How to Save Money in Switzerland – Budget Travel Tips

Fantastic — that’s an excellent and detailed piece about free things to do in Switzerland. Here’s a cleaned-up, lightly edited version to polish grammar, phrasing, and flow, without changing your friendly, conversational style. I’m presenting it in a fully readable form as if it were your blog post, ready to publish:

Free Things To Do in Switzerland:

Wherever you go and whatever you buy, you’ll find yourself spending a lot more than you would anywhere else — unless you’re travelling in Bermuda or Norway.

But for a budget traveller, our high prices can be a real turn-off. Which is a shame because Switzerland is a fantastic place to visit.

I mean, would you say no to this?

Läderach chocolate

Yeah, me neither. So let’s not get caught up in this downward spiral and focus on some positives instead, shall we? Because if you think about it, even this annoying aspect comes with its plus side:

It makes anything free feel like an absolute steal.

Think about it…

Finding a free museum in Switzerland is way more exciting than in one of those super budget-friendly countries like Poland or Croatia. And the best game plan to protect your budget is to hunt down as many free activities as possible.

Which is exactly what this post is going to help you with. Are you ready to find out what they are?

(Spoiler alert: some of the following 25 suggestions are probably not what you expected. Free biscuits, anyone?)

Check Also: Using Credit Cards in Switzerland – Fees Acceptance & Tips

1. Culinary

Go cookie-crazy at the Kambly factory store

If you like free biscuits and beautiful landscapes, the Kambly factory store in the idyllic village of Trubschachen will feel like Christmas and Easter all at once.

With up to 100 types of delicious biscuits to freely devour, this place will keep you busy for a while.

And full…

Or sick. Depending on how far you take it. And I have yet to meet someone who didn’t take it too far.

For an in-depth rundown of the Kambly store adventure, visit [this article].

Refill your water bottle

Switzerland is known as the “water castle of Europe,” which makes buying bottled water completely redundant. Drinking water is everywhere, and opportunities to refill your bottle are endless.

Zurich alone has 1,200 public fountains, and Lucerne even created a water guide to help you find your nearest refill station. Unless you see a sign telling you otherwise (“kein Trinkwasser,” “eau non potable,” or “acqua non potabile”), you’re good to go.

Opinions on drinking from mountain streams are divided, though. Personally, I avoid it whenever I can…

Say cheese

Oh boy, Swiss cheese. Don’t get me started…

Nothing I’ve ever tasted abroad comes even close to what we have here. Swiss cheese is simply the best. I occasionally get called a cheese snob for saying that during my travels, but I’ll take it.

The coolest part about having 450 different types of cheese is visiting one of the many cheese dairies.

Here’s a list of places that let you enter for free. Mind you, some of them charge a small fee for tastings at the end or to see special parts of their dairy. But for a general impression of Swiss cheese-making, you don’t have to pay at the following places:

• Cheese dairy in St-Imier
• Cheese dairy in Engelberg
• Cheese dairy in Einsiedeln
• Cheese dairy in Airolo
• Emmental cheese dairy in Affoltern
• Cheese dairy in Marbach
• Cheese dairy in Glis
• Cheese day in Solothurn

Oh, and if you happen to turn into a cheese snob after your trip to Switzerland, please let me know. One can never have too many allies…

2. Transport

Use free public transport

Public transport in Switzerland isn’t cheap. But luckily, several Swiss cities offer free use of local public transport to their visitors.

Upon check-in at your accommodation in Bern, Basel, Lucerne, Lausanne, Montreux, Geneva, and the whole canton of Ticino, you receive a ticket allowing you to use local transport for free during your stay.

More and more cities are adopting this concept, so check with your accommodation if they offer a tourist card upon arrival.

Grab a free bike

In some cities, you can borrow free bikes through a platform called Schweizrollt. All you need to do is leave a deposit and/or some ID, and off you go.

Cities currently participating in Schweizrollt include Zurich, Geneva, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, Neuchâtel, and the canton of Valais. You can also grab a free bike in St. Gallen by heading to the train station and following signs to the “Velostation.”

If you’re looking to rent a bike elsewhere, alternatives include Nextbike, Publibike, Velospot, and SBB. Those aren’t free, though.

3. Culture

Tag along on a free walking tour

The concept of free walking tours has exploded in popularity over the past few years.

A highly motivated, talkative, and usually local guide takes you around a city for a couple of hours, sharing tons of local knowledge, random facts, and interesting stories.

These tours operate on tips alone. You basically join for free and decide at the end how much it was worth to you. If you felt like it sucked, you could technically just sneak off — but they almost always go above and beyond to entertain and inform you, so leaving a decent tip is kind of a no-brainer.

As of May 2019, free walking tours exist in thirteen Swiss cities. To find one that suits your taste and schedule, check the [official Freewalk website]

Peek around our churches

Switzerland boasts a wide array of impressive churches and cathedrals, and to my knowledge, they’re all free to enter. (If you happen to find one that charges an entrance fee, I apologize in advance.)

