Is It Possible to Visit Switzerland on a Budget? Top Tips for Not Going Broke

Steal our tricks on how to visit Switzerland on a budget and without breaking the bank.

From what we’ve seen in the movies to stereotypes floating around, it’s easy to create an impression that Switzerland is only reserved for the mega rich. Unfortunately, there is some truth to this but it’s not the entire truth!

As with most places dubbed as a luxury destination, there is always an affordable side.

Visiting and more importantly, enjoying Switzerland on a budget is easy for anyone to do. Budget travel is no longer only for hitchhikers or those backpacking Switzerland. With a few simple and effective money saving tips, families, couples or students can also reap the benefits on how to explore Switzerland on a budget.

We will admit, Switzerland’s high end reputation is what made us put off a Swiss trip for so long. After a day into our trip, we quickly learned what to do and what not to do when travelling throughout Switzerland in order to keep our costs down.

Skip the mistakes we made and get straight to saving money while still having a fantastic time in Switzerland with this budget travel guide.

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Quick Guide: Budget Tips for Visiting Switzerland

• Don’t book accommodation in Switzerland
• Limit eating meat and drinking alcohol at restaurants
• Grocery shop and cook your own meals
• Fill up your reusable water bottle with free water
• Prioritise free attractions and nature
• Head to smaller towns
• Curate your paid activities thoughtfully
• Take advantage of free transportation options
• Price check the difference between train travel and renting a car

The Essentials for Visiting Switzerland on a Budget

🍽 Do your best to not eat entire meals at restaurants in Switzerland. Instead, prepare food at your stay or seek out budget-friendly snacks like pizza and döner kebab.

🍷 Meat and alcohol are expensive in Switzerland. If you can cut these out of your trip, your budget will thank you.

🚡 Pick out one or two “must-see” destinations to visit but spend the remainder of your time seeing free attractions like lakes, rivers and hiking trails. Gondola rides to world-famous locations in Switzerland can cost more than €100 per person.

🛌 If your itinerary allows for it, book a stay near the border of Switzerland but in Italy instead. Accommodation prices in Italy are a fraction of the cost and traveling between the two countries is logistically simple.

🚊 Don’t be quick to pull the trigger on train tickets or train passes in Switzerland. Often times, it’s a much more expensive alternative to taking the bus or even renting a car.

Is Switzerland Cheap to Visit?

Overall, Switzerland is not cheap to visit and it can be very expensive to travel throughout Switzerland. Consistently, the country of Switzerland is ranked in the top three of the most expensive places to live in the entire world.

When hearing that, it’s a bit intimidating and might deter you from choosing Switzerland as a place to vacation. We definitely don’t blame you!

Still, there are a handful of ways to stick to a modest budget during a Swiss trip with some simple tips. If you’re prepared with these tricks, the cost to travel to Switzerland can be substantially lower.

Contrary to popular belief, Switzerland is not part of the European Union. This means a few things but for the sake of budget travel, you need to be aware that Switzerland uses their own currency, the Swiss franc (CHF).

Historically, the exchange rate is similar to the euro if you are comparing it to USD. All prices in Switzerland will be posted in CHF and ATM withdrawals will also be in francs.

Can You Really Visit Switzerland on a Budget?

If Switzerland is so expensive, is it even possible to travel there on a budget? Yes, it definitely is with the right tricks.

Often times, people can be quick to judge what budget travel means. Traveling on a budget or with a budget simply means you’re not looking to spend your entire life savings on one trip. Budget travel means you are being mindful of how much you’re spending, prioritizing what you want to spend on and if you don’t wish to exceed a certain daily amount.Budget travel does not mean you need to eat saltine crackers for dinner and sleep on the floor of a train station.

Although the cost to travel to Switzerland will ultimately depend on your preference of comfort level or situation (such as travelling with a family), Switzerland on a budget is undoubtedly achievable. There are a few things you’ll need to give up or limit when planning a trip to Switzerland and we’ll get more into this below.

Mainly, a successful Swiss trip without breaking the bank relies heavily on what you want to prioritize. As long as you can sort out what you most value in a trip to Switzerland, sticking to a budget is uncomplicated.

