Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Daniel Globe
You can travel around Switzerland without a physical SwissPass card and without creating an account. The key is knowing the difference between a SwissPass login, a Swiss Travel Pass, and the SBB Mobile app. Tourists can buy eligible passes as guests, but the way you display and manage them depends on whether you purchased while logged in.
Quick Answer
Tourists do not need a physical SwissPass card or a SwissPass login to buy a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card. Buy as a guest and use the QR code sent by email. Create a SwissPass login only if you want an eligible pass to appear in SBB Mobile; Swiss Travel Pass Flex cannot be added.
Key Takeaways
- A SwissPass login is an account, while a Swiss Travel Pass is a tourist ticket.
- You can buy tourist passes as a guest on SBB.ch and receive a QR code by email.
- A Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card appears in SBB Mobile only when you buy it while signed in with the same login.
- Swiss Travel Pass Flex cannot be integrated into SBB Mobile, even when you buy it while logged in.
- Carry the original passport or official ID that matches the name on your pass.
Do Tourists Need a SwissPass Account?
No. You can buy a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, or Swiss Half Fare Card as a guest. SBB sends the ticket or pass to your email as a QR code for inspection. You do not need a physical SwissPass card.
A login becomes useful when you want an eligible tourist pass to appear inside SBB Mobile. You can create a SwissPass login even if you do not have a SwissPass card. During registration, select the option that says you do not have a SwissPass, then use the same login when buying the pass and signing in to the app.
SwissPass vs. Swiss Travel Pass vs. SBB Mobile
| Name | What it is | What tourists should know |
|---|---|---|
| SwissPass login | An online customer account used across SBB and other Swiss transport services. | Optional for guest purchases, but needed to store eligible tourist passes in SBB Mobile. |
| SwissPass card | A physical card that carries many Swiss public transport travelcards and services. | Tourists do not need one to use a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card. |
| Swiss Travel Pass | A tourist pass for unlimited travel on covered trains, buses, boats, and city transport during consecutive days. | Available only to people who live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein. |
| SBB Mobile | The official timetable and ticket app. | Use it for schedules, platform updates, ticket purchases, and eligible passes linked to your login. |
Note: “SwissPass Mobile” is a digital version of the SwissPass card inside SBB Mobile or SBB Preview. It is not the same product as the Swiss Travel Pass.
Swiss Travel Passes Tourists Can Buy
The main tourist products are the Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, Swiss Travel Pass Youth, and Swiss Half Fare Card. The right choice depends on how often you will travel, whether your travel days are consecutive, and how many mountain trips you plan.
The regular Swiss Travel Pass includes unlimited travel on covered trains, buses, boats, and panorama trains, plus local public transport in more than 90 towns and cities. It also includes admission to more than 500 museums, selected mountain excursions, and discounts on many other mountain railways. Seat reservations and supplements are not included.
Swiss Travel Pass Options
The regular Swiss Travel Pass covers 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days. The Flex version gives you the same number of travel days to use within one month. The Youth version gives travelers under 25 a 30% discount and has the same area of validity.
| Days | Regular 2nd class | Regular 1st class | Flex 2nd class | Flex 1st class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | CHF 254 | CHF 405 | CHF 289 | CHF 461 |
| 4 | CHF 309 | CHF 492 | CHF 349 | CHF 555 |
| 6 | CHF 399 | CHF 634 | CHF 424 | CHF 674 |
| 8 | CHF 439 | CHF 697 | CHF 459 | CHF 729 |
| 15 | CHF 499 | CHF 787 | CHF 519 | CHF 819 |
These adult prices are valid through December 31, 2026, according to SBB, but prices and conditions can change. Check the official SBB Swiss Travel Pass page before paying.
In 2026, an adult 2nd-class Swiss Travel Pass costs CHF 254 for 3 days or CHF 499 for 15 days. The one-month Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150.
Tourist Purchase Requirements
Swiss Travel System products are for travelers whose permanent residence is outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Enter each passenger’s name and date of birth exactly as shown on the passport or official ID. Also check the start date, travel class, and pass type before you pay.
- Choose a regular pass for consecutive travel days.
- Choose a Flex pass when you need nonconsecutive travel days within one month.
- Add children when buying the adult pass so eligible children receive the complimentary Swiss Family Card.
- Keep the original passport or official ID available during ticket inspections.
Pro Tip: Price your planned long-distance and mountain journeys before choosing a pass. A Swiss Travel Pass is convenient for frequent travel, while the Swiss Half Fare Card can cost less when you take fewer expensive trips.
Swiss Half Fare Card for Visitors
The Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 and is valid for one month. It gives you up to 50% off many train, bus, boat, city transport, mountain railway, and gondola fares. Some short routes, saver products, or combined offers may have a smaller reduction because minimum fares and special pricing can apply.
| Benefit | What it means |
|---|---|
| Up to 50% off transport | Buy reduced-price tickets instead of paying the full fare. |
| One-month validity | Useful for longer trips with travel spread across several weeks. |
| Visitor-only product | Your permanent residence must be outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein. |
| Swiss Family Card | Your children aged at least 6 and under 16 can travel free with you on covered routes. |
| App support | The card appears in SBB Mobile only when purchased while signed in. |
If you buy the card as a guest, the card itself will not appear in SBB Mobile. You can still use the app to buy reduced-price tickets. In the app, enter “Half Fare Travelcard (1/2)” under your travelcard settings so the timetable shows the correct fare. During inspection, show both the travel ticket and your Swiss Half Fare Card QR code, plus the original ID when requested. See the official Swiss Half Fare Card details.
