--- Send us your questions ---

There is no listener poll this week, but a listener survey: What's the one thing you would change about Switzerland if you could?

Send us an audio message or text to +41 76 282 67 66 or email [email protected].

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

01:08 - Listener Feedback

• Niesenbahn, the longest stairs in the world
• Marzili-Bahn, the shortest one in Switzerland

08:32 - 1st August badge 2025

• 1.-August-Abzeichen 2025
• Swiss bytes: Send us your suggestion to [email protected]

15:49 - Learning Swiss German: Tönder (or Thunder)

19:38 - Listener survey: Send us the one thing you would change about Switzerland as an audio message or text to +41 76 282 67 66 or email [email protected].

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

There is no listener poll this week, but a listener survey: What's the one thing you would change about Switzerland if you could?

Send us an audio message or text to +41 76 282 67 66 or email [email protected].

Notes on this episode

00:00 - Intro

01:09 - Listener Feedback

09:40 - Coming to a restaurant, be ready to order

16:20 - Swiss bytes: As an expat, if you could change only one thing about Switzerland (Reddit)

21:37 - Learning Swiss German: Gaffi Crème (or Thé Crème)

25:27 - Listener survey: Send us the one thing you would change about Switzerland as an audio or text message to +41 76 282 67 66 or to [email protected]

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

Let the sunshine (and fresh air) in! 

In this episode we talk about the Swiss ritual that plays out daily in homes, offices, and schools across the country: Lüften. It’s the practice of throwing windows open wide and letting fresh air circulate through rooms and buildings. But why is Lüften so important to the Swiss mindset? As always, we’ll give you some insights, but mostly personal experiences of living with the fresh air in Switzerland.

00:00 - Intro

01:50 - Listener Feedback

07:08 - To lüft or not to lüft

• "Korrektes Lüften" BAG
• Differences between summer and winter
• Swiss lüfting "rules"

15:26 - Swiss bytes

• Federal Statistical Office

17:36 - Learning Swiss German: Dürzug

20:22 - Listener poll

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

Not everything is as glossy as it seems

Many thanks to all the listeners who reach out to us! Today’s episode is for you. If you have questions or thoughts you want to share with us and the other listeners, let us know!

In this episode, we talk specifically about Jonathan’s feedback and his experiences of visiting Switzerland. It inspired us to talk about some other surprises and controversial aspects of ordinary life in Switzerland. 

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Introduction to this episode

00:58 - Listener feedback

02:12 - Swiss Controversies

14:55 - Swiss Bytes: Ali on Switzerland

17:25 - Learning Swiss German: “Bodäsuri”

20:00 - Listener poll

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

A journey to Fahy and the history of Tête de Moine cheese.

In today’s episode of Swiss and Chips, we’re taking you on a journey across the Swiss-French border on foot! Join us as we explore the charming town of Fahy, visit the House of the Tête de Moine cheese, and dive into the history behind this delicious Swiss cheese. We’ll also share our experience of crossing the border and why many people shop across it. Tune in for an adventure filled with cheese, culture, and travel insights!

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

00:41 - Listener Feedback

05:35 - Walking to France

• Tête de Moine
• Fahy
• Chees grating (video)

13:49 - Learning Swiss German: Vögeliwohl

14:55 - Listener poll

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

Tips, passes, and resort advice for newbies on the pistes

In today’s episode of Swiss and Chips, we’re talking about how to enjoy a ski day when you’re ready to move beyond your first slope but you’re not ready to hit a “red” yet. We discuss some basics, like choosing the right ski pass or picking a resort, and skiing etiquette. But mainly Jo shares her personal experience. 

00:00 - Introduction to this episode

01:26 - Listener feedback

03:08 - Swiss Bytes: Alertswiss

05:04 - Skiing in Switzerland: going beyond the bunny slopes

• Different passes and costs
• Renting vs. buying ski equipment
• Beginner-friendly resorts? Family-friendly? Big or small regions?
• Ski etiquette

19:49 - Learning Swiss German: “Spitzcheeri”

• Kick turn
• Didier Cuche’s ski flip

22:23 - Listener poll

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

It’s been a while, but we’re back - and we’re diving straight into a topic that’s Swiss and surprisingly sensitive: the (unspoken) rules of the shared washing room. We’ll share some personal stories of washing room drama and tell you what you need to know when searching for a new flat.

00:00 - Intro

02:42 - Swiss Bytes

• Most popular Swiss songs in the 1980's
• Cow song: Link to the cow video

06:27 - The curse of the washing room in apartment buildings

18:47 - Learning Swiss German: Töggelä

20:46 - Listener poll

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

“Especially in times of the pluralisation of lifestyles, there is a need to know how things should be done correctly. Because manners provide security in how to shape interactions positively. They simplify interactions and prevent misunderstandings.” This is a quote from the ‘Swiss Knigge’, a book about good manners and behaviour in Switzerland. 

Though often associated with formal manners, Knigge in Switzerland has evolved to cover modern-day needs, while retaining its core values of explaining respect and politeness. 

In this episode, we give you an overview of the book’s chapters, talk about how it can be useful for expats in Switzerland and go through a few of the guide’s most interesting bits. 

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

02:00 - Listener Feedback

03:08 - Swiss Bytes: Swiss SBB clock turns 80

05:23 - The Swiss Knigge as a book and ebook

29:58 - Listener give-away: Send us your message!

32:20 - Learning Swiss German: äs herbschtelet

33:03 - Listener poll

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

00:00 - Intro

01:53 - Listener Feedback

04:06 - Swiss Bytes

• How to say things in different situations by region
• That is what they sound like

• Swiss German episodes on Swiss and Chips
• Official page of ABCSRF3 with links to the game
• “Scherenschnitt” or traditional paper cutting

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

--- Send us your questions ---

Swiss National Day is coming up! Let’s talk about what happens on the big day and what it means to the Swiss. We’ll help you figure out how to mark the occasion even if you haven’t been in Switzerland for long. We also have some new features in our podcast for you: “Swiss bytes”, listener feedback and our survey.

00:00 - Intro

01:58 - Listener Feedback

03:14 - Swiss Bytes
US Marine reacts to Why the Swiss love their Guns (more than Americans)
Another interesting Video about Why Switzerland has 370 000 bunkers
Da chönt ja jedä cho

07:09 - Learning Swiss German
Da chönt ja jedä cho

10:32 - 1st August: What to buy and what to do

16:05 - Listener Survey
Fun with Flags

...
Join the community Chat
Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Send your questions:
Drop us an email: [email protected]
Send a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66
Find us on Bluesky: Jo and Simon
Find us on Instagram

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe