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Switzerland: The Country That Looks Like a Screensaver

Snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, trains that run on time, and chocolate that ruins you for life.

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Start Here

Why Switzerland, Why Now

Switzerland is that country everyone assumes they can't afford. And look, it's not cheap. A burger will set you back around £20. A coffee costs more than some people's lunch. But here's the thing, you don't come to Switzerland for cheap thrills. You come because the mountains genuinely make your jaw drop. Because the trains are so on time it's almost creepy. Because you can be eating fondue in a medieval town one day and standing on a glacier the next.

Four national languages, world-class hiking, lakes so blue they look edited, and a train network that puts every other country to shame. Zurich, Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen, Zermatt, Interlaken, the list of places that'll ruin your phone storage is endless. This guide covers all of it, budgets included.

1.5-2 hrsFrom the UK
Jun-Sep, Dec-MarBest time
German, French, ItalianMain languages
Swiss Franc (CHF)Currency
90 days visa-freeSchengen
Seasons

Best Time To Visit

Switzerland has two genuine high seasons and two lovely shoulder windows in between. Here's how each one actually plays out.

Spring (Apr to Jun)

Shoulder season

Fewer crowds, mild weather, and lower prices. The mountain resort towns are practically empty, and alpine meadows fill with wildflowers as the month goes on.

Summer (Jul to Aug)

Peak season

Tourists flock in for the crystal-clear lakes and thawed hiking trails. Mountain resorts fully reopen, but so do the prices, book well ahead if you're travelling now.

Autumn (Sep to Oct)

Shoulder season

The other quiet, cheaper window. Autumn colour in the Engadin valley is genuinely unreal, and trails stay open well into the month before the passes start closing.

Winter (Dec to Mar)

Ski season, peak season

The second high season. Summer tourists are gone, but skiers, snowboarders, and snow-dust chasers arrive instead. Slope prices stay high, but the rest of the country gets noticeably cheaper.

Watch First

See Switzerland in 60 Seconds

Sixty seconds of glacier peaks, turquoise lakes, and trains that actually run on time. Then read on for the full story.

Switzerland is a country where snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, picturesque villages, and world-famous train journeys create some of the most breathtaking scenery on Earth. In just 60 seconds, we’ll explore the iconic Matterhorn, the lakes of Lucerne and Geneva, charming alpine towns, spectacular mountain railways, and landscapes that look as though they’ve been lifted straight from a postcard. Whether you’re travelling for hiking, skiing, scenic road trips, or simply incredible views, Switzerland is a destination that never disappoints.

The Iconic Matterhorn, Zermatt
Plan In Minutes

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Good To Know

What To Expect

The practical stuff, minus the waffle.

Capital

Switzerland technically has no official capital, but Bern is the de-facto seat of government, and a very handsome one at that.

Language

Four national languages: Swiss German (63%), French (23%), Italian (8%), and Romansh (under 1%). Try "Gruezi" (hello) in the German-speaking regions.

Currency

The Swiss Franc (CHF), not the Euro. Rough ballpark: £1 is about 1.09 CHF, and $1 is about 0.82 CHF. Rates move around, so check XE before you go.

Cards & ATMs

Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, no need to carry much cash. As a global financial hub, ATMs are easy to find in every town and city.

Plugs

Types C and J, 230V and 50Hz. Standard European two-pin plugs fit the J socket too. Grab a universal adapter if you're coming from further afield.

Safety

Ranked among the 11 safest countries in the world. Violent crime is very low. Pickpocketing happens occasionally near train and bus stations, so keep the usual city sense.

Random Useful Tip

When paying by card, always choose to be charged in CHF, not your home currency. The "home currency" option at the terminal always carries a worse rate.

Never Ever

Don't expect to haggle. Prices in Switzerland are fixed and firm everywhere, from mountain restaurants to market stalls.

Right Now

Live Weather in Lucerne

Straight from the source, updated as you read this.

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Detailed weather
The Guides

Switzerland Travel Guides

The essentials, so you can plan the trip without wading through everything we've ever written.

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Budgets

How Much Does Switzerland Cost?

Switzerland is expensive. There's no sugarcoating that. But knowing what to expect means you can plan around it. Prices shown in pounds, dollars, euros, and Swiss francs.

Backpacker

£74-110 / $98-147 / €86-129 / 80-120 CHFper day, roughly
  • Hostel dorms from 35 CHF a night
  • Supermarket meals and street food
  • Public transport with discount passes
  • Free hiking, lakes, and city walks
See Money-Saving Tips
Most Popular

Mid-Range

£165-276 / $220-367 / €193-322 / 180-300 CHFper day, roughly
  • Budget hotels or private Airbnb
  • Restaurants and local cafes
  • Swiss Travel Pass for trains
  • Cable cars, boat trips, guided tours
Plan Your Budget

Upscale

£367+ / $489+ / €429+ / 400+ CHFper day
  • Boutique hotels and luxury chalets
  • Fine dining and mountain restaurants
  • First-class rail and private transfers
  • Helicopter tours, spa resorts, ski packages
Find Accommodation
The Numbers

Detailed Cost Breakdown

Real prices in pounds, dollars, euros, and Swiss francs. Pick a category.

