How do I know which routes are free with the Swiss Travel Pass?

brunomozzer · 2022-12-13T23:58:15+00:00

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brunomozzer

Hi! It will be my first time in Switzerland in December/January and I don’t have much experience in Europe, I don’t have much experience with public transport either.
I bought the Swiss Pass Travel and I’m still in a long learning process, especially with this route website.
My question is: How do I know exactly which routes will be free on my trip?
For example, one day I plan to go from Wengen to Murren, Bistro Birg, Birg.
The website shows me all the routes, but I read a lot about some routes not being 100% free, but discounted. How do I see all this information about the trips I intend to take within Switzerland?
Could you do a simulation of this route I mentioned earlier please?

RolandP

Hi brunomozzer

That’s easy to know; you simply look up the Swiss Travel Pass validity map and check the legend. All solid red, yellow, blue and black lines are free of charge. Dotted lines provide a discount, grey lines require a full fare ticket.

Go to this page and click the View area of validity link mentioned in Benefits section: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/planning/transport-accommodation/tickets-public-transport/swiss-travel-pass/

Get back to us if you need further information.

Best regards,
Roland

RolandP

Hi brunomozzer

First of all, I suggest you not to buy mountain railway tickets in advance. Only buy them on the day of travel. In case the weather won’t be good you will have spent money for nothing.

The Swiss Travel Pass entitles free travel to inhabited places only. Any place above the inhabited places is not free of charge, with the only exception of Mt. Rigi, Mt. Stanserhorn, and Stoos.

When using cable cars, gondolas, or mountain railways simply buy the tickets from the ticket window or the the railway travel center and mention that you hold the STP. The staff will let you know if the STP is partially accounted or not.

What concerns the Jungfraujoch trip, the STP grants free travel to Wengen. From Wengen to Jungfraujoch you will have to pay 75%.

When looking for tickets there isn’t any possibility on sbb.ch to save the STP which is then taken into account by the webshop and offering discounted tickets according to the STP validity map.

If you allow a travel tip: if you are going to Mürren, there is a very nice spot called “Winteregg” (google for images); it’s a railway stop between Grütschalp and Mürren. You can walk from there to Mürren in about 40 minutes. In my opinion, Winteregg is one of the most beatuiful spots we have in Switzerland offering breathtaking views on Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. And the food which is served at Winteregg restaurant is authentic swiss.

Best regards,
Roland

brunomozzer

Hi RolandP

This will indeed help me, but is there any way I can see the map that way specifically on the route I chose directly from the https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html website?

As in the example I cited above (Wengen to Murren, Bistro Birg, Birg).

I find this map really useful when I want to go from “city to city”, but when going somewhere more specific, I am worried about which tickets I should buy in advance or reserve, as I read about having to pay a fine if I getting on the transport and not having the ticket.
I bought the Swiss Travel Pass to be as carefree as possible, but these details still bother me.

Another example is when I put “Wengen to Jungfraujoch”, on the website https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html I can only see a solid red line to the destination, I can make it detailed to see the types of transport and which ones are free without having to look up the entire route on the Swiss Travel Pass validity map?

Thank you!

brunomozzer

RolandP

You are fantastic! Thank you very much for your effort to help me!
I will definitely follow your tip about Winteregg.
Just one more question about this: I intend to go to Winteregg when I’m staying in Wengen, I researched about the trains there and as you quoted, one of them shows Grütschalp - Winteregg, Platform 1 “Stop on request”.Does this “Stop on request” have something specific? Every time this appears on any of my trips, should I ask to stop at that station?Because Grütschalp - Winteregg takes only 5 minutes. To whom or how should I make this request?

Thank you again!!

RolandP

brunomozzer

You are very welcome. If the weather is good, you will remember my words when I said the views are breathtaking from there.

You do not have to worry about the stop on request. During the day, the place is enough frequented, consequently the train will stop without explicit request. Otherwise, you will find buttons marked as such inside the car.

I wish you a joyful time in our country and great travel experiences using public transportation.
Roland

schwarzd

brunomozzer

Many thanks to @RolandP for the helpful answers and suggestions.

About the subject “Stop on Request”, there is a community post with an example: stop on request (at a railway station).

Have a great stay in Switzerland!

Daniel