The rail system is hands-down the best way to get around the country, as many Swiss natives actually use it to commute to and from work on a daily basis and even to go on vacation in another part of the country. It is usually impressively punctual and efficient, and navigating the Swiss rail system is probably one of the easiest things you have to learn (and much more relaxing that trying to navigate unfamiliar Swiss roads). If you're ever lost or unsure, you can easily obtain a detailed copy of your itinerary (including transfer stations, time of transfer, which car to get into) from the ticket sales people.
Buying tickets is also easy thanks to the kiosks that offer multi-lingual interfaces. Simply select or type in your destination, select which class, whether you want one-way or roundtrip tickets, and the machine will give you the price. Most machines will take both cash and credit, just to make life that much easier. Be warned though if you are travelling on the trains in the cities (S-Bahn) ,check if they have a yellow eye painted on the windows. If so, you must buy or validate yout ticket before boarding, or it's an CHF 80 fine. For more info, visit SBB.ch which provides information in English and where itineraries can easily be defined including city local transportation.
Train Passes
But all public transportation including rail travel can be expensive. To overcome this, visit the www.swisstravelsystem.com which offers the most comprehensive information on money-saving travel passes. Some of the most popular choices are 1) Swiss Pass, which entitles you to unlimited travel on consecutive days throughout the rail, bus and boat Swiss Travel System network. The Swiss Pass is available for 4, 8, 15 or 22 days or one month. 2) Swiss Flexi Pass, which entitles you to unlimited travel throughout rail, bus and boat Swiss Travel System network during 3, 4, 5 or 6 days of your choice within 1 month. etc. 3) Half Fare Card, which allows unlimited purchase of train, bus, boat and some cable car tickets at half price within the one month validity. These passes have many advantages for foreigners, and note (!) some can only be purchased abroad - before you arrival in Switzerland. For other more general travel related topics, www.switzerland.com is also a great site.
Scenic Routes
Visitors often find a scenic train ride as one of the most enjoyable experiences in Switzerland. Glacier Express is a 7 1/2 train ride from Zermatt to Davos / St Moritz via Andermatt (www.glacierexpress.ch). Golden Pass line extends from Luzerne to Montreux by lake Geneva via Interlaken (www.goldenpass.ch/GPL/main.asp). Other popular routes include Bernina Express and Chocolate Train. Please note some of the scenic routes are not included in the Swiss Pass or Swiss Flexi Pass, but you are entitled to a discount. You can consult the route map on the Swiss Travel System web site for more detailed information.
Airport Transportation
Negotiating the escalators at Geneva and Zurich airports with a loaded luggage trolley is a cinch. The trolley locks onto the escalator and you can descend to the railway station which is directly under the airport, right to your train platform. No lugging of suitcases, no porters, no taxis. Trains connect to all parts of the country!
Most cities and towns in Switzerland are walkable, though Geneva and Zurich can be a little more difficult due to the urban spread and location of attractions. If you have the time and energy, walking through the cities you visit will maximize your exposure to the Swiss cultural landscape. Public transportation is available in most large towns/cities. It's usually punctual and clean and as easy to navigate as the Swiss rail system.
