The Swiss Travel Pass looks expensive until you price a single Jungfraujoch excursion at the counter. Whether it is worth buying depends almost entirely on how much mountain railway you plan to use.
On a classic Lucerne–Interlaken–Zermatt route with Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat included, an eight-day pass came out roughly eighteen per cent cheaper than point-to-point tickets, before counting museum entries.
For a slower trip based in one town with day walks rather than summit railways, the pass loses. Half-fare cards make more sense there.
The overlooked benefit is flexibility. With a pass you can change your mind about the weather at breakfast, which in the Alps is worth more than the arithmetic suggests.
Rahul Iyer
Head of Visa Services at Rare Holidays. A travel enthusiast with over 10 years of experience in exploring off-beat destinations.