Switzerland : Safety by CitySwitzerland is a beautiful, peaceful country in Central Europe.
It’s squeezed in between France to the west, Italy to the south, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, and Germany to the north.
Undoubtedly, Switzerland’s biggest pride is its nature, since it flaunts magnificent mountains that it’s known for (the Alps in the south, Jura in the northwest), but also rolling hills, wonderful lakes, plains, and sweet little towns with gorgeous, vivid scenery.
Apart from its nature, Switzerland showcases a perfect example of three civilizations living and respecting each other in one country.
Up in the northeastern part of the country, you will encounter the squeaky clean, 8-to-5-hard working Swiss-German-speaking Switzerland; then, as you move to the southwest you get a bit more relaxed vibe with the wine drinking and hedonistic French part of Switzerland.
As you go further to the southeast, south of the Alps, you will encounter cappuccino-drinking charmers enjoying the sun in Italian-style piazzas; finally, right at the center of the country, you will find classic Swiss alphorns and mountain landscapes Switzerland is known for around the world.
Warnings & Dangers in Switzerland
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Switzerland is very safe to travel to. It is a country where every law is respected and the police are doing their job very meticulously. Still, don't let your guard down and be vigilant at all times.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Transportation in Switzerland is very safe, and there are no problems with taxis except that they are very expensive. Be prepared when traveling to the alpine areas and equipped with snow chains and winter tires.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
Pickpocketing is not an issue in this country, though it does happen from time to time. Never leave your valuables in plain sight or carry your belongings in your back pocket, easily accessible for someone to steal.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
As for natural disasters, there are some you may encounter, but mostly in the alpine areas of the country, such as avalanches, snowdrifts, landslides, flooding, thunderstorms, snowstorms, etc.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
Do not worry about mugging or kidnapping: it doesn't happen in Switzerland. Recently, there has been only one area in the entire country that has had several reports of mugging - Seebach district of Zurich.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
There haven't been any terrorist attacks in Switzerland's recent history, but they shouldn't be ruled out so be vigilant at all times.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
Scamming is also not common in Switzerland, but you should still check everything twice (especially your change), negotiate everything beforehand, and be careful when shopping with your credit card because some establishments give out checks with the entire number of your credit card printed out.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Switzerland is very safe for female solo travelers. Still, do not let your guard down, and follow the rules of common sense, such as not walking around alone at night or along with deserted areas.
So... How Safe Is Switzerland Really?
It’s no surprise that Switzerland is a very safe country to travel to.
It’s actually considered to be one of the safest in Europe.
However, since it attracts a certain type of tourists (namely, mostly rich people visit Switzerland) and it is crowded with a well-off population, it is expected that an occasional pickpocket might be roaming around the streets or popular landmarks at all times.
Be very careful with your valuables and never leave them in plain sight.
Another issue that you have to take into account when traveling to Switzerland is that there is a number of Swiss establishments that will print your entire credit card number onto the receipt, that way enabling identity theft when shopping with a credit card.
Therefore, if you are using credit cards, you should carefully review the information printed on all receipts before discarding them.
This happens, for instance, in some book and clothing stores.
Fortunately, the list of such establishments isn’t too long, so just be a bit more careful when paying with credit cards.
Women traveling alone should have no problems.
The only uncomfortable circumstance is that sometimes the youth of Swiss tends to be fairly open with public displays of affection, sometimes too much open, and women may find such unwanted attention tiresome, especially in the wee hours in front of clubs and bars.
However, they are very easy to get rid of, by simply walking away.
How Does Switzerland Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Switzerland | 89 |
| Morocco | 54 |
| Qatar | 84 |
| United Arab Emirates | 79 |
| Montenegro | 70 |
| Poland | 84 |
| Lithuania | 79 |
| Argentina | 70 |
| Denmark | 94 |
Useful Information
Visas
Many countries need a visa to enter Switzerland. US residents intending to stay less than 90 days do not need a visa. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months from your planned date of return. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
The official currency of Switzerland is Swiss Franc. ATMs are widely available and credit cards are accepted and used throughout the country. Your best shot when exchanging money in Singapore is to withdraw it from the ATM. This way, you are getting the best exchange rate possible and you avoid any chance of getting scammed.
