Swiss Festivals, Traditions and Holidays
Some of the holidays in Switzerland include the first of August – the Swiss Independence day, the spring festival in Zurich – Sechseläuten, Hornussen – a unique sport, the Onion market in Berne, cow fights in Valais, the International Film Festival and more. Some of the holidays are Good Friday (April 6), Ascension Day (May 17), Whit Monday (May 28) and Boxing Day (December 26). In some parts of the country are celebrated local holidays like Labour Day (May 1) and Corpus Christi (June 7).
Switzerland Passports & Visas
If you visit Switzerland for less than three months, you will need to have only a valid passport. But if you stay more than three months, you will also need a visa. This rule can be applied to citizens of the America Continent (but not from Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Peru), Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Should you need more information about visas, living or working there, you have to contact the closest Swiss Consulate General.
Money & Credit-cards
If you want your money to be safe, you should use mostly cheques and credit cards. The most common cards are Visa, Master Card and American Express. There are many banks with ATM machines, equipped with the CIRRUS or MAESTRO system. Some other ATM machines offer advanced operations with credit cards. When you arrive it’s a good idea to have some cash for the immediate expenses like a taxi for example.
If you want your money to be safe, you should use mostly cheques and credit cards. The most common cards are Visa, Master Card and American Express. There are many banks with ATM machines, equipped with the CIRRUS or MAESTRO system. Some other ATM machines offer advanced operations with credit cards. When you arrive it’s a good idea to have some cash for the immediate expenses like a taxi for example.
Currency
The official currency is the Swiss franc (CHF) as the country is not part of the European Union. Nevertheless, many prices are indicated in Euros so that tourists can easily compare the prices. Some merchants might accept Euros, but they are not obliged to do it and they will probably give the change in Swiss francs. The coins of the Swiss franc are from 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1, 2 and 5 francs. The bank notes are from 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 1000 francs.
The official currency is the Swiss franc (CHF) as the country is not part of the European Union. Nevertheless, many prices are indicated in Euros so that tourists can easily compare the prices. Some merchants might accept Euros, but they are not obliged to do it and they will probably give the change in Swiss francs. The coins of the Swiss franc are from 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1, 2 and 5 francs. The bank notes are from 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 1000 francs.
There is a wide variety of dishes and spices and the food in the different regions may also vary. The chefs constantly come up with new ways of presenting traditional dishes. Some of them are internationally popular by creating food artworks.
If you visit a lake, definitely ask for a fish dish. You can also find great salads and spicy meat in almost all dining places. You can grab a nice snack or elegantly dine in a castle. You can find marvelous food in the best restaurants in the world, at a local inn or simply at a train station. There are also perfect vegetarian and kosher meals.
In Zurich you can taste veal meat in small pieces with cream sauce or different versions of hash potatoes. In Berne try the pork, sausage or sauerkraut. In Geneva the perch and trout are a must while in Lausanne you cannot miss the local sausage with potatoes and leeks. The specialty in Ticino is risotto and pasta. As far as the whole country is concerned, you have to try the different cheeses (like Tete de Moine), crusty bread and muesli. Other special meals include fondue, raclette, cheese tartlets, dried meats, sausages and more.
Some of the perfect wines you can taste include red Merlot and Nostrano in Ticino, Cressier on the Lake Neuchatel and Dole, suitable for many dishes. In Switzerland the making of wine has turned into an art. You should also taste Fendant in Valais, Twanner in Biel, Dezaley from chasselas grape or the Glacier, old more than a decade. You can also visit some villages, where the wine is superb, but never leaves the area.
If you visit a lake, definitely ask for a fish dish. You can also find great salads and spicy meat in almost all dining places. You can grab a nice snack or elegantly dine in a castle. You can find marvelous food in the best restaurants in the world, at a local inn or simply at a train station. There are also perfect vegetarian and kosher meals.
In Zurich you can taste veal meat in small pieces with cream sauce or different versions of hash potatoes. In Berne try the pork, sausage or sauerkraut. In Geneva the perch and trout are a must while in Lausanne you cannot miss the local sausage with potatoes and leeks. The specialty in Ticino is risotto and pasta. As far as the whole country is concerned, you have to try the different cheeses (like Tete de Moine), crusty bread and muesli. Other special meals include fondue, raclette, cheese tartlets, dried meats, sausages and more.
Some of the perfect wines you can taste include red Merlot and Nostrano in Ticino, Cressier on the Lake Neuchatel and Dole, suitable for many dishes. In Switzerland the making of wine has turned into an art. You should also taste Fendant in Valais, Twanner in Biel, Dezaley from chasselas grape or the Glacier, old more than a decade. You can also visit some villages, where the wine is superb, but never leaves the area.
Events & Nightlife
There is a great variety of events in Switzerland – from exhibitions and concerts to some sport events. The nightlife is also great in most of the places with clubs, discos, theatres and cinemas. You can also visit numerous casinos, restaurants and bars.
There is a great variety of events in Switzerland – from exhibitions and concerts to some sport events. The nightlife is also great in most of the places with clubs, discos, theatres and cinemas. You can also visit numerous casinos, restaurants and bars.
Sports
Mountain climbing/hiking:
The mountains in Switzerland are perfect for you if you are keen or mountain climbing or simply want to go hiking. But never forget getting proper equipment and listening to the weather forecast.
Mountain climbing/hiking:
The mountains in Switzerland are perfect for you if you are keen or mountain climbing or simply want to go hiking. But never forget getting proper equipment and listening to the weather forecast.
Switzerland Skiing Holidays
There is an infinite number of places where you can ski in the country. Except from skiing, you can also practice many other winter sports – tobogganing, cross-country skiing, ice-skating, curling and more. You can also hire the necessary equipment from the place you will practice the sport.
