Highlights

“My hat shall ever be ready to be thrown up, and my glove ever ready to be thrown down for Switzerland.” Charles Dickens, 1846

Lake Geneva

The bluest of all the lakes in Switzerland, set in the heart of the wine country, with vineyards sweeping round the lake and up the slopes of the surrounding hills. Quaint villages and castles dot its picturesque shores.

Skiing

Switzerland is well known for skiing and other winter-sports, with many excellent resorts. You will find it hard to go wrong wherever you decide to enjoy the snow, from the world famous Matterhorn to Saas-Fee. While enjoying the outdoors exertion, be sure not to miss out on the splendid views of high peaks and tranquil lakes - you might find them just as agreeable as the skiing itself.

Jungfrau Railways

Of all the Alpine journeys, this section of railway in the Bernese Oberland is one of the most pleasurable. Snaking its way up to Schynige Platte, it takes in some truly unforgettable views, including the triple-peaked ridge of the Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch.

Bern

The country’s capital is one of the most charming cities. Squashed against the River Aare, it is a quiet place, with cobbled streets and buildings that look as if they haven’t changed for years. It can feel rather like stepping back in time to a quieter and calmer time.

Igloo Building

If snow-trekking and tobogganing are not your cup of tea, why not have a quieter time in the snow building your own igloo? Then spend the night in your icy alfresco home, enjoying the view at dusk with a glass of ever-so-chilled wine.

Being there

Etiquette

A handshake is a common greeting. Informal clothing is widely accepted, but a jacket and tie may be required for more formal social occasions. When invited for a meal it is customary to give unwrapped flowers to the hostess, avoiding red roses, chrysanthemums or white asters, which are considered funeral flowers.

Food and Drink

The best known speciality is fondue (Gruyère and Vacherin cheese melted with white wine, Kirsch, and a little garlic), eaten with cubes of bread. Regional dishes include papet vaudoir (made from leeks and potatoes), fondue bourguignonne (cubed meat with various sauces), rösti (shredded, fried potatoes), specialist sausages and salamis, and Geneva’s great speciality, pieds de porc (pigs’ feet).

Shopping and Souvenirs

Embroidery, linen, woodcarving, chocolate, cheese, Swiss army knives, cuckoo clocks, watches.

Additional Info

People and Places

Capital: Bern.
Language: German, French, Italian.
Population: 7,261,210.
Population Density: 175.9. (pop per km²)
Size: 41,284. (area km²)

Transport

Zurich (ZRH) is 11 km from city. Geneva (GVA) is 5 km from city. Bern (BRN) is 9 km from city. Basel (BSL) is 12 km from city.
Excellent road, rail and air networks.

Red Tape

National driving licence.
UK: 16-18 Montagu Place, London W1H 2BQ, tel (020) 7616 6000, fax (020 7724 7001. USA: 2900 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 745 7900, fax (202) 387 2564, email vertretung@was.rep.admin.ch.
UK: 37-39 rue de Vermont, 6th Floor, 1211 Geneva 20, tel (22) 918 2400, fax (22) 918 2322. USA: Jubilaumsstrasse 93, 3005 Berne, tel (31) 357 7011, fax (31) 357 7344, email bernniv@state.gov.

State of the Nation

Life expectancy: M 77.58, F 83.36.

Finance: Credit cards, traveller’s cheques and Eurocheques widely accepted.
Business hours: 0800-1200 and 1400-1700 Monday-Friday.
GMT: + 1.
Voltage guide: 220 AC, 50 Hz.
Country dialling code: 41.

Source: Expedia