Switzerland by bus

Q: Is it safe to travel by bus in Switzerland?

Generally speaking, bus travel in Switzerland is one of the safest forms of transportation. Therefore, you can just sit and relax and enjoy the scenery while the drivers are making sure your bus travel goes as planned.

Q: How do you pay for buses in Switzerland?

You have many ways of purchasing the bus ticket for your journey. One of the quickest ways is to book your ticket in advance online. However, if you don’t want to use your credit card for the bus ticket purchase, you can also buy the bus ticket at the bus station or directly on the bus (provided that there are seats left).

Q: What documents do I need to have when traveling throughout Switzerland?

In order to check what documents you need to bring with you when traveling throughout Switzerland, it is best to check the websites of the competent authorities prior to your travel given the fact that different rules apply depending on your citizenship.

Q: Are there any extra charges for the luggage storage on the buses?

Normally, the luggage storage is charged extra, directly on the bus. Before you board the bus, you will get a receipt for each piece of luggage that you put down into the luggage compartment and you will be charged an extra amount that can vary depending on the carrier.

Q: Am I allowed to bring my pet on the bus when traveling in Switzerland?

Unfortunately, the general answer is no as the majority of bus companies that operate departures in Switzerland do not allow pets on board. However, you can always contact the carrier directly prior to your journey or check if there is a PET icon next to their departure on our website which would typically mark the ones that do allow you to carry your pet with you on the journey.

Q: COVID-19 restrictions when traveling in Switzerland.

To check the rules that apply to journeys in Switzerland as far as the COVID-19 restrictions are concerned, we advise you to check the website of the Ministry of Health of Switzerland. You should find all the necessary information there, and if you are unable to do it on your own, you can always contact them via email address provided on the website.

Q: Are buses in Switzerland wheelchair accessible?

It is unfortunately not possible to give a specific answer to that question, since it all depends on the carrier you’re traveling with and the bus that will operate the route on the day of your departure. Even though the majority of the bus fleet in Switzerland is of a newer generation, there are still some vehicles which are not equipped with all the necessary amenities.

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 Swiss 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 4 travel combinations, while traveling with an average speed of 61 km/h. Of course, intercity bus routes via highway have a higher average speed. The majority of the Swiss 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 - Lucerne or Lucerne - Zurich 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 4 domestic intercity bus travel combinations in Switzerland. Below you will find some of the most popular Swiss travel routes with minimal or no stops along the way:

Travel Zurich to Lucerne

Travel Lucerne to Zurich

Travel Lucerne to Zurich (Airport)

Travel Zurich (Airport) to Interlaken

Travel Zurich (Airport) to Lucerne

Travel Interlaken to Zurich (Airport)

Travel Zurich to St. Gallen

Travel Zurich to Bern

Travel Zurich to Lausanne

Travel Zurich to Basel

Travel Zurich to Lugano

Travel Zurich to Geneva

Travel Zurich to Zurich (Airport)

Travel Zurich to Fribourg

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, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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

Most of the International bus departures drive from Zurich, Lucerne, and Geneva (Airport). 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:

Travel Zurich to Rijeka

Travel Lucerne to Rijeka

Travel Geneva to Chamonix

Travel Zurich to Zadar

Travel Basel to Rijeka

Travel Lucerne to Zagreb

Travel Zurich to Split

Travel Zurich to Osijek

Travel Lucerne to Split

Travel Lucerne to Zadar

Travel Zurich to Crikvenica

Travel Zurich to Senj

Travel Zurich to Sibenik

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 Swiss 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:

Zurich (Airport)

St. Gallen (Airport)

Geneva (Airport)

Domestic airports:

Lausanne (Airport)

Bern (Airport)

Bus companies in Switzerland

There are over 23 bus companies operating in Switzerland. 13 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 Zurich and Geneva.

13 intercity bus companies operating in Switzerland are very different in size. The largest Swiss company Alpine Fleet connects more than 23 cities, whereas the smallest intercity bus company AlpyTransfers 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

Swiss 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:

Public transportation in Switzerland

In the majority of larger Swiss 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 Swiss companies operating both local and suburban bus lines.

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

What to see in Switzerland

As a visitor of Switzerland, you have lots of great Swiss sights to visit. Some of the most popular sights are Crans-Montana (Crans-Montana), Chillon Castle, and Grossmünster (Zurich). 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: