Travel to Switzerland from the UK: Must-know travel advice

Key takeaways:

• You can travel to Switzerland from the UK for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
• Switzerland is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world to travel, but there are still some common sense precautions to take.
• The debit card is the most common form of payment in Switzerland but cash is handy to have, especially for tips and travel in more rural areas.
• You can drive in Switzerland with your UK license, but will need to get a special Vignette sticker for motorways.

Table of contents

Switzerland entry requirements and documents from the UK Is it safe to travel to Switzerland? Managing your money in Switzerland Best ways to convert GBP to Swiss Francs (and what to avoid) How to pay in Switzerland: Cards, cash and mobile payments How much does it cost to travel to Switzerland Hidden travel costs to watch out for in Switzerland Essential laws and travel rules in Switzerland Emergency contacts and safety tips Travelling to Switzerland? Use Wise for low-cost currency conversion and spending FAQs on travelling to Switzerland from UK Can I use my UK Phone in Switzerland? What type of plug adapter do I need for Switzerland? Is travel insurance required for travelling to Switzerland?

Whether you’ll be going to Geneva for a city break, skiing down the Matterhorn in Zermatt, or browsing art museums in Basel, this guide is here to help you have a safe and memorable trip to Switzerland. We’ll lay out the key info on visa and entry requirements, health and safety essentials, laws and currency, money and customs and much more.

We’ll also show you a convenient and cost-effective way to spend in Switzerland – the Wise debit card. It’s designed for low-cost spending in 150+ countries. This clever international debit card automatically converts your pounds to Swiss francs whenever and wherever you spend, for low, transparent fees* and mid-market exchange rates.

Learn more about the Wise debit card 💳

Switzerland entry requirements and documents from the UK

Before you travel to Switzerland from the UK, you’ll need to know about the country’s entry requirements for UK nationals.¹

Switzerland belongs to the Schengen Zone, which means you won’t need to apply for a visa in advance, and can stay in the country up to 90 days within a 180-day period. That means that you’ll need to keep evidence of when you arrived, whether that’s a stamp in your passport or printed out plane tickets.

This 90-day window applies not only to visits for tourism purposes, but also visiting friends and family, attending business meetings, cultural or sports events or short term studies or training.

Under the Schengen Area Rules, your passport will also need to have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive. It should also have an ‘expiry date’ of at least three months after you plan to leave the Schengen Area.

Border control agents might also ask you to show a return or onward ticket as well as proof of travel insurance or that you have enough money for your visit, which is usually around 100 Swiss francs per day.

Is it safe to travel to Switzerland?

Switzerland is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in Europe, not to mention the world.² However, you’ll still need to take some common sense precautions.

While serious crime in Switzerland is low, there have been an increasing number of reports of petty theft, particularly in larger cities, at Geneva airport and on trains to and from Geneva, reports the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

They advise travellers to be especially vigilant at airports, train stations and crowded areas, and not leave their bags unattended.³

From skiing to mountaineering, there are several seasonal risks associated with outdoor sports in Switzerland. Visit the FCDO‘s website for a comprehensive list.

Managing your money in Switzerland

All around Switzerland, you’ll be able to pay with the Swiss Franc (CHF). Some places, such as train stations and larger supermarkets, will accept Euros, although you’ll almost always receive change in Swiss Francs.

You can either exchange your British pounds directly, take money out of an ATM, pay with a debit or credit card or use mobile payment options such as Apple Pay.

Best ways to convert GBP to Swiss Francs (and what to avoid)

You can change your British pounds for Swiss Francs at home in the UK, or when you arrive in Switzerland. Just make sure to get the best exchange rate by watching out for added fees/commission, which can be on the high side at hotels or airports.

Spending on a debit or credit card is also an option. Switzerland has plenty of ATMs, especially in larger cities, town centres, train stations and shopping centres. In German and Italian speaking areas, they’re called a Bancomat, whereas you’ll identify them as a Distributeur de billets in French-speaking Switzerland.

Some UK credit cards charge a transaction fee as high as 2.75 to 2.99 percent for purchases made in foreign currencies.⁴

Avoid getting hit with high fees and poor exchange rates at airports and other exchange houses by using the Wise debit card. You’ll then be able to spend in 40+ currencies by automatically converting your pounds at the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny currency conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

How to pay in Switzerland: Cards, cash and mobile payments

The debit card is now the most popular form of payment in Switzerland, although cash is also widely used -- especially in more remote areas and for leaving tips.⁵

Contactless payments are very common, so you should have no problem using your UK contactless card in most locations.

Just be sure to remember -- or jot down -- your pin, as you’ll usually need to enter it if you spend more than 80 CHF.

You can also use digital payments in most places, such as Google or Apple Pay, or the Wise virtual card.

For UK and all foreign cards, there’s usually a fee of 5-10 CHF to withdraw money from a Swiss ATM. Make sure you take out cash from a registered Swiss bank to avoid steeper fees.⁶

How much does it cost to travel to Switzerland

The cost of travelling in Switzerland can sometimes be steep, but getting to this beautiful Alpine country doesn’t have to be.

First of all, flight costs from the UK to Switzerland vary quite a bit depending on whether you take a direct flight, travel during the high season, or fly on a major route.

The timing during the week also matters, with booking comparison website Skyskanner listing Wednesday-Wednesday flights as significantly cheaper than those departing and returning at the weekend.

We’ll look at two of the major direct flight routes from the UK to Switzerland: London to Geneva and London to Zurich, both which take about one hour and 45 minutes.

