What arrives in your inbox, and what counts as the ticket
After you book, the pass lands as a PDF by email. The QR code printed on it is the ticket, there's nothing to collect at a station, nothing to stamp, and no barrier to scan yourself through. Swiss stations are open platforms, so you just walk on and take a seat.
You can show that QR code two ways:
- On your phone, save the PDF offline rather than relying on the email loading in a tunnel.
- On paper, print it before you fly if you'd rather not juggle a dying battery.
Either is fine. Inspectors scan the code straight off a screen every day.
Why you need your passport with your Swiss Travel Pass
When an inspector comes down the aisle, they'll check your pass and a photo ID, because the pass carries your name and they need to see it matches. A passport is the safe answer. A national ID card works too if you're travelling from within Europe.
Keep it on you, not in the suitcase you've shoved on the rack at the end of the carriage. It's a quick check and it happens often on longer routes.
Who's allowed to buy one
The pass is sold to non-residents of Switzerland and Liechtenstein only. If you live there, you're looking at a Half Fare Card or a GA instead. Nobody asks for proof at the point of sale, but the ID check on board is where it would come up.
How to activate your pass: Continuous versus Flexi
This is the one step people get wrong, and it depends on which version you bought.
| Continuous pass | Flexi pass | |
|---|---|---|
| When it starts | On the start date you picked at booking | On each travel day you choose to use |
| What you do | Nothing, it switches on by itself | Activate each day at activateyourpass.com |
| Timing | Sorted at purchase | Before you board, not after |
| Risk if you forget | None | You're travelling without a valid ticket |
With a Flexi, get into the habit of activating over breakfast, while you've still got hotel wifi. There's more on the mechanics in our activation guide.
Can you add the Swiss Travel Pass to the SBB app?
No, and that trips up a lot of people who've read that the SBB app is the thing to have in Switzerland. It's brilliant for timetables, platform numbers and live delays, so download it anyway. But your pass won't load into it, and it doesn't need to. The PDF is a valid ticket entirely on its own. See how the SBB app fits alongside your pass.
How to get your half-price mountain tickets at the counter
Here's the bit that saves you real money. The big mountain excursions, Jungfraujoch, Titlis, Pilatus and friends, aren't free on the pass, but they're generally half price. That discount isn't printed on your pass or built into your QR code. You buy it, on the day, in person.
- Travel to the valley station. The train, bus, boat or postbus getting you there is already covered by the pass, so no extra ticket needed.
- Go to the ticket counter or the machine at the bottom station.
- Ask for the mountain ticket and show your pass QR code.
- Pay the reduced fare, usually 50% off the ascent above the valley station.
- Keep both the mountain ticket and your pass handy for the ride up.
Do the same on the way back down if you didn't buy a return.
Why buying mountain tickets online usually doesn't work
| At the valley station | Online in advance | |
|---|---|---|
| Pass discount applied | Yes, on the spot | Usually not offered |
| Weather flexibility | You see the sky first | Locked in, cloud or not |
| What you pay | Around half | Often full fare |
Booking ahead feels organised, but on a summit day it can cost you double and commit you to fog. Check which mountains give what in our mountain coverage breakdown.
What the pass won't cover on a scenic train
The panoramic routes, the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, GoldenPass, are covered as journeys, but the compulsory seat reservation is a separate fee and never included. Book those seats ahead, especially in summer. Have a look at what isn't included so nothing surprises you at the barrier.
Using your pass on cross-border journeys
Heading to Milan, Munich, Paris or Innsbruck? The Swiss portion of the trip is covered, up to the border. Past that you'll need a ticket for the foreign leg. One nice exception: the Centovalli Railway between Locarno and Domodossola is covered end to end, even though half of it is in Italy. Liechtenstein's covered too.
Travelling with kids and registered luggage
- Under 6, travel free, no paperwork.
- 6 to 15, free on the Swiss Family Card when travelling with a parent, and the card costs nothing extra. Ask for it when you book.
- Luggage registration, station-to-station bag transfer is up to 50% off between 1 October and 15 December 2026, and full rate outside that window.
Changed your mind? Cancellation and pricing rules
You can cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before your start date, which makes booking early fairly low-risk. And the price is identical wherever you buy it, official site, reseller, travel agent, so shop on service and support, not on price.