Is Switzerland too expensive for a family summer holiday in the Alps?

[HeidiMontana]

We’re a family of 6 who just came back from an amazing holiday in the a French alps. I love alpine summer holidays and really want to go to Switzerland next, but is it just too expensive? I don’t want to curb spending on activities when there, but happy to self cater to reduce cost of food. Anyone with experience?

More expensive than France. There are SBB rail tickets which can give discount on some private rail trips and lifts, with free under 16 travel and some resorts have guest cards if you stay a few days.

We have been as a family

it is significantly more expensive than France but there are budget stay options and we did packed lunches (from supermarket) most days.

You won’t find the price of food too bad if you’re used to London tourist prices, but it was the cost of transport and attractions that I did find shocking. We got a pass for several attractions which covered the area we were staying, and did quite a bit of hiking and biking which helped.

We went very much last minute over Easter 2025, the hotel was pricey but not ridiculous (£350/night for very average 3* hotel), but transport cost a lot. We were 4 people, 2 adults and 2 kids, it was £80 (total) one way for the 40 minute journey from Geneva to Lausanne. Lausanne to Chillion castle, was about 30 minutes on a local train and cost about £40 (total) one way. Another day we went to Vevey to walk to the observation tower and again £30 to £35 for a one-way train journey of 20 mins. The hotel stay got us free transport within Lausanne, so didn't pay to use the metro. Sightseeing activities probably fairly standard prices, Olympic museum was £18/adult but free for the kids, Chillon castle £13/adult and half-price for the kids. Food definitely more expensive than where we live in Northern England, but probably fairly similar to London prices as someone else said.

Breath takingly expensive! We go because because we have family there although I decided to rent somewhere in my favourite city. Unbelievably I managed to book a 3 bed apartment for 7 nights 12 months in advance for £1200. It is now nearly £3000 for 7 nights. It was nice but nothing special and not in the tourist area with no parking. We were advised to park in a multi story 10 mins walk away at £30 per night!,, There was no on street parking other than the occasional 2 hr limited period. This was pretty much the same for the whole area.

I didn’t hire a car and used public transport, mainly trains. Again very expensive. First night we ate in a pleasant enough Italian restaurant off the tourist trail so I thought it would be a bit cheaper. A quite standard salad as a main course was £28 (mozzarella, tomato, asparagus and oil dressing). The average sized pizzas were £22 each. A trip up the cable car at Saas Fee was nearly £ 80 per person despite the whole journey only taking about 20 mins one way. The ‘Go Ape’ type attraction was nearly £40 per person for three hours.

So yes everything is incredibly expensive except the Swiss Army knives which were significantly cheaper!!

We went to Zell am See in the Austrian alps many times. Loved it, amazing hotel with great food, excellent train and bus service, beautiful surroundings. I don’t know about cost comparisons though, sorry

Although it is expensive there are ways to make it cheaper. Eurocamp have a number of sites. The one at Jungfrau camping is lovely. Or look at packages with someone like Inghams. Because of volume they are can be cheaper than buying all the bits seperately. Stay slightly out of the main centres. For example instead of Interlaken stay in Wilderswil a 10 min train ride. And definetely get travel passes. Alpins in the Alps youtube channel is good for detailed advice.

I can only afford to go because I have friends who live there. I would reckon with most things costing about 150% of whatever it costs in the UK.

you can find affordable self catering or camping options, you may find it highly worthwhile because the place is absolutely stunning. Eating out is v expensive. Public transportation is similar in cost to the UK but far better quality.

Self catering accommodation isn't that expensive - for a week from say July 31st next year, you can get a 3 bedroom chalet for €1200.

Food, drink and eating out are very expensive though.

We made it cheaper by booking easyJet flights the day they were released, within 10 mins! Booked air bnb first time the. Holiday inn second time. Self catered and only ate out at fasd food places once a day and made picnics from the local supermarket. Actually we took food from home as well, cans of tune and sweetcorn etc. my mum took potatoes and a cauliflower in hers! We got these passes for using public transport which included boat trips and cable cars. We live in London and it was mostly in line with an expensive day out here with careful planning. Absolutely stunning though and totally worth it!

