Bodensee Ticket / Lake Constance Ticket

The first unified ticketing system around Lake Constance, the Austrian-German-Swiss border, was introduced in 2002, then called “Day Ticket Euregio Lake Constance“. Since then, the travel possibilities offered by the cooperation have been expanded, creating the Lake Constance Ticket. The single system serves local tourism needs, focusing on the principles of sustainable tourism (e.g. reducing the carbon footprint). The initiative’s website lists the most attractive and spectacular routes for hikers.

The common tariff system is based on zones around the lake. In total, three zones (East, West and South) cover the border area. Within each zone, passengers can use the rail, bus and ferry networks (second class) freely with a ticket. Restrictions apply only to railways in Germany (only local trains are allowed), and the ticket does not entitle the holder to take organised boat trips or catamarans (only a discount for boat trips).

Two main types of ticket have been created, a daily ticket and a 3-day ticket for free movement within the zone. Tickets can be bought for one or more zones at the same time, with the exception of the southern zone, where only combined (multi-zone) tickets can be bought. Children and groups can buy tickets at a reduced price, while bicycles can also be transported with a supplementary payment ticket. Tickets can only be purchased on the spot at designated offices, ticket machines and on board vehicles.

The ticketing system is coordinated by a joint committee (Koordinationsausschuss Bodensee Ticket), which has entrusted the railway company in Eastern Switzerland (Regionalbahn Thurbo) with the operation of the ticketing office (Geschäftsstelle Bodensee Ticket).[1]

[1] Link: https://entfuture2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BrochureENT_de_web-1.pdf