In the mood for quaint country settings against a backdrop of dramatic landscapes? How about a fascinating cornucopia of unique cultures - French, German, and Italian? Or perhaps, you just want to hike along trails with breathtaking vistas? Or pamper yourself in the lap of luxury?
When you are in Switzerland, you can take your pick from among any of these wonderful offerings.
Geography
Bordered to the north by Germany, to the west by France, to the south by Italy, and to the east by Austria and Liechtenstein, Switzerland is a country with a strong tradition of political and military neutrality. However, don’t let Switzerland’s neutrality fool you. The country is by no means flavorless.
As a landlocked country, Switzerland is particularly known for its mountains. In the south are the spectacular snow-capped Alps and in the northwest is the magnificent Jura. But besides mountains, Switzerland also has a central plateau, composed of plains, large lakes, and rolling hills.
Language
Switzerland has four official languages - German, French, Italian, and the little known “Romansh,” which is a close relative of Latin. So no, there is no such thing as a “Swiss language.” You can do better with English as most Swiss people speak it. However, it always best to learn at least one of the languages that the locals speak. In this case, German is your best bet. There are many schools and institutions that offer courses in the German language as well as other languages of the world.
Getting There
There are three major airports that service international flights. These are found in Geneva, Zurich and Basel. You can also get in the country through any of the smaller airports in Bern and Lugano. Switzerland’s Flagcarrier is called SWISS, a member of Star Alliance and successor of the famous Swissair.
Another mode of entry to Switzerland is by railway. Trains are extremely common and they arrive from everywhere in Europe. As one of the two most central-lying countries in Europe (Germany being the other one), Switzerland proves to be a hub of railways and highways to the rest of Europe.
Getting Around
Switzerland has one of the best transportations in the world. Their trains are swift and always prompt. Their buses are clean. And they have nearly half a dozen different kinds of transport systems that go through the mountains.
Note that while many of the bus routes go through the scenic Alps, there is actually no intercity bus network. Moreover, you are also given a multitude of discount options, such as half fare cards, multi-use tickets, and multi-day cards.
Generally, there is at least one train or bus on every route every hour. In fact, there are routes where buses and trains are running every 30 minutes. So you will truly have no problem getting around Switzerland.
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Switzerland Tours
... the Switzerland tour by destination. If you already have an idea exactly what you want from your Switzerland Switzerland vacation, perhaps you can find what you're looking for in their Switzerland Tour Packages, which include Honeymoon in Switzerland, Peaks of the World, Switzerland Rail Adventure, Glacier Express in Winter, and many more. TourVacationsToGo.com The site features several first class ($80 - $275) and budget ($45 - $130) Switzerland tours and the occasional deluxe ($100 - $400) and luxury ($400 - $600) packages from various tour operators in the country. One of the most enjoyable budget Switzerland tours on offer is the 9-day Grand Tour of Switzerland featuring the Bernina Express with Cosmos. The tour starts in Zurich where you get to meet your tour director and fellow travelers. From there, you are taken through some of the country's most famed cantons,...
Map Of Switzerland
... of Switzerland and gathered them all here in one article to make it easier for you. Below are a few examples of such websites: Switzerland Map.Search.ch/index.en.html Search.ch is a directory of maps of countries in the world. It offers an interactive map of Switzerland that allows you to zoom in and out using your left and right mouse button. You can also drag the map around and let your mouse pointer hover around an icon to show extra information. If you want to get a map of Switzerland, particularly of a specific street in a city, this website is also a good resource. There is a search tool that allows you find your street and its number, the city and zip code. And if you are looking...
Travel Information In Switzerland
... the hotel before agreeing to it. Switzerland hotel rooms also tend to be smaller but there are normally more available services. Hotel rates include taxes, services, and at times breakfast but make sure you ask if it is included. The majority of Switzerland hotels are members of the Swiss Hotel Association that rates hotels according to the facilities they have and not mainly the charm of the hotel. Always make sure that prior to travel you have reserved the hotel of your choice to avoid incurring extra expenses of looking for other hotels if the hotel you like is fully booked. Switzerland's Currency Swiss franc is the official currency of the country, abbreviated as CHF. Banknotes issued denominations are 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 CHF. Look up the current rate...
