Ah, Switzerland. Just the mere thought of it conjures up dreamy images in our mind of rolling hills, scenic lakes, and some of the best chocolates in the world. If it isn’t already on your bucket list, we only have one question to ask: why not!?
Credit: Giphy
If you’ve been hesitating all this while for fear of there not being enough Muslim-friendly food or because you think it’s too expensive, fret not: It’s HHWT to the rescue!
We recently spent a week in Switzerland, and not only were we completely floored by the picture-perfect landscapes all around us, we also managed to uncover some awesome money-saving tips and tricks for first-time Muslim travellers to Switzerland.
Of course, we’re not about to keep it all to ourselves, so here’s our budget-conscious guide for Muslim travellers to Switzerland! ✨
P.S. Save on your flight tickets to Switzerland and other top European cities when you fly with KLM! Book NOW till 31 January 2018 to enjoy these exclusive Dream Deals:
- Singapore to Europe (from SGD768 all-in)
- Kuala Lumpur to Europe (from RM2,380 all-in)
- Jakarta to Europe (from IDR9,900,000 all-in)
Valid for travel from 1 February- 30 November 2018.
1. Save on transport costs with the Swiss Travel Pass (and free intra-city tickets!)
Even if you’re not an avid traveller, you’d probably that know that transport often takes up a huge portion of your budget while travelling, especially if you’re planning to visit more than one city.
The combined cost of all those train and bus rides is usually enough to burn a hole in your wallet! An inter-city train ride in Switzerland, for instance, can cost you up to 50CHF, and if you’re planning to pay a visit to the famous Swiss Alps or any other Swiss mountains (which is of course a must-do while you’re here), your total cost is likely to skyrocket even higher.
Fortunately, travellers can take full advantage of the Swiss Travel Pass, which grants you unlimited rides on regular trains, buses and boats. It even gets you discounts on selected mountain excursions AND free use of public transportation in more than 90 urban areas!
You also won’t have to keep buying individual train tickets every time you need to travel from city to city, which is super convenient for travellers on the go.
Depending on the duration of your stay in Switzerland, you can get the 3-Day, 4-Day, 8-Day or 15-Day Pass. We got the 4-Day Swiss Travel Passes (for 2nd class) for 270CHF, which fit perfectly with our 7-day itinerary.
For the days when we didn’t have the Swiss Travel Pass, we explored within the cities to minimize our transport costs, since intra-city travel is cheaper than inter-city travel.
#HHWT Tip: In some Swiss cities like Geneva and Bern, tourists staying overnight will get a FREE intra-city ticket (like the Bern Ticket) which grants access to all intra-city public transportation!
The Swiss Travel Pass includes a 50% discount on mountain excursions to the Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe.
If you’re still not sure about whether it’ll be worth it for you, you can head to a Tourist Information Centre in Switzerland and ask for assistance. The Swiss Travel Pass can be bought on the spot in Switzerland itself, so if you’d rather not buy in advance, you can purchase it while you’re in Switzerland too!
Alternatively, a half-fare version of the Swiss Travel Pass is available too, which allows you to use public transportation in Switzerland at half-price.
Click here to buy the Swiss Travel Pass online and find out more information about prices, validity.
4. Save on flight costs with KLM’s Winter deals to Switzerland
Flight tickets often take up the bulk of travel expenses in general, and if you think that flying to Switzerland will burn a hole in your wallet, you needn’t worry! Make full use of KLM Dream Deals to save tons on your flight expenditure; book NOW till 31 January 2018 to enjoy these exclusive Dream Deals:
- Singapore to Europe (from SGD768 all-in)
- Kuala Lumpur to Europe (from RM2,380 all-in)
- Jakarta to Europe (from IDR9,900,000 all-in)
Valid for travel from 1 February- 30 November 2018.
While transiting in Amsterdam, we checked out the mini-Rijksmuseum at the Holland Boulevard to admire some of the gorgeous Dutch paintings on display here. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is the largest art museum in the country, so we were glad to get a taste of it inside this mini-version at Schiphol Airport!
