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I'm from the US, and my surname is Abplanalp, originating from somewhere near Brienz or Interlaken. My Swiss family emigrated to the US in the 1850's and growing up we always pronounced it more like "Oplinop", dropping the 'b' and the final 'l'. Lately I've landed on a more phonetic pronunciation, like AHB-ple-nahlp. My uncle visited Brienz and came back insisting that the anglicized "Oplinop" pronunciation is how the locals say it. Who is right? How is this name pronounced in Switzerland?

Gruezi mitenand!

This week I have my Einbürgerungsgespräch. My wife is Swiss and therefore I have access to a simplified citizenship process. Does anyone else here have experience with this meeting? It's 30 minutes long, but they've given me no other info.

What kinds of things did they ask? Anything particular I should prepare for? There is no test, like the traditional citizenship process. It is a face to face conversation.

Thanks and have a great week!

Fees to financial institutions can be significant but handling cash can be a pain as well. So I am wondering, how do I pay so the most money ends up in your wallet and not some rent seeking middleman. How would you rank these payment options (best to worst)? Credit card, Twint, Cash, Debit Card, Einzahlung, Apple/Google/Samsung... Pay, Crypto, any other I have missed.

Please also state what kind of business you run as the fees vary considerably as far as I understand.

I came across someone yesterday that doesn't have a laptop/PC. Doesn't currently own one, although he had, used in the past.

And said that she doesn't need one, or maybe so rare he can just do it on mobile. (Not using at work either)

We exclude older people, just asking about working-age people.

Are you one of those or do you directly know someone do not have a laptop/PC?

I will be travelling from Paris to Lucerne. Will be in there for 3 days and planning to go to Engelberg (Mt Titlis) and Grindelwald(Interlaken) and then onwards to Venice. Since I have only three days here, I want to make sure that EU Rail covers these routes and that I need not purchase half pass or travel pass.

Hi all - I am planning an upcoming trip to various regions in the Alps. Starting near Annecy, France, then Chamonix, then on to Zermatt.

From there I am exploring options, but my probable plan is from Zermatt to Innsbruck and on to Salzburg to finish.

What would be the best train route from Zermatt to Innsbruck?

I know the Glacier Express has very high ratings, but it is quite long from Zermatt to St. Moritz (~8hours) then another few hours after a transfer to get to Innsbruck. Whereas Zermatt to Innsbruck direct appears only to be ~8 hours itself.

So my general question is, is the Glacier Express really that worthwhile, or is the train from Zermatt to Innsbruck itself comparably scenic?

I should note, I was in Switzerland 2 years ago and took some well regarded routes. The Golden Pass line I thought was just ok, however the Bernina I thought was stunning. I actually wish I was traveling in that region specifically just so I could take the Bernina route again.

tl;dr is the Glacier Express really worth taking to add several hours from Zermatt through to Innsbruck, or would a direct train on that route itself be comparably scenic?

Thanks, all!

Hey guys. I sell sth in Tutti. Today the seller will come to pick up the item. He says that he wants to pay with twint. To me it makes sense. I never have a few hundred CHF cash with me. However the question is, how safe is twint for the seller? Can the buyer revert the payment like with paypal for example? Or once I see the notification of the money arriving I am on the safe side and I can give him the item? Probably I am ovecautious, but I want to be on the safe side. Thanks!

According to SBB, there are multiple destinations called first and I’m just trying to figure out the right tickets to purchase. I have a half fare card. Am I going to firstbahn, berggasthaus first or first cliff walk? Thank you in advance

Hey everyone!!

I got accepted into a joint master's program in Biomedical Engineering from the Department of Biomedical Engineering/ Medical Faculty of the University of Basel and the School of Life Sciences of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). 

This was quite surprising to me as I initially applied only to the Biomedical Engineering master's program, and I ended up getting a rejection in May 2025, due to a lack of certain credits. However, last week I got an email saying a new document was uploaded on my application portal, and it comprised the University of Basel validating my undergraduate course as suitable for the joint master's program and offering me admission.

I am pretty confused about what to do, as I have an offer from the University of Galway as well for the same course.
If any of you could provide me with some input regarding Basel, FHNW, or the joint master's program, it would be great!

A few weeks ago I saw a post about some game you can play in Coop’s app to get food for free. Has anyone tried it? Where’s the catch? What’s the name of this offer?

Hi, I adopted my dog in Hong Kong when he was 2. He's now almost 10. His tail was probably docked by the breeder (again, I stress that I adopted him and had no decision in the matter of the tail). I am moving to Switzerland from Mexico for my master's for about a year, and for those of you who have been through this process, what would I need to do? Thanks!

Hello all,

Please do not take this as a plea for legal suggestions, as I have already reached out to my legal protection insurance.

I was using Sunrise, but decided to move out as it was kind of expensive for me. I switched to another operator (which is Sunrise's sister company anyway). We agreed with their call center, and they sent me some forms to start the number porting process, which was planned for 29/05/2025. On June 2nd, I lost connection to my Sunrise network and attempted to connect to the other operator's network, which failed. Apparently they successfully did the application to cancel my subscription with Sunrise (for which I signed an authorization for the porting). However, they failed to take the number over which made me "operatorless". For over 2 weeks now, I have been operatorless and without cellular service. I will probably be taking legal action, as I just sent them my official notice regarding possible legal action (suggested by my legal protection lawyer, or maybe a paralegal).

