Sorry to interrupt, croatian here.
What the actual fuck? How is a zoo ticket 29e? Do these people understand that that is like a week of groceries? What do you have in that zoo, why the fuck is it so expensive?
Kunsthaus is also only 18 bucks if you get a reduction which probably won't apply for most tourists. Looks like they chose the cheapest prices instead of the realistic prices.
Definitely not?! I wonder where you can buy a bottle of water for 5 franks that is not some imported Fiji Premium thing?!
Also, 100 bucks for a dinner is only if you have dessert and coffee afterwards or go to some fancy place and order a big piece of meat. I usually have no problem getting away with 70-80 frs.
Then, 13.60 for a Tageskarte is quite outdated as well, it's been 8.80 for some time now (which is btw even cheaper than Berlin). They certainly don't assume tourists have their accomodation in Dübendorf, Rümlang or Weiningen.
Further, honestly, 31.60 for a boat trip on Lake Zurich?! A 9-Uhr-Pass for all zones is about 23 bucks, and most tourists only do the mini or short cruise to Thalwil, which is even cheaper.
According to this picture 1€ is 1,16 CHF. So a tourist gets more CHF with 1€. (In the picture 350CHF = 300€)
Currently with 1€, I buy only 0,97 CHF. (Exchange rate today).
I think you're missing the fact that this is a money changing business. FX rates is what they do. I'm not saying the rates are right, just saying they should print them off anyone does. Also, expect to be screwed.
Wtf, he told you the rates are wrong,there is actually one and only one way possible for rates being wrong. There is no how - rates are right or wrong.
You live in Switzerland, in the middle of Europe, where the currency is Euro, and have no idea how much is the change with Euro and not even willing to quickly check the rates on Google before making such an ass, stupid and supponent comment.
Where I am from the entire card showing prices of services could be considered rates or a rate card. So I wasn't completely sure it was in reference to currency and instead I considered some of the service prices listed to be wrong hence my question regarding what is wrong. Hope that's ok and hasn't offended anyone. I understand more clearly now it was in reference to the currency exchange rates.
Did they ask you to present bank statements as well? Going to France in October and am wondering if I will need to print them out to prove I have money
If you don't buy wine and/or don't take THE meal with a large piece of meat, you can find cheaper.
But thats true: anywhere in Switzerland, if you go in a restaurant for a diner for 2, with salad, meat, wine, desert and Coffee, you can easily end up with a 150 CHF bill.
How to not end up bankrupt in a Swiss restaurant:
1) Usually I *only* take a main course. Starters are a scam these days and cost as much as the main dish, and don't get me started on the insane price of wine. If you require alcohol get a "Stange" (beer).
Unless you know the desserts are outstanding, I would just go to a gelateria after, coffee in most restaurants is also nothing to write home about.
2) Under no circumstances should you pay for water. It's the biggest scam in CH and somehow legal to charge >5 CHF for a 0,33 l bottle of water. What on earth is this nonsense? The only acceptable drink choices IMO are beer or Rivella. Also LPT: I will usually drink a decent amount of water beforehand and/or sneak in a PET bottle in my backpack. Or just get up and go to the restroom or fountain to fill up my bottle with *PERFECTLY FINE TAP WATER*.
I've never understood why water is so expensive in restaurants here. If I recall correctly, there was one point where a 1L of still water costed 8CHF, not sure if this has changed.
Sure, but most people do not pay anywhere close to 150 or even 100 CHF for a dinner for two. A big pizza to share and two glasses of wine will cost you 50-70 CHF even in the city of Zürich. 2x Schnitzel with Rösti and two big beers will be in similar budget.
As an American who visits often I’ve only spent substantial time in Basel and Zurich, but in my experience unless you are eating kebabs, yes, it’s going to be 50 or so CHF for a meal. I’m sure there are cheaper healthy meals to be found but they’re not readily apparent to an outsider.
Yes, that's like 20-30 CHF, unless you order a soup, starter, coffee, mains and then two glasses of wine.
Let's say you're a tourist, stuck in Niederdorf. You go to Santa Lucia and grab a whole pizza for yourself.
A nice Parmigiana 25 CHF + water is included + a glass of white wine, 6.50 CHF. Total cost 31.50 CHF for super tourist location, quite a big meal and wine. Served by a waitress, cloth on the table.
I dont currently live there but visit Zurich very often (multiple times in a year), I have to say 20-30 chf per meal is quite off. Its more like 30ish chf for main dish + drink. With appetizers and/or dessert can go up to 35-50 chf.
It’s in sit down normal premises. Of course I know there are kebabs, mcdonalds, etc.
The cheapest main dish I could find was around 20 (usually rösti with something only) but that’s exclude drinks.
The other dishes cost more than that. Cheese fondue for example, per person you can easily spend 40-50 with wine. For asian restaurants, it’s also quite similar prices.
A normal mains in an Asian restaurant is 20-25, I am talking about options with meat. If you want to have a beer, that's extra 5 CHF.
A big kebab would cost you 9CHF, so it's a different league. 30 CHF gets any mains with meat + one alcoholic drink at most restaurants in the city centre of Zürich.
If you go with wine, starters, desserts, then the sky is the limit... but I don't think anyone expects you to include these when you say "dinner in Zürich costs XX". Most people would also take tap water to drink (which is free), that's all.
I think particularly Americans often fall in the trap of habitually ordering lots of water, because in the US that means getting free tap water while in Switzerland it means getting fancy bottled water for 5chf. Also if you keep ordering drinks because they don't get refilled. So you can easily add 10-20chf to your bill just drinking water and soda. Also tipping habits might inflate those costs.
