Guest Card Switzerland: Best All-Inclusive Summer Guest Cards & Benefits [updated April 2026]
- Stefan
- Mar 26, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 4
Table of contents
Other Guest Cards
Are you planning a summer trip to Switzerland and want to travel, explore, and enjoy attractions without constantly paying extra? An all inclusive guest card may be your ticket to a worry-free holiday.These regional passes combine public transport, cable cars, and local attractions into a single card, allowing you to save money and enhance your experiences. In this guide, we cover what guest cards offer, how they work, and which ones are worth choosing in 2026.
What Is a Guest Card?
A guest card is a regional travel pass offered by Swiss tourism bodies that gives visitors free or discounted access to local transport, cable cars, museums, and attractions. Think of it as an all-inclusive card for summer travel in Switzerland. Depending on the region, your guest card may cover public transport, mountain railways, boat rides, or special guided tours. Often, they come with your stay in a participating hotel or rental apartment for a minimum number of nights. Sometimes, you get them right at your check-in; in some places, you need to pay the tourist tax first, and then they hand it to you.
Guest Card vs. Travel Pass: Note that guest cards are usually provided for free by your accommodation for paying the local city tax. This is different from paid regional passes (like the Bernese Oberland Pass), which you must purchase separately to cover wider geographical areas.
How Guest Cards Work in Switzerland
Validity: Usually tied to lodging (hotel, holiday apartment, campsite) in participating properties. Some require minimum nights.
Period: Summer season (often May to October). Specific dates vary by region.
What’s included: Public transport within the region, some cable cars / lifts, attractions, bike rentals or boat rides depending on card.
What’s not included: Meals, private transfers, some premium lifts, extras not part of the official offerings. Always check with your accommodation or host.
Important
If you're booking accommodations through short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, be sure to check whether your stay qualifies for these guest cards. Some regions only offer them to guests in registered hotels or specific lodging types, while others may require a minimum stay. Always confirm with your host before booking to make the most of your trip!
Best Guest Cards & Their Perks (Summer 2025)
Often called the St. Moritz guest card by visitors, the Engadin inclusive card lets you explore the stunning alpine region around St. Moritz, Silvaplana, Pontresina, and Celerina. You’ll get to enjoy awesome hiking trails, breathtaking mountain views, and beautiful lakes.
Timeframe: Valid from 1 May to 31 October 2025.
How to Get It: Simply book a minimum of 2 nights in any participating hotel and inquire about the Upper Engadine Card.
Highlights: Enjoy free rides on awesome cable cars like the Funicular Railway Muottas Muragl and the Aerial cable car to Corviglia and Piz Nair. Plus, you can hop on public transportation between the villages too!
Why Stay There: The Upper Engadine Card is the best of all-inclusive experiences, granting access to spectacular mountain railways that lead to unforgettable hikes and panoramic views of the Engadine Valley. Whether you're into the lively vibe of St. Moritz or the charming feel of Pontresina, Silvaplana, or Celerina, this card promises a Swiss experience packed with adventure and relaxation. Learn more here about the upper Engadine card (click next for a list of participating hotels and apartments).
Where to stay:
During our first visit to the Engadine Valley, we stayed at Conrad’s Mountain Lodge in Silvaplana, which I can highly recommend. In 2025, we returned to Silvaplana and this time stayed at the Albana Hotel. Both hotels qualify for the Engadine card. Silvaplana itself is beautiful and right by the lake with many windsurfers in summer. There is a strong breeze in the afternoons, so if you do not like the wind, a town more to the east might be more suitable.
What to do: During our latest trip to the Engadine valley, we made the most of the Engadine card, riding at least two cable cars each day and enjoying some fun hikes. I've linked the full trip report for you.
Arosa is another place I have visited more than once. Its beautiful location surrounded by mountains and the kid-friendly activities make it a wonderful holiday destination.
Timeframe: 13th June to 25th October 2026.
How to Get It: Just spend one night in an Arosa hotel, holiday apartment, or campsite, and you'll receive the Arosa Card at the reception.
Highlights: Take advantage of the cable car ride up to Weisshorn and enjoy reduced entrance fees for attractions like the bear sanctuary, boat rentals on the Obersee, and convenient public transport access.
Why Stay There: Arosa is tailor-made for a delightful summer weekend escapade. With the Arosa Card in hand, you can explore scenic trails, engage in water activities, and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature while relishing the comfort and affordability of your accommodation. Here is a summary of our favourite Arosa stay.
What to do: Discover more activities and insights in our article about Arosa.
Timeframe: Specific summer dates for 2026 are likely to be from 1st of June to October.
How to Get It: Stay in any affiliated accommodation in Ollon, Gryon, or Ormonts-Dessus (Les Diablerets) which contributes to the tourist tax.
Highlights: Enjoy a cable car journey up to Roc d'Orsay and convenient public transport options to explore the region.
Why Stay There: Opt for accommodation in Villars Sur Ollon for breathtaking views of the valley and a chance to glimpse the majestic Mont Blanc. The Carte Bienvenue is given to you when you stay in an accommodation in the communes of Ollon, Gryon, and Ormonts-Dessus (Les Diablerets) that are affiliated with and contribute to the tourist tax in 2023, excluding Airbnb accommodations. Learn more about Carte Bienvenue here.
Timeframe: The Saastal Card is available during the summer season, typically from early June to late October, depending on the specific opening times of cable cars and attractions.
