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Eurail, Swiss Pass or standalone ticket? Best value option for train travel across Italy, Switzerland and surrounds

  • January 25, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 145 views
Nicholas Marks

Hi all,

I am travelling through Italy, France, Switzerland and Slovenia this April-June, and I am trying to determine the best value option for train travel. My first journey will be on April 22, my last on June 3. I’ve listed every planned train journey below.

I’m trying to determine the best-value option. Should I get a Eurail pass, a Swiss Pass, or a combination of passes and single fare tickets?

Are all the below trips worth using a whole day of a pass, or are some/all of the journeys short enough/regional enough for a standalone ticket to be better value? If so, what days would you use a pass on? What pass would you suggest?

Complicating things somewhat is the fact I’m travelling with my partner up until Lyon, and we would obviously like to be seated together on those train journeys we take. He has the option of buying a shorter pass too, if it represents good value. I’ve indicated
 

  • Naples > Rome
  • Florence > Pisa > Lucca > Florence (Day trip)
  • Florence > Cinque Terre (probably Vernazza)
  • Cinque Terre > Milan
  • Milan > Lyon

---------------------------------------

  • Lyon > Colmar
  • Colmar > Basel
  • Basel > Lucern > Basel (Day Trip)
  • Basel > Bern
  • Bern > Zermatt
  • Zermatt > Chur (via Glacier Express) > Buchs, for Liechtenstein
  • Buchs > Maribor (Euronight)
  • Venice > Bologna
  • Bologna > Rimini > Bologna (Day Trip)
  • Bologna > Rome (Fiumicino)

Best answer by ralderton

The only way to know for sure, is to do the maths yourself. It also depends what you’re comparing with. The pass is very flexible, with the exception of a couple of trains in your itinerary which would need booking well in advance (Milan - Lyon and Buchs - Maribor). If you’re comparing with cheap, inflexible tickets booked far in advance, the pass tends to be less valuable.

Look on raileurope.com or italiarail.com for prices.

Having said that, a pass is likely to be good value in Switzerland, less good in Italy and France, because of reservation fees. 

I would certainly consider buying tickets as you go for the first part, at least as far as Lyon. Then use a pass for Lyon to Buchs or Maribor.

Then see what sort of pass would suit you. You could consider a 7 day/ 1 month pass. Or maybe a 10 day/ 1 month pass (and use the extra days for your longest, most expensive trips in Italy).

In short, it’s an exercise in Excel spreadsheets and an evening spent researching prices!

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    Herbertdl1991
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ralderton
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  • ralderton
  • Railmaster
  • 1497 replies
  • Answer
  • January 26, 2025

The only way to know for sure, is to do the maths yourself. It also depends what you’re comparing with. The pass is very flexible, with the exception of a couple of trains in your itinerary which would need booking well in advance (Milan - Lyon and Buchs - Maribor). If you’re comparing with cheap, inflexible tickets booked far in advance, the pass tends to be less valuable.

Look on raileurope.com or italiarail.com for prices.

Having said that, a pass is likely to be good value in Switzerland, less good in Italy and France, because of reservation fees. 

I would certainly consider buying tickets as you go for the first part, at least as far as Lyon. Then use a pass for Lyon to Buchs or Maribor.

Then see what sort of pass would suit you. You could consider a 7 day/ 1 month pass. Or maybe a 10 day/ 1 month pass (and use the extra days for your longest, most expensive trips in Italy).

In short, it’s an exercise in Excel spreadsheets and an evening spent researching prices!

A
1 person likes this
  • A
    AnnaB
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  • wilson wong
  • Rail rookie
  • 1 reply
  • February 15, 2025

Best I would say is global flex as there is more freedom especially with Deutsch bahn 

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