Is Uber legal in Switzerland?

Yes, Uber is legal in Switzerland. However, drivers must have a permit and pay social contributions. Some cantons have stricter rules.

Is Uber cheaper than taxi in Switzerland?

Usually yes. Uber is typically 10-30% cheaper than traditional taxis. However, during high demand (surge pricing), Uber can become more expensive.

Where is Uber available in Switzerland?

Uber is available in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne and Winterthur. There is no Uber in smaller cities and rural areas.

What are alternatives to Uber in Switzerland?

Bolt is available in several cities. Additionally, there are traditional taxis that can be ordered by phone, app (taxi.eu) or at the taxi stand.

Uber vs. Taxi in Switzerland: The Complete Comparison 2026

Uber or taxi? Many Swiss residents and tourists ask themselves this question. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. In this comparison, we show all the important differences so you can make the right choice.

Uber vs. Taxi: The Overview

Criterion	Uber	Taxi
Price	Usually cheaper (10-30%)	Fixed tariff
Availability	Major cities only	Everywhere
Booking	App only	App, phone, street
Payment	Cashless only	Cash and card
Price upfront	Yes, fixed price	No (meter)
Waiting time	Visible in app	Variable
Vehicles	Private cars	Licensed taxis
Regulation	Less regulated	Strictly regulated

Quick Summary

Uber is usually cheaper and more convenient via app. Taxis are available everywhere and offer more payment options.

Price Comparison: Uber vs. Taxi

Prices vary depending on the city and time of day. Here are typical examples:

Prices in Zurich

Route	Uber	Taxi	Difference
Main Station - Airport	CHF 35-45	CHF 50-65	-30%
Paradeplatz - Oerlikon	CHF 20-28	CHF 28-35	-25%
Bellevue - ETH Hoenggerberg	CHF 25-35	CHF 35-45	-25%
Main Station - Altstetten	CHF 15-22	CHF 22-28	-25%

Prices in Geneva

Route	Uber	Taxi	Difference
Cornavin - Airport	CHF 25-35	CHF 35-45	-25%
Cornavin - UN	CHF 18-25	CHF 25-32	-25%
Eaux-Vives - Carouge	CHF 15-20	CHF 20-28	-25%

Warning: Surge Pricing

During high demand (evenings, events, bad weather), Uber can become significantly more expensive. The price can be 1.5x to 3x higher. In these cases, a taxi is often cheaper!

Availability by City

Uber is only available in selected Swiss cities:

City	Uber	Bolt	Taxi
Zurich	Yes	Yes	Yes
Geneva	Yes	No	Yes
Basel	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lausanne	Yes	No	Yes
Winterthur	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bern	No	No	Yes
Lucerne	No	No	Yes
St. Gallen	No	No	Yes
Lugano	No	No	Yes

Conclusion: Outside of major cities, taxis are the only option. In rural areas and the mountains, there is neither Uber nor Bolt.

Bolt: The Third Option

Bolt is another ride service available in some Swiss cities. It works similarly to Uber.

Bolt vs. Uber

Criterion	Bolt	Uber
Prices	Often slightly cheaper	More established
Availability	ZH, BS, Winterthur	ZH, GE, BS, LS
App quality	Good	Very good
Vehicle selection	Fewer options	More options
Payment	Card, Twint	Card, PayPal

Tip

Install both apps and compare prices. Bolt is often 5-10% cheaper than Uber for the same route.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Uber Advantages

Price known upfront: You see the final price before booking
Usually cheaper: 10-30% below taxi prices
Convenient app: Easy booking, GPS tracking
Rating system: Drivers are rated
Cashless: Automatic payment
Trip history: All trips documented

Uber Disadvantages

Limited availability: Only in major cities
Surge pricing: Very expensive during high demand
App required: Cannot use without smartphone
No cash payment: Credit card required
No phone support: App contact only

Taxi Advantages

Available everywhere: Every city, every village
Fixed tariff: No price fluctuations
Flexible booking: Phone, app, street
Cash payment possible: No credit card needed
Professional drivers: Licensed and tested
Taxi stands: Immediately available

Taxi Disadvantages

More expensive: Often 20-30% more than Uber
No upfront price: Meter runs
Waiting time unclear: Hard to estimate without app
Phone number needed: Must be known

When Uber, When Taxi?

Choose Uber when:

You are in Zurich, Geneva, Basel or Lausanne
You want to know the price upfront
You want to pay cashless
It is not rush hour (no surge pricing)
You already have the app installed

Choose Taxi when:

You are outside major cities
You want to pay cash
Uber shows surge pricing
You do not have a smartphone
You are at a taxi stand
You prefer a licensed vehicle

Situation	Recommendation
Zurich Airport, normal	Uber (cheaper)
Zurich Airport, 11 PM	Taxi (surge)
Bern city center	Taxi (no Uber)
Zurich Saturday 11 PM	Taxi (surge)
Basel during weekdays	Uber or Bolt
Grindelwald	Taxi (no Uber)

Payment Options

Uber

Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
Debit card
PayPal
Google Pay / Apple Pay
No cash payment

Bolt

Credit card
Debit card
Twint
No cash payment

Taxi

Cash payment
Credit card (usually)
Debit card
Twint (often)
Invoice (for advance bookings)

Tip for Tourists

Without a Swiss bank account, we recommend a credit card for Uber or cash for taxis. Twint only works with Swiss banks.

Safety

Uber Safety

Drivers are verified
GPS tracking of the trip
Share trip with friends possible
Rating system
SOS emergency function in the app

Taxi Safety

Licensed, tested drivers
Registered vehicle
Taxi central is informed
Insurance required
Strict cantonal regulations

Conclusion: Both options are safe in Switzerland. Taxis are more strictly regulated, Uber offers more digital safety features.

App Quality Comparison

Feature	Uber	Bolt	taxi.eu
User friendliness	Very good	Good	Good
Price upfront	Yes	Yes	Partially
GPS tracking	Yes	Yes	Yes
Travel time estimate	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vehicle selection	Yes	Yes	No
Share trip	Yes	Yes	No
Ratings	Yes	Yes	No
Tip in app	Yes	Yes	No

Legal Situation in Switzerland

Uber operates legally in Switzerland but is subject to cantonal regulations:

Zurich: Uber drivers are considered employees (since 2022)
Geneva: Strict requirements, permit required
Basel: Regular operation possible
Federal level: No uniform regulation

Taxis are strictly regulated in all cantons with permit requirements, tariff controls and insurance requirements.

Good to Know

Both Uber and taxis are completely legal in Switzerland. You can use both services without concern.

Tips for Saving Money

With Uber

Avoid rush hours (surge pricing)
Walk a few steps to a cheaper pickup point
Choose UberX (cheapest option)
Use promo codes
Compare prices between Uber and Bolt

With Taxi

Request fixed price for airport transfers
Use taxi stands (no approach costs)
Share large taxis for groups
Note night tariffs (more expensive after 10/11 PM)

Conclusion

Uber is the best choice in major cities when you want to know the price upfront and pay cashless. Usually 10-30% cheaper, but beware of surge pricing.

Taxi is the best choice outside major cities, during surge pricing, or when you want to pay cash or need a licensed vehicle immediately.

Recommendation: Install Uber and Bolt, but also have the local taxi number ready. This way you are prepared for any situation.

Find Taxi Numbers

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