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As a country, Switzerland is a must-see destination on any traveller's bucket list, whether as a solo destination or part of a wider European itinerary. Then why do so many travellers and even travel companies give it a skip? Well, let's face it…Switzerland is expensive! Whilst nothing can change that, we can definitely try and figure out the best possible way of budgeting for your holiday to Switzerland. After all, who wants to miss a chance to visit paradise?
For the purpose of this article, let's focus on budgeting once you arrive in Switzerland. Since the international arrival (air or land) and visa requirements will depend upon your country of origin, let us assume you have already figured those out.
- Accommodation
- Local transportation
- Sightseeing
- Food
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Accommodation
Switzerland offers a wide range of accommodations. Depending on your budget, you can go from shared hostel dormitories to luxury hotels.
Hostels: There are several hostels in cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Interlaken, and a few even include breakfast, so you can save on buying one outside (remember, this is Switzerland, and a coffee can cost almost SFr 5). Hostels range from around SFr 50 to 70 per person, depending on the number of beds in each dormitory.
Most of these hostels also offer private accommodation with en-suite facilities, but these can cost the same as a low- to mid-budget hotel, so it would be nice to do some homework before settling on this option.
Hotels: If you are a mid-range budget traveller, you will find a host of hotels and serviced apartments in almost every touristy town in Switzerland. A mid-range hotel would cost between SFr 150 and 300 per night.
Of course, if you are looking for luxury, there is almost no upper end to the spending on excellent Swiss hotels at prime locations. Many luxury hotels offer premium spa facilities, Michelin-starred restaurants and more.
Apartments: There are plenty of serviced apartments available in towns all over Switzerland. Apartments come with kitchenettes and can be a good choice, especially if you are travelling as a large family group with kids and need some extra space. Apartments in Switzerland have been my personal choice on many occasions.
Tip: If you are opting for hostels and are concerned about gender-specific accommodation, be sure to check the descriptions of the dormitories, as most of them are mixed-gender dorms.
Opt for accommodation in smaller towns to get better deals. This may mean that you have to travel a bit longer, but hey, this is Switzerland-more travel time means more Swiss scenery!
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Local Transportation
The country has a remarkably efficient public transport system, but, like most things Swiss, it can be quite pricey. However, depending on your requirements, there are ways to best save your bucks.
City Cards: Most hotels offer their guests city cards that allow free public transportation within the city or municipality (the area that receives the city tax that you pay) for the number of days booked. These cards also offer entries or discounts on local attractions.
Half-Fare Card: This card is valid for a month and costs SFr120. Once you have this, you basically get 50% off on every train, bus and boat ride. If you are travelling for say, around 2 weeks, and are staying a couple of nights or more in each town, the combination of this and the free city cards is just perfect. The Swiss Half-Fare Card also allows your child under 16 years of age to travel free!
Of course, you have figured out what comes next..
Swiss Travel Pass: Although some may disagree, this pass is the best option, despite being slightly more expensive than others.. The sheer convenience it offers makes it worthwhile if you, like most tourists, want to cover as much as possible within a limited time frame.
The Swiss Travel Pass provides unlimited access to all modes of transport for the specified number of days. Additionally, you can enjoy discounts of up to 50% on mountain railways and receive free admission to over 500 museums. As if this is not enough, your kids under 16 years of age travel free…even on the mountains!
All you have to do is flash your Swiss Travel Pass when boarding buses, boats, trains, and trams, and show it at the ticket counters of mountain excursions to receive the relevant discounts. Personally, for me, the Swiss Travel Pass is my go-to transport option every time I travel to Switzerland.
The Swiss Travel Pass comes in 3, 4, 6, 8, and 15-day versions in continuous or flex format.
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Sightseeing
Switzerland is packed with plenty to see and do- some for free and others that you can decide to spend on as per your budget.
If you want to keep your budget to a minimum, try to find all the lovely things that you can do for free. Simply wander through charming towns, visit local markets, and explore local churches and museums (most of which are free with the Swiss Travel Pass). Switzerland also hosts many cultural events and festivals that are free to attend.
To experience nature's beauty and tranquillity, find walking, cycling or hiking trails and tracks in and around the towns that you are staying in.
The popular sightseeing attractions in Switzerland revolve around its stunning Alps. Almost all, barring a couple of these mountain excursions, have a price, and the range is really varied. Some, like the Harder Kulm, can cost as little as SFr 22, while others, like the Jungfrau, can cost SFr 168 (these are costs for Swiss Travel Pass holders).
However, there are plenty of other mid-range excursions to choose from. If you want to visit a couple of these attractions, you can choose from popular ones like Mount Titlis, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise or Grindelwald First. Each is great in its own way- Mt Titlis offers the chance to travel in the amazing revolving gondola ROTAIR.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise gives you the best views of the mighty massif of the Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain in the world! Grindelwald First offers fun adventure activities like the First Flyer and First Glider. Mountain cart and Trottibike. Of course, if the budget permits, you should definitely visit the amazing Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe.
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Food
Eating out can be an expensive affair in Switzerland. A budget meal at a local eatery can cost around SFr 15-25, a mid-range meal at a small restaurant can cost around SFr 30-50.
However, if your chosen accommodation has a kitchen, then you can buy your basic groceries at very affordable prices. Opting for a homemade breakfast and/or dinner will help save some money, which you can then use to cover more attractions. Many restaurants also offer lunch specials at fixed times, so it's a good idea to look out for these as well.
On our last trip to Switzerland, we did the following.
Considering that we were travelling with our 14-year-old daughter, we decided to opt for mid-range accommodation instead of hostels. We found a lovely apartment in a town called Meiringen, not too far from Interlaken and Lucerne. It also helped that we travelled in October once the summer rush had ended.
Here is a rough recap of our budget and what it covered.
| Travel Component |
Approximate Swiss Francs |
| Apartment for 7 nights |
1200 |
| Swiss Travel Pass for 2 adults (child Free) |
840 |
| Paid Sightseeing: Mount Titlis, Harder Kulm, & Matterhorn Glacier Paradise for 2 adults (child Free) and Lindt Home of Chocolate |
325 |
| Food: Breakfast/dinner at apartment, lunch at mid-range restaurants (sans wine), plus the occasional chocolate or dessert |
900 |
| Miscellaneous |
300 |
| Total |
3565 (roughly 175 per person per day) |
Along the trip, we also visited the Rhine Falls, took a ride on the Lucerne - Interlaken Express panoramic train, visited Mount Stanserhorn (near Lucerne) and the Gruyères cheese factory.
All of these were free with our Swiss Travel Pass.
So with a well-thought-out plan and some clever budgeting, we did not have to break the bank for our 8-day holiday to Switzerland. As you can see, at SFr 175 per person/day, we had a really comfortable stay - and managed to include some amazing attractions and experiences. To be honest, we did cross our miscellaneous budget by more than a little since we went sort of berserk buying chocolates at the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Zurich!
So, when planning your next European holiday, be sure to include Switzerland.
With a little foresight and smart planning, your dream Swiss vacation can become an unforgettable and affordable reality.
