SWITZERLAND TRAVEL TIPS | 50+ Things To Know Before You Visit Switzerland for the First Time

SWITZERLAND TRAVEL TIPS | 50+ Things To Know Before You Visit Switzerland for the First Time

If you’re coming to Switzerland for the  first time, there are quite a few things   that you need to know and a whole lot more that  will just make your trip a little smoother. Were Jana and Brett and our goal is to help you  travel Switzerland with confidence, whether this  

Is your first trip or your tenth. Now we have  50+ things to cover, so let’s jump right in. Switzerland is a landlocked country  in Central Europe, bordered by France,   Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Italy.  Though it’s not bordered by an ocean or sea,  

It does have two large lakes on  opposite corners of the country. Because of its location, a Swiss vacation  pairs well with any of those countries   along the border. We always say that a trip  to Switzerland and Italy or to Switzerland   and France is like the perfect match  because one country offers you endless  

Natural beauty and the other is like  a foodie destination. But of course,   any combination of these countries  makes for a great European vacation. The vast Swiss train network, which we’ll  talk more about later, makes it super easy   to cross borders without having to hop on  an airplane. And speaking of borders…

Switzerland is not in the EU, but it is in the  Schengen area, which is a group of 27 European   countries that allows people with a valid visa to  travel through any of those countries for up to  

90 days. And in most cases, once you’re in the  Schengen area, you will not need to show your   passport in order to cross borders by land,  although of course there can be exceptions. The US is what’s known as a visa exempt  country. And so if you’re from the US,  

Your passport is your visa and there are  currently no other special requirements   to enter the Schengen area. Just make  sure that your passport will have at   least 3 to 6 months of validity once  you leave Switzerland just to be safe.

Starting sometime in 2025, there will be a  new entry requirement for all non-European   visitors to Europe called the ETIAS Application,  which is basically a travel security program   used to check criminal records. Now, it’s  actually already been postponed a few times,  

So we’ll see if it’s even implemented by then.  But it’s supposedly going to be very quick,   will only cost a few bucks  and can be completed online. Practically, the biggest difference you’ll  notice from Switzerland not being in the EU  

Is that they use a different currency, the  Swiss Franc instead of the Euro. I think the   Swiss Franc is more beautiful and fun than the  Euro anyway, but maybe I’m just partial. Just   keep in mind that Swiss Francs will not work  in other European countries, although it is  

The official currency in Liechtenstein. So if  you’re also traveling there, that’s a bonus. However, your Euros may actually work in  Switzerland. Some Swiss shops allow you to   pay in Euros, but usually the exchange rate  is not favorable. So have some Swiss Francs  

Just in case you can order cash in advance or  change money at a currency exchange counter   when you arrive. But these are usually a lot  more expensive than the actual exchange rate. So we suggest bringing a debit  card and getting cash from an  

ATM. While some banks will charge fees for this  transaction, many don’t. And even if they do,   you’re still better off using a debit card at  an ATM than using the currency exchange counter. Honestly, your cash needs to be pretty  low in Switzerland. Since credit cards  

Are widely accepted, we usually recommend  100 CHF per couple for a one week trip.   You’ll really need cash for those  mountain huts or farm fridges that   we love so much. And in that case, 100  francs might even be more than enough. Speaking of credit cards, bring two  non-American Express cards. Visa  

And MasterCard are much more widely  accepted than American Express. And   we say bring two cards just in case  one doesn’t work for some reason. Most companies don’t require you to  let them know about international   travel. But we do suggest notifying your  bank if you plan to use your debit card,  

Just that won’t get flagged. If you can bring  a credit card that does not charge foreign   transaction fees, which can save you around  3%. And if you’re a U.S. resident looking   to travel credit cards to earn points and  miles, before, during and after your trip.

You can find our personal favorite travel  credit card recommendations on our website. Now, all this talk about money raises a very  important point. Switzerland is expensive,   but it doesn’t have to be. According to the 2019  Travel and Tourism Development Index, Switzerland  

Is one of the least price competitive countries.  That’s just a fancy way to say expensive. But that’s why we’re here to help you travel  Switzerland with confidence and to minimize   your budget. So keep watching all 50+  of our tips to learn how to save money,   plan better, and maximize your Swiss vacation.

