While this guide is hopefully! But truthfully, the greatest discovery of all? Here are the things you should know to discover all the greatness for yourself. Before You Visit. Zurich - The Basics. Things to Do. Where to Eat and Drink. Day Trips. Outside of Switzerland. First things first: Yes, Switzerland is expensive. There is no getting around this, so be prepared for some sticker-shock. There are certainly ways to make it less expensive, like buying food and drinks at a grocery to have an outdoor picnic, buying multi-day or super-saver train passes see below and just generally planning ahead.
But overall - you are going to drop some cash. Depending on your itinerary, there are a few options to save money:. There are many different versions available depending on your length and flexibility of travel - this site has details.
Half-Fare card 1 month : This will give you half-price on any transport ticket for one month with exception of some privately-owned cable cars. It costs CHF, but if you are planning on traveling throughout the country for an extended period of time, it will absolutely pay for itself after about days of travel. Saver Day Pass : With a GA pass aka a day pass , you can travel throughout Switzerland on any train, boat, bus or tram. If you already know your itinerary, it might make sense to see if you can buy a Saver pass on each individual train routes.
You can book these up to 60 days in advance, and the earlier you buy, the cheaper it can be. Switzerland grinds to a halt on Sundays. In some touristic areas and bigger cities, restaurants and bars will still be open, but most shops will be closed. In smaller mountain or rural areas, you might be out of luck. Expect to experience all the seasons - even in one day. Layers are your best friend. Also, the weather can vary dramatically between regions in Switzerland.
Generally, the south of Switzerland Ticino and the Italian cantons have warmer, more Mediterranean-type weather than the rest of the country. Some places are still cash only so is useful to have some Swiss Francs remember, Switzerland is not on the Euro. The exchange rate, as of October , is still pretty much with the USD.
