| Switzerland
Travel Guide, climate:
Best: June-Sept for summer activities and Dec-March for winter
sports.
Why
travel around Switzerland?
Yet another quirky little European country, Switzerland is a wonderful combination of
spectacularly bumpy landscapes, perfectly aligned fantasy, wooden villages, ancient lakeside cities, supreme efficiency and an avante-garde attitude to eco-activities.
Clichés of course but best Swiss experiences involve
a combination of the following - viewing of incredible mountains and lakes, taking part in sporting activities [summer or winter] in stupendous locations,
chowing down and drinking up in stylish, old but lively towns or quaint hillside villages, and getting from place to place via the precise domestic transport system - only equalled for punctuality by Japan.
In addition Switzerland is super-safe, just about everyone speaks two or three
languages including English and the country is loaded with terrific
beers, rich food and amazing pastries and chocolate. Is that a good
thing? You choose.
Luzern [Lucerne] view with Mt Titlis in the background, Switzerland
Picture © Gary718 Dreamstime.com
Downsides:
- Switzerland is not a cheap destination.
- don't try anything remotely illegal, [such as crossing
the road when the little man is red], this is a very law-abiding
state with eyes everywhere.
- Swiss people - about 65% Germanic - though extremely polite, are,
like their climate, cool towards foreigners.
- temperature can change suddenly, just try stepping from the sun into the shade.
Switzerland
Activities Guide | Switzerland
Festivals Guide
Where
to go in Switzerland:
South-west
[Lake Geneva]:
**Geneva,
attractively situated at the southwest tip of Lake Geneva and near
France, is cultured and metropolitan, but more of a business and
diplomatic centre than party place.
It does, however, offer a great selection of museums and some decent
architecture including the ubiquitous old town.
***Lausanne, on the other hand and
the other side of the lake, really knows how to play, due partly
to the university's youth contribution. Steeply tiered, it 's stylish
and pleasantly walkable [going down or along the waterfront] and
alive with varied street action and nutty cafés.
On the east side of Lake Geneva lie three smaller locations of interest:
**Vevey is a small, appealing market
town with a lively Street Artist's Festival in late August.
*Montreux,
6km down the road is bijou but wealth-oriented and not particularly
hospitable apart from July's Jazz Festival.
The 13thC ***Chateau
de Chillon is the star attraction in this area, a beautifully
located and well-preserved castle popularised by Lord Byron's 'Prisoner
of Chillon.'
Chillon Castle on Lake Geneva, backed by Dents du Midi mountain range
Picture © B Lazar Dreamstime.com
The
middle [Mittelland]:
**Bern's tiny, quiet, riverside elegance
is not at all what you would expect of Switzerland's capital. The
old town's cobbled streets and arcaded buildings date from the 11thC
to the 18thC, and there is life there still...
Just south of Bern the Lake Thun area affords castle freaks the
opportunity to pleasure themselves repeatedly on fine 12th and 13thC
fortifications.
Bern
Image © I Korsunski Dreamstime.com
***Lucerne [Luzern] is more than just
another gorgeous Swiss city. Mix lake with river with mountain with
alpine meadows with well-preserved old town, throw in some stunning
new architecture, a lively youth-oriented street culture, plenty
of adventure sports [mostly 1 hour by train uphill to Engelberg],
simmer gently and you've got the young traveller's #1 Swiss role
model.
The area also provides the country's most spectacular ferry rides.
Lucerne [Luzern] lake view
*Basel is wealthy, cultured and convenient,
with a pleasant old town and fine museums, but too preoccupied with
business to be much fun.
***Zurich, up north, is a far, gnomic
cry from its stuffy banking image these days. Gorgeously located
astride a river and boxed in by Lake Zurich and distant snowy mountains,
the city is a buzzing hive of creativity and charm, with a lovely
medieval old town and a huge variety of imaginative new establishments
to relieve you of your wad.
The miniscule principality of Liechtenstein is two hours away but offers little of interest.
Zurich
Image © M Blajenov Dreamstime.com
The
Alps mountains [south]:
*** The Jungfrau Region towards the country's centre offers
the highest and most scenic rail trip, connecting three peaks, the
Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, though some argue that the Schilthorn
cable-car is cheaper, quicker and more scenic.
**Murren and **Grindelwald towns are
good bases for both winter and summer sports, but Interlaken is
too frenetic to be enjoyable for those who value tranquility.
***The Matterhorn is a gloriously peaky Swiss icon and
the original model for Toblerone chocolate, while...
***Zermatt at the base of the Matterhorn [picture top of page] is a delightful car-free town where transport is either horse sleigh or electric bus;
mountain views are no less than staggering and snow activities are nearly year-round though the skiing is a little strenuous for beginners. Zermatt
is pricey but adventurous travellers can jump on the Gornergrat railway and head uphill to the hyper-active, low-cost Iglu Village and sleep in a romantic igloo! [Christmas to mid-April].
There's a ravishing, day-long, panoramic Glacier Express train from Zermatt to St
Moritz.
**St Moritz. Very posh, very beautiful,
and very expensive, though St Moritz-Bad would be less bad for your
wallet than snooty St Moritz-Dorf.
Ticino,
Italian region, south Alps:
Warmer and culturally very different from the rest of Switzerland,
Ticino sports palm trees, piazzas and pizzas along with the usual
lakes, woody hills and medieval old towns. Prime targets are **Locarno
and ***Lugano, both on lakes, with the latter offering more
views, style and sights.
Local
Transport:
Swiss transport is brilliant and trains are the way to go if available.
InterRail or Eurail passes offer well-discounted travel, though
not on a few spectacular mountain routes. See Switzerland Activities page for information on the incredible, integrated, no-motor network.
Lake ferries are famously scenic [only June-Sept].
International
Transport:
Roads and railways from the rest of Europe are superb, while boating
from Germany, France and Italy is also possible. Buses are a less
comfortable option.
Language:
Not a problem in this country which has more multi-lingual ability
than any other on earth. A twisted German is the dominant tongue
and French second, but everyone can handle English.
Length
of stay:
Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights: Zurich or Lucerne
for a romantic weekend, or Zermatt for a sports break.
Recommended: 10 days to get totally knackered at your choice of
activity.
Visa advice:
EU citizens and nationals of USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
and Japan do not need a visa for up to 3 months, though you should
always carry your passport.
Money:
Contrary to expectations, the local currency is the Swiss Franc
[also used by their little brother Liechtenstein], but most places
in tourist areas will accept the Euro.
Tipping is not necessary anywhere as 15% service charge is applied
to just about everything including taxis.
Costs are on the high side, though cheapish travel in Switzerland
is possible if you eat fast food, use a railpass and stay in hostels.
Electricity:
Electric sockets are 230v and are built for three round pin plugs
but will accept the usual 2 round pin plugs, fortunately.
Accommodation:
Tourist offices are efficient in listing local rooms/hotels
available, often with boards placed outside rail stations. They
also hand out 'guest cards' that secure various discounts.
Hotels are not necessarily expensive but hostels are, of course,
the cheapest option, though still good quality.
Campsites are good too, mostly open only in summertime. Free camping
is not permitted.
Cuisine:
If you're a non-dairy eater then you'll have a problem when you
travel around Switzerland, though vegetarians will be unusually fulfilled.
Cheese appears frequently and is the star of Swiss specialities
like fondue [dipping bread or potato into melted cheese], raclette
[similar] and rosti [cheese-topped grated potatoes].
Lake fish are a popular dish and vegetarian restaurants common.
Those on a budget can find good value set lunch menus or self-service
restaurants in department stores.
Safety:
Switzerland is just about the safest place on the planet. Apart
from overeating and snow accidents the biggest dangers are likely
to be altitude
sickness [AMS] or hypothermia when you overestimate your climbing/hiking
ability or getting caught by a flash flood while canyoning in summertime.
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