This site contains a collection of useful resources I believe will help you plan your trip to Switzerland. I use most of these sites on a regular basis when I travel. The ones I don't use, like Eurail, which isn't available to Europeans, I still trust and recommend with a clean conscience.

You’ll also find a handful of promo codes at the bottom of this page. I update these regularly, so make sure you keep coming back to check the latest deals. If you have any questions about these sites, please don't hesitate to contact me.

PS: Some of these links below are affiliate links. To find out what that means, click here.

LITERATURE

Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet is my all-time favourite travel guide and over the years, I've accumulated quite a collection of their books. What I love about Lonely Planet is the design of their guides with great maps and photos, the itinerary suggestions and of course their emphasis on budget travel.

Itineraries

TRANSPORT

SBB

When it comes to Swiss public transport, the SBB website is the place to go. They provide an extensive timetable, a ticket booking system, details about the Swiss Travel Passes and tons of additional travel-related information. I also highly recommend downloading their app for your phone.

Interrail

The easiest way to travel through Europe, and Switzerland for that matter, is with a rail pass. Interrail offers One-Country Passes and a Global Pass to European citizens for different periods of time. Pass holders profit from several discounts across the continent.

Eurail

Eurail is the equivalent to Interrail for non-Europeans. They sell the popular Global Pass as well as Select Passes, where you get to select between two and four countries you wish to travel in. With a Eurail pass, you profit from the same benefits as with an Interrail pass.

Flixbus

When it comes to long distance buses in Europe, Flixbus is currently leading the market and recently started covering ground in Switzerland as well. Their buses don't run nearly as frequently as our trains do, but if you're not too concerned about time and you're on a tight budget, check them out.

Skyscanner

Before I put my money down on a flight, I always check Momondo and Skyscanner to make sure I get the best deal. Skyscanner searches hundreds of different airlines, including budget flights that sometimes don't show on other search engines.

ACCOMMODATION

Booking.com

Whenever I travel, I use booking.com to reserve my bed. They have a seemingly endless selection of hotels, hostels and other types of accommodation. The best part is that you don't need to pay a deposit upon booking, which allows you to change your plans spontaneously.

Hostelworld

Hostelworld is all about finding a cheap place to stay. They're very popular with backpackers and provide tons of reviews from budget travellers. I find those more helpful than the ones at booking.com, which is why I always head to Hostelworld first to check the market.

Hi Hostels

Hostelling International runs 51 high-standard hostels in Switzerland and more than 4000 across the world. With a HI membership, you'll benefit from a discount on every stay with them as well as several additional discounts for activities, travel, museums and much more.

Swiss Hotelcard

The Swiss Hotelcard is a fantastic invention for people who like staying in hotels. It gives you a 50% discount on over 650 participating hotels across Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The annual fee to obtain this card is 99 CHF and their sign-up process is very straightforward.

Airbnb

On Airbnb, people rent out their apartments and rooms to travellers. Most of the time, you'll pay a lot less than you would at a hotel. By using Airbnb, you'll get the chance to escape the touristy parts of your destination and see how the locals live.

Couchsurfing

If you're looking for a free place to stay, Couchsurfing is your go-to place. This website puts you in touch with people that let you stay on their couch for free. It’s a great way to save money and make new friends, who can introduce you to the hidden gems of their hometown.

Swiss Campsites

If you're looking for a campsite, camping.ch is the place to go. Their extensive list contains almost 400 campsites across Switzerland and provides lots of information about the infrastructure, points of interest in the vicinity, photos and a link to the corresponding website.

Sleep on straw

The Agrotourism website lets you find farm-related accommodation in the countryside. If you're looking for a budget place to stay out of the ordinary, sleeping on straw is quite an experience. You're also able to book other farm activities and adventures through this website.