Let’s be honest, Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries on earth. Those stunning mountain views and world-class chocolates come at an eye-watering price. But it’s not entirely impossible to visit Switzerland on a budget. You just have to forgo some of the luxuries of Swiss travel.
Nature is free
The good thing about Switzerland is that its most amazing places to visit are all stunning mountain landscapes and crystal-clear lakes. Zurich is one of the most boring places I’ve ever visited, so you won’t miss anything by skipping it. But the grassy valleys, the clean swimming lakes, and the jaw-dropping hikes in the mountains are free to enjoy… the only cost is getting to them. If the ultra-scenic panoramic trains are out of your budget you can still get around the Swiss Alps by train or bus on a reasonable budget. For instance, getting from Interlaken to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen is less than CHF 15 (around $20) and takes just 30 minutes. From there, you have a full day’s worth of stunning free hiking paths to enjoy. You can forgo the public transportation altogether and travel by bike, stopping anywhere you like to take in the views.
Getting around without going broke
If you’re traveling from city to city, you might be unpleasantly surprised to find that a 2-hour train journey is just as expensive as a round-trip flight around Europe. To accurately budget for your vacation to Switzerland and to save as much as possible, it’s important to take a stock of how much of the rail system you need to use. Individual Supersaver tickets through SBB may be your best bet, but if you’re traveling long distances daily or almost daily, you may benefit from getting a Swiss travel pass, which can be customized for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days. These passes are good for trains, buses, and boats, with discounts for mountain railways and gondolas.
If you’re exploring one particular part of Switzerland like Geneva or Oberland, it may be even cheaper to get a regional pass rather than the Swiss travel pass, which covers the whole country. But nothing beats free, so before you book train tickets or transport passes, double check with your accommodation. Many mountain towns offer free city-wide or regional transport cards valid for the duration of your stay.
Where to stay in Switzerland on a budget
There are several ways to save on accommodation in Switzerland, depending on the kind of traveler you are. If you don’t mind shared accommodation, hostels in Switzerland are cleaner and safer than anywhere else in Europe. You can find these in the Swiss Youth Hostels network.
Camping is another affordable way to experience Switzerland. Swiss campgrounds are well-maintained and situated conveniently near lakes or hiking trails. For instance, you can camp near the lake in Locarno for anywhere between CHF 25-45 ($30-55).
If you’re like me, you want your privacy and only want to enjoy nature in moderation before returning to a comfortable safe hotel. Worry not, you still have plenty of affordable options, especially if you stay in a guesthouse or mountain hut rather than a hotel. For the same price as a double room in a hotel, you can stay in a 3-bedroom chalet that sleeps 6 people.
Eat like a local
One of the ways that your money slips through your fingers like water in Switzerland is dining out. Restaurant prices might be fitting for Swiss salaries, but if you’re traveling from anywhere else in the EU, you might be wondering why it costs a month of rent to eat out three times a day. You can save a lot by eating how locals eat. Supermarket chains like Migros and Coop have ready-to-eat takeaway service that offer amazing food ranging from pizza to sushi. That Migros takeaway pizza is downright craveable and just a few bucks. These places get slammed by businesspeople and students around lunchtime for good reason.
Of course, what’s more local than cooking at home? If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, you can still enjoy a good Swiss meal or two at home with locally produced ingredients. You can buy some simple groceries including good cheese, wine, and chocolate for the price of one nice meal at a restaurant. So treat yourself to some grocery store goodies!
Switzerland is never going to be a cheap destination, but you can mitigate the expenses to make it a feasible vacation. When you’re unwrapping a store-bought Swiss chocolate bar at the end of a long mountain hike, you’ll find that the “sacrifices” are more than worth it.
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