Italy to Switzerland: A Scenic Train Journey and Guide to Swiss Travel Passes
Switzerland is famously one of the most expensive countries in the world, and travel costs can quickly add up. Luckily, if you’re exploring by public transport, there are several Travel Pass options to help you save money while enjoying Switzerland’s excellent train, bus, and boat network. Thus choosing the right travel pass matters.
The Swiss Travel Pass
The Swiss Travel Pass is the most popular choice, offering unlimited travel on the Swiss Travel System network for 3, 4, 8, or 15 consecutive days. It also includes free entry to over 480 museums and exhibitions, making it perfect for those who want to explore a lot in a short time.
What are the option?
- Swiss Travel Pass Flex: This option offers more flexibility, letting you choose your travel days freely within a month (for the same 3, 4, 8, or 15-day durations). It’s ideal for travelers who don’t need daily transport.
- Swiss Half Fare Card: For our trip, we opted for the Swiss Half Fare Card. This pass allows you to travel across Switzerland at half price for an entire month, covering trains, buses, boats, and even some mountain railways. While it doesn’t offer unlimited travel, it’s a cost-effective option if you plan to visit specific destinations.
Traveling with Kids?
All these passes come with a bonus for families! When you purchase any of these, you’re entitled to a Swiss Family Card, which lets children aged 6–15 travel for free as long as they’re accompanied by at least one paying parent.
Which Card is Best for You?
The answer depends on your itinerary and activities. For example, if you’re planning a trip to Jungfraujoch, the Swiss Travel Pass offers a 25% discount, while the Half Fare Card gives you 50%. We did the math for our plans and found that the Swiss Half Fare Card provided more savings. The downside? You’ll need to purchase tickets for each journey, but with self-service machines available at most stations, it’s usually quick and easy.
Traveling from Italy to Switzerland by Train
If you’re traveling by train from Italy to Switzerland, here’s what you need to know:
- Two Tickets, Two Legs
You’ll need to book your journey in two parts: the first leg with Italian Trenitalia and the second with the Swiss train system. - Choose Your Stopover
- If you want the fastest route, take the EuroCity Train, which stops in Spiez. Tickets can be booked on either Trenitalia or the Swiss Rail website up to three months in advance.
- For those planning to claim a tax refund after shopping in Italy, opt for a slower intercity train that stops at Domodossola, where you can get your customs stamp. Unfortunately, I had already booked the EuroCity Train, so we missed this opportunity.
Our EuroCity Train journey from Milan to Spiez took just 2.5 hours and was nothing short of stunning. The Alpine views were breathtaking—although I could’ve done without the group of noisy high schoolers who seemed straight out of Spider-Man: Far From Home!
Lunch in Spiez and Swiss Train Comforts
We arrived in Spiez and decided to grab lunch at the nearby Migros supermarket, conveniently located across from the train station. Migros has a restaurant with reasonably priced meals by Swiss standards, though still pricier than Italy. Pro tip: If you can’t find a currency exchange office, most train stations have ATMs where you can withdraw Swiss Francs. Credit cards are widely accepted, but it’s always good to have cash on hand.
From Spiez, we continued our journey to Grindelwald Grund, where our Airbnb was located. This required two swift train changes at Interlaken OST and Grindelwald. Swiss trains are impressively family-friendly, with elevated platforms, elevators, and wheelchair/stroller access, making transfers smooth and hassle-free.
Traveling through Switzerland was a breeze thanks to the country’s incredible public transport system. The scenery alone makes every train ride worth it, and the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card helps keep costs manageable. Whether you’re marveling at Alpine peaks or strolling through picturesque towns, Switzerland is a destination where every journey is part of the adventure.