A slightly off-season Saturday to Saturday roundtrip flight from London Gatwick (LGW) to Geneva will set you back as little as £75 with budget airline easyJet or £118 on British airways.

The same flight from London Gatwick to (LGW) to Zurich will cost around £95 with easyJet and £170 with British Airways. You can also find direct flights to these cities from Manchester, usually for at least £30 more than you’d pay flying out of London.⁷

We’ll also take a look at the general travel costs you can expect across three major cities in Switzerland, with a focus on accommodation at a mid-range hotel, dinner for two at a restaurant, and a public transport day pass.⁸

Category	Bern	Geneva	Zurich
Accomodation at Mid-Range Hotel	£118	£127	£118
Dinner for 2	£87.32	£110.3	£110.3
Public Transport (Day Pass)	£9.19	£9.19	£9.55
Main Sights	Zytglogge clock tower; Bear Park; Zentrum Paul Klee	Jet d’Eau; St. Pierre Cathedral; Palais des Nations (UN)	Lake Zurich promenade; Grossmünster; Kunsthaus (Art house) Zürich

Hidden travel costs to watch out for in Switzerland

You can avoid or minimize additional expenses in Switzerland by being aware of these hidden travel costs.

• Buying food at supermarkets like Migros and Coop is no doubt much cheaper, but note that you might have to pay to use the picnic area.
• Tap water at restaurants is rarely free, with some places charging 4-7 CHF per pitcher.
• If you plan to take a scenic cable car to the top of a mountain like the Matterhorn or Jungfraujoch, be prepared to fork over up to 150 CHF per person roundtrip.
• Some Swiss banks may charge between 5 and 10 CHF for an ATM cash withdrawal for a foreign-issued card. If your UK bank has a partnership with the bank, there may be no or lower fees.⁹
• Depending on the commune you’re staying in, you might have to pay a nightly tourist tax (Kurtax) of up to 7 CHF per night. The amount also depends on the type of accommodation, with hotels charging more than campsites for example.¹⁰

Essential laws and travel rules in Switzerland

When you travel to Switzerland from the UK, you can expect the rules and customs to differ a bit from those back home. Below are some essential ones to look out for.

• Possessing, using and smuggling illegal drugs, including cannabis, come with harsh penalties, including potentially long jail sentences.
• In the cantons of St Gallen and Ticino, it’s illegal to cover your face, including for tourists. You could be fined up to 10,000 CHF for doing so.
• Politeness is highly valued. It’s the norm to say hello and goodbye when you enter and leave a shop.²
• You can drive in Switzerland as a tourist using your UK license. Note that the country follows right-hand driving rules, and a Vignette (a motorway tax sticker) must be displayed on your car’s windshield if you drive on motorways.¹¹

Emergency contacts and safety tips

If you experience an emergency situation during your trip, these are the numbers to call¹²:

• 112 is the Europe-wide number for police, fire, or medical emergencies, and will connect you to local Swiss authorities.
• 117 is the number for local police
• 144 is the number for calling an ambulance in case of a medical emergency
• 118 is the fire service

If in doubt about who to call in an emergency, 112 operates 24/7 and will connect you to the local authorities.

Be sure to keep the contact of your travel insurance provider handy in case you need to make a claim or require assistance.

Travelling to Switzerland? Use Wise for low-cost currency conversion and spending

Open a Wise account online and you can order the Wise debit card for a one-time fee of £7. You can use this clever card in 150+ countries, including Switzerland.

It automatically converts your pounds to local currency whenever you spend using the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

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FAQs on travelling to Switzerland from UK

Here are some of the most common questions asked:

Can I use my UK Phone in Switzerland?

After Brexit, UK phone carriers were no longer required to offer roaming services for free in the EU. Many still do up to a certain amount of data or roaming plan, however. O2 for example offers free EU roaming for up to 25 GB per month¹³ whereas Vodafone UK gives you the option to pay around £2 extra per day.¹⁴ Alternatively you can get an eSim card to avoid roaming charges.

What type of plug adapter do I need for Switzerland?

In order to use your UK electronics in Switzerland, you’ll need a Type J plug adapter, which is compatible with a standard voltage of 230 V.¹⁵

Is travel insurance required for travelling to Switzerland?

While UK residents are not legally required to have travel insurance for Switzerland, taking out a policy is still highly recommended. Your GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) grants access to state-provided healthcare in Switzerland but still doesn’t cover private medical treatment, emergency repatriation to the UK or trip cancellations, lost baggage or delays.¹⁶

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Sources used:

1. Switzerland entry requirements - UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
2. Safest countries in the world ranking - World Population Review
3. Switzerland Travel Advice - UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
4. Using Your Debit Card Abroad -- Barclays
5. Debit card most popular form of payment in Switzerland -- Swiss Info
6. Cash or card in Switzerland? - Wise
7. Cheap United Kingdom to Switzerland Flights - Skyscanner
8. Cost of Living Index - Numeo
9. ATMs in Switzerland - Wise
10. Tourist and Visitor’s Taxes in Switzerland - Comparis
11. Rules for Driving in Switzerland -- The Car Expert
12. Emergency contacts in Switzerland -- Swiss Info
13. EU Roaming -- O2
14. Global Roaming -- Vodafone UK
15. Power Plugs in Switzerland -- Power Plugs and Sockets of the World
16. Applying for healthcare coverage abroad with UK GHIC -- NHS

Sources last checked on 23-Sept-2025.