Quaint villages, beautiful lakes, backdrops of majestic alps and sparkling white glaciers, you cannot help but fall in love with Switzerland. Read this complete Switzerland Travel Guide – places to visit, food to eat, costs and tips to before you plan your vacation.
Switzerland Travel Guide – Places to Visit, Food to eat, Costs and Tips
At a Glance
Switzerland is native to picturesque landscapes, lushgreen fields, small towns, mountains and lakes. Switzerland is rated the most expensive country in Europe. Having said that, I cannot deny that this is one most beautiful places on earth that I have seen. This country is worth a visit anytime during the year (summer- hiking, winter-skiing). This Switzerland Travel Guide will help you discover this country in a better way.
Quick important information
1. Visa Requirement – Schengen Visa
2. Safety– Regarded as one of the safest countries in the world.
3. Currency– Swiss Franc (CHF)
4. Language– It has mix of languages, predominantly, French, German and Italian. English is spoken and understood in most of the popular spots of Switzerland.
5. Transportation: Travelling around Switzerland is easy in train. The train system in Switzerland is efficient and convenient. In case you wish to enjoy Switzerland’s mesmerizing beauty, you can opt for a self-drive.
Places to see in Switzerland
1. Explore Geneva
Third largest city in Switzerland, Geneva offers spectacular views of the city’s lake (Lake Geneva), dramatic view of Mont Blanc, tons of museums, fountain and the UN.
Lake Geneva- Swiss
2. Romance at Montreux
Montreux is a traditional resort town on lake Geneva. With a picturesque castle (Chateau de Chillo) lying at the brink of a lake, this area makes for a lovely romantic destination.
Castle Montreux
Montreux- Vineyard
3. Explore Zurich
Largest powerhouse for banking and finance, Zurich is a beautiful city set on a lake. Visit Cathedrals, opera house, old town, hop on a boat and enjoy Lake Zurich, relish the Mountain View, take a stroll down the Niederdof, go on a bar crawl.
Zurich Lake boating
Zurich- Opera House
4. Explore Lucerne
Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland, is located on the beautiful Lucerne Lake. This city offers combination of urban life and countryside.
Lucerne View
5. Visit Three White Peaks
Experience an outing through the three white peaks of Switzerland, Mount Titlis, Mount Pilatis and Jungfrau. Also, Read the “Itinerary of Three White Peaks of Switzerland“.
Enjoy mountain railway
6. Visit Rhine Falls
Rhine falls is the largest waterfall in Europe. Located on the High Rhine on the border between Schaffhausen and Zurich, this is a majestic waterfall. You can also enjoy couple of other sights in the village Schaffhausen.
Rhine Fall -Swiss
7. Go Lake Hopping
Switzerland is home to beautiful lakes, so make sure you see those crystal clear waters by yourself. To name few, visit Lake Lucerne, Lake Constance, Lake Maggiore.
Swiss Lake- dinner cruise
8. Visit the Old Villages
Visit some charming villages of Switzerland. To name few, Grindelwald (also known as Glacier village), Andermatt, Spiez, Soglio. You can also visit Graubunden area to appreciate the houses which dates back to 13thcentury.
Grindelwald Village
Soglio- Swiss
9. Enjoy adventure in Interlaken
Interlaken is famous for adventure sports and is a paradise for thrill- seekers. Get ready for some adrenaline rush and engage yourself in stand-up Paddling, Canyon swing, biking, rafting, bunjee jumping and much more. Do not forget to take gondola ride.
Interlaken Skydive. Photo Credit- Interlakentravel.com
Photo Credit-http://www.crystal.kitchen/2010/08/04/mountain-biking-the-lauterbrunnen-valley/
Must try food in Switzerland
1. Swiss Fondue
Melted cheese served in a pot over portable heated stove & is to be eaten by dipping bread
2. Rösti
A dish of Potatoes, in the style of a fritter. Crisp outside and melting inside.
3. Raclette
Melted Creamy cow milk’s cheese served with jack potatoes.
4. Swiss chocolate
Swiss Chocolate
5. Birchermüesli
Contains oat flakes, lemon juice, condensed milk, grated apples, hazelnut or almonds.
Typical Costs
Accommodation
Dorms are around 30-50 CHF Per night; Budget hotels are around 80 to 122 CHF Per night; Mid-range Hotels around 140 to 200 CHF Per night; Splurge- 250+ CHF Per night. A much better alternative to hotels is Airbnb wherein shared apartment costs about 35 CHF and an entire apartment at 70CHF.
Food
Eating out is pricey. Going to supermarkets and buying pre-made meals are cheaper. On an average, self-catering /lunch would cost around 10 to 15 CHF; Lunch with table service will be around 20CHF; and 40 CHF for Dinner; Splurge – around 60+ CHF. Cost of water bottle will cost about 3-6 CHF.You will, on an average, spend about 45 CHF a day on food (assuming that although you are eating out, you are still sticking to your budget).For the people who prefer to cook their own food and only occasionally eat out, will spend about 20-25 CHF per day.
Transportation & Fuel
Local city buses costs about 2.70 – 5 CHF; Intercity Trains costs about 30 – 50 CHF; Taxi fares (depending upon the city and distance) costs about 3 – 6 CHF per km; Fuel costs (depending upon the city) costs around 1.40 to 1.60 CHF per 1 liter.
Sightseeing & Activities
The entry fees for most of the museums is 10 CHF. Depending upon the cities, Sky diving starts from 395 CHF; Paragliding about 150 CHF and costs more in Winter; hiking and other activites about 70 CHF; Skiing and snowboard tickets will cost about 30-75 CHF.
Depending upon your type of accommodation, outside meal, activities and transport, the average daily price for travelling in Switzerland will cost you minimum 120 CHF.
Best time to go
June to August – Summer
Best time to visit. Temperature lingers around 18 t0 20 degrees.
September to November – Shoulder season
Crowd starts thinning and days become shorter. Weather is still pleasant.
December to March – Winter
Many tourists avoid this season as minimum temperature can fall upto -2 degree. Having said that, skiing adventure enthusiasts can indulge into skiing activities.
April to May
Weather starts improving and temperature range between 7 to 17 degree. Hiking and cable cars start slow operations. it is a time to grab great deals!
Tips
1. Swiss Rail Pass – If you plan a lot around Switzerland in train, buy a Swiss Pass. It allows you to use train across the country and public transport in many cities. You will also get discounts/free entry in some of the museums and cable cars. Read more information on Rail pass here.
2. Credit Cards – Credit Cards are widely accepted except some small establishments.
3. Electrical Adapters- Switzerland uses a plug with two round prongs, popularly known as Euro plug.
4. Food – Sit-down restaurants are expensive, costing about 40 CHF per meal per person. Instead, buy groceries and cook your own food. Average cost for a week will be around 75-100 CHF. The major supermarkets are Migros, COOP and Spar.
5. Water–Tap water is perfectly safe to drink everywhere in Switzerland. Purchasing water bottle in Switzerland is a total waste of money.
6. Train tickets – Buy your train tickets online and save on fares. If you are planning to spend several days traversing in Switzerland then invest in Swiss Travel pass, as it is cost effective.
7. Tipping –Tipping in restaurants in Switzerland is not necessary or strictly speaking, allowed. A service charge is typically added into your bill at restaurant and you need not tip.
8. Swiss Chocolates– Buy it from the local chocolatiers as they are really good in taste and will save you few bucks.
9. Closing time– Keep track on timings of the shops. Many shops close for sometime during afternoon and fairly early in the evenings.
That’s a wrap!
You may like to read “Switzerland Villages that will make your heart skip a beat”
