Visit Switzerland: 5 Things You Will Love & Hate About Visiting Switzerland
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Wandering the Alps, Canyoning in Interlaken, Eating Fondue & Chocolate, there is so much to love about visiting Switzerland as a tourist, but with sky high prices, offhand service & did I mention the prices, there are a few things to hate as well. This video is for travelers heading to Switzerland and wanting to know what they will love & hate about visiting Switzerland.
I love Switzerland.
I hate Switzerland.
Which one are you?
Leave a Comment Below!
Filmed in Lucerne, Switzerland
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I find the service in Switzerland the best. Maybe not the friendliest but the Swiss are mostly very professional and that means no small talk. They do their job efficiently.
damn as a swiss, i was shocked when i tasted hershey's chocolate in the us :,D that was the day i truly started to appreciate swiss chocolate
I completely agree... 100000000% agree :)
The problem is Hershey's is just mass market, mass produced, mass everything chocolate. They pay no attention to taste or anything. I hoarded as much chocolate as I could when at Kloten Flughafen before getting on my flight back to the US. Yes, it cost a tiny fortune but I managed to make that stash of chocolate last a year! It was worth every Franc!
@@rungrezSTUDIO just get some lind milch chocolate in the first store you see.. we dont have special places for that lol. any chocolate over here is our own and therefore the best. you cant do anything wrong unless you buy that german shit called milka. and by the way.. hersheys being mass produced is no excuse for it being disgusting. our brands are mass produced too and still teste heavenly
TheJapaneseBubble
I believe it
lmao,
I'm an Italian living in Zürich since few years. It's really expensive, even with a Swiss salary, and that doesn't really help social life. When you will easily spend 50 chf per person in a normal restaurant for an average meal, well you think twice before going out too much.
I wouldn't say it's kid-unfriendly, rather that spoilt noisy uneducated children are not very much tolerated (and I'm thankful for that).
Going through the comments looks like many people think Swiss hate foreigners. I met nice Swiss people and not nice Swiss people (as it would happen everywhere else in the world I suppose). I never really felt discriminated because I'm Italian. And nobody made me stupid jokes because I'm Italian (and I can't tell the same about "humble" Germans for example).
It's just a great country to live!
Erica Martellato well, we have very well behaved children and when we were with them they were treated rather poorly.
woltersworld No doubt about it, just saying you maybe had bad luck, because in general it doesn't really look like unfriendly to children (rather to parents, in the sense of not enough supporting daycare for small children, which can easily cost you half a salary).
+Erica Martellato hi Erica , may I ask you a question ? is it just me or in Zurich nobody speaks italian (or just dont want to) ? I spent one month in Zurich last year (and I speak italian very well) but I could not find a person who speaks italian, even in some situations when I asked a policeman - lei parla italiano per caso? he just looked me kinda -fuck off you and those italians :)
I was very disapointed coz I expected to have easy conversation in Swiss since I speak most beautiful language in the world -italian :)
but, to be honest almost everyone speaks english and thats fine ....ciao , all the best
+John Stromboly LOL ;) Zurich is the major city of the GERMAN part of Switzerland, so they speak german. The italian speaking region is Ticino, there you should visit Locarno, a very beautiful city at the Lago Maggiore.
Erica Martellato probably because switzerland is part italian
dude nightlife in Zurich is great, and you don't need that much money for it. The good stuff is underground and you need to know where to go, and when you get there it's wicked!
A small update: considering the expense of staying, you might want to update this. I once stayed for almost an entire week and learned quickly that one cannot afford to eat out all the time. You will very likely have to do grocery shopping if staying longer than 3-4 days. In Zuerich, Migros and Coop seem to dominate the market. You have to bring a coin with you if you use the shopping card. I think you need a 2 Franc coin to unlock the bike chain. When you push the lock back into the front cart, it will return your coin. Remember, the portions are going to be small. And yes, Swiss chocolate milk is HEAVENLY and worth drinking! As a reflection of the bordering countries, I saw a lot of German and Italian influence. The bread is always decent (thank big neighbor France!). You might have to search the SHELF for milk, not the refrigerator. The Migros store I visited had very little refrigerated milk. It's hermetically sealed! Once you crack the seal, however, you must refrigerate any leftovers. If the seal is intact, you do not have to refrigerate it until you use it.
And on the subject of shopping: YOU NEED CASH. I learned that unlike the US, Switzerland places a huge emphasis on cash shopping so know how much it costs to exchange US dollars for Swiss France ahead of time! And always take a little bit more than you think you might need.
If taking the train to and from the hotel, remember, this is a country known for watch making. The train will NOT be late! You are not in Chicago or Los Angeles. If the schedule says 9:00 AM, the train will show up at 9! Not 9:15, not 9:08. Nine o clock! My dad refused to listen to me and we missed the train to Basel once! It left at noon on the dot! (My father was shocked! The look on his face was hilarious :))
And for the kids, if they want to see "Heidi's place" she "lives" in Maienfeld (pronounced "my en feld"). If you're a museum addict, Geneva is a good place to start! If you want to see the chocolate or cheese making plants, I recommend the Appenzell region. If you're a photography addict, you cannot miss the Bernese-Oberland region. The scenery will take your breath away. If you are not afraid of heights, you can take the cable car to Mt. Saantis. Ask the tour guides in any big city, they'll know how to get you there.
As a Swiss-Brazilian your points about nightlife and children hit haaard 😂 I was born and raised in Switzerland and everytime I visit my family in Brazil I see that the care for kids is just so much more loving and yeah the nightlife in Switzerland SUUUUUUUUCKS
Pack your bags honey, we're going to Switzerland.
things just work in Switzerland. it is fascinating just to see the top notch infrastructure and the cleanliness of the place.
