I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been to Switzerland. A terrible cliché, I know, but in my case, it’s the truth.
By this stage, each trip has folded neatly into the next, and the visits have started to blur. But what I do know is this: Switzerland is one of the most rewarding countries in Europe for solo travel, and it is also one of the most expensive.
These two facts coexist happily, and navigating both is what this guide is all about.
Switzerland will cost more than almost anywhere else in Europe. Meals, accommodation, transport, mountain excursions: it all adds up and watching your credit card bill rack up can feel alarming.
But here’s the thing. The scenery is so extraordinary, the trains so impeccably run, and the country so safe and easy to navigate alone, that the cost feels justified.
This guide to solo travel in Switzerland covers the best places to visit, how to save money without missing out, and why the train journeys alone might be worth the price of a flight.
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Is Switzerland a Good Destination for Solo Travel?
Yes, emphatically. Switzerland consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world, making it a top destination for solo travellers. I have never felt uneasy walking around Swiss cities alone, day or night.
Beyond safety, Switzerland is logistically brilliant for solo travel.
Another cliché, I know, but Switzerland’s transportation system operates like clockwork. Trains run on time. Connections work. The app tells you which platform, and this information is always correct.
For a solo traveller who doesn’t want to worry about being stranded somewhere unfamiliar, this matters enormously.
English is widely spoken across all four language regions (cantons), particularly in tourist areas and cities. The country is compact enough to be manageable in a week, yet varied enough to fill a month. And because it’s so well set up for independent travel, you never feel the lack of a companion.
How Expensive is Switzerland as a Solo Traveller? (+ Money-Saving Tips)
Switzerland is, by most measures, the most expensive country in Europe for travellers. Accommodation spans from budget-friendly hostels at CHF 40–95 per night to mid-range hotels in major cities, averaging CHF 120–200 per night.
Food is expensive. Coffee is expensive. Getting up a mountain is expensive. A basic lunch in a restaurant can easily set you back CHF 20–25.
However, there are ways to reduce costs without spending your entire trip eating curled-up sandwiches in your hotel room.
- Eat like a local at Migros or Coop. Switzerland’s two major supermarket chains are a solo traveller’s best friend. Both sell freshly made baguettes, salads, hot meals and excellent store-brand chocolate. I have had one of my best Swiss lunches sitting on a bench by the Aare, having spent about CHF 8 at Migros.
- Use lunch menus. If you do want to eat out, go at lunchtime. Most Swiss restaurants offer a “menu du jour” or “Tagesmenu” at a significantly reduced price, often a starter, main and drink for CHF 18–30.
- Consider an Interrail or Swiss Travel Pass. More on this below, but these passes can save considerable money if your itinerary involves multiple train journeys, boat trips and mountain excursions. I’ve used an Interrail Pass on most of my Swiss solo trips.
- Choose your mountain excursions wisely. Not every mountain requires a CHF 200 trip. Some of the best viewpoints in Switzerland involve a short, steep walk rather than a cog railway. Bern’s Rose Garden is free. The views from Monte San Salvatore above Lugano are accessible by funicular, and the Ticino Ticket (given free by most hotels in the canton) covers it.
- Don’t fly into Zurich if you can help it. Basel, Bern or Geneva airports can be cheaper options than Zurich, which tends to have higher-priced flights due to a lack of budget-airline competition.
Getting Around: The Swiss Transport Network
This is where Switzerland shines. The train, bus and boat network is so comprehensive, so reliable, and so beautifully integrated that you rarely need to think twice about getting from one place to another.
The SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) app is essential. Download it before you travel. It has offline timetables, platform information and real-time updates, making navigating the country as a solo traveller straightforward.
Should you buy a Swiss Travel Pass?
The honest answer is: it depends on what you’re planning.
The Swiss Travel Pass gives you unlimited travel on trains, buses and boats across the network, plus free admission to over 500 museums, free travel on city transport and discounts on mountain excursions. It doesn’t cover everything — the Jungfraujoch, for example, requires an extra payment even with the pass — but it covers a lot.
Whether or not the Swiss Travel Pass will save you money depends on your itinerary and what benefits you plan to take advantage of. A good way to check is to use the SBB Mobile app or website to get ticket prices for your route, then compare that to the price of the desired pass.
If you’re planning multiple train journeys across different parts of the country, taking both the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, and doing a few mountain excursions, the pass is likely to save you money. If you’re staying in one or two places and taking mainly local trains, the Swiss Half Fare Card (which gives you 50% off all journeys) may work out better value.