🇨🇭Read More: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Switzerland

Switzerland Trip Cost: Budget Breakdown

When it comes to the average budget for a Switzerland trip, the most noticeable variable cost will be accommodation. As a solo traveler or couple, you’ll save the most money by staying in hostels.

As a family, you’ll likely prefer an apartment or hotel room instead. After accommodation, other Switzerland trip costs such as food and transportation stay the same when accounting for expenses per person and per day.

For food, transportation and activity expenses, simply multiply the average daily cost found below by the number of people you’re travelling with.

Accommodation Prices in Switzerland

Hostels – A dorm room style hostel can cost as low as €40 for a bed in low season. Prices in the summer time will be up to 40% more expensive and come out to €70 – €80 for a dormitory style bed.

Apartments – Private rooms, studios or 1-2 bedroom apartments are the best affordable solution for couples or people travelling with kids. During colder months, you can find an entire place for rent for around €100 per night. During the summer, average prices rise to around €150/night.

Hotels – A traditional hotel room will get you the least bang for your buck in Switzerland. If you’re solely interested in a traditional hotel stay with services and amenities, anticipate paying at least €170/night during high season and roughly €120/night in the winter.

Food Costs in Switzerland

Casual meal for one: €15

Mid-range meal for one: €25

High-end meal for one: €70

Beer or wine: €8-10 for house selection

Liquor: €15-€25 for a cocktail

Coffee: €5 for an espresso and €7 for an iced coffee

Croissant: €5

10 eggs: €6

Bananas: €2-3/kg

Transportation & Activities

To gauge the average cost of transportation during a Swiss trip can be a challenge unless you know where you’re going beforehand. The best way to budget for transportation costs is to have a set itinerary in place and then price out exactly how you’ll be getting from one point to another. This is assuming you are not travelling by car.

Long Distance Travel in Switzerland

Train travel is the most efficient method of public transportation for getting around the country of Switzerland. Comparatively, even train rides are more expensive in Switzerland than other parts of Europe.

Zurich is a popular place to start for most travellers touring Switzerland. For example, a train ride from Zurich to Bern (122 km or 74 miles apart) will set you back €40 for the one hour journey. A shorter journey from Bern to Thun only takes 20 minutes but still costs around €20 for a one-way ticket.

Taking the bus or utilizing carpool networks (more on this below) is cheaper than purchasing train tickets.

If you are travelling with a car, you can use an easy fuel expense calculator such as this one. Motorway vignettes are also mandatory when driving in Switzerland.

There is only one price tier option and no passes just for a day, week or even month. You must purchase a toll vignette for 40 CHF (€41) which is valid for one year.

Find Local Travel Deals

Many major Swiss cities offer free public transportation for visitors. Each city may have different stipulations so always confirm the extent of the offer with the city’s website, your hotel or host.

If you are able to get a free public transportation pass for your short stay in a particular town, getting from point a to point b within that city will cost you €0. The same goes for bike rentals. Through the Zurirollt program, Zurich for example offers free bikes to use during your visit.

By utilizing bikes while getting around Zurich, you’re effortlessly spending €0 on transportation.

👍 You May Like: 5 Day Switzerland Itinerary

Visiting Attractions in Switzerland

If viewing the peaks of the Swiss Alps is high on your must see list, it’s reasonable to assume you may visit one or two mountain during a week long visit. Some gondola rides cost more than others but this expense can be sizeable when visiting the more popular peaks.

For example, a ride to the top of Europe (Jungfraujoch), can cost €190 for a round-trip ticket.

Overview of an Average Budget for Switzerland Trip

As a solo traveler or backpacker, you should estimate an average daily expense of €75 excluding accommodation. In low season, total expenses per day with a hostel stay can be as low as €120 per day.

For a small family or couple, prepared for an average daily expense of €150 – €200, not including accommodation. On the lower end of prices, you can expect an overall cost of €250 – €350 per day by staying in an apartment.

Top Tips on How to Travel Switzerland on a Budget

1. Try to Not Stay in Switzerland

A puzzling concept at first, but it’s possibly the most effective advice for visiting Switzerland on a budget. However, it only makes the most sense to follow this tip if you are driving. If you are relying on public transportation to tour Switzerland, it’s a better idea to stay centrally located near the sights you plan on seeing.

