TOP 10 TOURIST MISTAKES TO AVOID IN SWITZERLAND: Travel Switzerland this summer like a local!

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10 Top mistakes (summarized for quick reference): 1. Not having Swiss Francs 2. Bringing the wrong travel adapter 3. Getting the wrong train ticket 4. Putting feet on train seats 5. Speaking too loudly 6. Not budgeting or planning ahead 7. Expecting to shop on Sundays 8. Not being aware of local language differences 9. Only visiting cities and ignoring countryside 10. Not packing the right clothing

Do not, DO NOT! underestimate mountains in Switzerland. I live in Valais, and every day I can see multiple helicopters above my house going back and forth from mountains to hospitals because tourists underestimate the dangers. Weather can vary extremely fast, and you can very easily find yourself trapped on a summit, or end up blocked by a collapsed pathway because a river has overflown. Please do not make that mistake, you can always contact a tourist agency that can hook you up with a guide, who can make your experience become truly something else.

As a Swiss citizen ( French speaking side) I want to say bravo for your good advises. Well done ! You could also add to this list: don’t go to the top of the Jungfrau ( highest train in Europe ) with bad weather. You’ll pay a fortune for the train ticket and won’t see anything once on top 😉 About the power adapter, you’ll probably find it in post offices. Often post offices display all kinds of traveler’s gadgets such as power adapters.

One mistake to avoid in terms of hike difficulty levels is that what's 'medium' to the Swiss is 'hard' to us flatlanders, so don't believe the hiking websites blindly 😅

When I first traveled by train from Geneva to St Gallen, I began speaking French on the train. Because we were in Geneva, I thought it more polite to ask questions and engage the locals in the regional language, as best I could. I was studying in Austria, so my German was stronger at the time. Still, I didn't want to assume all Swiss speak German for the tourists. I had just come from France, so I settled into my seat. A very nice and polite family sat across from me and allowed me to practice my French with them. Not all nationals are eager to converse, so I always allow them to begin, if they are interested, and many times they will create smalltalk about from where I come and where am I going, what are my plans, etc. This family spoke pristine French, and I was delighted for the opportunity to practice. After the train crossed the line from Fribourg/Freiburg and the conductors began asking for tickets and passports in German rather than in French, as previously done, the family from Geneva, quickly switched to German, and I was stunned. It turned out that they were from the Zurich area all along, and that they had given me the courtesy of practicing my French, when I would have felt more comfortable in German from the start. Still, the lesson learned is that don't assume everyone will speak a certain language. Test the waters, and try what you can. We can erase the "rude American" stereotype little by little, when we make an effort to acclimate to our surroundings in their homeland.

When you buy fruit in the shop ( Migros / COOP ), you have to weigh your fruit and put the price sticker on the bag. If you get to the cashier and you dont have the price on the bag with the fruit, people queuing behind you are not going to like you.

If you come in winter, do not ski outside the planned slopes, every years many tourists lose their life under avalanches, or falling in crevasses that are hidden below a small layer of snow.

Besides having the right clothes you should also look at the weather reports. The weather varies a lot due to the varied topography. Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne and Basel have about the same altitude, but very often different weather. And the weather changes often: Fog in Zurich, icy wind in Geneva, in Interlaken you see only clouds and no mountains, but a sunny day for a hike near St. Moritz. Two days later rain and clouds in St. Moritz, but near Interlaken you can see a panorama over hundreds of kilometers from every mountain top, Zurich and Lucerne are warm and sunny - and the next day rain everywhere but in Ticino. The forecast over the next three days is pretty reliable, but rarely the same for all of Switzerland.

at least tennis shoes (or sneakers are you say) are ok - I have seen tourists in dam flip flops on some trails! easy way to spot the non-swiss

One of the finest & beautifully done videos about Swiss tourism.

This is super helpful! 😍😊🤩 Thank you for all the tips! The one where people talk softly/are quiet on trains reminds me of Japan! 😊 Also, I didn’t know that tickets would be cheaper when planning ahead! that’s really good! 😍😍

Thank you for pointing out that it is rude to put feet on the seats. No one likes getting their pants dirty because someone else put their shoes on the seats.

Great tips for every country. 😊 Thanks for wording it so well. ❤

Don't worry about the languages it's also complicated for us. The language borders are also hard for me as a swiss person. I Was born in the german area of the canton of fribourg. I went to highschool (10-13 grade) in Fribourg at a billagual school and I ended up as being lost all the time. Because I struggle with my second and third languages french and english and a lot of the french speakers avoid to speak german. But it works it is often ending up by speaking german, french and english at the same time. Sorry for my english skills. My bad I should practice more.

Awesome video Alexis. Great tips and just the way you present is outstanding. I love all your videos❤❤

Your video is really informative! I wish I could visit Switzerland one day! I'm sure this is a great place to visit as you said.

Oh wow! I was looking for someone with a channel like yours. I am in the initial stages of planning my very first Switzerland trip next year. I'm soooo glad I found this channel!!!!

As another American living in CH, I agree and applaud your tips. 👍❤️

Thankyou so much. This has been so helpful and you are very articulate. ♥️ From Tasmania