Tips for living in Switzerland

Swiss people tend not to be direct. This goes for both conversations and emails. In Switzerland, people often make small talk. In addition, Swiss people express criticism rather cautiously and indirectly.

People in Switzerland are very polite. In Switzerland, you’ll typically hear “please” and “thank you” more often than may seem necessary. For example, meetings at work often end with a “thank you”.

The Swiss often say the name of their counterpart or repeat it when they hear it for the first time: “Hello, my name is Hansruedi.” – “Hansruedi, nice to meet you, my name is Susanne.”

When getting to know each other, Swiss people usually shake hands with the other person. From the second time you meet, things become a little more complicated: when greeting a woman, it’s customary to give three kisses on the cheek. For the younger generation or among acquaintances, a kiss or a hug is often enough – even among male friends. The rules are not so clear, however. One thing you can be sure of: you never give two kisses.

Foreigners do not need to learn to speak Swiss German. The variety of dialects makes this difficult in any case. But many Swiss people do see the effort as a sign of successful integration. However, after having lived in German-speaking Switzerland for a while, immigrants are expected to understand Swiss German.

Swiss people tend to be quiet. Complaining or telling jokes loudly, shouting into the phone or even raising your voice above normal levels for the Swiss during an argument will not be received well.

You can pay digitally almost anywhere in Switzerland. Even in bars and markets, you can often pay with a card or payment apps such as Twint and Apple Pay.

Swiss people toast with everyone in the group before they drink. They look into each other’s eyes and call the other person by their name. For example: “Cheers, Hansruedi!”

Hiking is very popular in Switzerland. But be aware for a proper hike, Swiss people often ascend several hundred metres in altitude. A 2-hour tour around a lake is more of a long walk, not a hike.

When inviting people for dinner, for example, Swiss people often offer an aperitif and appetizers. Too much effort is not necessary: beer or white wine with crisps, nuts or olives will usually suffice. Meeting only for an aperitif is also popular. This may last late into the night and should involve more effort than the usual drinks and appetisers before a meal.

Being stingy is uncommon in Switzerland. This includes turning over every cent or complaining about prices that are too high.

Showing up later than 15 minutes for an appointment is simply unacceptable in Switzerland. If you still can’t avoid it, you must inform the person waiting for you about the delay as soon as you can. Don’t forget to apologize.

Swiss companies often have flat hierarchies. Employees are also more often involved in decisions.

The topic of income is an absolute taboo for most Swiss people. Only close friends or family may tell you about their financial situation.

Switzerland is a direct democracy. This means Swiss people vote on larger decisions. Voting takes place four times per year. In addition, citizens can bring issues to a vote themselves.

Sundays are considered a day of rest in Switzerland. Most stores are closed on Sundays. Restaurants sometimes have a day off on Sundays. Swiss people also avoid unnecessary noise on Sundays.