For anyone with a car, highly consider booking accommodation just across the border and in Italy instead. The regions of Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina are both located on the other side of the Swiss Alps with many attractions in Switzerland located nearby.

For example, if experiencing St. Moritz is on your bucket list, try booking a hotel in Chiavenna instead. Chiavenna is an Italian town located less than one hour from St. Moritz and you’ll be able to find accommodation for 30-40% less. The savings don’t just stop at accommodation either!

From restaurants, groceries and fuel, everything is a bit less expensive than it is in Switzerland.

Personally, we spent a majority of our time exploring Switzerland by staying in the city of Sondrio (Italy). By some stroke of magic, we couldn’t believe we found a 2-bedroom apartment with a beautiful view in Sondrio for less than €40/night. This travel tip extended our Switzerland trip budget immensely.

2. Limit Drinking and Eating at Restaurants

If there’s one trick to travelling Switzerland on a budget that you absolutely must follow, it’s this one. Restaurant and bar prices in Switzerland are incredibly expensive and can quickly add up if you eat out every day.

Now here’s the thing, we sometimes don’t mind paying a lot for really good food but Swiss cuisine isn’t particularly ground breaking, in our opinion. Therefore, we think paying €25 for a burger or omelet just isn’t worth it.

In addition to food, having a beer or glass of wine while going out also doesn’t come cheap. When you compare the cost of wine at €3 – €5 a glass in neighbouring countries, it’s tough to swallow paying nearly €20 for one cocktail.

You can still enjoy alcoholic beverages affordably by purchasing alcohol from grocery stores instead.

There are a few things that are worth the money in Switzerland, one of them being chocolate. The way we see it, Switzerland simply has the best and most divine chocolate in all of Europe and it should be experienced. Sure, we’ll pass on the mediocre avocado toast but will gladly pay an excessive amount for a box of heaven. It’s all about priorities!

Finding Cheap Food in Switzerland

There are two inexpensive food options you’ll find in Switzerland – pizza and döner kebab. Both choices are usually delicious, filling and will stretch your euro the furthest. Sometimes, you’re lucky enough to find a place that combines the two! There’s a place in Thun that does a kebab pizza so well, it’s worth dreaming about.

3. Grocery Shop and Cook Your Own Meals

Opposed to ordering from restaurants, head to the grocery store so you can cook your own meals. This is sound advice for anywhere, but especially true in Switzerland. The cost of grocery items in Switzerland is slightly higher than other European countries and you should try to focus on items that will go a long way.

There are additional tips when it comes to grocery shopping in Switzerland. The first being, try to avoid certain grocery store chains such as Migros. Although Migros has a wider selection and a more pleasant shopping experience, prices are substantially higher.

Instead, stick to shopping at Lidl or Aldi stores, both of which are discount grocery store chains. When it comes to picking up ingredients for home cooking, do your best to omit meat.

Meat is pricey at Swiss grocery stores and if you’re particularly attempting to stick to a budget, buying vegetables or non perishable items is much cheaper.

PRO TIP: Don’t feel like cooking but also don’t want to spend money at a restaurant? One of the best ways to eat prepared food on a budget is to peruse the “ready to eat” section at grocery stores (notably from Migros). Their selection includes inexpensive options such as sandwiches, spreads and soups.

4. Bring a Reusable Water Bottle

If it’s your first time in Europe, you may be surprised by the cost of water or that you have to pay for water at all. Unlike in the US, if you ask for water at a restaurant, it’ll be added as an item on your bill.

Bringing your own reusable (and better yet, collapsible) water bottle is an easy and proven travel hack applicable anywhere in Europe. Switzerland’s tap water has been appointed as some of the best in the world. Don’t hesitate to fill up your water bottle from any water source, for free.

5. Prioritise Free Attractions

One of the biggest mistakes people make when pondering about a Switzerland vacation is that you must ski. Guess what? There is no law stating you have to go skiing when visiting Switzerland. Is it a magnificent experience? Of course! But there are other things to do besides hit the slopes.

Swiss ski resorts and their lifts are expensive so if you are planning to discover Switzerland on a budget, you should include as little winter sports as possible.

Switzerland is first and foremost one of the most naturally beautiful places in Europe and in the world. If you emphasise more time on the “natural” part of that statement, you’ll be able to save some money.

