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09 April 2025
Switzerland is an impressive country on account of its nature, high quality of life and its transport system, among other things. As a student, you will quickly notice that there are many ways to get around. Here you can find out everything you need to know about public transport, ride-sharing services such as Uber and Bolt, or modern alternatives such as e-scooters.
Switzerland has one of the best public transport systems in Europe. Whether you want to travel within a city or across the country, you can reach your destination comfortably and reliably using public transport. Here are the most common means of public transport:
The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) link the larger Swiss cities as well as smaller towns with a dense network of connections. You can purchase tickets easily over the counter at the larger train stations. Alternatively, you can set up an account online or via the app and purchase tickets on your mobile phone with just a few taps. When it comes to rail passes, the Half-Fare Travelcard is particularly popular. It entitles you to a 50% discount on almost all journeys and only costs CHF 120.– for under 25s and CHF 190.– for over 25s for the entire year – a must for students! In addition, there are Regional Travelcards that entitle you to unlimited travel within certain regions.
In cities such as Zurich, Basel or Geneva, there is a very well-developed tram and bus network. This is particularly helpful if you want to explore a specific city. With a day pass, you can travel as often as you like within a certain region. All journeys can be conveniently booked via the SBB website or the SBB app. To find out which tram or bus line will take you to your destination, you can either consult the timetables at the various stops, the SBB app or the respective websites of the municipal transport companies (e.g. ZVV for Zurich, BVB for Basel, TPG for Geneva).
If you're travelling late on weekends, there are special night buses that will take you to a stop near your home. These are available in many larger cities such as Zurich, Basel, Bern and Geneva. It's worth checking the connections on the website of the respective municipal transport company or the SBB app in advance.
If you're not in the mood for public transport or you're travelling late at night and want to get home safely, Uber and Bolt ride-hailing services are practical alternatives. Both services operate via an app in which the destination is entered and a fare is displayed. These two providers are often cheaper than conventional taxis, as they have flexible pricing structures with no fixed basic charges. Customers pay automatically via the saved credit card or other digital payment methods. Another benefit is real-time journey tracking. You can see the licence plate number, the driver's rating and can accurately estimate your arrival time.
This ride-hailing service operates in the same way it does in many other countries – you can book your ride via the Uber app. Uber is available in most major cities, including Basel, Bern, Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, etc., and is often cheaper than a regular taxi.
The Bolt ride-hailing service now also offers rides in Switzerland and is particularly attractive for students who are looking for an affordable means of transport. Here, too, rides can be booked using the Bolt app. Bolt is currently available in Basel, Zurich and Winterthur.
E-scooters are electric scooters that can be rented using an app and offer a fast, environmentally friendly alternative for short journeys. They are particularly convenient for the last mile, i.e. the journey from the next stop to your destination, but also for spontaneous rides in the city. What's more, they're easy to use. You can use the app to find an available scooter in your area, unlock it and scoot away. On reaching your destination, you can park it in a convenient spot and end the rental in the app. They are particularly popular with students and tourists, as they can be used flexibly.
These are among the best-known providers of e-scooters available for rent in Switzerland. All you need is the app from the respective provider to find a scooter nearby and you're good to go. Rental usually involves a basic charge (approx. CHF 1) plus a per-minute price. It's worth it for short distances or if you want to get to your destination quickly.
Whether you use public transport, Uber, Bolt or an e-scooter, there are many ways to get around in Switzerland. For students in particular, it's well worth trying out the various means of transport in order to find the best and most affordable option.