Discount card
Swiss Half Fare Card
Switzerland · Swiss Travel System
Visitor discount card
Swiss Half Fare Card: buy the card, then tickets
SBB prices the card at CHF 150 for one month. It reduces many fares but does not replace the ticket for an individual journey.
- Valid for one month
- For visitors resident outside Switzerland
- Reduced 1st- and 2nd-class tickets
Tickets and passes
Book the Swiss Half Fare Card
Select the one-month visitor product, not the annual Half Fare Travelcard intended for Swiss residents.
Selected routes
Reductions on scenic trains and mountain railways
The map shows important routes for which an official coverage rule is available.
- Chur–TiranoDiscounted by 50 % with Swiss Half Fare CardReservation requiredHighest mapped stop: 2,253 m
- Zermatt–St. MoritzDiscounted by 50 % with Swiss Half Fare CardReservation requiredHighest mapped stop: 2,033 m
- GoldenPass ExpressMontreux–Interlaken OstDiscounted by 50 % with Swiss Half Fare CardReservation recommendedHighest mapped stop: 1,050 m
- Lucerne–Interlaken ExpressLucerne–Interlaken OstDiscounted by 50 % with Swiss Half Fare CardReservation recommendedHighest mapped stop: 1,002 m
- from Vitznau: Vitznau–Rigi Kulmfrom Arth-Goldau: Arth-Goldau–Rigi KulmDiscounted by 50 % with Swiss Half Fare CardHighest mapped stop: 1,798 m
- cogwheel railway: Alpnachstad–Pilatus Kulmcable car: Kriens–Pilatus KulmDiscounted by 50 % with Swiss Half Fare CardHighest mapped stop: 2,073 m
- via Lauterbrunnen: Interlaken Ost–Jungfraujochvia Grindelwald: Interlaken Ost–JungfraujochDiscounted by 50 % with Swiss Half Fare CardReservation requiredHighest mapped stop: 3,454 m
- Zermatt–GornergratDiscounted by 50 % with Swiss Half Fare CardNo reservation requiredHighest mapped stop: 3,089 m
The map is a product selection, not a complete coverage map.
Reduction by route
Where the Swiss Half Fare Card is recognised
| Route | Swiss Half Fare Card |
|---|---|
| Bernina Express | 50 % discountReservation separate |
| Glacier Express | 50 % discountReservation separate |
| GoldenPass Express | 50 % discount |
| Lucerne–Interlaken Express | 50 % discount |
| Rigi Railways | 50 % discount |
| Pilatus mountain transport | 50 % discount |
| Jungfraujoch railway | 50 % discount |
| Gornergrat Railway | 50 % discount |
You still need to buy a reduced travel ticket. Reservations remain separate when the train requires one.
With and without the Swiss Half Fare Card
| Component | With the Swiss Half Fare Card | Without the card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discount card | CHF 150 once for one month | No upfront card cost | |
| Ordinary journey | Buy a reduced ticket as well | Buy the normal-fare ticket | |
| Saver Day Pass | Reduced price available | Also sold without a card, usually at a higher starting price | |
| Scenic train | Reduced fare where applicable; seat separate | Normal fare; seat separate |
Scroll the table sideways
Validity and use
When the Swiss Half Fare Card pays off
Table of Contents
How the Swiss Half Fare Card works
Buy the discount card first, then buy a ticket for every journey. In a timetable or ticket shop, select the Half Fare Card reduction. During inspection, present both the ticket for the route and the personalised discount card. You must also carry an original passport or official identity card.
The visitor Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 and is valid for one month, according to SBB. It is intended for travellers whose permanent residence is outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The reduction applies to both 1st- and 2nd-class travel; the class is selected on each additional ticket.
Which journeys receive a reduction?
SBB lists trains, buses and boats, scenic trains, mountain railways, gondola lifts and public transport in more than 90 Swiss towns and cities. Not every fare is cut by exactly 50 per cent. Short local journeys and selected tourist products may use a different reduction.
Supersaver Tickets and Saver Day Passes can also be cheaper with the Swiss Half Fare Card. Price and availability depend on the travel date and offer. Holding a discount card does not make a train-specific saver ticket flexible.
Check whether the card pays off
Calculate the same journeys twice:
- Add the current ticket prices without a discount card.
- Add the prices with the Swiss Half Fare Card, then add CHF 150 for the card.
- Keep reservations and supplements separate in both totals.
- Compare the result with the relevant Swiss Travel Pass duration.
The card often suits travellers who stay in one or two bases, plan a few expensive excursions and want to buy each ticket separately. Ordinary tickets may cost less on a very light itinerary; a pass can be simpler or cheaper across many travel days.
Children and families
A traveller’s own children aged 6 to under 16 can use a free Swiss Family Card when they are added to a parent’s card during purchase. Children under 6 do not need a ticket under the current SBB rule. Confirm that every child appears correctly in the checkout.
Updated August 2026. See the SBB Swiss Half Fare Card page for current prices, validity rules and booking options.
Swiss Half Fare Card
Common questions
Is the Swiss Half Fare Card itself a ticket?+
No. You still need a valid ticket for every journey. The card only proves your eligibility for the reduced fare.
Is the card valid for exactly 30 days?+
SBB describes the validity as one month. Choose the first day and check the end date printed on the product.
Is every discount exactly 50 per cent?+
No. SBB refers to half-price or reduced fares. Short local trips and selected tourist services may receive a smaller reduction.
Do I need seat reservations as well?+
Where a reservation is mandatory or desired, book it in addition to the reduced travel ticket. The discount card does not reserve a seat.
Add up your planned fares first
The card pays off only when savings across your individual tickets exceed the cost of the card.