8 tips for a money saving holiday in Switzerland
Intro
Holidaying in Switzerland can also be affordable. You can experience many places and activities without having to dig deep into your pocket. Using these tips, a stay in Switzerland is possible whatever your budget.
1. Overnight stays on a budget
You can choose from a wide selection of inexpensive alternatives to classic Swiss hotels: whether it’s a Swiss youth hostel with comfortable rooms, flexibility and independence in a holiday apartment, up in the mountains in an Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) hut, or with local people on a farm: there’s a range of overnight stay opportunities for people holidaying on a budget.
2. Get reduced-priced tickets
Budget-conscious travellers should not miss the “Swiss Travel Pass” offer. Different variants of the all-in-one ticket are available. This allows unlimited travel throughout Switzerland for a set number of days. This applies to long-distance and regional trains, as well as local bus and tram lines. Helpful hint for families: children under six travel free.
3. Benefit from guest cards
If you decide to stay at a hotel, you can enjoy the following benefits: In various destinations, guests receive a guest card free of charge when they book just one night’s stay, or can buy one at a reduced price. Most guest cards let you travel for free on public transport. There are also discounts on cable cars, mountain railways, boats and attractions.
4. Plan reasonably priced activities
Even though Switzerland is considered expensive, there are countless experiences that cost nothing at all: Marvel at works of art in public spaces, get free admission to museums, enjoy watching native wildlife or take a free bike ride through the city of Zurich.
Art and culture
Some museums are free and many works of art are located in public spaces. In addition, admission to the Kunsthaus Zurich art gallery is free on Wednesdays. Every August, admission to Bern’s museums is free on Saturdays.
Visiting Parliament House
When the legislature is not in session (in March, June, September to December), visitors can take one-hour guided tours of the Parliament building. This glimpse behind the scenes of the Parliament’s work, from the domed hall, through the council chambers to the Wandelhalle, is free of charge.
Zoos and public gardens
A wide range of zoos are free of charge. For example, you can see the bears in Bern’s Bear Park for nothing. You can go and see over 80 different types of animal in the Lange Erlen wildlife park in Basel for free. The Peter and Paul wildlife park near St. Gallen is home to all Switzerland’s animal species, and in the Bois du Petit-Château wildlife park you can see around 250 different animals.
Parks and gardens
Swiss cities are known for their green oases. There is free admission to city parks and many botanical gardens, which delight visitors with their unique plant life. These include the succulent collection in Zurich, the largest cactus park in the world. Plant lovers will find about 4,500 species from 78 plant families there.
“Züri rollt” [Zürich rolls along]
In the city of Zurich, bicycles can be rented free of charge all year round. Show your ID, leave a deposit of CHF 20 and off you go on a bike from Züri rollt.
5. Food and drink
Holidaying on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t eat well. Why not prepare typical Swiss dishes yourself? A bowl of Birchermüesli for breakfast gives you energy to start the day. And for dinner you can cook a Ticino-style polenta.
Some restaurants offer discounted menus at lunchtime. There are also many take-aways or self-service restaurants, for example in larger supermarkets such as Migros or Coop. Youth hostel restaurants are also more economical.
And don’t forget: Nowhere has as many drinking water fountains as you find in Switzerland. In Zurich alone, there are over 1200 fountains with drinking water. So a decent container that will keep water cool is a good investment for a holiday in Switzerland.
6. Travel outside the high season
Travelling in the low season has many advantages: more room, peace and quiet, relaxation and better-value offers. Enjoy the first signs of spring in March, experience early summer temperatures in May and June, and benefit from late summer days and autumn colours in September. November already has a pre-Christmas feeling, and January’s great for skiing.
7. Avoid popular tourist spots
The best way to save money is to stay the night away from the typical tourist spots. That way, you can also many enjoy many beautiful places that are off the beaten tourist track. And if you want to see the famous sights, you can get there quickly and easily by train, bus or tram.
8: Book early
We all know we should, but few people actually do. Anyone looking for cheap flight, train and bus tickets should book early. What’s more: the earlier you book, the wider your choice of inexpensive accommodation.