Switzerland travel guide

Getting there

Zurich and Geneva are the main international airports, with Basel's EuroAirport also convenient; excellent rail links connect Switzerland with France, Germany, Italy and Austria.

Best time to visit: Jun–Sep for hiking and lakes; Dec–Mar for skiing.

Tougher months: November and April – the in-between months when many mountain resorts pause between seasons.

Weather by month in Zurich

• 3°J●
• 5°F●
• 10°M●
• 14°A●
• 19°M●●
• 22°J●●
• 24°J●●
• 24°A●●
• 19°S●
• 14°O●
• 8°N●
• 4°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Zurich. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Switzerland without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-14). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Switzerland travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Switzerland are based around Zurich, Lucerne or Interlaken & Jungfrau Region. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$100–150 for a backpacker and US$250–400 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Switzerland page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, J. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +41.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Zurich (Northern Switzerland · city): Switzerland's largest city combines a historic old town, lakeside promenades and a lively arts scene.
• Lucerne (Central Switzerland · lake town): A picture-perfect old town with covered bridges, framed by Mount Pilatus and Rigi.
• Interlaken & Jungfrau Region (Bernese Oberland · mountains): Gateway to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen's waterfalls and the Jungfraujoch.
• Zermatt (Valais · alpine resort): A car-free village beneath the Matterhorn with year-round skiing and superb hiking.
• Bern (Capital · UNESCO old town): Arcaded medieval streets, a famous clock tower and the river Aare loop make the capital charming.
• Geneva (Lake Geneva · international city): Home to the Jet d'Eau fountain, an elegant old town and many international organisations.
• Lavaux & Montreux (Lake Geneva · vineyards): Terraced vineyards tumble to the lake near the Riviera town of Montreux and Chillon Castle.
• Lugano (Ticino · Italian-speaking south): Palm-lined lakeside promenades and Mediterranean flair on the sunny side of the Alps.

Things to do

• Ride a panoramic train. Glide past glaciers and over viaducts on routes like the Glacier Express or Bernina line.
• Gaze at the Matterhorn. Catch dawn light on the iconic peak above car-free Zermatt.
• Jungfraujoch. Take the cogwheel railway to a high saddle above the Aletsch Glacier.
• Swim in a city river. Float downstream with locals in the Aare in Bern or the Rhine in Basel on a summer afternoon.
• Lake Geneva wine terraces. Hike or cycle through the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards above the shimmering lake.
• Chillon Castle. Explore a medieval island fortress on the shores of Lake Geneva near Montreux.
• Fondue and raclette. Dip bread into bubbling melted cheese or scrape raclette onto potatoes in a cosy mountain hut.
• Lucerne's Chapel Bridge. Cross the painted wooden bridge before taking a steamer onto Lake Lucerne.

Source: full Switzerland guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Cheese fondue – bread dipped in a pot of melted cheese
• Raclette – melted cheese scraped over potatoes and pickles
• Rösti – crispy fried grated potato
• Zürcher Geschnetzeltes – sliced veal in a creamy mushroom sauce

Source: RoamSun Switzerland guide

Money and safety

Currency: Swiss franc (CHF). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Service is included; rounding up is a nice extra.

Emergency numbers: 112 general · 117 police · 144 ambulance · 118 fire.

• The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF); euros are sometimes accepted but change is often given in francs.
• Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, though small huts and markets may prefer cash.
• Switzerland is very safe, but pickpocketing occurs at busy stations and tourist spots.
• Mountain weather changes fast – carry layers, check forecasts and turn back if conditions worsen.

Source: RoamSun Switzerland facts