SWITZERLAND
Switzerland combines political neutrality, economic stability, and natural beauty, making it a top choice for expats and students. Its universities are world-renowned, particularly for hospitality, business, and science.
The country offers high salaries and a strong healthcare system, though the cost of living can be high. Tourists and residents alike benefit from the pristine Alps, efficient public transport, and multilingual culture (German, French, Italian, and Romansh), making it a dynamic and scenic place to explore and live.
What’s taking YOU there?
General Etiquette & Culture you should know
Politeness
The Swiss are formal, respectful and value privacy. Politeness and calm behavior are expected, as well as punctuality and courteous greetings like “Gruezi”, “Bonjour”, or “Buongiorno”.
First names
In professional or formal settings, use titles and last names until invited to be informal. Among friends or younger people, first names are more common.
Tipping
Service is included in the bill, but rounding up or leaving a small tip, around 5-10%
Legal and Safety Rules
Drinking age
Legal drinking age is 16 for beer and wine, 18 for spirits.
Drugs
Drug laws are strict, and possession can lead to fines or prosecution.
Smoking
Smoking is banned in indoor public places including restaurants, bars and public transport. Some outdoor areas also restrict smoking.
Practical Tips
Emergency Phone numbers
117 is the emergency for police, 118 for fire, 144 for ambulance and 112 for general emergency which works EU-wide
What type of chargers do they use for phones/laptops?
They use type C and Type J plugs. The standard is made for a two round pin plug.
What is the currency?
They use CHF, this converts from CHF 1 to USD $1.21 or EUR €1.07
Quiet hours are strictly observed
Most buildings enforce quiet times, usually after 10pm and all day Sunday. Making noise like vacuuming, loud music or doing laundry during those hours can result in fines in some places.
How to pay for parking?
In Switzerland, you can pay for parking using apps such as EasyPark and Parkingpay, in some locations there are also parking meters, that only accept Swiss Francs (the national currency), so keep some coins on you!