What should I pack when moving to Switzerland?
We asked people living in Switzerland to list three things they wish they had brought and three they wish they had left behind. They responded...
"No particular things for myself - as I have a Swiss wife, she could very well prepare me for moving to and living in Switzerland. - There are no real needs to bring to Switzerland. Anything you need is available here as well. - Don't bring washing machines, tumblers, kitchen appliances, as they usually belong to / come with the house or apartment that you buy or rent. Moving these things is very unusual in Switzerland. - When you bring electrical equipment: check plugs and voltage. Swiss electricity comes at 230V/50Hz and plugs and sockets are of type "J", which means that any plug of type "C" or "J" will fit into a Swiss socket, and any other plug won't. - Switzerland is expensive. In particular, medicins, health care and body care products are very expensive. Many Swiss buy them abroad (in Germany) whenever possible. - Switzerland has the best public transport system of Europe, and one of the best of the world. Living without car may be very well possible for you in Switzerland - consider this when you plan to import a car," wrote a member who made the move to Olten, Switzerland.
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"This is crazy but Miracle Whip, Saltine Crackers, and KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce are things I can't live without. When we shipped our goods to Switzerland we included about 15 bottles of hair shampoo! Unless you are addicted to a specific kind/type--leave those kinds of things at home," explained one expat living in Wengen, Switzerland.
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Other Questions:
- What should I pack when moving to Switzerland?
- Where should I setup a bank account in Switzerland?
- Will I be able to find a job in Switzerland?
- What is life like in Switzerland?
- What do expats in Switzerland appreciate most about the local culture?
- What do expats find most challenging?
- Is there a lot of crime in Switzerland?
- Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Switzerland accepting of differences?
- What are the schools in Switzerland like?
- What are healthcare services like in Switzerland?
- What are medical services in Switzerland like?
- Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Switzerland?
- What are emergency services like in Switzerland?
- Will I need to travel to see a specialist?
- Are common prescription medications available in Switzerland?
- How are local medical facilities in Switzerland?
- As a foreigner living in Switzerland, will I have access to public healthcare? What is it like?
- What have your experiences during the pandemic with the local healthcare system been like?
What should I pack when moving to Switzerland?
If you live in Switzerland, newcomers to Switzerland would love to hear your answer to this question.
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is one of the founders of Digital Nomad Exchange and the Founder and President of Expat Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange and Digital Nomad Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International
and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University
with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.
