Food and drink | Switzerland Tourism (2024)

FAQs

What food and drink is Switzerland known for? ›

On average, a budget traveler can expect to spend around $100 to $150 per day, while a mid-range traveler may spend between $200 and $300 per day. By being mindful of your expenses and making smart choices, you can have an unforgettable trip to Switzerland without breaking the bank.

Switzerland is one of the most expensive country in Europe and really, in the whole world. This makes it so that accommodation, food and other expenses are much higher than elsewhere. However, there are options to make it a bit cheaper, such as staying in hostels & cooking your own meals.

Beer is a popular alcoholic drink in Switzerland, both lager and dark beers are enjoyed. White wine is popular because it is traditionally served with fondue. Most of the wines produced in Switzerland tend to be white, however, there are other good varieties in the country.

Rivella – Whey makes it possible

Rivella is the unsung national drink of Mr and Mrs Swiss. It was invented by a lawyer, and is made from a 'by-product'. The story of a special liquid blend.

The cheapest city to visit in Switzerland is not really known, as there are so many variants as to what can make it cheap to visit, but generally, the areas around the Jura, Neuchâtel and Thurgau are deemed some of the cheapest.

Yes, cards issued by U.S. Bank can be used in most foreign countries. If you're planning to travel and want to use your card, let us know. This will help reduce declined transactions on your trip. Knowing your trip details also helps us protect you from fraud.

Food costs can vary greatly depending on the type of restaurant you choose. Budget restaurants can cost around $15 per person, while mid-range restaurants can cost around $50 per person. For budget travelers, you can expect to spend around $70 to $100 per day in Switzerland.

Pizza can be a good choice, but not necessarily super cheap. Expect to pay about CHF 18-28 per 30cm pizza. We end up ordering a lot of pizza on our Swiss holidays to avoid sitting in a restaurant for two hours.

What to eat in Switzerland on a budget? ›

Monthly supermarket bills vary widely depending on the household size and preferred brands, though food in Switzerland can be expected to be around 20–30% higher than other European cities, with prices being highest in Zurich and Basel. Residents should budget around CHF 400–650 per month per person.

What do people eat and drink: In Switzerland, breakfast typically includes bread, butter or margarine, marmalade or honey, maybe some cheese or cereals, plus milk, cold or hot chocolate, tea or coffee. Lunch may be as simple as a sandwich or a birchermüesli or it could be a complete meal.

Tipping in Switzerland is not expected. Instead, a service charge will normally be added to your bill. The service charge will usually be declared on the menu if you're in a cafe or restaurant, for example, and is paid directly to the company rather than to an individual member of staff.

Fondue is one of the most popular street foods in Switzerland. Literally meaning “melted”; in French, it is also available widely in France and Italy. This is a pot of melted cheese, wine and garlic, served on open flame and people dip their bread pieces with long forks and eat it.

Generally speaking, basic food items include a huge selection of bread (white, whole wheat etc.), dairy products such as milk, yogurt, butter and - of course - a great variety of the world famous Swiss cheese. Also important are vegetables including beans, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, spinach etc.

Switzerland is famous for its mountains, clocks and its food – especially cheese and chocolates. It's a fantastic place for winter sports. The British Royals love to snowboard in Klosters while skiing in Zermatt gives you fantastic views of the iconic Matterhorn mountain.

Come drink coffee like the Swiss

The Swiss are among the biggest consumers of coffee on the planet; almost three-quarters of the world's coffee trade happens in Switzerland.