It’s no secret that Switzerland is an expensive country. Clean cities, efficient public transit, and high-quality products mean high price tags. (As someone visiting from New York City, even I was aghast sometimes.) However, there are ways to save money in Switzerland so your vacation won’t hurt your wallet too badly.
When trying to save money on a trip, there are four big expenditures to consider: accommodation, food, activities, and transit. Thankfully, there are ways to save on all of these in Switzerland.
These money-saving tips should help no matter what your Swiss budget is. That said, everyone’s budget is different, so tailor these tips accordingly. If you want to stay at beautiful five-star hotels and eat nothing but Swiss cheese, go for it. Likewise, if you want to stay in hostels and eat out every night, that works too!
Ways to Save Money in Switzerland
Visit Switzerland in the Shoulder Seasons
One of the biggest ways you can save money while visiting Switzerland is to not go during high tourist seasons. The most expensive times to visit Switzerland are during the summer, when temperatures are warmest, and during the winter, when people go skiing.
It’s more affordable to visit during Switzerland’s shoulder seasons: spring and fall. Shoulder seasons lie on either side of the busy seasons. Fewer tourists usually means lower prices on accommodations, since they aren’t in such high demand.
Autumn is a wonderful time to visit Switzerland. There are smaller crowds, things are still open, and you have the chance to see some beautiful foliage.
Consider Renting a Camper Van or RV
When planning my recent trip to Switzerland, I crunched some numbers and decided it would actually be cheaper for us to rent an RV than to stay in hotels and rent a car/take trains. By combining your accommodation and transit costs, you’ll save quite a bit of money.
If you are visiting Switzerland for a week or more, renting a camper provides many pros:
- Your schedule doesn’t have to be tied to train times
- It allows you to cook your own food (more on that below)
- You can unpack once and not have to lug luggage around from place to place
- Campsite fees are significantly cheaper than hotels
Note: The only con we ran into with the RV was its size. It was sometimes tricky to park in town and city parking lots, so if you’re looking at campers, consider sizing down.
Cook Your Own Food
An easy way to save money in Switzerland is to cook your own food. I’m not saying you shouldn’t treat yourself to some Swiss classics like fondue or a rösti, but avoid eating out for most of your meals.
Whether you stay in a camper, a hostel, or a short-term rental with a kitchen, you can easily cook a variety of inexpensive (but delicious) meals, like pasta, soups, or grilled meats. You can also make sandwiches or wraps to toss in your bag while you’re out exploring for the day.
The main grocery stores in Switzerland are Coop (which also has premade meals in many locations), Migros, and Aldi. Stock up on snacks, both familiar and new.
Utilize Swiss Guest Cards
One way we learned to save money in Switzerland was with the guest cards we would receive at campsites. Guests staying overnight at campsites and hotels will be handed a guest card, which offers free local transportation and discounts on popular sites in the area.
Some popular Swiss guest cards include:
- Interlaken: Includes free transportation in town, 15% off on the Harder funicular railway, and 20% off of the day pass of BLS Lake Cruise on Lake Thun or Brienz.
- Grindelwald: Includes free local bus rides on lines 121, 122 and 123 (which takes you to the Grindelwald First station), and 15% off of a one-way gondola ticket to Grindelwald First.
- Montreux Riviera: Includes free bus rides in zones 70 and 72-78, 50% off Chateau Chillon, and 20% off on CGN boat trips.
Purchase a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass
If you plan on doing most of your travel in Switzerland by public transportation instead of driving, you’ll definitely want to purchase either a Half Fare Card or the Swiss Travel Pass.
What’s the difference? Let’s break it down:
- Half Fare Card:
- Offers 50% off on all journeys by train, bus, gondolas, and boat
- Valid for one month
- Currently costs: $156.00 USD
- Swiss Travel Pass
- Offers unlimited travel by train, bus, or boat
- Available for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days with options for 1st or 2nd class
- Prices range from $317.00 USD (3 days in 2nd class) to $939.00 USD (15 days in 1st class)
- Not valid at places like Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, and Matterhorn
I recommend downloading the SBB app and visiting their website to get a rough idea of what you’d be spending if you paid full price. From there, you can calculate if it is worth getting the Half Fare Card or the Swiss Travel Pass.
You can read more about Swiss Railway passes here.
Bring a Reusable Water Bottle
An easy way to save money in Switzerland is to bring your own water bottle. Don’t waste money on plastic water bottles when there is free, fresh water readily available.
Not only is the tap water safe to drink in Switzerland, but there are also public fountains. While some of them may look ornamental, especially in cities like Zurich, unless there is a sign saying so, you can most likely drink from them.
Much of the drinking water in Switzerland comes from glacial melt and mountain springs. It is strictly protected and tested, so rest assured you’re drinking clean water.
Note: Tap water is not always free at restaurants. They may charge 2-3 CHF per person for tap water.
Book Early
Whether you’re booking airfare, train tickets, or hotel rooms, it’s always best to book early when planning your trip to Switzerland.
While airfare and accommodation should be booked months in advance, you can still save money by booking transportation just a few days in advance.
Additionally, when purchasing train tickets, consider traveling during off-peak times, such as midday.
I hope these tips help you save money while traveling around Switzerland. It may be an expensive country, but the stunning scenery definitely makes up for it. At least you can’t put a price on fun!
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