The Swiss Half Fare Card can come out on top for certain itineraries, particularly those involving mountain excursions not covered free by the Swiss Travel Pass. Run the numbers for your specific route before you commit either way.
What about buying an Interrail / Eurail Pass?
Again, it depends on your itinerary.
An Interrail / Eurail Pass gives you free unlimited rail travel in Switzerland and heavily discounted or free boat rides. This includes the popular Glacier Express and Bernina Express trains, subject to a reservation fee.
However, if you are planning a few mountain excursions, a Swiss Travel Pass may be a better bet. As they say, do the maths (I’ve written this guide to Interrail Passes to get you started).
Where to Go: The Best Places for Solo Travellers in Switzerland
Bern
Bern is my favourite Swiss city, and I think it’s criminally underrated. Most visitors fly into Zurich, visit Lucerne and Interlaken, and never make it here.
The medieval Old Town, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, has 6 km of limestone buildings and medieval architecture, Renaissance fountains with colourful figures, and a Gothic cathedral surrounded by picturesque rooftops.
For something extremely kitsch (but very Bern), watch the bears, jester, rooster and knight perform their mechanical dance at the Zytglogge clock tower. In summer, join locals for a refreshing float down the River Aare. The water is the most extraordinary shade of turquoise, and drifting along on an inflatable ring on a warm afternoon is one of those experiences that makes you feel, briefly, like a local.
The Rosengarten offers panoramic views of the city and is completely free. So too is the Bear Park, which is rather more interesting than it sounds (Bern’s heraldic animal, the bear, has been kept near the old city gate since medieval times). The Bern Minster, Switzerland’s tallest cathedral, has 344 steps to the top and views of the Alps on a clear day.
Bern was my home base on my last trip, staying at The Bristol Hotel and using the city as a launchpad for day trips to Montreux, Vevey, Grindelwald and Thun. This approach works extremely well: Bern’s central location means nowhere feels too far away, and you avoid the cost and faff of checking in and out of hotels every couple of days.
Vevey and Montreux (day trip from Bern)
These two lakeside towns on the shores of Lake Geneva make for one of the best day trips from Bern. The train journey from Bern takes around 90 minutes and is a pleasure in itself, the tracks curving through vineyards and along the water as you close in on the lake.
I’d suggest starting in Vevey. It’s the quieter and, in my view, the more enjoyable of the two, a low-key market town with a gorgeous lakefront, a statue of Chaplin (he lived here from 1952 until his death in 1977), and a large, slightly absurdist fork sculpture rising out of the lake in front of the Alimentarium food museum.
From Vevey, it’s four minutes by train to Montreux. Walk the Chemin Fleuri, the promenade that runs along the lake, edged with flowerbeds and framing a view of the Alps.
Look for the 3-metre statue of Freddie Mercury near the covered market. Queen’s charismatic frontman was a frequent visitor to Montreux, recording many of the band’s hits at the Mountain Studios in the Montreux Casino and owning an apartment in town.
The main event, though, is Château de Chillon. Around 3 km from Montreux along the flower-lined lakeside promenade, the medieval castle juts out from a small rocky island at the water’s edge.
It is the most visited historic building in Switzerland. Allow a couple of hours, then walk back to Montreux along the lake.
Both towns are manageable in a single day from Bern, though if you want more time — particularly if you fancy a boat trip on Lake Geneva or an excursion up to the Rochers de Naye viewpoint above Montreux — consider an overnight stay. Montreux has the better-known hotel scene; Vevey is more affordable and, for my money, has more character.
Zermatt
Zermatt has the Matterhorn, and the Matterhorn, frankly, has no equivalent. Towering at 4,478 metres above sea level and dominates every sightline in the village. The village itself is traffic-free, and its main street, Bahnhofstrasse, is lined with hotels, restaurants and outdoor gear shops.
For mountain excursions, the two most popular are the Gornergrat Railway and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. For both excursions, go in the morning, when skies are most likely to be clear.
The Gornergrat is a cog railway that lifts you in 30 minutes to 3,089 metres, with a spectacular outlook over the Monte Rosa massif and — on a clear day — a view of the Matterhorn from a completely different angle to the one you get in the village.
The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car takes you higher still, to the Klein Matterhorn at 3,883 metres, the highest cable car station in Europe.
Zermatt is the endpoint, or starting point, of the Glacier Express. It is not a cheap place to stay, but it is worth at least one night.
