Trip Planner | Overlay Age | Title
Bicycle rental and bike-sharing
Travel flexibly by train and bike
Rent a bike for short trips right at the train station, or reserve a rental bike for longer excursions and bike tours in the BLS area.
Which offer is right for me?
| I would like to.... | Recommendation |
| continue on from the train station on a whim | Bike sharing |
| take an e-bike for a short ride | Bike sharing |
| go on a bike tour or a bike trip | Bicycle rental |
| organizing bikes for a group or school class | Bicycle rental |
| rent accessoires such as helmets, child seats oder trailers | Bicycle rental |
Bike sharing: spontaneous & flexible
PubliBike Velospot throughout Switzerland
- Available throughout Switzerland
- Ideal for spontaneous short trips
- Easy to rent via the app or SwissPass
- Bikes and e-bikes
- Available around the clock
- Multiple vehicles available for rent
- Flexible rates
nextbike Central Switzerland
- Central Switzerland
- Ideal for short trips
- Easy rental via the app
- Bikes and e-bikes
- Up to four bikes can be rented per account
- Return at official stations
Donkey Republic Neuenburg, Thun
- Neuchâtel, Thun
- Ideal for spontaneous short trips
- Available around the clock
- Flexible rental periods
- Bikes and, depending on the location, e-bikes
- Easy to use via the app
- Multiple bikes can be rented per account
Pick-e-Bike Murten
- Murten (Lake Murten region)
- E-bikes for quick short trips
- Easy to use via app
- Return within the parking zone or at an official station
- No subscription fee required
Bicycle Rentals: Outings & Groups
- Rent a Bike rentabike.ch
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to make a reservation?
Bike Sharing
Reservations are generally not required for bike sharing. Depending on the provider, bikes or e-bikes can be rented on the spot via an app or, in some cases, with the SwissPass.
Rental Bicycles
Reservations are recommended for rental bicycles from Rent a Bike, especially on weekends, during the holiday season, for e-bikes, and for groups and school classes. Reservations can be made online or directly at the rental station.
How does the return process work?
Bike Sharing
With bike sharing, depending on the provider, you return the bike to a station, a location, or within a designated return area. The app shows where you can return the bike
Rent-a-Bike
With Rent-a-Bike, you return the bike to the agreed-upon rental station. Returning the bike to a different station may be possible depending on your route and must be specified at the time of reservation.
Difference between bike sharing and bike rentals?
Bike Sharing
Bike sharing is ideal for short, spontaneous trips—for example, from the train station to your neighborhood, to work, or to an appointment. You can rent a bike on your own, usually via an app or SwissPass.
Rental bicycles
Rental bicycles are ideal for longer distances, day trips, and bike tours. They can be reserved in advance, picked up at a rental station, and, depending on the route, returned to a different station.
Do you also have e-bikes?
Bike Sharing
Yes. Many bike-sharing providers offer e-bikes in addition to traditional bikes. Availability depends on the provider and location
Bicycle rental
With Rent a Bike, you can also rent various types of e-bikes depending on the rental station, such as city e-bikes, e-mountain bikes, or specialty bikes.
What’s best for groups and school classes?
"Rent a Bike" is particularly well-suited for groups or school classes. Bikes can be reserved in advance, and depending on availability, there are various bike types and accessories to choose from.
For larger groups, we recommend reserving well in advance and contacting the desired rental station directly.
Is bike sharing available with SwissPass?
Yes, with PubliBike and Velospot, you can unlock bikes and e-bikes directly with Tap&Go using your SwissPass—without any additional registration or app login. Payment is processed automatically using the payment method on file in your user account.
With other bike-sharing providers, usage is handled via an app, customer account, or other payment methods, depending on the provider.
Where can I rent or share bikes?
Bike sharing
Depending on your region, you can find bike-sharing services directly through the respective providers, such as PubliBike Velospot (throughout Switzerland), nextbike (Central Switzerland), Donkey Republic (Neuchâtel, Thun), or Pick-e-Bike (Murten).
Rental bicycles
Rental bicycles from Rent a Bike are available at numerous locations near train stations throughout Switzerland.
Are there any accessories (helmet, child seat etc.)?
Yes. At Rent a Bike, accessories are available depending on the rental station, such as helmets, child seats, or bike trailers. A child seat is free, and a bike helmet costs CHF 5.00 per day.
With bike-sharing, accessories are generally not included in the service.
Can I take a rental bike on the train?
In principle, this is possible if there is enough space and the applicable rules for loading your own bike are followed. For day trips, however, it is often more convenient to pick up the rental bike at the rental location and return it at your destination or at another rental station.
For detailed information on transporting bikes on trains, visit the Traveling with a Bike page.
Which is cheaper: bike-sharing or bike rental?
It depends on how you plan to use it.
For short distances, bike-sharing is usually the better option because it’s designed for spontaneous, short rides.
For half-day or full-day trips, bike tours, and groups, renting a bike from Rent a Bike is usually a better choice. Prices depend on the type of bike, the rental period, and any accessories. You can find the current prices directly on the Rent a Bike website.
