To someone, Switzerland may seem boring, someone - too expensive, but someone will find there the most charming castles in the world, and the other - the best tracks of the Alps .And everyone will be in his own right .In addition, let's not forget about another property of this country, which for some people stably outweighs all the above-mentioned disadvantages (and the pluses are the same): it is, of course, an opportunity to join the society of all kinds of celebrities..With an enviable regularity, the slopes of the Swiss Alps are announced by the melodic squealing of the top models, the cries of the crown princes and even (in the season) by the obscene constructions of the Russian songwriter Sergei Shnurov .
So it's no surprise that the ski resorts of Switzerland are divided into two categories: for billionaires and for millionaires .Let this is an obvious exaggeration, but there is a certain amount of truth in it: the prestige factor is the main tourist trump card here, and adherence to the elite implies tangible financial costs .Perhaps even a snobbery person who has completely overcome it will be pleasant to ride around the mountain serpentine "lit up" in "Bondiana", or to have dinner "at the same table" .However, the direction has many other advantages: licked tracks for all tastes, the world's best mountain hotels and a host of historical attractions, mostly castles .Of the minuses, you can allot the same high cost ... but it's nice to live, as you know, you will not forbid!
For more information on when to go to Switzerland and what to do on the spot, see the page tours to Switzerland.
The best 5 * hotels and chalets. Ski resorts.
St. Moritz, Zermatt, Crans-Montana and others.
VIP service. Calculation of the on-line tour.
Sodis - 25 years of impeccable work.
The capital is Bern (Bern).
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The main Swiss resorts are
- Skiing
- Jungfrau (Murren, Grindelwald, Wengen), Gstaad, Engelberg, St. Moritz, Zermatt, Verbier and others. You can find the full list on the city page and the Swiss resorts.
- Curative and wellness services
- Bad Ragaz, Scuol and Leukerbad (yes, the last two are not only ski centers)
- Lake Geneva
- Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Vevey, Yverdon-les-Bains
- Just rest on the lakes
- Lugansk lake and Lake Maggiore
- Lugano, Ascona, Locarno
- Lake of Lucerne
- Lucerne, Vitznau, Weggis and Bürgenstock
- Lake Zurich
- Lugansk lake and Lake Maggiore
Getting to Switzerland
Daily regular direct flights to Geneva and Zurich from Moscow are carried out by Aeroflot (from Sheremetyevo-F) and Swiss (from Domodedovo). The duration of the flight is more than 3 hours in both cases. Swiss also flies from St. Petersburg to Zurich.
In addition to direct regular flights, transit through Europe is possible - Paris, Prague, Vienna, Dusseldorf and Amsterdam. In the ski season, operators usually raise charters from Moscow to Geneva, Basel or Sion (which is in the immediate vicinity of Zermatt, Verbier, Saas-Fee and Crans-Montana).
- Do Swiss Airlines fly to Moscow?
- Are there any trains between Russia and Switzerland?
- Moscow - Switzerland: are there any direct flights
Road from the CIS countries
"International Airlines of Ukraine" and Swiss carry out flights on the route Kiev - Zurich. With UIA, you can also fly from Kiev to Geneva. From Odessa to Geneva fly Austrian Airlines (via Vienna) and LOT (via Warsaw).
From the Belarusian capital, daily flights to Geneva are jointly carried out by the airlines "Belavia" and LOT (via Warsaw), twice a week Lufthansa planes fly through Frankfurt. On the route Minsk-Zurich, the national carrier of Belarus carries out the following joint flights: once a week with LOT (via Warsaw), three times a week with Czech Airlines (via Prague) and daily with Austrian Airlines (via Vienna).
Regular flights from Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul), Lufthansa (via Frankfurt) and KLM (via Amsterdam), British Airways (via London) fly from Almaty to Geneva.
Search for air tickets to Switzerland
Swiss visa
Switzerland is included in the list of countries that are parties to the Schengen Agreement. To travel to the country you need a visa.
Customs
Import and export of currency is free, but subject to mandatory declaration if the amount exceeds 10 000 USD. You are allowed to import duty-free 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, a liter of spirits and two liters of alcohol is not stronger than 15 °.
Prohibited import of drugs, meat and meat products, skins of wild felines, crocodiles and lizards - and products made from them, plants with soil.
Useful phone numbers are
Embassy of Switzerland in Moscow: Per. Ogorodnaya Sloboda, 2/5, phone: (495) 258-38-30; website
The Russian Embassy in Bern: Brunnadernrain, 37; tel .: (31) 352-05-66, 352-05-68; website
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Geneva: Rue Schaub, 24; tel .: (22) 734-90-83; website
Ambulance: 111, police: 117, firefighters: 118, assistance on the roads: 140
Telephone codes of cities: Bern - 31, Zurich - 44, Geneva - 22, Basel - 61, Lausanne - 21, Lucerne - 41.
