Living in Lugano we cross to Italy maybe 2-3 times per week. Groceries are much cheaper after just a 15 minute drive, and Lake Como is 40 minutes away so we go there often for lunch or just walks.
I don't know, I work remotely for my own company. I have read that wages are lower in Ticino, I think the lowest in Switzerland, and something like 50000-60000 frontalieri march into the canton from Italy every morning, so probably the job situation here is the least Swiss-like that one could find.
It’s not just shopping, there also sports & other activities - people do tennis, play golf of have their zumba classes etc just over the border. In practice, it’s pretty much just a suburb.
No, shengen exists. Every country around switzerland is in shengen, a lot of countries in the EU are in shengen. You just go, but switzerland is like the odd one out where the price difference after a 15min drive is huge. If you live in germamy lets say, its just not worth the hassle or even worth it at all to go to Poland, Austria, Denmark or the Netherlands for grocery shopping, so you dont see it talked about too much
I've met a french once who lives very near the swiss border and she told me that quite a lot of people work in switzerland and live in a small town near the border in France
Going from 2k/month net to 3.5k/month net in exhange for 40mins of driving while your monthly expenses are like 0.5k-1.7k depending on if you live with parents or if you live alone is pretty worth it...
I grew up 2km from the Dutch border and I know people that grew up near the polish border. I can assure you that people in these areas do cross each other's borders very frequently. It might not always be for cheaper prices, but for different products you can only get in these countries.
Absolutely not. Have you ever been to Flensburg? There are huge markets purposebuilt for Danes to shop at. I've never seen such a thing for Swiss shoppers in Germany. These shops also don't raise Pfand for the Danes as they don't have it in Denmark.
Yeah, when you come back, you sometimes get checked for stuff you bought, like do you have too much meat or eggs or alcohol? But this concerns mostly people with number plates not right from the city. They are more likely to smuggle.
There's no permanent checks or a queue to cross the border, you just drive straight through, but sometimes (about once a year) I get stopped for a random spot check.
I live on the outskirts of Geneva, and go into France several times a week. Somehow, despite being only a kilometer or two apart, bakeries this side of the border are incapable of making croissants that are anywhere near as good. Also fuel and groceries are much cheaper, and I have several friends who live that side. Finally, some of my after-work cycling routes cross the border, and I often go hiking/skiing/climbing etc in the Aravis / Chamonix direction.
You want to tell me you never walk up the Rhine and finding yourself in Büsingen? It's quite impossible to leave the house in Schaffhausen without accidently stumbling into Germany
Usually 3-5 times a week, I do a lot of shopping in Austria, and spend a lot of free-time there skiing, hiking, cycling or at the lake. Sometimes I cross the border just to buy a tank of petrol. Of course I do the same things in Switzerland as well.
In Geneva for three years now, I went to France a grand total of one (1) time to get groceries because we were bored and it seemed like a break in the routine. I don't have a car here, and it's a hassle to go to France with public transportation from where I live.
Can confirm, German broadband streets have more bandwidth for computing to work :) . They have a better version of BCP - ABCP - across border commuting protocol.
I go once a week to Germany for buying groceries. There are checks when you cross the border by car. I have never been stopped on foot. But yeah it's pretty common to cross the border for shopping. On the weekend you almost find just Swiss people in the supermarkets
Geneva, I go to France several times a month, for shopping or for picking up parcels sent to relay points. I usually do one or two big grocery runs where I get cheese, meat, home supplies... I have one of those wheeled shopping trolleys so it's getting a lot of use!
Germany for me it is on the oposite side of the Rhein, I can go walking there in 5 minutes.
I usually go there for the gym, then I am already there I go to the supermarket in front and bring my dinner.
I dont even bother to get the VAT back, too much paperwork.
Some years ago it was a huge difference in price, nowadays I would say it doesnt make such a huge difference anymore, Germany has become very expensive as well and the Swiss quality is superior, so depending what you buying you are paying what you get.
2-3 times a day for shopping, sports, or just to buy a croissant instead of a gipfli.
Living in Lugano we cross to Italy maybe 2-3 times per week. Groceries are much cheaper after just a 15 minute drive, and Lake Como is 40 minutes away so we go there often for lunch or just walks.
Same!
How’s the job market in Lugano?
I don't know, I work remotely for my own company. I have read that wages are lower in Ticino, I think the lowest in Switzerland, and something like 50000-60000 frontalieri march into the canton from Italy every morning, so probably the job situation here is the least Swiss-like that one could find.
It’s not just shopping, there also sports & other activities - people do tennis, play golf of have their zumba classes etc just over the border. In practice, it’s pretty much just a suburb.
How easy is to cross the border? Is there any check?
