Minibus Services Across Switzerland

Class outings sized to fit one vehicle

A single class rarely needs a full-size coach. Twenty pupils and two teachers fit a midi-coach, and a small class or a kindergarten group may fit a minibus. A vehicle sized to the class is easier to park, and the day at the Rhine Falls or the open-air museum starts with less fuss.

Child seats: the vehicle makes the difference

Swiss child-restraint rules depend on the vehicle. In a coach, which in law means a passenger vehicle over 3.5 t, children from 4 need no child seat. In a minibus up to 3.5 t the general rule applies: a child under 12 and below 150 cm rides in an appropriate restraint wherever the seat has a seat belt, though from age 7 a lap-belt-only seat needs none.

So for a class of eight-year-olds, ask about the seats before you choose the vehicle. The driver must make sure under-12s are properly secured, and passengers have to be told about wearing belts; it helps if the class hears it from the teacher too.

Executive Sprinter minibus, exterior
Executive Sprinter minibus, exterior

Good outings within an hour

From Schaffhausen, the Rhine Falls are about 10 minutes away and Stein am Rhein about 30. From Bern, Thun and Murten each take about 35 minutes. Classes in Lucerne reach the Pilatus cog railway at Alpnachstad in about 25 minutes, Interlaken groups the Ballenberg open-air museum in around 35, and Lausanne classes Chillon in about 40.

At the Rhine Falls on the Neuhausen side, a coach sets pupils down at a short-stay stop by the P1/P2 car park, then waits on the Burgunwiese until it is time to collect them.

Worth knowing before the day

  • The driver must make sure that children under 12 are properly secured, and passengers in coaches and minibuses must be told about the seat-belt obligation (Art. 3a Abs. 1 and 3 VRV)
  • On a single round trip (Rundfahrt) such as a multi-day class trip, the coach driver may postpone the weekly rest for up to twelve 24-hour periods if the coach has a digital tachograph (Art. 11a ARV 1)

Class camps and longer trips

For a week-long Klassenlager the same coach and driver can stay with the class: if the coach has a digital tachograph, the law lets the driver of a single round trip push the weekly rest back for as long as twelve consecutive 24-hour periods. Passenger vehicles are not covered by the Sunday driving ban, so the journey home can be on a Sunday.

Questions travellers ask

Do we need a special permit for a one-day class trip?

No. A cantonal permit is needed only for regular school transport that carries pupils alone; a one-off class trip is not a regular service.

Can two classes travel together?

Yes. Two classes with their teachers usually outgrow a midi-coach, so a full-size coach of 45 to 57 seats is the usual choice.

What should we tell you about the pupils?

Ages, and heights if many are young, any wheelchair users, and the luggage for overnight stays. That decides the vehicle and any child seats.

More places for your group

Other vehicles with a driver

Plan your class outing

Send the date, the number of pupils and adults, their ages and the places you want to visit. A licensed partner operator puts forward a vehicle that suits the class.

Request a quote or call 35227647770