Add your planned trips
Enter each train trip you'd take and its full-price fare. We'll subtract 50% (or 0% where the card doesn't apply), and tell you if the CHF 199 pays back.
What this solves
Tourists almost always either (a) overpay for the Half Fare Card on a 2-night city break where they'd have taken 3 tram hops, or (b) skip it and discover too late that the train from Zürich airport to Wengen was CHF 95 each way. The card has a reputation problem on both sides because nobody's running their actual itinerary through the math.
This tool does the boring honest math: how many full-price tickets you'd have bought, whether each one is actually covered, and what the card's net cost ends up being.
How to read the results
- Net cost < CHF 50: clear win. Buy the card.
- Net cost CHF 50–80: borderline. Buy if you're adding even one cable car (Jungfraujoch, First, etc) — see covered lifts below.
- Net cost > CHF 80: probably skip. Consider a Saver Day Pass or a Swiss Travel Pass for your longer journeys instead.
- "Doesn't apply": means that trip is on a route/operator the card doesn't cover. The card does NOT cover: most PostBus routes outside major lines, many smaller private railways (e.g. Monte Generoso, some Bergbahnen), and some peak-only lifts in winter.
Limitations
- The card is priced per calendar month, not per day. If your trip straddles two, you might buy two (rarely worth it).
- You cannot buy the card after you've already started buying tickets — there's no retroactive discount.
- The 50% discount is on the regular fare, not on Supersaver tickets. If you'd otherwise book a Supersaver (CHF 29 instead of CHF 60), the card does not improve that.
- Children under 16 travel free with a parent if the parent has a Swiss Travel Pass — but not with a Half Fare Card. (Junior card exists for ages 6–16.)
- Cable car discounts vary: Pilatus is 50% off, Jungfrau "Good Morning" tickets are not discounted, Schynige Platte top is 50%, but the Brienz Rothorn Bahn is not in the scheme.
FAQ
Does the Half Fare Card work on the Glacier Express?
Yes, 50% off the regular seat reservation surcharge; mandatory seat reservation still applies on top.
Does it work on PostBuses?
Mostly yes, 50% off most PostBus routes. There are a few private PostAuto partner lines in the Jura and Valais that are not in the scheme.
Is it worth it for just one city?
Almost never. Zürich's ZVV network and Bern's LIB are cheaper with a day ticket (ZVV Tageskarte from ~CHF 9) than with a Half Fare Card unless you also do mountain trips.
Can I get a refund if I buy it and barely use it?
No, the card is non-refundable. Buy it from sbb.ch only when you're confident.
Sources
- SBB Halbtax card terms & conditions — sbb.ch/en/tickets/halbtax
- List of participating transport companies (Verkehrsverbund list, FTA-recognised)
- Author's own SBB receipts across 14 trips 2023–2026
About this tool
Purpose: tell you whether the Half Fare Card is a rational buy for your specific itinerary, not a generic "is Switzerland expensive" calculator.
Best for: anyone planning 3+ train journeys in a single month, including any peak-top cable car or major lake boat.
Limitations: doesn't model Supersaver tickets, doesn't model group tickets (GA, Junior Card, Family Card), doesn't model Swiss Travel Pass / Saver Day Pass — see the dedicated comparator for that. Prices are 2026 reference figures.
Privacy Policy
This page does not collect personal data. There is no analytics, no login, no tracking pixel. The only state stored in your browser is the EEA consent choice (Accept/Decline) in localStorage; clear it in your browser to reset.
If Google AdSense is enabled on this site in the future, AdSense cookies are only loaded after you click "Accept" on the EEA consent banner. You can opt out of personalised advertising at adssettings.google.com or aboutads.info. EEA/UK users may also opt out at youronlinechoices.eu.
This tool runs entirely client-side. Your itinerary never leaves your browser.
Disclaimer
Reference prices are 2026 figures checked against sbb.ch at time of publication. SBB revises Half Fare Card prices once per year, usually in December, and changes the operator list more frequently. Verify your specific route and any unusual operator before paying. This page is general guidance, not a substitute for sbb.ch.