Asterisk Podcast
Episode #5
Money-saving tips

Topics covered

How to save money on:

  • Museums
  • Food
  • Attractions and days out
  • Travel
  • Health insurance

 

Who We're Speaking With

In this episode, Daniel Shalom and Diccon Bewes go over some tips to help you save money here in Switzerland.

Diccon grew up in Britain but moved to Switzerland in 2005. His first book, Swiss Watching, became an international bestseller and he is now writing his ninth Swiss title. He lives in Bern with his partner (and a cupboard full of chocolate).

 

About the Episode

When you first arrive in Switzerland, many things may seem expensive. But there are countless money-saving strategies you can employ to cut your costs.

Some great, affordable places to visit in Switzerland are:

  • Free museums: Some museums like the Omega Museum (Cité du Temps) are free, while others like the Kunsthaus in Zurich have free entry days. You can also buy a Museum Pass for CHF 177 per year, which allows you to visit over 500 museums for free.
  • Show factories and dairies: At the Kambly cookie factory in the Emmental valley, you can try various cookies and buy them at a discount. The show dairies in Emmental and Appenzell are also worth a visit.
  • Outdoor entertainment: Many beautiful sites like the Rhine Falls are free to visit. Switzerland is a great country for activities like hiking and cycling.
  • Federal parliament in Bern: When the parliament is not in session, there are regular free tours that take about 60 minutes. Many churches and cathedrals are also free to enter.

 

Resources

Rappen or centimes 

The Swiss Museum Pass

The Red Cross Museum in Geneva

The Olympic Museum in Lausanne

The Landesmuseum, The Swiss National Museum in Zurich

Chillon

The Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne

The Omega Museum in Biel

The Kunsthaus in Zurich

Saturdays in August museums in Bern are free

The MemberPlus account at the Raiffeisen bank

Zurich's fountains

Manora

The Kambly factory shop in Trubschachen near Bern

The Emmental Schaukäserei in Affoltern

Visiting Federal Parliament

CERN in Geneva

The Rhine Falls

The Lavaux vineyards beside Lake Geneva

Vita Parcours

Free bikes in Valais

Free bikes in Zurich

Mobility

The Expert Guide

Coop Supercard

Migros Cumulus

Orell Füssli Premium card

Migros credit card – no annual fee

 

Next steps

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