Switzerland is arguably one of the most stunning countries in Europe. With dramatic alpine scenery, heartwarming local food, historic towns, and world-famous cities, Switzerland has something for everyone.

No matter where you go or what you are willing to do in Switzerland, you are bound to find gorgeous natural beauty, delicious chocolate and cheese, and efficient, easy-to-use public transport.

Switzerland is a welcoming country where the locals are happy and healthy. The country has maintained a neutral position in global affairs throughout history. As a result, peace, prosperity, and innovation thrive all throughout the country.

With this Switzerland travel guide, we will give an overview of the country and highlight some things you may need to know before traveling here.

Why visit Switzerland?

Switzerland is a stunning country in Central Europe. It is safe, solo traveler-friendly, and incredibly scenic.

It doesn't matter what kind of travelers you are, you sure can find something that suits you: Adventurous travelers can ski or snowboard in the Alps, or test their limits with adrenaline-pumping activities in Interlaken. Those more interested in art and history can tour the castles, museums, and art galleries in cities like Basel or Geneva.

Public transport is very well-maintained and easy to follow, and many locals speak English as well. So if you ever get lost or have a hard time finding a place you want to go, it's easy to get back on track.

When to go?

There is no bad time to visit Switzerland! It just depends on what you are looking for during your trip.

Many people flock to Switzerland to ski or snowboard in the Alps. If you’re looking for a holiday full of winter sports, then, of course, winter is the best time to go.

Between November and February, the snow season is at its peak. Skiing and snowboarding are incredible, and all of Switzerland looks like a winter wonderland.

If you’re looking for more outdoorsy activities like hiking, camping, waterfall rappelling, skydiving, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, or just some good old-fashioned sightseeing, you may want warmer weather.

Summer in Switzerland is stunning. The sun shines and the temperatures are warm between June and September. However, this is the peak holiday season for Europeans, so many attractions are crowded. Flight prices also tend to go up.

The shoulder seasons of spring (March - May) or Autumn (September - November) are safe bets for visiting Switzerland. The prices of transport, tours, and accommodation drop, but the weather will still be pleasant.

So those wondering, “What is the best month to go to Switzerland?”, decide whether you want a ski holiday, a summer holiday, or a more affordable shoulder season holiday.

How long to go?

You can never spend enough time exploring Switzerland. As is the case with almost every country in the world, more time is better. The country isn’t that big, but there is so much to see and do, especially if you love adventure activities in nature.

If you only have 3-5 days to spare for your travels, I recommend picking one city to explore, such as Basel, Geneva, or Zurich. Spend a couple of days in the city, with maybe a day trip into nature or a day trip to a smaller local village.

Definitely spend at least one day in the Swiss Alps, which is arguably the most beautiful spot in the country.

Interlaken is a great tourist town to visit for exploring the Alps. From Interlaken, you can ski, snowboard, bike, hike, skydive, and more.

If you have more than a few weeks to spare, you can do a Worldpackers work exchange. This will allow you to work for accommodation, stretch your money out longer, and spend more time enjoying the country. If you have a month or more, you can really get a feel for the landscape and culture of Switzerland!

So to answer the question: “How many days is enough for Switzerland?”, I would say 7 days is ideal to start out with. One week is an amazing time frame for an introduction to Switzerland, as it will give you the chance to explore one or two cities, and see the Alps.

Where to go?

There are so many amazing places to visit in Switzerland. Here is a quick overview of the best places to visit during your trip.

• Basel: A city on the Rhine River in northern Switzerland near France and Germany. Often referred to as the Cultural Capital of the country.


• Geneva: A city full of history, diplomacy, and natural beauty. Explore Lake Geneva, one of Europe’s oldest Old Towns, and see the headquarters of the UN.


• The Matterhorn: An iconic peak of the Swiss Alps that is popular for hiking and sightseeing.


• Bern: The capital city of Switzerland. Full of medieval architecture, fountains, gardens, museums, and unique landmarks.


• Zurich: This is Switzerland’s largest city. It’s a popular place to fly into and begin your Switzerland travels. It’s great for shopping, museum-hopping, and taking day trips out into small villages and nature.


• Switzerland National Park: A stunning area of natural beauty in eastern Switzerland, perfect for hiking and cross-country skiing.


• Interlaken: A holiday resort town near the Alps, nestled between the two stunning lakes of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The perfect place to base yourself for adventure activities and skiing/snowboarding in the Alps.


• Jungfraujoch: Also known as the “Top of Europe”, this is one of the top places to ski and snowboard in the Alps.


• Lucerne: A beautiful, peaceful, historic town on a lake. Lucerne is known for music, art, museums, and its Old Town

There are so many more places to see, but those are some of the most popular places for tourists to see during their visit to Switzerland.

A summary of Swiss history

It is always helpful to know a bit about the local history when you visit any country.

The land that is present-day Switzerland has been part of numerous different empires, including the Helvetians/Helvetic Celts, various Germanic tribes, and the Roman Empire.

Between the 1200s and the 1500s, the area was united by its ruling families to form the Swiss Confederation. The area remained stable even during the religious upheaval of the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s.

Because Switzerland is sandwiched between so many different cultures, languages, and religions, it quickly maintained a status of neutrality with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.

During centuries of conflicts between various religious groups and national groups, Switzerland stayed strong. They created a Federal State in the 1800s, loosely modeled after the US Consitution.

Even through both World Wars in the 1900s, Switzerland remained neutral and relatively unscathed, despite having French, German, and Italian influences within its borders.

The country rapidly developed and industrialized in the 1800s and 1900s, and now it is one of Europe’s most advanced and sophisticated countries. Its citizens have a high quality of life, and the United Nations European Headquarters is even located in Geneva.

The importance of staying neutral in global conflicts and maintaining peace and prosperity is one of the reasons why Switzerland is such an incredible country to visit or to live in.

Budget to travel to Switzerland

Switzerland is a pretty expensive country to visit. But it is possible to travel on a budget if you want.

For those wondering, “How much should I budget for a trip to Switzerland?”, let’s break down some of the average costs. Keep in mind, prices fluctuate based on season and current events. These are just general averages.

Prices will be listed in the local currency, CHF (Swiss Francs). The conversion of CHF to US Dollars is roughly 1 to 1, so you could read these prices in USD and they would be similar.

Average costs of a:

• Meal in a restaurant: 10-15 CHF for lunch in a cafe or 20-30 CHF for dinner
• Beer in a bar or restaurant: 7 CHF
• Day pass for skiing in the Alps: 60-100 CHF
• Day tour from the city: 70-100 CHF
• Museum ticket: 20 CHF
• Train ride between cities: 20-50 CHF
• Dorm bed in a hostel: 30 CHF per night
• Room in a budget hotel: 80-100 CHF per night
• Room in a luxury hotel: 200 CHF per night or more

So taking all that into account, here is what a daily budget might look like depending on your travel style:

• Daily backpacker budget: 60-90 CHF
• Daily mid-range traveler budget: 150-180 CHF
• Daily luxury traveler budget: 250 CHF or more

Of course, everyone is different and you will have to plan your own travel budget based on your financial situation and your travel style.

Now that you have an idea of what things cost, we can get into more of the specifics about Switzerland travel.

Source: worldpackers.com

Also Read: FINDING THE BEST HOTEL IN SWITZERLAND: AN ENTRYWAY TO EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES

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