Schweiz

Top 5 Orte

1. Matterhorn and Zermatt · Zermatt

   Car-free village under the Matterhorn; Gornergrat railway gives close views.

2. Jungfrau region · Interlaken / Lauterbrunnen / Grindelwald

   Waterfall valley, hiking and the Jungfraujoch railway to Europe's highest station (expensive).

3. Lake Lucerne and the Chapel Bridge · Lucerne

   Medieval covered bridge, old town and boat trips to Rigi and Pilatus.

4. Château de Chillon · Montreux / Veytaux

   Medieval castle on Lake Geneva, reachable by boat or lakeside walk.

5. Rhine Falls · Neuhausen (near Schaffhausen)

   Europe's most powerful waterfall; boats go to the rock in the middle.

Unterwegs vor Ort

• Züge

  SBB Mobile

  Official app for trains, buses, boats and many mountain railways nationwide. Saver day passes and Supersaver tickets are much cheaper if booked ahead.

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  Swiss Travel Pass / Half Fare Card

  Swiss Travel Pass gives unlimited trains, buses, boats and many museums for 3-15 days. The Half Fare Card halves most fares and is often better value if you travel less. Compare before buying.

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  Local transport (ZVV, TPG, etc.)

  Trams and buses in Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern. Many hotels give a free local transport card (e.g. Geneva Transport Card, Basel Card).

• Fahrdienst-App

  Uber

  Operates in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne and some other cities. Drivers need professional licences. Cheaper than taxis, which are very expensive.

• Fahrdienst-App

  Bolt

  Launched in Zurich in 2024 with low promotional fares; coverage elsewhere is limited (varies).

• Taxi

  Taxi

  Metered and among the most expensive in Europe. Use for short trips or when public transport is not running.

• Bikesharing

  PubliBike / Lime / Voi

  Bike and e-scooter sharing in the main cities, paid by app (varies by city).

Geld und Bargeld

Währung: CHF · Swiss franc

Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, including trains, mountain railways and most huts. Locals also use the TWINT app, which needs a Swiss bank account. Euros are often accepted in tourist spots and at stations, but change is given in francs at a poor rate. Withdraw francs from bank ATMs and choose to be charged in CHF.

Wechselkurs nach CHF prüfen

Trinkgeld

Tipping is optional in Switzerland. By law since 1974 service has been included in all displayed prices, and staff earn proper wages. Locals round up or add about 5-10% for good service, mainly in restaurants. No tip is expected for average service.

Nützliche Sätze

• Zahlen, bitte. / L'addition, s'il vous plaît. The bill, please (German / French).
• Stimmt so. / Gardez la monnaie. Keep the change (German / French).
• Machen Sie fünfzig. Make it fifty.

Umgangsformen

• Greet when entering shops and when meeting people: 'Grüezi' in German areas, 'Bonjour' in French areas, 'Buongiorno' in Ticino.
• Be punctual; trains and appointments run on time.
• Keep noise down on Sundays and after about 22:00; Sunday is a rest day and most shops are closed.
• Recycle carefully; rubbish must go in official bags in many towns, and littering is fined.
• On mountain trails greet other hikers and stay on marked paths.
• Do not jaywalk; use crossings.
• Face coverings are banned in public in Ticino and St. Gallen (fines CHF 100-10,000).

Maschen und wie du damit umgehst

• Fake police phone calls

  Wo: Mainly French-speaking Switzerland, by phone

  So funktioniert’s: Callers claim to be police and say your cash, jewellery or cards are at risk, then send a 'courier' to collect them for safekeeping. Nearly CHF 10 million stolen since 2023.

  So vermeidest du es: Real police never collect valuables. Hang up and call 117.

• Fake police or ticket checkers in person

  Wo: Trains, stations and streets, historically in Geneva

  So funktioniert’s: Impostors ask to see your ID, ticket or wallet and remove cash during the check.

  So vermeidest du es: Ask for official ID and never hand over your wallet.

• Fake deaf charity collectors

  Wo: Outdoor cafes and squares

  So funktioniert’s: People with signs ask for cash for deaf organisations. The Swiss Federation for the Deaf says it never collects this way.

  So vermeidest du es: Do not give cash; keep phones off tables.

• 'Free' bracelets from fake monks

  Wo: Geneva and other tourist areas

  So funktioniert’s: Someone in monk robes ties a bracelet or gives a card, then demands a donation.

  So vermeidest du es: Refuse anything handed to you and walk on.

• Three-cup game

  Wo: Busy city spots

  So funktioniert’s: Rigged betting game with fake winners, starting at about 100 francs.

  So vermeidest du es: Do not play or watch closely.

• Holiday rental fraud

  Wo: Online listings

  So funktioniert’s: Cheap listings with stolen photos ask for advance payment or passport copies.

  So vermeidest du es: Book through reputable platforms and pay only through them.

• Distraction pickpocketing

  Wo: Zurich HB, Geneva Cornavin and Geneva airport, trains to Geneva, ski resorts

  So funktioniert’s: Teams bump or distract you while another person steals a bag, phone or watch.

  So vermeidest du es: Keep valuables zipped, do not leave bags on luggage racks out of sight, watch luggage at stations.

Sicherheit

• Serious crime is low, but petty theft is rising in bigger cities, at Geneva airport and on trains, especially to and from Geneva.
• Keep an eye on luggage on trains; theft from overhead racks happens at stops.
• Luxury watches and designer bags attract thieves on shopping streets such as Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich.
• Mountain accidents are common: check weather, avalanche warnings and trail ratings, and get insurance covering helicopter rescue (Rega: 1414).
• Drug laws are strict and penalties severe.

Wie verbreitet Englisch ist

Widely spoken in cities, tourist areas and transport; younger people are usually fluent. Swiss German dialect differs a lot from standard German, but people switch to standard German or English for visitors.

Quellen

• GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Switzerland, safety and security
• Wikivoyage: Switzerland
• The Local Switzerland: Seven tourist scams to be aware of
• SWI swissinfo.ch: Scammers posing as Swiss police steal CHF10 million since 2023
• Newly Swissed: Complete guide to tipping in Switzerland
• The Local Switzerland: Ride-hailing service Bolt to challenge Uber in Zurich

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