Certain churches, like St. Ursus Cathedral in Solothurn, Grossmünster in Zurich, Laurenzenkirche in St. Gallen, or Basler Münster in Basel, offer the opportunity to climb the tower for a small fee.

Don’t miss this if you’re after postcard- or Instagram-worthy views.

Take a good look at the city model in Zurich

If you’re into architecture or city planning, you’re going to love the city model in Zurich.

This wooden replica of Switzerland’s biggest city shows over 50,000 existing buildings as well as major planned projects. You’ll find it in the basement of the Department of City Planning at Lindenhofstrasse 19 in Zurich.

It’s not uncommon to burst into a meeting here, as this room also serves as a conference room. But as long as you keep your voice down and don’t interrupt important discussions, you’re welcome to take a look.

Join a free tour of the Swiss Parliament Building

Understanding the Swiss political system can be as difficult as nailing jelly to a tree.

But if you’re interested, you can join one of the free tours of the Parliament Building in Bern. To reserve your spot, use [this booking form]

Visit a free museum

With over 1,100 museums scattered across Switzerland, there’s something for everyone.

The best part? Roughly a third of them are free.

Not the big ones like Technorama in Winterthur or the Museum of Communication in Bern. But CERN in Geneva and the Nature Museum in Solothurn, for instance, are free to enter.

I couldn’t find a conclusive list in English, but there’s a helpful one in German. Visit this [website], scroll down to “5. Alle Schweizer Museen,” and sort by price — the free ones will appear at the top.

By the way, if you’re travelling with a Swiss Travel Pass, you automatically own the Swiss Museum Pass as well. This grants free entry to all the places listed [here]. (Spoiler alert: certain chocolate factories count as museums and are included!)

Slow down

Travelling can be exhausting when you cram your itinerary too full.

While it might seem logical to tick off as many places as possible, it can cause you (yes, me too!) to miss what’s right in front of you: all the free stuff that’s almost too obvious to notice.

So next time you find yourself racing from museum to monument, spending way too much in the process, slow down.

Get lost in a city. Stroll through alleyways, check out churches and shops, or find a cosy spot by a lake or river.

Party at a free festival

Free festivals, parties, and markets happen year-round.

From street food festivals to local parties like “Märetfescht” in Solothurn or “em Beppi si Jazz” in Basel, buskers festivals, carnival madness, fun fairs, open-air concerts, and countless other events — there’s always something going on.

The best way to find out what’s happening nearby is the Swiss Events app, which maintains an up-to-date list of everything going on in Switzerland.

Explore our mighty castles

Castles might not be the first thing you associate with Switzerland. But you’d be surprised how many beautiful castles we have.

Like Chateau de Chillon by Lake Geneva, Gruyères Castle in the Canton of Fribourg, or Lenzburg Castle in the Canton of Aargau.

Most castles aren’t free to enter. But they’re just as impressive from the outside, so you can still enjoy them without going in.

To find the most beautiful ones, visit the [Swiss castles website].

4. Nature

Take a stroll through our botanical gardens

Botanical gardens are nearly as abundant in Switzerland as museums.

Almost every city and every university with a plant-related programme has a publicly accessible garden showcasing native and exotic plants.

To find one near you, use the search function on the [official Swiss Tourism website].

Stand in the mist of Europe’s largest waterfall

The Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen are a spectacular force of nature.

During summer, around 600,000 litres of water plunge over this 150-metre wide (492 feet) and 23-metre tall (75 feet) waterfall every second.

Access from the northern shore is free, while viewing from the southern side costs CHF 5, which includes platforms and entrance to Laufen Castle.

Wander through the Lavaux vineyards

The Lavaux vineyards are a perfect spot for wine and nature lovers alike.

Stretching from Lausanne to Montreux, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of my favourite places in western Switzerland — and completely free to access if you don’t stop for a glass of wine.

It’s super peaceful wandering the pathways winding through the vineyards, with spectacular views over Lake Geneva and the Alps.

The easiest way to reach the vineyards is by train from Montreux or Lausanne. Get off in Epesses, Villette, or anywhere along the way, and make your way uphill. Or follow the directions on [this website].

Dip your toes — pretty much anywhere

Switzerland, the water castle of Europe, has roughly 1,500 lakes scattered across the country. You’re never far from an opportunity to go for a swim.

From cute ponds to icy mountain lakes, refreshing rivers, and large lakes, water lovers are spoiled for choice year-round.

Unless you see a sign telling you otherwise, you’re free to hop in. Just be careful in rivers — currents can be stronger than they look.

Hike until your feet fall off

With the Alps making up two-thirds of Switzerland’s landmass, hiking opportunities are endless.

If you add up all the official hiking trails in Switzerland, you’d get around 65,000 kilometres (40,400 miles) — one and a half times the Earth’s circumference. Or about 18.5 times the Appalachian Trail.