Skiing In Switzerland
Switzerland has something to offer for everyone. Skiing in Switzerland could mean being at a family-oriented resort in the serene setting of a quiet Alpine village. Or it could mean vibrant laces with superb apr s ski. Anything that suits your taste or fancy actually. So if you are planning on going skiing in Switzerland, consider our list of top most visited ski resorts: Zermatt Hugging the foot of the most famous mountain in Switzerland, the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a car-free resort that offers skiing in Switzerland among various things. The resort combines the beautiful scenery of an Alpine village with the sophistication of a prime holiday destination, making it one of the top places to visit when you go to Switzerland. The Zermatt provides its guests with a Switzerland modern lift system, practical holiday apartments, attractive hotels and friendly hosts. In addition to the 1,620-3,882 meters of skiing right at its doorstep, the Zermatt may also prove to be a great starting point for skiing in Italy with no less...
Switzerland Flag
... the German emperor sometimes granted special honor to certain cities and regions. This special honor consists of the right to bear a cross on one's coat of arms and on a flag as well as direct immediacy - that is, direct subordination to the emperor without going through the counts. In 1240, one of the founding members of the Old Swiss Confederacy, the region of Schwyz, was granted immediacy and was permitted to carry a red flag. Later in 1289, the region supported King Rudolf of Habsburg in a war against Burgundy. As recognition of their contribution, the emperor granted them the right to represent the crucifixion of Christ and the tools used to torture him. At first, these symbols were painted on parchment and fastened it on the...
Switzerland Chocolate
... to Sweet Switzerland chocolate comes from the beans of the pod-bearing cacao tree. After harvest and removing the beans from the pods, they are left to ferment for some days in order to remove some of the bitterness. Fermentation is followed by sun-drying, after which the beans are crushed, their husks removed. Then, the beans are roasted, grinded, and liquefied to produce a thick paste, known as "chocolate liquor." By the end of the whole process, the Switzerland chocolate mixer has three ingredients at hand: * Cocoa paste * Cocoa butter * Cocoa cake, which is what's left of the paste after the butter is pressed out In order to make plain or milk Switzerland chocolate, the mixture consists of cocoa paste, Switzerland butter, sugar, and vanilla. After mixing all the...
Lugano Switzerland
Lugano Switzerland is small enough to tour on foot. However, if you want to ride, cycling is a wonderful alternative. Circle the shore of Lago di Lugano for a picturesque view of the southern Alps with its combination of Alpine and Mediterranean flora. Afterwards, if you are up for more beautiful sights, consider this list of the top attractions in Lugano Switzerland: Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli The church houses the magnificent frescoes dating back to the 16th century by Bernardino Luini. Located just a few hundred yards from the busy highway, the Switzerland Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli remarkably exudes a sense of calm. Gandria For one of the most picturesque places in Lugano Switzerland, go to the tiny enclave of Gandria on the eastern side of Lake Lugano. A new roadway has been...
Brienz Switzerland
This is great if you like to add a dash of adventure before you finally relax at your chosen hotel or hostel in Brienz Switzerland. However, you will have to cover a lot of ground. The good news is that this particular region of Switzerland has highly developed walking trails. They are well-groomed and often lead away from nearly every intersection, thus making your hike much more enjoyable and close to nature. Top Attractions For a destination of relatively low profile, Brienz Switzerland offers a cornucopia of wonderful sights and activities for you to enjoy. Foremost among its top attractions is the Viewpoint in Jungfraujoch. Considered as the granddaddy of all high-altitude excursions, it is here in Jungfraujoch that you will find the highest railroad station in the world. To get there, just take the green cogwheel Wengernalp Railway from Lauterbrunnen station up the wooded mountainside. If you like to immerse in Swiss arts and...
Flag Of Switzerland
... see is only a civil and state ensign used mainly by Swiss ships and boats. Although the red background of the flag of Switzerland is traditionally square, no such traditional connotations accompanied the white cross. In fact, it wasn't until 1889 when the dimensions of the cross were formally established: "The coat of arms of the federation is, within a red field, an upright white cross, whose arms of equal length are a sixth longer than their width." However, since the time of the Old Swiss Confederacy, the flag of Switzerland bore a white cross, albeit with much details than the plain white cross of today. So how did the flag of Switzerland develop into what it is now? To answer that, we need to take a look at the history of the Swiss people. The Forest Cantons The so-called forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden were the founding members of the Old Swiss Confederacy of 1291. According...
