Switzerland is a landlocked country located in Central Europe. It is known for its stunning landscapes, including the Swiss Alps, picturesque lakes, and charming villages. With a variety of landscapes from mountains to valleys, it is a great spot for those who love the outdoors. There are so many activities from adrenaline experiences to casual walks through adorable towns to watch the cows. Depending on the time of year, there is hiking or skiing in the mountains as well.

Our trip primarily consisted of visiting the small towns high up in the Swiss Alps and doing adrenaline activities. Though this was the plan, we learned many other things along the way that are helpful for any trip to Switzerland.

General Switzerland Info

• Currency: Swiss Francs (CHF)
• Capital City: Bern
• Government: Direct Democracy
• Language: Swiss-German
• Population: ~8.7 million
• Size: ~16,000 Square Miles (think Vermont and New Hampshire combined)
• Food: High-quality cheese and chocolate

Time to Jump into the Switzerland Tips

These tips are great for any type of trip you are planning to this area. Our visit was in the fall so some of these tips might look different in the summer time.

1. Wear layers.

This is a tip that I will always recommend for visiting mountains in general. The amount of mornings that I was cold in my three layers then by 10:00 am I was sweating was…every day that we were there. Gloves and a hat are also very handy. My favorite coat is the one that packs into itself (like this one) so I could pop it into our bag whenever I was done wearing it.

2. Create an actual itinerary and start in the morning.

Ahhhh, I was so determined to be a chill/go with the flow person. When traveling and using public transport, it is important to consider the hours that the transport is possible. When trying to go into the mountains, many of the cable cars close early. So if you have an idea of heading for a hike but don’t really have a time in mind, it is possible to be denied a ticket to the cable car that reaches said hike. This leads us to our next Switzerland tip…

2A. Use maps and create a timeline within your itinerary if planning multiple activities

throughout Switzerland.

Due to utilizing public transportation, it was not possible to do multiple areas of Switzerland within one day. We rented a car with the belief (the only proof being our own thoughts) that each town was less than an hour drive apart so how hard could it be to visit multiple in a day? The answer: impossible. Mürren and Stoos for example, are both considered no-car towns. This means the only access is paid parking and then taking the cable car. Sometimes multiple cable cars. Keep in mind, where you start is not always where you end either. Add in time for getting back to your original destination.

3. Plan to use public transportation.

We rented a car and a motorcycle at different times throughout this trip. Both times we had to park said vehicles and get on cable cars to get where we wanted to go. There are ways to get cheaper fare if you utilize the Swiss Pass. Due to our short trip timeline, we decided this was not cost effective for us. When talking to other travellers, many took the local buses and found this to be very accessible.

4. Check the weather depending on hiking plans.

A big reason we visited Mürren was to do the Via Ferrata Cliff Hike. For this hike, you have to have a harness to attach to the cables along the trail. It is also necessary to have a helmet. The gear rental through Intersport required good weather. It is not safe on this trail if it has recently rained. There are also many other trails that it is not recommended to complete if there is or has been bad weather.

5. Pack a reusable water bottle.

Fresh water from a beautiful fountain is one of the coolest parts about hanging out in Switzerland. Every single town we went into it was possible to refill your water bottle with extremely fresh, crisp water. The fountains are free to use and come highly recommend by visitors as well as the locals. A great option is a collapsible water bottle if you are trying to pack small/light. It is also cheaper and an environmentally friendly option that is a great tip for any location.

I hope you found these Switzerland tips helpful! Switzerland is a great place to visit and we are hoping to head back soon!

Planning a trip? We would love to hear about! Looking for other information about Switzerland? Click here — 5 Amazing Activities Actually IN Interlaken, Switzerland. Or check out some other posts about Europe here — Europe!

If you prefer to have your trips pre-planned for you, check out these links below for guided tour options!

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