Public Transport
in Switzerland
Switzerland has one of the world's best public transport networks. Trains run on the minute, buses cover every village, and a single ticket works across all modes. Choosing the right pass can save you CHF 2,000+ per year.
| Pass | Cost | Discount | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Halbtax ⭐ Half-fare card | CHF 185/year | 50% off all tickets | Train, tram, bus, boat, cable car | Everyone who travels more than a few times/month |
GA (Generalabonnement) General travelcard | CHF 4,280/year (2nd class) | Unlimited travel | All SBB, PostBus, urban transport | Daily commuters — break even at ~CHF 357/month of travel |
GA 2nd class — monthly | CHF 399/month | Unlimited travel | All SBB, PostBus, urban transport | Testing before annual commitment |
Seven25 | CHF 450/year | Unlimited travel 7pm–5am + weekends | All SBB network | Under 25s who travel mostly evenings/weekends |
SBB Day Pass | CHF 52 (CHF 26 with Halbtax) | Unlimited travel 1 day | All SBB + urban transport | Occasional travel, visitors |
Regional passes | CHF 90–350/year | Free or 50% off in zone | Specific regions / cantons | If you rarely travel outside your region |
SBB Mobile app
The most-used app in Switzerland. Buy tickets, check real-time delays, platform numbers, and manage your Halbtax/GA. Essential — download on arrival.
FAIRTIQ
Tap to start, tap to stop — the app automatically calculates the cheapest fare for your trip. No need to look up routes or prices. Works on all Swiss public transport.
PubliBike
Swiss bike sharing network — available in most cities. CHF 3.50/30min or day passes. SBB app integrates PubliBike for door-to-station connections.
Mobility car sharing
Switzerland's car sharing network with 3,000+ vehicles nationwide. Perfect if you don't own a car but occasionally need one. CHF 2.80–3.60/hour + CHF 0.45/km.
| City | Network | Zone subscription/month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zürich | ZVV (zones 110) | CHF 84/month (zones 110-121) | 2-zone covers most of city + suburbs |
| Geneva | TPG / unireso | CHF 70/month (city zone) | Includes free bikes with annual pass |
| Bern | Bernmobil / RBS | CHF 72/month | Compact city, tram network efficient |
| Basel | BVB / BLT | CHF 65/month | Trams cross into France/Germany |
| Lausanne | TL / metro | CHF 68/month | Only Swiss city with a metro |
Start with Halbtax (CHF 185/year). Track your ticket spending for 1–2 months. If you consistently spend more than CHF 357/month on tickets even with Halbtax, a GA makes financial sense. Most people, especially in cities with a good local zone subscription, are better off with Halbtax + zone subscription.
Yes — your GA is your ticket for all SBB trains, PostBus, and urban transport (trams, buses) in all zones. You just need to scan your GA card or show the app. You don't buy separate tickets. Some mountain railways and special trains may require a surcharge even with GA.
Nearly — SBB reports ~93% of trains arriving within 3 minutes of schedule. Connections of under 5 minutes are common and usually work. However, major delays do occur, especially in winter storms. The SBB app gives real-time delay info and will automatically rebook you if you miss a connection.
In cities: definitely not. Public transport covers everything. In rural areas or smaller towns: a car helps but is rarely essential — there are bus routes to almost every village. Many Swiss families use Mobility car sharing for the occasional big shopping trip or weekend excursion and avoid car ownership entirely.