Some popular Switzerland activities need to be booked in advance, particularly scenic trains and attractions like Lindt Home of Chocolate.
Below you’ll find all the things you need to book before your Switzerland trip.
Contents
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1. Travel Passes for Switzerland
We recommend buying your Switzerland travel pass shortly before traveling. These passes do not sell out and the prices do not fluctuate.
| Travel Pass | Benefits | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss Travel Pass (most popular) | Unlimited public transport and 50% off mountain transport. learn more. | ➡️ Book now |
| Swiss Half Fare Card | 50% discount off public transport and mountain transport for 30 days. Learn more | ➡️ Book now |
| Bernese Oberland Pass | Unlimited public transport and mountain transport in the Bernese Oberland Region. Learn more | ➡️ Book now |
| Jungfrau Travel Pass | Unlimited public transport and mountain transport in the Jungfrau Region Region. Learn more | ➡️ Book now |
| Lucerne Travel Pass | Unlimited public transport and mountain transport in the Lucerne Region. Learn more | ➡️ Book now |
2. Scenic Trains
Most of these trains require seat reservations, which can sell out months in advance. If these are an essential part of your itinerary, make sure to purchase the seat reservation on the first day they become available.
| Scenic Train | Route | How Early | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Pass Express | Interlaken – Montreux | 365 days | ➡️ Reserve seat |
| Luzern-Interlaken Express* | Luzern – Interlaken | 6 months | ➡️ Reserve seat |
| Bernina Express | Chur – St Moritz or Tirano IT | 3 months | ➡️ Reserve seat |
| Glacier Express | Zermatt – Chur – St Moritz | 93 days | ➡️ Reserve seat |
| Gotthard Panorama Express | Luzern – Lugano | 180 days | ➡️ Reserve seat |
*Note: Luzern-Interlaken Express reservations are optional and most seats cannot be reserved. You can always get on the train without a reservation.
Not sure which scenic train to ride?
Book our Personalized Itinerary service and Tanya will come up with a plan.
3. Mountain Railways
These mountain railways should be booked a few days in advance, as soon as you know the weather will be nice. If you must visit on a specific day/time, you could book farther in advance to secure your spot. But most do not offer refunds.
In all cases, you reserve for a specific time slot, but not a specific seat.
| Travel Pass | Notes | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jungfraujoch | Select up and down time for Jungfraubahn mountain train | ➡️ Book now |
| 2. Oeschinensee | Time window for boarding gondola at Kandersteg. | ➡️ Book now |
| 3. Pilatus | Specific time to board mountain train between Alpnachstad and Pilatus Kulm. | ➡️ Book now |
| 4. Stanserhorn | Book “Boarding Pass” for specific time to board funicular. | ➡️ Book now |
| 5. Brienzer Rothorn | Specific time to board mountain train from Brienz to Rothorn Kulm. | ➡️ Book now |
| 6. Gelmerbahn | Specific time to board steep funicular to Gelmersee lake. | ➡️ Book now |
| 7. Trift funicular | Specific time to board tiny cable car. | ➡️ Book now |
4. Chocolate Factories
Tickets for these two chocolate factories often sell out weeks in advance, particularly for weekends and before holidays like Christmas and Easter.
➡️ See other Swiss Chocolate Factories that don’t require advance booking.
Lindt Home of Chocolate
The Lindt chocolate factory is very close to Zurich and a reasonable day trip from Lucerne. Their self-guided tour is about 60-90 mins. Travel time from Zurich by bus 20 mins, by boat 30 mins. More info about visiting Lindt.
➡️ Book Lindt tickets or Lindt Guided Tour
Cailler Chocolate Factory
The Cailler chocolate factory is in western Switzerland, suitable as a day trip from Montreux, Lausanne, Geneva, or Bern. The self-guided tour is about 60 mins. More about visiting Cailler.
5. Paragliding
During summer season and on weekends, timeslots of paragliding can be booked out well in advance. If this activities is a must-do and your schedule is inflexible, book these a couple weeks in advance.
➡️ Mürren – Airtime Paragliding or Switzerland Paragliding
➡️ Grindelwald – Paragliding Jungfrau
➡️ Interlaken – Skywings Paragliding or Paragliding Interlaken
➡️ Luzern – Pilatus paragliding
6. Guided & Self-guided Tours
If you prefer booking tours that include transport to the attraction and/or a guide, here are popular tours that our clients have enjoyed. These are best booked at least a couple days in advance.
Zurich City
- Zurich City Highlights Tour
- Zurich City Tour, Lake Cruise, and Lindt Chocolate Factory
- Zurich to Jungfraujoch (self-guided)
Zurich day trips
- Zurich to Mount Titlis
- Rhine Falls & Stein am Rhein
- Zurich to Grindelwald & Interlaken
- Guided day trip to Jungfraujoch
Lucerne
- Pilatus Golden Round Trip
- Mount Rigi Classic Round Trip
- Titlis Glacier & Ice Cave
- Lucerne to Grindelwald & Jungfraujoch
- Museum of Transport All-inclusive Day Pass
