Data Roaming in Switzerland for Travelers 2024: Rates & How to Avoid it

Published: May 2024

Switzerland is one of the most developed countries in Europe. Because of that, the infrastructure for data roaming in Switzerland is very modern. Travelers can choose from many data roaming service packages. However, do travelers know what data roaming is and whether this is the best choice? Join us to learn about data roaming service in this beautiful country to make the smartest choice for your trip.

In this article

I. Phone Roaming in Switzerland – Quick Facts for Tourists

Since summer 2021, Switzerland has implemented a new Telecommunications Act, which includes updated regulations for roaming abroad. Here are the key points you should know:

Longer validity for data packages: When you purchase a roaming package for your holiday from Switzerland telecom providers, it will now be valid for 12 months.

Cost limit protection: You can even choose the cost cap that suits you best from the options provided by your provider. This helps ensure that you won’t face any unpleasant surprises with your bill after your holidays. You can adjust the cost cap as needed.

Precise billing for calls and data: Swiss providers must now charge for calls made abroad by the second, and data usage is billed per kilobyte. In general, providers are only allowed to round up to the nearest 10 centimes.

Transparent information from providers: Each telecom provider is required to clearly communicate their roaming conditions to customers in a simple, understandable, and transparent manner.

II. Understand about Roaming in Switzerland- How It Works

Roaming services help travelers stay connected

Switzerland roaming lets you use your mobile device when you’re outside your current service provider’s coverage area. It’s handy when you travel to Switzerland because your phone can connect to a different network there. This means you can make calls, send messages, and access the internet just like you do at home.

Switzerland roaming is great for people who travel a lot or find themselves in areas where their usual network doesn’t work. It saves you from relying only on Wi-Fi. With roaming, you can keep using your own phone number, contacts, and data plan, making your travel experience smooth.

However, it’s important to know that there may be charges for roaming. Make sure you understand your provider’s roaming rules and choose the right options to avoid any surprise costs.

III. Is the Roaming Rate in Switzerland Expensive?

Yes absolutely. Normally, tourists can choose one of the following ways to sat connected:

Use the current mobile phone number and use the current mobile operator’s roaming service to roam with a certain network when traveling to Switzerland. Then you need to pay attention to your home country mobile operator’s roaming service policy/package/fee applicable to Switzerland.

Data roaming can be an expensive option to keep connected

Go to Switzerland and buy a Local SIM from Switzerland Then you need to pay attention to the roaming policy/package/fee of that SIM’s carrier (eg: Swisscom Switzerland).

Note: You should know that in recent years, roaming prices for Swiss users have generally been high. This trend is similar for both data and call charges.

IV. How to Activate Roaming Service for Switzerland in Your Cell Phone?

Note: 1 CHF =1,14 USD

Activation roaming sevices is easy to all travelers

To activate roaming services, you just need to take 4 steps:

Step 1: Choose your preferred service provider

You need to determine the service provider first.

You can either keep your home mobile plan or go for a local cellular carrier

If you keep your home cellular plan and assume that your home network carrier is one of the following brands, here is what to expect:

Mobile network carrier	Roaming fees
Three	5 USD / day
Vodafone	6 USD / day
AT&T	2.05 USD / MB
T-Mobile	70 USD for 5 days

If you choose a local mobile carrier, and activate its roaming service, the recommended local providers for roaming services are Swisscom, Salt and Sunrise.

Switzerland mobile network carrier	Roaming fees
Swisscom	Data usage starts at 1GB package with 14.90 CHF ( 16.9 USD ) Voice Travel 60 min with 15.9CHF ( 17.9 USD)
Salt	1.5 gigabytes for 24.95 CHF (28 USD)3 gigabytes for 34.95 CHF (39.903 USD)12 gigabytes for 99.95 CHF (113 USD)
Sunrise	Starting at 300MB with 6.726 USD

Step 2: Activate the roaming function for your service provider

Each mobile network carrier has a different way to activate roaming service. You had better refer to the official website of the chosen operator for more detail.

For example: for Vodafone: download My Vodafone (Vodafone’s app) > get the option named “International roaming” > choose your destination country > Done, you get it.

Step 3: Buy a mobile package with roaming

Why is the roaming package important?

