🇨🇭 Travel facts Switzerland
✓ Last checked:The most important practical answers for your trip to Switzerland — entry, tipping, plug, customs and more. Compactly verified, with source references.
| Capital | Bern |
|---|---|
| Language | German, French, Italian, Romansh |
| Currency | Swiss Franc (CHF) |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Flight time from Germany | approx. 1 hour (or 3-4h by train) |
| Emergency number | 112 · Police 117 · Emergency 144 |
| Plug | Type C/J · 230 V / 50 Hz · Adapter needed |
| EU / Schengen | not an EU country · Schengen |
Do I need a visa for Switzerland?
An identity card or passport is sufficient — Switzerland is a Schengen member.
No visa required for EU citizens. Binding information: German Federal Foreign Office.
How much tip do you give in Switzerland?
Service is legally included; a voluntary tip of 5–10% if satisfied.
Hotel: 1–2 CHF per service.
Taxi: Round up.
Which plug adapter do I need in Switzerland?
Adapter needed: plug types C / J, 230 V / 50 Hz.
Flat Euro plugs fit; Schuko plugs require a type-J adapter (often provided by hotels).
Can you drink tap water in Switzerland?
Yes, tap water is drinkable.
Excellent — even public fountains in towns and villages are drinkable.
What can I bring from Switzerland to Germany?
Non-EU country: When returning to Germany, goods up to €430 (by air travel), 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits are duty-free. Switzerland is not part of the EU customs union — its own duty-free limits apply upon entry.
Does my mobile phone work in Switzerland?
Not part of the EU roaming regulation — many German tariffs include Switzerland; check in advance.
Card or cash — how do you pay in Switzerland?
Swiss Franc (CHF); cards accepted everywhere, Euros sometimes possible (at a poor exchange rate).
What should I know about health in Switzerland?
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid; additional travel health insurance is advisable.
Sources & Note
Information from the perspective of German citizens, as of August 2026, without guarantee. Entry and security information may change at short notice — the binding source is the German Federal Foreign Office (Switzerland travel information) . Health information does not replace medical advice for travellers.