Zurich
Zurich is unfairly dismissed as a banking city with nothing to do. In reality, it’s an enjoyable place to spend a couple of days.
It’s a major transport hub, so sooner or later you’re likely to end up here. Make the most of it.
The walkable Old Town spans both sides of the Limmat River and is lovely to stroll through, and has many cafés with outdoor seating. The Kunsthaus Zürich holds the best collection of Swiss art in the country, and the Landesmuseum is free and excellent for understanding Swiss history before heading out into the cantons.
Uetliberg mountain, reachable by train in about 20 minutes from the centre, gives you panoramic views over the city, the lake and, on a clear day, the Alps.
Lugano
Lugano is the Switzerland that doesn’t look like Switzerland. Sitting in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, it has the lake, the mountains and Swiss efficiency, but the language, food, light and general atmosphere are unmistakably Italian. Palm trees line the promenade, and espresso is taken seriously.
If you like hiking and lush vegetation in a quiet, lazy environment, this city will rejuvenate you.
I recommend taking the lakeside path to Gandria, returning by ferry. Just check restaurant opening hours before you go, as some of the village’s restaurants may be closed mid-week, which is less than ideal if you’ve timed your walk to arrive at lunchtime.
Lugano itself also has a small historic centre with the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, and a lakeside promenade. Take the funicular up Monte San Salvatore for views over the lake.
One practical Lugano tip: if you’re staying in a hotel or hostel in Ticino, ask for the Ticino Ticket. It gives you free travel on public transport throughout the canton, including the funicular up Monte San Salvatore and boat trips on the lake. This alone can save you CHF 30–50 in a two-night stay.
Lugano also makes a convenient entry or exit point if you’re combining Switzerland with northern Italy (I visited Lake Como as a day trip from here). The Bernina Express ends in Tirano, from where a connecting bus takes you to Lugano, making it a natural endpoint for a train journey through the Alps.
Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland
No guide to Switzerland would be complete without at least mentioning Interlaken, which sits between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in the shadow of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. It is touristy – extremely touristy – but it is also undeniably spectacular.
As a solo traveller, Interlaken works best as a base rather than a destination in itself.
The town is set up almost entirely around getting visitors into the mountains. Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren are all accessible by train or cable car, and each has walking routes ranging from very gentle lakeside strolls to Alpine hikes.
Swiss Train Journeys Worth Travelling For
Train journeys in Switzerland are not just a means of getting between places. They are, in many cases, the main event.
I have spent full days on trains in Switzerland, and they are among my most treasured travel memories. A window seat, a good book, the Alps sliding past: there are few better ways to travel alone.
The Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is an eight-hour train trip around mountains and through gorges in the Swiss Alps, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful train journeys in Europe. It takes you over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels on what is described as “the slowest express train in the world”, allowing travellers to soak up the views through panoramic windows.
The full route runs from Zermatt to St Moritz (or vice versa). You don’t have to do the whole thing — there are intermediate start and end points at Brig, Andermatt and Chur if it suits your itinerary better.
The ticket price can burn a hole in your travel budget, but the Glacier Express is covered by Interrail / Eurail and the Swiss Travel Pass. You’ll just need to pay a mandatory seat reservation fee.
As a solo traveller, 1st class is worth considering: you can reserve a seat in the single column and get the benefits of both a window seat and an aisle seat.
If you want to learn more about this super scenic journey, I’ve written this guide to riding the Glacier Express.
The Bernina Express
The Bernina Express runs from Chur (or St Moritz) to Tirano in northern Italy, crossing the Alps at their highest point on a narrow-gauge railway that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The journey takes around four hours from St Moritz to Tirano.
The Bernina Express is equipped with panoramic carriages with large side windows, designed for a better viewing experience than regular commuter trains. Highlights include the Landwasser Viaduct and the Brusio Spiral Viaduct, a circular stone bridge that spirals down through the valley.
Sit on the right side when travelling south (Switzerland to Italy) for the best views of these. On the return northbound, choose the left side for panoramic mountain views.
The Bernina Express is cheaper than the Glacier Express and, in my view, more consistently spectacular (I’ve travelled on both). There is no restaurant car — just a trolley service — so bring food and something to drink.
Interrail / Eurail and the Swiss Travel Pass cover the base Bernina Express ticket, but you’ll need to book and pay for a seat reservation separately, which costs 32–44 CHF.