I happen to find Swiss people very polite, effective, no small talk, they really do their job.
Switzerland is my favorite place in Europe. It doesn't give you a feeling of being a country because of the diversity of languages spoken there, which to tourists is a big plus because you will feel less out of place there than anywhere in Europe. And the people are among the most genuine I have seen. I can't wait to visit Switzerland again!
Oliver Graf not lies, just my impression. Of course if it's your homeland I wouldn't have better understanding of it than you!
hililala321 Was that apology sarcastic, or are you the nicest person in the world?
rofkr was that apology sarcastic, or are you the most stupid person in the world?
our flag is also a big plus!
I`m from Wales (GB) and have been to Switzerland on holiday for 6 consecutive years. Earn average wage with average family....really haven't got a clue about what the OP is talking about. I`m there on holiday and don't expect to be waited on. Plenty of night life if you know where to go. Not kid friendly ? well not if you let them run riot. Always found the Swiss to be pleasant and polite but have realised they don't tolerate fools. I've seen so many wannabes out there expecting instant service, complaining about the slightest little thing... just chill, be pleasant, you'll have a great time
Oh God, thank you!
this -> "they don't tolerate fools"
I agree completely; I like having dinner WITHOUT someone’s wild child believing that he is in Chucky Cheese
i agree because i have a friend who' s husband came and born from this country .
i agree because i have a friend who' s husband came and born from this country .
I lived in Switzerland for a couple of months, I think what sums up the people are that they are proper and orderly, in a sense its a sort of British mentality from a few decades ago, and personally I think it's great. I'm not white, I'm Muslim so a few people had some statements about my religion, others had questions, but nothing that upset me, and certainly nothing as bad as it can be in other places. In fact I found that it many ways it was advantageous because I would get to speak to people that I may not have otherwise, and I generally quite like talking to strangers (I'm weird like that) so I was quite happy. Beautiful beautiful country, wow! And about the expense, as far as I'm aware(I may be wrong) but income tax is very low in Switzerland, so if you have to pay more, at least you are waving good bye to 60% of your salary, although I suppose this doesn't concern many tourists. I actually stayed in an apartment and I really quite like to cook, one of the things that people haven't mentioned is the quality of ingredients you get in Switzerland, organic means organic, amazing milk and eggs, I could go on but you get my point. Really quite liked the place, and the people.
Yes, I am aware that they are notoriously neutral. Its a shame more countries dont follow suit instead of spending billions of dollars on weaponry funded by the tax payer. It is a wasteful allocation of resources. Good for them, I hope they have continued success.
+Ali Hussain Hello. I wanted to comment on your comment/post to Galileo Galilei about the Swiss being well armed with a history of warfare and they don't mess around. You made a comment that it's a shame more counties don't follow suit instead of spending billions of dollars on weaponry funded by the tax payer, and you also called it a waste of resources. Where else do you think allocated resources come to fund a country's military? If you'll notice Switzerland hasn't been invaded in the last two world wars. Do you think it's because Switzerland merely declared neutrality? If so, it isn't for that reason. It's because Switzerland, unlike other countries, learned there lesson where they formed a country with their homeland protection in mind. They used there natural surroundings, mountains and such, to create a very untenable situation for any other country who would think about invading them. By the use of tunnels and caves in the mountains, stockpiling of ammunition and weapons, a mandatory conscription, training of their military and reserves in long range shooting (actually is a national sport there), all soldiers taking their weapons (including artillery pieces parked in their sheds or garages), and a mutual understanding of what culturally binds them. This means not letting in immigrants that don't understand how things work, or don't care to integrate. This is a historically successful philosophy to keep from getting attacked. It worked so well that Hitler had to surmise that in an effort to attack and conquer the Swiss, the results would be disastrous for the German military. This is how the Swiss have been successful. So successful that it allows people who don't live in reality a chance to flourish and surmise that there is no reason for all of this military and all the wasted spending in support of it. This last group will be the ones who will screw the Swiss in the end though. Just like they have done to the US. Just watch.
+Kent Keyfauver Hello, interesting comment.In fairness, I think 2 separate perspectives are being confused here. I was aware that there was a strong military tradition, admittedly not with the depth of detail that you have provided, but I was aware of it nonetheless. My answer to Galileo Galilei was based on the budget, which as far as I gather is around $5B, equating to less than 1% of GDP, coupled with the point he made about abstention from war. I retain the view that invading other countries is a waste of money, although there is a distinction to be made between defence and offence. And I say this at a time where, when you reflect on the major wars that have been waged over the course of the last 15 years, none have been intrinsically successful, particularly when it comes to achieving political objectives, in both the international and domestic arena. This is exemplified not only by what appears to be transpiring in the Middle East at present, but also by the fact that the $1Tr spent by the US on Iraq would have been very useful on the books of the treasury in 2009 and beyond, where vast sums were being spent on salvaging the economy. I think countries that refrain from indulging in this sort of behaviour are more astute. Of course, this isn't to say that there are a multitude of other factors that are favourable to Switzerland's success, but that is another story. If you are Swiss, and I caused you any offence in what you may have perceived as a put-down on the strength of your military, that was not my intention at all. On the contrary, as I alluded to in my initial post, I think its a nation with a great deal to be proud of.
all Americans don't respect other cultures... wow...
I give my honest opinions on the best and the worst about visiting places (my own country as well) because frankly the guidebooks that are out there only talk about the good of a location and travelers need to know both the good and the bad. thanks for watching and commenting.
I am an Italian guy living in Switzerland and I really think it's the best country in the world. The Swiss are great! But please, don't speak about a mixture of italian, french and german culture. They have their own swiss culture, which is quite unique.
