Practical Info A–Z

Switzerland is not an EU member, but part of the Schengen Area — for EU citizens, the same entry requirements apply as within the EU.

For EU/EFTA/CH Citizens

No visa required. Entry with ID card or passport. No border controls (Schengen). Unlimited stay as a tourist. Theoretically, you must register for stays over 90 days — irrelevant as a tourist.

For Non-EU Citizens

Same regulation as for the Schengen Area: USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc. 90 days visa-free. Other nationalities: Schengen visa required (apply at the Swiss embassy). Passport must be valid for 3 months beyond the stay.

Customs

Switzerland is not in the EU customs union — import restrictions apply at the border:

• Alcohol: 5 liters under 18% + 1 liter over 18% (duty-free)
• Tobacco: 250 cigarettes or 250g tobacco
• Food: Meat and dairy products allowed in small quantities (for personal use)
• Goods: Value up to 300 CHF duty-free

Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF) — not the Euro! The exchange rate has been close to parity for years: 1 CHF ≈ 1.00–1.10 € (fluctuates). For travelers from the Eurozone, prices are almost convertible 1:1, which makes budgeting easier — and swallowing the high Swiss prices.

Payment

• Credit Card: Visa and Mastercard are almost universally accepted — hotels, restaurants, mountain railways, supermarkets, even many market stalls. Contactless payment (NFC) is standard.
• Debit Card: Maestro/V-Pay works in most shops. German Girocards (girocard) often only with Maestro function.
• Cash: Less necessary than in Germany/Austria — Switzerland is more cashless. Still: small mountain huts, alpine cheese dairies, and weekly markets only accept cash. 100 CHF in cash as a reserve is sufficient.
• Euro: Many tourist spots accept Euros (especially near the border), but give change in CHF — at a poor rate. Always pay in CHF!

ATMs

Bancomats (ATMs) are widely available. Note: Always choose "Withdrawal in CHF" at the ATM, never "Immediate conversion to EUR" (DCC) — the latter has a hidden surcharge of 3–5%. Fees: Depending on your home bank, 0–5 € per withdrawal. DKB and Consorsbank (DE) offer free foreign withdrawals.

Tips

In Switzerland, service is included in the price (legally required since 1974). Tipping is voluntary but customary: 5–10% in restaurants, rounded up for taxis, 1–2 CHF in cafés. Waiters are well-paid in Switzerland — tips are appreciated but not expected.

The Swiss Travel Pass is the most important ticket for travelers in Switzerland and one of the best tourist offers in the world. It combines transport, museums, and mountain railways in a single ticket.

What's included?

• All trains (SBB, private railways, panoramic trains incl. Glacier Express and Bernina Express — only reservation extra)
• All buses (PostAuto throughout the country)
• All boats on the lakes (incl. historic paddle steamers!)
• Urban public transport in over 90 cities (tram, bus)
• Over 500 museums (free entry with Swiss Museum Pass)
• 25–50% discount on most mountain railways
• Swiss Family Card: Children under 16 travel free with parents (free with STP)

Prices (2nd class, 2025/26)

Is it worth it?

Almost always from 3+ days of active use. Example calculation for 4 days:

• Zurich → Lucerne: 25 CHF × 2 = 50 CHF (saved)
• Pilatus Golden Round Trip: 57 CHF saved (50% of 114 CHF)
• Lucerne → Interlaken: 35 CHF (saved)
• Jungfraujoch: 107 CHF saved (50% of 214 CHF)
• Transport Museum + Art Museum: 57 CHF (saved on entries)
• Urban public transport 4 days: ~30 CHF (saved)
• Total savings: approx. 336 CHF at a cost of 281 CHF = 55 CHF in the plus!

Mountain railways are expensive — but there are strategies to save money.

Prices of the main mountain railways (round trip, 2025/26)

Half-Fare Card

The Half-Fare Card (185 CHF for 1 year) gives you 50% off almost all trains, buses, boats, and mountain railways in Switzerland. It is the best-selling pass of the SBB — over 2.5 million Swiss have one. For tourists, it is worthwhile from the 4th mountain railway ride or for longer stays (>7 days), if the Swiss Travel Pass does not fit.

