Considering the Lucerne travel pass for your Switzerland trip? This Central Switzerland Tell Pass is your ticket to the Lucerne region, but is it actually worth it? Read on to find out.
If you’re planning a trip to Lucerne and its nearby mountains, you might be wondering about Central Switzerland’s Tell Pass, the travel pass for the Lake Lucerne region.
Imagine exploring the heart of Switzerland without the stress of constant ticket purchases and an ever-dwindling travel budget. Picture cruising across a reflective lake, riding a vintage train up the mountainside and wandering medieval towns, all with a single pass in hand. That’s the magic of the Tell Pass!
The Central Switzerland Tell Pass is your key to hassle-free adventures in the Lake Lucerne region, giving you easy and affordable access to mountain viewpoints, hidden gems and charming towns alike.
Whether you’re a keen hiker, a history buff or simply in search of the most Instagrammable spots in Switzerland, this Lucerne travel pass can streamline your trip and help you get the best bang for your buck.
Quick links for your Lucerne trip
🏠 Stay at the Lubo (mid-range smart hotel in the old town), Backpackers Luzern (cheap and cheerful) or splurge on the dreamy Hotel Villa Honegg in the mountains
🎫 Buy your Tell Pass Summer or Tell Pass Winter
🚂 Buy your Swiss Half Fare Card
✈️ Find the cheapest flights to Switzerland on Skyscanner, then book them direct with the airline (costs a bit more but is much safer than booking through a third party, you’ll be looked after if your flight gets delayed or cancelled)
🏥 Get travel insurance! I use Covermore New Zealand (there’s Covermore Australia too), but if you’re from outside of NZ/AU then Safety Wing and World Nomads are both top-rated insurance options
All you need to know about the Lucerne travel pass
What is the Central Switzerland Tell Pass?
The Central Switzerland Tell Pass is a regional travel pass that grants access to public transport and some epic mountain excursions in the stunning Lake Lucerne region of Central Switzerland.
Similar to the Jungfrau Travel Pass for the Jungfrau region, it allows you to explore the area with one ticket rather than having to book everything separately.
You might also see it called the Lucerne Travel Pass, Lucerne Tell Pass, Lake Lucerne Tell Pass or Lucerne Region Tell Pass, these are all referring to the same thing, which is officially called the Central Switzerland Tell Pass.
What does the Tell Pass include?
The Central Switzerland Tell Pass includes:
- Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat on the Tell Pass network
- Lake Lucerne boat cruises
- Several mountain railways and cable cars, including Mount Pilatus, Mount Rigi, Stanserhorn and Mount Titlis
- 20-50% loads of local activities, including museums, guided tours, hot pools and even paragliding
What does the Tell Pass not include?
The Central Switzerland Tell Pass does not include:
- Transport outside of the validity map
- Seat reservations, you can generally explore the Lucerne region without needing to reserve seats however in the busy season it’s recommended you reserve seats on the Brienz-Rothorn Bahn, Pilatus Bahnen or Stanserhorn cable car, and these reservations aren’t included in the pass
Central Switzerland Tell Pass prices
These prices were updated on 4 April and should be valid for the rest of 2024.
| Pass | Summer (1 Apr-31 Oct) | Winter (1 Nov-31 Mar) |
| 2 days | 190CHF | 120CHF |
| 3 days | 230CHF | 160CHF |
| 4 days | 250CHF | 180CHF |
| 5 days | 270CHF | 200CHF |
| 10 days | 340CHF | 260CHF |
Children aged 6-16 years old are eligible for a 30CHF pass when accompanied by an adult with a valid Tell Pass.
Can you get a discount on a Lucerne travel pass?
There are no further discounts on the Tell Pass with the Swiss Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass, and there are no senior or youth discounts either.
How to use a Central Switzerland Tell Pass
Where to buy a Tell Pass
You can buy a Tell Pass online before you get to Switzerland or once you arrive.
Is there a Tell Pass app?
There’s no Tell Pass app, once you purchase your Tell Pass you’ll be sent the pass as a PDF via email and that is what you’ll show as your ticket.
How long is the Tell Pass valid?
You can choose from 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 consecutive days when you buy your Lucerne Tell Pass.
Is the Tell Pass available all year?
There’s a Central Switzerland Tell Pass available for both summer and winter seasons.
The summer season (April to October) is a bit more expensive but has more included due to more lake cruises and mountain trips operating during the warmer months.
The winter pass (November to March) is cheaper.
Do you need to make seat reservations with the Lucerne Tell Pass?
