Switzerland Travel Guide: All you need to know to visit Switzerland in 2024
Welcome to Switzerland

If you’re a travel enthusiast from India with a thirst for adventure and a desire to explore the stunning landscapes of Switzerland, then you’re in the right place. Many often consider Switzerland a coveted destination, boasting magnificent snow-covered mountains, pristine lakes with crystal-clear waters, and enchanting cities that seem to transport visitors into a magical world reminiscent of fairy tales. 

 

But before you can immerse yourself in the beauty of this picturesque country, you’ll need to secure a visa. Don’t worry! we’ve got you covered! This comprehensive guide will take you through everything you need to know about obtaining a visa from India to Switzerland. Let’s embark on this exciting journey together from the application process to essential documents and requirements!

Checklist of Required Paperwork for Switzerland

  • Passport
  • Valid Switzerland Visa
  • Confirmed return ticket
  • The names and addresses of your friends, family, and business contacts in Switzerland
  • Reservations at a confirmed hotel (if any)
  • Money is exchanged in Switzerland and other foreign currencies.
  • A smartphone that can be unlocked, ideally with an Indian SIM card.
  • If you’re going on a business Visa, you may need to bring additional documentation proving your trip’s commercial purpose.

Necessary supporting documents for Switzerland Visa

If you are Employed:

You must show your recent three-month pay slips and a certificate bearing the company’s stamp indicating that the absence has been authorized.

If you are Self-Employed:

You will be required to show your company bank Statement: updated and marked with a bank symbol for the past six months; business evidence, including licenses, agreements, and partnership deeds; and company tax returns for the prior three years.

If you are Retired visiting switzerland:

Your pension journal, note, or other evidence of retirement will be required.

If you are Student visiting switzerland:Your I.D. from a school, college, or other institution will be needed.

If you are Minor:

You must show your birth certificate, which displays both parents’ names. An authenticated consent letter; the other parent should legalize the permission document authorizing travel if the kid travels with only one parent.

A notarized note from both parents granting permission to travel if the kid is travelling alone or without either parent.

Death Certificate: If either of your parents has died and your parents have documents for identification,

If you are a visiting friend or relative:

You must show your invitation letter describing the connection to the inviter, the reason for the visit, and an assurance that the invitee will be responsible for lodging and other costs in Switzerland.

You would also require a utility receipt as proof of invitation.

If you are Sponsored:

You will be required to show your sponsorship letter: Provide the visitors’ names, the reason for their visit, their connection to the visitors, the duration of their stay, the times of their travel, and any other information, including I.D. proof for the invitee: Address identification cards, resident permits, utility bills, and your updated bank statements and salary stubs are acceptable forms of identification.

For Business Visa

You will be required to show your embassy introduction letter from the firm presenting the businessman seeking a visa and your invitation note from the Switzerland-based local partner or prospective local partner business.

Budget and typical costs in Switzerland

Daily per person: You will spend around CHF 259 (USD 290).

Meals – For meals, CHF 57 (USD 64).

Transport – Local transportation costs around CHF 35 (USD 39).

Hotel – For one person, it is around CHF 153 (USD 171).

Notable Towns to visit in Switzerland

Zürich

The city is known as “the Portal to the Alps” due to its proximity to the mountain range. As a famous tourist site, Zurich has a stellar reputation for tidiness and efficiency. Zurich is the hub of Switzerland’s economy and the location of the country’s most important businesses and media outlets.

Geneva

Geneva serves as the capital of the Geneva Canton. To the west are the Jura Mountains, and to the east are the French Alps. 

Bern

From its mediaeval Old Town to urban swimming in the Aare River to its administrative buildings and Parliament, the capital of Switzerland features many modern and ancient sights that should be noticed. There are additional governmental and legislative centres for Switzerland in the city.

Must do and see in Switzerland

The Matterhorn 

In the Valais area of Switzerland, Zermatt is overlooked by the Matterhorn, which straddles the Swiss-Italian border. The summit is easily recognizable due to its unusual shape, which resembles a pyramid with four sides.

Lake Lucerne

Central Switzerland is home to the beautiful blue waters of Lake Lucerne.

It is a smaller lake than Geneva, and its shape is spiky, with multiple arms of water; in the summer, there are dedicated bathing places, as at many other Swiss lakes.

Switzerland food that you must try

Fondue

Dip crusty country bread into bubbling cheese sauce made with wine and garlic (we recommend a moitie-moitie of Gruyere and Vacheron). An excellent winter supper is a white wine with schnapps or tea for dessert. 

Leeks with potatoes and sausage (Papet Vaudois)

Leeks and potatoes are slowly cooked in a stew to create Papet Vaudois. Papet Vaudois, a cuisine with deep origins in the canton, is like the emblematic food of the region, and its famous crimson sausage, which is loosely filled and plump, is not to be missed.

Rosti, Valaisanne-style

One of Switzerland’s most well-known traditional foods is rosti, made from thinly grated potatoes and pan-fried till crisp and golden. 

Transportation and ways to travel around Switzerland

Travelling by bus

There are several bus transportation authorities in Switzerland. There are two types of bus routes: those serving major cities and those serving smaller towns and rural areas. In Switzerland, there are hundreds of regional transit agencies.

Travelling by train

Unlike in other European nations, the price you see on the SBB website or app is only half the price you’ll pay for a train ticket in Switzerland. Swiss domestic train tickets are available without advance purchase. Tickets are good for any service that day and cost the same regardless of the cities you travel between. 

Travelling by car

Because private travel is prohibitively expensive in Switzerland, most people rely on public transport. Swiss cabs are twice as expensive per kilometre as those in other major European cities, making them the most expensive in Europe. Switzerland Visa

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The Schengen visa for Switzerland lets you visit the Schengen country which includes Switzerland for up to 90 days only. You only need a single visa to visit all 26 Schengen nations, including Switzerland.

Your visa sticker’s “Duration of visit” section will tell you when you can stay in Schengen. 

Ninety days is the standard time for a Schengen visa. You will only be granted a Schengen visa for the days specified in your confirmed trip plans.

Except under exceptional circumstances, visitors to Switzerland are not permitted to renew their short-stay visas, which is a crime. Instead, you’ll have to leave Switzerland before your Visa expires and return home to reapply.

The Swiss Embassy or Consulate may take up to 15 days to process a visa application for Switzerland (Schengen Visa). The consulate controls the processing period for Swiss visas, which can alter anytime.