Are you preparing for your visit to Switzerland? In this post, we will inform you about the 10 things you need to know before visiting Switzerland in 2024. If you are planning a trip to Switzerland, we are here to help you out with the things you need before visiting Switzerland, so you can get the most out of your Swiss holidays!
What language do people speak in Switzerland?
Switzerland is known for its perfect quality of life, efficient infrastructure, and fresh environment. The key to this success is the high level of diversity. Switzerland has four official languages. The four official languages are German, Italian, French, and Romansh. They are all spoken in different regions. This definitely makes it interesting for international students.
- 63% of the Swiss population speaks: German
- 26% of the Swiss population speaks: French
- 10.5% of the Swiss population speaks: Italian
- 0.5% of the Swiss population speaks: Romansh
What is the currency in Switzerland?
The official currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc, most of the time it is mentioned as CHF. This Swiss Franc is accepted in the whole country. But remember, the Euro is accepted in many places, but not everywhere. Because of the strong currency, the exchange rate of the Swiss franc is often perceived as expensive.
What is the exchange rate of the Swiss franc to the euro, USD and pound?
Via this link, you can view up-to-date information about the current exchange rate of the different currencies.
How to pay in Switzerland?
There are several ways to pay in Switzerland, but credit cards and debit cards are the most used, and widely accepted in Switzerland. You do not need to have huge amounts of cash at hand. You can easily pay the larger amounts by card, some cash by hand may be very useful when you are up in the mountains sometimes they do not provide the opportunity to pay by credit card or debit card.
What Swiss franc notes and coins are used in Switzerland?
The notes used in Switzerland are:
- 10 francs
- 20 francs
- 50 francs
- 100 francs
- 200 francs
- 1000 francs
The coins used in Switzerland are:
- 0.05 francs, 5 rappen
- 0.10 francs, 10 rappen
- 0.20 francs, 20 rappen
- 0.50 francs, 50 rappen
- 1 franc
- 2 francs
- 5 francs
To clarify what a rappen(in German), centime(in French), or in Italian centesimo is. this is one-hundredth of a Swiss franc.
What is the best time to visit Switzerland?
If you go to Switzerland keep in mind, the weather can change very rapidly. If you visit to go hiking during the summer holidays, June through September are the perfect months to visit Switzerland. For winter sports, January to the mid of March is the best month to visit Switzerland, to be sure of some good snow. If you have just come to experience the beauty of Switzerland, every time of the year is perfect. More information about the best time to visit Switzerland can be found in another blog we wrote.
What is the best month to visit Switzerland?
Although this depends on the purpose of your visit, on average the best month to visit Switzerland is September. During September the weather is pleasant and mild, this gives you opportunities to do many activities, but in September you can’t go skiing or snowboarding. One big benefit of visiting Switzerland in September, the summer holidays are over, so it is way less crowded in Switzerland.
What are the sunrise and sunset times in Switzerland?
- January 8:10 – 17:00
- February 7:35 – 17:50
- March 6:40 – 18:30
- April 6:40 – 20:15
- May 5:50 – 20:55
- June 5:30 – 21:20
- July 5:50 – 21:15
- August – 6:25 20:35
- September – 7:05 19:35
- October – 7:45 18:35
- November – 7:30 16:50
- December – 8:05 16:35
How to travel to Switzerland?
You can travel to Switzerland perfectly by car. The train system of Switzerland is very efficient. We advise a Swiss Travel Pass, this will save you lots of money as well Swiss rail fares are quite expensive.
How to save money in Switzerland?
To save money while travelling to Switzerland, you should prepare for your holiday well, start in advance. Search for budget hotels, they are available almost everywhere.
You can shop at Aldi or Coop, these are supermarkets with affordable prices. Another easy way to save money is by drinking tap water, the water in Switzerland is of excellent quality. Switzerland is expensive, but keep in mind how much value you get for your money, the beautiful views, the perfect environment and probably a fantastic holiday.
How is the weather in Switzerland?
The weather in Switzerland is really unpredictable, it does change rapidly. We always take some extra clothes with us, to be sure you are prepared for the cooler evenings, a sweater is advised. In the alps, when hiking we advise you to take a wind/rain jacket with you. Do not underestimate the power of the sun in the alps, sunglasses are a must, and sun protection is important, as well as sunscreen.
What to wear when visiting Switzerland?
If you travel during the Summer season in Switzerland we advise packing an extra sweater, for the evenings. It can get colder in the evening in Switzerland. If you visit the alps for a hike, take a (wind/rain) jacket with you. An umbrella, is very useful, as the weather can change in a second. You won’t be soaked in the mountains if you carry a foldable umbrella with you. If you travel with your kids, we would recommend taking a hat with you, for the kid. A hat can protect your children from the sun in the alps.
What is the best time to ski in Switzerland?
The best time to ski in Switzerland in January and February. These are also the busiest months on the slopes in Switzerland. For a reason, during these months the snow is at its best. Keep in mind that during these months the European children have school holidays, so this is a reason why it can be busier in Switzerland, if you travel outside of January or February, it will be less crowded. For the best places to visit in Switzerland during winter, read our blog about this topic.
What is the best time to visit the Swiss Alps?
The best time to visit the Swiss alps is from June until October, these months it doesn’t rain much, the weather is comfortable and nature is flourishing everywhere you look. This is the best time to visit the alps go for a hike and enjoy the beauty of Switzerland.
Conclusion
In this blog, you can read about the essential things you need to know before visiting Switzerland. We hope these answered questions give you a good overview of what to know about Switzerland.
In this way, you are well prepared for your visit to Switzerland. All this information will make your trip easier and more fun.
