Switzerland Tourism

Yes, as an Indian citizen, you need a visa for Switzerland. You can apply for a Switzerland visa through the Swiss embassy or consulate in India. The process involves downloading the visa application form from the embassy/consulate website and filling it with the necessary details. According to Swiss law, applicants must demonstrate financial means of at least 100 Swiss Francs per day (approximately INR 8,300) for general stays or 30 Swiss Francs or around INR 2,500 per day for students with valid student IDs. To apply for a Visa for trips up to 90 days in Switzerland, you will need recent passport photos, valid Indian passport/travel documents, travel and medical insurance, proof of legal residence, a cover letter with itinerary, flight and accommodation details, civil status proof, and evidence of financial means.

Adults need to pay Rs. 4,500 as the visa fees for Switzerland with additional Rs. 1,350 as the VFS fees. The visa fees for children (aged between 6-12) are lower, at Rs. 2,700 with no VFS fees.

Do’s:

1. Although a handshake is normal on the initial meeting, respect the traditional Swiss greeting of three kisses on the cheek.

2. Dress in a tidy manner. Men should wear a suit and tie, while ladies should wear a dress or suit.

3. During eating, keep both hands on the table but the elbow off the table.

Don’ts:

1. Don't address someone by their first name unless you've been encouraged to do so. Use surnames and other titles.

2. Do not request a tax-free shopping check or a VAT refund.

3. Be careful of the volume of your voice when speaking in public, especially on a phone. 

1. Rent A Tiny Chalet In The Mountains: There are several places in the Swiss mountains where you can rent a tiny cabin in faraway locations. There are tiny houses perched on mountain cliffs, in the middle of forests and on the shores of massive lakes. There is nothing more romantic than waking up next to your significant other with breathtaking scenery peeking in through your window.

2. Visit An Old Swiss Castle: There are several age-old castles like the Chillon Castle, the Habsburg Castle and Chateau de Tourbillon which sit on some of the most stunning landscapes in the country. You can visit these places lost in time and go through the pages of history, folklore and legend together.

3. Hike Through Tiny Swiss Towns And Villages: There are thousands of trails all across the country that would take you to remote villages and sleepy hamlets. Here, you can spend hours enjoying the slow pace of life, observing the locals and their way of life as you make memories.

4. Walk Through Glittering City Streets At Night: Switzerland has no dearth of gorgeous cities and you can choose to spend romantic evenings walking through the lit streets of Zurich, Geneva and Bern after the sun goes down. This is when you will be able to see the local night markets, pubs and street performances come to life.

5. Go For A Swim Together: Switzerland has some of the world’s most spectacular lakes strewn all across the country. This means that you are never too far away from a romantic swim with stunning mountain scenery in the background.

1. Skiing: Switzerland is a major winter sports destination and its beautiful peaks offer some of the world’s best skiing opportunities. From Zermatt to Interlaken, you can easily access slopes covered in fine, white snow throughout the winter months, allowing people of every age to enjoy the rush of skiing down mountains.

2. Mountain Climbing: When in Switzerland, there is no dearth of mountain climbing opportunities, from Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau to one of the fiercest in the world, Matterhorn. Depending on your expertise and experience, you can choose a mountain to climb.

3. Skydiving: When in Switzerland, especially in the town of Interlaken, you can experience skydiving from a height of 4,000 metres above the ground! It is a truly thrilling experience and if you have no prior experience, you can also choose to go tandem! It is an excellent way of devouring the beautiful Swiss landscape from a bird’s eye view.

4. Canyoning: Switzerland is home to some of the most beautiful canyons in the world, complete with rivers, ravines, streams and waterfalls. This means that you can go and have a fun experience complete with diving from cliff faces, swimming through waters and having an adventure-packed time.

1. Kaufleuten, Zurich: If clubbing is what you are after, then it doesn’t get any better than Kaufleuten. The night club has welcomed personalities like Madonna, Prince and Robbie Williams in the past and continues to be a favourite Swiss haunt of celebrities even to this day.

2. Bejart Ballet, Lausanne: When in Lausanne, you must experience the Bejart Ballet at least once! The performances are truly world-class and if you are there around the time of their yearly event, you can experience a rich ensemble of some of the world’s top ballerinas.

3. Pub Crawl in Zermatt: There is nothing better than gulping down a mug of hot wine on a cold Swiss evening. The Papperla Pub in Zermatt offers a truly local experience where you can sit down and enjoy mulled wine as live performances brighten up the small space.

4. Late-night Casino at Bern: When in Bern, you can casino through the night at the Grand Casino in Bern that is open till 5:00 AM in the morning. The place has two bars, a smoking lounge, roulette, blackjack, poker and slot machines which will keep you occupied till the sun rises. It is an excellent place to spend your time if you have a late night train or bus to catch!

Switzerland tourism is best known for its Alpine beauty and stunning landscapes. When in Switzerland, you can access numerous majestic peaks, colourful valleys, breathtaking lakes and beautiful canyons. When here, you can spend your days hiking, cycling, swimming, skiing, kayaking and even sky-diving.

Additionally, Switzerland is known for its wide variety of cheese, chocolate and meat. Switzerland’s craftsmanship is known worldwide in the form of its sophisticated clock making, the world-famous Hadron collider at CERN and its vast array of musical instruments.

1. The Eiger Trail: The Eiger Trail is a world-famous hiking trail that offers breathtaking views of the Lauberhorn, Klein Scheidegg and Grindelwald valleys. On this trail, you get to walk past wild streams, waterfalls and steep pastures. During the summer months, you will always find a team of hikers, all roped to the mountain face, trying to make their way to the summit.

2. Hornweg: The Hornweg trail is an 8.9 kilometres long trail, located near the Swiss town of Zermatt. The trail is nestled at the base of the notoriously hard-to-climb peak, the Matterhorn. This is a hard to follow trail and you do require a little bit of expertise.

3. Aletsch Glacier Panorama Trail: With this trail, you get to hike alongside stunningly beautiful glacial scenery. The glacier runs for over 23 kilometres in length, is 900 metres deep and curves around the back of the Jungfraujoch peak. The trail itself stretches for 12.4 kilometres and covers the lower end of the glacier, offering panoramic views of the ice.

4. Burgenstock Felsenweg: If you are in Lucerne, you can definitely make a day trip out of this easy yet beautiful trail. The Burgenstock is a small mountain that sits in the Lake Lucerne. The hike includes a cliff walk where you walk a well-protected path with the lake on one side and mountains on the other. You end the hike with a glass elevator ride that takes you up to the hotel.

1. Cheese Fondue: Switzerland can easily be called the dairy capital of the world and this means that you won’t get such a wide selection of fresh cheese anywhere else in the world! You can make a whole meal out of dipping various food items in melted cheese and enjoying it at your own table.

2. Chocolate Fondue: Just like Swiss cheese, you simply can’t have enough of the Swiss milk chocolate. For dessert, you can enjoy fruits, pastries and cakes dipped in melted chocolate and enjoy them on the spot!

3. Muesli: Since this cereal was invented in Switzerland, you cannot get a more authentic Muesli than in Switzerland.

4. Rosti: Rosti can be best described as a Swiss casserole made with potatoes. It is largely eaten for breakfast and is most popular in the capital city of Bern.

Switzerland's milk chocolates are known for their melt-in-the-mouth goodness. This character comes from the high amount of cocoa butter in the chocolate, that makes them melt at body temperatures.