By the way, here are three steps to make  the most of this info as you plan your   trip. 1. Read our blog post, which is loaded  with links and recommendations to help you act   on what you’re learning in this video. 2.  Buy a done-for-you Swiss itinerary for the  

Destinations you’re planning to visit or  to make sense of the wacky world of Swiss   transportation. 3. And if you’d still like  more personalized help, book a Swiss vacation   consultation with us. And that’s how of travel  Switzerland with confidence in three easy steps.

Switzerland has four national languages.  But don’t let the word “national” fool   you. Each one is used in different regions.  German is most extensively spoken. French   is mainly spoken in the East—nope, the  West. Italian in the South. And Romansh,   which only has about 40,000  speakers, mainly in the southeast.

Will you be okay if you don’t speak one  of these languages? Yes. Nearly everyone   in the tourism industry in Switzerland  speaks English. So if you have a question,   someone should be able to answer  your questions—in English. But not every shopkeeper and certainly  not every local will speak English. Plus,  

The locals love it when tourists make the effort  to speak their language. So we encourage you to   learn a few words or phrases. You can base  that on which regions you’ll be visiting,   with “Hello” and “goodbye,” “please” and “thank  you” being the most important words to learn.

But are you ready for a curveball? The  German spoken in Switzerland is really   Swiss German and most native German  speakers struggle to understand it. But   don’t let that discourage you. Most Swiss  will understand you if you speak German,   even if their greetings and responses don’t  at all sound like the German you learned.

If you’re traveling to Europe, then  you’re already aware that you need a   plug adapter. But be warned, the  European ones do not always work   in Switzerland! We learned that the hard  way. Switzerland uses the Type J adapter,   which is different from the rest of Europe.  The European ones, type C adapters, will  

Sometimes fit in the Swiss plugs if the prongs  are not too big or if the box is not too large. Otherwise, you will need another adapter to fit  into the Swiss plugs. But before you go out and   buy one, check with your lodging to see if  they have any EU-to-Swiss with adapters.  

If you do need to buy one, they’re  super easy to find at gas stations,   grocery stores and electronic stores, especially  the ones in and around the train stations. Switzerland literally has the  cleanest water in the world. As in,   it scored a perfect 100%. That’s because  80% of the water in Switzerland comes from  

Underground and the remaining 20% is taken  from lakes. With that in mind, the water   from the tap is literally better than bottled  water. So bring a reusable water bottle here. By the way, we don’t recommend drinking  straight from streams or lakes. And before  

You drink out of a fountain, make sure it  has that little sign that says it’s potable. Jana always laughs when her mom texts  and says, “It looks like you’ll have rain   all week” — but we’re standing outside  under clear blue skies. That’s because  

The built in cell phone weather apps do a  terrible job at predicting Swiss weather,   especially in the mountains. Instead, we rely  on MeteoSwiss and webcams. Here’s our approach. A few days out, we checked MeteoSwiss. This gives  us a pretty accurate idea of what temperatures and  

General weather to expect. The day before we check  MeteoSwiss again. There’s an app and a website,   but we prefer the website because it just  shows a lot more detail like the expected   minutes of sunshine or rain per hour. With  this info we can make a really good plan for  

The following day. And the morning of,  we take a look at webcams to make sure   the view is clear and the clouds  are high or not even there at all. Otherwise, pack a good pair of  shoes, a solid rain jacket and  

Plenty of layers so you can get out  and explore no matter the weather. Nowadays there’s an app for everything and  your Swiss vacation is no exception. Now   I wish I could tell you about this  awesome app by Aplins in the Alps   that shows itineraries and weather and  timetables…but that doesn’t exist yet!

Instead, here are five apps to download  before your Swiss vacation. The SBB mobile   app is the ultimate app when it comes to  public transportation in Switzerland. You   can search timetables and routes,  buy tickets, follow your journey,  

And a whole lot more. In fact, it does so much  that we created an entire guide all about it. If you’re going to do any sort of hiking in  Switzerland, you’ll want the SwissTopo App to   help find and navigate trails. Although the trail  signs are fantastic and it’ll be hard to get lost.