How to Buy Tickets on SBB.ch
You can buy tourist passes and ordinary Swiss tickets on SBB.ch. A login is optional for most occasional purchases, but your choice affects whether the pass can be retrieved inside SBB Mobile.
- Choose the product. Compare a Swiss Travel Pass, Flex pass, Half Fare Card, and normal point-to-point tickets.
- Choose guest checkout or login. Use guest checkout for a simple emailed QR code. Sign in first if you want an eligible pass stored in SBB Mobile.
- Enter passenger details. Match the passport or official ID exactly.
- Select the correct start date and class. Review these details before payment because they affect validity.
- Add eligible children. Add each child during purchase to receive the Swiss Family Card when the conditions are met.
- Pay and save the confirmation. Download the QR code or ticket from the confirmation email and keep it available offline.
- Check reservations separately. Your pass covers the fare on included routes, but some panorama trains and international services still require a reservation or surcharge.
Note: Buying a pass and reserving a seat are separate actions. A Swiss Travel Pass may cover the journey while the reservation or supplement remains payable.
Using Swiss Tickets on Your Phone
You can use your phone for Swiss public transport, but the correct method depends on how you bought the product.
Save your emailed QR code offline before travel, and keep your original passport or official ID ready for inspection.
- Guest purchase: Use the QR code sent by email. The pass will not appear inside SBB Mobile.
- Purchase with a login: An eligible Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card can appear in SBB Mobile when you sign in with the same account.
- Swiss Travel Pass Flex: It cannot be integrated into SBB Mobile. Use the QR code supplied after purchase.
- Ordinary tickets: You can buy and display many Swiss tickets directly in SBB Mobile.
The SBB Mobile app is still useful when your pass is not stored there. You can search all public transport timetables, check platforms and disruptions, and buy individual tickets. Download the pass or QR code before boarding so a weak signal does not stop you from showing it.
What to Do if Your Pass Is Not Showing in SBB Mobile
- Confirm that you bought the pass while logged in, not as a guest.
- Sign in to SBB Mobile with the same email and password used for the purchase.
- Check the “Tickets & Travelcards” area and refresh the app.
- Remember that Swiss Travel Pass Flex cannot appear in the app.
- Use the emailed QR code if the app does not support your purchase type.
When a SwissPass Login Helps
A SwissPass login is helpful when you plan to make several purchases or want eligible tickets and passes stored in one account. It can save your passenger and payment details, show order information, and let supported passes appear in SBB Mobile.
You do not need a physical SwissPass card to create the login. However, creating an account after a guest purchase does not automatically move that old pass into the app. The important step is to sign in before buying the pass you want linked.
Warning: Do not assume every product can be linked later. Guest-bought tourist passes cannot be added to SBB Mobile, and Swiss Travel Pass Flex cannot be integrated at all.
Children and Family Travel Offers
Swiss tourist products can make family travel much cheaper. Children under 6 travel free on Swiss public transport and do not need a ticket. Children aged at least 6 and under 16 can travel free with the complimentary Swiss Family Card when accompanied by at least one parent who holds a valid Swiss Travel System product.
Swiss Family Card Benefits
The Swiss Family Card is not a separate pass you normally buy on its own. It is issued free with a qualifying Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, or Swiss Half Fare Card. Add the child as a passenger during the adult purchase so SBB can issue it correctly.
- It covers eligible children on the routes included by the parent’s Swiss Travel System product.
- The child must travel with at least one parent holding the qualifying ticket or pass.
- The child and parent should carry their original passports or official IDs for inspection.
- The offer is for visitors who live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Free Travel for Young Children
Children under 6 travel free when accompanied by a person with a valid ticket. A child who is already 16 does not qualify for the Swiss Family Card. Young travelers under 16 who travel alone can receive a reduced Swiss Travel Pass price, while travelers under 25 can use the Swiss Travel Pass Youth discount.
Family rules can differ for special services, reservations, and mountain attractions. Check the operator before booking a premium excursion or a train with a compulsory reservation.
Where to Get Help From SBB
For official help, use the SBB website, SBB Mobile, an SBB Travel Centre, or the SBB Contact Center. The contact center is available 24 hours a day at 0848 44 66 88 within Switzerland and +41 848 44 66 88 from abroad. Calls may be charged.
- Use the SBB Help & Contact page for current contact options.
- Use SBB Mobile for schedules, platforms, disruptions, and ticket purchases.
- Visit a staffed SBB Travel Centre when you need help with a complex international route.
- Keep your order number ready when asking about a purchase.
