Every one of us dreams of visiting the awesome landscapes of Switzerland, and for that, we need proper planning.
Also, if you think that Switzerland is expensive, then yes, it is a country known for being costly to visit, and you need to budget before you plan to book a ticket and get on the plane.
You need to follow up on these tips if you want to have fun and save some bucks for yourself.
1. Plan Your Visit in the off-Season of Spring or Autumn
Consider visiting Switzerland in one of its shoulder seasons, either spring or autumn, as accommodation prices and flights can be much cheaper than during summer and winter peaks.
If you are thinking about how much a trip to Switzerland costs, you can research on the Internet. Use the currency converter to get an estimate for your trip.
2. Look for Budget Accommodation Options
If you are not sure about where you can stay in Switzerland on a budget and are planning a visit to a country, then you can look for budget accommodations. You know that staying in hostels can be a great way to save some cash on accommodation.
The rental prices are pretty affordable for this option, and they won’t cost you an arm or leg. The best part? These options are near popular destinations but on the outskirts of a city or in a small town or village.
3. Book Your Accommodations in Advance
We guess this goes without saying, but the sooner you book your accommodation, the cheaper it will likely be. If you are trying to book the night or even a week before, then you will only be left with some options in terms of choice. And then you will have to book somewhere a bit more expensive than you had anticipated.
This is especially important if you visit a well-known destination or during an event like Fasnacht in Basel.
4. Cash in Your Hotel Points
Hotel reward points can turn out to be a lifesaver for you when you are at inexpensive destinations, where even hostels can break your wallet. You can gather hotel points before your trip and use them while staying in the country.
Many hotels have sign-up bonuses that are pretty much equivalent to free nights in a hotel and save you hundreds of dollars.
5. Cook Your Meals
We know that you like to enjoy your trip, but eating out in Switzerland can be an expensive thing to do in dine-in restaurants. It will cost you 25 CHF (127.46 MYR) to 40 CHF (203.95 MYR) per meal.
If you’re on a tight budget, you can head to the supermarket, buy groceries, and cook your meals.
A week’s worth of basic staples like pasta, rice, bread, and eggs can cost you around 65 CHF (331.42 MYR) to 95 CHF (484.39 MYR). Just make sure that whenever you book your accommodation, it has a kitchen.
6. Explore the Vegetable Options
Meat is expensive in Switzerland. Every Swiss resident or foreigner will tell you how they have limited their meat consumption because it is costly.
You can do the same and limit your meat consumption. You can stay on budget with this, and you will save up some money!
7. Always Ask for Discounts
As we know, many museums and other tourist attractions worldwide offer discounts for students, visitors, and groups. You can always ask the management of the places you visit for a discount.
8. Get a City Tourism Card
Most cities have their own city card or city pass that will let you enjoy discounts or free admission to museums and sightseeing attractions. Most of these tourism cards also provide free transportation. If you plan to do a lot of sightseeing, these cards are cost-effective.
For instance, the Zurich Pass offers free local transportation and free admission to forty museums in the city for just 27 CHF.
9. Drink the Free Water
When strolling through the cities, you will find most fountains throughout Switzerland provide clean, safe-to-drink water fresh from the mountains.
Make sure to bring a reusable bottle with you on your trip or even purchase one from the country, as water can be expensive to buy otherwise.
Pro-tip: Don’t ever order water for the table in a restaurant or purchase it from the supermarkets because you can get it for free from a fountain outside!
10. Museums & Gallery Events
Some museums and galleries in the country give you free or discounted entries on some days of the week or a month, but they also host special events where you just have to pay a one-time admission fee. Then you will be able to enter multiple locations.
The Museum Nacht in Basel is one of those events where you can enjoy reduced admission to museums. The museums are also open until 2 AM, allowing you plenty of time to experience them!
11. Take Advantage of Free Attractions
The country has many free attractions for tourists from across the world. They can enjoy the hiking trails, parks, and lakes. Some cities have free museums and art galleries, such as the Kunsthaus Zurich and the Museum of Art and History in Geneva.
12. Exploring Transporting Options
If you are thinking, ‘How much does it cost to travel to Switzerland?’, you need to explore the transportation options in the country. You can opt for:
- Using buses & public city transport with a guest card
- Bicycles (free)
- Flixbus (cheap)
- Blablacar (moderate)
Final Thoughts
So you have marked the calendar and planned your trip to Switzerland. Now you also know how expensive Switzerland is, and it’s high time to write down these tips in a notebook or your phone’s notes app.
This will be useful, and you can save money during your trip. Make sure you book your accommodation in advance and use public transport to travel in the cities.
Also, if you’re unsure about planning your trip, consider booking a tour with Travel Planner. We offer some of the best Switzerland tour packages to ensure you have a fantastic experience. Happy travels!
