Swiss Travel Pass vs Jungfrau Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card vs Berner Oberland Pass: Best Rail Pass for Grindelwald 2026

By Ramon Stüdeli, who lives in Grindelwald and LucerneLast updated: 31 October 2026

Quick answer: For 2 days in Grindelwald, the Swiss Half Fare Card for visitors living outside Switzerland (CHF 150 for 1 month according to myswitzerland.com, as of October 2026) is usually enough. It gives you 50% off the Jungfraujoch and up to 50% off trains and most mountain lifts. Swiss residents use the Halbtax travelcard instead (CHF 190 per year, CHF 195 from Dec 13, 2026, according to sbb.ch). From 3 days with lots of mountain lifts, the Jungfrau Travel Pass is often cheaper (3 days from CHF 165 with a Half Fare Card, valid until Dec 12, 2026, according to jungfrau.ch). The Swiss Travel Pass mainly pays off if you also travel a lot by train outside the Jungfrau Region.

How much does Grindelwald cost? Daily budget Jungfraujoch vs Schilthorn, Titlis, Pilatus or First

Key facts at a glance

Swiss Half Fare Card (visitors from abroad): CHF 150 for 1 month (according to myswitzerland.com, as of October 2026). Up to 50% off trains, buses, boats and most mountain lifts, and 50% off the Jungfraujoch. Halbtax travelcard (Swiss residents): CHF 190 per year, CHF 195 from Dec 13, 2026 (according to sbb.ch, as of October 2026).
Jungfrau Travel Pass: 3 to 8 days, from CHF 210 (from CHF 165 with a Half Fare Card, valid until Dec 12, 2026). Unlimited trains, mountain lifts and boats in the Jungfrau Region, including First. The Jungfraujoch is not included, the add-on ticket costs CHF 63 (summer CHF 89).
Swiss Travel Pass: 3 days from CHF 254 (2nd class, valid until Dec 31, 2026). Only 25% off the Jungfraujoch from Grindelwald. Check on swisstravelsystem.com before you travel whether it covers the train to Grindelwald.
Berner Oberland Pass: 3 days from CHF 240 (from CHF 168 with a Half Fare Card, 2026 season). Covers the whole Bernese Oberland, 25% off the Jungfraujoch. Check on berneseoberlandpass.ch before you travel which mountain lifts around Grindelwald are free.
Kids 6–15: free with the Swiss Family Card if a parent has a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card. It does not apply with the Swiss Halbtax travelcard, where you use the Junior Travelcard or Children's Travelcard instead (sbb.ch).

The passes side by side

Pass	Valid	2nd class price (adult)	Jungfraujoch	First gondola	Train from Zurich
Swiss Half Fare Card	1 month	CHF 150	50% off	50% off, tickets from CHF 38, about twice that without a discount	up to 50% off
Jungfrau Travel Pass	3–8 consecutive days	from CHF 210, with Half Fare Card from CHF 165	add-on ticket CHF 63 (summer CHF 89)	included	not included
Swiss Travel Pass	3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days	from CHF 254	25% off from Grindelwald, 33% from Interlaken Ost	50% off (according to swissrailways.com)	check validity to Grindelwald on swisstravelsystem.com
Swiss Travel Pass Flex	3–15 days within 1 month	from CHF 289	same as Swiss Travel Pass	same as Swiss Travel Pass	same as Swiss Travel Pass
Berner Oberland Pass	3, 4, 6, 8 or 10 consecutive days	from CHF 240, with Half Fare Card from CHF 168	25% off	check area of validity	not included

As of October 2026. Sources: sbb.ch, myswitzerland.com, jungfrau.ch, berneseoberlandpass.ch, swissrailways.com.

