Discover the Majesty of Switzerland & Share with Your Switzerland SIM Card

Lauterbrunnen Alps
Lauterbrunnen Valley and Alps

Switzerland is known worldwide as one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is no wonder why with the towering Alps, lush green valleys, sapphire blue lakes, and varied cultures. Switzerland is an international destination for people with varied interests.

Introduction

Switzerland is also (and officially) known as the Swiss Confederation. It is made up of 26 Cantons, with Federal offices located in Bern. The population of Switzerland is ~8.2 million, with ~1/4 of the population being expats from other (mostly European) countries. This makes Switzerland the country with the most foreign population.

The climate of Switzerland is as varied as its population. There are three main geographies of Switzerland. The Alps, the Swiss Plateau, and the Jura mountains. Most of the population reside on the Plateau where all of the major cities are located. The climate is temperate, but ranges wildly depending on the locality. You will find year-round snow and glaciers in the mountains, but also palm trees in the southern plateau.

Regions

The Alps

The Alps are among the highest and most rugged mountains in the world. The highest peak is Dufourspitze. It is the second highest in Western Europe at 4,736m and is a challenge for any climber. They were formed by the collision of the African and European plates, and continue to grow.

Besides climbing, the Alps are home to a myriad of winter sports like skiing (alpine and cross-country), sledding, snowboarding, and summer sports like para-gliding and skydiving.  For the less active, the valleys in the Alps offer absolutely stunning vistas and easy hikes. One of the favorites is the Lauterbrunnen valley. Lauterbrunnen is home to the highest railroad in Europe (Jungfrau Railway), taking you to the peak of Jungfraujoch at 3,454m.

The Plateau

The Plateau is where you will find all of the major cities and beautiful lakes. With Zurich and Basel in the north, Bern centrally located and Geneva in the South, the Plateau is a collection of rolling hills, lakes, rivers and culinary delights like cheese and chocolate. (We recommend a trip to the picturesque town of Gruyere where the cheese is king and the views are stunning. kick back and enjoy some fondue!)

Gruyere
The cobblestone streets of Gruyere

 

Lake Geneva is easily the most famous of the large lakes, but Lakes Zurich, Lucerne, and the twin lakes of Brienz & Thun are all equally beautiful. If you visit the twin lakes, stay in Interlaken and you will have easy access to both lakes! You can enjoy swimming, boating and hikes around the lakes.

The Jura

The Jura mountains aren’t as famous as the Alps, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth visiting. It is the demarcation between France and Switzerland. The Jura aren’t as tall and rugged as the Alps, but there is still lots of great opportunities for hiking, climbing, skiing, and cycling. This region is also known for its watchmaking industry. You can even be an “Apprentice for a day” and build your own watch!

The people of Switzerland are as varied as its geography. The landlocked country boarders France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Liechtenstien. This mixing of cultures creates a diversity in language as well as food, Local dishes are pulled from all of these countries and tend to align country to which that canton is closest. For example, one of our favorite lasagnas was enjoyed in the south, closer to Italy, while in Zurich we had fantastic bratwurst closer to Germany. This melding of cultures also shows in languages spoken, and traditional dress.

Getting Around

When travelling to Switzerland from international origina you will typically Fly into Geneva or Zurich. You may also find flights into Bern, but this is smaller international airport, and is typically used on a regional basis. Once you are in country, the train system is a fantastic way to get around. The trains run remarkably on schedule and are always clean and modern. You will find that the local trains are also used by schools to transport their students, so don’t be surprised to share the ride with lots of kids.

Speaking of trains, we recommend the GoldenPass Line for sightseeing. The GoldenPass trains are designed with huge windows  so you won’t miss a bit of scenery. There are 3 main lines: 1) Montreaux > Zweissimmen, 2) Zweissimmen > Interlaken Ost, & 3) Interlaken Ost > Lucerne. You can break up the trips stopping for a night or two in certain areas (we highly recommend the Lauterbrunnen Valley) and enjoy what these localities have to offer. You can also join an organized tour who will handle all of the bookings and activities along the way.

