How many towns to visit: I advise
four to six towns on a trip of one to two weeks. Swiss rail makes it easy to do more, but each old quarter takes only half a day to see properly, while lakes, hikes and viewpoints around them need extra time. Fewer stops also reduce hotel check-ins and luggage handling, and that saves money on transit.
Which kinds to prioritize: Choose by style. Travelers on tight budgets should favor
lowland and mid-sized towns in the German-speaking regions, where hostels, supermarkets and free sights are plentiful. Hikers should pick
alpine towns for trailheads and cable cars, accepting higher prices. Those who want warmth, Italian food and lake swimming should add one
Ticino town. Wine and relaxed terraces suit the
Lake Geneva region. Mixing one resort town with several …
read more 👉 How many towns to visit: I advise four to six towns on a trip of one to two weeks. Swiss rail makes it easy to do more, but each old quarter takes only half a day to see properly, while lakes, hikes and viewpoints around them need extra time. Fewer stops also reduce hotel check-ins and luggage handling, and that saves money on transit.
Which kinds to prioritize: Choose by style. Travelers on tight budgets should favor lowland and mid-sized towns in the German-speaking regions, where hostels, supermarkets and free sights are plentiful. Hikers should pick alpine towns for trailheads and cable cars, accepting higher prices. Those who want warmth, Italian food and lake swimming should add one Ticino town. Wine and relaxed terraces suit the Lake Geneva region. Mixing one resort town with several lowland towns keeps the budget manageable and the scenery varied.
What it costs: Plan US$100 to 160 a day (about CHF 90 to 140) on a backpacker budget, with a dorm bed at CHF 40 to 65, supermarket meals from Coop or Migros at CHF 8 to 15, and a bakery lunch at CHF 6 to 10. Mid-range travel runs US$200 to 300. Local transport is the big variable: a short train hop costs CHF 10 to 30, so the Half Fare Card (around CHF 120 for a month) or a Swiss Travel Pass pays off when you take several trips. Most old towns are free to walk, but museums and castles charge CHF 10 to 25, and mountain cable cars can run CHF 50 to 120 return. Tap water is excellent and free from public fountains, so skip bottled water.
Safety and cultural points: Swiss towns are among the safest in the world, with low violent crime, though pickpocketing does occur around main stations and at tourist crowds in summer. Mountain weather is the real hazard, so check forecasts and lift closing times before heading up.
Culturally, punctuality and quiet matter. Trains leave exactly on time, and Sundays and evenings after 10 pm are quiet in residential areas, including loud talk in hostels and on trains. Most shops close on Sundays, so buy food on Saturday. Greet shopkeepers with a “Grüezi” in German-speaking areas or “Bonjour” in the west, since skipping greetings reads as rude. Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, but carry a little cash for mountain huts and small stalls. Tipping is optional, and rounding up the bill is enough.
Note that many towns charge a small visitor tax (CHF 2 to 5 a night), which often comes with a local transport card, so ask for it at check-in.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.