Switzerland Complete Travel Guide
Overview
Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe and bordered by Germany in the north, France in the west, Italy in the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein in the east.
Switzerland considered as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, it is famous for its iconic mountains landscape like the alps and the Jura mountains. Switzerland is well known for its picturesque lakes, Alpine villages and some of the most famous Ski resorts in the world. They are also famous for the Swiss watch and chocolate industry, and for their famous high quality cheese and milk production.
Personally, I really liked and enjoyed Switzerland especially for the breathtaking mountains and lakes and the amazing nature they have everywhere even around a random public road and i defiantly recommend you to come and visit this beautiful country when you have the chance.
Continue reading this Switzerland travel guide where I share everything I know about Switzerland, my best travel tips and guides!
Quick Facts
- Capital: Bern
- Official Languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh
- Population: 8.7 million people
- Location: Switzerland is a landlocked country located in Central Europe
- Famous Places: Matterhorn Mountain, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, The Swiss Alps, Lucerne, Zurich, Basel and more
- Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF) (Exchange Rate)
- Climate: four seasons, mild summers and cold and snowy winters especially in the mountains
- Religion: Christian
- Visa: Part of the Schengen Area, allowing visa-free entry for many nationalities
- Time Zone: Central European Time (CET)
Flights
Switzerland is one of the most well located countries in the heart of Europe and it has a few major airports with flights to almost all over the world.
The biggest airport in Switzerland is Zurich International Airport (ZRH) located in Zurich, this airport is offering both domestic and international flights and hosting most of the big airlines in the world.
Other main international airports in Switzerland:
- EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg located in Basel at the intersection between Mulhouse in France, Freiburg in Germany and Basel in Switzerland, which makes it a great starting point for traveling in any of those countries.
- Geneva International Airport In Geneva very close to the French border as well.
- Bern Airport (BRN) located in Bern, mostly for domestic European flights and limited international flights.
Climate
Switzerland has four seasons climate with mild and pleasant summers and cold and snowy winters especially in the mountains.
Budget
Switzerland is known for being one of the most expensive destinations in the world, although there are a few travel hacks that will help you to travel there way more affordably, Switzerland is still more expensive than countries around like France or Italy.
Accommodation
Hostels in Switzerland are not cheap but maybe less than you imagine and starts from 35 EUR to 60 EUR per night, depends on the location and the season.
Hotels in Switzerland are not cheap either but you can find some great deals (relatively to Switzerland) if you are going out of the main tourist areas and the big cities. Simple hotels will cost you from 60 EUR and up to 300 EUR (and way more..) per night.
Food
Food in Switzerland could be very pricy as well, especially if you are eating around the main touristy areas and the popular places.
Street food in Switzerland will cost you around 7-15 CHF ( 6.5-14 EUR~) and a meal in a restaurant will cost you from 25 CHF to 100 CHF (25-100 EUR~).
Transportation
Transportation in Switzerland is mainly based on trains, buses, cars and taxis. surprisingly enough trains in Switzerland are great and offers some amazing and scenic views, they are very expensive and will cost you more than renting a car, especially if you are traveling with friends and family to share the car with, my best recommendation is to check about renting a car for your dates and you will save a lot of money (check the train prices!).
Safety
Switzerland is a very safe country in general without any major risk of terror attacks and others. the main risk in Switzerland will be the normal risk of pickpocketing and other petty crimes mainly in crowded places like main streets and the metro.
Useful Apps
There are a few apps that are must have when traveling in Switzerland like Uber, Vertt and Bolt for rides and taxis and Uber Eats, Just Eat and Smood for food deliveries in case you want to order something to your hotel or apartment.
Check this post for more apps you should have: 18 APPs You Must Have For Your Next Trip In 2024
Posts
My latest blog posts about Switzerland
