Switzerland
Use SBB first, keep a card and francs handy, and prepare offline maps for the mountains
SBB Mobile is the one near-universal Swiss travel download.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Switzerland
It plans journeys across trains, trams, buses and boats, and most tickets can be bought as a guest with a card, but the ticket or EasyRide check-in must exist before boarding. A Swiss Travel Pass bought without the same SwissPass login or through another seller may not appear in the app, so keep the original pass and ID available. Do not build a visitor payment plan around TWINT: TWINT Prepaid currently accepts only residents with Swiss, German, Austrian or Liechtenstein phone numbers and requires identity and address verification. Cards and contactless payments work in most visitor settings, while a small amount of CHF remains useful at remote huts, farm stalls and coin-operated facilities.
Use MeteoSwiss for official forecasts and warnings, swisstopo for free official offline maps, and Rega or White Risk only for the outdoor activities they serve. Public transport is normally better than a car app; Uber is the broadest fallback and Bolt covers a smaller set of urban markets. For food delivery, start with Just Eat CH or its website, compare Uber Eats by exact address, and ignore stale Smood listings because Smood ceased operations on 30 April 2026. In an emergency call 112, 117, 118 or 144; an app never replaces the call.
Ride Hailing
Food Delivery
Just Eat CHEssential
Switzerland-specific Just Eat service with broad restaurant and shop coverage plus delivery or collection ordering.
Uber Eats
Useful second check for restaurant and grocery delivery in many Swiss cities and surrounding municipalities.
Messaging
Useful for coordinating with many Swiss hosts, restaurants, guides and transfer providers when they explicitly offer it.
Navigation
Google MapsEssential
Best general map for Swiss accommodation pins, businesses, city walking and an initial driving route.
swisstopo
Free federal map app with official Swiss topography, marked hiking routes, trail information and offline map downloads.
Transit
SBB MobileEssential
Official nationwide journey planner and ticket app for Swiss trains, trams, buses, PostBus services and many boats.
Language
Google Translate
Optional translation fallback for standard German, French, Italian and other languages, with downloadable language data.
Utilities
MeteoSwissEssential
Official Swiss forecasts, radar, measurements and federal natural-hazard warnings, especially valuable for mountain trips.
Rega
Swiss Air-Rescue app that can call its operations centre and transmit the phone's location during an emergency.
White Risk
Official SLF avalanche bulletin, snow data and planning tools for trained users entering unsecured winter terrain.
Alertswiss
Official federal and cantonal channel for location-based civil-protection alerts, warnings and instructions.
Also covered
Internet in Switzerland
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Bring your passport; the seller registers the prepaid SIM during activation.
- Starter prices begin near 21 USD; compare the current data allowance before buying.
- Airport counters and city carrier stores are the easiest places to buy; confirm activation before leaving.
- Local tourist eSIM is available; check device compatibility before buying.
Switzerland is outside EU roaming rules; check both your Swiss plan and any EU plan before crossing the border.
Local carriers
Swisscom
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
Sunrise
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
Salt
Good-value option when price matters most.
Wingo
Good-value option when price matters most.
yallo
Good-value option when price matters most.
Digital Republic
Good-value option when price matters most.
Lebara CH
Good-value option when price matters most.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Switzerland?
The essential apps for Switzerland are Uber, Just Eat CH, Google Maps, SBB Mobile, MeteoSwiss.
How many travel apps does Switzerland have?
We've curated 13 apps across 8 categories for traveling in Switzerland, including 5 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Switzerland?
Uber. Broadest visitor-friendly ride app in Switzerland, useful when public transport or a prearranged transfer does not fit.
Keep exploring
Also traveling in Europe?
Czech Republic
Use the right city ticket app, buy intercity trips from operators and always pay in Czech crowns
Germany
Nationwide rail, local fare rules, cash backups, and official emergency alerts
Denmark
Nationwide journey planning, new ticket apps and honest taxi guidance
Estonia
Simple card transit, broad Bolt coverage and honest intercity guidance
Spain
City-specific transit, optional licensed rides, direct rail booking and practical safety tools
Finland
Contactless city travel, honest rail choices and essential winter safety