Renting a Car VS Trains in Switzerland: What is the Best Way to Get Around?

When planning a trip through this gorgeous country, transportation will greatly impact what you can see and do. We would recommend two main options: renting a car or taking the train in Switzerland. There are many different opinions on what is best. At the end of the day, what’s best for you will come down to what you would like to experience, your budget, and your timeline.

In this blog post, we are going to cover everything you need to know about gondolas, renting a vehicle and the trains in Switzerland. I will share our preferred methods and the pros and cons that come with each.

Contrary to popular belief, we actually found renting a vehicle to be the best way to see the country. I know, I know, every other blog post you’ve read says the public transportation in Switzerland is fantastic. And they aren’t wrong.

The problem is, it can be expensive and limiting. Here’s what I mean:

We rented a car for our 3-week trip through Switzerland for CHF 700. We spent approximately CHF 400 on fuel and parking as we toured the country at our leisure. That’s a total of CHF 1,100.
2 Swiss Travel Passes, which includes unlimited travel via train and bus, for 3 weeks would have been over CHF 1,700! This does not include gondolas and means that you are travelling with far less flexibility.

Renting a Car OR Trains in Switzerland: Which is the better transportation method in Switzerland? Keep reading for everything you need to know about trains, buses, gondolas, and renting a a car in Switzerland! #switzerland #madetoexplore #carinswitzerland #trainsinswitzerland

While it is completely possible to travel through Switzerland via train, and we will get into that in this post, we think a vehicle is the best option. Especially if you like to visit places for sunrise, sunset or before the bulk of the crowds arrive, as we do.

Driving in Switzerland

Driving in Switzerland is relatively easy, especially on highways and in rural areas. Zurich and other larger cities can be tricky due to the complex overpasses and the sheer volume of traffic. As long as you have a good navigator or Google maps, though, you will be fine!

The roads in Switzerland are meticulously maintained and in very good condition. Tolls are an annual fee paid by the rental company, so you do not need to worry about that at all.

The most expensive part of renting a car in Switzerland is gas, parking, and insurance! However, it can still be cheaper than taking the train.

Tips to save money:

Plan your route around the country to save on fuel.
Book your rental car as far in advance as possible (3-6 months is best!).
Manual vehicles are much cheaper to rent.
Parkades are more expensive than above-ground lots.
Check with your credit card company to see if you are insured. This way, you can forgo the rental company’s insurance.
You will not need a car in Zurich. If you plan to stay for a few days, book your rental vehicle for the day you leave Zurich, not the day you arrive at the airport.

PROS OF DRIVING IN SWITZERLAND: Maximum flexibility, which was very important to us. You are able to go where you want when you want. A vehicle is super helpful for camping and you can get a good price if you book in advance.

CONS OF DRIVING IN SWITZERLAND: There is a bit more responsibility involved when it comes to renting a vehicle and you will need to find and pay for parking. If you are only planning to visit large cities, a vehicle is not necessary and can feel like a burden.

Public Transport & Trains in Switzerland

If you are not comfortable renting a vehicle OR if you plan to stick primarily to the larger cities and towns, public transportation is fantastic. Depending on how long you are travelling for and what you plan on doing, there are three different options we would recommend.

1. A Swiss Travel Pass

A Swiss Travel Pass gives you unlimited travel in Switzerland by train, bus, boat and public transport in cities. This pass is valid for travelling on fixed and consecutive days with 3, 4, 6, 8 and 15-day passes available. It also includes free entrance to more than 500 museums and up to 50% off certain mountain excursions. Children and youths under 16 years old are free when travelling with at least 1 adult.

PRICE LIST IN 2022:

3 Consecutive Days: CHF 258
4 Consecutive Days: CHF 313
6 Consecutive Days: CHF 399
8 Consecutive Days: CHF 433
15 Consecutive Days: CHF 477

*NOTE: These passes are not valid on gondolas, but they do typically give you some sort of discount. For more information, check the validity section of the Swiss Pass website.*

2. A Swiss Travel Flex Pass

A Swiss Travel Pass Flex offers the same benefits as a classic Swiss Travel Pass with one key difference. With the flex fare, you can choose non-consecutive days within a month. These travel days can be activated and changed easily online.

3 Non-Consecutive Days: CHF 297
4 Non-Consecutive Days: CHF 359
6 Non-Consecutive Days: CHF 427
8 Non-Consecutive Days: CHF 455
15 Non-Consecutive Days: CHF 499

*NOTE: These passes are not valid on gondolas, but they do typically give you some sort of discount. For more information, check the validity section of the Swiss Pass website.*

3. A Swiss Half Fare Card

A Swiss Half Fare Card entitles the holder to purchase tickets for trains, buses, boats, and a few mountain railways at half price. This discount is unlimited for a 1 month period. It also includes up to 50% discounts on most mountain excursions. Children and youths under 16 years old are free when travelling with at least 1 adult.

This can be an excellent option if you are planning to spend a longer amount of time in each place and travel less frequently. Make sure to check the prices of the trains you intend on taking. That will help you decide if the Swiss Half Fare Card makes more financial sense than the Swiss Travel Pass.

Price in 2022: CHF 134 per person

More information on all of these passes can be found online here.

PROS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT & TRAINS IN SWITZERLAND: The trains are fast, reliable, safe, and clean. They are well-signed, the routes are user-friendly, and you don’t need to worry about driving. Switzerland is home to some of the most beautiful trail lines in the world, so you can count on excellent views.

CONS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT & TRAINS IN SWITZERLAND: Trains obviously offer less flexibility than renting a vehicle. It is up to you how important that is for your trip. You will be spending a bit of extra time planning your route, travelling, and waiting for transportation, but you will have downtime once on board. Trains can be very expensive if you plan to travel every day.

Gondolas, Gondolas, Everywhere!

Looking at all of the gondolas on a map before visiting Switzerland can be confusing and overwhelming. While it took some getting used to, we learned that there are several ways to utilize them during your time in Switzerland WITHOUT spending a small fortune.

While we did not take gondolas every chance we could, there were many instances where they saved us a whack of time and energy.

Here are some important things you should know about gondolas in Switzerland:

Gondolas range in price from around CHF 6- CHF 100+ per person.
In most cases, there is an option to hike below the gondola for free.
Gondola tickets can be bought return trip or one way. To save money, take the gondola up and hike down.
Many hikes are considered “one-way trails”. It is usually possible to park, take one gondola to the trailhead, complete your hike, and then take a second gondola down to your vehicle.
There are several ways to get discounts on gondola tickets such as the Swiss Half Fare Card and the Swiss Travel Pass. Most hotels and campgrounds will also give you a discount card for attractions in the area. This typically includes a 20-30% coupon for popular gondolas.
All gondolas have set hours (eg. 9 AM-5 PM). Double-check this to ensure you don’t get stranded somewhere. They always have the time of the last gondola posted on the station.
Make sure to hold onto your ticket. You often need it to enter and exit the gondola stations.

We hope you enjoy your time in this jaw-dropping country. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comment below about your experience renting a car or taking trains in Switzerland!

The problem is, it can be expensive and limiting. Here’s what I mean: