Travel essentials for Switzerland
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Power & adapters
Type J, C adapter required
Switzerland uses its own Type J plug, which is three round pins in a triangle. A standard two-pin Type C plug fits a Swiss socket, but a chunky European Type F (Schuko) adapter will not - buy a Swiss-specific adapter rather than assuming a Europe one covers it.
230V, 50Hz
Tap water
Safe to drink
Tap water is safe and excellent. Public fountains in towns and cities are drinkable unless signed otherwise - fill your bottle rather than paying CHF 5 for water.
Staying connected
Excellent everywhere, including on mountain railways and in alpine valleys.
Check that your eSIM plan lists Switzerland. It is not in the EU, so a lot of "Europe" plans exclude it, and connecting on a plan that does not cover it means roaming charges.
Compare Switzerland eSIMsHealth risks
- Altitude sickness above 2,500m - Jungfraujoch is 3,454m
- Rapid weather changes in the mountains, in any season
Emergency numbers in Switzerland
| All emergencies | 112 for everything |
|---|---|
| Police | 117 |
| Ambulance | 144 |
| Fire | 118 |
| Australian consulate | Australian Embassy Bern - +41 31 356 2000 |
Tipping and everyday costs
Service is included by law. Rounding up to the nearest franc or two is normal; anything beyond that is unusual.
What screening will actually let you pack
Half of what goes in the bag is decided by someone else. What you can take on a plane sets out the Australian rules item by item - power banks, liquids, scissors, aerosols - and what has to be declared at the border on the way home.
More Switzerland essentials
Further reading: Power adapters by country: what Australians actually need to pack
How these comparisons are made
Plug types, voltages and frequencies come from the international electrotechnical standards data for each country, stated per destination with what that means for Australian appliances specifically - what needs an adapter, what needs a converter, and what should stay home. Read the full editorial policy.
Switzerland travel essentials FAQs
What power adapter do I need for Switzerland?
A Swiss Type J adapter. A slim two-pin Type C plug does fit a Swiss socket, but a chunky European Type F Schuko plug does not, so a general "Europe" adapter is not a safe assumption.
Planning Switzerland?
We will send you the Switzerland guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.