Swiss Half Fare Card [Valid for 1 month / 50% off Jungfraujoch / Instant ticketing / Half-price Swiss train tickets / Train pass / Half-price attractions]

What is the Swiss Half Fare Card?

Buy Swiss train, bus, cruise, scenic view, and select mountain cable car tickets within one month and enjoy discounts of up to 50%.

Swiss Half Fare Card map View discount range

1. General basic discount rules

1. Validity period: 1 month (30 days), valid throughout Switzerland

2. Uniform discount: Most mountain cable cars, mountain trains, and local transportation enjoy a 50% discount (50% off)

3. Usage method: Present the card for on-site/online ticket purchase. Half-price tickets must be purchased separately, with no free access privileges.

4. Child policy: Children aged 6–15 can travel for free (with a free family card); children under 5 travel free.

5. Restrictions: does not include museum admission ticket deals, only transportation items are discounted

Usage instructions

Step 1: Purchase tickets through the SBB app (or present your Swiss Half Fare Card at local stations to buy tickets).

Step 2: When checking tickets, simply present the QR code and the ticket proof in the SBB app on your mobile device.

Validity Period

Valid for 30 days from the first selected date of purchase

Advantages

This is perfect for seniors planning a longer stay in Switzerland, as it's valid for up to one month and offers great savings.

Buy an expensive Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe travel card and enjoy 50% off (25% off with Swiss Travel Pass).

Disadvantages

Before departure, you need to check schedules and book tickets, requiring separate purchases for each trip. This is less convenient compared to the Swiss Travel Pass, which allows you to travel without ticket reservations.

Swiss Half Fare Card e-ticket pass

· The Swiss Half Fare Card allows travelers to ride Swiss trains (including scenic trains such as the Bernina Express, Gotthard Panorama Express, Glacier Express, Lucerne–Interlaken Express, and GoldenPass Express), buses, cruises, and most mountain railways and cable cars at up to half price. It is an ideal companion for travelers on short trips and tours in Switzerland. The Swiss Half Fare Card is valid for one month and is issued as an e-ticket. Travelers can choose between first or second class and purchase tickets at up to 50% off.

Enjoy 50% discounts on trains across Switzerland (including scenic trains), buses, cruises, and most mountain railways and cable cars. (Due to fare restrictions, discounts on short routes may be less than 50%.)

· Get 50% off on public transport like buses, trams, and boats in over 90 Swiss towns. (Due to fare restrictions, discounts on short routes and urban transport networks may be less than 50%)

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a Swiss Pass and a Swiss Half Fare Card?

A: The advantage of the Swiss Travel Pass is that it is very convenient to use: you only need to decide which train to take, and then fill in the boarding date and other information on the travel pass, and you can travel around Switzerland freely (of course, except for trains that require reservations). In contrast, the Swiss Half Fare Card is not so convenient because it is

This card cannot be used to board trains! With this half-price card, you still need to queue to buy tickets or book train tickets in advance on the app. However, you'll get a half-price discount every time you queue to purchase tickets. Note that discounts on some public transport services may not be half-price, so please confirm before buying your ticket.

Q: Should I use a Swiss Pass or a Swiss Half Fare Card?

A: You can decide based on your itinerary. The Swiss Half Fare Card is valid for one month. If you mainly use transportation other than trains for most of your trip, or if your train travel days are relatively spread out, choose the Swiss Half Fare Card. The Swiss Travel Pass is suitable for those who have

For travelers with fixed travel dates and train itineraries, it can be more cost-effective than the Half-Fare Card. Of course, you can purchase both and decide which one to use based on your itinerary. For example, use the Swiss Pass on days when you'll frequently use public transportation or visit attractions and take cruises, while the Swiss Half-Fare Card is better for days when you only visit one attraction.

Q: How long is the validity period of the Swiss Half Fare Card?

A: Valid for one month, its expiration date is calculated from the traveler's first day of travel, not from the date of purchase. Therefore, it is still advisable to purchase the Half-Fare Card early.

Q: Can I get free access to Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe with a Swiss Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card?

A: Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe is a popular attraction that visitors almost always go to, so the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe mountain railway is not among the free railways. If you hold a Swiss Pass, you can travel for free to Interlaken or Grindelwald, and then get a 25% discount on the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe mountain railway.

Alternatively, if you have a Swiss Half Fare Card, you can enjoy a 50% discount on the journey from Interlaken to the summit.