Just saying but in Switzerland they speak romansh, Italian, french, and german. But my question is out of the 4 languages which one do the swiss mostly speak. How am i suppose to know which one they speak if their are 4 languages spoken in the country, love to Switzerland from America.
@@deadbot6212 German (well, Swiss-German (Alemannic), but everybody who speaks Swiss-German understands German) some 60%, about a quarter speaks French, about 10% Italian and a small number of Rumantsch speakers. Basic English especially among the under-40s is reasonably widespread. Also, there's a lot of overlap. You'll proabaly get by with a mixture of English, politeness and possibly some German and/ or French.
@@DominiqueKlaey you said swiss-german, which means the german language from germany, austria, belguim, and Switzerland are different types of german languages but they still speak german. Almost like how latin american spanish is just a little different from spain spanish but its basically almost The same language?
@@deadbot6212 Sort of, although the difference is even more pronounced. You ask people whether Swiss-German is a language in its own right, half will say yes, half no. I don't know whether you speak any German, but let's try an example.
English: When I came home, I had a (cup of) coffee.
German: Als [When] ich [I] nach [to] Hause [home] kam [came], trank [drank] ich [I] eine [a] Tasse [cup] Kaffee [coffee].
Swiss-German: Won [When] i [I] hei [home] cho [come] be [am], han [have] i [I] es [a] Kafi [(cup of) coffee] drongke [drunk].
The spelling there isn't official or anything, as Swiss-German is usually only spoken, not not written. Instead, (standard) German is used as a written language, which also explains why they don't talk German, but understand it perfectly. It takes most Germans coming to Switzerland about three to six months to really understand Swiss-German, although not a lot of them then take to actively speaking it. Hope this gives you an idea.
@@DominiqueKlaey i get what you mean. And no i do not speak or know german
thanks! i really love switzerland and really it was hard to come up with the 5 "hates" the loves were easy, i could have had another 5 or 6 no problem. thanks again for watching and commenting!
mark
Totally agree about boring/poor nightlife - living here for almost 5 years already and this country is more like sitting in a restaurant and drink your wine and then walk home slowly while looking around on pretty lights and architecture and super expensive shops :p
Rules - to be honest I haven't noticed them that much - maybe it applies to Zurich, in this case, but when staying at hotels in other cities - it felt totally normal.
Kids - dont know much about that - I dont have any, but friends who have kids and live here never said anything bad about attitude or forbiddances (at least not out loud :D)
Wow, as a Swiss, and a patriot, I am really impressed by the number of dumb people in the comment section... I am sorry you get the wrong impression, idiots are everywhere, in every country. I would like to explain some things.
HATE 1: True, undenyable.
HATE 2: Yes, we are like that, but it's more like, we are all persons, and we like to treat everybody as equal as possible. However in some places they offer a very bad service, and even the swiss sometimes get pissed off, by the off-hand service. Compared to other countries. It has been much debated over the last few years, let's see how it will evolve.
HATE 3: Agreed, we are strict with rules, which is both a good and a bad thing. However some rules/laws have been challenged recently because some say it is:"too much".
HATE 4: Only in part: you have to find the right places, and keep in mind swiss cities are A LOT less populated and smaller, and of course there is less nightlife than in bigger city, like everywhere, but you also have to find the right places, Zurich has a lot of nightlife, Bern is just "meh" Like Bellinzona, where the nightlife is non-existant.
HATE 5: I don't agree with this one, it really depends on a lot of things, as a local, never seen anybody treatening children bad, you and your children could just have been rude and didn't notice, you got unlucky and found the wrong people... I think it just about the single situations.
----------------------------------------------------
LOVE 1: Understatement. As a Swiss I still get amazed by the landscape everytime, everyday.
LOVE 2: Agree, but ofc it goes on personal taste.
LOVE 3: Yep, but pay attention not to call Swiss-italian part of Switzerland Italy, we get offended, we are very patriotic in Ticino, we are swiss, not italians. I don't know the rest of the country.
LOVE 4: Hardly any delay, in 2014 97% of trains were perfectly in time. It really is that good, but IT IS overpriced, even for Swiss people if you don't own an AG, or you have a special offer.
LOVE 5: I love swiss cheese and chocolate, but since I never went in the US I don't know how food taste there. But I like our food :) Try eat watches, they are delicious. :P
Bern is not meh! We have a great night life!
I went few times in Bern, I probably missed the right places then.
+Leonardo Valsangiacomo Yeah, that's true. Its really hard to find. But if you know the right places and the right people, you will find it! :)
Siete Italiani punto e basta,inutile che fai tanto il patriota di 'sto cazzo.
Bel tentativo, povero fallito ;)
I Never heard of a restaurant don't let children in xD and im swiss
ich eu nit :)
Lukas Rovina :)))))))))
It depend of your children.....
mou es git paar restis wo sie abteilige hend wo chinder nid erwünscht sind
Hey, thank you for putting your life on the line for all of us here in the US. I appreciate it very much. Thanks for watching and commenting!
You are right. and there are some good kid stuff in switzerland but the overall treatment of travelers with kids (and ours were very well behaved) kind of was off putting. And switzerland is ranked in the top 10 in countries for kids, though i am guessing that is because low levels of poverty and illiteracy. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I think Americans views on service and friendliness is probably a bit askew. It's not a universal one. I'm not Swiss, but i have traveled a lot, and gotten to know a lot of other tourists. In the U.S, service and the ''friendliness'' is very exaggerated. It is overly polite and to most other nationalities, borderlines on insincere and bizarre. It's their way and their people are used to that and expect that. You go to a normal, not even a fancy restaurant and they treat you like royalty. They come over and ask if you're happy multiple times throughout your meal. In most other places, servers don't just randomly cover over unless you call them over, and they don't keep asking if everything is okay. Because, if you haven't called anyone over to complain, it is assumed that you're okay. In fact, a lot people from other countries, including myself, really dislike being disturbed over and over like this. Being asked questions while you're trying to eat etc. In our culture, a great server is someone who is invisible. The less interaction they have with you, the fancier the place you are in, probably. Lots of little things like this.
