How to find cheap flights to Switzerland
Take off from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo when booking your flight to Switzerland for the most budget-friendly start to your trip.
You'll get even more value for your fare by touching down at Zurich.
Keep the month of September free. It's generally the cheapest time to visit Switzerland.
You can find one-way flights there from R 4,347. The lowest price for a round-trip ticket is R 9,343.
Fine with landing anywhere if it means paying less? Add your departure point, enter 'Switzerland' in the 'To' field and discover which cities rank as the cheapest options.
Alternatively, select 'Add nearby airports' at the start of your search if you already know where you want to go. This will give you flight prices for nearby arrival airports so you can quickly find the best deal.
Catch fare drops as they happen with Price Alerts delivered right to your inbox or app. Just sign up for these automatic notifications and book at the perfect time, every time.
The general recommendation is to book roughly one month before your departure date. You're more likely to get the best price on tickets then.
The best time to go to Switzerland
If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the month or even day of the year with the cheapest flights.
July is the most popular month to travel. Go then if you want that peak season buzz, not rock bottom fares.
January is the quietest time of year to visit if you want a slower pace. You'll typically find cheaper prices on plane tickets to Switzerland then.
Think about your travel preferences and let the weather be your guide. July is one of the warmest months in Switzerland, with average highs of 20ºC (68ºF).
January brings cooler conditions, with lows averaging -6ºC (21ºF).
June is usually the rainiest month, while October is the driest.
Also factor in heavy winter snowfall and periods of heavy rain when picking your dates. Of course, weather risks depend on the timing of your trip and where you go.
Getting to Switzerland
When you're ready to book flights to Switzerland, there are plenty of arrival airports to choose from. These are some of the busiest:
Zurich Airport (ZRH) in Zurich
Geneva Airport (GVA) in Geneva
EuroAirport Swiss (BSL) in Basel
Here's a summary of the airlines providing the most services to this destination, along with approximate monthly flight totals:
SWISS — 6,300
EasyJet — 3,900
Edelweiss air — 1,000
Istanbul, Frankfurt and London are among the major hubs used as stopovers on flights to Switzerland. Stops differ by route, so it pays to check the connection details for your departure city.
Places to visit in Switzerland
Zurich
With a population of roughly 340,000 and located in Canton of Zurich, this city tops the list of places to visit.
Bahnhofstrasse, Cirque du Soleil - Grand Chapiteau and Zurich Opera are major stops on any trip.
Flying into Zurich usually means arriving through Zurich Airport (ZRH). You'll discover some excellent flight deals to Switzerland through this airport.
When it's time to find a place to rest your head, browse the lineup of hotels in Zurich.
Geneva
This well-known Canton of Geneva city has a character all of its own.
Jets d'eau, The Geneva Water Fountain and English Garden are among the first things worth making time for.
Geneva Airport (GVA) is the main airport serving the city.
That same magic that powers our flight search can also help you find the best-value stays around. Use it to compare availability and prices across hotels in Geneva.
Basel
Looking for more places to visit in Switzerland? This city of about 160,000 people in Basel-Stadt is ready to be explored.
Leading sights to experience while you're here include Art Basel, Basel Minster and Muensterplatz.
EuroAirport Swiss (BSL) is the main airport for flights into the city.
Grab a deal on where you'll stay by exploring the list of hotels in Basel.
Good to know
Make sure you're across the entry rules before you fly. Rules can change depending on your passport and reason for travel. Always check with reliable sources like embassy websites or your airline.
You'll be using the Swiss franc (CHF) for all your spending. Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere.
ATMs (automatic teller machines) are common in cities large and small, so access is unlikely to be an issue.
You won't be expected to tip in Switzerland. However, leaving a little extra is a nice way to acknowledge good service.
Wi-Fi coverage is high, with the majority of cafes, hotels and restaurants providing reliable access.
The population of Switzerland is around 9 million. Bern is the capital.
You won't have to adjust your watch while travelling through this destination, with only one standard time zone of UTC+1 in place.
Switzerland is part of the Western Europe subregion of Europe.
Want to line up your flight to Switzerland with something big? Top events worth planning around include the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Locarno Film Festival and Swiss National Day.
Complete your trip with hotels and a car hire
With your cheap ticket to Switzerland booked, it's now time to plan the rest of your travels. Discover incredible prices and exclusive rates for hotels in Switzerland. You can also browse car hire options in Switzerland and compare deals from trusted providers in seconds.