Regular roaming rates are usually expensive. Buying roaming packages will warrant that you will not break the bank with roaming charges.

Pro Tips:

It is recommended to buy a roaming package one day before departure because the package often starts right after purchase.
Choose the roaming package that suits your needs and budget accordingly. For example, choose an unlimited package (if any) if you are a heavy data user. Alternatively, choose a roaming package with a limited data volume if you only use data when necessary.

Step 4: Turn on your phone’s roaming

On Android: Settings > Tap on “Data roaming” > Turn “International Roaming” on

On iOS (iPhone): Settings > Cellular > Tap on “Data roaming”

Note: Do not forget to turn off the roaming feature when not in use to prevent any unnecessary expenses once you come back Switzerland

V. How to Avoid Roaming Charges When Traveling to Switzerland

You will have some ways to avoid high roaming charges when traveling to Switzerland. Below are some popular options to mitigate the budget using for roaming services:

Roaming charges can be too expensive that tourists should keep in mind to turn off if unecessary

Disable data roaming
Use Wifi whenever you can
Disable automatic app updates
Use a local SIM Card/eSIM
Monitor your data usage

VI. Switzerland eSIM – Alternative to Data Roaming in Switzerland to Get Internet

Swiss eSIM is a great choice for tourists when traveling to Switzerland

Now, besides using roaming, you have another option to stay connected and in touch with your loved ones while you’re in Switzerland. You can use the travel eSIM Switzerland to get internet access. It’s a convenient way to stay online during your visit.

If you’re looking to save some money, I recommend using prepaid and data-only options. They can be a cost-effective choice for your communication needs.

	Switzerland eSIM	Switzerland data roaming
Pros	-Easy to activate and use -Can switch between many carriers -Various cost-effective plans	-Works with your existing mobile number -Works on most devices
Cons	-Need compatible devices	-May require activation before traveling – Extremely exorbitant

Advice: Switzerland eSIM is superior to roaming in terms of both cost and convenience for tourists.

Gigago’s Switzerland eSIM offers convenience, cost savings, extensive coverage, and reliable support making it a practical choice for travelers visiting Switzerland.

Easy to activate
Keep your original SIM
Instant delivery
24/7 support

Gigago with various Switzerland packages for tourists

For Switzerland, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 3 days with $5.00 . What is great about Gigago’s Switzerland eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $5.00 – $136.90 .

VII. How to Turn Off Data Roaming When Traveling in Switzerland?

You can follow simple steps below to turn off roaming services:

1. Turn off international roaming on Android When Traveling in Switzerland

Open the “Settings” app on your Android device
Looking for the “Network & Internet” or “Connections” section
Go to “Mobile Networks” or “Cellular Networks” and tap on it
Look for the option labeled “Data Roaming” and tap on it.
Toggle the switch next to “Data Roaming” to the off position

Turning off roaming services just needs some simple steps

2. Turn off international roaming on iPhones

Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone
Scroll down and tap on “Cellular” or “Mobile Data” (depending on your iOS version)
Tap on “Data Roaming.”
Toggle the switch next to “Data Roaming” to the off position
A pop-up message may appear. Tap “Disable” or “Turn Off” to confirm.

VIII. FAQs

How can I use my mobile phone cheaply abroad?

The easiest way is to switch to a mobile plan that includes Internet, calls, and messages while you’re abroad. If your current plan doesn’t have the Internet or if you’ve already used up your credit, you’ll need to buy a special package to use your phone overseas.

Which countries are included in my subscription for surfing data, minutes and SMS/MMS?

Take a look at the tariff overview to find out how much it costs to use your phone when you’re abroad. Simply choose your destination and mobile plan to see how much credit you have for browsing the internet, making calls, and sending messages.

What happens when I reach the roaming limit (telephony/data limit)?

Once you reach the limit, you’ll get text message, and at that point, your calls and mobile internet will be temporarily paused.

IX. Conclusion

Data roaming in Switzerland is one of the popular choices for tourists when traveling. It is like other Internet connection services that allow users to connect to the network or make phone calls and send messages across borders. However, this is a too expensive option for those with a limited budget. Therefore, considering other options such as a Swiss SIM Card will be a great choice to save costs and be extremely convenient. Wish you have a nice trip in Switzerland!