3 DaysShort break · Half Fare Card wins
3-Day Zürich & Lucerne Weekend
For a 3-day trip with limited long-distance travel, the Half Fare Card usually beats the Swiss Travel Pass — unless you have children, in which case STP with the Family Card wins clearly.
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1
Zürich — Arrival & City
Zürich- Arrive Zürich HB — airport rail 10 min
- Old Town (Altstadt) walk — free
- Kunsthaus Zürich art museum
- Bahnhofstrasse evening stroll
- Overnight Zürich
Buy a Half Fare Card at Zürich HB on arrival if doing fewer than 3 long trips.
- 2
Lucerne & Mt. Rigi
Lucerne / Mt. Rigi🚆 IC Zürich HB → Luzern (46 min)- Chapel Bridge & Lion Monument — free
- Lake boat Luzern → Vitznau (covered by STP, or CHF 14 p/p)
- Cogwheel railway Vitznau → Rigi Kulm (covered by STP, or CHF 68 p/p)
- Summit walk, lunch at Rigi Kulm
- Return via Arth-Goldau — overnight Lucerne
The Rigi saving alone is CHF 82+ per person — for 2 people that's CHF 164 saved on day 2.
- 3
Lucerne to Zürich — Departure
Zürich🚆 IC Luzern → Zürich HB (46 min)- Morning: Lucerne old town or Museum of Transport (STP free)
- Swiss National Museum in Zürich (STP free)
- Zürich HB → Airport (10 min)
Pass comparison — 2 adults, 3 days
For short trips the Half Fare Card often wins. The Swiss Travel Pass 3-day costs CHF 244/person — it only justifies if you have children (Family Card) or visit many museums.
| Pass | Price per person | Covers | Excursion discount | Family Card | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Fare Card + tickets | CHF 130–160 | 50% off all tickets individually | 25% on Rigi cogwheel | No | ✓ Best |
| Swiss Travel Pass 3-day | CHF 244 | Unlimited trains + boats + cogwheels | Rigi 100% free, museums free | Yes — children free | Runner-up |
| Point-to-point (no pass) | CHF 180–220 | Exact routes only | None | No | Skip |
Get the exact calculation for your dates
Peak season and family size change the answer significantly.
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