Most transport in the Lake Lucerne region can be used without any reservations, however in the mid-summer months it’s recommended that you reserve seats on the busier cable cars/mountain railways like Brienz-Rothorn, Pilatus and Stanserhorn, and these reservations come at an additional cost.
How do you book mountain railways with the Lucerne Tell Pass
For public buses, boats and trains you can just jump on and show the ticket person your PDF Tell Pass, this counts as your ticket.
For mountain excursions and cable cars sometimes you’ll need a separate ticket to scan at the ticket gates, this info isn’t very clear on the mountain excursion websites so it’s best to get in line at the ticket office and ask them if you need a separate ticket or if you just scan your Tell Pass PDF.
How to calculate if the Central Switzerland Tell Pass is worth it for your trip
If you know your Lake Lucerne itinerary
If you know your itinerary then it’s easy to figure out if the Tell Pass is worth it. Simply:
- Note down your Lake Lucerne itinerary on a spreadsheet and add an extra row at the bottom for the ‘pass price’
- Create three columns, one for individual tickets, one for the Tell Pass and one for the Swiss Half Fare Card (the best alternative to the Tell Pass)
- Go to SBB.ch and search each train/bus/boat route you’re taking on the public network. Note down the price for each trip with the Half Fare Card as well as the full fare price. Note: The SBB website automatically shows you the half fare price as the ‘from’ price so you’ll need to select full fare on the next page to see the actual full price.
- For mountain railways and cable cars, you’ll have to go to their websites to find the full fare and half fare prices
- Put ‘0’ in all Lake Lucerne region trips covered by the Tell Pass, and the relevant pass price in the ‘pass price’ row
- Divide the individual ticket prices by 2 for the Swiss Half Fare Card column and add the pass price of 120CHF
- Total them up!
From here you’ll be able to see the total price of each option. Keep in mind that the Half Fare Card price of 120CHF covers travel for a month all through Switzerland, so while 120CHF might seem expensive for a short trip to the Lake Lucerne region while you still have to pay 50% of each ticket, when you look at the per-day price if you’re spending 10 days in Switzerland (or longer) then obviously it’s really good value.
If you don’t know your Lake Lucerne itinerary yet
If you don’t know your Lucerne itinerary yet, the best way to determine if the Tell Pass is worth it is by breaking it down into a per-day cost.
If you get a two day pass in summer that’s 190CHF, 95CHF per day, which is quite expensive, you’d have to do at least two mountain excursions plus some more local travel like a lake cruise or day trip to Interlaken to make it worth it.
However, if you got a 10 day pass in winter that’s 240CHF, only 24CHF per day, super easy to hit if you were exploring most days.
Pros of a Central Switzerland Tell Pass
✅ All-in-one ticket making it super easy to explore the region
✅ Free access to Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis and Stanserhorn mountains
✅ Free access to the super scenic Gotthard Panorama Express from Lucerne to Goschenen, then you can either pay for the rest of the journey or return to Lucerne for free
✅ Free boat trips
✅ Free access to the Luzern-Interlaken Express on the GoldenPass Line
✅ Lots of local discounts on activities, tours and experiences
✅ Cheaper winter option that takes into account mountain closures
Cons of a Central Switzerland Tell Pass
👎🏼 No discount with a Swiss Half Fare Card if you already have one for other Switzerland travel
👎🏼 High per-day price on the short summer passes
👎🏼 If the weather is poor during your Lucerne visit and you decide to skip some mountain excursions, you might not get the full value of your pass
Is a Central Switzerland Tell Pass worth it? Three example itineraries
The best way to show that the Tell Pass is worth it (or find out if it isn’t) is by looking at some example itineraries and comparing the Tell Pass with the Half Fare Card and full fare tickets.
Here are four example itineraries:
Two days in Lucerne
Let’s say you’re just visiting for a quick trip and want to do a city tour, a lake cruise and just one mountain excursion.
- Lucerne city tour
- Stanserhorn excursion
- Lake cruise
Prices below are in CHF
| Full fare | Tell Pass | Half Fare Card | |
| Stanserhorn excursion | 82 | 0 | 41 |
| Lucerne city tour | 25 | 20 | 25 |
| Lake cruise | 27.60 | 0 | 13.80 |
| Pass | 0 | 190 | 120 |
| Total | 134.60 | 210 | 199.80 |
🥇 As you can see, for this short trip the Tell Pass isn’t worth it. The full fare tickets look to be cheaper however if you’re seeing more of the country and are spending at least five days in Switzerland in total then I can almost guarantee the Half Fare Card will be your best option.
