Switzerland: The Don'ts of Visiting Switzerland

Switzerland has some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world. Whether you are visiting Zermat or Jungfrau or just taking the train through the Swiss Alps you will love so much of Switzerland. These are some of the do's and don'ts of visiting Switzerland. So, if you are in Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Basel, Luzern, or Interlaken we hope these tips can help you have a better time in Switzerland.
Filmed in Basel, Switzerland
Copyright Mark Wolters 2022

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[gantenbeinable]

Do not buy drinking water, because you get best drinking water for free from the tab or from any fountain outside.

[Marvinsu]

as a swiss person i can say that you are ALLOWED to flush the toilet at any time of the day 😂

[sw]

As a Swiss guy it's always fun listening to tourists talking about Switzerland! With one thing I have to disagree: We're a lot into smalltalk, especially outside big cities and on hikes - almost everybody is greeting each other (Grüezi, hallo, hoi, ...). I hike a lot and there's always one ore more strangers I get into a conversation with - while walking, having a break on a bench, sitting at a fireplace, ... Most of them are elderly hikers. So, don't be shy!

[amarug]

It's really fun to watch this as a Swiss, this video is amazing. You really nail it all. I wish every tourist would watch this before they come! :) Here a few of my random thoughts:

- Yes, we are in some ways the "Japanese of Europe", we like punctuality, cleanliness and efficiency, we hate bad smells and noise and we are helpful and polite but a bit "reserved/shy"
- Yes, the environment is mindblowing. You would think you get "dull" to it, but you don't. Everytime I walk from my home over the nearby bridge and see the alps in the evening sun, I just have to stop and look and look more and go like "wtf how is this so beautiful" ... ongoing for 4 decades soon 😅 also on the trains, which I ride daily, I often look out and marvel at the beauty of many places
- Yes, more clichees that are true, I eat cheese Fondue often, other cheeses daily and chocolate almost hourly 😂
- Even more: I love watches and have quite a few nice ones
- I do like it a lot if tourists chat me up and ask me stuff. I speak a few languages, such as German, Finnish, French, English and Japanese and I am happy to have a chat about anything you would like!
- Hiking: important, go for it, but be careful. So many accidents happen, so select very very easy routes if you have little experience. Sadly too many people I used to know have died in the mountains, none of them were reckless. The routes are all excellently labeled and described etc. You can plan it perfectly and ask local guides if needed. Also here in Bern thousands of people swim in the river called "Aare" in summer and tourists think it looks fun and join in as they see 6 to 90-year-olds doing it, but we were born here and we have been doing it all our lives, we know every turbulence by heart and our swimming skills are on a different level than even many who consider themselves "very good swimmers", just because of the unusually harsh conditions we have been practicing since we were kids, it's just misleading when you see hundreds at once swimming out there, you might think this is something for the average swimmer. If you go, tag along with locals, we have unfortunately deaths every summer, almost exclusively tourists.

Lastly, apologies for the insane prices. I can only imagine how it must be, because conversely when my wife and I travel outside Switzerland, we are always baffled by how "food is almost for free, even in restaurants". Switzerland is crazy expensive. If you can, please visit our beautiful country, you will enjoy it, I am sure! <3

[markusstudeli]

One more tip coming from a native:
Don't waste your money on bottled water. Swiss tab water is safe and delicious and you will find public fountains almost everywhere. Just carry a water bottle with you and refill it when necessary. Restaurants will want to sell you bottled water, but you can always ask for tab water (eau du robinet in French, Leitungswasser in Germen, scheda acqua in Italian). They will sometime charge a small fee for it, but not the 7-10 CHF for a large bottle of mineral water that doesn't taste any better.

[cya]

Yes, we do not like loud people. Thanks! 🙂

[ThePhasmatik]

As a Swiss Citizen, I approve of this video which is probably the best I saw on visiting Switzerland.

[swisssnowboarder]

Loved the video and as a Swiss I totally agree with you.
Just one comment on the tipping culture here: we very much appreciate tips, even if they are tiny. For a coffee of 4.70 you’d usually round up to 5, or a dinner for 27.50, you might round up to 30. It’s not really the amount that matters but the gesture 😊

[JeannineIsaksen]

I'm from Basel. I usually roll my eyes over these tourist-videos. But this one was great! You nailed it.
Thanks for telling the people to not be loud <3

[mrsdiss]

i just want to double down on the "don't overestimate your hiking ability". switzerland has an amazing network of hiking trails covering the whole country, but the more advanced trails have considerable risks. people die while hiking in switzerland, mostly due to overestimating their ability.

[travelingartistnilofarmehrin]

"Don't make noise", just wonderful❤❤❤❤❤❤ I come from anarchic France where people are allowed to shout into their phones while on a public bus (or anywhere & everywhere)

[keithholgreen]

Switzerland 🇨🇭 is incredible in so many ways. Even their flag is a big plus.

[thomasvu]

From the French Speaking part of Switzerland here ! Yeah, we definitly don't speak all of our languages... we try our best though.
It's indeed not really a thing here to just come to somebody and start smalltalking. But if you've got a question, or need help with something, I think that most of us try to be helpful, so don't hesitate to ask. We won't be offended, and will do our best to overcome language barriers. We're kind of used to it in our own country.

See you here ! ^^

[denise]

I am Swiss, and your advice is excellent, especially about respecting quiet. Thank you!

[simonepeverelli]

And I add: if you want to have fun in the evening in Switzerland, go to a university town. They may not be as noticeable as in other countries, but Lausanne and Zurich are full of clubs, pubs, bars and parties. This weekend in Zurich there was the "street parade" (a big techno party) and more than 500 thousand people were dancing in the streets!

[KE]

I visited Switzerland as a teenager in the 90’s. We stayed in Interlaken for 2 weeks and visited every site near there. It was beautiful. The lake we stayed right next too was a turquoise green colour and we’d rent a boat and jump off it for a swim. We went up the Jungfrau to see all across Europe and to ski, we visited the revolving cafe from the Bond movie and the Reichenbach Falls from Sherlock Holmes. There’s so much to see and it’s all so beautiful, clean and crisp….

[Katharsis-]

Switzerland is gorgeous. We've been there last year, in summer, from Davos to St. Moritz, then with Bernina up to Tirano and futher to Lugano. On the way back, Chur, Zermatt, and then Montreux, Lausanne and Geneve. One of the most beautiful trips of my life. ❤

[philip_quakyoutube]

First thought this might be an american talking very stereotypically about Switzerland. I was wrong and pleasently surprised. Great video!
Greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭

[haelww]

As a swiss person, I can say the video is perfect. Try to follow these elements, and you will have beautifull vacations !

[bruzzliandmel]

Great video! As two Swiss people we are always so impressed with how much knowledge you have over our country…you know it better than we do! 😄🥳🇨🇭