Weather
Switzerland has a temperate climate which varies with altitude. Switzerland has cold, cloudy winters with plenty of precipitation and cools to warm and humid summers with occasional showers.
Airports
The busiest airport in Switzerland is the Zurich Airport, and it is also the main hub of Swiss International Air Lines. It serves Zürich, Switzerland's largest city, and it is located 13 km north of central Zürich.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Switzerland, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Switzerland Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 3 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 3 |
| Low °C | -3 | -3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 1 | -2 |
| High °F | 37 | 41 | 50 | 59 | 64 | 73 | 77 | 75 | 68 | 57 | 46 | 37 |
| Low °F | 27 | 27 | 34 | 39 | 46 | 54 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 43 | 34 | 28 |
Switzerland - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Basel | 87 |
| Bern | 85 |
| Geneva | 72 |
| Lausanne | 78 |
| Zurich | 87 |
Good Thoughts
Straight forward information, thank you!
Not exactly
Recently the overall risk of visiting Switzerland has increased. It is still one of the safest countries to visit and you should not have too much safety concerns. However, Switzerland always had problems with drugs. If you go to the club do not accept anything from complete strangers and don’t leave your drinks unattended. Try to avoid some districts during night time, as you may be pickpocketed easily by not the most “lucky” people for a joint to buy. COVID had a bad impact on Swiss criminal system. There is also risk of avalanches in the mountains and flooding of mountainous roads during spring time, when snow melts. However, nobody will let you on the dangerous roads (there will be closed) and Swiss always fight against avalanches during Winter time. Try to avoid taxi if you have chance. Switzerland has one of the most expensive taxis in the world. With public transport you will often reach your destination faster and more convinient.
Honest opinion from a Swiss citizen
Live here, never personally experienced a crime in 46 years. I you lose a wallet there is a very good chance that someone will return it with the cash still in it. We make enough money so we don’t have to risk our karma 😉 But… there exists organized crime tourism mainly from eastern european countries. As a tourist it shoudn’t be an issue to worry. They come mainly to Switzerland for one day, break into a house, store or steal a fancy car and leave at the same day. So please… if you visit Switzerland as a tourist… bring in your earnings… don’t take ours back home.
Btw: under currency please replace Singapore with Switzerland. You con’t need to go so far to find an ATM 😉
Felt at home!
So when I was 17 I went to Switz for an exchange to learn French. I stayed for a month in the Genevé area. Visited Paris first then made my way down to Genevé, Lausanne and spent some time around the lake and Champèry. Of course you must stay vigilant however Switzerland is laid back and I felt laid back like the locals.
I lived with some locals so we went to a few festivals on the lakefront in Genevé, bars, we also took public transport and it was all as if I was on the traincar downtown Toronto. I felt just as safe as I did back home. Of course I always avoided dark alley ways since as a woman you’re taught that from birth. It’s unfortunate, but true. The older men had tendencies to flirt with the girls more as well so noted that. Lol.
Anyways, I’ve been to almost 15 countries and Switzerland is still my Favourite! ❤️
Annual pilgrimage!
The Alps were a dream destination for 3 weeks — I’m returning yearly for much needed respites from daily life in US. I could not have imagined the joy I felt from the beauty of the landscape and how logistically easy it was to move about. Many thanks to the Zurich transportation employee who ensured my 5 changes to Mürren, as I may have felt differently had it not been so smooth and accurate from the Swiss!
Has anyone information on any alternative rooming options that would help the villages/locals? I stay at The Regina typically but would be open to another arrangement in an altruistic effort!