Switzerland is among the most expensive countries in the world. However, the quality of travel experience is unparalleled. For a single person, it is safe to assume about 90 Swiss Francs (CHF) per day which includes food and accommodation.
Extra charges for the travel pass you purchase, which covers all modes of public transport all over Switzerland.
*Does not include airfare and visa charges.
Switzerland is not part of the European Union, therefore it has its own local currency - the Swiss Franc (CHF). However, Euro is accepted almost everywhere.
There are currency exchange counters at the airport, major railway stations, banks and you can even withdraw in the local currency with your credit card from an ATM (Banco Automat).
Switzerland has 4 official languages - Swiss German, French, Italian & Romansh. However, in all major cities, you can get by with English.
Usually, the shops open by 10:00 am and close by 7:00 pm and the restaurants open as early as 8:00 am and take the last order by 10:00 pm.
Tourist destinations like museums, castles, arenas, etc are usually open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
*Timings during Summer and Winter differ, please check beforehand.
Switzerland is best experienced through its public transport - train, bus, tram, ship, cable car. If you want to enjoy a road trip across the country, car rentals are a good option.
To know more about the Swiss Travel Pass, click here.
International travel packs can be very expensive. It always makes sense to buy a local prepaid sim card. In Switzerland you can pick any of the following service operators that have various calling and data plans (you just need to show your passport to get a prepaid SIM card):
Swisscom
Sunrise
Salt
Lyca Mobile (you can get this at the post office)
If you really want to enjoy Switzerland, with its prominent cities and the quiet countryside, it is recommended that anything below 12 days is sufficient. Being a small country, it doesn't take much time to travel to different places.
The Jungfrau region
Zürich
Rhinefalls
Luzern
Mt. Titlis
Mt. Pilatus
Mt. Rigi
Appenzell
Zermatt
Matterhorn
Chur
St. Moritz
Geneva
Montreux
Lausanne
The Ticcino region
Bern
Swiss National Park, Zernez
You get the best wrist watches, cuckoo clocks, chocolates and cheese here. It is usually very expensive to shop in Switzerland, however, flea markets are a common thing and if you're lucky to come across one during your travel, you could drive home a good bargain.
March - May is Spring
June - August is Summer
September - November is Autumn
December - February is Winter
Ideally, May - September is a good time to visit the country, it gradually goes from cool to warm to hot to cool. It is a great time to be outdoors and do some good sight seeing. If you are a winter sports enthusiast and can tolerate cold, then December - February may be a fun time.
Must eat - Swiss fondue, raclette, rösti, pretzel, muesli, flavoured yogurt, mövenpick ice cream, gipfeli, Swiss chocolate, bratwurst (sausage, for non-vegetarians)
Must drink - Wine, beer, Panach (mix of beer and lemonade, highly recommended!), coffee (so many varieties to choose from!), Swiss cocoa.
Depending on the category, you may get a good deal at Hotels. Other recommendations are hostels (for those traveling solo or groups of friends) and Air BnBs.
Apart from your regular tourist attractions, you can definitely try the following:
Chocolate factory tour
Cheese factory tour
Vineyard tour
Walking tour (all major cities have these)
Local farmer's market
Flea markets
Street Parades & Festivals
Swimming in the lakes / rivers in the summer
Skiing on the mountains during winter