🇨🇭
Essential apps for
Switzerland
Schweiz
German, French, ItalianCHF5 apps
Switzerland is expensive but mostly contactless. The one app you must have is SBB Mobile for trains — Swiss rail is exceptional.
🔌
Power & Plug
TypeC / J
Voltage230V
Freq50Hz
Type J is uniquely Swiss. Most modern devices accept Type C.
💬
Basic phrases
German
- HelloHalloHAH-loh
- Thank youDankeDAHN-kuh
- Excuse me / SorryEntschuldigungent-SHOOL-dee-goong
- YesJayah
- NoNeinnine
+10 more below
🎎
Tipping
Tipping is not required because service is included by law, but it is common to round up the bill or add roughly 5-10% for good service. In restaurants you typically tell the staff the total amount to charge rather than leaving coins on the table.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
See all →💳Payments & Wallets
See all →🗺️Navigation & Maps
See all →💬Translation
See all →Phrases
All German phrases
Hello
Hallo
HAH-loh
Thank you
Danke
DAHN-kuh
Excuse me / Sorry
Entschuldigung
ent-SHOOL-dee-goong
Yes
Ja
yah
No
Nein
nine
Please
Bitte
BIT-tuh
Goodbye
Auf Wiedersehen
owf VEE-der-zayn
How much?
Wie viel kostet das?
vee feel KOS-tet dahs
Where is the bathroom?
Wo ist die Toilette?
voh ist dee twa-LET-tuh
The check, please
Die Rechnung, bitte
dee REKH-noong BIT-tuh
I don't understand
Ich verstehe nicht
ikh fer-SHTAY-uh nikht
Do you speak English?
Sprechen Sie Englisch?
SHPREKH-en zee ENG-lish
Help!
Hilfe!
HIL-fuh
Delicious
Lecker
LEK-er
Cheers
Prost
prohst
Briefing
What to know before you go
✓ Do
- Punctuality is taken very seriously; arriving late to meetings or trains is considered rude
- Greet with a firm handshake, or three kisses on alternating cheeks among friends
- Greet shopkeepers and staff when entering and leaving small shops and restaurants
- Keep your voice down in public transport and quiet residential areas, especially on Sundays
- Sort and recycle your trash carefully, as Switzerland has strict waste rules
- Respect personal space and avoid overly familiar behavior with strangers
✕Don't
- Do not make noise, mow lawns, or do laundry on Sundays in many buildings
- Avoid jaywalking; locals wait for the pedestrian signal even with no cars
- Do not assume everyone speaks the same language; regions are German-, French-, or Italian-speaking
- Avoid littering or dropping cigarette butts, which is socially frowned upon
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Overpriced taxis or refusing the meter, especially from airports and train stations
- Friendship-bracelet or petition scammers in tourist hotspots who then demand money
- Pickpocketing on crowded trains and in Zurich/Geneva stations and old towns
- Fake charity clipboard collectors who distract you while an accomplice steals
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