Where to park when visiting Swiss cities? (page 3 of 4)

Otherwise, Friday, August 1st is a public holiday (National Day), which might help with free parking (but still check what’s posted on-site).

Green signs for highways, blue signs for national roads—opposite of France. If you don’t have a vignette for the highway, don’t enter...

Anyway, we’ve arrived safely! 😊

Happy holidays!

We're on vacation too. We spent a few days in Vienna and now we're in Slovenia. I can tell you that prices in Vienna and Slovenia (parking, museums, castles, etc.) are just as expensive as in Switzerland. In Slovenia, the cost of some parking spots is just outrageous. 🏴‍☠️

When Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia, there were few tourists even in summer, and parking wasn’t paid for. The cost of living was very low... When you crossed into Austria, you could really see the difference. These days, prices are pretty much the same in both countries.

Happy holidays!

We’re on vacation too. We spent a few days in Vienna and now we’re in Slovenia. I can tell you that prices in Vienna and Slovenia (parking, museums, castles, etc.) are as expensive as in Switzerland. In Slovenia, the price of some parking lots is just outrageous.🏴‍☠️

I’ve been to Vienna twice, but by plane!

I mostly found the cost of cultural sites high, but the rest was about average for Western Europe.

Tea salons are cheaper than in Paris.

Good to know for Slovenia 🤑

I bet it’s cheaper outside the main tourist spots (restaurants, etc.)

When Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia, there were few tourists even in summer, and parking wasn’t paid for. The cost of living was very low... When you crossed into Austria, you could see the difference. These days, prices are pretty much the same in both countries.

Everything’s going up everywhere—it’s crazy.

From what I’ve read, Croatia, which is very touristy, has become quite expensive too!

Head to Serbia in Belgrade—life’s cheaper and the people are friendlier.

Yeah, I’ve been there before!

Anyway, I’m not looking for the cheapest option now. I was in Copenhagen recently and last year in Stockholm and Amsterdam 😅

It’s more for the locals that it gets complicated.

But I really don’t like those touristy areas in Croatia where locals can’t even go out because it’s so expensive. Dubrovnik looks pretty, but I’m not exactly motivated now...

But it's true that I don’t find the Croatian tourist zones where locals can hardly go out because it’s so expensive all that great. Dubrovnik looks pretty, but I’m not exactly thrilled about it now...

I didn’t find Croatia extraordinary in terms of coastal landscapes (often damaged) or even architecture from the Yugoslav era... except for Dubrovnik (which stands out but may have suffered a bit from the war) and a few very peaceful islands still unknown to most tourists... but now, with those floating cities dumping thousands of tourists every day, I can’t even imagine... I’m not really into cities, but if I had to choose between Croatia and Serbia, in terms of atmosphere, tranquility, and interactions with locals, "no contest" for me. In Montenegro, there are beautiful hidden mountain landscapes inland and a few timeless villages for those who bother to look, but no extraordinary cities.

Just an example

Visit to a mine (Slovenia), in the 2020 Lonely Planet guide the tour costs 10 € for an adult. Now, in 2025, you have to shell out 22 € for the same tour. It’s pretty crazy, though.

Just an example…

Visit to a mine (Slovenia), in the 2020 Lonely Planet guide the visit cost 10 € for an adult. Now, in 2025, you have to fork out 22 € for the same visit. It’s pretty crazy.

That’s huge!

Honestly, prices in Switzerland are what they are, but they don’t shock me because it’s a wealthy country with high salaries. Same as Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands...

I doubt that’s the case in Slovenia. It feels like tourist fleecing.

In Croatia, I saw Split, Šibenik, Trogir, Zadar.

Everything is pretty, but even in May, it’s very touristy.

That said, I don’t regret anything. Split is unique with its ruins of Diocletian’s Palace.

Dubrovnik looks nice, but I’m afraid I won’t like the vibe. Same issue in Santorini.