There’s also an inter-faith prayer room at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (near Lounge 3) which we used to complete our prayers while in transit. There are even Qur’ans, prayer mats and telekungs available here!
Once onboard our flights, we had so much space in our KLM Economy Comfort seats (10cm more legroom and double the recline of normal economy seats!) it was hard not to fall asleep almost immediately. Dinner was soon served, and we particularly loved the halal seafood pasta that we had onboard, which left our tummies full and tastebuds tingling before we went to sleep.
Dinner was soon served, and we particularly loved the halal seafood pasta that we had onboard, which left our tummies full and tastebuds tingling before we went to sleep.
#HHWT Tip: All meals onboard KLM flights to and from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Amsterdam are Muslim-friendly: only halal meat is used and meals are all alcohol-free!
2. Things to do on a budget
Admire the breathtaking landscapes of the Swiss mountains
There’s nothing quite like the awe-inspiring otherworldly landscapes of the Swiss mountains. Vast expanses of snow-carpeted mountains stretched out as far as the naked eye could see, and standing amongst those majestic natural landscapes itself was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that neither of us will forget anytime soon!
A trip up to the Swiss mountains is a MUST-DO if you’re visiting Switzerland for the first time. Though ticket prices for mountain trips can get really expensive, if you’ve got the Swiss Travel Pass, you can get discounts of up to 50%!
Majestic view of the snowy landscapes at the end of the Titlis Cliff Walk.
We can safely say that the highlights of our trip were the two mountain excursions we did up to Mount Titlis and Jungfraujoch (which is also known as the Top of Europe.) With the Swiss Travel Pass, we managed to get our tickets for the revolving cable-car ride up to the top of Mount Titlis AND our tickets up to Jungfraujoch at 50% off each, which definitely saved a huge amount of our budget.
#HHWT Tip: You can’t miss the Titlis Cliff Walk while you’re here! It’s free, and as the highest elevation suspension bridge in Europe, you can bet that there are some truly spectacular views of the surrounding mountains awaiting you when you’ve crossed the bridge 
Titlis Cliff Walk.
If you’ve only got time for one mountain excursion, go for Jungfraujoch! At a whopping 3,454 metres above sea level, Jungfraujoch is literally the Top of Europe and was definitely the highlight of our time in Switzerland.
Sphinx Observatory, Jungfraujoch.
While there are several attractions to visit on Jungfraujoch itself, the best ones are the Sphinx Observatory, one of the highest observatories in the world. Head to the open-air platform here for the some of the best views of the mountain peaks surrounding you!
#HHWT Tip: To maximize the value of your ticket prices, set aside an entire day to spend up in the mountains if you’re planning to travel up to them. This way, you can take your time to soak in the grandeur of the Swiss mountains. Trust us, you wouldn’t want to rush your way through!
Take one of Switzerland’s many scenic train rides for spectacular views
One of the best things about travelling by train is the beautiful views that you’ll get as you travel from city to city. While there are literally countless scenic train rides in Switzerland, go for the special Panoramic train rides for an experience you won’t soon forget.
#HHWT Tip: Most panoramic train rides are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, so you can travel for free on them if you’ve got it! Remember to make your seat reservations in advance! It also helps to read up a little online on which side of the train to sit on for the best views 
One of the best things about travelling by train is the beautiful views that you’ll get as you travel from city to city. While there are literally countless scenic train rides in Switzerland, go for the special Panoramic train rides for an experience you won’t soon forget.
#HHWT Tip: Most panoramic train rides are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, so you can travel for free on them if you’ve got it! Remember to make your seat reservations in advance! It also helps to read up a little online on which side of the train to sit on for the best views 🤗
Hop on a cruise boat on Switzerland’s gorgeous lakes
Switzerland’s tranquil lakes are some of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Framed against the backdrop of the Swiss mountains, one of the best ways to experience the lakes in Switzerland is to hop on a cruise boat which will take you on a tour of the lake itself!
If you’re holding the Swiss Travel Pass, boat rides are completely FREE: all you need to do is check the boat schedules beforehand and show up at the dock with your Swiss Travel Pass in hand.