Mountain Railway Tips

• Early Bird / Good Morning Tickets: Many mountain railways offer early bird tickets (first ride in the morning) with 20–30% discount.
• Book online: On jungfrau.ch, zermatt.ch etc., online prices are often 10–15% cheaper than at the counter.
• Check the weather: Before an expensive mountain railway ride, check the webcam image at the summit — you see nothing in clouds. Better to postpone than spend 100+ CHF for fog.

Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world with an excellent healthcare system. However, there are a few things to keep in mind — especially in the mountains.

Healthcare System

Medical care is of the highest standard — even in mountain regions, there are doctors, hospitals, and rescue helicopters (REGA). For EU/EFTA citizens, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) applies — treatment under local conditions. Note: Switzerland has high deductibles — travel insurance with mountain rescue coverage is highly recommended for hikers and skiers.

Emergency Numbers

• 112 — European emergency number (always works)
• 117 — Police
• 118 — Fire department
• 144 — Rescue/emergency doctor
• 1414 — REGA (air rescue/helicopter)
• 145 — Poison emergencies
• 143 — Offered Hand (telephone counseling)

Mountain Hazards

• Altitude sickness: Possible from 2,500 m (headaches, nausea, dizziness). Move slowly, drink plenty on Jungfraujoch (3,454 m) and Klein Matterhorn (3,883 m).
• UV radiation: Extremely high in the mountains — sunscreen SPF 50+, sunglasses, hat.
• Thunderstorms: Frequent in the mountains in summer afternoons. Start early, return before 2 PM. In case of a storm: stay away from ridges, peaks, and isolated trees.
• Hiking trails: Yellow = hiking trail (easy), Red-White = mountain trail (medium, sure-footed), Blue-White = alpine trail (difficult, experience required).

Safety

The crime rate is extremely low — even in big cities, you can safely walk alone at night. Pickpocketing occurs in tourist hotspots (Zurich main station, Lucerne Chapel Bridge), but is rare. Switzerland is one of the safest travel countries in the world.

A few technical details that can make the difference between comfort and frustration.

⚡ Power Outlets: Type J!

Switzerland uses power outlet type J — a three-pole plug that differs from the German/Austrian type C/F. Two-pole Euro plugs (type C) fit most Swiss outlets. However: Schuko plugs (type F, with grounding) — as used for laptops, hairdryers, and many chargers — do NOT fit without an adapter!

Solution: Buy a Swiss adapter (type J) in advance (from 3 € on Amazon/Migros). Hotels often lend adapters.

📱 Internet & SIM

Since 2017, NO EU roaming applies in Switzerland — Switzerland is not in the EU! Roaming charges can be significantly expensive. Options:

• Prepaid SIM: Buy Swisscom, Sunrise, or Salt prepaid SIM at the airport or in stores. From 20 CHF for 2 GB + telephony. Swisscom has the best network (even in the mountains).
• eSIM: Providers like Airalo, Holafly, or Nomad offer digital eSIMs for Switzerland from 5 € (1 GB) — activatable before the trip. No SIM change needed.
• WLAN: Hotels, cafés, restaurants, and public places almost everywhere offer free WLAN. SBB trains and many mountain railways have free WLAN. At Zurich main station: Free WiFi by SBB.
• Mobile contracts: Some German/Austrian contracts already include Switzerland — check beforehand! Telekom, Vodafone, and o2 offer Switzerland packages (from 3–5 €/day).

Further practical info

• Opening hours: Shops Mon–Fri 8–18:30, Sat 8–17. Closed on Sundays (except in stations and tourist areas). Supermarkets in stations are also open on Sundays!
• Drinking water: Tap water is drinkable everywhere — Swiss water is among the best in the world. The 1,200+ public fountains in cities and villages are also drinkable (unless marked "No drinking water").
• Smoking: Prohibited in public buildings, restaurants, and bars. Allowed outside. Cigarettes: approx. 9.50 CHF per pack.