We already mentioned MeteoSwiss, and even  though we prefer the website, it is convenient   to have the app because you can add and save your  favorite destinations to view weather at a glance. Google Translate is a no brainer. Download  languages offline so you can use the app  

Even if you don’t have data or Wi-Fi. My favorite  feature is the camera that translates instantly. And finally, Google Maps is super helpful  to know where you are to find the names of   train stations and bus stops and to save  the location of your hotel or Airbnb.

Switzerland is consistently ranked as one  of the safest countries in the world. The   most common type of crime here is usually  just tourists getting pickpocketed. So be   aware of your staff, especially in crowded  areas. There are also sometimes accidents   and the mountains due to the adventure  activities. So don’t underestimate the  

Need to be prepared and aware of elements,  even if you’re just going on a basic hike. Hopefully your trip to Switzerland is as smooth  as creamy peanut butter, but just in case,   it’s probably a good idea to put a few emergency  phone numbers in your phone contacts. 112 is the  

Most important emergency number that will  connect you with an emergency operator. It   works not only in Switzerland, but across  all of Europe as well. Even if you have   a foreign SIM card or no phone credit  and if you want to be ultra prepared.

144 connects you to an ambulance and 118  connects you to the fire department. But   for all non emergencies, the pharmacy  is usually a great place to start. When you think “family vacation,” you  may not think Switzerland, but here’s  

Your cue to think again! Kids under the age of  6 can ride all forms of public transportation   in Switzerland for completely free, and kids  from the ages of 6 to 16 can ride for 50% off. Unless you have something  like the Swiss Family Card,  

In which case they can ride  with you for completely free. Not to mention that everywhere has a playground  and these aren’t just your standard swings and   slides we’re talking about epic playgrounds  with mazes, giant towers, steep slides,   zip lines, tree forts, and hours of fun.  Plus, lots of restaurants in Switzerland  

Have a kids area with toys and games to  help keep your children entertained and,   of course, a kids menu as well. Overall,  Switzerland is a great place to be a kid. It seems like public Wi-Fi is widely available  throughout the U.S., from restaurants to  

Grocery stores and even public parks. But  unfortunately, we’re not that lucky here   in Switzerland. Thankfully, though, a lot of our  favorite local and touristy places are starting   to pick up on that trend and offering Wi-Fi,  too. Of course, nearly all hotels and Airbnbs  

Offer Wi-Fi, but it’s not always available  in cafes or restaurants or train stations. Sometimes it’s available  if you can receive a text,   but you’ll need a working  cell phone plan for that. By far, the most convenient and cheapest  option for cell phone data in Switzerland  

Is an eSIM. Of course, you could always  pay ten bucks a day to upgrade your   current plan to an international  one, but an eSIM is just cheaper,   super easy to set up and it covers nearly  every country in Europe, including Switzerland. We’ve used Holafly eSIMs across  Switzerland and have had a great  

Experience and full coverage even  in the mountains. And this is so   much better than having to visit a local  shop and swap out a physical SIM card. As a culture, the Swiss are generally  very respectful, helpful and polite,   but not necessarily as outwardly friendly as  some of the other European cultures. In order  

To experience their kindness, we recommend  offering that same politeness and respect. Greet them first before ordering food or asking  a question. And when that greeting is in their   local language, that often brings out even more  of their warmth and helpfulness. Keep in mind that  

Punctuality is a sign of respect, too. If you show  up 30 minutes late for your dinner reservation,   rudeness is probably not the reason  they gave your table to someone else. Just remember that you’re a guest in a foreign  country that might not function in all the  

Ways that you’re used to. Not so different  from being a guest in someone else’s home.   We find that tourists who are curious and  observant, not expecting everything to work,   just like in their home country,  seem to have the best experience.