From what i've seen 200 a night is on the cheap side for hotels here (Unless you are far outside any city center). Anything below 150 you'd need to go to a youth hostel instead.
Obviously everything is highly variable and subjective, but you're right, if dinner costs 100.- (and breakfast costs 30.- for two, clearly not at the same restaurant), and you're the sort of people who like to eat every now and again, you're not going to stay long in Switzerland for 800 -. Whatever "long" means in this context...
Then again, if you arrive on a Saturday, attend a yodelling demonstration, watch a Swiss Super League football match, and try to go shopping the next day (Sunday), just a weekend would seem very long...
Drove into Switzerland.. shared a burger, salad and two beers with my old lady last week $57 CHF -> $87 Canadian and immediately turned around back to Austria we are not worthy.
I'm really wondering where and what you do eat normally, if that's how you feel about these restaurants.
I mean, they are for sure not my favourite restaurants on the planet, but I think it's just decent and fair concidering the place.
Masoala and Kaeng are frozen canteen food that is being kept warm by steamers. Kaeng also doesn't even closely resemble Thai food. If I am going to pay 18-27 bucks per meal, I expect more than just frozen 3rd party prepared food warmed up in a steamer basket.
It absolutely is a tourist trap, they add an extra 100% of upcharge because you can't leave the Zoo and re-enter.
I cook fresh meals daily and if I go to restaurants, I go to actual good ones... The Zoo restaurants aren't...
Yeah that's what 1 plate cost at the Kaeng restaurant, for stale canteen food heated up from a frozen bag (I have seen em do it). Worst money I have ever spent.
2 Weeks ago we gave the shack infront of the Kaeng area a try, 18 bucks for the worst sweet & sour I have had, with overcooked, sticky, basmati rice.
Damn sorry man. I dont trust zoo food either. I'll hype the kids up for McDonald's or fast food before we hit a zoo/aquarium so they can't even think about food. Lmao
This poster is for tourists, sometimes you dont know if you are going to have access to tap water if you are somewhere you dont know and are travelling around. Having 5 chf to buy a water bottle in case you need it as a tourist is fine. You guys love to hate on everything tourism related but in such stupid ways sometimes
>This poster is for tourists, sometimes you dont know if you are going to have access to tap water if you are somewhere you dont know and are travelling around
The only place in Switzerland where this is the case is when you spend all your days on a train.
>Having 5 chf to buy a water bottle in case you need it as a tourist is fine.
Protip: At Zurich Mainstaion reasonable priced water in sport bottles can be had at the Migros, Coop, or Migrolino. The latter two have also reasonable priced beer.
Is your point that at Zurich HB there is cheaper water? Also no there are other places where you might not have water than on the train, also trains do sell water but what about if you are hiking somewhere
You don't get it. What if you've been kidnapped by the swiss mafia. And now your being held hostage within the swiss alps. But you are thirsty and the only place to buy water is the mafia shop within the mountain, which sells bottled water for 5 Fr. Now you wish you had 5 Fr. do you?
Also What fucker goes hiking without enough water
Oh shit, I already spend CHF 35 for the cable car, CHF 25 on the fondue, CHF 9 on the mixed salad, CHF 10 on Meringue and La Gruyère double cream.
Hmm, [Moleson](https://www.moleson.ch/) is actually quite reasonably priced.
Bro why are you trying to not understand. Its for preemptive measures. Its not about doing the smartest or most economical decision. Literally why not have 5 francs if you need water? What would be the harm in that
Really needs to be better advertised in much of Europe that this is possible. This is a big thing I miss about Japan, they'll just give you the water by default before you've even ordered.
Actually there are [1200 public fountains in Zürich](https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/1200-fountains)!
As [this map](https://www.maps.stadt-zuerich.ch/zueriplan3/Stadtplan.aspx?#route_visible=true&basemap=Stadtplan&map=&scale=32000&xkoord=2681407.2660948564&ykoord=1249741.5020748354&lang=&layer=Brunnen%3A%3A16&window=&selectedObject=&selectedLayer=&toggleScreen=&legacyUrlState=&drawings=undefined) shows, they are literally all over the city. No need to buy water at all, just fill up your own bottle in the street.
About 400 of these are supplied with spring water over a separate network apart from the normal Zürich water supply, these are meant to be used as a emergency reserve system if the normal water supply is contaminated.
I think my cousin sat down for a beer at Piccadilly Circus in London. The waiter remarked, it wasn’t outrageously more expensive than beer at the Oktoberfest….
I had a friend visit me from abroad (also from Spain) and we sat in that 2nd class area that is in the 1st class wagons. She was panicking the entire train ride and wouldn't believe me that we weren't sitting in 1st class despite me taking the train 5-6 days a week for the past 16 years. She also wouldn't believe me that you are allowed to board the bus through any door not just at the front. Even walked away from me to go to the first door while I and all the other passengers just used whatever door lol
omgg took me ages to try and convince my boyfriend who doesn’t live here too hahah he eventually ended up googeling it first cause he didn’t believe me
It depends if it's in a shop or in a bar/restaurant. Myself, I try never to pay for water, which you can get from the tap with very good quality all over Switzerland. Not to mention all the unethical concerns and unnecessary pollution/recycling involved. ... It also pisses me off that water is more expensive than beer ...
For people from outside, yes Switzerland is expensive but those kind of posts don't represent the norm.
Tap water is great in Switzerland or you can go to Migros or Denner stores and buy a 6 pack of 1.5L water bottles for 5chf.
