Tunnels and Passes in Switzerland
If you're traveling to Switzerland and want to explore the country, you'll encounter numerous tunnels and mountain pass roads. We offer you a comprehensive overview of the various tunnel types and explain which of them are subject to the vignette requirement, when a heavy vehicle fee applies, where you can use car shuttle trains, and in which cases a special toll must be paid.
Vignette or heavy vehicle fee?
In Switzerland, most tunnels (unlike, for example, in Austria) are not subject to a special toll but only require a vignette. All vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW (GVW: gross vehicle weight including occupants) need a vignette to use the Swiss road network.
Unlike other countries, Switzerland does not have a distance-based toll. Instead, vehicles weighing more than 3.5 t GVW must pay a heavy vehicle fee, which exempts them from the vignette requirement. Further information on the heavy vehicle fee can be found in our guide.
Tunnels and passes
Below you will find tunnels that are not subject to a special toll. Only a vignette or a paid heavy vehicle fee is required to use them:
Tunnels and Alpine passes subject to special tolls
In Switzerland, there are certain tunnels that are subject to a special toll. A special pass is required to use these routes. This can cover a single trip, a round trip, or an annual ticket.
The prices of these passes vary depending on the vehicle class and, in some cases, the day of the week and season. The special toll routes include the Grand St. Bernard Road Tunnel (Switzerland–Italy) and the Munt-La-Schera Road Tunnel (Switzerland–Italy). In addition, there are numerous Alpine pass roads for which a special toll is also charged.
Tunnels with car shuttle trains
The prices for car shuttle trains vary depending on the vehicle category, tunnel, and day of the week. It is therefore important to find out, for each specific tunnel, which category your vehicle falls into. The following tunnels offer car shuttle trains:
Furka Tunnel car shuttle train: This connection runs within Switzerland and connects Realp and Oberwald. During the week, trains run hourly, and on weekends every 30 minutes. The journey takes 15 minutes.
Vereina Tunnel car shuttle train: This connection is also within Switzerland and connects Klosters-Selfranga with Sagliains. Departures run every 30 minutes during the day. The journey takes 18 minutes.
Lötschberg Tunnel car shuttle train: This connection within Switzerland links Kandersteg with Goppenstein. Departures run every 30 minutes during the day, with a journey time of 15 minutes.
Lötschberg and Simplon Tunnel car shuttle train: This connection runs from Switzerland to Italy and enables travel from Kandersteg to Iselle. It is available from April to October, with 1–9 departures per week. The journey takes about an hour.
Simplon Tunnel car shuttle train: This connection also runs from Switzerland to Italy and connects Brig with Iselle di Trasquera. Departures run every 90 minutes, with a journey time of 20 minutes.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip
We wish you a pleasant trip to Switzerland and lots of enjoyment on your exploration tour through the country's impressive natural scenery. Please make sure to inform yourself in good time about the applicable toll regulations. In addition, our route planner is available to help you plan your trip optimally and display the relevant toll products. If you have any questions, we are of course happy to assist you. Feel free to contact us at any time by email.
