Traveling by bus in cities, half fare questions

Robilo

Hi,

We do have a foreigner Swiss Travel Pass for 15 days. Since it is not a physical card, and mainly a QR code in the SBB app, how do you pay for traveling by bus in a city?

Also, it seems that the card does not offer free transportation, but only half fares. And for trains, you need to add a half fare travel card in the app to obtain the reduction. Is this correct?

Thank you

Danhiel

Hi Robilo

Are you sure that you have a Swiss Travel Pass or only a Swiss Half Fare Card? These are two different products.

If you really have a Swiss Travel Pass, buses are also included in the cities, you don’t need any ticket. Only some mountains excursions are not included. You can find more information and the map of validity here:

https://sbb-tickets.cc/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad/swiss-travel-pass.html

Kind regards
Danhiel

Krist

Robilo , how do you pay for traveling by bus in a city?

Since you have the STP you do not need to pay for the bus. Just get on. Find a seat. When asked show the QR code.

Robilo

Danhiel

Hello,
It is called a Swiss travel pass for foreigner, for a limited amount of days. It is only either a printed document or a QR code in the app. You cannot register as a customer. No plastic card with picture.
So far, it only gives 50% discount for trains (SBB app) and reservations like the Bernina Express.

For instance, in the app, if you select a train route, it shows full price. If you click and add a travel card at half fare, then you get half fare. Never free.

This why it gets confusing. If it gives only 50%, then it should not be named Swiss travel pass and advertise “Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat”..

Robilo

Thank you.

RolandP

Hello Robilo

The Swiss Travel Pass is your ticket.

Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat

That’s what it does, in fact.

Why would you want purchasing tickets?

Kind regards,
Roland

RedBaron

Robilo So far, it only gives 50% discount for trains (SBB app) and reservations like the Bernina Express.

Wrong.
The Swiss Travel Pass allows free travel on most public transportation services within populated areas, and 50% on those mountain excursions shown as dotted lines in the => area of validity map (select STP in the box in the upper left corner of the map).
But no discount on whatever reservations.

Krist

Robilo For instance, in the app, if you select a train route, it shows full price. If you click and add a travel card at half fare, then you get half fare. Never free.

The confusion stems from the fact that you are trying to buy tickets for trips for which you do not need to buy tickets. That is why you cannot add the Swiss Travel Pass as a travel card. There is no need.

If you had bought the Swiss Half Fare Card you would need to buy tickets, and indeed add the card to get the discount.

So the solution is to use the app just to look up schedules. You do not need to “book” anything. Just find your train, tram or bus and get on. Switzerland has a nationwide mass transit system. Taking a train here is as trivial as taking a subway in NY.

Zethuekoll30

RolandP
So I will be from Prague on May 13 traveling to Zurich then from Zurich to Venice on May 16. Is a 4-day Swiss Pass worth it to be used from Prague-Switzerland-Venice? Do I need to pay extra for tickets and fares? From what I understand, I can for sure use it in the public transport and discounts on tours?

Thank you! Just wanna have gestalt on how traveling is in that region.

Robilo

Hi Roland,

To travel from St-Moritz to Zurich by train, we normally would need tickets and a reservation. As mentioned, we do not have a plastic card, In the SBB app, if I enter such an itinerary, it shows a price for the ticket and a price for seat reservation. Full price. But if I add a 50% travel card, then the cost is discounted at 50%.
In short, you replied as to why we would have to buy tickets. Can we just show up with our smart phones and board the train? How do we know if we will get seats?

Sorry, this is our first time, understand our lack of knowledge.

Robert

RolandP

Hello Robilo

A ticket does not grant you a free seat, it grants transportation, however.

We use our trains like buses: hop on, find yourself an empty seat, have a ride, hope off. Your Swiss Travel Pass allows walk-in, without bothering yourself about the purchase of tickets.

On certain train types you can reserve a seat, which is totally optional (most Swiss people never reserve a seat) read here:

https://community.sbb-tickets.cc/blog/23887-demystifying-seat-reservations-on-swiss-trains-a-comprehensive-guide

The red plastic card is given to residents only. For you, it is sufficient to show the QR code in the SBB Mobile app together with your physical passport (no copies, no images of it on a smartphone).

I an on a train to Interlaken. The train is well booked, a lot of tourists going to see the beautiful snow-caped mountains. Nobody reserved a seat, all are happy. Everyone has shown their Swiss Travel Pass as I instructed above.

Kind regards,
Roland

Robilo

Roland,

Good information. We really appreciate.

We traveled in Spain 2 years ago and we bought train tickets for travels between cities. So understand our quest for information, each country being different. In the US, cars, cars, cars…