I. General
When planning to travel to a new country you consider the weather, the culture, the people. The best times to travel to Switzerland depends greatly on what you are looking for as a travel experience, the low season is in October to March this means that many mountain resorts will be closed and sights and restaurants opened fewer days and shorter hours. Mid season is April to June and September warmer temperatures mean that resorts are open longer and you can still benefit from lower prices. The high season is in July and August and December to April, Everything is open and very busy and expect prices to be higher than the low or mid season.
II. Transportation
Invest in a Swiss Travel pass, Switzerland is extremely easy to travel because of there impeccably run transit system which includes everything from buses to trains and cable cars if you plan on traveling to different cities get a pass that allows unlimited travel this gives you 50% of of mountain railways and cable cars, this will not only save you money on travel but gets you free entrance to over 500 museums. The taxi’s in Switzerland are known as some of the most expensive transportation in the world, and most cities have very clear signage which makes each city easy to navigate even when walking and signs telling you when the next bus will arrive.
III. Accommodation
There are unlimited types of accommodation in the country, From hotels, Hostels, Apartments, Bed and breakfasts, it all depends on what you are looking for on your trip and your budget, do in depth research, read reviews and compare prices always.
IV. Food
Do not waste your money on bottled water, Switzerland is home to the world’s cleanest and best tasting tap water and you will notice if you try and compare the two that you prefer the tap water over the bottled water, you can drink from nearly any tap or free flowing fountain unless there is a sign saying not to (in train bathrooms)
Switzerland, known for its chocolates has tourist traps which look like chocolate shops, use your willpower and go to the supermarket where you will find equally good chocolate or better in an entire isle for cheaper prices that even the locals will eat.
V. Safety
As a general rule in most countries when traveling abroad keep your purse and personal items close and secure, and take out minimal cash, pickpockets target tourists and will bump into you in a large crowd and steal your wallet or phone if you are unlucky.
Always check the weather, as the mountains tend to send ever changing weather down over the country, be sure to check with a tourist office or hotel desk if there are any changes in the weather or avalanche warnings. When hiking be sure to remain on marked paths, drink lots of water and take rests when you feel tired or dizzy as the high altitude is likely to affect you as well as making your skin more likely to be burned by the sun, so it is wise to bring extra sunscreen with you. And should you decide on seeing a sporting event , be sure to keep an eye on your surroundings and take notice of all possible exits as sometimes the games can bring out rowdy behavior even gang violence, so be aware at all times and ready to leave should the need arise.
VI. Climate
The climate is ever changing because of the mountains, be sure to check the weather every day and ask the travel desk in the tourist office, or the hotel desk if there is anything different that you need to know about before going about your plans for the day.
VII. Power Plug & Voltage
Power Plug: Type M
Voltage: 230, 50HZ
Reference: https://www.iec.ch/world-plugs
VII. Language
The language is usually straightforward in every country speaking mainly the same language, Whereas Switzerland has four national languages. The languages being German, French, Italian and Romansh. When greeting locals Swiss German in the safest bet. Though many locals do speak English so you shouldn’t have a hard time communicating.
VIII. Currency
The Currency in Switzerland is known as Swiss Franc.
1 Swiss Franc = 1.05 USD
IX. Visa and Other Requirements
Check the visa requirement before you purchase your flight tickets:
https://discover.passportindex.org/
Also, do not forget to check the COVID vaccination requirements.