Both trains should be booked well in advance, particularly in summer. Seats sell out. Booking link here.
Find out more about this spectacular journey in my detailed guide to doing the Bernina Express on local trains.
If you’re on the fence about which panoramic train journey to take, I’ve put together this comparing the Bernina Express and Glacier Express.
Other trains worth considering
Switzerland’s regular intercity trains are also excellent. They are clean, punctual and with views that would be considered dramatic elsewhere in Europe.
The journey from Bern to Interlaken is lovely. So is the route from Lucerne to Lugano through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (or the older Gotthard mountain route, if you prefer scenery to speed).
The SBB regularly run “supersaver” tickets on specific departures, worth checking if you’re flexible about timing. These can be significantly cheaper than standard fares.
Practical Tips for Solo Travel in Switzerland
Safety. Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world for solo travellers, including solo female travellers. Violent crime is extremely rare. Petty theft is uncommon but not unheard of, particularly in busy urban areas. Normal vigilance applies.
Language. Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh, with the region you’re in determining which is used. English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas. The SBB app and most train station displays operate in English.
Tipping. Service charges are generally included in Swiss bills. Rounding up to the nearest franc is the norm; large tips are not expected.
Tap water. Swiss tap water is excellent, and the public fountains you’ll see throughout every city are all drinkable. Bring a refillable water bottle and use it. This is an easy way to save money.
Free walking tours. Most Swiss cities have free walking tours that are tip-based at the end. These are a good way to get oriented and, as a solo traveller, to meet other people.
Museum entry. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, it includes free admission to over 500 museums. Check the list before you pay for anything.
Solo dining. Switzerland is easy for solo dining. Bar seating is common, particularly in fondue restaurants.
When to go. Summer (June–September) is the classic season. Mountain paths are open, lakes are swimmable, and the weather is generally good, though not guaranteed. June and September are preferable to July and August for avoiding peak crowds and some price inflation.
Winter is magical if you ski, less useful if you don’t, and many mountain cable cars and hiking paths close from November to May.
Female Solo Travel in Switzerland
Switzerland is an excellent choice for a woman travelling solo for the first time (or anytime). It is very safe, not too big and not too small, and for those with limited navigation skills, travelling around is straightforward.
Swiss people are reserved by nature, but don’t mistake politeness for coldness. If you ask for help, you’ll get it.
And if you find yourself eating alone in a restaurant and someone at a nearby table starts a conversation, it’s a perfectly normal thing that happens in Switzerland, particularly in smaller cities.
My Suggested Solo Itinerary: 12 Days in Switzerland
This itinerary prioritises train journeys and avoids unnecessary hotel-hopping (the red star places on the map are overnight stops).
Days 1–2: Zurich – Arrive and settle in. Walk Old Town, visit the Landesmuseum, and take the train up Uetliberg. Fondue at a bar on the second evening.
Days 3–4: Bern – Train from Zurich (1 hour 10 minutes). Walk the Altstadt, climb the Minster, visit the Rosengarten, float in the Aare in summer. Day trip to Thun.
Day 5: Day trip to Vevey and Montreux – Train from Bern (around 90 minutes). Start in Vevey, then take a four-minute train journey to Montreux. Visit Château de Chillon, walk the promenade, and see the Freddie Mercury statue. Return to Bern in the evening.
Day 6: Day trip to Thun and/or Grindelwald – Easy train journeys from Bern in both directions. Thun for its medieval castle and lake; Grindelwald for mountain scenery and walking.
Days 7–8: Zermatt – Train from Bern to Visp, then to Zermatt (around 2.5 hours total). Two nights here: one day for the Gornergrat Railway and village wandering, one day for the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise or hiking (weather dependent). Book your Glacier Express seat reservation before you go.
Day 9: Glacier Express, Zermatt to St Moritz – An eight-hour journey through the Alps. Arrive at St Moritz in the evening.
Days 10–11: Lugano – Train south into Ticino. Walk the promenade, take the funicular up Monte San Salvatore, and ferry to Gandria. Consider an optional half-day on the Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano, then the connecting bus to Lugano — this adds a few hours but is one of the most extraordinary rail journeys available.
Day 12: Return – Train to Zurich (around 3 hours from Lugano) for a flight home, or an additional night in Zurich if your flight is the following morning.
Switzerland keeps pulling me back. It’s not a cheap habit, but there’s something about the combination of mountains, water, immaculate trains and a country that simply works. For a solo traveller, that makes it close to ideal.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.