Lake Lucerne.
There are lots of lakes dotted all over Switzerland, but in our opinion, some of the most beautiful lakes in the country are found in Lucerne and Interlaken, especially the latter because of the breathtaking views of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun that you’ll get on your boat ride!
Lake Brienz, near Interlaken.
#HHWT Tip: During the winter, most boat rides are closed because of the weather, so we didn’t get to take any boat rides while we were there. If you’re visiting in the summer, it’s a definite must-do!
3. Free things to do
Switzerland might have a reputation for being an expensive place to visit, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do for free here!
Explore Switzerland’s charming Altstadts (Old Towns) on foot
Every major city in Switzerland has an Old Town, and they’re often filled with historic buildings and sites that have lasted centuries! From pastel-coloured buildings to vibrant murals, you’ll find these Old Towns delightfully endearing and exuding a vintage charm that’s difficult to find anywhere else in the world.
Colourful pastel-hued buildings in Zurich’s Altstadt.
The best way to experience Switzerland’s old towns is on foot: most of these old towns are pedestrian areas, and it won’t take you more than two or three hours to explore the whole area. Lucerne’s Old Town, in particular, is full of colourful murals that’ll greet you at every turn!
Gorgeous murals on the buildings in Lucerne’s Altstadt
#HHWT Tip: The Old Town in Lucerne is super conveniently located. It’s just a 5-7 minute walk from Lucerne Train Station, Lake Lucerne AND the iconic 17th-century wooden bridges of Kappelbrucke and Spreuerbrucke, so you can cover all of them at one go!
You can even find ancient castles (with FREE breathtaking views of the mountains surrounding them!) in some of the Old Towns! In Zurich, for instance, take a 45-minute train ride to the quaint town of Rapperswil, a lakeside old town which is home to the Schloss Rapperswil.
It only takes a 7-minute walk through Rapperswil to find yourself at the base of the hill where Schloss Rapperswil is situated. Take the short flight stairs up to the top and you’ll get stunning views of the snow-topped roofs in Rapperswil with the backdrop of the Swiss mountains!
#HHWT Tip: Try to plan your visit here on a bright, cloudless day for the best views!
View of Bern’s Old Town from the Berner Munster (Bern Cathedral).
Of course, you can’t miss out the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town in Switzerland’s capital city, Bern! Though it may not be as well-known as the Old Towns in Zurich or Lucerne, it’s definitely quite under-rated: the buildings here really look like they’ve been frozen in time!
Stroll along Switzerland’s picturesque promenades
One of the most pleasant experiences to have in Swiss cities throughout all the seasons is to take a stroll along the many picturesque promenades in each city, especially the ones lining the main rivers flowing through the city.
Most of the time, these promenades are lined with different varieties of shops, classic cathedrals and quaint cafes, which really adds to the leisurely atmosphere. Zurich’s Limmatquai, for instance, is lined with quirky murals and dozens of tiny antique shops, florists, and vintage clothing stores.
In stark contrast, the Bahnhofstrasse a 10-min walk away is decked with tons of luxury and designer stores (which isn’t surprising, considering how it’s also known as the most expensive street in the world!).
Even if you’re not planning to make any purchases here, it’s worth a short stroll here for some window shopping, especially at night-time when it’s at its liveliest, and when the storefront displays are beautifully lit up!
#HHWT Tip: The Bahnhofstrasse starts right outside the Zurich Main Train Station, with popular retail stores like H&M located nearer to the start and the most high-end luxury stores located nearer to the end.
See Switzerland’s iconic 17th century wooden bridges for yourself
You’ve probably already seen pictures of the historical (and super Insta-worthy) covered wooden bridges of Lucerne floating around the internet at some point. Not only are these ancient structures incredibly photogenic, it’s actually quite a tranquil experience to cross the bridges themselves in real life.
Kapellbrucke, Lucerne
If you’re heading to Lucerne, the Kapellbrucke and Spreuerbrucke bridges will almost certainly be at the top of your to-do list!
