If you are unlike me and you are a genius and have no issues figuring out electronic machines that are in foreign languages and use foreign currencies and are flat out foreign, ignore this post.

But if you are like me and you have issues with these things or you just might, then here goes...

A tutorial on: How to use the SBB Automatic Ticket Machines!

For starters, these machines are generally found in and around Zurich. They are slowly being replaced in other cities by the smarter and generally easy to use computer-based machines, but you will find these old-school versions still, especially on the station platforms. All tickets bought from these machines are valid for boarding within the hour, with the exception of the Tageskarte or daily pass which is good for 24 hours.

1. This is an automatic ticket machine. Say "hello", it won't bite. These things are everywhere in Zurich (and in many other regions as well) and you use these to get a ticket for public transportation. You can get a ticket on the bus from the driver, and you can always get a train ticket at the counter, but if you are in a hurry, this is the best way.

2. First start by figuring out where you are going and telling the machine.

There is a great list of destinations on the machine:

Let's say I wanted to go to the airport. I would search for the destination on the list. Oh look, there it is! Zurich airport. And I would remember the number 8058.

Now you type the number (remember 8058!) into the machine using the keypad. You will now see in the screen at the top the price to the destination you chose:

But don't pay yet! Now it's time to...

3. Select your fare.

Using this section of the machine, you need to tell the machine a few things:

a) Would you like to travel via first class? Then push the 1.KL button. The price updates (to be more expensive)

b) Would you like to have a round-trip ticket? Then push the button with the arrows... the price updates (to about double).

c) Do you have a half-fare card? If so, select the "1/2" button and automatically your ticket price will update and be halved! Yes!

You can do the above steps as many times as you like until you get the ticket that you want and the price that you want based on the fare that you want. Still with me?

4. Time to pay. You can pay with coins or bills.

Coins go in the coin slot.

Bills go where the arrow is pointing, and the machines give back change ONLY IN COINS!

Your change and your ticket will come out in this part of the machine:

FAST TRACK:
There are three quick options on the machines that are quite handy. You literally can just push, pay and go.

a) The "To Zurich" easy button: If you know that you want to go to Zurich from wherever you are, you can push the RED button here and it will display the fare to Zurich Zone 10. Push the round trip button or the half-fare button to adjust the fare and pay! Fast and easy.

b) The Localnetz button: If you just want to ride around in your local Zone or network only, you can push the ORANGE button and get a quick ticket for the current zone. Push the round trip button or the half-fare button to adjust the fare and pay!

Don't know if where you want to go is in your current zone? Well, if it is not in the list below the orange button, then it's not! Find it in the master list and push in the number.

c) The Tageskarte Localnetz: If you want unlimited rides in the local zone you are in for the next 24 hours, push the WHITE button and you will get a day card, good for unlimited trips in the current zone. This is great if you are a tourist in Zurich and just want to ride around Zurich all day. Push the white button (plus the half-fare if you have that!) and you are off! Just make sure you are already in the zone that you want to travel around all day or else you might have to buy extra zones later!

Some other things to note:
1.Luggage is not an additional fee, so feel free to lug it on.
2.Your dog, however, requires an extra fee. Make sure you buy the ticket for man's best friend. If it is a lap dog, meaning a small dog (there are size restrictions), it rides free.
3.If you ride at night, after midnight, make sure you buy the extra Nachtnetz zuschlag. I believe it is 5 CHF extra to ride at night.

I hope this was helpful. In the beginning, despite my German knowledge, I was always buying too many tickets or too expensive ones because I forgot the half-fare button. I also DID NOT GET the zones either. So don't feel bad. If you have any questions, let me know! Once you get it down it is easy to get around Zurich using the automated machines.

Good luck!

Text and Photos: Jessica Cartwright