Get up to €50 off your staySubscribe and get up to €50 off your next stay
Browse and explore the best travel guides in Switzerland.
Switzerland packs alpine drama, glacier-fed lakes, and cosmopolitan cities into one of Europe's most compact travel destinations. From the peaks of the Jungfrau and Matterhorn to the medieval old towns of Bern and Lucerne and the international pulse of Zurich and Geneva, the country blends world-class hiking, skiing, and rail journeys with precision-run infrastructure, four official languages, and a reputation for chocolate, watches, and quiet efficiency.
Capital
Bern
Population
~8.8 million
Area
41,285 km²
Time Zone
CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2)
Currency
Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages
German, French, Italian, Romansh
Main Airports
ZRH (Zurich), GVA (Geneva), BSL (Basel)
Visa
Schengen visa; visa-free for most Western nationalities
Best For
Alps, hiking, skiing, scenic rail, lakes
Typical Cost Level
High
Get the latest deals, new destinations, and travel tips delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Entry rules, stay length and passport validity by nationality.
Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area, so most EU, UK, US, Canadian, Australian, and Japanese passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Other nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa applied for at a Swiss embassy or consulate before travel.
The best time to visit Switzerland depends on your plans: June to September for hiking, lake swimming, and alpine trails, and December to March for skiing in resorts like Zermatt, Verbier, and St. Moritz. May and October are quieter shoulder seasons with lower hotel rates.
Switzerland is one of the safest travel destinations in the world, with very low violent crime and reliable public services. The main risks are petty theft at busy train stations in Zurich and Geneva and alpine hazards, so keep an eye on valuables and always follow marked trails when hiking.
Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF), not the euro, though many tourist-facing businesses accept euros with change returned in francs at a slightly unfavourable rate. Contactless cards and mobile wallets are accepted almost everywhere, so cash is rarely essential.
On trip1, you can book hotels across Switzerland and pay with over 120 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC. trip1 covers 3 million+ hotels in 190+ countries, making it easy to find and book accommodation with crypto.
Switzerland has one of the world's best public transport networks, and trains, buses, and boats are integrated under the SBB timetable. A Swiss Travel Pass covers unlimited rides on trains, most city transit, and scenic routes like the Glacier Express, and is usually better value than renting a car.
