{"id":674,"date":"2025-11-25T14:32:29","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T13:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/?p=674"},"modified":"2025-11-25T14:32:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T13:32:30","slug":"switzerland-for-beginners-basics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/schweiz-fuer-anfaenger-grundlagen\/","title":{"rendered":"Switzerland for beginners: The most important basics explained simply"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anyone new to Switzerland quickly notices that many things work differently than in other countries. From prices and rules to customs and etiquette \u2013 here you&#039;ll find the most important basics for a smooth start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Switzerland = federally organized<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switzerland consists of <strong>26 cantons<\/strong>, and everyone has their own rules.<br>This applies to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Schools<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Police law<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Steer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rest periods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tenancy law<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Therefore: Always check cantonal information first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Health insurance is mandatory<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every person in Switzerland needs one. <strong>Basic insurance<\/strong> (KVG).<br>Important: You must <strong>within 3 months<\/strong> Complete after entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Public transport is excellent.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Public transport is reliable, clean, and well-developed.<br>Apps you need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>SBB Mobile<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ZVV<\/strong> (for Zurich)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>BLS<\/strong> (for Bern\/Valais)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Switzerland is expensive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#039;s true:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Groceries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restaurant prices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2026are high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But:<br>Wages are also high, and the overall quality of life is very good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Waste separation is strict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switzerland separates materials in detail: PET, glass, cardboard, compost, batteries, etc.<br>Garbage bags are <strong>varies from canton to canton<\/strong> and usually expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Observe quiet hours<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Very important!<br>In most municipalities the following apply:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Quiet hours: 10 PM \u2013 7 AM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Midday rest: 12\u20131 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sunday rest: all day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Noisy work is prohibited during these times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Greetings &amp; Behavior<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201e<strong>Hello<\/strong>\u201cfor formal situations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201e<strong>Hi<\/strong>\u201cprivate\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Switzerland prefers <strong>discretion<\/strong> instead of intrusiveness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8. Cash or Twint<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Twint is widely used throughout Switzerland (caf\u00e9s, market stalls, shops).<br>Cards work almost everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>9. Punctuality counts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being late is considered impolite \u2013 both professionally and privately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switzerland is structured, safe, and well-organized.<br>With these basics, getting started is easy \u2013 whether for work, studies or everyday life.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Anyone new to Switzerland quickly notices that many things work differently than in other countries. From prices\u2026","protected":false},"author":274216737,"featured_media":667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_page_reading_time":"","csco_page_toc_navigation":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_volume":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2723,2710],"tags":[2796,2797,2795,2793,2794,2798],"class_list":{"0":"post-674","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-schweiz","8":"category-allgemein","9":"tag-schweiz-alltaegliches-wissen","10":"tag-schweiz-basics","11":"tag-schweiz-einfuehrung","12":"tag-schweiz-fuer-anfaenger","13":"tag-schweiz-kultur-einsteiger","14":"tag-schweiz-tipps","15":"cs-entry","16":"cs-video-wrap"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/schweiz.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20251125_1427_Schweizer-Einfuehrung_simple_compose_01kaxk3c78f829xzgnphcexgsh.png?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgWLwP-aS","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/274216737"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=674"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/674\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":676,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/674\/revisions\/676"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schweiz.blog\/en_za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}