How safe is Switzerland for tourists and to move around? Switzerland is very safe; it is ranked very high on various safety indexes around the world. Tourist areas are generally safe, both for single tourists and groups or families, the only caution for pickpocketers is advised.
Switzerland in general have low to very low crime rates and from that area can be considered very safe.
As far as weather and natural disasters are concerned, there are dangers in alpine region: avalanches, snowdrifts, landslides, flooding, heavy thunderstorms and snowstorms, so you should be careful about this when you are in the mountainous areas (which is very much everywhere in Switzerland ?). In case of such situation, please inform yourself about emergency numbers and contacts in case you need assistance.
Safety in Switzerland is the same in all major cities, so if you find yourself in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne or Zurich, the same level of safety applies.
One side remark regarding safety is that some shops and hotels might print out entire credit card number on receipts so you should be careful about this when storing such receipts or discarding them as somebody might get hold of your credit card number.
Other than that, Switzerland is safe and enjoyable country and very much worth a visit.
Safe travels and see you soon!
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I’m Laura, a travel writer based in Zürich, and Switzerland is the place I know better than anywhere else. I moved here 9 years ago and haven’t stopped exploring it since.
Over the past 9 years I’ve made 40+ trips across every Swiss canton — from the Italian-speaking south of Ticino to the remote valleys of Graubünden to the lake towns of Romandy. I speak German, French and English fluently, which means I can read the local newspapers, argue with train conductors, and actually understand what the mountain guide is telling you when the weather turns.
Switzerland is a deceptively complex destination: four languages, 26 cantons, wildly different regional cultures, and a transport network so intricate it takes years to properly understand. I write to demystify all of it — whether you’re planning your first visit to Zermatt, deciding between Zürich and Geneva for a city break, or figuring out how to live here as a digital nomad or remote worker.
I also cover Central Europe for travellers who want to venture beyond the obvious — particularly the Czech Republic, Austria and the Alpine arc connecting Switzerland to its neighbours.
All About Swiss is my home base, where I publish in-depth guides to Swiss travel, life and culture. If it involves Switzerland, I’ve probably written about it, or I’m about to.