If you are planning to study in Switzerland, congratulations, you are in for a treat! Switzerland is a beautiful country known for its scenic beauty and quality of life. However, it can be a bit overwhelming if you do not know what to expect.
Take it from me... I learned the hard way, at a cost, so you don't have to....DE NADA
( means you're welcome in Spanish)
I am going to be dividing it into 7 categories:
Transportation
Switzerland has one of the best transportation systems. It is always on time. Let me repeat that, ON TIME means get there earlier to make it on because it leaves on the dot. This is not MIAMI time.
While it may be a great transportation system, it is can be expensive. There is also no way to fool the system here. There are areas in the German part that have an honor system, but randomly you will have the ticket checkers out of the blue and then you are le broke.
1. BUY a Swiss travel card
There are a few options to choose from here. The Main question you need to answer yourself is -
Based on my location and where I need to go, WILL I NEED TO USE TRAINS or METRO DAILY?
Do I plan to go around a lot in Switzerland?
How much would it be daily with a 50% option vs GA travel card?
You really need to answer these questions to determine which would be the best option for you. For Example, for me, where my school was located and where I was going to live, I did not NEED the GA travel card, so I chose the half travel card. So let me narrow it down for you to really 2 options.
Half Travel Card (linked)
This gives you 50% off every purchase.
Costs - 185 CHF one-time fee, but valid for a year. Then if you renew it goes down to 165CHF
How to get ? - Can do online. You will have to do an identity check. If it doesnt work, like me, all you need to do is go into the train station to take a photo, and you will have a card through the app.
This will save you a lot of money on transportation costs whenever you may need. Like the metro or bus.
GA Travel Card (linked)
The unlimited monthly pass, that costs quite a bit... BUT if you are under 25 years old, you do get a great discount. Unfortunately for me, I am over that age...
Costs - 2650CHF for a year which is 220 CHF per month. So it is a good deal.
How to get? - Online but if there's an issue then you do have to go in person at a train station.
photo source: SBB
Important: You will have an initial minimum contract term of 6 months, regardless of the payment option you choose ( full or monthly). After that, you decide whether to continue your travel card or cancel it at the end of each travel card month, giving notice of one travelcard month.
Payment: The credit card must be in the same name as the contracting party.
If you are buying for the first time, they need to verify your identity. This identity check takes place online – you will need your passport or ID card and a smartphone with a camera. You will also need a recent, high-quality, digital passport photo.
Photo Source: SBB
*please make sure you buy 2nd class and sit in only 2nd class because they will fine you for sitting in the wrong section, even if it is just 2 feet away... *
2. Download the SBB APP (linked)
It is a NEED.
This is where you can book or purchase your transportation and will include your travel card information.
I literally think this is the best transportation app I have ever used. It gives you exact timing and distances from any address in Switzerland using the rail or bus system + walking distance once you exit the destination. It is precise and gives you options.
You can add a Credit card to the app to make it easy to pay through your phone.
Photo Source: SBB
3. You need to BUY a ticket for a bus or train BEFORE it departs.
It sounds silly but you can get fined 100 CHF. It needs to be bought before the departure time because once it's bought after, let's say on the train or bus. It happened to me...
4. Download Publibike (linked)
A self-service bike-sharing system in over 100 locations across Switzerland. You can pick and drop off in different locations, 24/7. It is good in major cities.
Photo Source: Fribourg, SBB
5. Be aware of after-hour transportation availability
In Zurich, it does throughout the night on Fridays and Saturdays, but in the French part, the latest I have seen public transport run on these days is 1AM... which means you need to pay for Uber. Which is expensive. This was in Lausanne where I experienced this.
Supermarkets & Groceries
6. Four Supermarkets to choose from
Coop - Normal priced good to high quality, sometimes expensive
Migros - highest quality, does not sell alcohol ( most expensive)
Denner - good for many items you can find in coop or migros but for cheaper. Not the best produce but for simple things like onions, yes. Dont get avocados here.
LIDL - the walmart of grocery stores, cheap.
Buy one of the lasting grocery bags because they charge per plastic or paper bags if you forget yours. You'll save money.
7. Download TOO GOOD TO GO APP (linked)
I wish I had known about this sooner than later but it is a way to pay 5.90 CHF for a surprise bag of food from grocery stores or even restaurants to prevent food waste! This concept is a win-win for your wallet and for the environment.
You can get anything, from salad bags, sandwiches, sushi, herbs, and more. Bring one your grocery bag with you in case they don't give you a bag.
What the app looks like:
This is an example of what I received the other day:
just the sushi alone is 15CHF !
Hours of Operation
8. Always check the hours of operation wherever you are going!
Do you want to go shopping on Sunday? LOL that's going to be a NO.
Almost everything is closed on Sundays. It's part of the work-life balance which I admire.
On Saturdays, you will find things close earlier though, such as car rentals and post office - more about this here
In general, sundays are sacred here. Restaurants are open but stores and grocery stores are not.