And one of those things that is often different  here, especially compared to the U.S.,   is the opening and closing times of shops  and restaurants. 24/7 convenience is just   not really part of the culture here. Many  shops will close down for lunch and even  

Shut down for the day by early evening.  And it’s not unusual either for cafes   and restaurants and bakeries to close in the  afternoon between lunch and dinner as well. Of course, in the cities, places are often open  more or longer during the day compared to smaller  

Towns and villages, but it’s a really good habit  to establish looking at the opening hours before   you visit a shop or restaurant, especially if  you have your heart set on that particular place. Okay! We’re about halfway through our list  so far, and I hope you have been jotting  

Down so many notes as we go! Our goal is to  help you travel Switzerland with confidence   and we want to make it super easy for you.  So after you finish watching this video,   head over to our blog to find even more details  about everything we mentioned on this list,  

Including action steps and links to help  you maximize your vacation planning process. While Switzerland is a pretty tidy country, there  is a ton to see, so we recommend spending at least   a week here. And that’s not just because there’s  so much to see and do, but because a longer trip  

Is also often a cheaper trip, at least in terms  of your cost per day. Ideally, give yourself   8 to 15 days, which will allow you to explore a  few locations well without wearing yourself out. And since the Swiss Half Fare Card is valid  for 30 days for just 120 CHF, a one month  

Trip might just be the ultimate sweet spot for  the budget traveler. More on that in a moment. We’ve rarely heard of anyone visiting  fewer locations in a single trip and   staying longer in each place who actually  regretted it. So we recommend slowing down.

Slowing down allows you to have a more immersive  experience and you won’t need a vacation from   your vacation. So how many Swiss destinations  do we recommend? Well, for a 7 to 10 day trip,   we choose 2 to 3 places max and maybe a night  near the airport before we fly back home.

But even with 8 to 15 days, don’t go crazy.  Maybe choose three or four destinations max   plus maybe another night near the airport.  An ideal one week trip would be to pick   a single spot and explore it thoroughly.  Of course, more time equals more options,  

But even then we always prefer three or more  nights in a location before switching lodging. So where should you go with your  limited time? There are endless,   incredible places to visit in Switzerland and  you’ve got to accept that you just won’t be  

Able to visit them all. So we recommend nearing  your list down to the Alps, a typical Swiss city,   one of the stunning lakes, and two of  the cultural and linguistic regions. For the true alpine experience, the  choices are obvious: The Berner Oberland,  

Which is probably what you picture in your mind  when you close your eyes and dream of Switzerland,   and Zermatt with its iconic Matterhorn views.  But you can also enjoy mountain adventures while   staying in Lucerne, although the nearby mountains  aren’t quite as high or dramatic. And of course,  

There are even more alpine adventures to be  had in less visited areas of the country, too. Speaking of Lucerne, we think this is the  best Swiss city for a first time visitor.   It’s charming, it’s classically Swiss, and  it’s big enough to offer lots of variety  

Without feeling overwhelming. Of course,  you could also check out Zurich, Geneva,   or Basel if you’re into big cities.  And Bern is a cute, smaller city,   too. But we still choose Lucerne over  all of these for your lake experience. We recommend Lac Léman, also known as Lake  Geneva. It has castles, cheese tastings,  

Chocolate experiences, the  best wine in Switzerland,   and because it’s in the French speaking  part of Switzerland, it’ll feel like a   different country. But Lucerne is surrounded by  a large lake. Interlaken sits between two lakes,   and you could even consider the lakes near the  Italian speaking region of Ticino in the south.

Right now, our favorite combination of places to  visit in Switzerland would be: Lucerne and Lake   Geneva, and either the Berner Oberland, Zermatt,  or both. But with more time, there’s Appenzell,   the Engadine, Emmental, Glarus, Liechtenstein…  Wow, yeah. Just plan on coming back another time!

In terms of when to visit, there’s really no  perfect time of year, but of course, some seasons   are better than others. It really comes down  to why you’re visiting. Spring is arguably the   most beautiful time of the year for snow capped  mountains, gushing waterfalls and wildflowers  

In bloom. But if you want to hike high in the  mountains, it’s probably too early in the year. Summer, essentially mid-June  through August or early September,   offers the longest days, warmest  temperatures, and clear trails,   even at high elevations. But it’s also  the most expensive and the busiest.