Italy Train Tickets for Swiss Travelers
A Swiss Travel Pass does not cover every train in Italy. Buy a separate ticket for the Italian portion of your route, and use the correct border point for the itinerary shown in the timetable.
| Typical route | Where the separate Italian ticket usually begins or ends |
|---|---|
| Milan or Venice via the Gotthard route | Chiasso |
| Milan via the Simplon route toward Brig or Zermatt | Domodossola |
| Bernina railway from Switzerland | The covered railway reaches Tirano; onward Italian travel normally needs a separate ticket. |
Do not buy every Italy-to-Switzerland ticket only to Chiasso by default. The correct point can be Chiasso, Domodossola, Tirano, or another station shown by the official area-of-validity map and your selected route. You may stay on the same international train when the pass becomes valid at the border, but a required reservation for the international service may still be included in or attached to the Italian ticket.
Warning: Italian regional ticket rules depend on the ticket format. Paper regional tickets must be validated before departure. Trenitalia’s current Digital Regional Ticket is automatically validated at the scheduled departure time, so do not follow old “stamp every ticket” advice for a digital ticket.
Compare the same route on SBB and Trenitalia, then check the fare rules, train number, class, changes, and reservation requirements before paying. For current Italian regional ticket rules, read Trenitalia’s regional train guidance.
Mountain Trips With a Swiss Travel Pass
The Swiss Travel Pass includes some mountain excursions and discounts many others. Coverage is not the same for every cable car, cogwheel railway, funicular, or seasonal service, so check the current map and operator rules before traveling.
Included Mountain Rides
SBB lists Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos among the included mountain excursions. The pass also covers the fare on many panorama trains, but compulsory seat reservations and supplements are separate.
- Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos are included under current Swiss Travel Pass benefits.
- Panorama routes may be covered while a reservation or surcharge remains payable.
- Operating dates can change because many mountain services are seasonal.
Discounted Peak Excursions
Many other mountain trips receive a discount of up to 50%. Titlis is one example where the operator currently lists a 50% Swiss Travel Pass discount on eligible single and return tickets. Jungfraujoch also has reduced fares for Swiss Travel Pass holders, but the exact price and reservation rules depend on the route and season.
Do not assume “up to 50%” means every section or add-on is half price. Activities, premium seats, reservations, and special lifts may be excluded.
Booking and Reservations
- Check the weather before buying a costly mountain ticket, but do not wait too long when a timed reservation is required.
- Confirm the pass discount on the mountain operator’s official website or at a staffed ticket office.
- Check whether the reservation is optional, recommended, or compulsory for your travel date.
- For Jungfraujoch, paid seat reservations are compulsory from May 1 through October 31, 2026.
- Carry the Swiss Travel Pass and the separate mountain ticket or reservation during inspection.
Pro Tip: Keep mountain days flexible when reservations are not compulsory. Clear weather can make a major difference to the value of a high-altitude trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tourist get a SwissPass?
You do not need a physical SwissPass card for tourist passes. However, you can create a SwissPass login without owning a card. Use that login before buying an eligible pass if you want the pass to appear in SBB Mobile.
Can I use a Swiss Travel Pass without the app?
Yes. Buy the pass as a guest and use the QR code sent to your email. Save it offline before travel and carry the original passport or official ID that matches the pass.
What app should I use for a Swiss Travel Pass?
Use SBB Mobile for timetables, platforms, service updates, and ticket purchases. A regular Swiss Travel Pass can appear there only if you bought it while signed in. A guest-bought pass and Swiss Travel Pass Flex will not appear in the app.
What should I not do when using Swiss train tickets?
Do not board without the correct ticket, assume every mountain ride is included, or expect a guest-bought pass to appear in SBB Mobile. Also do not forget the original ID linked to your tourist pass.
Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover trains to Italy?
It covers the Swiss portion and some specified cross-border routes, but not general travel inside Italy. Buy the Italian segment to or from the correct border point, such as Chiasso or Domodossola, based on your route.
Is a Swiss Travel Pass worth it for tourists?
It can be worth it when you take frequent long-distance trips, use city transport, ride boats, visit included museums, and use covered mountain routes. Compare the pass price with your planned point-to-point and mountain fares before buying.
Conclusion
You can travel in Switzerland without a SwissPass account or physical SwissPass card. Buy as a guest when an emailed QR code is enough, or create a SwissPass login before purchase when you want an eligible pass in SBB Mobile. Check your start date, carry original ID, verify mountain reservations, and buy a separate ticket for any uncovered Italian segment.
Sources
- SBB: Buy the Swiss Travel Pass online: 2026 prices, guest purchases, app integration, and Flex limitations.
- SBB: Offers for tourists: eligibility, family rules, museums, mountain benefits, and mobile display.
- SBB: Swiss Half Fare Card: price, one-month validity, discounts, identification, and family benefits.
- SBB: Help and Contact: official support channels and contact numbers.
- Trenitalia: Travelling on Regional Trains: current paper, electronic, and digital regional ticket validation rules.
- Jungfrau Railways: Prices and Tickets: current Jungfraujoch ticket and 2026 seat-reservation information.