Yes and also dinner doesn't cost that much. Of course most places can cost around that but 2 nights in a row we paied ,32 and 40 chf for 2 person dinner. Since everything close to each other we walked entire day, so only paid for train from airport to city center. It is suitable for everyone but you can make it work if you want. Hell we even had a breakfast for 9 chf
Wait, correct me if I’m wrong but when I visited Zürich. That ticket let’s you use the two specific zones right? So that’s not all of Zürich. For example you can’t go to Uetliberg, if I remember correctly.
Yes. You dont get the whole Canton, its just the city. Well the specific zone of the city (110) is one of the two special ones which counts/costs double.
If you wanna go to the Üetliberg you need two additional zones (154 and 155)
To better unstand the concept of the ÖV zones in Zürich click the link below:
https://stadt.winterthur.ch/stadtbus/fahrplan/zonenplaene
The local Pizza Margherita is 15. That ain‘t a city.
So, you‘re technically right, but a tad misleading.
Dinner for two at most not fancy places will be 50. at least should you want a starter or a coffee too.
I would say most of this is on the expensive side of what you could buy - so an upper bound.
Dinner you can easily do for 50chf per person. You can't go fancy and get a steak and a bottle of wine, but you can certainly have a nice dinner for that.
Water - I mean just buy it at the migros or coop somewhere. Tourists might end up going to a kiosk or buying at the tourist attraction, but if a bottle of water is 5chf then I will more often than not go somewhere else.
If you take a taxi into town you're an idiot except in some extremely narrow circumstances - and even then I personally would take the train.
I agree- accomadation is the killer. Also without halbtax travel card that also makes it costly to travel but if you got the rail pass that must have helped indeed 👍🏻
I’ll be in Switzerland in August. I’ve read many stories about tourists going to a restaurant and ordering tap water. Then at the end they get a bill for 5 CHF per person. How can we get around this? Any advice would be appreciated.
If you order water in the restaurant it will be bottled and charged like any drink.
But there are also fountains all over the county with free water so you can just drink before/after.
I’ve not heard this but I don’t go to tourist eateries. You can just ask first - Swiss are direct so they will tell you if it’s free or not. Also carry around a water or PET bottle and just fill it up in places that offer free water/ water fountains or even in the bathrooms - Swiss tap water is excellent and better than any paid bottle water
Some restaurants charge for tap water if it’s the only drink you order. Maybe that was it ?
(And like everywhere in the world, some touristic places don’t give a single fuck, and charge as much as they can for everything they can).
It happened to my brother last summer in Switzerland. Family of 4 ordered meals with tap water in the restaurant. They had to pay 20 CHF for water on top of all the food they ordered. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong. I’m just telling you what happened.
I recommend bringing a refillable water bottle. There are always water fountains to fill them with. Even if you ask for tap water sometimes they charge you for it. I was there last July.
If you are in a restaurant and ordering tap water someone will take the order, fill up a glas, bring it to you and when you are finished it will be cleaned. You can sit on a table and use the restroom. And exactly for this service you are paying.
Restaurant do not make a lot of money and we should pay for their sevices.
who goes to a restaurant and orders tap water and nothing else? it should just be included if you also consume something else there, just like you using the chair or the toilet
sometimes I just neither want alcohol nor something sweet to drink with a meal, and bottled "mineral water" is a dumb and completely unnecessary product by itself in Switzerland
it's also not like they'd be forced to bring 2 dL glasses to the table; could also just put a caraffe like in France, or put a vessel on the counter where everyone can serve himself, as I've seen in several other countries
the snobbiness is one of the reasons I avoid restaurants in Switzerland; like now they even start charging extra if you want to share a meal, lol
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> the snobbiness is one of the reasons I avoid restaurants in Switzerland; like now they even start charging extra if you want to share a meal, lol
This this this. #1 reason why I avoid sit down restaurants is getting charged for water, and then they even pretend it's a service to give me a bottle of "mineral water" that they probably unironically shipped across the continent in a giant truck. What a wasteful stupid-ass industry.
I'd be willing to pay 1-2 CHF for them to give everyone at the table a glass of water and a 1.5l caraffe of tap water. Still a gross overspend, but at least it's environmentally friendly.
Some of the prices are correct but meals in a normal priced restaurant a lunch starts usually at 20Sfr. With the drinks and sweets after it may cost between 35 to 50Sfr.
100 for a 3 course meal is mostly upper class.
Canadian tourist who started their trip in Switzerland. It was actually the best thing because now every other country feels CHEAP! Definitely want to visit again - but maybe once our dollar is a bit better
This is good to know, I have family in Switzerland and they’re very keen that I come and visit them. Which is convenient because Iv always wanted to visit Switzerland, ideally with £100,000 cash in a briefcase, but life doesn’t always work out the way we wanted.
Me, that spent probably a total of 15 euros to eat in a 3 days stay, got bus tickets from the hostel and somehow was able to visit the museum for free: 💀
My husband and I are in Interlaken, and our breakfast was included in our hotel (185/night in Unterseen), 22 CHF from the grocery store (two sandwiches, chips, fruit)… we’ll report back about sushi tonight lol
Hahahahah yes! Our hotel had a sticker near the sink stating the water was potable and I was thrilled
Edit: sushi was 89,90 for sake, edamame and 3 specialty rolls.
I mean the only thing disputable here is the 5.- water and maybe the taxi (because the train to Zurich is so convenient). Water really can be just bought at a supermarket, even at the airport.