Fall is like Jekyll and Hyde. I think  early September through mid-October might   be my favorite time of year. Lots  of clear blue skies, fewer crowds,   and usually plenty of chances to  enjoy great hikes in the mountains. But November often brings  nothing but clouds and fog.

And then there’s Winter, which is  magical when it snows and for the   Christmas markets. But you probably know  whether or not you want to visit in winter,   so I don’t think we need to say too much here.

Maybe the most important point is to know what  will be open and what will be closed during   the time you plan to visit here, especially the  trains and cable cars in the mountains. April,   May, October and November are the  months where you need to be the  

Most careful. You can find seasonal info on  the websites for the specific destination   or transportation companies and on  some regional tourism sites as well. Switzerland has three international airports:  Geneva, Zurich, and Basel. If you’re coming   from outside of Europe, then Geneva and Zurich are  probably your only options. But if you’re coming  

From within Europe, Basel is a really great choice  that usually has more budget flights and carriers. By most standards, Switzerland is a small  country. It’s about 40% of the size of our   home state of Tennessee. You can travel  from Zurich to Geneva by train in just  

Under 3 hours and from Basel to Lugano by  train in just under four. Which means that   visiting multiple regions of this small  country is very doable in just one trip. And since both international airports  are on opposite sides of the country,  

Consider flying into one and out of  the other. You could put together a   really great itinerary that goes  from east to west or vice versa,   to avoid backtracking and really just  to travel Switzerland more efficiently. So should you rent a car in Switzerland?  It might make sense for larger groups of  

Adults traveling together. Or if you’re  in the middle of a European road trip and   you already have a rental, but you can’t drive  everywhere. If you’re visiting the mountains,   you’re almost always going to have to take  a train or a cable car to reach the top.

I can’t tell you how often someone asks us if  they can drive to Grindelwald First or Gornergrat   — Nope! So our recommendation is to skip the  rental car on your first trip to Switzerland. But if you do rent a car, you  will need a vignette. It’s this  

Little sticker that goes on your  windshield that allows you to drive   on Swiss motorways. (Interstates?  Highways? What do we call them?) It costs 40 CHF, but it’s valid for the  entire calendar year. The nice thing is   that there are no toll booths in Switzerland.  This vignette is the only toll that you pay,  

So you won’t have the unpleasant  surprise of racking up additional   charges just from driving  on the roads in Switzerland. If you rent your car in Switzerland, it’ll  probably already be on the windshield. But   don’t be surprised if there isn’t one.  If you rent a car from another country.  

You can easily buy a vignette from the rest  stops or gas stations near the Swiss border. So with all this in mind, most of you will  be riding public transportation during your   time in Switzerland. And trust us, you’ll  want a train pass. You’ve probably heard  

About the Swiss Travel Pass before, but  this likely isn’t the best option unless   you’re planning a really fast paced  trip covering most of the country.   Keep in mind, it doesn’t actually cover  everything, despite how it’s marketed. It covers everything at lower elevations.  But you’ll usually just get a discount when  

You travel up into the mountains. That’s  why we often recommend the Swiss Half Fare   Card plus one of the reasonable passes like the  Berner Oberland Pass if mountains are the main   reason you’re coming to Switzerland. You can buy  passes online in advance or when you arrive in  

Switzerland at an airport or train station, and  prices won’t increase as your dates get closer. Now, it’s impossible to cover the wild world  of Swiss transportation in under a minute,   which is why we’ve covered this topic  extensively in our other videos and  

Resources. If you’re not sure where to  start, be sure to check out our Swiss   Train Pass Checklist to find out exactly  which passes are best for your trip. Many of you are excited to take a  scenic train ride in Switzerland,  

And you might have heard of a few like the top  three, the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express,   and the GoldenPass. But before you splurge  on all three, or even just one of these,   keep in mind that many of the “normal”  train rides in Switzerland are also scenic.

So don’t feel like you have to book a specific   scenic train ride just to enjoy a  scenic train ride in Switzerland. But if you really want to  ride one of the scenic trains,   make sure it fits into the itinerary  you’re planning. The most convenient   is definitely the GoldenPass, which  connects Montreux to Interlaken,  

And there’s even a less popular but very scenic  route that connects Interlaken and Lucerne. So this is a no-brainer for a very efficient  itinerary where you fly into one airport and   out the other while visiting Lake Geneva,  Lucerne and Interlaken with no backtracking.

