Accommodation Types at a Glance
Switzerland has a wide range of places to stay, and choosing the right type matters as much as choosing the right town:
- Hotels, classified from one to five stars under the HotellerieSuisse system, from family-run guesthouses to grand historic hotels.
- Youth hostels run by Swiss Youth Hostels, with around 50 properties, many in historic buildings or mountain locations. Private rooms are common alongside dormitories.
- Mountain huts, mainly run by the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), which operates about 150 huts for hikers and climbers.
- Farm stays, including the "Sleep in the straw" (Schlaf im Stroh) scheme, where farms offer simple beds in hay barns in summer.
- Holiday apartments (Ferienwohnungen), common in mountain resorts and often rented by the week.
Choosing a Base
Switzerland's rail network makes it easy to stay in one or two places and take day trips. Popular bases include:
- Lucerne: central, with lake boats, Rigi and Pilatus nearby, and direct trains to Zurich, Bern and Interlaken.
- Interlaken: the hub for the Jungfrau region, with trains up to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Wengen.
- Zurich: the main international airport and fast connections in every direction.
- Montreux or Lausanne: for Lake Geneva, the Lavaux vineyards and Chillon.
- Zermatt or St. Moritz: for a stay focused on the high mountains, though both are at the end of rail lines, so day trips elsewhere take longer.
- Lugano: for the Italian-speaking south and its lakes.
Staying in a small village one or two stops from a hub is often quieter and cheaper than staying in the hub itself.
Guest Cards and Free Transport
Several Swiss cities and regions give overnight guests a card that includes free local public transport:
- In Basel, hotel guests receive the BASEL CARD, which includes free use of local public transport.
- In Bern, overnight guests get the Bern Ticket for free public transport in the city zones.
- In Geneva, hotels, hostels and campsites issue the Geneva Transport Card.
- In Ticino, guests staying in participating accommodation receive the Ticino Ticket for regional public transport.
Many mountain resorts also issue guest cards with discounts or free local buses. Ask your accommodation what is included, since the benefits and rules change from time to time.
Prices, Taxes and Extras
Swiss accommodation is expensive by European standards. Room rates generally include VAT and often breakfast, but most municipalities charge a separate tourist tax per person per night, which is added to the bill. Check whether breakfast, parking and the tourist tax are included when comparing offers.
Prices vary strongly by season. Christmas and New Year, February school holidays and the July to August summer peak are the most expensive periods in the mountains. Cities such as Zurich, Geneva and Basel also see high prices during major trade fairs and events.
Mountain Huts and Hostels
SAC huts provide dormitory beds, often in large shared rooms, with half board (dinner and breakfast) prepared by the hut keepers. Bookings are expected, especially on summer weekends. Many huts are reached only on foot after several hours of hiking and are open mainly in summer, with some also open in late winter for ski touring. Members of Alpine clubs in other countries may get discounts under reciprocal arrangements.
Swiss Youth Hostels are open to all ages and are a good-value option in expensive towns. Families often book their private rooms.
When and How to Book
- Book early for peak periods in Zermatt, Grindelwald, Wengen, St. Moritz and Lucerne, where the best-located places fill months ahead.
- In mountain resorts, many hotels close between seasons, typically in spring (April to May) and late autumn (November). Check opening dates before planning a trip at these times.
- Weekly apartment rentals in ski resorts often run Saturday to Saturday in high season.
- If you have luggage and plan to move often, look for accommodation close to the station, or use the railways' luggage forwarding service between stations.
Which Type Suits You
Hotels suit short city breaks and trips with frequent moves. Apartments make sense for families and longer stays in one resort. Hostels and farm stays keep costs down, and a night or two in an SAC hut is a highlight for experienced hikers. Many travellers combine several types on one trip, for example a city hotel at the start, an apartment in the mountains and a hut night along the way.