So you have to understand that this is not a universal thing. I think Americans take this above and beyond approach because of the ''tipping culture'' they have. In most other places, a tip is just something a little extra sometimes, but in the U.S it is a real expense you have to factor in because you literally tip everyone in high percentages and that's what they live off of. So the wide wide smiles and overly polite treatment is sort of the norm there, but not in the rest of the world. It is even considered weird. Like, ''thanks but what are you so crazy happy about? I'm just buying coffee from you.'' Or ''Yeah, you're selling ice cream and i'm buying one. Are you really that excited about this?'' It really is a bit over the top most of the time. I see lots of American tourists disappointed in other countries and i see lots of them complaining about things that other people do not. In most countries, they have what they have and as a customer, you either take it or leave it. They don't bend over backwards for you and try to make things happen. But American tourists are used to a more ''please the customer at any cost'' approach so they complain because the hotel doesn't have their favourite cereal. I'm a chef and i'm sure lots of people in the service industry who worked internationally or work in touristy places know what i'm talking about. It's just a very specific thing in their culture and it's a bit unfair to judge all places based on that.
That said, service can be downright awful in some countries.
Shut up and make me a samwitch already!
Americans are the worst tourists....other than the Chinese.
+ZavnorZ not half as bad as the Chinese imo
I'll take insincere and exaggerated friendliness to indifferent, non existent or poor service any day. Could you honestly be so intellectually challenged that you can not ask an inexperienced friendly server not to come back to the table unless summoned? Also, I'm sure that you love having to pay more than a little for ketchup and mustard with your fries, extra for gravy and for every refill of coffee and soda all gratis in the States. Then, of course, there is the forty dollar happy meal at McDonald's. If I had to go to McDonald's I wouldn't travel as I prefer and require first class accommodations for anything I purchase. Along with that however, is the expectation and requirement of good service. After all, I am the one paying for the privilege most certainly not the provider of the service or its wait staff. Finally, Americans do not act nice because of voluntary tipping. Americans are nice because they are genuinely friendly. It is indeed sad to hear someone express the opinion that we do not meet your cynical view of cordiality and the defense of inattentive indifferent service. With what we identify in the US as a "bad attitude", you shouldn't work anywhere where you are required to provided service to anyone.
Aside from how expensive it is, all of those hate things sounded awesome. Noise restriction at hostels? No insane nightlife? No kids at nice restaurants? WHEN CAN I MOVE THERE?! I visited Zurich last summer and loved it but hell it was pricey!
Just love the way you summarize about what you presented about in the video towards the end.
Great job. Been Watching a lot of your vlogs.
I met two Swiss dudes in Montreal and guess what? I am visiting them in August. We started talking at the hostel and we went out that night and also the next day together. They are a bit shy at first and I don't want to generalize Swiss people but once we started drinking, they are really friendly even they don't really speak English.
On budget, just go to a supermarket and get your food there.
***** amen to that one!
woltersworld Go to lidl! (Really cheap supermarket!) :)
***** exactly I did the same when I was in copenhagen
Oliver Graf HE!!! gehts auch freundlicher??!!
rothp89 I chan euch dütsche nid usschtoh. Blib liebr wo de bisch du Sauschwob!
thanks for all the comments and opnions. I love hearing from locals about their homelands! all the best! we loved Switzerland I hope that came across in the video
Thanks! I used to work a bit in Warsaw and northeast Poland. Always found the people really friendly and nice. Thanks for watching and commenting!
What i love about Switzerland is the fact that is probably the most difficult country to invade. In case of aggression, Switzerland has demolition points on crucial locations such as bridges, tunnels and highways (Estimated 3000 demolition points). There are cannons on strategic buildings ready to fire. Hidden artillery is in place on either side, set to prevent the enemy from clearing or repairing the damage. It is a mechanism of self-destruct. Even the Swiss people are a unique case of ''armed civilians'' as their military training for men is mandatory and they have guns which are kept at home as part of the military obligations. That's why top tier Banks with several worldwide gold reserves reside in Switzerland. During WWII, Hitler eyed to invade Switzerland to take control over the Switzerland Banks and Gold to finance his war. He planned it during ''Operation Tannenbaum'', but never gave the command to proceed with the invasion, because he realized the perfect self-defense mechanism of Switzerland. Resulting that Switzerland was never invaded by anybody in WWII, maintaining its neutrality and safety in the middle of a Nazi-Fascist Empire across all Europe. My respect for Switzerland!
aquafishsoup alot of american money => in switzerland ;)
Don't overestimate the Swiss Milita :) It is true that we usually have to take 3 weeks of military training each year, but the fact that it is possible to skip, i.e. postpone, those courses, and that even the higher ranks are only part-time Soldiers so to say, means that we more or less start from zero, every course. We often get greenhorn commanders, freshly from the academy, and many soldiers that have skipped a few courses in a row, so that we always have to start from the basics, to enshure everyone is up to date. That means stuff like handling ur rifle and such. Its mostly a time waste and far from well organized. One GI is worth 10 of our "armed civilians" :)
And yes, we have a shitload of stationary artillery and bunkers. I've been cannoneer myself, first on the largest cannons, then our force was abolished and i was moved to the smaller stationary mortars, those forces where then abolished too -.-, and i was moved to the operational troops, and i have seen old, but nevertheless top secret, maps of Switzerland laced with "strategic points to blow up in case of assault", in a drawer where I stuck my nose in when I was bored, rofl xD So MrBruno is right :)
It's kind of amasing how armed my Sister ten years ago said that Swiss people were. I didn't think that much of it, and a number of years later decided to look online and much of it is true. Not like the Swiss are seen carrying large weapons, but they're certainly not defenceless. That and a show I watched a few years ago showed a rather benign looking barn with a large anti aircraft cannon.
