Travel In Switzerland

[p--and--t]

Plenty of options are available. I should also point out that this is by no means a peak travel period for Switzerland which I would argue is more around the months of mid April to mid September. In any event, there are quite a few options in the $160-$200 AUD/night range. Whilst that is not as cheap as Australia (I can often stay at Sydney hotels for well under $100/night) it's not bad considering where you are staying. These are all Accor properties (my preferred choice whilst staying in Europe):

Budget

• ibis Styles St Margrethen Bodense - $991.07 for 6 nights ( $165/night). Located in the north of Switzerland (near St. Gallen), it's about an hour by train into Zurich Hb.
• ibis Winterthur City - $1053 for 6 nights ($175.50/night). About 30 minutes by train from the hotel to Zurich main station.
• ibis Luzern Kreins - $1165 for 6 nights ($194/night) - I've stayed here personally last year. Ensure you select a view of the Pilatus mountains, it's quite nice (see my review).

Midscale/Luxury

• Movenpick Zurich Regensdorf - $1523.90 ($253/night) - I've stayed here personally back in 2012. It's a nice upscale hotel that's about 30 minutes from Zurich Hb by train.
• Novotel Suites Geneve Aeroport - $1495.90 for 6 nights ($249/night). Located near Geneva airport but a 20 minute tram ride into Geneva. One of the benefits I could see of staying here is the proximity to France. And from Geneva it's quite easy to get around Switzerland by rail too!
• Résidence Studio Genève Centre - $1569 for 6 nights ( $261/night). Located in the heart of Geneva, this is a apartment hotel which means you'll have many of the amenities of staying in an Airbnb like a kitchenette.

If you do go with Accor, you'll want to look at one of their membership programs like ALL Plus ibis (99 Euros annually) that gives 15% discount on ibis stays globally or All Plus Voyageur (200 Euros annually) that will give you a 20% off luxury brands, and 15% discount on economy (i.e. ibis) and midscale brands (i.e. Mercure). So those will be discounts on top of whatever I already quoted.


Quite a few options here. From Accor, there is the Movenpick Zurich Airport (I stayed there last year it's about a 5 minute walk to the tram station which goes directly to the airport) for $215 AUD/night. The nearest hotel is the Hyatt Place Circle and comes recommended from a colleague who travels frequently to Zurich and whose opinion I trust, and that costs 165 CHF/night ($293 AUD/night).

-RooFlyer88

Wow thanks. Gives a lot to think about.

 

[Denali]

Looking at Switzerland and I dont think Mr Denali and I could handle driving, me being an incredibly anxious driver does not help. Thinking of doing it all by rail and urber when in towns when needed

Stupid idea?

 

[AuSammy]

Looking at Switzerland and I dont think Mr Denali and I could handle driving, me being an incredibly anxious driver does not help. Thinking of doing it all by rail and urber when in towns when needed

Stupid idea?

Be prepared to be well off or win the lottery if travelling to Switzerland.

3* hotel in Lucerne no a/c or special facilities $661pn

We have elected for a Swiss Rail pass for distance travel which includes free local buses for journeys within towns.

 

[flyingfan]

Looking at Switzerland and I dont think Mr Denali and I could handle driving, me being an incredibly anxious driver does not help. Thinking of doing it all by rail and urber when in towns when needed

Stupid idea?

Not stupid. If you dread rather than are looking forward to hiring and driving a car, let someone else worry about being behind the wheel/running the train. It might be a good investment so you can relax and enjoy your trip.

Sometimes I just don't want the hassle of worrying about parking, getting in an accident, understanding local laws, driving on the right etc.

 

[ellen10]

Looking at Switzerland and I dont think Mr Denali and I could handle driving, me being an incredibly anxious driver does not help. Thinking of doing it all by rail and urber when in towns when needed

Stupid idea?

@Denali we did Switzerland by a Swiss rail pass, they are fantastic. Trains excellent, always on time, boats, some beautiful lake trips, buses etc.

