Holiday homes, chalets and apartment in Switzerland 

Find your Swiss vacation home or apartment

• Interhome.com: an excellent Swiss holiday rental agency
• VRBO.com
• Booking.com

Swiss apartments and chalets: the advantages

Self-catering can be a cheaper alternative to a hotel. You’ll be more flexible without fixed times for breakfast and dinner. There’s more space than in a hotel room. Renting an apartment, home or chalet is very common in Switzerland.

Varying availability

The number of available properties varies by location. Some Swiss towns primarily offer hotels, while others have a huge amount of rental apartments as well. An example: in my experience, there’s a larger offer in the Bernese Oberland and in the Valais than in the Lake Lucerne area.

Booking early is recommended, especially for towns and regions with a limited number of rentals.

Practical tips about Swiss rentals

• The standard renting period is Saturday to Saturday, although many properties allow exceptions. Sometimes it’s possible to rent by the day, but often a minimum of 3 or more nights applies. Keep that in mind while searching for properties. Searching for short stays may yield fewer results.
• Catering is not included, although there are exceptions to this rule. This is where you save most, as you can cook your own meals instead of going out for dinner.
• You are expected to do your own laundry. In Swiss apartment buildings, there’s often a shared washing machine in the basement. You usually need to register for the date and time you want to use it. Instructions are in your apartment or chalet.
• You’re expected to separate waste, more so than in a hotel. This helps to save energy and protect the Alps.
• There’s usually a charge for a final cleaning, regardless of how long you’ve stayed in the property. So short stays are relatively more expensive.