Travelling as a couple in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: emergency numbers, official advice and nightlife safety

A weekend in Vienna, a city break in Zurich or a few days in Berlin: for couples travelling through Germany, Austria and Switzerland who also want to see the nightlife or the lifestyle scene, the same rule applies as on any trip. If you arrive prepared, you relax more. This guide pulls together what is worth settling before you go, based on official travel advice and without promising anything we cannot document.

1. Agree first, book second

Before booking trains or hotels, talk about what each of you expects. A quiet dinner for two is as valid as visiting a club or an event. Three agreements help: either of you can say "stop" at any time without explaining; you have a signal for leaving together; and you have decided what you will share afterwards and what stays off social media. More in our guide to consent, boundaries and signals.

2. Emergency numbers

• Austria: police 133, ambulance 144, fire brigade 122, plus the European 112. According to oesterreich.gv.at, emergency calls are free from any phone and 112 works even on a locked mobile without a PIN.
• Switzerland: police 117, fire 118, ambulance 144; 112 connects to the police control centre and, per ch.ch, also works with a foreign SIM card.
• Germany: police 110; fire and rescue services 112.

Save them in your phone and check that your plan works abroad.

3. What the official advice says

The German Foreign Office describes Switzerland as having a low crime rate, though pickpocketing and bag snatching occur at busy spots, stations and on public transport. For Austria it notes petty crime mainly in big cities and tourist hotspots, with violent crime rare. Among its recommendations:

• keep documents and valuables secure and store digital copies,
• pay cashless where possible and carry only the day's cash,
• stay alert at airports, stations, markets and on public transport,
• do not hand over personal data in response to unexpected emails, calls or "prize" notices,
• take out travel insurance covering emergency treatment and repatriation, and register on the ministry's crisis list (ELEFAND).

For Switzerland it adds that mountain weather can change quickly and that you should check whether your insurance covers rescue flights. Always check the official pages before departure, as they are updated (read on 7 November 2026).

4. Nights out: simple rules

1. Tell someone you trust where you are, or share your location with each other.
2. Do not leave drinks unattended or accept anything of unknown origin.
3. Plan the way back: trains and buses do not run everywhere at night, and a dispatched or app taxi is usually more reliable.
4. Do not split up without agreeing to, and leave together when either of you feels uncomfortable.
5. Read the venue's rules on its official site: entry policy, dress code and photo bans vary widely.

Venue rules and the legal situation can differ; rely on what the organiser and the authorities publish, not on hearsay.

5. Privacy and costs

Photos of other people, location data and chat histories are sensitive. Turn off geotagging in your camera, use a device passcode and two-factor login, and never post images of others without their explicit consent. On money: prices for trains, hotels and tickets vary a lot by city, season and weekday, and Switzerland is generally pricier, so we deliberately give no blanket figures. Check fees and extras (cloakroom, drinks packages) with the organiser, set a daily budget and keep a reserve.

Pre-departure checklist

• Agreements and a "stop" signal discussed
• Emergency numbers saved and travel insurance checked
• Documents, copies and payment methods in order
• Journey back and night's accommodation sorted
• Phone location and photo settings reviewed

Sources (accessed 7 November 2026): Auswärtiges Amt, travel and safety advice for Switzerland and Austria; oesterreich.gv.at, emergency numbers; ch.ch, emergencies in Switzerland; Polizeiliche Kriminalprävention (polizei-beratung.de).