Budget

Hostel dorm£32-60 / $43-79 / €38-70 / 35-65 CHF
Campsite£18-46 / $24-61 / €21-54 / 20-50 CHF
Budget hotel£92-184 / $122-244 / €107-215 / 100-200 CHF

Mid to Luxury

Airbnb apartment£129+ / $171+ / €150+ / 140+ CHF
Boutique hotel£184-367 / $244-489 / €215-429 / 200-400 CHF
Luxury resort / chalet£459+ / $611+ / €537+ / 500+ CHF
Spend Less

Tips for Saving Money in Switzerland

Ten easy ways to keep a Switzerland trip from breaking the bank entirely.

Refill at public fountains

Tap water is pristine, and fountains are everywhere. Skip the 4 CHF bottled water entirely.

Eat at Coop or Migros

Their self-service restaurants do hot meals for under 15 CHF. Way better value than most tourist traps.

Get a Swiss Travel Pass or Half-Fare Card

Full-price Swiss trains will bankrupt you faster than fondue.

Chase lunch specials

Same restaurants, same food, sometimes half the dinner price. The cheat code of the whole trip.

Hike, it's free

Switzerland has 65,000km of marked trails. The best experiences here genuinely don't cost a thing.

Grab a Guest Card from your hotel

Most give you free local transport and discounts on cable cars.

Self-cater a few meals

Even Swiss supermarket prices are high by European standards, but they're half of restaurant prices.

Always pay in CHF

When your card asks, choose CHF, not your home currency. That "convenience" option costs you more.

Take FlixBus between cities

Zurich to Geneva from about 15 CHF if you book early. A fraction of the train fare.

Visit in shoulder season

April to June or September to October. Fewer crowds, lower prices, and the scenery is still absolutely ridiculous.

Transport

Getting Around Switzerland

Switzerland's transport network is probably the best in the world. Genuinely. The trains alone are worth the trip.

Cable Cars & Cog Railways

Best for reaching the big peaks. Jungfraujoch, Gornergrat, Schilthorn, Titlis, all accessed by cable car or cog rail.

  • Access to views you literally can't get any other way
  • Some included with Swiss Travel Pass, or 50% off
  • Individual tickets run 80-250+ CHF per ride
Book Cable Car Tickets

Car Rental

Best for flexibility on road trips and reaching trailheads. Not needed in cities at all.

  • Total freedom for mountain passes and rural areas
  • Useful for groups splitting costs
  • Swiss highways need a 40 CHF vignette sticker, and parking in cities is painful
Compare Car Rentals

Lake Boats

Best for scenic crossings on Lakes Lucerne, Geneva, Zurich, Thun, and Brienz. Some are paddle steamers from the early 1900s.

  • Covered by Swiss Travel Pass
  • Genuinely one of the best ways to see the country
  • Seasonal schedules, winter routes are limited
Travel Tips

Trains

Best for everything, honestly. Swiss trains connect every city, most villages, and half the mountains.

  • Insanely punctual and scenic
  • Swiss Travel Pass covers unlimited rides
  • Full-price tickets are eye-wateringly expensive
Search Train Routes

Buses & PostBus

Best for reaching villages the train doesn't go to. The iconic yellow PostBus fills every gap in the network.

  • Covered by Swiss Travel Pass
  • Reaches remote valleys and mountain passes
  • Slower than trains on main routes
Find Bus Routes

Cycling & E-Bikes

Best for active travellers and lakeside routes. Switzerland has dedicated cycling infrastructure and e-bike rental stations.

  • E-bikes flatten the hills, a genuine game-changer here
  • Dedicated cycling routes like the Rhine Route
  • Mountain terrain is brutal without an e-bike
Recommended Tours
Cheat Sheet

Which Is Right For You?

Exploring one city

Walk. Swiss cities are compact and gorgeous on foot.

Hitting multiple cities

Swiss Travel Pass plus trains. No contest.

Mountain peaks & valleys

Cable cars plus PostBus for the gaps.

Road trip with flexibility

Rent a car, grab a vignette, go wherever you want.

Before You Go

Quick Tips

Book Trains Early

SBB Supersaver tickets can be 50% cheaper. They go fast.

Get a Half-Fare Card

About 120 CHF for a month. Halves the price of almost every ticket in the country.

Travel Scenic Routes

Glacier Express, Bernina Express, GoldenPass. Book these in advance, they're popular.

Walk the Cities

Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Basel. All walkable. Save your transport budget for the mountains.

Experiences

Book Tours & Tickets

Handpicked Switzerland experiences, powered by GetYourGuide.

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More where that came from

We film the trips behind these guides. Station walkthroughs, room tours, road routes and the bits that photos quietly leave out. New videos land alongside the new guides.

