Switzerland

Yes, Switzerland is very expensive. Budget CHF 200–300 per day. The Swiss Travel Pass, self-catering, and staying in smaller towns help manage costs. Swiss quality justifies the price.

Switzerland is largely cashless and Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, with about 84% of card payments now contactless and no PIN needed below CHF 80. UPI does not work in Switzerland, and American Express and Diners are accepted less widely, so carry a Visa/Mastercard as your primary card and tell your bank you are travelling. Still keep CHF 100-150 in cash for small mountain lodges, village cafes, station lockers and tips where cards may be refused. Forex cards in CHF and a small cash buffer are the most cost-effective combination versus paying everything by international credit card.

Indians need a Schengen short-stay visa, which carries an €80 embassy fee (about ₹7,300) plus a VFS Global service charge of roughly ₹2,690, so budget around ₹9,500-10,500 per person all-in. Applications go through VFS Global centres in eight cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Ahmedabad), which forward them to the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi; there is no e-visa. Standard processing is 10-15 working days, but it can stretch to 3-5 weeks during peak July-August and December, so apply at least 4-6 weeks ahead. Fly Goldfinch prepares the full document set, cover letter and itinerary and books your VFS appointment to reduce rejection risk.

Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt (Matterhorn), Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald, and Bern are must-visits. Combine with scenic train rides for the ultimate experience.

Yes. SWISS and Air India both fly non-stop from Delhi (DEL) to Zurich (ZRH), with SWISS running the most frequent service at roughly 14 weekly flights and a flight time of about 8.5-10.5 hours. From Mumbai the non-stop journey is around 12 hours, while one-stop options via Gulf or European hubs are usually cheaper. Zurich is the main gateway and connects to Lucerne, Interlaken and the Jungfrau region in 1-2 hours by train. Fly Goldfinch books flights and rail transfers together so your arrival lines up with check-in and your first activity.

Yes, pure-vegetarian and Jain-friendly food is well covered in the main tourist areas. Zurich has dedicated vegetarian South Indian spots such as Saravanaa Bhavan plus veg/vegan options like Tadka, while Interlaken has pure-vegetarian Indian restaurants including Chotivala that offer Jain and vegan dishes for families. Lucerne and other hubs also have Indian restaurants, and Swiss menus generally label vegetarian items clearly. Booking dinner ahead is wise in peak season; Fly Goldfinch can flag Jain or no-onion-garlic needs and build stays near reliable Indian-food options.