Transport Switzerland
Switzerland - one of the most perfect transport systems in the world, Swiss Travel System .This is a system of universal travel, operating on all types of regular transport and giving a discount on many types of tourist vehicles .These travel cards will "break" if you make at least two long trips across the country .The Swiss Transfer Ticket offers a transfer from the Swiss border or from the airport to any destination within the country and back to the point of entry..It is valid for one month, the distance from the starting point to the destination must be overcome in one day .Ticket price: 164 CHF (first class) and 107 CHF (second class) .
In Lausanne there is a map of Lausanne Transport Card, which tourists can get at their hotel or guesthouse. With her, their movement on all types of public transport will be free.
Rent a car
Terms of car rent: the driver's age is at least 21 years (for some models of cars - 25 years), the presence of an international driver's license, a driving experience of at least three years, the availability of a valid credit card (and for some car brands - even two). ±$ The
In cities, in addition to public transport, you can ride and bicycles. Free rent of bicycles is offered in Zurich and in Geneva. At the rental office, you only need to leave a document and 20 CHF for one day's security deposit (in Zurich) or 50 CHF (in Geneva).
Car Hire in Switzerland with Best Price Guarantee
Safety of tourists
Despite the fact that the crime rate in Switzerland is one of the lowest among developed countries, tourists still should not tempt fate and leave their wallet and luggage in public places unattended.
Medicine in the country is extremely expensive, so before going to a ski resort it makes a direct sense to take out insurance that includes the risk of injuries on slopes.
The climate of Switzerland is
Temperate-continental, alpine. He does not have extreme manifestations of heat, cold or humidity. In January-February, the daily temperature fluctuates between -1 ..- 5 ° C. In the north and in the central part of the country the weather is determined by the influence of the Atlantic, in the south is dominated by a mild Mediterranean climate. The average temperature in Geneva in December-February is +2 ° C.
See also the current weather forecast in major cities and resorts in Switzerland for a week and for 10 days.
- What is the weather in Switzerland in the second half of September?
Hotels in Switzerland
Most hotels in the country are members of the Association of Hotels in Switzerland. They have good and spacious rooms with all the services that are offered to the institution of this category. However, hotels that are not members of the Association are usually also cozy and tidy. In general, Switzerland's hotels are better than the "Central European". The price of breakfast (buffet), as a rule, is included in the room price. For an additional fee, most hotels offer two or three meals a day.
The voltage in the electrical network is 220 V, the frequency is 50 Hz. Sockets have a Swiss configuration, different from European, so you need an adapter. It can be obtained from the hotel receptionist at every hotel.
- Rest in Switzerland for pensioners is
Book hotel in Switzerland at the best price
Banks and exchange points
Banks are open from 8:00 to 16:00 (some before 17: 00-18: 00) on weekdays, break from 12:00 to 14:00. You can change money in any branch of the bank, and in the evening - at exchange offices of major department stores, airports and some travel agencies. Currency exchange points at airports and railway stations are open daily from 8:00 to 22:00, sometimes around the clock.
Most prices are indicated in both EUR and Swiss CHF. In some large stores, EUR is even accepted for payment, but the change is issued to the Swiss CHF. Therefore, it is most convenient to pay with plastic cards.
- The Swiss franc rate is
- Swiss Currency
- Swiss franc to ruble exchange rate
- To visit the Roman colony Augusta Raurica, founded in 44 BC. e., which is 9 km from Basel and can be reached by bus number 70 (drive to the village of Augst).
- To participate in unusual tournaments on cricket, polo and golf, which are held on the ice of the lake in St. Moritz. In the same way, here they play at the skijoring (horse racing).
- Dine in the tallest revolving restaurant in the world, located in Saas-Fee, look into the neighboring museum "Ice Pavilion" and, possibly, marry in the chapel against the backdrop of the breathtaking scenery of mountainous Switzerland.
- Visit the Grotto of blue ice and the unique Glacier Gorge in Grindelwald
- In Château-d'E in the second half of January during the International week of flights on balloons to admire the sky, dotted with colored dots.
Shopping and Swiss shops
"The big Swiss four of souvenirs" are watches, cheese, chocolate and penknives. For hours of famous brands (Patek Philippe, Rolex, Omega) it is worth to go to the French-speaking regions of the country - it is there that the famous workshops are located. To buy excellent chronometers without a loud name on the lid (and therefore at an acceptable price), it is possible in the rest of Switzerland: in each city there are several watchmakers of masters, whose goods will be no worse than the "patech of the Philippians."
