The Digital Nomad's Guide to the Swiss Alps

Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world for remote work. It's also one of the most expensive, most misunderstood, and most underrated by the nomad community.

This guide covers everything you actually need to know.

Internet & Infrastructure

Swiss internet infrastructure is among the best in Europe. In cities, you'll typically find 300Mbps+ connections. In the mountains, quality varies — but our coliving spaces use Starlink where fiber isn't available, giving you reliable high-speed connectivity at 1,200+ meters altitude.

Typical coworking speed at our Valais locations: **200–400 Mbps down, 50–100 Mbps up**. Video calls, large file uploads, and cloud backups all work without issues.

Visa Situation

Switzerland is not in the EU, so the rules are different:

**EU/EEA nationals**: 90 days visa-free, renewable

**US, UK, Canadian, Australian nationals**: 90 days visa-free in the Schengen area (Switzerland is Schengen)

**Other nationalities**: Check Switzerland's SEM portal for your specific situation

For stays under 3 months, most nationalities can work remotely without a special visa as long as they're employed by a foreign company and paying taxes elsewhere. This is legally grey territory — consult a professional for longer stays.

Cost of Living in the Swiss Alps

Switzerland is expensive. Full transparency:

| Item | Typical Cost |

|------|-------------|

| Coffee | CHF 4–6 |

| Lunch at a local restaurant | CHF 20–35 |

| Grocery run (weekly) | CHF 100–150 |

| Beer at a bar | CHF 7–10 |

| Cable car / ski day pass | CHF 60–80 |

At a Nomad Workation, accommodation, community dinners, and activities are included. Your main out-of-pocket costs are lunches, personal excursions, drinks, and souvenirs.

The Best Regions for Nomad Work

Valais (Liddes, Bourg St. Pierre)

The French-speaking part of the Alps. Dramatic valleys, the Matterhorn nearby, incredible ski terrain in winter. Our most popular base.

Glarus (Braunwald)

Car-free, quiet, underrated. The Klöntal lake and Braunwald glacier are stunning. Great for AI/deep work workations where you want zero distraction.

Engadine (St. Moritz area)

Premium pricing, premium scenery. Better for extended stays when you're less price-sensitive.

Getting There

**Geneva airport** (GVA) → Valais: 2–2.5 hours by car or train

**Zurich airport** (ZRH) → Braunwald: 1.5 hours by train/funicular

Swiss trains are exceptionally reliable — delays over 5 minutes are genuinely newsworthy

What Surprises Most First-Timers

**It's not as expensive as you think** — when accommodation, food, and activities are bundled

**The mountains are accessible** — you don't need to be a mountaineer. Most hikes are well-marked, all-ability trails

**The community is the product** — the views are the backdrop, the people you meet are the actual experience

**Nothing closes on Sundays** — actually, most things do. Plan your grocery shopping accordingly.

Switzerland rewards those who give it a chance. Start with a workation and see why so many nomads keep coming back.