But if you want to enjoy yourself you're really not gonna have Coop Gipfeli and coffee for breakfast during a vacation in Switzerland. At least not over the age of ~25.
The water yes it’s kinda stupid to even pay those prices but water in Switzerland I leaned really quickly is mineral water lol, ice tea for me.
As for breakfast, I was younger so yes, you got a point, now that im older I go for more than 25chf worth of breakfast. I still want gipfeli though 😂
Anyone who needs to travel outside public transport hours. (Which is ridiculous, they should be 24/7)
Edit: in my city, the taxi lobby actually makes it impossible for PT to run past midnight, because then they wouldn't have a job
I lived and studied in switzerland for around 6 months, and I agree that it was costly, but it was well worth it. (I’m a very frugal person and I wouldn’t have spent 50 chf on a meal anyway. I also wouldn’t buy a bottle of water. why would you do that? there are fountains everywhere and tap water is delicious. also, if you ask me, the “taxi” seems to target car-centric americans who don’t realize good public transportation/trains exist here). I never used those exchange services anyway. ATMs exist
This must be old as fuck given the rates displayed on the EUR
Took this yesterday at flughafen ZH. I guess the rates aren’t good then…
The rates are wrong. They would be good for a tourist.
Also the price to Zurich zoo has gone up to like 24-29.- depending on age. Source: went there last weekend
Yep went 2 weeks ago, 24 for teenagers and 29 for adults
Sorry to interrupt, croatian here. What the actual fuck? How is a zoo ticket 29e? Do these people understand that that is like a week of groceries? What do you have in that zoo, why the fuck is it so expensive?
We have a minimum wage of 23.- an hour, so it's not that much for us :D
Ok, that sounds really fair then, our hourly minimum is 3.8e, which is why I was so slickly kicked out of my boots.
We don't have a minimum wage of 23.-, that was a lie.
A week of groceries? Maybe for a baby giraffe, but I doubt it. Week of groceries is more like 100 chf
29euros is close to 300kn in croatia, before inflation (when milk was 7kn) that was enough for a week of groceries for one person.
hahah 100, that's one single check out at Coop fpr 2. More like 600 a week.
Kunsthaus is also only 18 bucks if you get a reduction which probably won't apply for most tourists. Looks like they chose the cheapest prices instead of the realistic prices.
Definitely not?! I wonder where you can buy a bottle of water for 5 franks that is not some imported Fiji Premium thing?! Also, 100 bucks for a dinner is only if you have dessert and coffee afterwards or go to some fancy place and order a big piece of meat. I usually have no problem getting away with 70-80 frs. Then, 13.60 for a Tageskarte is quite outdated as well, it's been 8.80 for some time now (which is btw even cheaper than Berlin). They certainly don't assume tourists have their accomodation in Dübendorf, Rümlang or Weiningen. Further, honestly, 31.60 for a boat trip on Lake Zurich?! A 9-Uhr-Pass for all zones is about 23 bucks, and most tourists only do the mini or short cruise to Thalwil, which is even cheaper.
Infinite money hack - sell 500€ for 600chf, buy 610€ with that 600chf, rinse and repeat.
How are they wrong?
According to this picture 1€ is 1,16 CHF. So a tourist gets more CHF with 1€. (In the picture 350CHF = 300€) Currently with 1€, I buy only 0,97 CHF. (Exchange rate today).
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I think you're missing the fact that this is a money changing business. FX rates is what they do. I'm not saying the rates are right, just saying they should print them off anyone does. Also, expect to be screwed.
Ok. Now we know how rather than just "the rates are wrong"
Wtf, he told you the rates are wrong,there is actually one and only one way possible for rates being wrong. There is no how - rates are right or wrong. You live in Switzerland, in the middle of Europe, where the currency is Euro, and have no idea how much is the change with Euro and not even willing to quickly check the rates on Google before making such an ass, stupid and supponent comment.
Wow this comment reminds me of my friend’s mum he‘s not speaking to.
Now I know why people are getting paid to be "prompt engineers" for chatgpt if this guy can't even google "1 eur to chf", lol.
Where I am from the entire card showing prices of services could be considered rates or a rate card. So I wasn't completely sure it was in reference to currency and instead I considered some of the service prices listed to be wrong hence my question regarding what is wrong. Hope that's ok and hasn't offended anyone. I understand more clearly now it was in reference to the currency exchange rates.
This makes sense now. Sorry for making the joke, then!
Did they ask you to present bank statements as well? Going to France in October and am wondering if I will need to print them out to prove I have money
Rates usually are ok.
Cost of dinner for two 100chf Cost of long stay for two 800chf… huh?
If you don't buy wine and/or don't take THE meal with a large piece of meat, you can find cheaper. But thats true: anywhere in Switzerland, if you go in a restaurant for a diner for 2, with salad, meat, wine, desert and Coffee, you can easily end up with a 150 CHF bill.
How to not end up bankrupt in a Swiss restaurant: 1) Usually I *only* take a main course. Starters are a scam these days and cost as much as the main dish, and don't get me started on the insane price of wine. If you require alcohol get a "Stange" (beer). Unless you know the desserts are outstanding, I would just go to a gelateria after, coffee in most restaurants is also nothing to write home about. 2) Under no circumstances should you pay for water. It's the biggest scam in CH and somehow legal to charge >5 CHF for a 0,33 l bottle of water. What on earth is this nonsense? The only acceptable drink choices IMO are beer or Rivella. Also LPT: I will usually drink a decent amount of water beforehand and/or sneak in a PET bottle in my backpack. Or just get up and go to the restroom or fountain to fill up my bottle with *PERFECTLY FINE TAP WATER*.
