickets
7:12 Hack 7: Swiss Family Card
8:27 Hack 8: Guest Cards
10:11 Hack 9: Luggage Lockers
11:01 Hack 10: Boat Tours
11:38 Closing Remarks
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Thank you for watching and for your trust!
Greg
38 Comments
I am planning to travel to Swiz for 6 days.
Only first and last day ill need train pass between Zurich to Lauterbrunnen and last day betwen lucern to geneva.
Other 4 days planning to spend in and around Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Lucern.
So is BOB or Swiss Pass better?
Because with Berneroblerland pass i still have to take additional pass for first and last day.
I dont have a proper itinerary planned, so not sure how many times i might jop in & out so Half fare pass might be a little hectic I guess.
Greg is our swiss tour guide , hey why dont you work as a tour guide , I will be the first to stand in the line … greg did i say you are the best swiss guide ..
Hi, useful video thanks. Not sure you read the comments… I pre-booked train tickets (Zurich to Interlaken) which are non refundable unfortunately 😢. Is it still worth getting a half fare pass if we intend exploring Grindelwald and laubrummen (sorry spelling lol) but not top of the world. Arrive on Tuesday for 5 days, 2 adults and 2 14 years old. Thinking maybe break even but not much better. The Zurich train would have been a huge saving at half price and free kids. Pays to research first!
Hi @greg…i will be traveling from milan in mid December for 5 days before Christmas..can you please suggest the train and which places can I visit
Thank you for this video. May I ask you a question pls. I am visiting Switzerland for 6 days. 3 in the Jungrau region, & 3 in Lucerne/Zurich. I have a rental car from Milan driving into Switzerland. Do you recommend I get the Jungrau Travel Pass or the Half Fare card? And do you think I can get around without the rental car if my airbnb is about 1hr away from Interlaken, Lucerne, & Zurich?
is the Swiss half fare card better than the Swiss travel pass? I am there for 3 days in September with my partner, landing in Zurich for 1 night and then Interlaken, we will also take some cable cars. Switzerland is so expensive, if we can save any money would be great!
Hi Greg, your video are amazing! Pls help me.. we are planing to travel to Zermatt from Milan, but we don't know which train we should take to reach Zermatt. Hope you see my comment the soonest
I have read carefully the whole content at your website, but have some kye questions. Unfortunately, there is no email address..
You are awesome guide man. I am watching a lot of videos to plan for my travel in Aug 2nd week. I wish I had landed in your channel earlier and not wasted my time watching other videos. Your channel is a GEM and you deserve 1 mil subscribers.
excellent, thank you so much from New Zealand 😃🙂🙃
Funny man, and straight to the point tips.
I was confused before watching this video. Thank you now i am even more confused
Im from Switzerland swiss. And your Stopps make also so complicated 🤷🏼♀️
I am not local, glad that I already knew most of the information mentioned here. The saver day pass is good option if you only travel for one or two days, but you need to book well in advance to get good price, and it is non-refundable. It seems will not give you discount for most gondola or cogwheel train (e.g. Grindelwald – First), I need to get confirmation when I use it later.
As for the Bernina Express, you could skip the seat reservation if you are happy to sit in the non-panoramic coaches. Bernina Express isn't hauled by a locomotive, but by a powerful 3-car electric unit branded Allegra. The seats in the 3 Allegra coaches are all unreserved, you can sit in these seats without a seat reservation, with any valid ticket or railpass (including saver day pass). Reservation of seats in the Allegra cars is not even possible, all the seats are available to anyone, first come, first served. The windows in those coaches can be opened to take photos.
Please tell about cheap and comfortable stays in Switzerland with family
Hey there!
Swiss railway worker here.
Important addition to the super-saver-tickets:
The tickets are ONLY valid on the choosen train.
Not the one 10 minutes earlier, not on the one 5 minutes later. Only on the one written on the ticket.
This is one of the most common mistakes that a lot of people do.
