Switzerland
Swiss Resorts
Tourist Information
In Switzerland, the main Swiss Tourist Board details are:
Switzerland Tourism
Tödistrasse 7
CH-8002 Zürich
Phone: +41 44 288 11 11
Fax: +41 44 288 12 05
There are Tourist Information Offices in most resorts.
Travel to Switzerland
You can travel to Austria by Air, Road (Coach or Car) or Train.
Swiss Kantons
These are the Swiss Kantons:
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Kanton Zürich / Zurich
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ZH
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Kanton Schaffhausen
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SH
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Kanton Bern / Berne
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BE
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Kanton Appenzell Ausserrhoden /
Outer-Rhodes
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AR
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Kanton Luzern / Lucerne
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LU
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Kanton Appenzell Innerrhoden /
Inner-Rhodes
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AI
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Kanton Uri
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UR
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Kanton St. Gallen
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SG
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Kanton Schwyz
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SZ
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Kanton Graubünden
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GR
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Kanton Obwalden (Unterwalden)
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OW
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Kanton Aargau / Argovia
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AG
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Kanton Nidwalden (Unterwalden)
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NW
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Kanton Thurgau / Thurgovia
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TG
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Kanton Glarus
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GL
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Kanton Tessin / Ticino
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TI
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Kanton Zug
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ZG
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Kanton Waadt / Vaud
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VD
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Kanton Freiburg / Fribourg
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FR
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Kanton Wallis / Valais
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VS
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Kanton Solothurn
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SO
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Kanton Neuenburg / Neuchâtel
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NE
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Kanton Basel-Stadt / Town (Basel)
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BS
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Kanton Genf / Geneva
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GE
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Kanton Basel-Land / Country (Basel)
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BL
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Kanton Jura
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JU
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Airports (Flughafen)
There are several airports serving Switzerland:
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Airport
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Code
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Airport
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Code
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ZRH
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SIR
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GVA
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ACH
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BRN
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LUG
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- Basel Mulhouse (EuroAirport)
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MLH
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SMV
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Rail Stations
The main train network is run by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). For train and bus timetables click here, SBB (English).
Buses
There are lots of bus companies in Switzerland. They co-operate to provide bus services which integrate with the trains. For Postbus timetables and other information, click here (English).
Cable Cars / Chair Lifts
Most resorts have one or more cable cars or chair lifts. They normally do not operate in Spring (April - early June) or Autumn (Mid September - October). See Resorts for details.
Walking / Hiking in Switzerland
The walking / hiking in Switzerland varies from short walks round lakes to strenuous hikes above 2000m staying in mountain huts. See Resorts for details.
Maps of Switzerland
A good map of Switzerland is useful for finding you way round on the trains, buses or roads.
For walking / hiking maps there are several map companies that make suitable maps:
They offer maps with scales of 1:25000 to 1:60000 depending on the resorts and surrounding areas.
Some maps have co-ordination systems marked (Long & Lat; UTM) or include booklets with GPS information.
For use with a PC / GPS receiver, Digital Maps allow you to plan your walks on your PC and upload the track to your GPS receiver. You can also download track from your GPS receiver and view them in 3D on your PC.
See Resorts for details of maps suitable for the resort.
Switzerland Public Holidays
These are the main public holidays in Switzerland. Some may be regional days.
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Holiday
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2010
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2011
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New Year's Day - Neujahr
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Fri, 1 January
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Sat, 1 January
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St. Berchtold’s Day - Berchtoldstag
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Sat, 2 January
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Sun, 2 January
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Epiphany - Heilige drei Könige
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Wed, 6 January
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Thur, 6 January
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St. Joseph - St. Josef
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Fri, 19 March
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Sat, 19 March
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Easter Friday - Karfreitag
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Fri, 2 April
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Fri, 22 April
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Easter Day - Ostersonntag
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Sun, 4 April
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Sun, 24 April
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Easter Monday - Ostermontag
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Mon, 5 April
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Mon, 25 April
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Labour - May Day - Tag der Arbeit
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Sat, 1 May
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Sun, 1 May
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Ascension Day - Christi Himmelfahrt
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Thur, 13 May
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Thur, 2 June
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Whit Sunday - Pfingstsonntag
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Sun, 23 May
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Sun, 11 June
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Whit Monday - Pfingstmontag
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Mon, 24 May
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Mon, 12 June
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Corpus Christi Day - Fronleichnam
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Thur, 3 June
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Thur, 23 June
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National Day - Nationalfeiertag Schweiz
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Sun, 1 August
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Mon, 1 August
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Assumption Day - Mariä Himmelfahrt
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Sun, 15 August
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Mon, 15 August
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All Saints' Day - Allerheiligen
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Mon, 1 November
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Tues, 1 November
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Immaculate Conception - Mariä Empfängis
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Wed, 8 December
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Thur, 8 December
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Christmas Day - Weihnachten
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Sat, 25 December
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Sun, 25 Decembe
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St. Stephen's Day - Stephanstag
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Sun, 26 December
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Mon, 26 December
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Emergencies Phone Numbers
The official Swiss emergency numbers are:
- Police - 117
- Fire brigade - 118
- Car breakdown service - 140
- Helping Hand - 143
- Ambulance - 144
- Child Helping line - 147
- Helicopter-Rega - 1414
- Helicopter Air Glaciers - 1415
- European emergency number - 112
The Europe wide emergency number is 112.
Shops
In general, shops are open Monday - Friday 09:00 to 18:00. Food shops and supermarkets stay open on some weekdays until 19:30 and Saturdays until 17:00. In tourist areas some shops may also open in the evenings and Sundays.
Electricity
Two pin continental plugs are needed on electrical items. Following “European Voltage Harmonisation”, the nominal voltage is 230 volts at 50 Hz. (It used to 220 V but products marked 220V, 230V or 240V should work correctly). You may need a travel connector adapter.
If you have any 110V items that cannot be set to 220V, you will need a travel voltage converter.
Bike Hire
Sports shops in resorts hire Mountain Bikes and City Bikes.
Excursions
Local coach companies offer a range of excursions.
Currency and Credit / Debit Cards
The currency used in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc. The euro is also widely used and accepted. Credit and debit cards are not as widely accepted as in the UK. Check that the shop or restaurant takes them before you buy.
Most resorts have Automated Teller Machines inside the bank branch or outside that will take Visa, Mastercard or Eurocard.
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