What to pack for Switzerland in October

15 rain days a month finds every seam. A real shell, not a windbreaker.

Lows around 45°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

The layer you'll wear more than any other.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Blisters and scrapes happen on rocky terrain far from the nearest pharmacy.

This country runs on Type C or J. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Ten hours of daylight means your camera battery drains by afternoon.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Dark by 6:40pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Overhead bins on Swiss trains are tight; checked bags slow you down.

Day hikes into the mountains require water, layers, and a map.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Tap water is safe here, so a reusable bottle cuts waste.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Train stations and hostels see bags go missing in the shuffle.

Damp clothes from 12 rain days need separation so mildew doesn't spread.

Twelve rain days in October mean damp clothes pile up faster than they dry.

Lows around 45°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.

Border crossings and train changes create hours of waiting in stations with poor sleep conditions.

Steep mountain terrain and loose rock demand foot support on descents.

Layering fails when the high is only 59°F and you're at altitude.

Single-track mountain roads and switchbacks trigger nausea in sensitive travelers.

High humidity at 84% and shared accommodations spread germs faster.

One outlet per room forces you to charge devices in sequence.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Border crossings require your passport within arm's reach, not buried in luggage.

International travel means your luggage passes through multiple hands and sorting.

Humidity at 84% makes bathroom shelves slick; hanging keeps things dry.