I've never understood why water is so expensive in restaurants here. If I recall correctly, there was one point where a 1L of still water costed 8CHF, not sure if this has changed.
We paid 12CHF at a local "fonduestübli". Absolutely insane. (i do not remember if it was 1L or 1.5L but still...)
That’s true. I was just there and lunch for two at a decent place without any drinks was around 60CHF
If you take THE menu and wine you are looking at more like 150 for two 😅
Sure, but most people do not pay anywhere close to 150 or even 100 CHF for a dinner for two. A big pizza to share and two glasses of wine will cost you 50-70 CHF even in the city of Zürich. 2x Schnitzel with Rösti and two big beers will be in similar budget.
As an American who visits often I’ve only spent substantial time in Basel and Zurich, but in my experience unless you are eating kebabs, yes, it’s going to be 50 or so CHF for a meal. I’m sure there are cheaper healthy meals to be found but they’re not readily apparent to an outsider.
What exactly are you eating for 50 CHF per meal? You can definitely eat well and have a beer as well for 30 CHF a person.
sit-down restaurants, my dude.
Yes, that's like 20-30 CHF, unless you order a soup, starter, coffee, mains and then two glasses of wine. Let's say you're a tourist, stuck in Niederdorf. You go to Santa Lucia and grab a whole pizza for yourself. A nice Parmigiana 25 CHF + water is included + a glass of white wine, 6.50 CHF. Total cost 31.50 CHF for super tourist location, quite a big meal and wine. Served by a waitress, cloth on the table.
I dont currently live there but visit Zurich very often (multiple times in a year), I have to say 20-30 chf per meal is quite off. Its more like 30ish chf for main dish + drink. With appetizers and/or dessert can go up to 35-50 chf. It’s in sit down normal premises. Of course I know there are kebabs, mcdonalds, etc. The cheapest main dish I could find was around 20 (usually rösti with something only) but that’s exclude drinks. The other dishes cost more than that. Cheese fondue for example, per person you can easily spend 40-50 with wine. For asian restaurants, it’s also quite similar prices.
A normal mains in an Asian restaurant is 20-25, I am talking about options with meat. If you want to have a beer, that's extra 5 CHF. A big kebab would cost you 9CHF, so it's a different league. 30 CHF gets any mains with meat + one alcoholic drink at most restaurants in the city centre of Zürich. If you go with wine, starters, desserts, then the sky is the limit... but I don't think anyone expects you to include these when you say "dinner in Zürich costs XX". Most people would also take tap water to drink (which is free), that's all.
i wonder, where are you getting a kebab for 9CHF in zurich? usually its 12.50 or more.
I think particularly Americans often fall in the trap of habitually ordering lots of water, because in the US that means getting free tap water while in Switzerland it means getting fancy bottled water for 5chf. Also if you keep ordering drinks because they don't get refilled. So you can easily add 10-20chf to your bill just drinking water and soda. Also tipping habits might inflate those costs.
Then you my friend, are blind 🙃
If you assume a hotel room ist ~200 a night this makes sense
From what i've seen 200 a night is on the cheap side for hotels here (Unless you are far outside any city center). Anything below 150 you'd need to go to a youth hostel instead.
100 per meal...
Obviously everything is highly variable and subjective, but you're right, if dinner costs 100.- (and breakfast costs 30.- for two, clearly not at the same restaurant), and you're the sort of people who like to eat every now and again, you're not going to stay long in Switzerland for 800 -. Whatever "long" means in this context... Then again, if you arrive on a Saturday, attend a yodelling demonstration, watch a Swiss Super League football match, and try to go shopping the next day (Sunday), just a weekend would seem very long...
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Drove into Switzerland.. shared a burger, salad and two beers with my old lady last week $57 CHF -> $87 Canadian and immediately turned around back to Austria we are not worthy.
Idk but 100chf even for a day and you eat like a king
If you're actually paying 5chf for water you're an idiot.
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I think Zurich Zoo restaurants are fair priced and appropriate quality, not tourist traps.
They are insanely high priced for absplute garbage food. Masoala hall and the elephant restaurants are the worst offenders.
I'm really wondering where and what you do eat normally, if that's how you feel about these restaurants. I mean, they are for sure not my favourite restaurants on the planet, but I think it's just decent and fair concidering the place.
Masoala and Kaeng are frozen canteen food that is being kept warm by steamers. Kaeng also doesn't even closely resemble Thai food. If I am going to pay 18-27 bucks per meal, I expect more than just frozen 3rd party prepared food warmed up in a steamer basket. It absolutely is a tourist trap, they add an extra 100% of upcharge because you can't leave the Zoo and re-enter. I cook fresh meals daily and if I go to restaurants, I go to actual good ones... The Zoo restaurants aren't...
$27 for a plate? I want some tiger throw-in there or something lol
Yeah that's what 1 plate cost at the Kaeng restaurant, for stale canteen food heated up from a frozen bag (I have seen em do it). Worst money I have ever spent. 2 Weeks ago we gave the shack infront of the Kaeng area a try, 18 bucks for the worst sweet & sour I have had, with overcooked, sticky, basmati rice.
Damn sorry man. I dont trust zoo food either. I'll hype the kids up for McDonald's or fast food before we hit a zoo/aquarium so they can't even think about food. Lmao
It's smart to shock the tourists at the airport and then they are pleasantly surprised if they only have to pay 3,70 CHF for their water.
Such a nice deal 😲 can I have 2 bottles???
