Which Travel card/pass/ticket is better within Zurich?

Alam8

I am traveling to Zurich (1st time) from Italy (Tirano) and will be there from May 4 through 7. Flying back in the morning of the 7th. Looking to take the train from Tirano on the 4th and like to use public transportation while in Zurich for sightseeing. It is confusing as there are so many options and region restrictions with each option. Initially, I thought to get a “Swiss Travel Pass 3 days” but not sure due to all the restrictions/limitations, etc.
Any help?

Danhiel

Alam8 It were too expensive to buy a Swiss Travel Pass for 3 days only to visit Zurich. I explained in another discussion how to buy a ticket from Tirano to Zurich.

A day pass for public transportation in the city of Zurich costs 9.20 CHF.
A day pass for the city and an excursion to the Mount Uetliberg costs 18.40 CHF.

You have also the Zurich Card for 3 days at the price of 56 CHF with other advantages:

https://www.zuerich.com/en/zurichcard

Please note that some museums offers only a reduction with this card and not a free admission (for example the Kunsthaus).

RedBaron

Alam8 The Swiss Travel Pass would be a complete overkill for what you seem to intend, as it’s valid in entire(!) Switzerland. So what restrictions exactly are you referring to in this particular context?
In other words, getting a 3 day STP just for sightseeing in/around Zurich would be like paying for a full buffet breakfast in advance and just grabbing a glass of water and an apple…

You might rather want to look into this option It has a smaller area of validity (check the map), but includes some museums and other goodies.

Or maybe this option This one has a larger area of validity (= entire Canton/State of Zurich), but covers transportation only. As opposed to the Zurich Card, this would also include the long boat cruise on Lake Zurich up to Rapperswil and back, or even getting to Schloss Laufen (Rhine Falls) via Winterthur. (Warning, not further than Schloss Laufen, as crossing the Rhine = state border by train would require an additional extension ticket. But that railway bridge over the Rhine above the falls has a pedestrian footpath, used by most visitors)

Alam8

RedBaron Thank You!
This helps quite a bit.
I was planning to do sightseeing around Zurich and maybe a day trip to Interlaken or the Alps (not planning to ski) for scenic views. I may skip this day trip if I get enough of a scenic view from Tirano to Chur (assuming I can purchase the ticket as currently, I cannot buy the ticket on sbb.ch site. Tried multiple cards and different browsers). Another option is to take a different route via a long tunnel on Trenitalia that I can buy the ticket using my bank cards. I am not sure how the scenic view is on that route. If it is similar, I may just do that to avoid the issue of not being able to buy tickets with sbb.ch.

Danhiel

Alam8 Try to buy your ticket on thetrainline.com. You can find the same offers as on sbb.ch, Saver Day Passes are also available.

Alam8

Danhiel Thank you!
Do you know the other route via the long tunnel is scenic as well comparatively to via Tirano/Chur?

Danhiel

Alam8 The long tunnel (Gotthard) is partially close after an incident, some trains run on the old line who is more scenic as the long tunnel.

But I find that the line Tirano - Chur is better as the Gotthard line, you have more time to enjoy the landscape ans the trains are not so fast. You start in Tirano (altitude 441 m) and reach the higher point, the Bernina Pass (altitude 2328 m). The second part of the line, the Albula, is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Alam8

Danhiel This helps alot. Thank you!

Alam8

I will be in Zurich for 2 full days. Thinking of taking a day trip to Interlaken or Lucerne or maybe both.
Zurich Card seems good within the Zurich area. Is there another card/pass that will work for Interlaken and Lucerne?

RolandP

Hello Alam8

Depending on your travel plans, a Saver Day Pass could be a good investment.

You could do a round trip as part of a day trip: Zürich - Bern - Interlaken - Lucerne - Zürich. Interlaken is not really worth a visit. Rather go on a boat for Thun to Interlaken (Lake Thun) or Interlaken to Spiez (Lake Brienz).

Kind regards,
Roland

Alam8

RolandP This could work. I didn’t think of it. Thanks!
I will look into it.

Alam8

RolandP Sorry to keep bugging. One quick question.
Can you take a break at each location for a few hours with the Saver Day Pass?
Meaning, I looked at the schedule using “via” option, Zurich - Ber - Interlaken - Lucerne - Zurich. The schedule shows connecting trains within a few minutes, but I like to stop at each place for a few hours. Can I do that with this Pass or have to follow the exact connection? Or, do I need to do a separate ticket for each segment?