Lots of flexibility. Included in our pass was the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Golden Pass and so many more panoramic trains.
Discounts on mountain trips, you won't be disappointed

 

[Denali]

Be prepared to be well off or win the lottery if travelling to Switzerland.
.....

Yeah, already warned Mr Denali that we might have to pack our own 2min noodles for this trip

 

[tgh]

A lot of Switzerland is doable from other countries where the accomodation is cheaper .
Trains are useful but the only way to see the nooks'n crannies off the beaten track is by car.
Driving in Europe, especially on the backtracks and byways is easy enough and worth the effort, IMnsHO..

 

[VPS]

Looking at Switzerland and I dont think Mr Denali and I could handle driving, me being an incredibly anxious driver does not help. Thinking of doing it all by rail and urber when in towns when needed

Stupid idea?

Absolutely not a silly idea. If you go off peak it’s not as expensive. Because the trains are so efficient and if you have a train pass, you don’t necessarily need to stay in one of the major towns.

 

[anat0l]

Me too. Least you can nap at 0300, can't really do that if you're meant to be at work...

Taking off at any given time of the morning isn't the hard part, it is getting up and getting to the airport that is.

For example, catching a 0500 flight means getting up at around 0300 for myself at home, sometimes a bit earlier. The flight ends up being the minor catch up from interrupted rest.

Looking at Switzerland and I dont think Mr Denali and I could handle driving, me being an incredibly anxious driver does not help. Thinking of doing it all by rail and urber when in towns when needed

Stupid idea?

Definitely not a stupid idea. Rail travel in CH is incredibly prevalent, along with a swathe of coordinated buses and other public transport (e.g. funiculars, cable cars, etc.). Even Swiss themselves will nearly always rely on public transport even in villages and the like (and for the rest, many will use a shared car rental service).

Driving in Switzerland may be a luxury way to do it (or see some things you can't easily access with public transport), but why burden yourself with all that, including having to be mindful of the multitude of speed cameras all throughout the country?

Oh, and if you are flying in or out of GVA or ZRH, rest assured that both airports are connected to the rail system and do not charge special expensive fares to access them (you pay regular fares, just like going anywhere else). In fact, GVA and ZRH are main stations along one of the main Swiss InterCity rail lines (GVA is the terminus of said line, while ZRH is the main station between Zurich HB and Winterthur), with plenty of services throughout the day. Although this is the result of deliberate planning, one can only dream of the airport being so easily accessible (viz. so frequent and at very good prices). BSL is different, connected to Basel city by bus, with a fare around CHF 10.

Be prepared to be well off or win the lottery if travelling to Switzerland.

3* hotel in Lucerne no a/c or special facilities $661pn

We have elected for a Swiss Rail pass for distance travel which includes free local buses for journeys within towns.

Yeah CH is no joke in price (it's a competition between them and the Nordic countries and a few others). Maybe not as crazy as you've stated, but then again my main experience was nearly ten years ago and the CHF has only strengthened since then.

I can believe a hotel has no AC but it would probably have heating. Which would work all the time... except when CH has heatwaves (and they're not so remote anymore).

Quite a few hotels will sometimes offer a city transport pass with your reservation, valid for the length of your stay.

For rail travel, it's worth looking into the Swiss Rail pass or Half Fare pass (note: the latter still costs money, even if you only get a 50% discount). Depending on how long and how far flung around CH you travel, it can pay itself off fairly quickly. That said, searching for and booking Supersaver tickets can be just as good if not even cheaper, but you're playing a much riskier game there obviously.

Yeah, already warned Mr Denali that we might have to pack our own 2min noodles for this trip

From what I can recall last time in Switzerland, the cheapest (relative to Australia, i.e. the same price or even cheaper) items in the supermarket are yoghurt and chocolate (supermarket brand, not the more luxurious ones, and yes Lindt is more expensive in CH than mostly anywhere else in the world). So if you can live on those two things....

Anything bread-related is usually priced quite reasonably and is also delicious, i.e. European bakeries hit quite differently to most Australian ones.

A lot of Switzerland is doable from other countries where the accomodation is cheaper .
Trains are useful but the only way to see the nooks'n crannies off the beaten track is by car.
Driving in Europe, especially on the backtracks and byways is easy enough and worth the effort, IMnsHO..