There are some world-known resorts in the country. One of them is St.Moritz, offering a perfect atmosphere and alpine skiing. There are also many famous resorts in the Wallis Canton. From Zermatt you can also see Matterhorn – the most well-known peak in Switzerland, but not the highest (4 478meters).
In Central Switzerland you can see the Queen of the Mountains with its far from ordinary peak. It is the Rigi Mountain, only 1 800 meters high. The mentioned mountain has the oldest railway in Europe. With the Rotair rail you can reach the Titlis Peak and there is also a restaurant on Stranserhorn. In Switzerland, there is also the most sheer and steep railway, leading to the Pilatus Mountains (2130 meters).
In the Oberland region the mountain lovers can enjoy two perfect vacations. One can visit Jungfraujoch – the highest railway station in Europe, 3 454 meters. Or go to the restaurant on Schilthorn Peak (2 970 meters), where were shot parts of a James Bond film. You can either bring or hire your equipment and a vacation there does not need to be expensive.
There are some world-known resorts in the country. One of them is St.Moritz, offering a perfect atmosphere and alpine skiing. There are also many famous resorts in the Wallis Canton. From Zermatt you can also see Matterhorn – the most well-known peak in Switzerland, but not the highest (4 478meters).
In Central Switzerland you can see the Queen of the Mountains with its far from ordinary peak. It is the Rigi Mountain, only 1 800 meters high. The mentioned mountain has the oldest railway in Europe. With the Rotair rail you can reach the Titlis Peak and there is also a restaurant on Stranserhorn. In Switzerland, there is also the most sheer and steep railway, leading to the Pilatus Mountains (2130 meters).
In the Oberland region the mountain lovers can enjoy two perfect vacations. One can visit Jungfraujoch – the highest railway station in Europe, 3 454 meters. Or go to the restaurant on Schilthorn Peak (2 970 meters), where were shot parts of a James Bond film. You can either bring or hire your equipment and a vacation there does not need to be expensive.
There is also a wide variety of available accommodation in every ski resort. You can spend your holiday in a family pension, youth hostel, wood house or luxurious hotel. You can also taste amazing dishes, shop in boutiques or have a romantic evening in a four-horse sleigh.
Bicycles and mountain bike:
Bicycles and mountain bike:
The country is full of roads, suitable for cycling and there are also many specially marked mountain bike trails. You can load your bicycle on a train, but some of them don’t permit it. These are marked on the timetables in the stations. There is a train information notice on the platforms, which will guide you to where you can load the bicycle. It can be loaded either in the entrance of the passengers compartment, or in the luggage compartment. You can also hire many kinds of bicycles from about 100 Swiss Federal Railway stations or from private ones.
Fishing:
If you prefer to catch fish with a fishing rot yourself, there are many rivers and lakes where you can do so. There is a special fishing law, but it varies with the places. You can get additional information from tourist or administrative offices.
Water sports:
Fishing:
If you prefer to catch fish with a fishing rot yourself, there are many rivers and lakes where you can do so. There is a special fishing law, but it varies with the places. You can get additional information from tourist or administrative offices.
Water sports:
In the numerous lakes in Switzerland you can also practice many water sports. If you have a motor or sailing boat, you can bring it in the country free of taxes and formalities. But you can do so if only it is registered in the country you come from and if you bring it out of the country in a month maximum.
Canoes, rubber dinghies, kayaks and similar are not technically categorized on the Customs as tourist luggage. If the thing you carry has more power capacity than 6kW or its surface is more than 15 sq km, you will need to present a driving license (a foreign one also works). On Lake Constance you will also need a license, if it is more than 4,4kW or 12 sq km.
You can drive a motor boat only if you are over 18. For transporting one you will need permission by the cantonal road and shipping office which is valid till the end of the next month and cannot be renewed in the same calendar year. The most popular lakes with many opportunities are Lake Lucerne, Lake Neuenburg, Lake Constance, Lake Geneva and the Ticino lakes. There are also great lakes offering everything without motorized water sports – Lake Greifen, Lake Pfäffiker, the Aargau lakes, the lakes of Graubünden and more.
If your boat or equipment is less than 2,5 meters long, you don’t need a permission for it, but you can use it only in the 150 meters lakeside zone. Exceptions are surf boards and racing rowing boats which can be used farther out in the lake. Also in the 300 meter lakeside zone you cannot drive with speed over 10 km/h.
Canoes, rubber dinghies, kayaks and similar are not technically categorized on the Customs as tourist luggage. If the thing you carry has more power capacity than 6kW or its surface is more than 15 sq km, you will need to present a driving license (a foreign one also works). On Lake Constance you will also need a license, if it is more than 4,4kW or 12 sq km.
You can drive a motor boat only if you are over 18. For transporting one you will need permission by the cantonal road and shipping office which is valid till the end of the next month and cannot be renewed in the same calendar year. The most popular lakes with many opportunities are Lake Lucerne, Lake Neuenburg, Lake Constance, Lake Geneva and the Ticino lakes. There are also great lakes offering everything without motorized water sports – Lake Greifen, Lake Pfäffiker, the Aargau lakes, the lakes of Graubünden and more.
If your boat or equipment is less than 2,5 meters long, you don’t need a permission for it, but you can use it only in the 150 meters lakeside zone. Exceptions are surf boards and racing rowing boats which can be used farther out in the lake. Also in the 300 meter lakeside zone you cannot drive with speed over 10 km/h.
Other types of sport:
Tennis, golf, squash, badminton, hang-gliding and paragliding are also available.
Tennis, golf, squash, badminton, hang-gliding and paragliding are also available.