2026 prices in detail

Swiss Travel Pass (prices valid until Dec 31, 2026)

Days	Adult 2nd class	Adult 1st class	Youth under 25, 2nd class	Youth under 25, 1st class
3	CHF 254	CHF 405	CHF 179	CHF 285
4	CHF 309	CHF 492	CHF 218	CHF 346
6	CHF 399	CHF 634	CHF 282	CHF 447
8	CHF 439	CHF 697	CHF 311	CHF 492

Swiss Travel Pass Flex (travel days of your choice within 1 month), 2nd class: 3 days CHF 289, 4 days CHF 349, 6 days CHF 424, 8 days CHF 459. Source: sbb.ch.

Jungfrau Travel Pass (prices valid Dec 14, 2025 – Dec 12, 2026)

Days	Adult	With Half Fare Card, GA, Swiss Travel Pass	Kids 6–15
3	CHF 210	CHF 165	CHF 30
4	CHF 235	CHF 180	CHF 30
5	CHF 270	CHF 210	CHF 30
6	CHF 290	CHF 225	CHF 30
7	CHF 310	CHF 240	CHF 30
8	CHF 330	CHF 255	CHF 30

Included are, among others, Grindelwald-First, Harder Kulm, Schynige Platte, Winteregg–Mürren, Kleine Scheidegg and the boats on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Jungfraujoch: add-on ticket CHF 63, or CHF 89 from May 1 to Oct 31, 2026. Source: jungfrau.ch. Prices from Dec 13, 2026 are not published yet.

Berner Oberland Pass (2026 season, Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026)

Days	2nd class	2nd class with Half Fare Card or youth	1st class	1st class with Half Fare Card or youth
3	CHF 240	CHF 168	CHF 288	CHF 202
4	CHF 280	CHF 196	CHF 336	CHF 236
6	CHF 350	CHF 254	CHF 420	CHF 305
8	CHF 395	CHF 287	CHF 474	CHF 345
10	CHF 435	CHF 316	CHF 522	CHF 380

Child pass CHF 30. You get 25% off the Jungfraujoch. Check on berneseoberlandpass.ch before you travel which mountain lifts and buses around Grindelwald are free. Sources: berneseoberlandpass.ch and swissrailways.com.

Berner Oberland PassBuy the regional pass for trains, cable cars and boats online

Worked examples

All examples: 1 adult, 2nd class, travel from Oct 31 to Nov 8 or from Nov 21 to Dec 12, 2026. Jungfraujoch round trip from Grindelwald Terminal: CHF 249.20 at full fare, from CHF 129.60 with a Half Fare Card (both incl. seat reservation). First gondola from CHF 38 (lowest price on jungfrau.ch, with discount). Without a discount, the First gondola costs about twice as much, because the Half Fare Card and Swiss Travel Pass give 50% off according to swissrailways.com. Note the First maintenance closure until Nov 27, 2026.

Example 1: 2 days, Jungfraujoch and First

Option	Math	Total before getting to Grindelwald
Swiss Half Fare Card	150 + 129.60 (Jungfraujoch) + 38 (First)	CHF 317.60
No pass	249.20 (Jungfraujoch) + First gondola at full fare (about 2 × 38)	from about CHF 325

Result: Even before your train to Grindelwald, the Swiss Half Fare Card is cheaper (CHF 317.60 instead of about CHF 325). On the Jungfraujoch alone, it saves you CHF 119.60. On top of that, you get up to 50% off your train from Zurich, Geneva or Lucerne and every train in the region. As soon as you arrive by train, the Half Fare Card is almost always the cheaper choice. For just 2 days, there is no Swiss Travel Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass.

Example 2: 3 days, Jungfraujoch, First and more mountain lifts

Option	Math	Total before getting to Grindelwald
A. Half Fare Card only	150 + 129.60 + 38 + more lifts at half price	from CHF 317.60
B. Half Fare Card + 3-day Jungfrau Travel Pass	150 + 165 + 63 (Jungfraujoch add-on)	CHF 378
C. 3-day Jungfrau Travel Pass only	210 + 63	CHF 273

Result:

Option C is the cheapest for the Jungfrau Region if you arrive without a Half Fare Card or already have your train ticket. It also covers the trains from Interlaken to Grindelwald, First, Harder Kulm, Schynige Platte and the boats.
Option B beats A if, besides the Jungfraujoch and First, you use more than CHF 60.40 worth of trains, lifts and boats at Half Fare prices in those 3 days. The Half Fare Card then also cuts your train fare to Grindelwald.
If you already have a Half Fare Card or GA (for example as a Swiss resident), option B or the Half Fare Card alone is your best bet.