Remember to look up and admire the gorgeous triangular paintings above you while you’re on the bridge. Because of the fact that the bridges and the paintings are both centuries old, a lot of the paintings have been removed or decayed over time. The ones that are still intact will still give you a glimpse of the what the bridges would have looked like when they were first constructed all those years ago.
Fun fact: The paintings were initially meant to tell a story so you could follow them from the start to the end of the bridge!
Both the Kapellbrucke and the Spreuerbrucke are just minutes away from each other on foot, and if you’re here on a Saturday, be sure to check out the Saturday market stretching along the river between the two bridges!
P.S. Save money on your flight tickets to Switzerland with KLM’s exclusive Dream Deals! Book NOW till 31 January 2018 to enjoy these amazing fares:
- Singapore to Europe (from SGD768 all-in)
- Kuala Lumpur to Europe (from RM2,380 all-in)
- Jakarta to Europe (from IDR9,900,000 all-in)
Valid for travel from 1 February- 30 November 2018.
5. Stay at Airbnbs to save on accommodation
When in Switzerland, you’ll find that room rates at hotels (even three-star ones!) can get quite pricey. To save money on accommodation, it’s best to stay at Airbnbs while you’re here!
Residence Jungfrau, our Airbnb in Interlaken.
What’s more, it isn’t hard to find traditional Swiss houses that have been transformed into Airbnbs, like the one pictured below. In some cities, these Airbnbs even have views of the Swiss Alps right from your window, AND a few halal food options nearby!
If you’re spending a few nights in Interlaken, we recommend choosing an Airbnb near Interlaken West station, or in the Unterseen neighbourhood a 5-7 minute walk away. We were pleasantly surprised to find so many halal eateries selling Turkish, Indian and Kashmiri food near the Interlaken West station.
There are grab-and-go halal stalls perfect for a packed lunch on the go, and halal restaurants with seated dining areas if you prefer to take your time with your meals! Read on to find out more about affordable Muslim-friendly food in Switzerland
#HHWT Tip: Find an Airbnb that comes with a kitchenette so you can buy groceries (or pack them from home) and cook your own meals to save even more money. If you’re coming in winter, most Airbnbs provide heating, so no need to worry about freezing while you sleep!
Breakfast at our Airbnb
We saved money by making sure to have breakfast at our Airbnb before setting off every morning. Some kitchenettes in Airbnbs come complete with coffee machines, cereals, biscuits, spreads, and more! We also regularly bought croissants for 1-2CHF from the local supermarkets and heated them up for breakfast as well.
In larger cities that have established Old Towns like Zurich and Bern, it’s best to find Airbnbs located within the Old Town itself since this is where you’ll likely be spending most of your time.
#HHWT Tip: For Zurich, try to find Airbnbs located in the Rathaus area of the Old Town (there’s a halal kebab shop on the Rathausbrucke nearby!), and for Bern, try to find Airbnbs located near the Waisenhausplatz in the Old Town (there’s a halal restaurant called Restaurant Shalimar nearby!)
6. Finding affordable Muslim-friendly food
If you’re worried about where to find Muslim-friendly food while you’re in Switzerland, don’t fret. Halal kebab shops and halal Indian food aren’t difficult to find in Switzerland, as we found out on our trip!
What’s even better is that a lot of the time these eateries are located within or around the main train stations, whether we were in Zurich, Lucerne, or Interlaken West. It was extremely convenient for us to grab and quick bite and continue with our sightseeing plans for the day!
Note: We’ve personally verified the halal status of the eateries below with the staff themselves. Also, an average meal in Switzerland costs 10-12 CHF, which was also the average cost of our meals in Switzerland 
Zurich: New Point Limmatstrasse
There are several New Point branches situated all around Zurich, but the one closest to Zurich Main Train Station is located on Limmatstrasse. Serving sumptuous but inexpensive Turkish cuisine, you can expect to dig into juicy chunks of warm kofte (meatballs) and huge plates of kebabs with tomato rice here!
Plates here cost around 15CHF, while the durums (kebab rolls) are cheaper, at around 10CHF. The service here was excellent as well!
