Packing List - Winter Tours - Christmas in Switzerland

Packing for a Winter Vacation in the Alps

This packing list is a great start for planning and packing for your Christmas in Switzerland Tour or your Scenic Alps by Rail Christmas Edition tour. 

On our winter Christmas tours, you can expect to be outdoors and doing some walking, so packing the right items will enable you to have a more enjoyable trip. For train travel and walking around towns and villages, the key is casual comfort. Pack comfortable everyday clothing suitable for wearing indoors, sitting in trains, and walking around outdoors. Plan to have layers, that you can easily put on or take off according to how hot or cold you feel. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that are easy to pack and wear, and wash if needed. In the evening you'll be eating dinners in the hotel or at restaurants around town. You may want to wear something other than what you've been wearing during the day, but is still casual and not really very dressy. While we make some specific recommendations below, your own personal preference, experience, and comfort are ultimately the most important factors in deciding what to bring. 

Winter Packing List:

When selecting clothing think about dual-purpose clothes and about layering for warmth and keeping dry. It is better to have several layers you can take off and put on one at a time versus one heavy layer. Although the outside temperatures will be cold, remember that the indoor temperatures in the trains, shops and restaurants will be warm depending on the heating and sun shining in panoramic train windows. For being outdoors at the Christmas markets, make sure to have a warm all-purpose coat, gloves, scarf, hat. We also recommend sturdy footwear (preferably waterproof) with good traction.

Recommended Clothing & Footwear

• 1 pair warm, comfortable walking shoes/boots with a sturdy sole and good traction (preferably waterproof)
• 1 pair comfortable lightweight shoes for evenings
• 3-4 pair warm, casual pants in cotton blend (easier to wash/dry and better than jeans). Must be comfortable when sitting for hours in trains.
• 4-5 short-sleeve shirts in easy-wash, quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant fabric
• 3-4 long-sleeved shirts that can be worn on their own or over the short-sleeve shirts for layering
• Casual outfits for the evenings
• Underwear and warm socks – can handwash halfway through tour
• Swimsuit – we stay in a hotel with a great pool
• Sleepwear
• Raincoat/umbrella (It is likely to encounter rain or snow on this tour!)
• Zip-up fleece jacket or sweaters for layering
• Knitted hat, scarf, and a pair of warm gloves (for walking outdoors at the Christmas markets)
• A warm winter coat that is suitable for outdoor temperatures; down to -5C/20F

Recommended Gear

• Water bottle (water is free and safe to drink in Switzerland!)
• A daypack to carry your valuables, railpass, water bottle, raincoat, snacks, sunglasses, gloves, hat, etc.
• Personal Toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm, hand sanitizer, hairbrush, shaving supplies, cosmetics, etc. Hotels have hair dryers, shampoo, and liquid soap. Not all hotels provide washcloths so you may want to bring your own if needed
• Personal medication as prescribed, in the original packaging with your name on it – remember to pack your meds in your carry-on luggage in case your suitcase gets delayed
• Simple first-aid supplies such as Band-Aids, blister aid, Neosporin, ibuprofen, cough drops, cold medicine, etc.
• Laundry soap for handwashing clothes at hotels
• Swiss plug adapter (Europlug–type C)
• Chargers for phones/electronic items

Try not to pack too much. Most people choose to check a suitcase for the transatlantic flight and use their small backpack as a carry-on piece. Make sure you have your rail passes & passport handy as you will need these upon arrival.