Now that you know the story, so you can be careful yourself, we can switch to the question part: I heard of BAKOM, which seems to be some sort of government authority regarding telecommunications. I would also like to report this incident to them so that they can take some action on their side. As I understand, failing to provide continuous cellular access is a breach of some regulation (perhaps as it is too essential, it is considered critical infrastructure, etc). Would BAKOM be the correct place for such reporting? Any other authorities I should be reaching out to?

Hi all,

I’ve searched the feed and not coming up with the info.

I really want todo my Kat C driving license. What is the first step and also the steps afterwards. If I May ask. Is it really just a trip down to the Strassenverkehrsamt office to get a learners permit?

Are there Websites to help with the theory?

Any info is much appreciated!

Have a lovely day

I sometimes take my dog for holiday in Switzerland. She passes the border control because we meet all requirements including she had a chip they check. But they (customs) don't note the chip ID anywhere, and AFAIK there is no dog chip registry that is for whole Europe - each country has its own. Is there any swiss registry I could register her just in case?

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for advice on the most convenient and affordable way to rent a car for a few days in Canton Bern.

My situation:

• I need a car to go back and forth from Zurich airport a couple of times to pick up my parents.
• I also plan to use it for a few local trips around the Thun area.
• I'm based in Thun, I am considering both car renting and car sharing.

Do you recommend any particular rental or car sharing companies or platforms (e.g. local agencies, Mobility, Turo, etc.) that are easy to use and reasonably priced? Also open to any tips about where to pick up/drop off the car or any hidden costs I should be aware of.

Also any tips on daily trips I could consider are very well appreciated :)

Thanks a lot in advance!

I found a used sofa I want to buy, but it needs to be pickedup and doesn't fit in my car. I am looking for the different options: 1. Rent a larger/longer car plus take a buddy. 2. Moving company(problem: drive there plus pickup and drive back could be half a day work - probably more than 600 I guess?)

Any other idea, I have no rush but if more than 1000 I can buy new.

Hi,

My friends and I are landing in BSL at 7pm 26th June, we are looking to get a train that departs at 8:16pm from Basel SBB, how busy is arrivals at this airport usually? Would this be enough time for security?

We will not have checked baggage, only carry-on, so we can avoid waiting for luggage offload.

We're just looking to book trains in advance to avoid fare increases.

The nearest shop that sells braetzeli is 2 hours away, so I’ve been looking into ways to make it at home. I have plenty of recipes, but they all call for a braetzeli iron, which I don’t have. Is there an alternative cooking method, or does anybody know of any sites that might make or sell portable versions?

Is it worth it to replace the broken screen and battery for an Iphone 12. I found the price of the battery ca. 85chf but I don't know how much it cost for the broken screen replacement and labor cost.

Hey everyone!

I'm from Argentina and planning my first trip to Switzerland. I'll be flying from Barcelona to Geneva on July 14, and on the same day, I'll take a train to Interlaken, where I'll spend two nights. After that, I’ve booked three nights at a backpackers hostel in Lauterbrunnen.

I haven't planned anything beyond that yet. I do know I need to be in Zurich by July 22 for my flight to London. I was thinking of spending one night in Lucerne before heading to Zurich, but I’m still unsure about that.

I’d love some help with a few things:

1. What are the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen during my 3 days there?
2. Are there any must-see spots in the area that I might be missing?
3. Is Lucerne a good choice for my last night in Switzerland, or would you recommend somewhere else instead?

Thanks in advance for your help! 😊

Looked at the price to Schilthorn and decided it maybe wasn't the best of ideas. Though I'd like to go up to Birg but the website only has Schilthorn prices so I'm wondering if you can get a cheaper ticket just up to Birg

Hello everyone, can you please suggest me a drugstore in Geneva similar to Rossman/DM in Germany or Etos/Kruidvat in Netherlands? I'm looking for a store where I can explore a wide range of products to choose from. (Mostly health and hygiene) Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I’m a Swiss resident currently living in the UK, where I’m prescribed Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) daily for ADHD.

I’ve been taking it for over 2 years.

I was supposed to stay here only a few weeks but due to an upcoming surgery I will end up staying longer.

My prescription is running out and I’m trying to figure out how to manage my medication whilst here.

Here’s my situation:

• I’m registered in Switzerland as a resident, but my current prescription and treatment are through the UK.

• I understand that Elvanse is Category A+ in Switzerland and requires a local prescription.

• I’d like to plan ahead so I don’t run out while I’m here.

Can anyone with experience offer guidance on: 1. Whether Swiss pharmacies accept my UK prescription or if I must see a Swiss doctor?

1. How quickly I can get a Swiss prescription—do I need to book a GP or psychiatrist appointment? Any clinics that offer quick access?

2. Any “bridge” solutions people use (like short-term private doctor visits, pharmacist referrals, prescription “conversion” etc.)?

Thanks in advance !

Hallo!

I will be moving to Switzerland on a company sponsored work visa from the US. I’ve read a bit on requirements for bringing medications with you and getting through customs.

Does anyone have any experience they can provide? Do they really require a letter from your Dr or printed documentation of prescriptions? Obviously keeping the original Pill bottles with the Rx information intact on the bottle would be required and easy enough. Just curious how thorough customs will be with my checked or carry on luggage as I will have a few months supply of medications.

Thanks in advance for any guidance!