Three days in Lucerne
Let’s look at a three day trip to three of the major mountains in the region.
- Rigi Kulm day trip
- Pilatus day trip
- Titlis day trip
| Full fare | Tell Pass | Half Fare Card | |
| Rigi Kulm round trip | 119 | 0 | 59.50 |
| Pilatus round trip | 113 | 0 | 56.50 |
| Titlis round trip | 111 | 0 | 55.50 |
| Pass | 0 | 230 | 120 |
| Total | 343 | 230 | 291.50 |
🥇 Here you can see that the Tell Pass is absolutely worth it, saving 33% vs. full fare tickets and 21% vs. the Half Fare Card (keeping in mind that the Half Fare Card can also be used for the rest of your trip though remember).
Five days in Lucerne
- Rigi Kulm day trip
- Pilatus day trip
- Titlis day trip
- Day trip to Interlaken
- Lucerne lake cruise
- Stanserhorn trip
| Full fare | Tell Pass | Half Fare Card | |
| Rigi Kulm round trip | 119 | 0 | 59.50 |
| Pilatus round trip | 113 | 0 | 56.50 |
| Titlis round trip | 111 | 0 | 55.50 |
| Interlaken round trip | 64 | 0 | 32 |
| Lake cruise | 27.60 | 0 | 13.80 |
| Stanserhorn round trip | 82 | 0 | 41 |
| Pass | 0 | 270 | 120 |
| Total | 516.50 | 270 | 378.30 |
🥇 And finally, the Tell Pass comes out on top again, saving a massive 47% compared to individual tickets and 29% vs. the Half Fare Card.
Tell Pass alternatives in Switzerland
Swiss Half Fare Card
I’ve done looooads of research on the best travel passes in Switzerland (as in 10+ ultra-detailed spreadsheets 🤓) and Swiss Half Fare Card often ends up coming out on top.
The Half Fare Card does exactly what it sounds like, it gives you half price tickets on public transport and most mountain excursions too. You do have to buy tickets (not like the Tell Pass where you can usually just jump on without pre-booking) but it’s only 120CHF for a one month pass so you only need to be spending 240CHF on transport during your trip for the pass to be worth it.
If you’re spending 3+ days outside the Lake Lucerne region including one or two intercity train trips and maybe an additional mountain excursion then the Swiss Half Fare Card is likely to be worth it for you.
👉🏼 Check out my Swiss Half Fare Card review for detailed calculations and example itineraries.
Swiss Travel Pass
The Swiss Travel Pass covers unlimited travel on the Swiss Travel System network’s buses, boats and trains throughout the country, so it’s kind of like a Tell Pass but for every region in Switzerland.
Unfortunately it doesn’t cover many mountain excursions, it usually gives a 50% discount, but it does fully cover Rigi and Stanserhorn. If your trip includes a few premium panoramic trains or you’re doing the epic Grand Train Tour then it can save you a good chunk of money, but if you’re just doing some inter-region trips and plan on lots of mountain railways/cable cars, a Half Fare Card or the relevant regional pass is probably going to be better.
👉🏼 I’ve got a detailed budget breakdown of the Swiss Travel Pass with example itineraries to show when it’s worth it and when it’s not, plus a comparison of the Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card to break it down even further.
Point-to-point full fare tickets
You can buy individual tickets at the full fare price on the SBB.ch website.
Buying full fare tickets last minute can get super expensive, but if you know your travel date/time and exact route in advance then you can sometimes get Saver tickets that are much cheaper. Check the full fare prices and add them to your itinerary spreadsheet to compare them with using the Tell Pass.
Mountain excursion full fare tickets can be bought on their respective websites, but if you’re planning on doing two or more mountains near Lucerne then the Tell Pass or Half Fare Card are likely going to be better options for you.
Eurail/Interrail Passes
If you’re travelling Europe with a Eurail Global Pass then you can use this in Switzerland, but it only really covers inter-city transport and gives you a 25-50% discount on some mountain excursions.
Generally the local Switzerland passes end up being better value for money so you could always combine a Eurail/Interrail Pass for travel outside of Switzerland or for fully-covered long train trips, then use a Half Fare Card or regional pass to cover local transport and mountain trips.
👉🏼 Read my detailed Eurail Pass budget breakdown
Combine with: Jungfrau Travel Pass
Not an alternative but an easy one to combine the Central Switzerland Tell Pass with, the Jungfrau Travel Pass provides excellent value for money if you’re wanting to tick off the iconic Jungfraujoch as well as a few other mountain excursions in the Jungfrau region.
