Switzerland travel checklist: what to do before you go

Switzerland is a train country, and the beds that sell out first are the ones in the mountains: the Jungfrau valley (Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Grindelwald) and Zermatt. Decide your base pattern before you book anything else, because it sets your route, your rail pass and your flight airport.

Check your passport and entry position now, not later. Most visitors enter under Schengen rules, which allow 90 days in any 180 across the whole Schengen area, not just Switzerland. Passport validity rules vary by nationality, so confirm the current requirement for your passport before you pay for flights. Buy travel insurance in the same sitting: helicopter rescue from a mountain is expensive and is not something a normal health plan covers.

Book the rest of your nights. City bases such as Zurich, Lucerne, Bern and Geneva are easier to find late than mountain villages, but summer and the Christmas–New Year weeks tighten everything. If you are travelling in June to September or over the ski season, treat one month as your deadline, not your target.

Sort money and connectivity. Switzerland runs on the Swiss franc, not the euro, and cards work almost everywhere, but a small cash float helps for small kiosks and rural buses. Check your phone plan for Swiss roaming, which is outside the EU roaming zone for most European SIMs, and decide between an eSIM or a local SIM on arrival.

Pack for wet and cold at altitude, even in July. A rain shell, a warm mid-layer, broken-in shoes and sunglasses matter more than anything else on a Swiss list; mountain weather changes fast and a 2,000 m station can be 10 °C cooler than the valley below. Bring a type J adapter (the Swiss three-pin plug) and a power bank for long train days.

Download offline maps and your tickets. Swiss trains are punctual, but connections are tight and phone signal drops in tunnels and high valleys. Screenshot your rail tickets, hotel addresses and any reservation QR codes. If you are driving, buy the vignette before you reach the border and check whether your route crosses a pass that closes in winter.

Carry your passport, insurance details and the address of your first night somewhere you can reach without a phone. On arrival, buy or activate your rail product before boarding; ticket checks are common and fines apply. If you land late, note that Swiss stations are safe and well lit, and the last trains to mountain villages leave earlier than city services.

Set up the practical basics in the first hour: a small amount of cash, a working data connection, and your emergency numbers saved. Then enjoy it. The single biggest planning mistake in Switzerland is over-scheduling: two bases in a week beats five, and one full day in the mountains beats three half-days.

Your passport is the document that decides everything else. Check its expiry date against the current Schengen rule for your nationality before booking, and count your days if you are also visiting neighbouring countries, because the 90-in-180 limit covers the whole Schengen area. Carry a copy of your insurance policy and, if you take regular medication, a copy of the prescription.

Keep digital and paper copies of your bookings. Swiss hotels register guests, and border staff can ask for proof of onward travel and accommodation. If you are travelling with children and only one parent, carry documentation of your relationship and permission, as some borders ask.

Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro. Cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere, including mountain cable cars and most trains, so you do not need to carry large amounts of cash. Keep CHF 50–100 for small purchases, rural buses and the occasional cash-only kiosk.

Budget in bands rather than exact numbers. Switzerland is one of Europe's most expensive countries for food, beds and mountain transport, and a rail pass or half-fare card can change your total by a lot. Work out your rough daily figure before you go, then decide whether a pass pays off for your specific route.

Switzerland is a low-risk destination for most travellers, and there are no routine vaccinations required for entry. Check your standard vaccinations are current and follow your own country's travel health advice for your itinerary. The real Swiss-specific risks are altitude, cold and accidents: mountain weather changes fast, trails can be icy, and rescue is expensive.

Buy insurance that covers mountain rescue and helicopter evacuation, and carry the Rega number, 1414, if you hike or ski. If you take regular medication, bring enough for the trip in original packaging with a copy of the prescription. Pharmacies are common in towns and cities; mountain villages have fewer options.

Pack for three climates in one trip: a city day, a wet valley and a cold mountain station. Layers beat a single heavy coat, and a waterproof shell is the item you will use most. Shoes need to handle cobbles and easy trails, and sunglasses and sunscreen matter more at altitude than most people expect.

Keep it light because you will carry it on trains and up stairs. Swiss laundrettes exist in cities but are scarce in villages, so plan for a week of clothes plus a wash. Bring a reusable bottle: tap water is safe to drink across the country.