It’s one of Europe’s most spectacular holiday destinations, but one of the most expensive too. Stunning Alpine scenery doesn’t come cheap, whether you’re visiting in the winter months for skiing, or to hike and explore the cities and valleys in the summertime. Switzerland is never going to be a bargain basement destination, but here are our five top tips for cutting costs to a minimum.

1. Get A Swiss Pass. Swiss Railways offer a special ticket giving free travel on boat, train and bus around the country. Prices vary according to age and duration, from CHF185 (£150) for an under 26 ticket for 3 days to CHF502 (£407) for any 15 days over one month for over 26s. Children travel free. These tickets include free travel on the panoramic trains through the tickets with glass roofs, admission to over 500 museums and discounts on privately run transport. Any Swiss Pass has to be bought before leaving the UK, and can’t be obtained in Switzerland.
2. Go veggie. Eating out in Switzerland is expensive. Meat in particular is a lot more expensive than we are used to in the UK, so choose a vegetable based dish where possible. Another option is to self-cater with food bought in supermarkets, all of which will sell a good choice of bread, snacks, fruit, cheeses and cold meats. If you do want to eat out, plan to have you main meal at lunchtime as many restaurants will offer special set menus or discounts. Take a water bottle too so that you’re not spending money on water or soft drinks.
3. Seek out freebies. Many of Switzerland’s larger museums are free entry, or give discounts if you have a Swiss Pass. Taking a walk through the countryside or exploring the town centre of Lucerne or Zurich costs nothing, especially if you’ve used your Swiss Pass to get there. Don’t forget your EHIC cover as this will meet the costs of most emergency treatment should you be unlucky enough to need medical care in Switzerland.
4. Accommodation. Camping is a cheap option in Switzerland as it is everywhere, but booking in advance is essential for popular sites at busy times. If you’re using one town as your base think about renting an apartment through sites such as AirBNB, giving you more space and also a kitchen to allow you to cut costs by cooking your own meals. Youth hostels and backpacker hostels are also a great choice in larger towns.
5. Shop smart. Some items in Switzerland, such as alcohol, are considerably more expensive than elsewhere, so bear this in mind when shopping for souvenirs of your trip or for gifts to bring home. One of the best value purchases is chocolate, and in many cases the supermarket own brands are just as good as the expensive ones. Crafts and other souvenirs can also be expensive compared to other countries, so shop around and always check exchange rates to make sure you understand the true price of what you are buying.