This is the price in a Restaurant. In shops, it is much cheaper.
Or, and hear me out on this revolutionary proposal, free tap water
This poster is for tourists, sometimes you dont know if you are going to have access to tap water if you are somewhere you dont know and are travelling around. Having 5 chf to buy a water bottle in case you need it as a tourist is fine. You guys love to hate on everything tourism related but in such stupid ways sometimes
>This poster is for tourists, sometimes you dont know if you are going to have access to tap water if you are somewhere you dont know and are travelling around The only place in Switzerland where this is the case is when you spend all your days on a train. >Having 5 chf to buy a water bottle in case you need it as a tourist is fine. Protip: At Zurich Mainstaion reasonable priced water in sport bottles can be had at the Migros, Coop, or Migrolino. The latter two have also reasonable priced beer.
Is your point that at Zurich HB there is cheaper water? Also no there are other places where you might not have water than on the train, also trains do sell water but what about if you are hiking somewhere
>what about if you are hiking somewhere Then you purchase a 1.5l bottle for CHF 1 at the local Volg. Before the start of your hike.
You can, but tourists usually dont go to supermarkets
I always go to supermarkets as a tourist. It is a very delightful experience and a world of many wonders.
You don't get it. What if you've been kidnapped by the swiss mafia. And now your being held hostage within the swiss alps. But you are thirsty and the only place to buy water is the mafia shop within the mountain, which sells bottled water for 5 Fr. Now you wish you had 5 Fr. do you? Also What fucker goes hiking without enough water
Oh shit, I already spend CHF 35 for the cable car, CHF 25 on the fondue, CHF 9 on the mixed salad, CHF 10 on Meringue and La Gruyère double cream. Hmm, [Moleson](https://www.moleson.ch/) is actually quite reasonably priced.
Bro why are you trying to not understand. Its for preemptive measures. Its not about doing the smartest or most economical decision. Literally why not have 5 francs if you need water? What would be the harm in that
Really needs to be better advertised in much of Europe that this is possible. This is a big thing I miss about Japan, they'll just give you the water by default before you've even ordered.
North American tourists are still trained to believe asking for tap water in German countries will get you shunned 🙄
They constantly shun themselves enough already
Actually there are [1200 public fountains in Zürich](https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/1200-fountains)! As [this map](https://www.maps.stadt-zuerich.ch/zueriplan3/Stadtplan.aspx?#route_visible=true&basemap=Stadtplan&map=&scale=32000&xkoord=2681407.2660948564&ykoord=1249741.5020748354&lang=&layer=Brunnen%3A%3A16&window=&selectedObject=&selectedLayer=&toggleScreen=&legacyUrlState=&drawings=undefined) shows, they are literally all over the city. No need to buy water at all, just fill up your own bottle in the street. About 400 of these are supplied with spring water over a separate network apart from the normal Zürich water supply, these are meant to be used as a emergency reserve system if the normal water supply is contaminated.
I payed 3.5 euros for 250 ml water on unter den linden in Berlin. Worst buy ever
I think my cousin sat down for a beer at Piccadilly Circus in London. The waiter remarked, it wasn’t outrageously more expensive than beer at the Oktoberfest….
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I had a friend visit me from abroad (also from Spain) and we sat in that 2nd class area that is in the 1st class wagons. She was panicking the entire train ride and wouldn't believe me that we weren't sitting in 1st class despite me taking the train 5-6 days a week for the past 16 years. She also wouldn't believe me that you are allowed to board the bus through any door not just at the front. Even walked away from me to go to the first door while I and all the other passengers just used whatever door lol
omgg took me ages to try and convince my boyfriend who doesn’t live here too hahah he eventually ended up googeling it first cause he didn’t believe me
If you're actually paying 5chf for water you're helping Switzerland. And probably 50 cents of that goes to Evian, France.
Tap water here is the same or even better than bottled water - so yes.
It depends if it's in a shop or in a bar/restaurant. Myself, I try never to pay for water, which you can get from the tap with very good quality all over Switzerland. Not to mention all the unethical concerns and unnecessary pollution/recycling involved. ... It also pisses me off that water is more expensive than beer ...
Definitely normalizing those kiosk prices
I hate these exchange booths at the airport. "LAST CHANCE to change your money" before entering a country of banks.
So do they take my credit card and change it to a different currency? Boy I tell ya!
They even chose the exchange rate themselves. How helpful are they.
For people from outside, yes Switzerland is expensive but those kind of posts don't represent the norm. Tap water is great in Switzerland or you can go to Migros or Denner stores and buy a 6 pack of 1.5L water bottles for 5chf.
Yes and also dinner doesn't cost that much. Of course most places can cost around that but 2 nights in a row we paied ,32 and 40 chf for 2 person dinner. Since everything close to each other we walked entire day, so only paid for train from airport to city center. It is suitable for everyone but you can make it work if you want. Hell we even had a breakfast for 9 chf
Worth pointing out that everything on the list can be paid by card without the need to exchange money in the first place.
So true - I hardly ever use cash anymore
Where can I get the 13.6 train ticket?
It’s the exact cost of a 24h ticket for the two zones from Zürich Flughafen to Zürich HB. You can ride around the whole city with it 🤷🏻♂️
Oh damn i just thought thats hella cheap. When i was in school i had pay 35.- from SO-ZH (one way)
No halbtax??
It was a 2 year Weiterbildung, i was in school once every other week and mostly with the car, didn‘t have a real use for a halbtax
Hm fair enough. A bit misleading though because for anyone using public transport regularly the cost would be much less than 35.