The Glacier Express and Bernina Express are a  little more out of the way. The Bernina Express   is a fun route between Italy and Switzerland.  But make sure you plan to start or end the first   portion of your trip in the Southeast unless  you want to crisscross all over the country.

As for the Glacier Express, make sure that you  actually wanted to spend 8 hours on a train.   You’re going to be riding plenty of trains  in Switzerland, unless you’re renting a car.   Otherwise, this might be a bit much for you  unless you’re just really into the experience.

And keep in mind that the most popular scenic  trains almost always require you to book a seat   reservation in advance in addition to having a  valid ticket or a train pass when you travel. In case you haven’t heard, Switzerland offers  endless adventure activities like ropes courses,  

Canyoning rafting, biking, paragliding, skiing  and so many more. We can already see you adding   these adventures to your bucket list. But  here’s the thing… Limit these unless you’re   just really an adventurous sports enthusiast.  They are a great way to blow your budget!

If you’re like us, then hiking is the best  entertainment in Switzerland and it’s totally   free once you get there. There are more than  65,000 kilometers of trails in Switzerland,   so whether you want to walk for 15 minutes or  hike for five days, there’s a path for everyone.  

Yellow trails are the easiest and you can walk  these in plain tennis shoes. These trails often   convert to pink trails and winter, which are also  easy routes for a nice walk through the snow. Red and white trails are standard mountain  trails that require a solid hiking shoe and  

Average fitness. Well, average by Swiss standards,  which means good fitness. Alpine trails are blue   and white, and we don’t recommend that you take  these trails without a guide and proper equipment,   since they often cross glaciers or  snow or lots of really exposed areas.

Hiking may be free, but what if you want to visit  a museum or book a tour? Before you do anything,   see if you’re eligible for a discount.  The Swiss Travel Pass and many regional   passes offer free or discounted prices for  museums and other activities and gift cards,  

Which we’ll talk about in a later  section. Guest Cards also offer   free local transportation and  discounts to nearby attractions. If you’re booking a scenic train ride experience,  you do need to make your seat reservations in   advance, usually about 90 days out. But for other  normal non-scenic train rides, you do not need to  

Book tickets in advance because the price will  not change as it gets closer to the departure. For mountain excursions, we do not think  it’s worth booking a tour. Why? Well,   because you can already reach the place by  yourself using public transportation and you  

Can follow the trail signs and do your own hike  on your own. You don’t need a guide for that. But if you’re eager for an outdoor adventure  like the ones we mentioned earlier, then yes,   absolutely. Book a tour with a guide and  the bookings tend to fill up really quickly,  

So it is better to book that in advance. We love   to book through Get Your Guide because  they have great prices and packages. Once you’ve chosen your destinations, it’s  time to start looking at lodging and your most   important choice will be between hotels and other  accommodations like Airbnb. We prefer Airbnb when  

We stay in a single place for three nights or  more, especially outside of the major cities.   We like to snag discounts when we stay for a week  or even up to 40% off of stays 28 days or longer.

A discounted Airbnb for a month plus the  Half Fare Card we mentioned earlier — now   those are the keys to a long and budget  friendly experience in Switzerland! But for short stays you’ll often save  money by booking a hotel. For example,  

HotelCard, which we use all the time,  can earn you discounts up to 50% off   the normal prices. And while there’s a fee to  become a member, most people recoup that with   just a one night stay and you can save 30  CHF on that membership by using our link.