Questions

Switzerland Travel FAQs

The questions we get asked most, answered honestly.

Do I need a visa to visit Switzerland?
If you're from the UK, US, Canada, or Australia, no. Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area, so you can visit visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. You'll need a valid passport, at least 3 months validity beyond your planned departure. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) launched in October 2025 and is being phased in across Schengen borders, with full implementation expected by April 2026. This means biometric data, fingerprints and a photo, will be recorded digitally when you arrive, replacing the old passport stamp. ETIAS, a pre-travel authorisation similar to the US ESTA, is expected to launch in late 2026. It's not required yet, but once live, visa-exempt travellers will need to apply online before travelling. Keep an eye on the official EU travel portal for updates.
Is Switzerland safe for tourists?
Very. It consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world. Violent crime is extremely rare and petty crime is low compared to most European destinations. The main risks are environmental, mountain weather changes fast, UV exposure at altitude is stronger than you'd expect, and hiking trails in the Alps are genuinely challenging in places. Stick to marked trails, check weather forecasts, and don't underestimate the mountains. Pickpocketing can happen around major train stations in Zurich and Geneva, but it's nowhere near the level of cities like Paris or Barcelona.
How expensive is Switzerland, really?
It's the most expensive country in Europe. Probably the most expensive travel destination in the world that isn't a tiny island. A sit-down meal at a mid-range restaurant is 30-60 CHF. A coffee is 5-7 CHF. A day pass for a cable car can hit 200 CHF. Budget travellers who stay in hostels, cook some meals, and hike can get by on about 80-120 CHF a day. Mid-range is closer to 180-300 CHF a day. It's expensive, but the value is in the experiences. A 150 CHF Glacier Express ticket buys you one of the greatest train journeys on earth.
What's the best time to visit Switzerland?
It depends entirely on what you want to do. For hiking, lakes, and green valleys, June to September. For skiing and snow sports, December to March. For fewer crowds and lower prices, April to June and September to October, shoulder season. The shoulder months are genuinely underrated. The weather is mild, the alpine meadows are full of wildflowers in spring, and autumn colours in the Engadin valley are unreal. Just be aware that some mountain passes and cable cars close between seasons, typically mid-October to mid-November and mid-April to mid-May.
Do I need a Swiss Travel Pass?
Not need exactly, but it's one of the best travel passes in Europe. It gives you unlimited travel on trains, buses, boats, and trams across the entire country, plus free entry to 500+ museums and 50% off most mountain railways. Passes start at around 244 CHF for 3 consecutive days. If you're doing more than a couple of train journeys, it almost always pays for itself. The alternative is a Half-Fare Card, about 120 CHF a month, which gives you 50% off everything. For a short trip, the Half-Fare Card often makes more sense.
What currency does Switzerland use?
The Swiss Franc (CHF). Switzerland is not in the EU, so it doesn't use the Euro. Some tourist-heavy spots will accept Euros, but the exchange rate at the till is always terrible and change comes back in Francs. Cards are accepted almost everywhere. When paying by card, always choose to be charged in CHF, not your home currency. The home currency option at terminals uses a markup that costs you more.
Do I need travel insurance for Switzerland?
Yes. Switzerland is not in the EU, so the UK's GHIC card doesn't work here. If you get injured on a mountain or need hospital treatment, Swiss medical bills are among the highest in the world. A helicopter rescue alone can cost 10,000 CHF or more. Good travel insurance with mountain sports and altitude cover is essential if you're doing any hiking or skiing. Compare policies in our Travel Insurance hub.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
Four national languages, German (spoken by about 63% of the population, mostly in the north and centre), French (about 23%, in the west), Italian (about 8%, in the south, Ticino region), and Romansh (under 1%, in parts of Graubunden). In tourist areas, English is widely spoken. In German-speaking Switzerland, the everyday dialect is Swiss German, which sounds quite different from standard German. Gruezi is hello. Merci vielmal is a common thanks, yes, they mix French into German, it's great. You'll get by fine with English in cities and tourist spots.
Can I drink the tap water?
Yes. Switzerland's tap water is some of the cleanest in the world. Most of it comes from mountain springs and glacial sources. Public drinking fountains are everywhere, including in train stations and village squares. Unless a fountain is specifically marked kein Trinkwasser, not drinking water, it's safe. Bring a reusable bottle. Buying bottled water here is just burning money.
How far in advance should I book?
For flights from the UK, 6-12 weeks out usually gets you good prices. Switzerland is a short-haul destination, so there are regular sales. For trains within Switzerland, SBB Supersaver tickets go on sale 60 days in advance and sell out fast. For accommodation, book as early as possible if you're visiting during ski season (December to March) or summer peak (July to August). Popular mountain towns like Zermatt, Lauterbrunnen, and Grindelwald fill up months ahead. Shoulder season is more flexible, but the best-value places still go quickly.
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