Much of the country’s best attractions are in plain sight and don’t require spending an exorbitant amount of money. One of the clearest examples of this are Switzerland’s lakes. Unlike the mountain peaks, Swiss lakes are free to enjoy and just as glorious.

Hiking is another way to keep your budget in check. By hiking, you reach your destination on foot which means you are not paying to use a gondola. There are other natural wonders hidden among Switzerland such as the breathtaking Ponte dei Salti and it’s completely free to visit.

Or, get lost in one of Switzerland’s smaller villages like Gruyères and stumble upon beautiful panoramic views. 

6. Head to Smaller Towns

Smaller towns and locations off the tourist path tend to overall be less expensive. Particularly if you’re looking for a place to stay on a budget, book a hotel or apartment outside of the popular cities such as Zurich.

We decided to stay in the town of Thun which is a smaller city south of Bern. If you take it a step further and stay in the residential area of the smaller cities, you’ll surely score a very affordable accommodation.

Discovering attractions, landmarks and sights to see on a local level doesn’t only allow you to save money, it lets you experience a destination a bit more authentically.

7. Curate Your Planned Activities Carefully

It’s only natural to come to Switzerland and want to witness some of the world renowned attractions for yourself. When putting together your Swiss trip itinerary, be mindful of how much you are packing into it. Not only for the sake of doing too much to a point where it becomes unenjoyable but also to avoid racking up the cost of entry and ticket fees.

Visiting the highest cable car station in Europe of Matterhorn is possible when you’re in Switzerland and although it’s a once in a lifetime experience, it sure has a price. If reaching these epic peaks and glaciers is the reason you are in Switzerland, you must absolutely visit these sites!

Switzerland has no shortage of mountain tops to reach by gondolas which means you have a lot of options. Prioritize picking out one or two that you positively must experience but do not go overboard if you’re travelling on a budget.

Round trip tickets for popular gondola rides to places like Matterhorn cost over €100 per person so you’ll want to have a limit on how many summits you see.

8. Know Your Transportation Options

You might come across the Swiss Travel Pass when researching and planning a trip to Switzerland. The unlimited transportation pass comes in 2, 3, 4, 8 and 15 day options. It essentially gives you access to unlimited travel and allows free admission to over 480 museums and exhibitions.

There are a few different variations of the pass which cover less and also include mountain excursions (reaching mountain peaks). It sounds nice and shiny, but don’t be too quick to pull the trigger.

Our recommendation is to not buy the Swiss Travel Pass unless you know you’ll be using it to its fullest potential. It is better to create your itinerary first and then see if the Swiss Travel Pass is advantageous to your plans.

Do not do it the other way around because you’ll risk not seeing the things you really want to see or not receive the true value of the pass by underusing it. The all inclusive pass costs over €250 per person which likely isn’t suitable if you’re visiting Switzerland on a budget.

Scope Out Free Public Transportation

Take advantage of any free transportation opportunities if you’re visiting a town which offers it. Genevea, Lucerne, Bern and Basel are a notable few which have free public transportation. Free bike rental programs are also common.

The only tricky part is that it’s not a country wide practice so you’ll have to lightly dig into the particular city’s offers or ask your hotel for information.

Rent a Car

Renting a car in Switzerland doesn’t sound cost effective off the bat but it can be a good budget solution if you’re looking to cover a lot of ground. If you choose an economical and small vehicle, you’ll also save on fuel.

Rental car companies will additionally include access to motorways so you do not have to purchase a separate vignette. The point is, do not disregard a rental car before checking out the prices. You may be surprised at how affordable it can be for a budget trip to Switzerland.

Try Car Sharing

BlaBlaCar is an online marketplace for carpooling and very popular in European countries. Admittedly, it’s not the best solution for planning transportation well in advance but if you are travelling with a loose itinerary, always check BlaBlaCar for any possible trips you can join.

The best time to browse for opportunities is 2 or 3 days before departure. Remember the €40 train ride we mentioned from Zurich to Bern? A ride with BlaBlaCar will get you there in under €10.

Other Budget Travel Posts:

• Best Free Things to Do in Naples, Italy
• How to Visit Sardinia, Italy on a Budget
• The Best Cheap Eats in Italy
• 15 Free Things to Do in Barcelona
• 2 Days in Berlin on a Budget

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