Which is the best global SIM card for Switzerland?

Switzerland is an excellent choice for a holiday destination. It’s a must-see country for people travelling around Europe, or it can be a life-changing destination all on its own. And don’t worry if you have no interest in the Alps, there is a lot more to do in Switzerland than hike and ski. Here are just a few of the attractions Switzerland has to offer as well as some tips on staying connected through your mobile phone for the entirety of your trip.

What to do in Switzerland

Switzerland is famous for its culture and beautiful landscapes. There’s more than enough there to fill an entire vacation. 

Lower Cost Attractions

Switzerland usually leaves an expensive taste in people’s mouths, but that doesn’t mean you can’t beef up your itinerary while on a budget.

• Lucerne walking tour: Lucerne itself is an expensive city, but a savvy tourist can still find some low-cost fun in the city. Their walking tours are usually very cheap (or even free!) and it’s definitely worth getting an eyeful of Lucerne. 

• The Chateau de Chillon is just one of many Swiss castles that any visitor simply must see. Ticket costs for entrance into the Chateau de Chillon and many other historic sites are often in the fifteen dollar range.

If you’re ready to go all out (or you’ve got a rich family member paying for your activities), TripAdvisor keeps a good list of Switzerland’s more premium activities. These include things like tours of famous chocolate factories and mountain day trips.

Staying Connected in Switzerland

For most phones, functionality in Switzerland is as simple as swapping out SIM cards and pre-paying for some data.

Switzerland has a relatively high cost of living, and phone communication is no exception. So you’ll want to shop carefully for the best deal on the SIM card and provider that best matches your needs. You can get a local SIM card from a provider in Switzerland, or you can buy a global SIM card before you leave.

Local SIM

SIM cards for tourists and travellers are easy to find in Switzerland. You’ll need to show your passport and make sure your phone is unlocked. It could take several hours for your new data to be ready to use, so make sure you don’t need to call anyone the second your plane lands.

Switzerland has quite a few major mobile providers. Here are just the top three:

• Swisscom offers the best coverage and has the least trouble in Switzerland’s more mountainous areas.

• Sunrise boasts the fastest download speeds but might not be as reliable while you’re out hiking up the Alps.

• Salt is another network with very fast response times and decent coverage.

If you run out of data on your local SIM, you can always buy more data cards from most stores. Again, there may be short delays between activating the cards and being able to use your data. Purchasing a local SIM and setting up pre-paid data on it will also require some language skills (German or even Italian depending on which area of Switzerland you find yourself in), so don’t forget your trusty pocket dictionary!

Global SIM

It’s a safer bet to buy a global SIM card before you leave. These are SIM cards that work all over the world, making them ideal for frequent travellers or people with cross-country itineraries. They’re easy to come by and have some intrinsic advantages over local travel SIM’s.

• Reusable

A local Swiss SIM card is only going to be reusable if you return to Switzerland. A global SIM works in most major countries, saving you money in the long run. They’ll also work for you if you’re stuck on a layover in another country, or if your travels take an unexpected turn.

• Multiple Numbers

Many global SIM cards let you buy more than one foreign number.

• Data Accounts

Rather than running all over the land to find a store to sell you more pre-paid data cards, global SIM’s allow you to purchase more data online whenever and wherever you want.

• Pre-trip Activation

Global SIMs can be purchased and set up before you leave on your trip. This will give you the chance to hand out your new international phone number to friends and family before you leave, and guarantees you’ll be able to use your phone the whole time you’re travelling.

Which global SIM should you buy?

Picking a global SIM is a lot like picking your regular mobile provider. You have to be on the lookout for companies that let your data expire or offer dodgy coverage. BNESIM has good coverage in all major countries and no data blackout dates. They’re also a good choice for people travelling in groups as they allow free calls to other BNESIM customers.