One of the best travel pass options for visitors to Switzerland is the Half Fare Card.
It is not as popular or famous as the Swiss Travel Pass, but it packs a punch nonetheless.
The Half Fare Card provides a boatload of benefits and lasts a month, no questions asked. And all at a very reasonable price.
So, if you are looking for the cheapest and most flexible option as a tourist in Switzerland, this might be it.
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Benefits Of The Half Fare Card
When you purchase a Half Fare Card, you get:
- Half-price travel on SBB transport (trains, buses and boats)
- Big discounts on the majority of mountain excursions (like Jungfraujoch, First, Harder Kulm, Rigi, Pilatus etc).
- Discounts on urban travel (city networks etc)
The Half Fare Card for tourists is similar to the one I have in my pocket. The only difference is that it is time-limited.
Half Fare Card Validity
The Half Fare Card is valid on the Swiss Travel System, which you can see below – or download a PDF by clicking on the image.

Anyone living outside of Switzerland or Liechtenstein can purchase a tourist Half Fare Travel card and it is valid for one month.
Currently, it costs 120 CHF.
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Buying Your Half Fare Card
The best option is to purchase it online before you arrive in Switzerland so that you can use it as soon as you land – to get from the airport.
This also saves you the time of lining up at the train station at the airport or in the city center and wasting your first day sorting out travel passes in Switzerland.
How to Use The Half Fare Card
You do not need to activate or use your Swiss Half Fare Card specifically when you travel. Just make sure you have a copy with you and a passport.
Just ensure that you use the Half Fare Card option when buying at ticket
- on the SBB website
- via the SBB App
- or at an SBB ticket counter
Your travel should be 50% cheaper than it would otherwise be.
The same goes for buying a ticket for a trip up the Jungfraujoch or any other mountain. The online ticket systems will have a discount section showing an option for Half Fare, or you can ask at the counter to get the discount.

And as you can see in the image above, it provides significant discounts even on the Jungfraujoch!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Swiss Half Fare card worth it?
The Swiss Half Fare Card is worth it if you are in Switzerland for less than a month and traveling by public transport a reasonable amount. It can also save you a lot of money if you plan on mountain excursions like the Jungfraujoch, First, Pilatus, Rigi and many others.
Does Swiss Half Fare work on Glacier Express?
The Swiss Half Fare Card is valid on all panoramic trains, including the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, the Gotthard Express and the GoldenPass Line.
Does Swiss Half Fare card cover cable cars?
Yes, the Half Fare Card offers significant discounts on most cable car journeys in Switzerland. Simply request a discount when you purchase your ticket.
Can foreigners buy the Half Fare card in Switzerland?
Foreigners can buy the Swiss Half Fare Card for tourists which is valid for one month and costs 120 CHF.
Plan Your Trip to Switzerland






I have a question about the Half Fare Card, does each person traveling need to purchase one ?
Yes. Otherwise, how many people would it be valid for?
Ashley, the information you provide is just wonderful. However, I’m overwhelmed with the numbers of travel passes available. We will be travelling Zurich – St. Moritz – Lucerne – Bern – Geneva – Zermatt – Interlaken – Zurich (in that order). After reading your last post I thought the regional passes are best for us but now I’m not sure.
Any quick advice?
Thanks.