Is GA Travelcard the same as SwissPass?

With the GA Travelcard for 1st or 2nd class you are always ready to travel. You can enjoy unlimited travel on SBB trains and those of most other railways, as well as on much of the public transport in Switzerland. Your GA Travelcard comes on the SwissPass.



No, the GA Travelcard and the SwissPass are two different things, though they are deeply interconnected. The SwissPass is the physical (or digital) red card that serves as the "carrier" for various travelcards and memberships. Think of the SwissPass as the wallet and the GA Travelcard as the specific ticket inside it. The GA (General Abbonnement) Travelcard is a premium subscription that grants you unlimited travel on SBB trains, boats, postal buses, and most urban transport networks across Switzerland. When you purchase a GA Travelcard in 2026, it is electronically loaded onto your SwissPass card. Other products, like the Half Fare Travelcard or even your ski pass and bike-sharing membership, can also be stored on the same SwissPass. This system allows for a "one-card-fits-all" experience for Swiss residents and long-term visitors, ensuring that your proof of entitlement for unlimited national travel is always linked to your unique SwissPass ID and scannable by conductors via a QR code.

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On many routes, it is worth getting a public transport travelcard for as few as two days of commuting per week. Depending on how long your commute is, and how much you need to travel within the cities or fare networks you travel to, a GA, Modular, Point-to-Point or Regional Travelcard will be the best deal for you.

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The Swiss Travel Pass Flex allows travellers to freely choose their travelling days within a month. You travel on the Swiss Travel System network for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 non-consecutive days within a month; on the selected days, you benefit from the same great possibilities as when travelling with a Swiss Travel Pass.

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The Travelcards available on the TfL Visitor Shop are only valid to travel within zones 1-2 or zones 1-6, including most National Rail services within the zones you have purchased it for.

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A Travelcard (in the zones it's valid for) gives you unlimited travel at any time on bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services in London. You can use it on all buses, and if valid in zones 3, 4, 5 or 6, on all trams.

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Rail passes are almost always a smart buy for Switzerland, with its fairly high pay-as-you-go ticket costs and excellent transportation system. The Swiss Travel Pass is a particularly good deal, as it covers nearly all transport in Switzerland — not only trains, but buses, boats, and many high-mountain lifts.

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As a general rule a Travelcard is more expensive than an Oyster card or Contactless payment card. The exception is if you make 3 or more journeys for 6 days or more within a 7 day period. In this case a 7 day Travelcard works out cheaper than an Oyster or Contactless payment card.

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Pay as you go You don't have to work out the cost of your journey in advance. You can pay as you go using contactless (card or device), an Oyster card or a Visitor Oyster card. It also offers great value as pay as you go is cheaper than buying single tickets and you get daily and weekly capping.

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You can also purchase the Swiss Travel Pass at any railway station in Switzerland and at Zurich Airport.

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You have the option to print off the pass or upload onto your phone wallet or do both. As long as the QR code is visible and can be scanned it is up to you how you wish to use your valid pass.

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