10 Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Moved to Switzerland
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Almost exactly one year ago, my husband and I moved to Switzerland.
Before we moved here, we watched every Swiss video we could find on YouTube, debating and considering the move.
So now one year in, I thought it would be fun to share what life is really like living here and as well as the realizations and impressions I've had along the way.
Whether you're thinking about moving to Switzerland and want to know what life is truly like here, or you're just curious about life in Switzerland without any plans to move, I hope this blog post helps.
I've lived in Canada, the US, Germany, the UK, and now Switzerland. So, I have plenty of international experience to make comparisons, and Switzerland is an incredible place to live.
I want to say upfront, my main takeaway is this: I LOVE living here. 🥰
It feels like we hit the jackpot of countries.
However, there are definitely some key factors to keep in mind when deciding to move to a new country so here are 10 things I wish I’d known before I moved to Switzerland.
#1: You might get bored here.
Although I don't personally find life in Switzerland boring, I recently had drinks with a few friends, and one of them mentioned she moved here for her partner and isn't really enjoying it.
I asked her what she appreciates in a place, and she said she likes lots of events, business, big cities, and a constant buzz of activity.
I totally understood her perspective. If I had moved here in my twenties, I might have felt the same way.
This is something I read a lot about while researching opinions before moving here.
People often say that Switzerland can feel a bit boring and that everything closes by 8 p.m., especially outside of Zurich. In the smaller towns, which make up most of the country, not much happens after 8 p.m., and most things are closed.
However, for me, moving here in my thirties is perfect.
I think we appreciate different things at different stages in our lives.
When I was younger, going out, meeting people, and having an active dating scene were more important. So, I can understand how one's perspective on what they want in a place can change over time.
#2:The entire country runs like clockwork.
Of the many things I appreciate about Switzerland, the most impressive is how flawlessly their system functions.
There is very little tolerance for chaos or inefficiency here—everything works as it should. It's the most well-functioning place you could ask for.
For example, I have a friend in another European country who has been waiting six months just to get a visa appointment because the administration there is slow. They're about to reach the end of their allowed Schengen days, so it's getting quite stressful. These kinds of visa office dramas just don't happen here in Switzerland.
Everything here functions smoothly. The administration works, the trains run on time, the roads are well-maintained, and the whole place is impeccably kept.
It's exactly how you would want a country to operate. I'm very impressed with how Switzerland has nailed this aspect of daily life.
However, I must say that with every positive, there's usually another side to consider—so let's look at that next.
#3: You might struggle if you tend to like more “laid-back” places.
As I mentioned before, I love living in a super organized country.
But if you’re someone who prefers a more relaxed, easygoing vibe, Switzerland might not be the best fit.
The whole well-functioning thing comes with certain expectations.
For example, here’s a little list of things that do not fly here on a peaceful quiet Sunday:
doing laundry
making noise
washing your car
garden work
I still vividly remember when we first moved here and were on a ferry around the lake…There was a kid running up and down the boat, screaming, and that kind of thing just doesn’t fly here. One of the ladies working on the boat really told off the kid and the mom.
So yeah, there are definitely certain expectations you need to meet to enjoy and fit into Swiss society. It really depends on who you are and what you like.
You have to decide if you’re more into a laid-back, chill atmosphere, or if you prefer strict rules that everyone follows, which keeps everything running smoothly.
#4: It can be ridiculously hard to buy things - both online and in-store.
So, I have a wedding coming up next month, and it's been a big reminder of how tough shopping in Switzerland can be.
Switzerland is so centrally located in Europe, but it really is its own little island since it’s not part of the EU, which makes buying things a bit challenging.
First of all, there are import fees on things you order into the country.
But also, when you buy stuff from within the country, it can sometimes take forever to arrive. Galaxus is like the Swiss version of Amazon, and I remember last summer I ordered a microphone from there, and two weeks later it still hadn’t arrived. I was like, “What the actual heck!” So then I went on amazon.co.uk, ordered the same microphone, and it was at my house the next day.
So, basically, Amazon UK was way faster than ordering stuff from within the country.