If you’re sticking to the Lake Lucerne and Jungfrau regions during your time in Switzerland then you could:
- Book a Saver fare in advance to get from Zurich to the Lake Lucerne region
- Use a Tell Pass for all Lucerne adventures (Rigi, Pilatus, Titlis and Stanserhorn especially) and to reach Interlaken
- Use a Jungfrau Travel Pass for all Jungfrau adventures (Grindelwald, Harder Kulm, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfraujoch)
- Book a Saver fare in advance to get back to Zurich or Geneva to fly out
- Or buy a Half Fare Card if your inter-city trips add up to more than 240CHF
👉🏼 Read more: Is a Jungfrau Travel Pass worth it?
Lucerne travel pass FAQs
Is there a 1st class Tell Pass?
The Tell Pass is only available in 2nd class however you can pay to upgrade to 1st class seats on the lake cruise boats and some trains. Check with the ticket desk for more info.
Is Pilatus free with the Central Switzerland Tell Pass?
Yes! Transport to Pilatus is totally covered by the Tell Pass.
Does the Central Switzerland Tell Pass include Rigi Kulm?
It sure does, the trip to and from Rigi Kulm is fully covered by the Tell Pass.
Does the Central Switzerland Tell Pass include Titlis?
The Lake Lucerne Tell Pass covers the entire trip to Mount Titlis.
Can I visit somewhere more than once with a Tell Pass?
Absolutely! The beauty of the Tell Pass is that you get unlimited travel during the validity of the pass, so you can revisit your favourite spots or go back the following day if the weather looks better.
What are the best places to see with a Tell Pass?
There’s loads!
- Mountains: Titlis, Rigi, Stanserhorn, Pilatus, Brienzer Rothorn
- Lake Lucerne: One of the most beautiful lakes in the world!
- The city of Lucerne itself including discounts on museums, city tours and other activities
- Other towns and on the network: Brienz, Giswil, Sarnen and all the way to Interlaken
The final verdict: Is the Lucerne travel pass worth it?
If you’re spending at least three days in the Lake Lucerne region and plan on doing a few mountain excursions then chances are the Central Switzerland Tell Pass will be worth it for you.
If you’re visiting for a shorter period or mainly plan on staying around Lucerne itself with only one or two mountain excursions then the Tell Pass probably isn’t worth it.
And there you have it, another super detailed travel guide to the Lucerne travel pass! I hope this Central Switzerland Tell Pass review has helped you figure out if it’s a worthwhile purchase for your upcoming trip.
If you are tossing up other travel passes then you should read my other Switzerland travel pass breakdowns (all have example itineraries):
- Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
- Is the Swiss Half Fare Card worth it?
- Is the Jungfrau Travel Pass worth it?
And my other Switzerland blog posts might help you too 👇🏼
MORE SWITZERLAND TRAVEL INSPIRATION:
- How to spend 10 days in Switzerland
- How to spend 5 days in Switzerland
- 33 Instagrammable places in Switzerland
- Rigi vs Pilatus vs Titlis vs Stanserhorn: Which one to visit?
- The cheapest place to ski in Switzerland: Liddes Ski Hostel
- 10 reasons to try co-living in Switzerland
MORE SWITZERLAND TRAIN GUIDES:
- Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card: Which one is best?
- The ultimate Swiss Travel Pass guide
- The ultimate Swiss Half Fare Card guide
- Is the Glacier Express worth it?
- Is the Bernina Express worth it?
- Bernina Express vs Glacier Express: Which one should you choose?
- Is the Jungfrau Travel Pass worth it?
MORE EUROPE TRAVEL INSPIRATION:
I just want to express my gratitude for this entire post. I can’t be bothered to do my own cost breakdown so I reallyyy appreciate the the table of price comparison you provided.
I’m travelling to Switzerland for the first time and I’ve been extremely stressed out by the variety of destinations and travel passes.
I’ll be in Luzern for 5 days, but 2 days are reserved for travelling to and out of Luzern so I’ll only have 3 full days.
I’m still contemplating.
Anyway, thank you so much for this Tell Pass guide!!! <3
You are so welcome! The passes are so brilliant but it can take SO much time to compare and figure out the logistics, so I wanted to give as many examples as possible to help save time. Hope you have an epic trip 🙂
Excellent summary of the Tell Pass. If you have more time, I recommend a stopover in Zug between Luzern and Zurich—a town directly on the lake Zug with stunning views and a beautiful old town.