Example 3: 4 days, arriving from Zurich

Option	Pass cost	Jungfraujoch from Grindelwald	Zurich–Grindelwald round trip
4-day Swiss Travel Pass	CHF 309	25% off, about CHF 60 more than with Half Fare Card	check validity to Grindelwald on swisstravelsystem.com
Swiss Half Fare Card	CHF 150	from CHF 129.60	up to 50% off

How to do the math: The Swiss Travel Pass costs CHF 159 more than the Half Fare Card. On the Jungfraujoch, you pay about CHF 60 more with the Swiss Travel Pass (25% instead of 50% off CHF 239.20 before the reservation). So the Swiss Travel Pass only pays off if your train trips at Half Fare prices over those 4 days would cost more than about CHF 219. That is more likely if you add day trips to Lucerne, Bern or Zermatt.

Tip: Enter your routes on sbb.ch with the Half Fare discount and add them up. In two minutes, you'll see whether you pass that threshold.

Which pass is right for you?

Your trip	Our pick
1–2 days in Grindelwald, arriving by train	Swiss Half Fare Card
3–8 days in the Jungfrau Region with lots of lifts	Jungfrau Travel Pass, even cheaper with a Half Fare Card
Tour of Switzerland with Grindelwald as one stop	Swiss Travel Pass (or Flex)
The whole Bernese Oberland (Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, other valleys)	Berner Oberland Pass
Swiss resident with a Half Fare Card or GA	Jungfrau Travel Pass at the reduced price
Family	Swiss Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass plus the free Swiss Family Card (with the Swiss Halbtax: Junior Travelcard or Children's Travelcard)

FAQ

Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it for Grindelwald?

Only if you also travel a lot outside the Jungfrau Region. From Grindelwald, it only gives 25% off the Jungfraujoch, while the Half Fare Card gives 50%.

Is the Jungfraujoch included in the Jungfrau Travel Pass?

No. You buy an add-on ticket for CHF 63 (CHF 89 from May 1 to October 31, 2026).

How much is the Swiss Half Fare Card?

CHF 150 for one month, the same for 1st and 2nd class (according to myswitzerland.com, as of October 2026). It is for visitors living outside Switzerland and gives up to 50% off trains, buses, boats and most mountain lifts. The Halbtax travelcard for Swiss residents costs CHF 190 per year, CHF 195 from Dec 13, 2026 (according to sbb.ch).

Can I combine the Jungfrau Travel Pass with a Swiss Travel Pass?

Yes. With a Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card or GA, you pay the reduced Jungfrau Travel Pass price, for example CHF 165 instead of CHF 210 for 3 days (valid until Dec 12, 2026).

Do kids travel free?

Kids under 6 ride free. Kids aged 6 to 15 ride free with the free Swiss Family Card if a parent has a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card. The Swiss Family Card does not apply with the Swiss Halbtax travelcard, where you use the Junior Travelcard or Children's Travelcard instead (sbb.ch). For the Jungfrau Travel Pass and Berner Oberland Pass, there is a CHF 30 child pass.

Is the Berner Oberland Pass valid from Zurich?

It is valid in the Bernese Oberland. You need a separate ticket from Zurich. See the exact area of validity on berneseoberlandpass.ch.

When will 2027 prices be published?

Swiss Travel Pass and Berner Oberland Pass prices are valid until Dec 31, 2026. Jungfrau Travel Pass prices until Dec 12, 2026. For later trips, check the new prices on the official websites.

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About the author

Ramon Stüdeli is the owner of Grindelwald Experiences. He lives in Grindelwald and Lucerne, brings broad experience from tourism and other industries and has traveled to more than 60 countries.