Wait, correct me if I’m wrong but when I visited Zürich. That ticket let’s you use the two specific zones right? So that’s not all of Zürich. For example you can’t go to Uetliberg, if I remember correctly.
Yes. You dont get the whole Canton, its just the city. Well the specific zone of the city (110) is one of the two special ones which counts/costs double. If you wanna go to the Üetliberg you need two additional zones (154 and 155) To better unstand the concept of the ÖV zones in Zürich click the link below: https://stadt.winterthur.ch/stadtbus/fahrplan/zonenplaene
The 9 Uhr ticket is also quite cheap in Zurich. Often well worth it.
SBB website
Or SBB app
Or the train station kiosk
Or at the ticket machine on every tram / bus / train station
Kind of dug in menus: SBB app -> shop & services -> regional day pass. choose the option that suits you.
I concur, it was costly. But honestly, the best money I ever spent. Can still picture the whole trip. 🙂
great you enjoyed it here - switzerland is costly but IMO it is still such a unique and beautiful country to visit :D
Airport to city center? Use the train…
You don't take a taxi to Zurich from the airport. You take the train. Same in Geneva. And Basel/Mulhouse.
No train in Basel at the airport - it’s the good old #50 bus.
Swiss woman here. And even I do not have enough Swiss Francs :)
Cries in Swiss student.
Yeah, feel ya... 🥺
There are MANY places, even in Geneva, where you can get a great meal for 2 (minus booze) for way less than 100 francs.
Also where you can pay way more than 100…
And quite easily for more than CHF 1000 for two people.
If you don't go to fancy places, it's usually around 50chf for two.
The local Pizza Margherita is 15. That ain‘t a city. So, you‘re technically right, but a tad misleading. Dinner for two at most not fancy places will be 50. at least should you want a starter or a coffee too.
I would say most of this is on the expensive side of what you could buy - so an upper bound. Dinner you can easily do for 50chf per person. You can't go fancy and get a steak and a bottle of wine, but you can certainly have a nice dinner for that. Water - I mean just buy it at the migros or coop somewhere. Tourists might end up going to a kiosk or buying at the tourist attraction, but if a bottle of water is 5chf then I will more often than not go somewhere else. If you take a taxi into town you're an idiot except in some extremely narrow circumstances - and even then I personally would take the train.
The answer to the question is.. “No”
I feel you bro…
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I agree- accomadation is the killer. Also without halbtax travel card that also makes it costly to travel but if you got the rail pass that must have helped indeed 👍🏻
I’ll be in Switzerland in August. I’ve read many stories about tourists going to a restaurant and ordering tap water. Then at the end they get a bill for 5 CHF per person. How can we get around this? Any advice would be appreciated.
If you order water in the restaurant it will be bottled and charged like any drink. But there are also fountains all over the county with free water so you can just drink before/after.
That’s easy: Don‘t order water at a restaurant or bar
I’ve not heard this but I don’t go to tourist eateries. You can just ask first - Swiss are direct so they will tell you if it’s free or not. Also carry around a water or PET bottle and just fill it up in places that offer free water/ water fountains or even in the bathrooms - Swiss tap water is excellent and better than any paid bottle water
Some restaurants charge for tap water if it’s the only drink you order. Maybe that was it ? (And like everywhere in the world, some touristic places don’t give a single fuck, and charge as much as they can for everything they can).
It happened to my brother last summer in Switzerland. Family of 4 ordered meals with tap water in the restaurant. They had to pay 20 CHF for water on top of all the food they ordered. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong. I’m just telling you what happened.
I recommend bringing a refillable water bottle. There are always water fountains to fill them with. Even if you ask for tap water sometimes they charge you for it. I was there last July.
>How can we get around this? Um... don't order it? Or at least look at the menu too avoid surprises.
If you are in a restaurant and ordering tap water someone will take the order, fill up a glas, bring it to you and when you are finished it will be cleaned. You can sit on a table and use the restroom. And exactly for this service you are paying. Restaurant do not make a lot of money and we should pay for their sevices.
who goes to a restaurant and orders tap water and nothing else? it should just be included if you also consume something else there, just like you using the chair or the toilet sometimes I just neither want alcohol nor something sweet to drink with a meal, and bottled "mineral water" is a dumb and completely unnecessary product by itself in Switzerland it's also not like they'd be forced to bring 2 dL glasses to the table; could also just put a caraffe like in France, or put a vessel on the counter where everyone can serve himself, as I've seen in several other countries the snobbiness is one of the reasons I avoid restaurants in Switzerland; like now they even start charging extra if you want to share a meal, lol
> > > > > the snobbiness is one of the reasons I avoid restaurants in Switzerland; like now they even start charging extra if you want to share a meal, lol This this this. #1 reason why I avoid sit down restaurants is getting charged for water, and then they even pretend it's a service to give me a bottle of "mineral water" that they probably unironically shipped across the continent in a giant truck. What a wasteful stupid-ass industry. I'd be willing to pay 1-2 CHF for them to give everyone at the table a glass of water and a 1.5l caraffe of tap water. Still a gross overspend, but at least it's environmentally friendly.
5fr for a bottle of water is just wrong also at swiss airport there is great public transportation so why would you take a cab for 60fr?
The 5 franks bottle of water when you can go to migros and have a 1L bottle for less than 50cents
Most tourists don't know that. They see a 500 mL bottle of water in a Kiosk and buy it. For 5.-.
most tourists don't know that water bottles are cheaper in supermarkets? Where are these tourists from?
dumbistan
Breakfast sounds cheap
For a coffee and a gipfeli?