Mr Bruno, I like your brief knowledge, thank you.
***** Ich hasse Krieg. Aber ich hasse Serben für die Kriminalität und Völkermord-Leugner. Serben sind Heuchler.
Switzerland is stunning. If I could afford to retire there I would have no hesitation going there. even if its a small wooden hut in the countryside
Your videos are always very informative and even inspiring! Good job Wolter!
Thanks! I appreciate it. Yeah, the chocoloate there is insane good. I am drooling about it just writing about it... all the best!
Talks about mountains snd shows some hills xD
Next to the hills are mountains they just aren't shown well by the camera
I live in Switzerland so everything that you said, I have gotten used to. Especially the off-handed service. I think it's pretty normal to be honest. When I went to the USA to visit some friends, we went to a resteraunt and I remember being so annoyed, because I couldn't eat in peace. Every 5 minutes a waiter comes up to you and either fills up the glass with water without even asking, or they ask if you like the food.
exactly
Switzerland is expensive , but the quality you will find there is amazing.
I absolutely loved Switzerland. We were there this summer while we spent over 8 grand in 5 days we had a priceless time and I will never forget it
the bigest problem is that american tourists expect it to be like at home when they travel. And all that is diffrent is bad. Just because our swiss mentality is diffrent does not mean it is bad.
And I see so many people commenting that Switzerland is very kid friendly, is because never went here or have no kids. Once in Zurich it was very cold and I was with a colleague that had a 3 months old baby girl. When started raining we wanted to find a restaurant and eat something and we went to 5 (FIVE!) restaurants and they didn't let us in because of the baby (she was sleeping). I see it all the time. Must of the restaurants do not acept kids. Must of the places do not acept kids as well. But if you have a pet, them no problem. But no kids.
Just came back from Switzerland. My wife and I were staying in Lucerne and from there we traveled to several cities and villages. Your review was spot on. Both the positive and negative. And yes, we also noticed the lackluster service, that was a bit disappointing. Still a beautiful country, we had a fantastic time. Not in a huge rush to get back though, there are other places in the world where we can have a wonderful time and not get gouged for prices.
Have fun. It really is amazingly beautiful. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I live in Bern and what say about children is NOT true!!!! There are many children here with great and attentive parents...plus parents get a little help from the government for their kids. Also, the service can be sometimes slow, depending where you go, they are not working for tips..they have decent salary so they don't have to hustle you. It functions on the honor system..this is refreshing!!!!!!!!!!
I hate kids..this place is perfect for me!
thanks for the heads up!
Thanks lukisol! i had a fun time in zurich a "few" years ago. :) fun time
You're right about the CHOCOLATE AND CHEESE!!!! YUMMY!
For the service you might experience the same thing in some other european countries (like France for example). My first time in the US was a shock for me in that regard. I was very annoyed by the waiters coming every 5 minutes to ask if everything was ok and the fact they took our plates right after we finished it. I felt like they were trying to make us eat as fast as possible.
After a few trips in the US it bothers me less and less. I think I've begin to assimilate that the culture is just different and to get used to it. Looking back, I think it's actually those little unconfortable cultural misunderstandings that make travels so fun.
I guess it was more the "death looks" I saw people give when people went any where with kids :)
and there is nightlife in the major towns, but for backpackers that do not have a lot of cash it is hard for them to afford it. Thanks for the comment! and thanks for watching!
thanks for the kind words! hope you will subscribe! lots more on the way!
The argument about the nightelife isn't very correct in my opinion. Because Lucerne was built in 750. What do you expect? In Zurich you should find more of these things. Ok now you could bring the argument that Zurich was built 4000 b.C. But Zurich isn't as conservativ as Lucerne. Zurich is the buisness capitol. And so it's modern. If you would go to a village in Spain you won't find any nightlife either. And Lucerne has 80'000 inhabitants. Mardid has 3 Millions so that's a difference...
True, Switzerland does have some great nightlife in both Geneva and Zurich.
I'm 14yrs From Somalia An I live Zurich
Switzerland pple are very nce respect full
I feel like I'm in my own country
Switzerland is the best place in europ
+Mucawiye Abdikadir
Awwww
+vangroth 77 hhh owk im coming back
I’m going to Zurich!! I’m super excited 😊
I did enjoy Zurich. But honestly the only really "hate" i had for switzerland was the cost. the country is very nice. thanks for the tip!
they are on our top 10 Switzerland video (coming out in a few weeks) so don't worry :) didn't have time to film there though just some highlights :( I will be back though do not worry :)
Switzerland has 25% foreign residents, the USA 7.3%. The Swiss immigration is over 1% a year, whereas the US level is at 0.32% a year.
What about talking facts rather than bullshit?
Tell me which country has to teach lessons to the other, if any?
But America is a nation created by immigrants.
Sandy Reis And so what?
The Swiss people had also their ancestors immigrating from other region of the world some 2000 years ago.
The Swiss also have open immigration for Europeans. America has nothing like that, so it isn't really fair to compare us. I wonder how many foreign residents in Switzerland aren't from Europe. I can't imagine it's more than 1 or 2%
+Gewehr3 www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/07/blank/key/01/01.html
3.75%
+Linsey Redd omg, that's ...so smart. Linsey for president!
im swiss, and please, you can't say we don't like children!!! you were in a bad restaurant!!!
