How can I save money on the train?

Deleted User

How can I save money on the train?

Hi guys!

I going to visit Grindewald from Zurich. I know from site SBB that it is will be cost about 170 franks (with return). Maybe do you know way cheaper? Maybe there is a cheap ticket for the day or something else?

My friend from Lausanne tell me that he take for him and his mom (from Russia) special ticket in administration of his commune (municipality). He said that cheap ticket (40fr) on whole day gave canton for each municipality. Is it true? Is there way to take me this ticket?

I am just searching cheap way to magic Grindewald 😄I will be grateful for any help 🙂

Look forward Julia

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Jorleiv H.

@JORLEIVSouth Lake Tahoe, California, United States

Hi Julia the special "commune" ticket can be difficult to obtain. Easier would be to download the SBB app and then look for the connection you want. Example: Zürich - Grindelwald. Then see if Supersaver tickets are available for your desired connection. Example: this Tuesday at 11.02 a Supersaver ticket is available for CHF 53.20 (30.80 if you have an annual 1/2 price subscription, which travelers generally do not buy as it costs > CHF 150).

There are a limited number of Supersaver tickets available, and not available for every train. You need to use the App to find them and to buy them.

Good luck!

p.s. I always wonder why travelers want to visit Grindelwald ... there are about 100 more towns and villages I find more interesting and more beautiful than Grindelwald ...

Laila B.

@laila-burriBuchs, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland

Hii Julia

Download the app sbb and then check ur connection, and then continue to pay, there are supersaver tickets, they are sometimes till 50% cheaper :) Grindelwald is lovely, spent a lot of time in my childhood there since we had a vacation house in interlaken :)

Ahmed E.

@aelkilanyZurich, Switzerland

yes there is a day ticket that covers the whole country for i ca 56 franks

ALSION L.

@ALSIONZurich, Zurich, Switzerland

The day GA costs CHF 58 with a Halbtax, if you travel after 9am. Without a Halbtax it is double i.e. CHF 116.

If you need to travel before 9am, it costs CHF 75 with Halbtax, or CHF 150 without Halbtax.

("Halbtax" is the half price card that you can buy, costs CHF 185 for a whole year, or CHF 125 for 1-month. Might not be worthwhile if your visit is short. You will need a passport photo and ID to get one. "GA" means a all-Switzerland travel card)

ALSION L.

@ALSIONZurich, Zurich, Switzerland

People living in Switzerland have a "Halbtax" which gives them 50% off the full fares. This costs CHF 185 for a year, of CHF 125 for a month. Depending on how much travelling you plan to do, it might be worthwhile for your stay.

The CHF 40 ticket from the local authority ('Gemeinde') is a travelcard for all of Switzerland for 1 day (called a "GA" or Generale Abonement). However, it is only available in certain Kantons e.g. Zurich Kanton does NOT do it. My local Gemeinde (Baar, in Kanton Zug) does it, but they are already sold out for all of July, as well as most of August and September. In Baar, the system is that you log in online, reserve a ticket, and then pick it up from the council office building. You have to be a resident in the Gemeinde, with an online account for the website, and there is a limit of 2 tickets per day per person. So, you can see, it is unlikely you could get this...

The suggestions above about looking for special offers on the SBB app, are good ones. The SBB app is a must for travel in Switzerland as well - it has the latest information about train times, platforms, any cancellations, etc. You can type in any address in Switzerland, and it will tell you the best route by public transport.

Look out also for special offers for cable cars as well - sometimes they offer a combined train + cable car ticket at a special price.

Deleted User

Thank you!

Pascal P.

@hb-iwechoBassersdorf, Zurich, Switzerland

The tickets mentioned by Ahmed Elkilany for ca. 56 (correct is 58) (9-Uhr-Pass) and by Sebastien Husse for 75 (day ticket) do cover whole Switzerland. However, both these tickets require the already mentioned 1/2 price subscription (Halbtax). So unless you get the Halbtax these tickets are unfortunately not valid for you.

Martin S.

@martin-schmid-1Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Hi Julia, unless your friend can organize a cheap ticket for you from his municipality, then the so- called supersaver tickets are your best option. You might not be able to find those all the way to Grindelwald, however you should be able to get one to go as far as Interlaken. From there to Grindelwald simply buy a 2nd ticket, probably at full price. Easily done on the sbb app. Have fun.

Rene Franceschini

@rene-franceschiniVolketswil / Volketswil (Dorf), Zurich, Switzerland

Hi Julia depends on the day you will go to Grindelwald i could join you and drive by car to there