Why You Should Buy a 9 O'Clock Pass

ZVV 9 o'Clock Pass

I believe everyone would agree that the system of public transportation here in Switzerland is one of the best in the world. Busses and trains and even boats run regularly to almost any city, town and village - and mostly right on time.

However, there is one major downside to the Swiss system of public transportation: the prices. Compared to most countries in the world it is ridiculously expensive to ride a bus, tram or a train. For example, the one hour train ride from Basel to Zurich costos more than 30 CHF. Prices do get more reasonable if you purchase a half price card (called Halbtax) or a yearly/monthly pass for a specific region or route. There are ways to save money on public transportation in Switzerland but it still remains costly.

Saving Money with the 9 o'Clock Pass

In the Zurich area you have an additional option to travel cheaper: the 9 o'clock pass (called 9-Uhr-Pass in German). This day pass allows you to travel freely on boats, trains, busses and tram in the whole canton of Zurich for only 25.- CHF. There is just one condition: on weekdays you must start your journey after 9 o'clock. That's of course also how the pass got its name. Note that on weekends the pass is valid from beginning of service.

So, where can you go and what can you do with a 9 o'clock pass? Here are some suggestions for trips and destinations around Zurich:

go for a walk on the Üetliberg
take the cable car up the Felsenegg
stroll through the old city of Rapperswil
visit the Halbinsel Au
go for a boat cruise on lake Zurich
visit the Technorama in Winterthur
have fun at the ropes course in Kloten
visit the animals at Tierpark Langenberg
visit the medieval castle Schloss Kyburg
get wet in the Alpamare water park
meet dinosaurs in Aathal

You can also simply enjoy a day of riding trams in and around Zurich as you enjoy the sights. This is a good option especially for those rainy days in Switzerland!

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