In my opinion, Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and definitely worth a visit. However, I often hear people say “Switzerland is too expensive” or “I will never afford to go to Switzerland”. Fear not, as we give you tips to make your dream vacation possible. With these tips, you can definitely visit Switzerland on a budget.
Whether you’re traveling for work or play, we can all do with saving some money while traveling. Make no mistake it is a costly travel destination, but there are many tricks…
Switzerland on a budget doesn’t mean travelling for almost nothing. It means avoiding unnecessary expenses. Stay somewhere with a kitchen, buy breakfast and picnic supplies at a supermarket, use the right SBB ticket, take advantage of guest cards, choose free outdoor experiences and stay several nights in one location. You can still enjoy lakes, mountains, charming towns and spectacular train journeys without paying for an expensive attraction every day.
The 1st thing that you can save a lot with, is on accommodation:
Ever heard of “Switzerland sleeping on straw”?
Visit the site: www.myfarm.ch/ for an unusual and sometimes surprisingly affordable place to stay. The children will love this and I can assure you there are pretty cute options available. If you are traveling in a group, this is definitely also a fun option and will not cost you an arm and a leg.
Maybe you can make this a working holiday?
Visit the site: www.workaway.info/ for possibilities all over the world. This often gives you the opportunity to stay with a family and learn the way they do things in their country. Work exchange – accommodation in return for help.
Work-exchange programmes such as Workaway can sometimes reduce accommodation and food costs by arranging stays with hosts in exchange for agreed work. Check the host’s terms carefully and make sure the arrangement is permitted under the visa and immigration rules that apply to you.
2nd – Transport – another huge expense you can save on when traveling to Switzerland on a budget:
Train travel is one of the easiest ways to explore Switzerland, especially if you are visiting several regions (or traveling with kids).
Visit the site: https://www.happyrail.com/en/switzerland-by-train.
The “Share a ride service” is a cheaper option than Switzerland’s expensive public transport.
Visit the site: https://www.blablacar.co.uk/ride-sharing-abroad/ch/ connecting drivers and passengers willing to travel together between cities and sharing the cost of the journey. (More options around the world are Liftshare and GoCarShare.) Is it safe? Well, it is as safe as any other taxi service involving members of the public, so you have to be vigilant no matter where in the world you are.
Check the available routes and prices for your dates before relying on it.
Your Swiss travel pass will give you access to public transport as well as many other options. There are different packages available and if you are younger than 25, you will get a huge discount as well. (For travelers under 25, the Youth Pass is 30% cheaper.)
Visit the site: https://www.getyourguide.com/central-switzerland-l82/swiss-travel-pass-unlimited-travel-on-train-bus-boat-t403218/ for more info and tickets.
Travel Tip: Check SBB Saver Day Passes
If you know your travel date in advance, check SBB’s Saver Day Pass before buying an ordinary ticket.
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E-Bike rentals are a very good option, especially for sightseeing. If you have small children some rental companies do rent out a “buggy” that attaches to the bike as well.
Car rental isn’t automatically cheaper in Switzerland. For a group of three or four travelling together, a car can sometimes work out well, particularly if you’re visiting rural areas. But add up parking, fuel, the motorway vignette and rental costs before deciding. For a multi-stop trip between Switzerland’s major towns and mountain resorts, the train can be much easier.
3rd – Save a lot of money on food and drink – when you travel to Switzerland on a budget you need these tips:
Don’t automatically buy bottled water in Switzerland. Tap water is excellent, and most public drinking fountains provide safe drinking water. Look for a fountain marked as non-potable if drinking is not permitted. Carry a reusable bottle and refill it as you travel.
Buy food at the shop rather than doing a takeaway. Take-away places are expensive; even McDonalds is expensive in Switzerland. The best option would be to buy food from the Coop and make your own food at the hostel or self-catering accommodation.
If you are going out for the day, buy stuff from the Coop and have a picnic along the way instead of going to a sit-down restaurant.
Save the restaurant experience for that one night when you enjoy the tradition of having a Swiss Cheese Fondue – definitely worth it. (Tip: Soup on the menu in Switzerland is a cheaper option but is very tasty and worth ordering.)
In Switzerland, they have places selling food at the end of the day, at bargain prices just so they don’t have to through it away. It is still perfectly good and you will be surprised at what you can get.
Download the “TooGoodToGo” – App (This app also works for a few other countries like Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and more…)
In their own words: “Too good to go is the free app which allows you to purchase unsold food from top eateries at the end of service, to prevent it from being thrown away. This means you get high-quality food at a great price and do some good for the planet.”
Just be careful if you have any allergies or special dietary requirements.
Another tip I found useful is, If you’re entering Switzerland from Germany, buying some groceries before crossing the border can save money. Just check Switzerland’s current customs allowances before stocking up.
4th – Free entertainment
Don’t assume every famous mountain excursion is worth the price. Switzerland has countless spectacular walks, lakes and viewpoints that cost little or nothing. Before paying for a cable car, check what you can see from the valley or from a nearby free hiking route.
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So there you have it, you can do a tour of Switzerland on a budget.
Need a travel checklist?
If you’re staying in Switzerland for several days but don’t need unlimited travel every day, compare the Swiss Half Fare Card with the Swiss Travel Pass. The Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 in 2026 and lets visitors from abroad buy many train, bus, boat and mountain-railway tickets at reduced fares for one month. For a trip with several longer journeys and mountain excursions, it can be an excellent way to reduce your transport costs.
Many destinations and hotels provide a local guest card that can include free or discounted public transport, mountain lifts, attractions and activities. The exact benefits depend on the destination.
For example, the Montreux Riviera Card provides free public transport in the region and discounts on various attractions for eligible overnight guests.
Should you visit Switzerland in Summer or Winter? We will let you decide. Have a look at this video:
Travel Tip: Don’t leave your supermarket shopping until Sunday. Many Swiss shops close on Sundays. Railway stations usually have some shops open, but prices can be higher and the selection smaller.
Buy your main groceries at a normal supermarket when you can. Shops inside major stations are convenient, but convenience can come at a higher price.
Instead of changing hotels every night:
Stay 3–5 nights in one well-connected town and explore from there.
You save:
And Switzerland is particularly good for this because trains make day trips easy.
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