Switzerland Travel Discounts for Foreign Wheelchair users

My family and I recently returned from a long-awaited trip to Switzerland. So I was curious about Aceessibitlity of Tour attractions and switzerland travel discounts for foreign wheelchair users.

We rented a car to get around during our stay. This trip was especially meaningful as it was with my mother, who is disabled and uses a wheelchair. Prior to our departure, I conducted extensive research to ensure that we could visit tourist destinations with ease. Fortunately, Switzerland has a well-developed tourism infrastructure for disabled individuals, which greatly alleviated my concerns.

I was curious about the availability of discounts on transportation or tourist attractions in Switzerland. However, I did not find much accurate information about these aspects on the internet. Therefore, through this post, I would like to share some information. If you have a family member who uses a wheelchair, please refer to this information to ensure a pleasant trip.

Firstly, it seems that the Swiss discount is only available for those who use a wheelchair. If you have a physical disability but do not use a wheelchair, you will have to pay the regular rate.

Before embarking on this trip, I obtained an English disability certificate just in case. When I visited a tourist attraction, I received a discount after showing the certificate, although I noticed that my mother, who uses a wheelchair, was granted the discount without having to show her certificate.

If you plan to travel in Swiss, you’ll likely rely on the railway for transportation. The Swiss Railways website states that if you purchase a ticket for a disabled passenger, the accompanying guardian can ride for free. I checked to see if I could receive a discount, but the website lacked detail. When I visited Lucerne, I went to the SBB railway ticket office to inquire about a discount. Unfortunately, I learned that this offer only applies to Swiss nationals and not foreigners.

As a foreign passenger, it’s not possible to receive a separate discount when traveling by rail. You’ll need to purchase a separate rail ticket or transportation pass. If you’re planning to travel throughout Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass could be a good option, though it’s expensive and includes tickets or discounts for major attractions. Even in places with free admission, the Swiss Pass may entail additional expenses.

Consider purchasing a Saver Day Pass instead. My family and I were advised that traveling by rail with luggage and transportation would be difficult, so we rented a car instead and did not use the railway. As a result, we did not consider purchasing a Swiss Pass or Saver Day Pass.

Below, I will explain each tourist spot I visited separately. Most wheelchair users were able to enter free of charge, but I was unsure if guardians were also entitled to free admission, like with the railroad discount mentioned earlier. We needed to clarify this in order to decide under whose name we should apply for the half-price card for discounts at major tourist attractions. Ultimately, since the tourist discount was given to the individual, I purchased the half-fare card under my name as the guardian, and we traveled this way.

To travel from Grindelwald Terminal to Jungfrau, you need to change trains twice – first to the Eiger Express and then to the Jungfrau Railway. Wheelchair travelers travel for free. I did not receive a separate ticket, and the staff at the boarding gate let me pass with the wheelchair as a matter of course. I purchased the Jungfrau VIP Pass with a Dongshin Shipping discount coupon and a half pair card, which made me the only one who received the Dongshin Port Cup Ramen coupon. I received only one and ate it with my mother.

For reference, we used a rental car to go to Jungfrau and moved directly from the Grindelwald terminal via the Eiger Express. If you come by train from Interlaken to Grindelwald, you probably won’t get a discount on the rail.

In terms of wheelchair travel infrastructure, Jungfrau was better for traveling than other tourist destinations below. The top of Jungfrau is wider than I thought, so it might be difficult to get around with a wheelchair. However, the roads are almost completely stair-free, and there are elevators installed, so I was able to see most of the places I could go to. However, there was a Swiss flag, so the place where I took a lot of pictures was not accessible to wheelchairs. It was not easy to access because there was a snowy slope, and there were stairs on the way. I couldn’t even go to the entrance, so I just went upstairs, took some pictures, and came back down.

As with First, boarding is free for wheelchair users. To obtain a free ticket, simply talk to the ticket office. Note that the entrance for the general public has stairs. To enter, go out to the left of the ticket office and go up a little bit to the entrance.

The entrance is easy to find, as it is the same location where you take the cable car down and return the bicycle. However, be aware that the cable car going up to First is narrow. If you have a wide wheelchair, you may have difficulty. The staff have mentioned that there is a slightly wider cable car available, so it is advisable to check before boarding.

To reach the Zermatt Gornergrat Observatory by rental car, you must first park at the Täsch station and take the train to Zermatt. This is because ordinary cars are not allowed due to environmental protection. There was no discount for the train from Täsch to Zermatt, as it is a regular railway. However, I was able to get a discount with my half-pair card, while my mother paid the regular rate.

Upon arrival at Zermatt Station, head to the ticket office for the mountain train to the Gornergrat Observatory, called Zermatt GGB. The fee for wheelchair travelers going up to the Chesagrat Observation Deck is free of charge, just like other tourist attractions. The staff only checked for wheelchair boarding and did not ask for additional certificates.

For your information, when boarding at Zermatt GGB, there was almost no gap between the train and the platform, so it was not difficult to board alone. However, at the Gornergrat Observatory and the Riffelberg Station (which is the stop right below it), there was a step up to the train and the floor, requiring two people from the side to lift a wheelchair. Nonetheless, the staff tends to take a few minutes when boarding the train, and there are friendly people who readily offer help. Overall, I think you will be able to get assistance without difficulty if needed.

To climb Mount Rigi, we took the Vitznau-Rigi Kulm mountain railway. Normally, one would take a cruise ship from Lucerne to Rigi Kulm, but since we had rented a car, we went directly to Rigi Kulm without checking if we could get a discount on the cruise ship as well.

The Vitznau-Rigi Kulm railway also provides free access for wheelchair users. However, once you reach Rigi Kulm at the top, there is a steep slope from the entrance. Pushing the wheelchair up to that point was not easy and was very difficult. I managed to push up to the observatory in the middle, but the hill where you can see the lake on the other side was difficult for my mother. I went up a little further because of my strength.

However, note that the slope is a little gentler if you take the right fork in the road. In conclusion, the scenery of Mt. Rigi was beautiful, but unfortunately, it was not an ideal tourist destination for wheelchair users.

I have shared Swiss Travel discount information for wheelchair users planning to visit major tourist destinations in Switzerland. Traveling to Switzerland with a wheelchair can be challenging and requires careful preparation. We hope the information provided here has been helpful and that you have a pleasant trip.