What it costs
The Swiss Half Fare Card is $185 (€160), one price for everyone who buys it, and it runs for 30 days from first use. The price is identical wherever you buy it, so there is no cheaper corner of the internet to go hunting for.
For that you get half off almost every fare in Switzerland, bought at the counter, the machine or the app as you go. The Swiss Family Card comes with it at no extra cost and does not need requesting separately, which means children 6 to 15 travel free with you. Under 6 travel free anyway.
Who it suits, and who it doesn't
The Half Fare Card is a discount, not a ticket. You still buy a fare for every journey, you just pay half. That suits you if you are staying put somewhere and going out for the day now and then, if your trip runs longer than the longest pass, or if half your days are spent walking around a town rather than crossing the country on a train.
It suits you less if you want to board without thinking about fares at all, or if you are moving somewhere new most days. That is the case for a Swiss Travel Pass instead.
Swiss Half Fare Card 30 days
50% off fares you buy
- $185 (€160) flat, adult or youth
- Buy each fare as you travel
- Family Card included
Swiss Travel Pass 3 to 15 days
Free travel on the days it covers
- Three days in second class is $313 (€270) for an adult
- Continuous or Flexi, first or second class
- Family Card included
Which one comes out ahead depends entirely on how much ground you cover and how often, and that is a sum worth doing before you pay for either.
Working out which one you want
- The Half Fare Card against the Swiss Travel Pass Where the crossover sits, and what your daily travel has to look like for each one to win.
- Every Swiss Travel Pass price All five durations in both classes, Continuous and Flexi, adult and youth, in one table.
- Buy your pass or card Pick the dates, pay, and see what lands in your inbox.
How buying works
- Pick your start date You can be issued a Half Fare Card up to 180 days ahead, so booking early is fine.
- Check you qualify You have to live outside Switzerland or Liechtenstein, and you may be asked to prove it.
- Watch your inbox The card arrives by email as a PDF with a QR code on it.
- Travel with your passport or ID card When an inspector asks, they scan the QR code and check your ID, and nothing else has to be shown.
The terms that catch people out
Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before your start date. After that you are charged in full, so a change of plan late in the week is an expensive one. An issued Half Fare Card cannot be amended either, which means any change of date is a cancellation and a fresh booking, subject to the same 48 hour line.
Validity runs 30 days from first use, so the clock starts when you start travelling rather than when the PDF lands. Keep the QR code somewhere you can find it on a platform, because that is the only thing an inspector wants from you.
FAQ
How much is the Swiss Half Fare Card?
$185 (€160), the same price for an adult or a youth, valid 30 days from first use.
Do my children need their own card?
No. Children under 6 travel free, and children 6 to 15 travel free with the Swiss Family Card, which is included with your Half Fare Card at no extra cost and does not need requesting separately.
When does the 30 days start?
At first use, not at purchase. You can be issued the card up to 180 days before you travel.
What actually arrives when I book?
An email with a PDF carrying a QR code. That QR code is what the inspector scans, and it is the only thing you need to show alongside your passport or ID card.
Can I cancel or change the dates?
You can cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before the start date, and after that you are charged 100%. An issued card cannot be amended, so changing anything means cancelling and rebooking.
Can anyone buy one?
You have to live outside Switzerland or Liechtenstein, and you may be asked to prove it.