Switzerland
~23h · 1 stop from Sydney to Zurich. Type J, and this is the trap — it is on almost no universal adapter. A Type C plug fits, but a three-pin Type F Schuko will not.
- Flight from Sydney
- ~23h · 1 stop
- Plug
- Type J
- Voltage
- 230V
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Currency
- Swiss franc (CHF)
- Time vs Sydney
- -8 hours
- Region
- EU
- Your kit
- Europe Summer
Switzerland, month by month
Temperatures in Celsius, because you live in Australia. Remember that a northern hemisphere summer is our winter — the reason most packing advice online is upside down for you.
| Month | Season | High / low | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Deep winter | 3° / -3° | Peak ski season. Cold, clear, expensive. |
| February | Deep winter | 5° / -2° | Best snow conditions of the season. |
| March | Late winter | 10° / 1° | Spring skiing. Warm sun, cold shade. |
| April | Spring | 14° / 4° | Unsettled. Many mountain resorts close between seasons. |
| May | Late spring | 19° / 8° | Green and quiet. Some high passes still shut. |
| June | Early summer | 23° / 12° | Hiking season opens. Long days, afternoon thunderstorms. |
| July | Summer | 25° / 14° | Warm valleys, perfect hiking, busy. |
| August | Summer | 25° / 14° | Warmest month and the peak of the hiking season. |
| September | Early autumn | 20° / 10° | Clear, stable and much quieter. The best hiking month. |
| October | Autumn | 14° / 5° | Cool and colourful. Mountain lifts begin closing. |
| November | Late autumn | 8° / 1° | Grey and damp. The genuine off season. |
| December | Winter | 4° / -2° | Ski season and Christmas markets. Very busy from mid-month. |
What Australians get wrong about Switzerland
- The Type J plug is the single most common power mistake on a European trip. A standard "Europe" adapter may not fit.
- Alpine weather changes fast and the temperature drops sharply with altitude. Layers, not a single heavy coat.
- It is genuinely expensive. Supermarket lunches and a refillable bottle make a real difference.