Switzerland

Switzerland is genuinely expensive — one of the most expensive countries in the world — and it's worth budgeting honestly rather than being caught off guard. A sit-down meal at a mid-range restaurant typically costs CHF 25–40 per person, a beer in a bar is CHF 7–10, and accommodation in cities like Zurich or Geneva is comparable to London or Paris at the high end. That said, there are real ways to manage costs. The Swiss Travel Pass covers unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats, plus free entry to many museums, and is excellent value if you're moving around the country. Supermarkets like Migros and Coop offer good-quality, affordable food for self-catering. Staying in mountain villages rather than cities is often cheaper. And many of Switzerland's greatest experiences — hiking, swimming in lakes, watching the sunset over the Alps — are completely free.

Switzerland has one of the finest rail networks in the world, and the train is the best way to experience the country. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) network is punctual, comfortable, and covers virtually every corner of the country, including mountain routes that are engineering marvels in their own right — the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, and the Golden Pass Line are all spectacular journeys worth doing for the experience. The Swiss Travel Pass gives unlimited access to trains, buses, boats, and many mountain railways, plus free entry to over 500 museums — it's excellent value for travelers spending more than a few days in the country. Within cities, public transport is excellent and integrated. Driving is possible and gives access to some remote mountain areas, but the train network is so good that a car is rarely necessary.

Switzerland is compact but has enough to fill two to three weeks of travel. A week is enough for a focused trip — either the Bernese Oberland (Interlaken, Grindelwald, Jungfrau) or a city circuit (Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Geneva). Ten days lets you combine the mountains with the cities and add a scenic train journey. Two weeks is the sweet spot for a comprehensive first trip: the Jungfrau region, Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Lucerne, Zurich, and the Italian-speaking Ticino region in the south, which feels like a completely different country. The country's small size means that even ambitious itineraries are logistically manageable — no destination is more than a few hours from any other by train.

A few things make a real difference on a first trip to Switzerland. The country has four official languages — German, French, Italian, and Romansh — and the language changes as you cross between regions; English is widely spoken in tourist areas and cities across all regions. Tipping is not as expected as in the US — rounding up or leaving a small amount is appreciated but not obligatory. Swiss shops, particularly in smaller towns, often close early and may be closed on Sundays — plan grocery shopping accordingly. The Swiss franc (CHF) is the currency, not the euro, though euros are accepted in some tourist areas. Mountain weather changes rapidly — even in summer, temperatures at altitude can drop significantly, and a warm layer and waterproof jacket are worth packing regardless of the forecast. Finally, book mountain excursions (Jungfraujoch, Gornergrat, Pilatus) in advance in peak season, as they're popular and can sell out.

Switzerland's cities and its Alpine landscapes are so different that they almost feel like separate destinations, and the contrast between them is one of the most interesting things about the country. Zurich, Geneva, Bern, and Basel are sophisticated, cosmopolitan cities with excellent museums, vibrant food scenes, and a quality of life that consistently ranks among the highest in the world — but they're not primarily outdoor destinations. The Alps — the Bernese Oberland, the Valais, the Graubünden — are where Switzerland's landscape drama lives: the Matterhorn, the Eiger, the Aletsch Glacier, the turquoise lakes of the Engadin. The remarkable thing about Switzerland is how quickly you can move between these worlds: Zurich to Interlaken takes about two hours by train, and Geneva to Zermatt is under three hours. Most travelers do both, and the contrast makes each feel richer.