How to Get It: The Saastal Card is automatically provided to guests who stay in partner hotels, holiday apartments, or campsites in the Saas Valley (including Saas-Fee and Saas-Grund). There’s no need to purchase the card separately, as it’s included in the accommodation fee.
Highlights:
Unlimited use of mountain cable cars in the Saas Valley, offering easy access to stunning alpine views.
Free rides on local public transport, connecting you to different villages in the valley.
Discounts on a variety of activities, including guided hikes, biking tours, and museum visits.
Why stay here: Saas Valley is known for its spectacular mountain scenery, with a wide range of outdoor activities that cater to both adventure seekers and those looking to unwind in nature. The area is also car-free, making it a peaceful, relaxing retreat.
What to do: Enjoy scenic hikes, mountain biking, or take a ride on the famous cable cars for breathtaking views of the Alps. For a cultural experience, visit local museums or join guided tours to learn about the region’s rich history and traditions.
Bernese Oberland Pass (not a guest card but famouse paid regional card)
In the Berner Oberland (including Gstaad, Spiez, Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and Brienz), your hotel will provide you with a complimentary local guest card for valley buses and basic discounts. However, this card does not cover free access to the high alpine peaks. To enjoy unlimited rides on the renowned cable cars and mountain trains in the Jungfrau region, you'll need to buy a premium travel pass such as the Bernese Oberland Pass.
What it is: Unlike the free hotel cards above, this is a comprehensive, paid regional travel pass that covers an massive network of trains, buses, boats, and premium mountain railways across the entire Bernese Oberland region.
Timeframe: Valid from early May to late October, covering the summer and autumn seasons when the region’s attractions are open.
Bernese Oberland Pass Price (2026): You can buy passes ranging from 3 to 10 days. For the 2026 season, a 3-day adult pass in 2nd class costs 240 CHF. (Pro Tip: If you hold a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card, the price drops significantly to 168 CHF).
How to Get It: You can purchase the pass online (via the SBB tourist webshop), at local train stations, or from tourist offices in the Bernese Oberland region.
Highlights:
Unlimited travel on public transportation, including trains, buses, and boats on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
Access to popular destinations like Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and Wengen without needing to buy individual tickets.
Deep Discounts on extreme mountain excursions like the Jungfraujoch (25% off) and Grindelwald First (50% off).
Important 2026 Coverage Updates: The pass coverage has shifted slightly for the 2026 season.
Schilthorn is Free: The spectacular ride up to the Schilthorn is now fully covered for free!
GoldenPass Route: The beautiful GoldenPass Express route between Montreux and Zweisimmen is also fully covered.
Reduced Coverage: Be aware that the gondola from Kandersteg to Oeschinensee is no longer covered or discounted in 2026.
Why buy this pass: The Bernese Oberland is one of Switzerland's most iconic and expensive regions. If you plan on riding multiple high-altitude cable cars per day (which can easily cost 60–100 CHF per round trip), this pass pays for itself very quickly and saves you the hassle of waiting in ticket lines.
Other All-Inclusive Guest Cards in Switzerland
In addition to the Upper Engadine Card, Arosa Card, and Carte Bienvenue, Switzerland offers a range of other all-inclusive travel cards. Here are some honorable mentions:
Davos Klosters Premium Card
Timeframe: Available during the summer season.
Website: Davos Klosters Premium Card
Highlights: Free use of mountain railways, discounted or free admission to numerous leisure facilities, and complimentary public transport within the Davos Klosters region.
Appenzeller Holiday Card
Timeframe: Summer season.
Website: Appenzeller Holiday Card
Highlights: Unlimited travel on public transport in Appenzell, including mountain railways and cable cars, along with free admission to museums and discounts on cultural events.
Ticino Ticket
Timeframe: Throughout the year.
Website: Ticino Ticket
Highlights: Free use of public transport throughout the Ticino region, including boats on the lakes, buses, and trains, allowing easy exploration of this Italian-speaking Swiss canton.
Interlaken Guest Card
Timeframe: Available during the summer months.
Website: Interlaken Guest Card
Highlights: Free travel on local buses and trains in the Interlaken area, as well as discounts on various attractions and activities.
Scuol Guest Card
Timeframe: Summer season.
Website: Scuol Guest Card
Highlights: Free use of public transport in the Lower Engadine region, including the Scuol-Motta Naluns mountain railway, and discounts on wellness facilities and local attractions.
Tell Pass
Timeframe: Available for varying durations (e.g., 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days).
Website: Tell Pass
Highlights: Free travel on trains, buses, boats, and some mountain railways in Central Switzerland, covering iconic locations such as Lucerne, Mount Pilatus, and Lake Lucerne cruises.
Kandersteg Guest Card
Timeframe: Generally valid during the summer months.
Website: Kandersteg Guest Card
Highlights: Free access to local buses, discounted rates for cable cars and mountain railways, and various benefits in Kandersteg and its surrounding areas.
Things to Keep an Eye On
Seasonal Timing: [Important one] Some lifts or attractions might open late or close early. While it might feel like summer in the Zurich or Geneva area, in many mountain towns the summer starts late, and the spring and autumn are often used for maintenance and holiday closures. So before you book, make sure you check the opening hours of the local cable cars.
Where You Can Stay: Places like apartments, campsites, or Airbnb may or may not be eligible. Always double-check.
Weather Warnings: Mountain lifts or hiking trails could be closed if there's snow or storms.
Extra Charges – you might have to pay more for special services or premium routes.
