Tour de orientación en tu nueva ciudad suiza
Un día para descubrir tu futuro barrio, los colegios, los comercios y los transportes antes de comprometerte.
El tour de orientación es una visita guiada personalizada de tu futura ciudad suiza. En un día completo, tus consultores te presentan los diferentes barrios, los colegios y guarderías cercanos, los supermercados, las conexiones de transporte público y todos los lugares clave para tu vida cotidiana. Un paso esencial para tomar la decisión correcta sobre tu vivienda y tu instalación.
What is an orientation tour in Switzerland?
An orientation tour (or orientation visit) is a day or half-day organized for new arrivals to help them discover their future city and region of residence. This service is designed to ease the transition by helping you understand your new environment, residential neighborhoods, infrastructure and available services.
Accompanied by a relocation consultant who knows the region perfectly, you visit the neighborhoods best suited to your profile and your family needs. This is an opportunity to ask all your practical questions and make informed decisions about where you live.
For families with children, the tour orientation includes a visit to educational infrastructures (schools, nurseries, extracurricular activities) and play areas. For couples or singles, the emphasis is on cultural life, dynamic neighborhoods, sports areas and expatriate social networks.
Typical content of an orientation tour
The tour orientation is entirely personalized according to your situation: single, couple or family with children. The visit covers the essential aspects of your future daily life and allows you to compare several neighborhoods or municipalities.
- • General presentation of the region: geography, transport, culture, cost of living
- • Visit 3 to 5 residential neighborhoods matching your criteria
- • Presentation of nearby schools and daycares (international and public)
- • Locating shops, supermarkets, local markets and health services
- • Discovery of the public transport network (bus, tram, train, metro)
- • Information on sporting, cultural and leisure activities
- • External visit to international schools or nurseries (if applicable)
- • Personalized advice on housing budget by neighborhood
| Formula | Duration | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Half day (4h) | Private transportation, 3 districts, expert guide |
| Complete | Full day (8h) | Private transportation, 5 neighborhoods, lunch, school visits |
| Premium | 2 days | All inclusive, apartment visits, administrative meetings |
Main regions covered
We offer orientation tours in all major economic regions of Switzerland. Each region has its specificities in terms of cost of living, taxation, languages and quality of life. The choice of your place of residence can have a significant impact on your tax burden and your daily life.
Taxation varies considerably from one canton to another and even from one municipality to another. For example, a married couple with two children and a gross income of CHF 150,000 will pay around CHF 12,000 in taxes in Zug, compared to CHF 25,000 in Geneva and CHF 22,000 in Lausanne. This factor can significantly influence the choice of your municipality of residence.
| Region | Language | Advantages | Relative taxation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Geneva area (Geneva, Vaud) | French | International organizations, lake, culture | Medium to high |
| Zurich and surroundings | German | Economic center, innovation, nightlife | Average |
| Basel and surroundings | German | Pharma/chemistry, proximity to France/Germany, culture | Average |
| Bern and the Mittelland | German (French in Bienne) | Capital, quality of life, moderate prices | Moderate |
| Central Switzerland (Zug, Lucerne) | German | Attractive taxation, lake, nature | Low (Zug) |
| Ticino (Lugano, Locarno) | Italian | Mild climate, dolce vita, advantageous taxation | Low to moderate |
Public transport and mobility in Switzerland
Switzerland has one of the densest and punctual public transport networks in the world. During your tour orientation, we present the mobility options available to you and help you assess whether a private vehicle is necessary in your future municipality of residence.
The SBB (Federal Railways) cover the entire country, supplemented by local bus, tram and boat networks. The half-fare subscription (CHF 185/year) is the first recommended investment: it halves the price of all public transport tickets in Switzerland.
| Subscription | Annual price | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Half price | CHF 185 | 50% off all journeys |
| AG (general subscription) | CHF 3,860 (2nd class) | Unlimited journeys throughout Switzerland |
| Course subscription | Variable | Unlimited journeys on a defined route |
| Municipal subscription (TPG, TL, etc.) | CHF 500 – 800 | Unlimited bus/tram in a city |
Tips for preparing for your orientation visit
To get the most out of your tour orientation, we recommend preparing a list of your priorities in advance. Think about your essential criteria: proximity to the workplace, type of school for your children, housing budget, access to transport, urban or peri-urban environment.
If possible, plan your tour orientation before your final move. Many expats take a 2-3 day reconnaissance trip to tour the area, meet with schools and begin the housing search.
- • Define your monthly housing budget (rule: max. 30% of gross income)
- • List the priority criteria: proximity to work, school, nature, urban life
- • Bring comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing for visits
- • Bring your documents (passport, employment contract) in case of a school visit
- • Take photos and notes in each neighborhood to compare later
Book your orientation tour
Our team of local consultants welcomes you with professionalism and kindness. Each tour orientation is tailor-made: we adapt the itinerary, pace and content to your personal and family situation.
We recommend booking your orientation tour at least 2 weeks in advance to ensure your consultant is available and to arrange school or accommodation visits if necessary. The tour can be conducted in French, English, German, Spanish or Portuguese depending on availability.
Qué incluye
- Visita de 4 a 6 horas de los barrios residenciales
- Presentación de los colegios y guarderías de la zona
- Descubrimiento de los transportes públicos y conexiones
- Visita de los comercios, mercados y servicios cotidianos
- Información sobre los servicios municipales y administrativos
- Guía personalizada adaptada a tu perfil familiar
Pasos y plazos
Briefing
Before the tour, we collect your criteria, constraints and preferences to personalize the itinerary.
Guided tour
Our consultant accompanies you in person to visit neighborhoods, school areas and points of interest.
Report
After the tour, you receive a written report with our neighborhood recommendations, rent estimates and useful contacts.
Errores frecuentes
- Choosing a neighborhood solely on the basis of an internet search without an on-site visit
- Neglecting commute times between home and work by public transport
- Not checking the availability of nurseries and schools in the targeted neighborhood
- Commit to a long lease before having explored several options
Guías útiles
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Cuándo realizar el tour de orientación?
¿El tour está disponible en todos los idiomas?
Do you offer remote tours for people who are not yet in Switzerland?
¿Listo para empezar tu nueva vida en Suiza?
Contáctanos para una evaluación previa gratuita de tu situación. Nuestro equipo responderá en 24 horas.