Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Portugal already have similar schemes seeking to reduce residents’ dependence on private vehicles.
Spain has just announced it will launch a national public transport pass for a monthly fee of €60.
Users can take buses or trains anywhere around the country.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the initiative aims “to change the way Spaniards understand and use public transport forever”.
The nation joins Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Portugal, which already have similar schemes seeking to reduce residents’ dependence on private vehicles.
Spain to launch a monthly public transport pass
Spain’s new monthly transport pass will cost €60 for adults and €30 for people under 26. It is not yet clear if the scheme will be open to foreign visitors or just Spanish residents.
Cardholders can travel anywhere in Spain on middle-distance and suburban trains, and on national bus services.
According to Sánchez, the scheme could help some workers reduce their monthly travel costs by as much as 60 per cent.
The Prime Minister said regional and municipal authorities have also been urged to gradually opt into the measure so that local public transport, such as the metro and city buses, is included in the season ticket.
The pass will launch in January 2026, according to the government.
Germany’s Deutschlandticket set for price hike in 2026
Germany introduced its seasonal pass, the Deutschlandticket, in 2023, when it cost €49 per month. Both residents and tourists can purchase the card.
The fee rose to €58 at the beginning of 2025 and is set to increase again to €63 in 2026.
Also known as the ‘D-ticket,’ the low-cost pass is valid on all city buses, subways and trams in municipalities across Germany, as well as short and medium-distance transport, including trains.
It can’t be used for long-distance trains operated by DB Fernverkehr AG (including RE) or other providers such as FlixTrain (IC, EC, ICE).
Hungary offers national and county transport passes
The Hungary Pass is a monthly transport ticket that can be used throughout the country. It costs around €49 for 30 days, with students receiving a massive 90 per cent reduction in the price.
The pass is valid on almost all BKK services, suburban and regional buses, HÉV suburban railways and designated trains. It cannot be used on the 100E Airport Express, however.
Hungary has also introduced county travelcards, which allow you to use bus and rail services in one of the country’s 19 counties.
The county travel card is slightly less at around €25 and also has a 90 per cent discount for students. If your journey crosses the border into another county, you’ll need to buy two passes, making the national travel card a cheaper option.
Both county and national passes can be purchased by foreign citizens. If you are eligible for a discounted rate, with a valid student ID, for example, you can also get this as an international traveller.
Portugal has the cheapest monthly transport pass in Europe
In 2024, Portugal launched a new €20 monthly train ticket dubbed the Green Rail Pass. This is only accessible to Portuguese residents, as you require a national tax number to purchase it.
The pass allows passengers to travel on nearly all urban, regional, inter-regional and inter-city services operated by the state-owned rail company Comboios de Portugal (CP).
Premium high-speed tilting Alfa Pendular trains are not included in the ticket, and it isn’t valid on other forms of public transport like metros or light rail systems.
Switzerland’s passes are the priciest in Europe
Switzerland offers the GA Travelcard, an all-in-one pass for unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats across the country for a month.
It’s pretty pricey compared to other European countries, at around €470 for adults and €315 for young people.
Tourists are better off taking advantage of the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, where you can choose three, four, six, eight, or 15 days within a month for unlimited travel starting at €315.
The Swiss Half Fare Card is also useful. It gives 50 per cent off all tickets for one month for roughly €130.