French part of Switzerland tends to close earlier all around. At least the German part, specifically Zurich since it is more of a young. vibrant, business environment, places do close at least by 8PM, sometimes even 9PM!! The south closes between 5 - 7PM
Museums are closed on Mondays but open sundays
Train station stores have pharmacies or mini supermarkets open in case of emergencies
Post office and car rentals in downtown areas in the French parts such as Lausanne are closed Sundays, and have limited hours Saturday til about 12 PM
Lunch is usually served between 12PM and 2 PM, and even a little earlier at some restaurants. Dinner is usually served from 5 pm to 9.30 pm - 10:30PM depending on what city you are in. In the French part majority of the restaurants close between lunch and dinner. There are many restaurants in the German part especially in larger cities that have continuous dining available.
Photo Source: Swiss National Museum
Cultural Differences
Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
It is not just ONE culture but 3 Subcultures:
German-speaking Switzerland
French-speaking Switzerland
Italian-speaking Switzerland
Meaning that the way of life is different between each.
9. It's important to ask questions to understand the differences between each subculture by talking to peers or researching online
Overall, the Swiss do like structure and being ON TIME.
Some Examples I can think of:
German Speaking
- More about the rules and will call you out for it if you don't follow it
- Do speak and welcome english
- Swiss German is not the exact same as the German you hear in Germany
- Don’t like noisy people
French Speaking
- more of a relaxed work environment, harder to reach on phone when you need
- Dont speak English and prefer not to.
- Also don’t like noisy people but a bit more tolerable
Photo Source: Babbel
Shopping
Online Shopping
There is no Amazon in Switzerland. If you wanted to order from there, it would come from neighboring countries and you would be taxed. NOT worth it.
10. You can buy affordable items for your home and more from these websites:
TEMU - cheap and wholesale-type pricing from home items to beauty, and more
Galaxus - largest Swiss online shop, like amazon but in Switzerland
iHerb - Health , vitamins, natural products
Care to Beauty - all beauty products
Facebook Marketplace
These are online marketplaces that offer a wide range of products at affordable prices. However, be aware of scammers on Facebook groups when you are shopping online.
Physical Stores
11. Facebook marketplace is a good alternative if you want to buy some clothes for cheaper.
Unfortunately, it is expensive to shop for clothes here. Even thrifting is expensive.
While, I know the cost of living is higher and you get compensated for it, as a student, even going to Zara is more expensive than if you were buying in Italy or France. It's about 10 - 20CHF more here!
Cantons & Recycling System
12. Learn the recycling system in your canton and city. Buy proper waste bags at supermarkets at cash register. This will help you to dispose of waste correctly and avoid getting fined.
The word Canton means district or a section or part of a country; in total there are 26 cantons in Switzerland with their own set of rules. Each canton in Switzerland has its own recycling system.
Everything gets separated in Switzerland, it takes some time to learn all the different rules
For Example: within the canton of VAUD and city of Epalgines, you have to pay 90CHF trash tax per year. NOWHERE Does it say online that this is required. So if you dont ask you will be surprised in the mail with a bill. If you have lived online half a year , they will discount it to 45CHF
Below are the types of recycling:
Plastic
Glass
you must remove the metal lid from the jars, but you don’t have to get rid of the stickers
Paper & Cardboard
pizza or takeout boxes, you can recycle only the clean parts.
Metal
tin cans, lids of various jars and bottles, drink cans, containers of pet food, foil lids, and various aluminum tubs
General Waste
bin bags with paid stickers. they are EXPENSIVE but its mandatory to buy.
Organic Waste - fruits and vegetable
Batteries & Lithium
PET
plastic bottles can be returned to local supermarkets such as Migros/Coop, which have a PET bottle disposal
*I'm going to do a whole separate post about this because it deserves its own post, will link HERE once done*
Switzerland’s recycling system is complex, but it’s one of the highest recycling rates in the world... you could be fined up to 10,000CHF, so lets try to avoid that.
How it looks on the common streets and train stations:
Phone Services
13. Get A SWYPE E-SIM Account & App
I found it expensive to get a new swiss service such as SALT, and I wanted to keep my number from the United States as well. So even though I have T-Mobile that gives me unlimited data here, it could be quite slow and calls of course, calls are not free, just slightly cheaper.
I discovered this APP only NOW... from a colleague. This is why it's important to talk to people you will be amazed at things you will find out.
SWYPE was a grand discovery. It is everything unlimited while living here for just 20CHF per
month.
There is no commitment. You can start or stop your tariff anytime as you wish.
All packages are unlimited. No hidden costs. No on top charges
eSIM stands for embedded SIM, which means the SIM is built into the device and not having to take out the sim card you already have. So you can switch between sim cards
FIN!
and to be continued...
I hope these 12 essential survival tips have been helpful in preparing you for your study-abroad adventure or even starting out as a young professional in Switzerland. Im sure I will have more so I thin of this as a PART 1 and to be continued.
So with a little bit of planning and preparation, you will be able to fully immerse yourself in the local culture, avoid headaches, explore the breathtaking scenery, and make unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime while saving you money.
Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out !
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