Switzerland, and in particular the Alps, is a beautiful country with plenty to explore. However, it is notoriously expensive to travel.
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But there are ways to travel the Swiss Alps on a budget. From fantastic value activity passes to cheap accommodation, I’ve put together this post to help you plan your trip to the mountains for cheaper.
In this blog post you’ll find out how you can have an adventure holiday in the beautiful Swiss Alps without breaking the bank.
How to get to the Swiss Alps
Getting to the Swiss Alps is easy and quite reasonable. You can get budget flights to Geneva Airport from most UK airports with airlines like Easyjet.
If you’re already in Europe, you could drive there or take public transport like trains and buses to the Alps, depending on where your final destination is.
I used Flixbus to travel from Chamonix to Annecy and from Annecy to Geneva and each journey cost around £12. The earlier you book the more you save, so if you can firm up your plans early, you’ll benefit from cheaper fares.
Currency in Switzerland
The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). You can also use Euros and they use a 1:1 exchange rate for this.
Using Euros is a great idea if you frequently travel around Europe as you won’t have left over currency to change back.
However, the best way to save money is to use the local currency so I would recommend using a credit card. I have the Halifax Clarity credit card which doesn’t charge a fee for using it abroad and gives you preferential exchange rates.
Everywhere I’ve been in Switzerland accepts card, but I do like to travel with a little bit of cash just in case. Just be sure to tap CHF when you’re given the option of what currency to pay with and you’ll save.
Cheap accommodation in the Swiss Alps
For cheap accommodation in the Swiss Alps, try Coliving Frilingue, a collection of coliving spaces in Switzerland. You can book onto one of their workations, book coliving, or even volunteer and get your stay for free.
I have stayed at the coliving space in Liddes this summer and in winter, when I went on a budget ski holiday.
You do get what you pay for and this is very much budget hostel accommodation. You can book a shared room or a private room and the facilities are very basic – bunk beds, limited storage space, and no lockers.
However, the location is incredible. Waking up to spectacular mountain views each day is a dream and there are plenty of beautiful hiking routes right on the doorstep.
A week’s stay here will cost you around 220 CHF (£200) for a bed in a shared room or 470 CHF (£420) for a double en-suite room, if you are travelling on your own.
Cook your own meals
Eating out at restaurants in Switzerland can be very expensive with meals typically costing between 35 – 50 CHF (around £30 – £45) so cooking your own meals can be a great way of saving money in the Swiss Alps.
Be sure to book somewhere to stay which has kitchen space like Coliving Frilingue, or an AirBnB. Coliving Frilingue also do a very reasonable full board package which includes all of your meals and works out at great value.
Aldi and Lidl are the cheapest supermarkets in the country and prices are similar to the UK.
The Pays du St Bernard pass
This is my absolute top tip for saving money in the Swiss Alps – the Pays du St Bernard pass. The pass costs 139 CHF for a season and includes a wide range of activities, lift passes and travel in the Pays du St Bernard region.
If you’re planning to visit the area a few times, or you’re spending a longer time here then it is absolutely worth every penny as it covers ski season and summer. You also get a discounted rate on the pass when you stay at Coliving Frilingue.
Activities included in the Pays du St Bernard pass
There are so many activities included in the Pays du St Bernard pass which makes it a great way to save money on your travels in Switzerland.
During ski season, you get access to three different resorts – La Fouly, Vicheres, and Champex Lac – and the pass works as your lift pass. These resorts are great for beginners as they are less crowded than some of the tourist resorts and are more geared towards the locals.
You can also upgrade the pass and pay a little more if you want to ski at Verbier.
As well as winter activities, there are a range of summer activities included too. First up is the Treetop Canopy, an adventure rope course with ziplines which is similar to the UK’s Go Ape.
There are four different rope courses here, varying in difficulty and technical ability.
Head to Champex Lac, a beautiful alpine lake, if you’re into watersports. While swimming and relaxing around the lake is free for everyone, half an hour of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) or pedalo is included in the Pays du St Bernard pass.
Other activities included in the pass include chair lifts, swimming pools, and access to walks and museums. Bus travel around the area is also free with the pass.
Hiking in the Swiss Alps
Hiking is a brilliant activity in the Swiss Alps and guess what? It doesn’t cost a penny!
A lot of the routes are marked really well along well maintained paths with signposts. Be sure to take a paper map with you so that you don’t get lost and lots of layers – the weather can be changeable.
If it’s a long distance hike you’re after, like the Tour du Mont Blanc, you can stay at mountain refuges along the way.
Free travel in Geneva
Geneva is the gateway to the Swiss Alps, as it is home to the nearest and most convenient airport. I recommend spending a couple of nights in Geneva during your trip to explore the city.
There isn’t tonnes to do there, but it’s a lovely city for wandering around and grabbing a Swiss fondue (or two!). When you book accommodation in Geneva, you’ll get a free pass for travelling around the city on public transport too.
FAQs
Is it possible to visit Switzerland on a budget?
In a word – yes, it is possible to visit Switzerland on a budget. It just might take a little bit of careful planning to save on things like flights, accommodation, eating out, and activities.
Hopefully this blog post has given you some tips on how to visit this beautiful country without breaking the bank.
How much budget do I need for a trip to Switzerland?
How long is a piece of string? Of course, as with any trip, you can make it as expensive or as cheap as you’d like to.
Start by putting aside the budget you’d be happy to spend and work backwards from there. The itinerary in this post would cost you around £560 including flight, accommodation, food, and activities.
What is the cheapest way to travel in Switzerland?
Public transport in Switzerland is one of the cheapest ways to travel around the country. There are lots of travel schemes available like the one I mentioned above about the free public transport in Geneva so be sure to ask at your accommodation if they have anything like this.
What is the cheapest month to visit Switzerland?
Unsurprisingly, trips to Switzerland are most expensive during the ski season which starts in December and finishes in March, and during the summer months of June, July, and August. The cheapest months to visit are October and November, or April and May, outside of the main travel seasons.
Is Switzerland more expensive than the UK?
Yes, Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world, and the prices are significantly more expensive than the UK, especially when it comes to food and drink.
Is Switzerland worth the money?
Switzerland is one of my favourite countries so I would say that it is absolutely worth the money. Its spectacular mountain scenery is simply breathtaking and there’s so much to do.