+Tabea Weber i just thought the same...i could imagine that it was in zurich where this happened
+weiss nid haha in zürich they are not only unfriendly to kids lol ;-)
This guy is a joke, I love the rule of no noise after 10pm, but if you are at centrum of the city or near a pub/club of course you'll hear noise, very normal, we don't have nightlife, omg, where the hell have you been?? Surely not in Switzerland man.... We don't like children? I don't see happier children than ours, they are respectful, peaceful, more than any others you will find in Europa, it's a expensive country? Sorry man, we have one of the best economies in the world, and our people have one of the most greatest purchasing power... Just take a look at the rankings, there are always 2/3 Swiss Cities considered one of the best to live, and our country in global one of the best to live and born....
+Pedro Fernandes as a swiss person in switzerland, it's not expensive, just normal. as a tourist, it is expensive, because they come from countries where both pay and costs are lower.
to say that switzerland is expensive is a fair point.
Moinmoin they pedophiles they don't like children
Well I like to compare the Swiss to a coconut. Hard to get to know, but once you crack that hull, they are very soft on the inside. In Switzerland it isn‘t easy to make friends, but from the friends you make you can expect almost anything.
totally agree with all of this!! loved switzerland so much we had to film it all and vlog it hahha. thanks for the tips - ill direct my travelling friends to this vid
Wolter is right - in 95 % cases it is like he is saying (both love & hate)...
However, Swiss can be good friends and there could be a good nightlife - you just have to penetrate deeper into their culture and not to do a just superficial visit. On the contrary, Americans will become your best friends in a couple of days... with Swiss you need to work on it a bit longer but inside their shells you will find beautiful souls...
I like Swiss women! They are beautiful :D
***** Is the divorce rate in Switzerland really 90%? I don't believe it.
***** Probably because the men there claim to be progressive aka womens rights but really want women to be their slaves. They dupe the women into marriages and then the women file for divorce after they figure it out they didnt mean anything about women rights
Switzerland is actualy the #1 expensivest country in the world.
but i love my country im glad to be swiss
SeverinLP I tell people if money doesn't matter Switzerland should be #1 on their lists
Switzerland is beautiful!
You should be!
greetings from Brazil!
2nd. Norway
I’m going there soon. Can’t wait to see Roger’s country
nice video...yap so true again...and the beautiful landscapes are awesome.
thanks for the great and helpful reply.
Restaurants are "expensive" because the personnel is paid decent wages and you don't have to tip them at all if you don't like - and hey, it's perfectly ok!
Coco Ecol as a swiss citizen, I can say that it is really rude if you dont pay a tip
The entire cost of two meals at Micky D's is easily solved. Went to Flon yesterday and looked at the menu board. Two Big Mac Meals, medium, cost 13 CHF each...that's a total of 26 CHF. Far from 40. The Big Tasty meal, medium, 14 CHF each...28 CHF for two. Two CHF more but still far from 40. Want to spend less? Buy the small menu.
Many years ago I had the pleasure of visiting Lugano, Switzerland with a tour group. It was a very enjoyable experience.
Well Spain is pretty fun too :) have a great trip! we have a 5 love and hates video for spain as well. all the best!
I feel like the negative points kind of outweigh the positive. Children are always welcome in Switzerland, you must have had an unlucky pick with your restaurant. Great video though.
Kimbs Salvatore thank you. it wasn't that it was overly un-kid-friendly, it was more we ran into more issues in Switzerland than anywhere else we had traveled. My oldest was 5 when we were there and he wanted to go the Rosengart collection and the lady at the front would not let my wife and him in because he was a child... though he is/was a huge Picasso fan and it was the one place he wanted to go in Lucerne. Luckily my wife talked to the lady and explained that he had studied Picasso in school and he would not break anything, the lady still followed them throughout the collection to make sure nothing happened. it was quite off putting. So I guess I should make it more "not the most kid friendly but not kid hostile" instead ;) thanks for watching!
Switzerland is made for Kids. Try the actual Kids Stuff they will love it
I would love living in Switzerland :(
Believe me, It gets boring xD
I went through Switzerland as part of the Fireball Rally (a charity banger rally) and absolutely loved it. Admittedly it was pretty much a flying visit but we spent a night in a camp site, one night in a Liechtenstein campsite and saw plenty of the area whilst driving through. The scenery is stunning and I can't wait to go back this year :)
yeah, sometimes I debate between just listing or explain, but when I did just the list people complained too much so I figured giving a bit of explanation would help. thanks for watching and commenting!
Having being born in Germany and living in Switzerland now I can't see why you think there is trouble for kids there is not German speaking countries always have a good family vibe and community that is not true
You hate the Nightlife?
In Lucerne you don't get a Nightlife!
Go to Zurich!
Päddy Häddy Zurich does have MUCH BETTER nightlife that is true
woltersworld Europe in general is really boring. The food sucks and the people are unfriendly.
danpt2000 about friendly and unfriendly...
Theire are more then 50 countries in Europe and everyones has its own culture and People with their own attitude. And you act like you experienced all of them...
I believe you, believe me :)
Zurich was a fun town (just so expensive that partying was rather limited), but i liked the bars i did visit.
Back in 1997 I got to visit Lugano, Switzerland with a tour group. It is just stunning. I have also had the privilege of flying over the Swiss Alps.
Bill Bergendahl hi go to Lugano now, it’s changed a lot
I don't think there's anything to hate about Switzerland!
Mayur Kulkarni well it's pretty broing here :/ belive me I live here since 11 years! And people are pretty cold!
BlackMilk Well it depands! If you are young in youre 20s, 30s, 40s it's not the best place too be. But if you are over 50 and rich, is one of the best. Clean, secure, quiet and selaries are the best in the world! So if you a person who looking for a good job, with good salary you're like eating in restaurants and most friends are over 45, than Switzerland is the country for you to live!