My husband wanted to get a Kindle for our upcoming vacation in Greece, and we checked so many stores but couldn’t find one.
Anyway, back to planning my wedding outfit.
I was thinking about just wearing a dress I already had, but then I actually went to Globus (a big department store here in Zurich) for the first time. They were having a sale, and I got this amazing dress for 60% off! 👉
For shoes and a bag, I ordered them online, and interestingly, I didn’t have to pay import fees on them. It’s weird; sometimes you get charged import fees, and other times you don’t. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.
Also, FYI, hats are not something you can easily shop for in Switzerland.
There was a milliner in Zurich, but they closed down during the pandemic. So, your only option is to buy online. I found the cutest hat from Juliette Botterill Millinery in London.
I bought this beautiful little hat online to go with my outfit. 👉
I think it’ll fit perfectly with the dress and shoes, and the headband has strong elements that should match well with the bag.
I actually had to order this hat to Canada (I’m heading back home to Canada in a couple of weeks) because Switzerland wasn’t listed as a delivery option.
getting things into the country is one of the major downsides but also positives of living here. You end up buying a lot less because it’s such a pain to get stuff.
#5:People are generally more reserved.
So, I recently went to Taylor Swift’s concert here in Zurich with my friend Jazze, who is a major Taylor Swift fan.
She was telling me how she went to the exact same concert in Australia, and it was just absolute craziness with about 94,000 people there. Here in Switzerland, it was only 50,000.
There was a group of Americans just in front of us at the concert, dancing like crazy and going wild. But the rest of the crowd was just kind of bopping along. I feel like that’s a good representation of how the Swiss are in general—definitely a bit more reserved compared to Americans, who are often pretty wild and out there.
Oh and by the way, it was a lovely concert. Taylor did a fabulous job and was just as good as I remembered her being 10 years ago.
#6: It can be hard to connect with the locals.
The entire country of Switzerland has about the same population as the City of London. The beauty—and potential downside—of this small country size for internationals is that it can be hard to assimilate into the lives of locals.
I was chatting with my trainer at the gym about how he's still so close with his childhood friends and sees them regularly. I told him I hear that a lot in Switzerland, and he was like, “Well yeah, it’s true.”
I think it’s just a factor of the country being very small. Even if you move from Lucerne to Bern or Zurich, you can still keep your old friends from childhood, school, or university because everything is so close by.
You can maintain those friendships and relationships even if you move within the country because it's all pretty nearby.
For international people coming here, it can be difficult to get to know Swiss people and make friends with them.
However, we've personally made a few good Swiss friends already. I haven't found it as hard as some people say, but I think that’s because I've lived in many countries. I'm used to putting myself way out there because I’ve learned that when you're new in a country, that’s what you have to do to meet people and make friends. There's always a lot of effort involved in the beginning.
But anyways, it is true that if you move to Switzerland, you're probably more likely to make friends with other internationals. They’ve also recently moved here and are down to meet people and make friends.
So, yeah, I can say that most of my friends here are international rather than Swiss, and that’s probably why. From what I read online, this seems to be true, though I do think the Swiss are very open and kind as well.
#7: Swiss German is very different than standard German but you might not actually need to learn it.
When it comes to getting by speaking English in Switzerland, it really depends on where you’re living. If you’re in one of the bigger cities, it’s a lot easier compared to living in tiny towns or down south.
I have to say I was surprised at how international Switzerland can be. Okay, this one really depends on where you are: if you are out in the boonies of course you’re not going to find an international crowd but in the main cities themselves you definitely will be amazed by how many different languages you hear while walking about.
Sometimes you actually might need to speak English.
For example, we were at this gorgeous hotel the other week, and my husband called reception to ask about checkout time in German, and the person on the phone didn’t speak German! They were like, “Oh, sorry, can you speak English?”
So, while German is appreciated in most places (especially in the Zurich, Zug area where we are, which is German-speaking), you can get along quite well in English.
However, for making friendships and really integrating into the country, learning the local language is massively important.
