Switzerland travel guide
Switzerland is a compact country of snow-capped Alps, deep blue lakes and trains that run with extraordinary precision. In a single trip you can ride up to the Jungfraujoch, cruise on Lake Lucerne, and see the Matterhorn from a car-free village. Each region has its own character. Zurich and Basel offer art and culture in the German-speaking north, Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux sit on Lake Geneva in the French-speaking west, and Lugano brings an Italian feel to the south. For mountains, Interlaken, Grindelwald, Zermatt and St. Moritz are the classic bases, and Bern is the federal capital with its arcaded old town. Lucerne, with its wooden bridge and mountain views, sits neatly between them. Summer and early autumn are the best time to travel for walking, while December to March suits skiing. Switzerland suits couples, families and rail enthusiasts. Plan your Switzerland itinerary city by city with Zippy Trips.
Capital: Bern.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Visa required, apply before you fly.
Before you go to Switzerland
- Currency
- CHF CHF
- Emergency number
- 112 / 117
- Plug type
- Type J
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe
- Tipping
- Optional
- Bargaining
- Not expected
- eSIM
- Available
- Card networks
- Visa, Mastercard, Amex
- ATM fees
- Usually free at bank ATMs
Cities in Switzerland
- Bern Switzerland's federal city, wrapped in a bend of the Aare — a UNESCO-listed old town since 1983 with six kilometres of arcades among…
- Zurich Switzerland's largest city, where the Limmat leaves the lake — banks and boutiques along Bahnhofstrasse, the twin towers of the…
- Geneva French-speaking Switzerland's international city, where the Rhône leaves the lake — the Jet d'Eau off the quay, UN agencies and the Red…
- Interlaken On the flats between Lakes Thun and Brienz, under the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau — and the rail gateway to the Jungfraujoch at 3,454 m, the…
- Basel An art city on the Rhine, close to where the Swiss, French and German borders meet — the Kunstmuseum opened the world's first public art…
- Zermatt Zermatt is one of the world's great mountain resort villages — a car-free Alpine settlement at 1 620 m altitude in the shadow of the iconic…
- St. Moritz An Engadine resort at 1,800 m that hosted the Winter Olympics twice, in 1928 and 1948 — the Cresta Run toboggan course is here, horses have…
- Lucerne Set where the Reuss leaves Lake Lucerne within sight of Pilatus and Rigi — the wooden Chapel Bridge, first built in the 14th century, runs…
- Lugano The largest city of Ticino and of Italian-speaking Switzerland — the waterfront curves in a crescent between Monte Brè and San Salvatore,…
- Lausanne A hilly city on Lake Geneva facing Évian across the water, and the Olympic capital — the IOC is based here, the Notre-Dame cathedral dates…
- Grindelwald A Bernese Oberland valley village at 1,034 m walled in by the ridge from the Wetterhorn to the Eiger, with glaciers over a fifth of its…
- Montreux Lake Geneva's riviera town — the Montreux Jazz Festival every July since 1967, a statue of Freddie Mercury facing the water on Place du…
Frequently asked questions about Switzerland
- Do Indian citizens need a visa for Switzerland?
- Visa required, apply before you fly.
- What currency is used in Switzerland?
- The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc. CHF1 is about ₹114.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in Switzerland?
- Accepted card networks: Visa, Mastercard, Amex. Typical ATM fees: Usually free at bank ATMs. Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- Should I tip in Switzerland?
- Tipping in Switzerland: optional. Typically about 5% in restaurants.
- Is tap water safe to drink in Switzerland?
- Tap water is safe.
- What plug type does Switzerland use?
- Switzerland uses Type J plugs.
- What is the emergency number in Switzerland?
- Emergency: 112. Police: 117. Ambulance: 144. Tourist helpline: +41 800 100 200 30.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in Switzerland?
- SIM and eSIM available in Switzerland.
- What is the capital of Switzerland?
- The capital of Switzerland is Bern. Time there: IST - 3 h 30 min.