Anyway, in Switzerland, the weather isn’t great either... I’m starting to understand why people head for the sun.

I was worried about being too hot, but 15°C is a bit chilly 😅

Dubrovnik looks nice but I’m not super motivated right now...

It’s not bad. But it’s better to avoid staying there...

You should also check that there aren’t any cruise ships on the day you plan to visit. The number of ships has been significantly limited, but a day without any is even better.

Also, choose an off-season period.

Dubrovnik managed to reduce the number of tourists by playing with prices. 40 € to enter the walls (but that includes almost everything else)—it clears out the crowds a bit!

Fewer people in Dubrovnik in June than in Florence or Siena in August. (And fewer than in some Swiss spots like the Aar Gorge, which has become like a subway...)

I never go to these kinds of destinations in the summer. I don’t even go south in the summer 😅

Not staying there when flying in makes it more complete...

There are buses on site. 😛

And if you're not going in the summer (I'd say from May to October, with a peak from July to September), the problem is partly solved...

Honestly, I don’t feel like staying far out and relying on buses. It’s still a small town.

I think even in spring it gets expensive and crowded.

Well, in Switzerland, you don’t mind not sleeping right next to the sites you want to visit...

And car rentals are available everywhere.

In June, it wasn’t a nightmare.

Not deserted, but not the crowds I’ve experienced in France, Italy, or Switzerland during peak season.

Judging by my trip to Albania last year, as soon as the beach resorts quiet down, it’s all good.

In winter, outside of school holidays, it should be perfect! !

Yeah, but the weather in Switzerland isn’t great right now... I’m starting to understand why people head off to the sun.

You’re really unlucky—it’s usually nice this time of year. But it seems the weather’s pretty bad in quite a few countries right now. In Slovenia, they’re forecasting three days of bad weather too.😩

Well, in Switzerland, you don’t mind not sleeping right by the sites you want to visit...

And car rentals are available everywhere.

In June, it wasn’t a nightmare.

Not deserted, but not the crowds I’ve experienced in France, Italy, or Switzerland during peak season.

Judging by my trip to Albania last year, as soon as the beach resorts quiet down, it’s all good.

In winter, outside school holidays, it must be perfect!

In Switzerland, we’re there with our own vehicle—it’s a whole different story.

My partner isn’t keen on renting a car at all.

If I go to Dubrovnik, I stay in Dubrovnik (not necessarily in the Old Town, though).

We considered going this year around April, but flights from Beauvais arrive at midnight—no thanks.

I’ll admit, I’m not willing to spend a fortune on flights for a destination that doesn’t excite me for a bunch of reasons...

There are so many places I want to go...

I’d promised myself Copenhagen, so I went—and no regrets!

Zagreb is also on our list. It’s not the most beautiful, but it’s more "authentic."

Right now, I’m even more motivated to visit Bucharest than Dubrovnik 😅

Postcard-perfect spots are nice in small doses...

So far in Switzerland, we’ve visited Murten, enjoyed the view from Mont Vully, and explored Estavayer.

Everything’s charming, and so far, we’ve found the people friendly!

Though we weren’t expecting the incompatibility of plugs with some of our electronics 🤯

After visiting all three, Dubrovnik is the one I’d rank first.

Zagreb comes last.

I’d happily go back to Romania, but not to Bucharest.

Dubrovnik is half postcard, half a testament to the worst in humanity—constantly at war with itself...

As for Switzerland, it’s stunning. But it’s basically one giant postcard... A bit overcrowded in places. The millionaire’s playground vibe is fun to watch.

Switzerland isn’t really hit by mass tourism overall...

You can’t say we have to put up with crowds!

Prices in Switzerland are set for Swiss people, not just tourists...

Zagreb isn’t necessarily the most beautiful city—the appeal lies elsewhere, just like Bucharest, for that matter.

Right now, the postcard scene in the rain is way less charming...