Yes it is valid if your train is to late. You can take the next one. Please note, this is not valid for flights if they do not arrive on time.
The half fare card is CHF 170.- and valid for one year, not one month
Important Info: if you're under 25, the Half-Fare-Card costs 120 CHF for AN ENTIRE YEAR. The yearly cost for adults is 190 CHF, which is already worth it if you stay more than one month.
4:55 Not buy a normal Half Fare Card. YOu can buy something called "Schnupper HALBTAX" its not always avaliable but you can look up in google and type "Schnupper Halbtax Code/Coupon" if you find a valid code you can present that at the counter at basel or zurich or other Main Station. Then it cost only like 25 CHF for 2 Months. Dont have to pay for a full year!. And other Tipp. If you have a swiss friend and they have a GA . You can buy a "day pass" only to 20 CHF (if you under 25 you can buy a friend tandemcard" and travel very cheap. or with 4 Friends for 80 CHF Friends-Daypass
Hi please suggest placesvto visit from St. Gallen in a budget.
Also is there any place you can walk on snow on mountain top even during July?
Hi do you mean that a saver day pass is valid throughout Switzerland or only for the specific route (assuming return journey) it was purchased from the options showing under that route? Please confirm.
Also it is valid for that specific day?
I am visiting Berne, Lucerne and Zurich next month. From Zurich, I plan to do a day trip to Vaduz. No plan to go to Grindelwald and Interlaken. Would the Swiss Half Fare Card benefit me or just buy the individual tickets? Thx for your reply.
Wow… your video give us a lot of interesting Train tips for Swiss Train… Thank you 🍒🍒🍒
Me, a local, watching this to see if I can save somewhere that I didn't know 😅
Don‘t say „okay“ always 😀 OKAY? 😀
Hello. Could you please suggest me if I should buy a train pass or rent a car if I am coming to Switzerland for 5nights. Landing at Zurich then 2nights stay at Lucerne thereafter 2nights at zermatt and then 1 night at Zurich. I’m very confused because the train passes are costing a lott for 2 people.
Good tips! Ticino (Locarno, Lugano, etc) also has a guess card for train and bus transportation free within the canton if you book a hotel. I've experienced it and it really changes your travel.
But the Half fare card is only for Swiss residents (with permanent swiss address), not for tourist, right?
Can you tell me on gevena
Like and subscribe! I'm fly to the Switzerland next week:)) Very great job with your help for many people and me 🙏:)) Thanks so much ❤ Do you have a video about the trip from Bern/Zurich to the Tichino and what is chiper hotel on the trip to Ticino/Locarno/Minusio, on Lake Maggiore?
can you please tell if there will be time limit or re schedule in trains for Christmas and new year! , also closed mountains ect?
Hey, how and where can I avail my Lucerne guest card discounts? Shall I book the tickets (Mt. Pilatus & Mt. Titlis) online or offline for that?
Do I’ve to reserve the Burgenstock Ferry, or can I buy the tickets in the same day ?
Hello..a new subscriber here from Toronto and thank you for this informative vlog. We, party of 4 seniors, are going to Switzerland in April 2025. Our 8 days itinerary includes: Lucerne (our main base), a day visit to Basel, Berne, Zurich, Liechtenstein and Interlaken. For our panoramic train, which do you recommend? Mt Pilatus or Mt Rigi? And do we have to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass for the above itinerary? Thanks Greg.
Thanks!
Is there a fast way to calculate if a Swiss travel pass will actually save me money? We already know what we want to do on our 7 days next year in October. Thanks.
Ciao, verro in svizzera precisamente a ginevra, in un giorno vorremmo spostarci una volta a lausanne, e poi a montreux per poi tornare a ginevra, stiamo cercando di prendere i biglietti ma non capiamo nulla, cosa ci consigli??
Personal advice – when you arrive in Switzerland – usually either in Basel, Zuerich, or Geneva – either by rail or airports – go to the SBB (Swiss Rail Way company) customer/ticket counters and ask for advice. Multilingual experts will help you.