Summary

Switzerland is a truly majestic country with varied geography and cultures. There are many, many activities to enjoy year-round for people of all ages and physical abilities. We recommend travelling in June or July for the best weather. So grab your passport, pack your binoculars to make sure to see all of the stunning vistas and don’t forget your OneSimCard eSIM World or standard global roaming SIM card (the Switzerland SIM card we recommend is the Universal card) because you will want to stay connected to share all of your memories!

What is the Best Travel eSIM Card & Why?

Phone that includes eSIM.

We discussed eSIMs (embedded SIM cards) in a previous post. eSIMs aren’t all created equally, though. An “international eSIM card” is a bit of a misnomer. International / travel eSIMs are the of roaming SIMs as physical SIMs move into the past. The reason for the change is because device manufacturers save space on the device by replacing the physical SIM and it with eSIM technology. eSIMs are probably better called “SoftSIMs.” They are simply nothing more than a piece of software downloaded into devices enabled to understand this technology. What makes for the best travel eSIM then?

The world is becoming more and more data centric, so most eSIM providers only include data usage, They don’t bother to support voice or text. However, voice and text remain important for the international roaming SIM market. The growth of data centric applications like WhatsApp, Facetime, Telegram, Skype, etc. are changing the way providers deliver their services. You can communicate with friends and family, post messages and even place video calls with data only. This doesn’t work well for the international traveler, and is a major problem/flaw. It forces the international traveler to use another provider to place calls and send and receive SMS. This is because these roaming eSIMs don’t include a phone number. Without a phone number you can’t call your Uber driver, talk to your bank, call the restaurant that you are running late, etc.

This is where OneSimCard international eSIMs really stands out. Our international eSIMs support Data, Voice & Text messaging. Our SIMs include an EU based phone number and you can also choose alternate phone numbers (Personal Extra Numbers, or PENs). You can get in-country phone numbers in 70+ destinations with OneSimCard eSIMs.  You can set your alternate number as your caller ID so that your phone appears to be a local caller. What’s more is you can get a USA phone number that is a true mobile number. This USA mobile number allows you to receive 2FA verification messages required by banks, the IRS, and pretty much any other US company.

Usability is another important feature making an eSIM the best international eSIM.  eSIMs should be simple to install and have flexible plans. Flexibility is key as travel patterns. Meant for a single country, most eSIMs aren’t flexible because you can’t move between countries. OneSimCard eSIMs are designed to be used over and over for years, and in many different countries. Our plans are flexible; even in a single trip. We also offer 2 different eSIMs: our World eSIM for the greatest # of destinations, & our Asiania eSIM for use especially in Asia and Oceania.

The amount of support and applications available from the eSIM provider is the last factor for rating travel eSIM cards. OneSimCard is one of the only international eSIM providers with its own VOIP app (available in Google Play and Apple APP Store)for US and Canadian phone numbers to reduce the cost of Voice and Text services. OneSimCard also has eSIM apps in Apple App store and Google play. You can manage all aspects of your travel eSIM right in these apps. Multi-lingual customer service is also available by phone, email and online.  

You need to read the fine print and look at the reviews for eSIM service providers before you buy. There has been a rapid growth in this space, and COVID forced some closed. We have been in business for over 27 years, and have a 4.5 star rating with Shopper Approved with 2500+ reviews.

More information about our international roaming eSIM is available on our website: https://www.onesimcard.com/esim or simply scan this QR code. This page will help you further understand why the OneSimCard international eSIM for travel is the best option for your eSIM enabled phone when you are abroad. You can also reach out to us, and ask any questions that you may have. 

Wishing you safe travels!

New travel eSIM App Is Now Available on Android and iOS!

OneSimCard eSIM App

Just Download and Go! Our eSIM App has been launched and is available in both the App Store and Google Play. With the eSIM app you can:

  • Purchase and install the OneSimCard eSIM
  • Search the enormous list of countries supported
  • Choose the exact data plan that best fits your travel requirements
  • Manage your eSIM and data usage

Download the app from the App Store or Google Play today!

You can now use OneSimCard international eSIM with more iOS and Android phones, smart watches and even Windows tablets.

