Quick answer
Switzerland is easy for vegetarians. Cheese fondue, raclette, rösti and Birchermüesli are meat-free, Zurich has Hiltl, often called the world's oldest vegetarian restaurant, and supermarkets label vegetarian food clearly. Indian restaurants are common in Interlaken, Lucerne, Zurich and Geneva. Jain travellers will find it harder, as onion, garlic and cheese made with animal rennet are widespread.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Cheese fondue
Melted Gruyère and Vacherin with bread for dipping. Traditionally made with white wine and kirsch, and some cheeses use animal rennet; ask for an alcohol-free version.
Raclette
Melted cheese scraped over boiled potatoes, with pickled onions and gherkins. Often the safest vegetarian order on a mountain menu.
Rösti
A crisp grated-potato cake. Check it isn't topped with bacon or a fried egg, and ask whether it's cooked in butter.
Älplermagronen
Alpine macaroni with potatoes, cream, cheese and apple sauce, usually finished with bacon. Ask for it 'ohne Speck'.
Zürcher Geschnetzeltes
Sliced veal in a cream and mushroom sauce. Order the rösti on its own, or a mushroom version where offered.
Birchermüesli
Oats soaked with yoghurt, grated apple and nuts, created in Zurich around 1900. A light, filling breakfast or lunch.
Malakoff
Deep-fried cheese fritters from the Lake Geneva region. The batter often includes egg and white wine.
Swiss chocolate
Plain chocolate is vegetarian. Check filled sweets for gelatine and truffles for alcohol.
Basler Läckerli
Hard honey-and-spice biscuits from Basel, eggless and good for carrying home; most contain a little kirsch.
Engadiner Nusstorte
A caramelised walnut tart from the Engadine that keeps for weeks and travels well.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich bin Vegetarier / Vegetarierin. | I am vegetarian (male / female). Used in Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt. |
| Ohne Fleisch und ohne Fisch, bitte. | Without meat and without fish, please. |
| Ohne Ei, bitte. | Without egg, please. |
| Ist da Speck oder Fleischbrühe drin? | Does this contain bacon or meat stock? |
| Je suis végétarien / végétarienne. | I am vegetarian, in French-speaking Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux. |
Is Switzerland easy for vegetarians?
Yes — it's one of the easier countries in Europe. Swiss mountain food is built on cheese, potatoes and bread, so fondue, raclette and rösti are all vegetarian at heart. Most menus mark vegetarian dishes, and the V-Label (a green V) appears on packaged food in Coop and Migros supermarkets.
Zurich is home to Hiltl, open since 1898 and often described as the world's oldest vegetarian restaurant, with a large Indian-influenced buffet priced by weight. The Tibits chain, co-founded with the Hiltl family, has buffets in Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Basel and other cities.
What to watch for
- Rennet: many traditional Swiss cheeses use animal rennet. If that matters to you, ask, or stick to dishes made with labelled vegetarian cheese.
- Hidden bacon: Älplermagronen, rösti and soups can come with Speck (bacon). Always ask.
- Stock: soups often use meat stock (Fleischbrühe).
- Alcohol: fondue and some desserts contain wine or kirsch.
Where can you find Indian food in Switzerland?
Interlaken has the most Indian restaurants of any Alpine town — a direct result of decades of Indian visitors — and many hotels there serve Indian breakfasts or vegetarian dinners for groups. Lucerne, Zurich and Geneva also have several Indian restaurants each, including North and South Indian menus. Smaller mountain villages such as Grindelwald, Wengen and Zermatt have fewer choices.
For Jain travellers
Jain eating is harder. Onion and garlic are common, and root vegetables are central to Swiss food. Carry khakhra, thepla and ready-to-eat meals, book hotels with kitchenettes, and ask Indian restaurants in Interlaken or Lucerne for Jain food in advance. Packaged vegetarian snacks are generally fine to bring in; meat and dairy products from India are not.
How much does eating out cost?
A café lunch costs CHF 20–30 (₹2,200–3,300), and a restaurant main CHF 25–45. A supermarket sandwich, fruit and drink costs CHF 10–15. Tap water is drinkable everywhere, including public fountains.
Budget ₹3,000–5,000 per person a day for food on a mid-range trip — see our Switzerland trip cost.
For where to base yourself near Indian restaurants, see where to stay in Switzerland, and for what to do between meals, things to do in Switzerland. The Switzerland visa guide covers entry requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is Swiss fondue vegetarian?
Can I find Indian food in Interlaken?
Is it easy to eat Jain food in Switzerland?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
