Private Transfer vs Train in Switzerland: Which Is Cheaper for Families?

For one or two travelers, the Swiss train is almost always cheaper than a private transfer. From four people upwards the gap narrows, because rail fares are charged per person while a private transfer has one price per vehicle, and the transfer also spares a family with ski bags the changes at Visp, Chur, Landquart or Martigny. The main exception is a family whose children travel free with the Swiss Family Card or the Junior Travelcard: for them, the train usually stays the budget option.

Key facts

• How prices work: train fares are per person. A private transfer has one fixed price per vehicle, however many seats you fill.
• Children on Swiss trains: under 6 travel free. Children aged 6 to under 16 travel free with a parent who holds a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card and adds them to the free Swiss Family Card (for visitors from abroad), or with an SBB Junior Travelcard when a parent with a valid ticket travels with them.
• Zurich Airport to Zermatt by train: about 3.5 hours, with a change at Visp.
• Zermatt is car-free: private vehicles may only drive as far as Täsch. From there, shuttle trains run every 20 minutes and take 12 minutes.
• SBB door-to-door luggage: up to 23 kg per item, collected on day 1 and delivered on day 3, so not on your arrival day.
• SWISSTRIP private transfer: a fixed price quoted on request, no prepayment, flight tracking, 60 minutes of free waiting time and free child seats on request.

Journey times: train vs private transfer to four ski resorts

The train times below come from the Swiss public transport timetable for Saturday 16 January 2027, a typical ski-season weekend. The road figures are approximate, taken from two independent routing engines, and assume normal traffic. Winter weekends and snowfall can add time, so always check the timetable and conditions for your own travel date.

The train is strongest for Zermatt. A car is no faster there, because the direct road route uses the Lötschberg car-carrying train between Kandersteg and Goppenstein (15 minutes, departures every 30 minutes) and private vehicles must stop at Täsch. Our guide Can you drive to Zermatt? explains the arrival at Täsch. For St. Moritz, Davos and Verbier, the car is usually quicker and, more importantly, it takes you straight to the hotel or chalet. To compare departure airports, see which airport is best for Swiss ski resorts.

Cost by group size: 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 travelers

We do not publish prices here, because a fair price depends on the route, date, vehicle and luggage. The logic is the same for Zermatt, St. Moritz, Davos and Verbier, though: every extra passenger adds a train ticket, while a private vehicle costs the same whether you fill one seat or all of them.

Resort by resort:

• Zermatt: the train wins on price for small groups, and the drive is not shorter. A transfer makes sense for groups, families with lots of luggage and evening arrivals.
• St. Moritz and Davos: rail means two changes. Groups of four or more gain the most from a single vehicle.
• Verbier: the rail route ends with the gondola up from Le Châble, which is awkward with skis and suitcases. A transfer drives to the chalet.

To choose the right vehicle for your group, see how to choose a vehicle for your Swiss transfer, the Mercedes V-Class and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Luggage: changing at Visp vs door to door

Picture a family landing at Zurich Airport with four suitcases, two ski bags and a pushchair. By train, everything goes up the steps into the carriage, then off again at Visp, where the connection on our sample date was often just 5 minutes. Then it all goes onto the train up the valley, and off again in Zermatt. Most connections add a change at Bern as well, and the routes to St. Moritz and Davos also involve two changes.

With a private transfer, the chauffeur meets you in the arrival hall with a name sign and the luggage is loaded once. For St. Moritz, Davos and Verbier, the bags stay in the vehicle until you reach the hotel. For Zermatt, you move them only once more, at Täsch, onto the shuttle train.

The SBB luggage service: useful, but not on arrival day

SBB can carry your bags separately, but the conditions of its door-to-door luggage service matter:

• Timing: collection on day 1, delivery on day 3. Orders must be placed by 12 noon the day before collection.
• Weight: a maximum of 23 kg per suitcase or ski bag. Skis, ski boots and snowboards must be packed.
• Conditions: both addresses must be in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, and you need a valid ticket for the whole route or an annual travelcard. Car-free resorts such as Zermatt carry a surcharge.
• Express: same-day delivery is available only in selected locations, with collection between 7am and 9am and delivery between 5pm and 8pm.

If you fly in from abroad and want to reach the resort the same day, door-to-door luggage does not cover that first leg. SBB also lists flight-luggage options for Zurich and Geneva, but they are limited to certain airlines, stations or regions, so check them before relying on them.

When the train is the better choice

• You travel alone or as a couple with light luggage.
• Your children are under 16 and travel free with the Swiss Family Card or the Junior Travelcard.
• You arrive at Zurich Airport in the daytime, are heading to Zermatt and do not mind the change at Visp.
• You hold a Swiss Travel Pass for your whole stay anyway, or the rail journey itself is part of the holiday.

When a private transfer is worth it

• Four or more travelers with skis, pushchairs or older relatives.
• Late flights: on our sample date, the last connection from Zurich Airport that reached Zermatt the same night left at 20:15 and arrived at 23:48. Later trains arrived only the next morning.
• Delays: we track your flight and include 60 minutes of free waiting time, so there is no train connection to miss.
• No shared shuttle: shared shuttles typically wait for other passengers and stop at several hotels. A private transfer leaves when you are ready and goes straight to your address.
• Business travel: VAT-compliant invoices for companies.

For an overview of our resort routes, see ski resort transfers from Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Innsbruck.

Request a fixed price

Tell us your route, date, flight number, the number of travelers and bags (including skis), and any child seats you need. SWISSTRIP will reply with one fixed price for the whole vehicle, so you can compare it directly with your rail fares. No prepayment is required: you pay by bank transfer, in cash, by Visa/Mastercard or TWINT in the vehicle. Contact us, send us a WhatsApp message or email service@swiss-trip.ch. We are available 24/7.