Keep in mind that you will always have to  pay tourist tax when you stay in a hotel or   Airbnb in Switzerland. This usually costs 2  to 6 CHF per person per night in addition to   the cost of your lodging, although sometimes  it’s cheaper for children. Airbnbs often ask  

That you pay this in cash, but at a hotel  you can usually pay this on a credit card. But that tourist tax will sometimes get you  a complimentary guest card when you stay at   an Airbnb or hotel in Switzerland, depending  on the destination. (Although I guess it’s  

Not really free if you pay for it?) Often  this covers free local transportation and   discounts to nearby attractions, but this  varies from city to city. In our opinion,   the best thing about guest cards is their free  local transportation. Just remember that local  

Really means hyper local, and this guest card  will not replace your need for a train pass. If you’re trying to save money and are  willing to forgo a little convenience,   you’ll often find cheaper lodging prices just  outside of the main areas. That can look like  

Finding an Airbnb that’s a ten minute walk from  the train station instead of right next door,   or a smaller village near a larger one. Especially  if you’re staying in an area that offers a local   Guest Card, you might be able to stay like one  train station or bus stop away from the main  

Area you want to explore for a much cheaper price  and enjoy free rides covered by the guest card. But the number one way your lodging  will save you money has nothing to   do with location, so let’s talk about food. Food in Switzerland is more expensive  than the 30+ countries we visited in  

Europe. The quality is great. We just  don’t consider it to be a good value,   especially in German speaking Switzerland  where the options just are as varied or   interesting as you’ll find in  the French and Italian parts. So try to book lodging with a kitchen.  Eating in your apartment instead of a  

Restaurant will save you so much money.  In fact, the savings might literally be   enough to pay for your lodging! And if your  trip also is taking you to France or Italy,   then you’ll have a little extra food  budget to spend in those countries too.

Shopping at the grocery store is both a budget  friendly experience and just a fun travel   experience. Aldi and Lidl are the cheapest  grocery stores in Switzerland, but they’re   both German companies so not many of the Swiss  shop there. Migros and Co-op are the biggest  

Supermarkets in Switzerland, but we find them to  be just a little bit more expensive. Of course,   if you can shop the store brand or find things  on sale, then you can get some pretty good deals. Finally, if you just do not  want to cook on your vacation,  

That’s okay. The grocery stores have tons  of to-go food and takeout options, too,   especially in the bigger grocery stores. There’s  a lot more variety so you will not find yourself   eating the same thing over and over again.  You can also find Swiss brands plus local  

And regional products to make any trip to  the grocery store a special experience. Speaking of special food experiences, those  don’t have to happen in a restaurant. We   spend most of our non-grocery food  budget in bakeries and cafes. One,  

Because I love coffee and have a pretty serious  sweet tooth, and two because we can enjoy going   out for a food experience at a fraction  of the price of eating in a restaurant. And when only a restaurant will do, look  into apps like The Fork or Too Good To Go.

The first offers you some great discounts when  you’re looking to eat in a restaurant and the   second offers even better discounts  if you’re willing to do takeaway. But don’t spend your entire trip avoiding  restaurants. Make sure to enjoy some of   the classic Swiss food, such as fondue  or raclette, Swiss cheese in general,  

Rösti, sausages, beers, Rivella, Kambly cookies. There are so many possibilities that we’ll  just have to save them for a future video.   But of course, one of the most important Swiss  food experiences is tasting the chocolate. You   can create your own tasting by buying Swiss  chocolates from a few different brands: Lindt,  

Frey, Halba, and Cailler, just to name  a few. You can find these in just about   any grocery store for much cheaper than the  fancy box sets you’ll see in tourist shops. But venture beyond plain chocolate  bars too. There’s Toblerone,   of course, Ovomaltine, which is a  little like a crunch bar, Torino,  

Which has a chocolate exterior filled with  hazelnut creme, and Ragusa, which is similar   to Torino but has hazelnuts as well. Basically  indulge in as much Swiss chocolate as you can! We definitely recommend making dinner  reservations, especially if there’s  

A specific restaurant you want to eat at.  It’s less important to reserve a table for   lunch because then you can keep your plans  more flexible during the day. You can make   reservations the morning of or even the day before  by stopping by the restaurant or calling ahead.

Tipping is practically another language because  it’s different in every country that you visit.   But here in Switzerland, tipping is not  expected. If you have outstanding food   or a really good service, then you can  round the bill up to the nearest five or  

Ten francs. But make note that if you want to pay  by credit card and include your tip on the bill,   you’ll need to tell the waiter or waitress  beforehand. That’s because they don’t usually   have that spot on the receipt where  you can write your tip in afterwards.