Q: How can I check the train schedule?

A: The easiest way is to download the "SBB Mobile" app. Besides checking timetables for various public transportation options (including trains, buses, boats, and cable cars), you can also buy tickets, reserve seats, and apply for lost and found items directly within the app. Furthermore, the app provides real-time updates about Swiss trains, such as delays that might affect your itinerary, and even offers alternative travel suggestions, making it very convenient.

Q: How should adults with a Swiss Pass purchase attraction admission tickets when accompanied by children (holding a Swiss Pass family card)?

A: Summary

Matterhorn (full route), Schilthorn, Titlis, Rigi, Pilatus, and Stanserhorn: adults get half-price tickets, while children aged 6-15 travel free with a family card. Special exception for Jungfraujoch: adults get half-price tickets, but children aged 6-15 must purchase a separate CHF 20 child ticket for the summit. During the peak season from May to October, both adults and children must pay an additional mandatory CHF 10 seat booking fee, bringing the total cost for children to CHF 30 during peak season.

I. ID usage prerequisites

When an adult purchases a valid Half Fare Card (Swiss Pass) and adds a child ticket, the system will automatically issue a Swiss Family Card. The family card discount will only take effect when the child is accompanied by the parent.

2. Age discount classification rules

Children aged 0–5: Free travel on all Swiss trains and mountain cable cars without needing to present any card or purchase tickets; limited to 1 free child per paying adult.

Children aged 6–15.99: discounts fall into two categories - most mountains offer free access with a family card, while only the Jungfrau requires an extra charge.

For those aged 16 or above: Standard adult pricing applies, and a half-price ticket must be purchased separately.

3. Restrictions on children traveling alone

If children aged 6–15 ride alone or go up the mountain without parental supervision, the family card discount will be invalid, and all transportation routes can only be purchased at 50% of the original price.

4. Ticket check ID

Segment ticket checks require presenting all three documents simultaneously: adult half fare card, Swiss family card, and child's passport (staff will verify age).

5. Zermatt area routes (all children travel free)

Täsch-Zermatt SBB commuter train adults check Half Fare card for 50% discount; accompanying children aged 6-15 travel free with family card and do not need separate tickets; when ordering online or offline, only adult passengers need to be registered without adding children, present full set of IDs during ticket inspection.

Gornergrat rack railway adults purchase round-trip half fare tickets; accompanying children aged 6-15 travel free with family card, no child ticket fee; only adult round-trip tickets need to be booked.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car (including crystal cable car and ice palace) adults with half fare card can purchase round-trip cable car tickets at half price; accompanying children aged 6–15 ride all cable lines free with family card; only adult cable car tickets need to be presented, no need to issue ticket for children, carry full set of IDs for inspection.

6. Bernese Oberland (Interlaken / Lauterbrunnen / Grindelwald region)

Jungfraujoch (special exception: family cards do not provide free admission). Adults using the half fare card can purchase round-trip half-price summit tickets. Children aged 6-15 must separately purchase a fixed CHF 20 child ticket for the summit, with no free option available. During the peak season from May 1 to October 31 each year, both adults and children must pay an additional mandatory CHF 10 seat booking fee. Booking action: add both adult and child passengers in the same booking, then print two separate tickets.

Adults get half-price tickets for Schilthorn (007 summit), while accompanying children aged 6-15 travel completely free with a family card, no need to purchase child tickets.

Adults get half-price tickets for Grindelwald First, while accompanying children aged 6-15 can ascend for free with a family card.

Local transportation including SBB trains, postal buses and lake cruises between Interlaken are all free for children aged 6-15 with a family card.

Seven. Lucerne lake region mountains (all applicable to the free policy for children)

Includes Rigi (rack railway + cable car), Pilatus (golden round trip), Titlis (rotating cable car), and Stanserhorn. General rule: Adults with a half fare card enjoy 50% off ticket prices; accompanying children aged 6–15 travel completely free with a family card. When booking, only adult passengers need to be entered, no need to add children.

8. Panoramic sightseeing train

Basic sections of the glacier express, Bernina express, and golden pass line:

Domestic railway section: Children aged 6–15 can ride for free with a family card.

Cable cars connecting during the journey / peak attractions: follow the respective mountain's own discount policies (children can ride for free except on the Jungfrau).

The mandatory train seat reservation fee is not included in the family card discount. When children occupy seats, some routes require an additional fee to reserve seats.