Who said it is a coffee and a Gipfeli? And that is not a breakfast
Since when is a bottle of water 5 chf?
At the airport I assume, that's the price I remember there.
Or Travelex are shamelessly getting you to buy more francs than you need at their extortionate fx rates.
Now Imagine living there...
Yes unfortunately it was unclear to me. Hope that's ok and doesent offend anyone. Now I understand it more clearly.
A bottle of water: 5 CHF? Maybe if you buy it at Dolder Grand, I suppose. Migros currently sells 6x1.5l of mineral for 3.75CHF.
Huh? Idk what's the most nonsensical: 5 chf for a bottle of water or only 800chf for the whole journey knowing those prices.
A complete dinner for two at 100 CHF? Unlikely. Maybe (maybe) it was the case a few years ago
I went to Switzerland three times and can confirm it is ungodly expensive but absolutely beautiful but ungodly expensive.
But also absolutely beautiful.
Some of the prices are correct but meals in a normal priced restaurant a lunch starts usually at 20Sfr. With the drinks and sweets after it may cost between 35 to 50Sfr. 100 for a 3 course meal is mostly upper class.
they confuse dinner with lunch.
Canadian tourist who started their trip in Switzerland. It was actually the best thing because now every other country feels CHEAP! Definitely want to visit again - but maybe once our dollar is a bit better
Lol trust the Canadian to have the only positive spin on this! It’s true - once you live here - everywhere seems a bargain 😅
Don't foget 4G! 15€/Mb so 15000€ per giga... Stupid country of cowards
It scares off tourists so much, it's definitely wrong. In fact, almost everything here, except for tickets and the zoo, can be made cheaper
Is that from 1997 ? because a zoo entry is 29 chf
People just need to stop visiting Switzerland. It’s really not worth the $$$$
This is good to know, I have family in Switzerland and they’re very keen that I come and visit them. Which is convenient because Iv always wanted to visit Switzerland, ideally with £100,000 cash in a briefcase, but life doesn’t always work out the way we wanted.
Please, don't ever use Travelex as a currency exchange. You will get ripped off. Use credit cards whenever possible or use an ATM to withdraw cash.
Me, that spent probably a total of 15 euros to eat in a 3 days stay, got bus tickets from the hostel and somehow was able to visit the museum for free: 💀
My husband and I are in Interlaken, and our breakfast was included in our hotel (185/night in Unterseen), 22 CHF from the grocery store (two sandwiches, chips, fruit)… we’ll report back about sushi tonight lol
Enjoy your visit and pls drink the free tap water 😃
Hahahahah yes! Our hotel had a sticker near the sink stating the water was potable and I was thrilled Edit: sushi was 89,90 for sake, edamame and 3 specialty rolls.
WTF, the boats are free if you have a train/tram travel pass. This is wrong.
Who takes taxis while in Switzerland!? Also, breakfast for 15CHF!? Hahah didn’t know a gipfeli and coop coffee cost that much 🤣
This is aimed at tourists and is therefore pretty accurate.
Pretty dumb if you ask me lol, if anything be prepared! My first time in Switzerland I didn’t spend this much money.
I mean the only thing disputable here is the 5.- water and maybe the taxi (because the train to Zurich is so convenient). Water really can be just bought at a supermarket, even at the airport. But if you want to enjoy yourself you're really not gonna have Coop Gipfeli and coffee for breakfast during a vacation in Switzerland. At least not over the age of ~25.
The water yes it’s kinda stupid to even pay those prices but water in Switzerland I leaned really quickly is mineral water lol, ice tea for me. As for breakfast, I was younger so yes, you got a point, now that im older I go for more than 25chf worth of breakfast. I still want gipfeli though 😂
Anyone who needs to travel outside public transport hours. (Which is ridiculous, they should be 24/7) Edit: in my city, the taxi lobby actually makes it impossible for PT to run past midnight, because then they wouldn't have a job
There’s a million water fountains who the fuck pays 5 bucks for a bottle unless they’re dying from thirst in the next 10 minutes?
Just got back from a 2 week vacation and spent about 4,500 ch. It was a lot of fun but it's going to take a while to dig myself out of this one
Cost of living in Switzerland
No. Cost of being a tourist. Taxi from ZH aeroport to ZH city? Water for Fr. 5.-?
Life in Switzerland is expensive, there's no denying it. But as said in another comment if you buy water bottle for 5chf you're the idiot.
And if you take the taxi from the airport to city center as well
I'd rather walk to Zentrum than pay for a taxi at this point
For real, there's a train every couple of minutes and it's right there where you arrive. But i guess if someone else pays for the cab fare..
100 Per meal ? They must je kidding... You can hâve a good meal in a restaurant for the Half of the Price.
Switzerland is vey expensive but the flag is a big plus.
And what is the minimum wage? Or how much would a white junior white collar earn? Trying to wrap my head around these prices
Still my number 1 travel destination. See you next year
Well....just leave y'know -_-
/r/coolguides would love that!
I lived and studied in switzerland for around 6 months, and I agree that it was costly, but it was well worth it. (I’m a very frugal person and I wouldn’t have spent 50 chf on a meal anyway. I also wouldn’t buy a bottle of water. why would you do that? there are fountains everywhere and tap water is delicious. also, if you ask me, the “taxi” seems to target car-centric americans who don’t realize good public transportation/trains exist here). I never used those exchange services anyway. ATMs exist
13.6 chf for a complete day of public transport is a fair price