Hiking is a free activity that could technically keep you busy for years.

To plan your hike, use the [Schweizmobil website] or download their app.

Walk across the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge

An exhilarating adventure awaits on the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge near Zermatt.

Opened in 2017, it stretches 494 metres (1,620 feet) across the valley. The circular trail starts and finishes in Randa, which you can reach by train from Zermatt in about 15 minutes.

Visit the Swiss National Park

Unlike many national parks worldwide, the Swiss National Park is free to enter.

Founded in 1914, it’s the oldest national park in the Alps and offers 80 kilometres (50 miles) of hiking trails through breathtaking landscapes.

The park is also home to native animals like marmots, ibex, deer, chamois, jackdaws, and many more.

Getting to the main entrance in Zernez is a bit of a journey, but Swiss public transport makes it easy.

Go stargazing

Never seen the Milky Way? Or just love the stars? You’re in luck.

Find a remote spot with little light pollution, look up, and wait for shooting stars.

Another option is to bring a tent and spend the night outside. Wild camping is legal in Switzerland — or at least not illegal…

5. Animals

Spend some quality time with the bears

Figuratively speaking, of course.

If you’re in Switzerland’s capital, make sure to stop by the Bear Park, at the lower end of Bern’s old town. Unless it’s hibernation time, you’ll be able to watch Björk, Finn, Ursina, and Berna go about their daily bear lives.

Hang out at a free wildlife park

Several wildlife parks across Switzerland are free and make for a great afternoon outing. Here’s a list of beautiful parks that also teach you a thing or two about Swiss wildlife:

• Wildpark Roggenhausen in Aarau
• Tierpark Lange Erlen in Basel
• Tierpark in Biel
• Alpine Park in Interlaken
• Tierpark in Langenthal
• Peter & Paul in St. Gallen
• Wildpark Bruderhaus in Winterthur
• Wildnispark in Zurich
• Wildpark Heitern in Zofingen

Visit the retired horses of Le Roselet

Tucked away in Les Breuleux in the canton of Jura, the horse foundation Le Roselet runs a nursing station for retired horses.

Close to 60 elderly horses, ponies, and donkeys have found their retirement home here and can be visited all year round.

If heading to Les Breuleux seems out of the way, combine the visit with a hike in the Jura mountain range. Trails can be found and planned through [Schweizmobil].

Observe the storks at Switzerland’s largest stork station

The stork station in Altreu was founded in 1950, when storks in Switzerland were almost extinct.

Max Bloesch, a dedicated sports teacher, worked tirelessly to bring storks back to Switzerland — and eventually succeeded.

Today, over 40 breeding pairs spend summers soaring through the skies, strutting across fields, and clattering on rooftops in Altreu.

If you’re in the Solothurn area, don’t miss a relaxing few hours in this charming spot by the River Aare.

Places to Visit in Switzerland

1. Zermatt & the Matterhorn
Famous for the iconic Matterhorn, Zermatt is a paradise for hikers, skiers, and nature lovers. Take the Gornergrat Railway for stunning panoramic views.

2. Interlaken
Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken is the adventure capital of Switzerland—ideal for paragliding, skydiving, and scenic cruises.

3. Lucerne
Explore this picturesque city with its medieval architecture, Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), and access to Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi.

4. Lauterbrunnen Valley
Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and 72 waterfalls, Lauterbrunnen is one of the most beautiful valleys in Europe. Great base for visiting Jungfraujoch.

5. Geneva
Home to the United Nations, Geneva offers a mix of diplomacy, culture, and lakeside beauty. Don’t miss the Jet d’Eau and the Old Town.

6. Bern
Switzerland’s capital boasts a UNESCO-listed medieval center, charming arcades, and the iconic Zytglogge clock tower.

7. Montreux
Located on Lake Geneva, Montreux is known for its annual jazz festival and the stunning Château de Chillon.

8. Grindelwald
A dreamy alpine village perfect for skiing in winter and hiking in summer, with easy access to the Eiger and Jungfraujoch.

Switzerland Activities:

• Ride a cable car to Jungfraujoch, known as the “Top of Europe”
• Hike scenic trails like the Five Lakes Walk near Zermatt
• Enjoy a traditional Swiss fondue in mountain villages
• Cruise on Lake Lucerne or Lake Geneva
• Bike through Swiss wine regions or along picturesque lakes
• Relax in thermal baths in destinations like Leukerbad
• Visit historic castles such as Château de Chillon and Bellinzona
• Ski or snowboard in world-class resorts like St. Moritz, Verbier, or Davos
• Take a journey on the scenic Glacier Express train between Zermatt and St. Moritz
• Explore charming Old Towns filled with medieval architecture and local culture

Zip That Wallet:

And that completes our hunt for free things to do in Switzerland. As you can see, there’s plenty to do here without opening your wallet.

I’m sure this list isn’t exhaustive, so if you discover any additional free activities worth sharing, let me know in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions: