What budget to travel Switzerland? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Switzerland?

Children are almost always taken into consideration in museums and other cultural venues, as well as on board public transport, through various discounts and other little touches such as adapted tour programs or play corners (especially in certain restaurants). Websites exist for activities with children by canton, such as www.genevefamille.ch or www.vaudfamille.ch.

Almost all towns offer discovery passes with a wide range of activities at very attractive prices if you combine visits.

The Ticino ticket (www.ticino.ch/fr/ticket.html). The canton of Ticino welcomes you to enjoy 100% of its cultural, sporting and leisure activities. The Ticino Ticket is given to you when you stay at a local inn, bed & breakfast or hotel. It entitles you to free rail travel throughout Ticino, and discounts on ski lifts, lake cruises on the Swiss side and on the main tourist attractions.

Hiking in Switzerland is one of the most popular activities. The playing field is vast, and numerous associations offer outings for all levels. The Suisse Rando association , www.randonner.ch, is a very detailed site with maps, itineraries and events.

Locally, and depending on the season , walks are organized to taste local produce. Wine tasting and walks through the vineyards are very popular. It's a great way to get in touch with the growers and enjoy a good meal while you're out and about. https://swisswine.ch/fr - www.geneveterroir.ch/fr/ - www.mescavesouvertes.ch

If you're looking for activities and sports and want to share these moments with others, the "on va sortir" website www.onvasortir.com encourages you to get moving while discovering new things.

Let's go for a day's shopping in a Swiss city.. First of all, you'll need to count CHF 3 for a bus ticket for 60 minutes of transport (unless you're staying in a hotel where the Transport Card is often offered), a coffee to "boost" our shopping marathon for CHF 4 or a full breakfast for CHF 18, a beautiful dress in a boutique for CHF 50-100, a box of twenty chocolates from a well-known boutique for CHF 40, a special Swiss souvenir gift - a Caran d'Ache pen for CHF 30, a Victorinox Swiss knife for CHF 60, an hour's outing on a lake for CHF 18, a cocktail on a rooftop to celebrate the end of the day for CHF 16, an excellent three-course evening meal in a brasserie or gastro restaurant for CHF 80, and to top it all off, a concert in a great theater for CHF 40.

As your final destination is outside the European Union, you can take advantage of duty-free shopping. However, if you have a stopover within the European Union, you will benefit from duty free at all airports on the outbound flight, but not on the return. For example, on an outbound flight with a stopover, you'll be able to do duty-free shopping in all three airports, but only in your place of stay on the return.

Brand-name stores can be very interesting, especially during sales periods. You'll find plenty of them, including in French-speaking Switzerland Outlet Aubonne (www.outlet-aubonne.ch) and in the canton of Ticino Foxtown Outlet (www.foxtown.ch).

Buying tax-free: the 7.7% VAT is included in the sale price. If you live abroad, you can obtain tax-free status for a minimum purchase of CHF 300 at a single store. The refund cheque should be requested from the store. Goods must be exported within thirty days of purchase. When leaving Switzerland, the goods, the receipt, proof of identity and the refund cheque must be presented to customs. VAT refunds can be obtained from a Global Refund office: www.premiertaxfree.com - www.global-blue.com

For cultural events, tickets can often be purchased directly from theatres and venues. It is best to book in advance.

What budget to eat Switzerland?

In Switzerland, enjoying local dishes comes at a price. But you can be sure of quality if you choose restaurants with local specialities. On average, a dish of the day costs CHF 20, while a lunchtime menu costs between CHF 25 and 30. In the evening, the à la carte menu is often available. In a restaurant that's neither gastronomic nor cheap, the average starter-main course-dessert is CHF 50-60.

For food lovers looking to save money, the "Fourchette" website offers discounts on a fairly comprehensive list of restaurants.

Requesting a doggy bag is not yet widespread, but it is accepted on request.

Beware, in the land of banks... some small establishments do not accept credit cards.

Drinks are more expensive in Switzerland than anywhere else in Europe. That's why some establishments offer happy hours . Bars and restaurants in the student districts offer interesting packages. Tips are included in the price, but if you're satisfied with the service, they'll be much appreciated. It is not customary to leave tips in stores, tourist spots, spas..

What is the budget for accommodation Switzerland?

That's the bulk of the budget for a vacation in Switzerland. It's hard to find cheap accommodation in any canton, even if some high-end destinations are more expensive than others.