That is also an idea, to stay in the surrounding countries and then be a CH tourist inside. It will lengthen one's day considerably in some cases. You would also need to be mindful of train times to get to and from where you're going. It's also worth checking the cost of the cross border fares before deciding to use that place as a base.

I wonder if accommodation on the fringes of CH catching onto this and pricing accordingly, though at least daily expenses (like groceries) should still be quite a bit cheaper in EUR rather than CHF.

 

[AuSammy]

Maybe not as crazy as you've stated,

AUD661 Exact price 29th - 30th September 2025 Lucerne 3* per night

Thinking about my packing list this weekend. Departure from AU less than 5 weeks away

We bought the Swiss contiguous days (6) pass and reserved seats on Bernina, Glacier, Gotthard. Tight schedule starting at ZUR ending in Geneva with a couple side trips to Bern etc in between. Then onward to Paris and 5 weeks later back to ZUR for one night before flight home (accom in ZUR much cheaper at approx AUD150

Yes received advice to buy pre-packaged food at supermarkets because the restaurants will empty your credit card in the blink of an eyelid.

Also advised almost everything is shut Sundays and shops mostly don't open late so be prepared to shop before 6pm on other days.

 

[anat0l]

AUD661 Exact price 29th - 30th September 2025 Lucerne 3* per night

Fair enough, but I did a quick search and there are a bunch of places at even half the price and don't look that bad. Still, understandably expensive.

Hope you're thinking of going to the Swiss Transport Museum while you're in Luzern.

Yes received advice to buy pre-packaged food at supermarkets because the restaurants will empty your credit card in the blink of an eyelid.

It's a shame because there are genuinely some great places to eat including local food (which, being Switzerland, of course features prized local produce). But yes, it is not cheap. At the time of writing this post, I just checked the exchange rate: it's nearly basically the same number in Australian Dollars, but in Swiss Francs instead (basically double the price). Can't believe how much the CHF has appreciated.

I mean, paying rather high prices for run of the mill bistro food is one thing. If you want to feel like you're burning money, have a McDonalds meal in Switzerland, one of the, if not the, most expensive Big Mac in the world.

Also advised almost everything is shut Sundays and shops mostly don't open late so be prepared to shop before 6pm on other days.

Yep, CH, like some other European countries, respects Sunday as the day of rest and is codified in law (also explains why doing your loud mowing on Sunday is potentially a bad idea). I don't know how much has changed since I lived there, but even in a city like Lausanne, shops would regularly close at 2000 on weekdays and 1900 on Saturday.

The exceptions to Sunday trading are:

• Family-owned and operated businesses, because they don't have employees. It is employees that are protected by the Sunday rule.
• Any business which has a lot of engagement with and/or operates where tourists are concentrated. The easiest example of this is train stations. Most train stations and every major train station has a supermarket (Migros, Coop) - indeed some have a whole shopping complex - attached to it, and they are open every day of the week, including Sundays and public holidays.

So the wisdom is, if you need to buy anything on a Sunday, try going to the railway station.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Looking at Switzerland and I dont think Mr Denali and I could handle driving, me being an incredibly anxious driver does not help. Thinking of doing it all by rail and urber when in towns when needed

Stupid idea?

Hang the expense! Stay here.

Bürgenstock Resort & Alpine Spa | 5 Star Hotel | Lucerne, Switzerland

Discover Bürgenstock Resort's stunning combination of Belle Époque and contemporary architecture atop the Bürgenberg mountain ridge, Central Switzerland.

www.lartisien.com

LOL.

 

[Denali]

Mr Denali has requested a visit to Montreux... if you know, you know....

@Denali we did Switzerland by a Swiss rail pass, they are fantastic. Trains excellent, always on time, boats, some beautiful lake trips, buses etc.

Lots of flexibility. Included in our pass was the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Golden Pass and so many more panoramic trains.
Discounts on mountain trips, you won't be disappointed

Did you do your own planning or did you use an agency for bookings and passes? thanks

 

[TheRealTMA]

To make destination changes easier for day trips, as I remember, Swiss rail has a luggage service. We planned to use it but plans changed.

