Switzerland by bus

Traveling by bus in Switzerland is definitely one of the safest and cheapest ways of traveling while ensuring at the same time that you don't miss out on the beautiful natural landscapes around the country. Thanks to the well connected bus network between Switzerland cities it is easy to reach the majority of the most popular destinations within the country in a day.

Intercity buses in Switzerland

In Switzerland intercity buses are available on more than 3 travel combinations, while traveling with an average speed of 65 km/h. Of course, intercity bus routes via highway have a higher average speed. The majority of the Switzerland intercity buses are comfortable long distance coaches, but older vehicles might be used on busier travel days.

The timetable for popular intercity bus routes like Zurich - St. Gallen or Zurich - Lucerne can be found online, but for some shorter intercity bus routes you might have to go to the bus station. Tickets are sold both online and on the spot, but after the COVID-19 pandemic an increasing number of travellers prefer buying their tickets online.

Domestic routes

As mentioned above there are more than 3 domestic intercity bus travel combinations in Switzerland. Below you will find some of the most popular Switzerland travel routes with minimal or no stops along the way:


International routes

From Switzerland there are international bus routes to neighboring countries such as Italy, Germany and France, as well as to other countries such as Croatia, Serbia and Kosovo.

The majority of these international bus lines are daily departures, that are operated by various Switzerland bus companies.

Most of the International bus departures drive from Zurich, Lucerne and Geneva. Of course, there are also some international bus departures from other cities throughout the country.

Below we have listed the most popular international bus routes:


Airport buses in Switzerland

If you are flying to Switzerland you will land in one of 3 airports located throughout the country. From the majority of Switzerland airports you have a bus shuttle to the nearest largest city and in some cases even intercity buses to other cities in the region. Click on the airport name below and read more about getting to and from the airport.

International airports:

Domestic airports:


Bus companies in Switzerland

There are over 22 bus companies operating in Switzerland. 12 companies offer intercity bus lines, 4 companies drive airport shuttles, 2 companies operate regional and local lines, 6 bus companies offer bus rental and 6 companies offer bus tours. The bus companies are located in 11 cities throughout the country. The majority of companies can be found in Geneva and Zurich.

12 intercity bus companies operating in Switzerland are very different in size. The largest Switzerland company AlpyBus connects more than 20 cities, whereas the smallest intercity bus company EBA Eurobus Geneva only has service to 1 cities.

Below we have listed some of the most popular bus companies in Switzerland. Full list of bus companies in Switzerland can be found here.


Bus stations in Switzerland

In most cities there is a dedicated bus station, in smaller cities the bus station might be a parking lot with a shelter or a section on the road marked for multiple buses. In some cities buses also stop at public road bus stops or at gas stations and hotel parking lots. In larger cities you will find bus stations with amenities like toilets, luggage storage, kiosks, fast food restaurants and other useful services for travellers. In Switzerland there is a total of 14 bus stations, below we have listed 10 of the most popular bus stations, for a full list of bus stations in Switzerland click here.


Hire a coach in Switzerland

Switzerland bus rental companies offer coaches for any kind of group trip, whether it’s a transfer from the airport to your hotel, or single and multi day excursions to the many sights in Switzerland. Rest assured you will be able to find a suitable partner. If you are travelling during the high season, it is advisable to book your bus in advance to secure one of the best vehicles for your group.
Here you can see a list of some companies offering bus rental in Switzerland:

Drusberg Reisen
Domo Reisen
Zelic Reisen
Bogojević Reisen
Swiss tours

Public transportation in Switzerland

In the majority of larger Switzerland cities, public transportation is available, in the cities like Bern or Basel you have an extensive network of buses connecting all suburbs to the centre of the town.

Buying tickets for public transportation varies from city to city, sometimes they are bought at dedicated sales points and other times they are bought on the bus for example, so be sure to check which options are available for the city you are travelling in.

Here is a list of some Switzerland companies operating both local and suburban bus lines.

SBB
Bernmobil
Verkehrsbetriebe St.Gallen
Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe
Transports publics Lausannoise
Verkehrsbetriebe Lucerne

Public transportation in Switzerland

As a visitor of Switzerland, you have lots of great Switzerland sights to visit. Some of the most popular sights are Oeschinen Lake, Zürich Opera House (Zurich) and Zoo Basel (Basel). That said, there are a lot of other sights in Switzerland worth visiting! Some of the sights do not have an entrance fee, whilst others charge for entrance. Below you will find a list of the most popular sights in Switzerland:

Oeschinen Lake

Oeschinen Lake

lake
Zürich Opera House

Zürich Opera House

theatre
Zoo Basel

Zoo Basel

wildlife park
free entrance
Crans-Montana

Crans-Montana

ski area
Grossmünster

Grossmünster

monumental building
Chillon Castle

Chillon Castle

monumental building

FAQ about buses in Switzerland

Is it safe to travel by bus in Switzerland?
How do you pay for buses in Switzerland?
What documents do I need to have when traveling throughout Switzerland?
Are there any extra charges for the luggage storage on the buses?
Am I allowed to bring my pet on the bus when traveling in Switzerland?
COVID-19 restrictions when traveling in Switzerland.
Are buses in Switzerland wheelchair accessible?

You can pay for your tickets using credit cards

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