I don’t find it too bad, slightly more expensive than London.
I stayed in Lausanne and was issued with a pass for free travel in the area.

I wss there last year - one of the most stunningly beautiful places I have ever seen.

I stayed in youth hostels in Switzerland, albeit some time ago and it’s definitely possible for families to stay in them. It’s a lovely country.

Plus they have something called sleeping in straw: Schlaf im Stroh, where you sleep in barns. Not done that, but I’d like to

It is a lot more expensive. I walked the Tour de Mont Blanc a couple of years ago. Coffee in the mountain huts halved in price when we walked from Switzerland into Italy. France was somewhere between the two.

I had the misfortune of needing to buy new boots in Switzerland after mine had a mishap....

Having just done the Dolomites that is what I would do again in a shot!
Amazing walks in jaw dropping alpine meadows and scenery, white water rafting, e bikes, zip lining and all reasonable priced (apart from one extortionate cable car on one day). Via Ferrata are free and you can hire or take your own gear.
We stayed in a fabulous hotel with an infinity pool over the valley. Kids were happy with the combination of Italian and Austrian cuisine served in mountain huts and restaurants. And it was never more than 30c. Amazing!

Switzerland is expensive, you could try Austria? Though also not cheap.

Another vote for Austria! I'm staying in the Zell am See area - some things are expensive but the accommodation is reasonable and you get a pass for the local area which gives you access to free transport (including the 1.5 hour train we got to Salzburg and all the local buses), free cable cars (which cost around 30 euros per adult otherwise) and other stuff like the local waterpark, mini golf etc. very child friendly hikes (with playgrounds along the way) and the playgrounds are generally excellent. Our hotel is all inclusive, which normally I'm not a fan of but the quality is very good, and saves a lot in comparison to eating all our meals out. Self-catering would probably be expensive here as there are only mini supermarkets around. We haven't really spent anything here except for one lunch and some supermarket snacks.

@PlateSpinningQueen I loved Bolzano when we went there

Thank you for all the replies

@PlateSpinningQueen I have been looking at the Dolemites too, but when I was booking this summer’s holiday I could not find reasonable accommodation. I thought it looked very expensive too. Do you mind sharing which hotel you stayed at ? And any other recommendation you may have as it looks gorgeous.

Yes expensive, even a basic lunch. If you fancy mountains I highly recommend Germany which is more accessible for a family price wise

I have been to the Austrian and German alps. Agree they are amazing. I have also been to Slovenian alps. My favourite so far is probably France.

I live in Switzerland and most things seem cheap(er) in the UK (also in extremely tourist-y areas btw).

Particularly food and drink including gastronomy, mobility / transportation, entertainment and tourist attractions such as guided tours and entrance fees. The difference in hotel fees / accommodation is real as well but comparatively smaller imo.

It‘s also very hot in summer. I’d recommend mid to late spring to be perfectly honest… But if you’re familiar with the Austrian, French and Slovenian alps you’ll be familiar with the weather and know what you like, so my personal opinion doesn’t count.

I was also going to suggest Austria as alternative Alpine experience. Zell am Zee area is fun, accessible and UK type prices for food and accommodation.

We’ve also been to the Dolomites - Italy/Austria - which I seem to remember being relatively affordable, but that was 15+ years ago.

Very expensive indeed unless you go with fixed ideas of mainly self catering and simple!! Lots of adds on too- even things like mountain lifts - we did it as a couple - we did do Garmisch in Bavaria with our son when he was 6 - that was nice as it’s flat proper ‘resort’ with lovely hotels and nice alpine vibe but at German prices - the other option is summer like seefeld in Austria- again a proper nice alpine resort but Austrian prices which whilst not cheap are between German prices and Switzerland - the town has a fantastic swim in/swim out pool with Mountain View’s