Dont want to carry too much or too little. Whats the average cash people carry when travelling around Switzerland?
I was in Zurich and Lucerne for 3 weeks working remotely. With mid-range Airbnbs (around 100 CHF/night), groceries, SIM card, and cafe co-working, I averaged 170-190 CHF per day. Intercity travel can spike costs - a train from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen alone is ~50 CHF. I’d recommend budgeting at least 150 CHF/day if you want a smooth, comfortable trip.
Stayed in Lausanne for 8 nights last month. I cooked my own meals (bought at Migros), used the half-fare rail card, and mostly walked around town. I survived on around 70 CHF/day, which included hostel stays, cheap eats, and the occasional crepe or coffee out. It’s doable, but only if you plan tight and skip touristy splurges. Definitely not a country to wing it on the budget.
I just spent 2.5 weeks bouncing between Lucerne, Zermatt, and Geneva. I wasn’t luxury-traveling, but not slumming either - nice 3-star hotels, rail pass, a few sit-down meals. My average came to about 180 CHF/day, all inclusive. That covered breakfast at the hotel, transport via Swiss Travel Pass, museum entries, and a couple of chocolate runs. If you’re aiming for a balanced experience, I’d say budget 150-200 CHF removed link
Switzerland is expensive, even if you’re going basic. I averaged 90-110 CHF/day doing hostels, Coop meals, and 2nd-class trains. A sandwich at a train station can cost 8 CHF, and a hostel bed in Interlaken was 45 CHF a night. If you want to hike and keep it cheap, that budget works - but any splurges (fondue, museum passes, scenic trains) and you’ll push into the 150 CHF/day range fast.