How to Save Money on Meals in Switzerland
Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries on earth.
It’s also one of the most expensive.
I warn my clients about this ahead of time because the food prices can feel like a bit of a shock when you first arrive. A casual restaurant dinner can easily run 40–50 Swiss francs per person, and that’s before drinks. Even a simple lunch can creep into the 20–30 CHF range.
But here’s the thing: you don’t actually have to spend a fortune to eat well in Switzerland. The country is full of small tricks and habits that locals use to keep food costs reasonable. Once you know these tricks, eating in Switzerland becomes much easier — and honestly, a lot more fun.
Here are the strategies I’ve learned after many trips to Switzerland…
Drink the Tap Water
The tap water in Switzerland is outstanding. It comes straight from Alpine springs and glaciers, and it’s some of the cleanest drinking water in the world. Locals drink it everywhere.
If you ask for tap water at a restaurant, you’ll sometimes get it for free and sometimes for a small charge. Policies vary. But either way, it’s still usually cheaper than ordering bottled water. And when you’re out sightseeing, bring a reusable bottle.
One of my favorite Swiss quirks is the public fountains. In many towns and villages, these fountains run with perfectly drinkable water. If the water isn’t potable, it will clearly say so. Otherwise, it’s fair game. Refill your bottle and keep going. It’s free, cold, and better than most bottled water anyway.
Make Lunch Your Big Meal
If you want to enjoy restaurants in Switzerland without feeling like you’re setting your money on fire, shift your timing. Lunch is often dramatically cheaper than dinner. Many restaurants offer fixed-price lunch specials or daily menus that locals take advantage of. These are often a fraction of the price of the evening menu and still very good.
A nice strategy is:
enjoy a proper sit-down lunch
keep dinner simple
Dinner can easily become a picnic, takeaway meal, or something small from a bakery.
Bakeries Are the Secret Weapon
Swiss bakeries are everywhere, and they’re fantastic. If you’re trying to keep food costs under control, bakeries are your best friend. Most bakeries sell fresh sandwiches, pastries, and simple savory items like quiches or cheese breads. A sandwich from a bakery can cost half of what you’d pay at a restaurant. They also make for a perfect Swiss breakfast.
Walk into a bakery and order:
a Gipfeli (the Swiss version of a croissant)
a coffee
maybe some Birchermüesli if you’re feeling healthy
Simple, local, and a great value!
Grocery Stores Are Surprisingly Good
Two grocery chains dominate Switzerland: Migros and Coop. Both are excellent.
Inside most of these stores you’ll find entire sections of prepared foods:
fresh sandwiches
pasta salads
hot meals
soup
baked goods
cheese and charcuterie
This makes it very easy to assemble a picnic lunch. And Switzerland may be expensive, but it might also be the best picnic country in the world. Imagine grabbing bread, cheese, and fruit and eating lunch beside a lake with snow-covered mountains in the background. Honestly, that’s one of the best meals you’ll have.
Try Grocery Store Cafeterias
One of Switzerland’s most underrated budget meal options is hiding inside grocery stores. Many Migros and Coop locations have self-service cafeterias upstairs or in the back of the store.
They serve simple hot meals like:
pasta
rösti
roasted vegetables
salads
soups
The prices are far more reasonable than restaurants, and you’ll often see plenty of locals eating there. That’s usually a good sign.
Look for Ethnic Food
Another trick travelers discover quickly: international food is often cheaper than traditional Swiss restaurants. In most cities you’ll find excellent options for:
Thai food
Chinese noodles
Indian restaurants
Turkish kebabs
Middle Eastern takeaway
These meals are frequently far less expensive than classic Swiss dishes. And they’re often very good.
Inexpensive Swiss Foods to Try
You can absolutely try local Swiss food without breaking the bank. You just have to know where to look.
Here are a few classic Swiss foods that are relatively affordable.
Rösti
Rösti is Switzerland’s answer to hash browns — shredded potatoes fried until crispy and golden. You’ll often see it served with cheese, eggs, or sausage. It’s filling, comforting, and widely available. Sometimes you can find it at casual restaurants, takeaway stands, or grocery cafeterias.
Raclette (Takeaway Style)
Raclette is melted cheese scraped over potatoes, pickles, and onions. In tourist restaurants it can be expensive, but in winter markets or takeaway stalls it’s often much more reasonable — and incredibly satisfying after a cold day in the mountains.
Sausages and Street Food
Swiss sausage stands are another good option. You’ll often find grilled sausages served with bread and mustard, which makes a quick and relatively inexpensive lunch.
Swiss Chocolate
This one might sound obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. Buying chocolate in grocery stores is surprisingly affordable, and the quality is outstanding. A bar of Swiss chocolate from Migros or Coop is both a dessert and a cultural experience.
Skip Drinks in Restaurants
One thing that quietly drives up restaurant bills in Switzerland is drinks. Soft drinks, beer, and bottled water are often expensive.
Ordering tap water or simply skipping drinks with your meal can cut your bill significantly. And honestly, when you’re spending your day drinking glacier water from mountain fountains, you may not feel the need for bottled water anyway.
Picnic Whenever Possible
Some of my favorite meals in Switzerland haven’t been in restaurants at all. They’ve been picnics. Bread, cheese, fruit, and chocolate eaten beside a lake or on a mountain bench somehow tastes better than a fancy meal indoors. Switzerland almost invites you to eat this way.
The Real Goal
Even with all these strategies, Switzerland will never be a “cheap” destination. But the goal isn’t necessarily to make it cheap.
The goal is to spend your money on the things that matter most:
scenic trains through the Alps
cable cars and mountain viewpoints
beautiful hotels
unforgettable landscapes
Not overpriced bottled water or tourist restaurants. And honestly, some of the simplest meals — a bakery sandwich or a picnic beside a turquoise Alpine lake — end up being the most memorable anyway.
About Krista
I’m a Virtuoso travel advisor based in West Palm Beach, Florida. I attended the University of Notre Dame for undergrad and I have my MBA from the University of Chicago. Before building my travel business, I spent 20 years in the investment management industry and over a decade living and working in London, England. I’ve personally traveled to 80 countries and now design thoughtful, highly customized trips for travelers who value expertise, access, and a seamless experience.
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