Andre Didenko I could not have said it any better !!
Andre Didenko "if you are over 50 and rich" :D well, one thing I can add to this one is, that if you are living in Switzerland you are rich, because if you go anywhere in the world, nothing is expensive anymore ;) And if you know the right people you always find a party going till morning.
The only biggest problem and annoyance in switzerland is traffic and the drivers always driving 10-20 km/h under the limit, that is realy killing me
Well it depends, in Switzerland you don't need a car ! I travalled in a lot of countries, and public transport system is the best in the world. And it's cheaper, cheaper than in UK!
you have been to zurich and you think there is no night-life?
swissm8 its more Switzerland in total... a bit boring. Zurich DOES have some decent nightlife but its not that great
A lot's of place to go out even in the country side but you should know where to go. You can find small budget clubs and bars but most probably tourist will never find them. Look at Bern, if you don't know where to go, you'll be really bored. But once you know the 'scene' it's great ! It always depend what you are looking for. In L.A. most of bars and clubs closes at 2am. BUt overall, I agree, CH is a little boring because you'll always see the same people over and over. It's a small place after all !
swissm8 Well I'm swiss too and yeah indeed the night life isn't that good...and if it's good it's mostly expensive...Go to other countries around switzerland and you will find even in really small towns a much richer night life.....I just know some places in Berne that are free for going out and party with some decent music...mostly you have to pay way to much for shitty music....Love the club scene in Londen for example...but anyway...I love my towns and my clubs ;.)
great to hear! its a great country!
Love your videos! I fully expect to expat from the U.S. someday, probably near retirement, and your videos have helped me frame some choices. This video, Portugal, and Germany were all very helpful.
New Zealand is on my list of possible retirement destinations, though. Any plans to visit there and do a 5 good / 5 bad things video?
Yes Switzerland is not a cheap country but people have to remember that we earn more than a lot of other countries so naturally things will be dearer. It`s all relative.
Just because one restaurant may not like kids doesn`t mean that all are like that, there are plenty of people who have kids here and take them to restaurants. Also why would you worry about what McDonalds costs, it`s crap food anyway. Americans need to try real food when they go overseas, if you just want to eat your fast food rubbish, then maybe you should stay at home. As for the rules about noise, that`s just having some consideration for other people, not being selfish and thinking you are alone on the planet. I went to London not so long ago and it was very expensive too, there are lots of places in the world which cost enough, not just Switzerland.
It s right it s expensive for tourist ... switzerland is no tourist country so the goverment don t stop this .Most swiss people buy in the big countrys around switzerland like france italy and germany ... thats why you find nearly all big citys near the borders
Thats not true. Only people in the closest proximity of the borders do this regularly.
Tony Hunziker Basel, Zurich, Medrisio, Lugano, Locarno?
Claud Ka Kei Yeung
Zurich is not really close to a border. Its true that swiss people go over the border to buy things, but its not like we do this on a regular basis.
Tony Hunziker My friends do. I also used to then they tightened the meat quota so I do less now.
I`m an American living here in Switzerland and I LOVE IT! The scenery is breathtaking, beautiful mountains for hiking, lakes for relaxing. I have found the Swiss very welcoming, but that is probably because I smile and am friendly, and not like some of the negativity seen in these comments. Yes they follow rules, which is why the country runs so efficiently, and is immaculate. Also this comment about kids, I never ever heard of such a thing. Been here 6 years and still loving it!
go go go!!! it is beautiful there, just a wee bit expensive :)
That's my country!
Your country you can stay byel not jealous at all just glad I don't live their or Europe?
barbara vire
Your lack of knowledge in spelling and punctuation shows you are a product of American edjemakation.
hey in Switzerland the service treats as adults, they think we are able to look after outselves, not destroy anything. If you need help, you get competent help, you can actually think do you really want this? In Switzerland you are not babysited! Who needs that?
I absolutely LOVED Switzerland - Was there for a month and I want to return so badly.. and SOON!
So beautiful isn't it? Love it.
Switzerland is really childfriendly. You're just in the wrong place. You should go to Bern, there you can see the culture of Switzerland.
***** I don't think so! Where I live the old people are very friendly! When you go to Switzerland you just have to go to samller village, there are the people very friendly.
the stuff with the kids isn't true.
It looks beautiful there. The sound of the birds in the background was so lovely too. Shame for us it's so expensive.
In 2016 we spent a month in Switzerland during the summer holidays and i must say that Switzerland is very beautiful but the people are very stuck up and not very friendly at all. Mr friends stays in Zurich and he agrees with me. We plan visit again next year and hope the our experience will be different next time around. The service very average.
You should do one for Sweden
Mundanepotato we are planning on a Sweden trip next summer
Mundane, if you're planning a trip to Sweden, a friendly warning: they have some of the most expensive taxis in the world. Even Swiss taxis are "cheap" by comparison! Try taking the bus or train if possible.
Are you visiting Stockholm? Plan ahead if you want to take the "Millennium" walking tours. They have become quite popular because of the Lizbeth Salander books and movies.And with the remakes coming out (I think "Hornet's nest" is next.) they might become more popular still. I wish I could go so I could see Lizbeth's apartment. I don't think you can visit the estate of the Vangers. It appears to be on an island connected by a bridge. Be aware that many of these locations were temporarily leased from the occupants for the movies so they might not allow you to look inside.
much rules in switzerland? how about america??
I loved Switzerland! And I love America! So damn, I am torn ;)
im american, you swiss are some how more regimented than the germans. sorry but it is true. ive been to both countries and if you think that america has more rules you've never been here.