Switzerland Travel
... deep-snow skiing, heli-skiing, glacier walking, and snow boarding are but only a few. Accommodations come in the form of alpine huts and chalets. However, if you have decided to spend your Switzerland travel vacation in Geneva, there are a variety of ski resorts where you can check in. Portes de Soleil, for instance, is excellent for traveling families with its cluster of small resorts that form a large skiing circuit straddling the French-Swiss border. Cycling Another excellent activity you can enjoy while on a Switzerland travel vacation is cycling. Do not let the mountainous terrain fool you into thinking that the whole thing might turn out to be more strenuous than fun. The view from the mountains more than makes up for any achy and tired muscles at the end of the day. Laking Okay, that is not a word, but what better way to describe the plethora of lake-based sports available in a Switzerland travel vacation? Go canoeing, sailing...
Swiss Watches Switzerland
... the city joined the Swiss Confederation in 1815. However, the manufacture of Swiss watches Switzerland also spread to other areas, most notable of which is Canton Neuchatel. To learn more about watch-making as well as exercise their skills, many Swiss craftsmen traveled abroad. The best known among them is undoubtedly Abraham-Louis Breguet who is regarded by many as the greatest watchmaker of all time. His ideas constitute important additions to designing Swiss watches Switzerland, and just watches, in general. One example of a development by Breguet is the tourbillon, which is a device that enables the gear train to function even with gravity working against it. Another is the self winding watch, which is often attributed Switzerland to fellow Swiss, Abraham-Louis Perrelet. Breguet helped develop the idea for it. But more than design, what has kept...
Hiking Switzerland
... the Oberland, and Engadine. Valais Or Wallis in Swiss-German. The Valais features many of Europe's highest mountains Switzerland with glaciated peaks and dry sunny weather. It is a true hiker's paradise and perfect for a hiking Switzerland vacation. Here you will find world-famous destinations such as Matterhorn, the resort town of Saas Fee and the Zermatt. In addition to top ski resorts and adventure vacations, Valais also offers numerous trails along ancient bisses and irrigation channels. Oberland This includes the Jungrau region, offering you a classic hiking Switzerland experience of snowy peaks towering over green meadows. It is here that you will get spectacular views of Europe's most beautiful mountain scenery, including Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger. If you want something off the beaten path,...
History Of Switzerland
... the western and eastern points of the territory, respectively. It was only in the 1sty century B.C. that the Romans, led by Julius Caesar came. After conquering the region, they renamed it Helvetia, which became thoroughly Romanized in the succeeding centuries. However, with the Germanic invasions of the Western Switzerland Roman Empire in the 4th century A.D., the map of the history of Switzerland was drastically changed when Roman-controlled Helvetia was conquered by the Burgundians and the Alamanni. Middle Ages Roughly a century later, in 5th century A.D., the Franks conquered the Alamanni. Later in the early 6th century, they also conquered the Burgundians. Thus, the history of Switzerland came under the charge of the Franks, who introduced Christianity to its people. In the 9th century, control of much of Europe was lost from the Frankish Carolingian. Consequently, much of...
Switzerland Cheap Air Travel
... switch their allegiance. If there is one place to go for Switzerland cheap air travel, this is it. JetBue has flights to 50 cities all over the world. Southwest Airlines For some of the cheapest airfares on the Internet, go to Southwest Airlines. In addition to its deep discounts on advance purchasers and typically low ticket prices, the airlines also holds frequent fare sales, which would cause the normally low prices to drop even more. Most notable about Southwest airlines is its flight attendants. After the regular safety announcement, they tend to say whatever they feel like, often humorous and definitely helping customers loosen up. EasyJet As one of the leading low-cost airlines in Europe, EasyJet offers low prices on Switzerland airline tickets for any of the 258 routes across 68 different key European airports. In addition to Switzerland cheap air travel, the airlines also offers low prices on 15,000 hotels, easy car rentals fully inclusive of prices, and airport parking. All of these deals...
Switzerland Info
... in low to mid 20 C, and during the winter between 2 to 6 C. Travelers have to be ready for a variety of temperatures reliant on altitude. For those who want to enjoy outdoor pursuits, except skiing, summer is the best and most agreeable time to visit. Switzerland Info #2 - People, Society, and Language Switzerland is a mixture of cultures with populace of German at about 63.7%, Italian 6.4%, French 20.4%, Romansch 0.5%, and other about nine percent. There is also a blend of religion from Roman Catholics, to Protestants, to Muslims, to Orthodox Christian, and others. There are also four main languages spoken in the country where French, Italian, and German are the official languages, and Romansch is the used as the official tongue for Romansch-speaking people. English is growingly taught at an early age. Switzerland Info #3 - Currency, Time, and Government Switzerland's...