Lucerne: Little Istanbul
Situated within the Lucern Main Train Station itself, Little Istanbul is tucked away along a row of grab-and-go eateries in the station’s basement, right next to the main escalator.
Prices here range from 11.50CHF for an Classic Kebab (which is what we got) to 13.50CHF for an Original Kebab. Servings are huge, so sharing is also a possibility if you want to save even more money!
Huge servings: One kebab cut into two slices. We shared one kebab to save money!
Interlaken West: Halal eateries around Interlaken West Station
Interlaken was THE most Muslim-friendly city in Switzerland, and a huge part of it was because of the fact that it was SO easy to find halal food here! If you’ve ever been to Seoul’s “internationalised” Itaewon district, this is what Interlaken was like, except with gorgeous Swiss mountains flanking the area and beautiful views every way we turned
Bruno’s Pizza, Interlaken West Station.
There are lots of Arab and Korean tourists here, so the eateries in the area have adapted to cater to the crowd. We spotted our first halal eatery before even getting off the train at Interlaken West station: Bruno’s Pizza is right outside the Interlaken West station. Serving a wide variety of pizzas and kebabs, prices here start from 12CHF.
Other halal eateries around the area are aplenty, and they’re mostly around the same price, so you’ll be really spoilt for choice when it comes to Muslim-friendly food here!
Halal eateries inside Switzerland’s Altstadts (old towns)
You’ll also come across halal eateries while wandering through Switzerland’s Old Towns, which came as a surprise to us! In Zurich, head to the Rathausbrucke near the Altstadt and you’ll find a halal kebab shop here.
A doner kebab here only costs 10CHF, while a doner box costs 12CHF.
In Bern, head to the Waisenhausplatz and take a short 5-7 minute walk to the nearby Restaurant Shalimar, which serves Indian and Pakistani cuisine at affordable prices! Unfortunately, it was closed for the duration of our time in Bern, so we couldn’t check it out. Do check in advance before you head over!
7. Mosques & prayer spaces
One of the most beautiful things about travelling to a faraway country is visiting the local mosques there and interacting with the local Muslim community. While we met many Swiss Muslims over the course of our trip, our visit to the Bern Mosque (right across our Airbnb!) was one of our favourite things about the city.
Located within the complex of the Bern House of Religions, this mosque is open to both Muslims and non-Muslims as an open invitation towards inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue!
While mosques and prayer spaces were slightly harder to find around Switzerland, we took the Prophet SAW’s hadith to heart and took the opportunity to find quiet spots everywhere to pray in public.
#HHWT Tip: If you’re staying at Airbnbs, check-in time is normally at 3PM onwards, which is perfect because it allows you to combine zuhr & asar when you check into your Airbnb. Do check the prayer timings while you’re there, though!
8. WiFi on a budget
Staying connected while you’re on the go is an absolute must, and while in Switzerland, you can make use of the Swiss Travelers Wifi for unlimited 4G/LTE data at just CHF6 a day!
Credit: Travelers Wifi on Facebook
You can either opt to have it delivered to your hotel or at selected airports and Main Train Stations across Switzerland. No more worrying about not being able to use Google Maps to find that halal eatery nearby
P.S. Save on your flight tickets to Switzerland and other top European cities when you fly with KLM! Book NOW till 31 January 2018 to enjoy these exclusive Dream Deals:
- Singapore to Europe (from SGD768 all-in)
- Kuala Lumpur to Europe (from RM2,380 all-in)
- Jakarta to Europe (from IDR9,900,000 all-in)
Valid for travel from 1 February- 30 November 2018.
Switzerland was certainly a land of spectacular scenery and jaw-dropping landscapes, and we couldn’t help but to be amazed at every leg of our trip. If Switzerland has always been on your travel bucket list, don’t wait any longer: winter’s the perfect time to visit! With this handy budget-friendly guide for first-time Muslim travellers to Switzerland, you can bet that you’ll be saving a whole lot of money without sacrificing any of the incredible experiences to be had here
This article was brought to you by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.