Is it expensive to eat out in Switzerland?
Restaurants are infamously expensive in Switzerland, a simple meal of pasta costing CHF 25 or more. And honestly, at most casual restaurants, the food is not amazing. Unless you are going to a very nice restaurant, your meal is rarely worth the high prices.
The main reason is that restaurant costs are very high here. Rent, staff salaries, ingredients… All MUCH more expensive than in most other countries. What is the ultimate luxury in Switzerland?
Tips for eating out on a budget in Switzerland
Put simply, eating out in Switzerland is expensive. To avoid haemorrhaging cash, make lunch your main meal, and always plump for the “menu”, or dish of the day. This comprises two or three courses of substantial, quality nosh, whether in a café or a proper restaurant.
Central Switzerland: Average coffee price is 4.20 Swiss Francs (6.8 minutes of work) Northwest Switzerland: Average coffee price is 4.29 Swiss Francs (6.7 minutes of work) Zurich: Average coffee price is 4.35 Swiss Francs (6.6 minutes of work)
Costs really depend on what type of restaurant you choose. If you decide to eat in a pizzeria, a meal consisting of salad and pizza would cost around CHF 25. In an average restaurant, calculate a total of around CHF 50 for starter and main. Glass of wine would be CHF 5-10.
If you eat out every meal during your Switzerland trip, I would budget about CHF 25-35 for lunch and CHF 40-50 for dinner per person including drinks. If you picnic, I would budget about CHF 10-15 per person per meal.
In fact, you never have to worry about tipping in Switzerland. Nor need you feel bad for the nice waiter who served you all evening as he does not live off of tips (unlike the US). The system is different over here – for 35 years now, tips are generally included in the price and tipping is totally optional.
Meal times
Lunch is usually served between noon and 2 pm, and even a little earlier at some restaurants. Dinner is usually served from 6 pm to 9.30 pm. Many restaurants and pubs, especially in the cities, also offer continuous (11 am-10 pm) hot dishes.
For budget travelers, you can expect to spend around $70 to $100 per day in Switzerland. This includes staying in budget accommodations, eating at budget restaurants, and using public transportation. For mid-range travelers, you can expect to spend around $200 to $300 per day.
- Kafi-crème. This is probably the most popular form of coffee in Switzerland. ...
- Schale. A schale is usually served in a big cup or bowl. ...
- Kafi Luz or Luzerner Kafi. If caffeine doesn't do the trick, it's time to add something fanciful. ...
- Espresso.
Is alcohol expensive in Switzerland?
Surprisingly alcoholic drinks are relatively good value in Switzerland compared with other prices. The taxes on alcohol are low. This is all pleasantly suprising!
Coffee & Tea
Drinking coffee after dinner is common. Expect to get an espresso in a teeny tiny cup if you just order a “café.” If you want a latte, it is “renversé” in Switzerland, not “café au lait.” If you want a larger American coffee, order an “Americano.” If you want decaf, order “decafé.”
There is no obligation to tip anybody in restaurants, cafes, and bars. A service charge is typically added into your bill at restaurants in Switzerland.
The most commonly accepted payment options are cash, credit cards and debit cards. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere. The most common are Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Maestro. It is advisable to check in advance...
At 7.73 U.S. dollars, Switzerland has the most expensive Big Macs in the world, according to the July 2023 Big Mac index.
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.
In Switzerland, the guest is not obliged to tip. In many restaurants, however, it is customary to pay a tip. This amounts to approximately 10 percent or it is rounded up to a round amount.
Swiss drinking water is of very high quality and meets strict guidelines regarding hygiene and safety. Like any natural product, tap water contains trace substances, but due to the stringent regulations on drinking water treatment, their concentration is at such a low level that it can be drunk without hesitation.
This is because the waitstaff don't want to intrude on your meal. Because of this, your waiter won't automatically bring you the check at the end of the meal, they will let you stay as long as you like. To ask for the bill, flag your waiter down and say “l'addition s'il vous plait” which means “the check please.”
Currency in Switzerland
While the Swiss Franc is accepted everywhere, you can also use the Euro in most of the places. If you are on a Switzerland trip, it would be ideal for you to use francs only. However, if you passing through the country and will be staying for a night, you also have the option of using the Euro.
What is a typical Swiss breakfast?
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 birchermĂĽesli or it could be a complete meal.
The times people go to bed and rise vary too. On average Swiss go to bed a little after 11pm and get up shortly before 7am.
Fondue is *a little* expensive.
On average, a cheese fondue costs about 30 CHF per person. That price gets you the basic entrée as previously described. For budget travelers, the restaurant price tag may seem like a setback, but remember this is Switzerland… where a casual dinner out will cost you about 30 CHF anyway.
Zurich and Geneva are travel hubs, as are Bern and Basel. You can easily get a flight here when arriving in Switzerland. You can take domestic flights within the country, though they are expensive. Switzerland isn't that big, so the best way to travel to different cities within the country is by train or bus.
Compared to its neighbours in Europe, the cost of a standard basket of goods, such as food, clothing, accommodation, healthcare, transport and education for example, is still far higher in Switzerland than in the rest of Europe.