1. I am not Swiss.
2. I was a tourist there visiting
3. this video is for tourists heading to Switzerland
4. love the name ;)
all the best
Many years ago I visited Lugano, Switzerland with a tour group. It is quite beautiful and expensive. Four years after that first visit I flew over the Swiss Alps.
Who ate all the Swiss chocolates.
I think he did! :D
He looks german! lol.. must be german descent!
das bin ich!
What do you think is the best country in Europe? I come from Bahrain and I'm planning to live in either Switzerland or Holland in future and I really need someone to help me with choosing... I have visited Switzerland and had fantastic time there but I've never visited Holland. Any suggestions?
I went n Switzerald for a tour and I visit the most important cities, which Geneva, Zurich, Bern (the capital) and Luzern, ... but the most beautifull one was Lugano really amazing and also the people different from the others cities. To be in Lugano it seems to be in Italy; fantastic, and incredible the food, really so much different between Lugano and the rest of Switzerland
I hate Switzerland. I have to live here for my work for the last 4 years but I pray for the day I can live this country. I have being in more than 70 countries so far, and even if I stay for a weekend I can make a lot of friends and I keep in touch when I leave. In Swtz I could never make even one. And when I see the kind of friendship others have with the swiss I feel Im not losing anything anyway. If you tell them 'my mom just died' they will tell you: Im sorry but is not my problem.The worst thing about this country is by far the (very famous around the world for being extremely cold) people.
I guess you must have done something very wrong then ;-)
maybe the problem is on yourself... switzerland is different then any other country, and that is ok. the people are not "extremely cold", they are just "very correct". I'm happy that it's not like in the U.S. or Brazil in Switzerland. I think you work only because of the good salary here. isn't?
I am a Dutch person living in Zürich, loving it here.
My thoughts on your comment:
1. If you hate a country, don't stay and complain about it. I am assuming you are here out of free will.
2. Integration needs effort. Have you tried learning the language, doing something back? (volunteering for instance)
I am working hard getting integrated here, it takes time and effort. I also find it difficult to meet many Swiss people (no wonder with the number of foreigners working here), but am slowly getting there, I am sure you can as well. Best wishes.
furtking76 Actually I do not have a salary, I am a partner in a company in Zurich, and its nothing about people being very correct, I am very correct too. My company has 130 employees in two offices in Switzerland (three in march), I pay my tax and never did anything wrong as citizen (in swtzl or out). The FACT that swiss people are cold is known worldwide, just google it and you will have millions of examples. I do regret to have started the company there, but I can't go back in time. No wonder the country has the hieghest tax of suicides in the world with such warm people. But I am young and can commit some mistakes... I will survive with it.
Don Ernstione Well, I have free will, but after putting too much money and efforts on building a company with my partners would be a shame to give up now. My partners are swiss and good people but as well they have no friends. I have been living in 12 countries last 16 years and everywhere else after one month I had lots of friends. Actually I was for two weeks in London last month and in the end I knew all the people from the building, from all the rests around my apart, and even the ones that go regulary to walk in the park. I use to have lunch in a rest in Zurich the last 4 years and they don't know my name. I am very friendly and is quite easy to talk to me, have hundreds (maybe thousands) of known people around the globe. But I can't really take this coldness of swiss people. Nevermind, the money is good and I spend half of my month traveling around the world and seeing my friends. Not a bad life indeed, but if I had to stay all the time in Swtzl I would increase the already huge suicide stats from the country for sure.
We don't like children???..Mouahahahahhaha! Well we maybe don't like arrogant people with money and impolite kids with no education running in the restaurant! Don't bring your kids here...we'll put them in the fondue!!! ;) Funny your video man!
We've stayed in Switzerland with small children several times and had good experiences. The Swizz of course expect parents to keep their children in check as much as possible, but everyone we met was friendly and understanding. Also, I don't mind a waiter or waitress giving the kids a stern look if they misbehave, it helps with teaching them manners! We visited Berner-Oberland.
I absolutely love these videos! What a fantastic idea! I am soon moving to Switzerland and this video is spot on and so was your Portugal one! I will definitely consult your channel before seeing any new European Countries!
Thanks!
Why do you portuguese always want to move to Switzerland ???
Haha just saw this. I'm just as Swiss as I am Portuguese. Also.. look at the economic state of Portugual..
I've been to Switzerland last month and I must say it's a beautiful country. Yes, prices are high and there are quite a few rules, but it's worth the visit. Landscapes are incredible, cheese and chocolate are the best I ever tasted. One more thing: the weather, it was winter when I was there and it's VERY cold. So summing it up I must say that I love Switzerland.
prices ar high, because there are lots of social insurances and included in the wages.
Switzerland is all about prestige and perfection, so if that is not your thing then don't go there. The Swiss name is associated with quality products, most evident being the Swiss Watch industry. There is also Swiss Cheese, Swiss chocolate, the Swiss Knife and Swiss Banking. You don't find garbage with 'Swiss made' printed on it, and the Swiss like to keep it that way. I wouldn't personally want to live in Switzerland, I am a fan of mountains but also of the beach. That being said, I think it is an excellent place to visit, especially if you have a passion for watches. I could spend weeks just browsing the shops, touring their factories and of course Skiing. I also love that it is not a very kid friendly place; I hate little kids and having the waiter remove annoying families with screaming children is something you really learn to appreciate if you live in places like America. The rules don't bother me at all, it's more legal opportunity for me if I wanted to pursue a career and the conservative attitude is beautiful. No unwanted immigrants in Switzerland, and even though I enjoy to party myself from time to time, no loud noise and disturbances when you jut want to relax. The best experience I would compare Switzerland to would be Monaco, or regions of Paris. The poorest people there are upper-middle class tourists and backpackers, it's really a step up from immigrants and hoodlums :)