OneSimCard international eSIM has dramatically expanded the list of compatible devices. You can now use Data, Voice and Texts, as well get local numbers and discount plans worldwide on many more devices. This includes iOS and Android phones, smart watches and even Windows tablets. See the full list below.

iOS

  • iPhone XS*
  • iPhone XS Max*
  • iPhone XR*
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone SE 2 (2020)
  • iPad Air/Pro (3rd Gen)
  • iPad Mini 5

Android    

  • Google Pixel 4, 4XL
  • Google Pixel 3a*
  • Samsung Galaxy Fold
  • Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
  • Samsung Watch S4
  • Huawei Watch 2 Pro
  • Huawei P40, P40 Pro

Windows 10

  • Acer Swift 7
  • ASUS NovaGo
  • HP Envy x2
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 630
  • Lenovo Yoga 630
  • Microsoft Surface Pro X/Go 2/Pro with LTE Advanced

*Important Note: iPhone XS and XR manufactured for the Chinese Market have 2 physical SIM card slots and are not eSIM capable. iPhones and Pixel phones can’t use eSIM if the phone was purchased in Japan, or if bought with Verizon or Charter service. Check with your service provider to ensure your device can operate with a 3rd party eSIM.

All existing OneSimCard eSIMs that were sold prior to this announcement will work on those devices as well.

At this time OneSimCard eSIM covers over 160 countries.  Download your OneSimCard international esim today and start enjoying wireless freedom without the high cost.

 

  • Data from $0.01/MB; multiple discount data plans available
  • Local phone numbers in 60+ countries
  • Low cost calls and texts. Free incoming calls and SMS in many countries
  • Simply download and go! No shipping needed.

 

Download OneSimCard international eSIM.

OneSimCard Assists Stranded Travelers by Slashing eSIM Prices

In Response to the Global COVID-19 Virus Pandemic & the Vast Numbers of Stranded Travelers, OneSimCard Cuts the Cost of eSIMs for Global Roaming by 50%

In an effort to assist the thousands of stranded travelers OneSimCard today announced they are slashing the cost of eSIM cards by 50% through April 30, 2020. Because the eSIM is available for immediate download & there is no need to ship a physical SIM, displaced travelers can easily stay in touch with loved ones back home without having to wait for shipping or having to go to a store to purchase a physical SIM; the entire transaction can be accomplished from the safety of one’s hotel room. The eSIM is initially available on compatible devices such as iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, XS, XS Max, and XR, and the Google Pixel 3a, 4 and 4 XL. Full details available here: onesimcard.com/esim. Promo Code for 50% discount is “ESIM50”.

OneSimCard eSIM provides Data, Voice and SMS connectivity in over 160 countries. The OneSimCard eSIM has the advantage of accessing multiple networks in many countries for a more reliable mobile connection. eSIM service can be used either as pay-as-you-go or with optional discount data plans for high volume users. OneSimCard also offers the option of additional local phone numbers in over 60 countries. Customers will also have the ability to use their smartphone as a hotspot enabling multiple devices to enjoy 4G speeds (where available) at no additional charge. Additionally, customers will still be able to use the OneSim VOIP App, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, for access to OneSimCard’s highly discounted VOIP voice and SMS service.

eSIM, or Embedded SIM, is the latest disruption in the mobile connectivity industry for consumer devices and represents a shift from the traditional physical SIM on which most GSM compatible devices depend for connectivity. eSIM technology is expected to fully replace the physical SIM card in mobile devices in the not-too-distant future because eSIM has many benefits. Consumers will save shipping costs and delivery time by simply downloading the eSIM using a QR code. They can easily switch between providers before, and after, travelling without needing to replace the plastic SIM, & they can now have several profiles on their device (e.g. one for work and one for personal use) –turning their device into a dual SIM phone.

“As a leader in the global roaming market, we felt obligated to the vast number of stranded travelers across the world, and our department heads brainstormed how we can play a part in helping these travelers stay in touch with their loved ones back home,” said OneSimCard CEO Alex Filippov. He added, “We are very concerned about the safety of all the citizens of the world and if we can help families stay in touch while family members are displaced abroad, we are willing to do our part.”

Did you know you can use OneSimCard eSIM with Google Pixel 3A and Pixel 4?

In addition to many eSIM capable iPhone models, OneSimCard eSIM can also be used with Google Pixel 3A and Pixel 4.
 
With OneSimCard eSIM you can:
• Take advantage of OneSimCard global data roaming plans without changing the SIM
• Make low cost voice calls and send texts with the free OneSIM VoIP app
• Simply download and go! No shipping needed.