Speaking of tips, we’re just getting started  with what we have to offer! You can read all   of our best tips in our Swiss Travel Guides  or learn how to start planning your next   Swiss vacation by watching this video  next. And we’ll see you in Switzerland!

If you’re coming to Switzerland for the first time, there are quite a few things you NEED to know, and a whole lot more that will make your Swiss vacation even smoother! Whether this is your 1st trip to Switzerland or your 10th, here are 50+ things to know!

Find the LINKS we mentioned + bonus ACTION STEPS on our blog:
➡️ https://aplinsinthealps.com/50-things-to-know-before-you-visit-switzerland
*All of the sources we used in this video are also linked in our blog*

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00:00 Location & Money
05:14 Practical Tips
14:46 When and Where to Visit
19:37 Transportation
22:51 Sightseeing
26:45 Lodging
29:11 Food

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// ABOUT THIS VIDEO //

After spending YEARS traveling Switzerland, we’ve discovered what you *really* need to know before you visit the land of Swiss cheese and chocolate.

In reality, we made our fair share of mistakes and learned every step of the way. Don’t follow our mistakes — learn from our Switzerland travel tips instead!

LOCATION + MONEY
Where is Switzerland?
How big is Switzerland?
What is Switzerland’s currency?
Can I travel Switzerland on a budget?

PRACTICAL INFO
What’s Switzerland weather like?
What language(s) do they speak in Switzerland?
What is the most widely spoken language in Switzerland? (Hint: It’s not Romansh!)
Can I drink the water in Switzerland?
What are the must-have apps for my Swiss vacation? (Hint: Google Maps, of course!)
Is Switzerland safe?
Are Swiss people friendly?

TRIP PLANNING LOGISTICS
How long should I spend in Switzerland?
How many places should I visit?
Where should I go in Switzerland? (Geneva? Zurich? Bern? Lucerne? Lake Lugano? The Swiss Alps?)

TRANSPORTATION
What are the main airports in Switzerland?
Can I travel Switzerland by train, or do I need a rental car?
You keep mentioning Swiss train passes…do I need one?

SIGHTSEEING
Should I ride one of the famous scenic trains in Switzerland?
Is Switzerland known for adventure activities?
Do I need to make seat reservations or bookings in advance?
What do I need to know about hiking in Switzerland?
Can I get discounts on tourist attractions in Switzerland?

LODGING
What’s better in Switzerland: an Airbnb or a Hotel?
What is tourist tax and how much does it cost?
Will I always get a Guest Card or Visitor Card?

FOOD
What are the most popular grocery stores in Switzerland?
What are the most typical Swiss foods to try?
What should I know about Swiss chocolate?
Do I need to make reservations in restaurants?

MORE TIPS
That’s only the tip of the iceberg! Read even more tips, find these links, and learn about more action steps on our blog:
➡️ https://aplinsinthealps.com/50-things-to-know-before-you-visit-switzerland/

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// SWISS TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES //

Traveling to Switzerland soon? 👉Buy a done-for-you SWISS TRAVEL GUIDE
▶️ https://www.aplinsinthealps.com/guides
Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfraujoch, Lucerne, and more!

Need more personalized support? 👉Book a 1-on-1 SWISS VACATION CONSULTATION with Jana + Brett
▶️ https://www.aplinsinthealps.com/consultations

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// LET’S BE FRIENDS //

SUBSCRIBE to come and see Switzerland with us!
🔔Don’t forget to hit the bell too

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// GET TO KNOW US //

If you love traveling Switzerland, getting off-the-beaten-path, or having foodie experiences, then you’re in the right place!

🙋🏻‍♀️🙋‍♂️We’re Jana and Brett — Aplins in the Alps.

We help you TRAVEL SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭WITH CONFIDENCE to maximize your experiences while minimizing your budget and planning time.

Oh, and we live in Switzerland too!

▶️ Get to know us better by watching our channel from episode 1!

➡️ SWISS TRAVEL GUIDES & SWITZERLAND ITINERARIES

Swiss Travel Guides

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