My theory on the language situation is that because there are already so many languages spoken within the country, it makes it easier to add another. For example, if you want to do online banking or get a SIM card, most things are available in French, German, and Italian. So, if a website is already in three languages, adding a fourth isn’t a big deal.
This makes it easier to get by when you first arrive. But learning the local language is always beneficial. I’ve actually inquired with a language teacher to finish learning German (standard German first, then Swiss German).
But the fact that Swiss German is so dramatically different really surprised me…
I spent years learning standard German, and then when I got here and heard Swiss German, I was like, “What? What is that? Oh my gosh, that is nothing like what I learned!”
It’s truly a whole different ballgame.
So yeah, even if you know standard German, Swiss German sounds totally different, and it’s definitely going to take me a few more years in language school to figure that one out.
#8: It’s expensive but in some ways I feel like we’re saving money. Plus the life quality makes it so worth it.
When it comes to the price point, Switzerland is, of course, known to be on the expensive side of things.
But interestingly, in some ways we spend less here:
My husband and I were living in London just before this, which is technically less expensive than Zurich. Our apartment here costs the same as it did in London, but it’s twice the size now. Granted, we live outside the city, so if we were in the city, we probably would have gotten an apartment half the size.
Also in terms of day-to-day expenses, we actually spend less money here than we did in the UK. The main things we do for entertainment are usually hiking, biking, or other activities where you already have the equipment. So, that’s kind of interesting.
I saw someone did a video once about how much they spent in a weekend in Switzerland. If you’d like a video like that from me, let me know; it could be fun and interesting to do.
So bottom line: it’s pricey. But I’d say the quality of life that comes with it is really solid.
#9: Everywhere you look, there are stunning views and endless nature activities.
The amount of activities and nature you have access to right outside your front door is truly incredible.
Whether you want to swim in the lake, hike a mountain, ski, or whatever, if you love nature activities, this place is heaven.
And if you’re just considering coming here for vacation, it’s an absolutely beautiful option.
I will say, it’s not the most exciting place in the world, and Apres ski is much better in France or Austria. But if you want a gorgeous ski vacation and an incredible spa at your hotel, then Switzerland is the place.
#10: It tends to be a lot less crowded than other places.
This is something I find really nice about skiing here in Switzerland. It’s not nearly as crowded as in Austria or France.
Also recently, my husband and I spent a few days at an incredible spa in the beautiful town of Gstaad, and we were legit the only people in the spa for almost the entire visit.
The view from the spa was incredible: endless hills covered in trees with patches of grass and impressive snow-capped mountains behind them.
This place was so peaceful and beautiful, and during the week, it was’t busy at all.
So if you plan on coming to Switzerland, I highly recommend this spa.
We stayed at their hotel, but I believe you can just go for the day if you don’t want to stay overnight.
We felt like we found the perfect place for future weekend getaways. the hotel is amazing and the town of Gstaad was also beautiful.
We had a lovely fondue dinner in a very cute chalet restaurant, which feels very winter-like. The downtown area is tiny but charming.
My husband and I were saying that compared to St. Moritz (another Swiss alpine resort town), Gstaad is more charming, cozier, and has more authentic old buildings. So yeah, if I had to choose between the two, I'd pick Gstaad.
As a Canadian, I’d say Gstaad kind of feels like Mont-Tremblant in Canada but like the real deal.
I also always find it so funny how you see luxury brands in these teeny tiny Swiss huts. Imagine if you look on Google Maps, you’ll see these brands in major cities and then in this random town in the Swiss Alps. 🤭
So if you’re still on the fence about coming to Switzerland….
Sure, it’s not as exciting as living in a major city like London or New York but if you love a high quality of life, beautiful views, and you appreciate contributing to a well-functioning place, then Switzerland is a fabulous option.
If you've been given a job offer in Switzerland and you're wondering if what they're offering is enough to live on, it might be helpful to check out some of the Facebook groups for expats. This topic comes up a lot in those groups.
If you'd like more on life in Switzerland, feel free to subscribe to my newsletter cause I'll be writing more similar blogs in the future.
Also don’t forget to check out my most recent vlog where I take a trip to Richard Branson’s Necker Island! 👇