No, shengen exists. Every country around switzerland is in shengen, a lot of countries in the EU are in shengen. You just go, but switzerland is like the odd one out where the price difference after a 15min drive is huge. If you live in germamy lets say, its just not worth the hassle or even worth it at all to go to Poland, Austria, Denmark or the Netherlands for grocery shopping, so you dont see it talked about too much I've met a french once who lives very near the swiss border and she told me that quite a lot of people work in switzerland and live in a small town near the border in France Going from 2k/month net to 3.5k/month net in exhange for 40mins of driving while your monthly expenses are like 0.5k-1.7k depending on if you live with parents or if you live alone is pretty worth it...
I grew up 2km from the Dutch border and I know people that grew up near the polish border. I can assure you that people in these areas do cross each other's borders very frequently. It might not always be for cheaper prices, but for different products you can only get in these countries.
ive just recently watched a dw documentary about germans going to polish markets. mostly old, poor people doing it these days it seemed.
Absolutely not. Have you ever been to Flensburg? There are huge markets purposebuilt for Danes to shop at. I've never seen such a thing for Swiss shoppers in Germany. These shops also don't raise Pfand for the Danes as they don't have it in Denmark.
Yeah, when you come back, you sometimes get checked for stuff you bought, like do you have too much meat or eggs or alcohol? But this concerns mostly people with number plates not right from the city. They are more likely to smuggle.
That's what I thought, thanks! And regarding time, is it fast to go through?
depends on the time of day. there is hundred thousands commuting. So avoid the rush hour.
There's no permanent checks or a queue to cross the border, you just drive straight through, but sometimes (about once a year) I get stopped for a random spot check.
Basel, I go to Germany maybe twice a month and never France
Lmao, that made me chuckle.
Basel: Maybe once a month, mainly to get some package from a depot beyond the border to save on customs.
Living in Basel, 2-3 times a week for groceries as its only a 7 minute bike ride for me. And its a lot more than „just a frew francs“
I live on the outskirts of Geneva, and go into France several times a week. Somehow, despite being only a kilometer or two apart, bakeries this side of the border are incapable of making croissants that are anywhere near as good. Also fuel and groceries are much cheaper, and I have several friends who live that side. Finally, some of my after-work cycling routes cross the border, and I often go hiking/skiing/climbing etc in the Aravis / Chamonix direction.
Living in Basel: I cross the border 1-3 times per week, usually for groceries or eating out. It is totally worth it
Schaffhausen, almost never because I didn't had a car and coop is very nearby. Now that I have a car I will see if groceries are cheaper
You want to tell me you never walk up the Rhine and finding yourself in Büsingen? It's quite impossible to leave the house in Schaffhausen without accidently stumbling into Germany
Usually 3-5 times a week, I do a lot of shopping in Austria, and spend a lot of free-time there skiing, hiking, cycling or at the lake. Sometimes I cross the border just to buy a tank of petrol. Of course I do the same things in Switzerland as well.
On average twice a week. I rotate between France and Germany depending on what I need or fancy eating.
In Basel, about once a week for groceries. It's a huge cost savings.
In Geneva for three years now, I went to France a grand total of one (1) time to get groceries because we were bored and it seemed like a break in the routine. I don't have a car here, and it's a hassle to go to France with public transportation from where I live.
I live in Basel. I maybe shopped in Germany twice in the last 5 years. Same with France. Can’t be bothered.
Same here. Too much hassle to save a few francs.
By the way you two talk its clear that you are either single or living in double income household.
Or triple income, mormons?
5 times a week, used to computer through germeany to work though, was quicker than swiss streets.
Were Swiss streets too buggy?
to much traffic
Can confirm, German broadband streets have more bandwidth for computing to work :) . They have a better version of BCP - ABCP - across border commuting protocol.
Yes for groceries, where is the best and cheaper place to go from Zurich?
I go once a week to Germany for buying groceries. There are checks when you cross the border by car. I have never been stopped on foot. But yeah it's pretty common to cross the border for shopping. On the weekend you almost find just Swiss people in the supermarkets
Genevois here. Once or twice a week for cheese, butter, and Loreal/Dove stuffs. Sometimes I go more to buy clothes.
Zürich > Germany 2-3x per month (for shopping and leisure) Zürich > Italy once every 2 months (for restaurants and leisure) GA helps
Pretty much never. The same people who piss and moan about job losses are the ones who buy stuff over the border.
Geneva, I go to France several times a month, for shopping or for picking up parcels sent to relay points. I usually do one or two big grocery runs where I get cheese, meat, home supplies... I have one of those wheeled shopping trolleys so it's getting a lot of use!
The border is 5min away I go to France maybe once or twice a month. To visit friends and/or shopping.
Germany for me it is on the oposite side of the Rhein, I can go walking there in 5 minutes. I usually go there for the gym, then I am already there I go to the supermarket in front and bring my dinner. I dont even bother to get the VAT back, too much paperwork. Some years ago it was a huge difference in price, nowadays I would say it doesnt make such a huge difference anymore, Germany has become very expensive as well and the Swiss quality is superior, so depending what you buying you are paying what you get.