Cheeses, the most famous among which are "gruyer" and "emmental", can be bought everywhere - in supermarkets, shops and specialized cheese shops. In each canton, there is also its own, of course, the best sort of cheese. Sweet tooth will rejoice the abundance of chocolate products: from the already familiar "Lindt" and "Toblerone" to the exclusive Teuscher, Pamaco and Sprungli. The price ranges from 1 to 12 CHF per tile.
Swiss army knives Victorinox and Wenger will cost from 80 CHF for 33 functions (knives and knifes, openers for all occasions, screwdrivers, scissors, corkscrew, further down the list) to 400 CHF per traveler's friend with 80 (stunned!) Tools. ±$ The
Shops are open on weekdays from 8:30 to 18:30, some large ones on Thursday to 21: 00-22: 00. On Saturday, all shops are open from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00.
Among other things, from Switzerland you can bring pretty bells of all sizes and purposes - from small souvenir to two kilograms cow, and also music boxes.
- What souvenirs to bring from Switzerland?
| Charming St. Moritz |
| Types of Lake Zurich |
| Lake of Lucerne |
Kitchen and restaurants
The peculiarity of Swiss cuisine is the abundance of cheese and sour-milk products, as well as meat with a variety of seasonings. It's worth to try the traditional "cheese fondue" - the "gruyer" or "emmental" cheese, melted in boiling white wine, flavored with spices.
In addition, Switzerland is famous for its chocolate, lake and river fish, rucletes, dried meat and all kinds of pies. All sorts of sausages and sausages come here from the German neighbors, which are either served "peasantly" in a slice along the bread roll, or as a full-fledged dish with garnish.
Tipping is usually included in restaurant and hotel bills, as well as in the fare for a taxi. Extra tips are optional, but will be accepted with gratitude.
In most restaurants there is a "menu of the day", called "Tagesteller" or "Plat du Jour". This is a full-fledged lunch cost from 15 to 25 CHF, rarely when more.
And the Swiss - the real fans of everything with the prefixes "eco", "bio" and "organic": in the country there are shops with ordinary chickens, say, and there are - with their eco-consorts. The latter differ from the first in that they walk only on natural grass, chop with the beak of natural worms and generally enjoy a free bird life. The difference in price is very significant, but the taste is also completely different.
Entertainment, Excursions and Attractions in Switzerland
Tourists who find the strength to tear themselves away from their skis, sunny slopes and cheerful apres-ski, most often if they go on an excursion, then not further than the neighboring towns - Lucerne, Lausanne, Montreux, Bern, Thun and Zion - which is completely useless, because the country is scattered just a fantastic amount of attractions.
Tour of Bern begins with a trip to the "Rose Garden" with a stunning panorama of the city. Then the path lies to the famous "pit with bears", the house of Einstein and the Parliament. From there you can go to the Historical Museum, the cathedral and the "Devourer of Children" - this is the name of the city fountain that is frightening.
A sightseeing tour of Lucerne, a city of medieval squares, bridges and buildings, includes a visit to the "Ice Garden", a unique mirror labyrinth, Swan Square, and the Chapel Bridge. You can also see the monument to the Dying Lion, the Jesuit Cathedral and the charming bridge with an unpleasant but historically correct name "The Garbage Bridge."
"Swiss Riviera" - a great excursion, including an inspection of Montreux, Chillon Castle, Lausanne and Geneva. You can go to the valley of 72 waterfalls, which is not far from Lake Thun. After seeing the highest waterfall in Switzerland Schaubbach, visiting the waterfall inside the mountain Trumelbach, go to Grindelwald and Interlaken, and from there - to Bern. A unique 12th-century castle of Shadau is also located next to the Tuna Lake.
Switzerland is famous for its castles: in Gruyère (with a stunning collection of works of art), in Egle (where you can see the first-ever organ built in 246 BC), the New Castle (with the original prison tower and punishment cells) and the castle in Tourbillon. In addition, guests of the country have the opportunity to go on standard but very interesting excursions to the dairies and breweries, to the glassblowers and the Alecher glacier, the most powerful and longest glacier in Europe with an unforgettable panorama of the Alps.
And in the country there is simply a fantastic number of interesting museums.
- What to see in Switzerland?
- The best sights of Switzerland
- Where can I combine relaxation on a spa and skiing in plain cross-country skiing in January
- Where in Switzerland is better to ski?
- Are there parks for children in Switzerland?
- Is there a tour in Switzerland - Liechtenstein
- Where in Switzerland the most beautiful places are
- What excursions in Switzerland are the most interesting?
Photos of Switzerland (1019)