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Planning a trip to Switzerland? Here you'll find our day-by-day itinerary (Zurich and Lucerne, Jungfrau region (Interlaken), Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Bern, Lake Geneva (Geneva, Montreux), Grisons and Ticino), plus all the practical info to organise your journey: currency, visa, e-SIM, health, plugs and useful numbers.
Temperate climate with sharp variations: mild and almost Mediterranean south of the Alps (Ticino), oceanic-humid in the north, alpine at altitude. Summer (June-September) is ideal for the mountains (open trails, running cable cars); winter for skiing. At altitude it is cold even in summer: bring layers and a jacket. Always check the weather before ascents (it changes fast).
Updated: June 2026
Switzerland is in the Schengen area (but not the EU): EU citizens only need a valid ID card or passport, no visa, and there are usually no border checks. It is wise to keep your document handy, as customs checks are possible. Citizens of other countries should check their own rules.
Note: Switzerland does NOT use the euro. The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), roughly at parity with the euro. Many shops accept euros but give change in francs at a poor rate: better to pay in francs or by card (accepted everywhere, contactless widespread). Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world: budget for it. Cash over 10,000 euros must be declared at the border.
Switzerland has four official languages: German (the majority, in the Swiss-German variant), French (in the west, around Geneva and Lausanne), Italian (in Ticino and some Grisons valleys) and Romansh. English is widely understood in tourist areas. In Ticino and Zermatt/Valais Italian is very useful.
No mandatory vaccines. Healthcare is excellent but very expensive: EU citizens with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are entitled to necessary care (with a co-payment), but insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation is strongly advised. NOTE: mountain rescue (by helicopter, REGA) is run privately and costs up to 5,000 francs an hour, largely at your expense: for hikes and skiing take out insurance that covers it. In woodland (below 1000 m) beware of ticks (encephalitis/Lyme).
Mobile coverage is excellent and WiFi widespread. NOTE: Switzerland is outside the EU, so EU roaming is NOT included and charges can be steep (check with your operator: some include Switzerland, others do not). For longer stays a local eSIM or SIM (Swisscom, Salt, Sunrise) is best.
Power is 230V/50Hz with type J (Swiss, three-pin) and C sockets. European two-round-pin plugs (type C) fit without trouble, but three-pin Italian plugs (type L) do NOT fit Swiss sockets: bring a Swiss adapter.
Switzerland is at UTC+1 (UTC+2 with daylight saving time), the same as Central Europe.
💡 Buy the Swiss Travel Pass and experience Switzerland from the window: scenic trains punctual to the second, climbing among glaciers and turquoise lakes. Two things to remember: there is no euro here (pay in francs or by card) and EU roaming is NOT included (Switzerland is outside the Union), so check your rates or get an eSIM.