"Door-to-door: a luggage service from address to address within Switzerland, with an optional express service for same-day delivery. You need to book this service 2 days in advance at the latest."

GIYF.

 

[MARTINE]

Mr Denali has requested a visit to Montreux... if you know, you know....

Did you do your own planning or did you use an agency for bookings and passes? thanks

I know and I love it
Been to the festival twice
The new casino has a permanent Queen display including clothes, lyrics and you can play around the mixing. Just turn left.
Montreux has a great Migros (not far away from here) with excellent food. Been to Switzerland twice past 12 months and love it. Its the CHF that has powered ahead.

 

[VPS]

Mr Denali has requested a visit to Montreux... if you know, you know....

Did you do your own planning or did you use an agency for bookings and passes? thanks

I did all my own bookings in Switzerland. I used the interrail pass which was great value

 

[AuSammy]

Mr Denali has requested a visit to Montreux... if you know, you know....

Did you do your own planning or did you use an agency for bookings and passes? thanks

If you google "Swiss travel centre" the site has a series of packages that will give you a heap of ideas. They are almost infinitely tailorable and you can disappear down a rabbit hole tweaking days, accomodation, train class etc if that's your thing.

Just a tip the Gotthard (to connect back through Lugano to Bernina) express does not run Mondays whereas the other tourist trains run every day (for the period we are going and so we had to do some tweaking to fit what we wanted in. There are other seasonal changes you have to watch as well.

Yes, Queen exhibit is on our itinerary for Sep/Oct.

Not on our itinerary (due to lack of time) is Barry's World - a tribute to mountain rescue dogs

 

[MARTINE]

If you google "Swiss travel centre" the site has a series of packages that will give you a heap of ideas. They are almost infinitely tailorable and you can disappear down a rabbit hole tweaking days, accomodation, train class etc if that's your thing.

Just a tip the Gotthard (to connect back through Lugano to Bernina) express does not run Mondays whereas the other tourist trains run every day (for the period we are going and so we had to do some tweaking to fit what we wanted in. There are other seasonal changes you have to watch as well.

Yes, Queen exhibit is on our itinerary for Sep/Oct.

Not on our itinerary (due to lack of time) is Barry's World - a tribute to mountain rescue dogs

If interested can give you lots of ideas around Montreux/Vevey

 

[anat0l]

If interested can give you lots of ideas around Montreux/Vevey

You used to / do live in / close to Montreux and Vevey?

I was in Lausanne for 15 months. It's definitely a lot easier to explore CH when you're being paid in CHF! Those CHF 49 day tickets from the commune office or post office were also great.

 

[ellen10]

Mr Denali has requested a visit to Montreux... if you know, you know....

Did you do your own planning or did you use an agency for bookings and passes? thanks

@Denali I booked all my own bookings and passes. It was 10 years ago.

I booked my Swiss travel passes online. It was quite easy and reserved my train travel for the big train trips ahead of time and booked my seats. We started in Lake Como, a feww days, ( flew into Milan). Caught a train from Varenna to Tirano (Italy). Caught the Bernina Express to Chur and then on to Luzern, stayed a few nights, Went one day to Mt Pilatus, (by boat and then cog wheel train to the top, amazing views. Then cable car down and then bus back to boat dock and a beautiful trip back to Luzern. All included in the pass.
We moved on to Lauterbrunnen valley, and stayed up in the mountain village of Wengen. Day trip to the Jungfrau ( 50% cost with Swiss pass). Day trips to Murren, Schilthorn. So many options.
Trip on the lake to Bern and back to Interlaken by train (all travel included in pass).
Golden Pass Panoramic train to Montreux (included in pass)

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland | Switzerland Tourism

A unique train tour combines the most beautiful panoramic lines and highlights of Switzerland. Explore the diversity of the Alpine nation on the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland.

www.myswitzerland.com

We had a wonderful time, in a stunning country.

There is lots of great information and suggestions for itinerarys.