Youthhostels: This option is widespread in Switzerland, and some youth hostels are housed in beautiful buildings. There are some 80 youth hostels throughout the country. We wouldn't go too far if we said that they're all impeccably clean and often well located in major cities. Dormitory beds cost around CHF 50 per night. Website of the United Federation of Youth Hostels in Switzerland: www.youthhostel.ch

Cheap hotel rooms: Swiss Charme Hôtels is an association of 90 members, all of whom are accommodation providers. It offers a selection of hotels, dormitories, hostels and pensions for comfortable, affordable stays in Switzerland.

Hotels: for the same services, hotel rates in Switzerland are almost twice as expensive as in France. You won't find a comfortable double room for less than CHF 120-140. Accommodation in Switzerland is therefore expensive, but hotels are generally very well kept and of high quality. The presence of numerous hotel schools in the Lake Geneva region, including the highly reputed Lausanne school, bears witness to this long-standing local tradition, particularly when it comes to service, which is virtually irreproachable. However, bathrooms are often the last to be renovated, and it's not uncommon, even in a 4-star hotel, to find outdated tiling and a vintage 1970s hairdryer. Another solution is bed and breakfast, which is slowly becoming more widespread.

Campsites: dreaming of an idyllic lakeside location, a spectacular view of an Alpine peak or a city getaway? Touring Club Suisse (TCS, founded in 1896, now with 1.6 million members) Camping offers 25 campsites throughout Switzerland for outdoor vacations at excellent value for money. Whether in the mountains, on the banks of a lake or river, or in the city, you have a choice of environments for hiking and mountaineering, water sports, shopping, cultural visits... Please note that the Lugano campsites are open all year round, some only in summer, others for both summer and winter seasons. www.tcs.ch/fr/voyages-camping/camping/

Please note! Backcountry camping is prohibited in Switzerland.

Rental: AirBnB. Please note! With this type of accommodation, you do not benefit from the transport card offered by establishments paying a tourist tax.

Travel budget Switzerland and cost of living

Standard of living: Is the cost of living really higher in Switzerland? Yes, it certainly is! Some cities, such as Geneva and Zurich, are indeed reputed to be excessively expensive, but we mustn't forget that Swiss employees are the best paid in Europe. With lower taxes than in France and an unemployment rate that remains below 3%, Switzerland enjoys a much more comfortable standard of living than other European countries. For tourists, the price of food (meat, fruit and vegetables, etc.) is indeed frightening. On the other hand, electronics prices are more reasonable. Moreover, prices are relatively stable (less than 1% inflation).

A bottle of Coca-Cola will cost 40% more than in France. Switzerland is an island of high prices, of course, but you're here on vacation, so you might as well make the most of it! However, there are good deals to be had at every level, and you need to be prepared to optimize and, above all, save. It would be a shame to give up on Switzerland with only your purchasing power to hold you back.

Some price ideas: express (coffee): CHF 4, beer: CHF 5, daily lunch menu: CHF 23, off-menu main course: CHF 28, bus ticket: CHF 3.

Small budget: 150 CHF/day (night in a youth hostel or camping site, two meals on the go, bus, one drink in the evening, incidentals).

Medium budget: 250 CHF/day (night in a small hotel, two meals in "good and cheap" restaurants, bus, one drink in the evening, incidentals).

Large budget: from CHF 400/day (night in a charming hotel, two meals in good restaurants, bus, cab, one evening drink, incidentals).

The Switzerland Tourism website www.myswitzerland.com devotes a special section to "Switzerland on a budget", pointing you in the direction of some great free discoveries. The two essential sites for organizing your trip are www.suisse.com and mystsnet.com. and www.myswitzerland.com/fr-ch/.

Good plan for families: this site will help you save money: www.ausflugsziele.ch

There are also portals such as Loisirs.ch (www.loisirs.ch) for French-speaking Switzerland, which lists the best offers from tourism partners, or the more artisanal Torpille.ch site.

Agood cultural tip: there are plenty of free museums. These are usually city or cantonal museums. You can find the list and full details on the website of the Swiss Museums Association: www.museums.ch/fr/home

Taxes. VAT of 7.7% is included in the sale price of goods. It is also included in accommodation rates. If this is not the case, it will never exceed CHF 3 per person.

Living or traveling in Switzerland is expensive, depending on the lifestyle you choose. However, the cost of living varies from canton to canton. More mountainous and rural regions are to be preferred. The canton of Uri has the lowest cost of living. It's important to compare tax benefits and housing prices by canton. As a traveler, you have the chance to take advantage of "exclusive packages" to travel by train and criss-cross the country. For a cost-effective compromise, arm yourself with the Swiss Travel Pass. Over 500 free museums are included, and many discounts are included in the pass. It's not unusual to be surprised by some very attractive, family-friendly hotel offers. Switzerland Tourism offers many ideas for themed discoveries.