Travel tips for Switzerland - what to prepare in advance and what to obey

1. Switzerland is not part of the European Union. This country has its own currency, francs. It's better to change money in banks, as they offer the most profitable rate.

2. To return VAT, you need to make a purchase for more than 400 Swiss francs, get checks stamped in the store and then provide them at the customs. The VAT rate is 7. 6%.

3. In Switzerland, it is customary to plan all your actions, and, therefore, it is recommended to book a taxi 2-3 days before the appointed time.

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4. Tips are usually included in the bill not only in restaurants, but also in hotels and even taxis. The size of tips is on average 10%, and 10 francs are usually left in the room after departure; 2 francs are given to the employee who helped with the luggage.

5. Against a widespread stereotype, prices in Switzerland do not differ much from European ones.

6. Most of the medicines in Switzerland are sold in pharmacies only on the prescription of a doctor, so it is recommended to take everything you need with you.

7. In Switzerland, you can drink water from fountains located on the street, or have a tap water. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

8. Electric sockets in this country do not meet European standards; adapters can be requested at the reception desk at the hotel.

9. The Swiss are a very reserved and humble people. It's not accepted to talk loudly in the streets, to flap your arms or behave defiantly.

10. Despite the high level of security, tourists are not protected from a possible encounter with pocket thieves. The most dangerous places are markets and public transport. Thefts frequently happen during the holidays.

11. Being in Switzerland, it is important to have the same rhythm of life as the locals do. The haste is not welcome here. All activities should be planned, and therefore you have to book hotels and buy tickets in advance.

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12. The weather in Switzerland is very variable, especially in the mountains, so even in summer, you need to have warm clothes with you.

13. Museums are usually closed on Mondays or Tuesdays. Some sights and historical monuments open only for a couple of hours a day. It's better to specify the schedule in advance.

14. On the territory of Switzerland, all rules and legal requirements must be strictly observed. A substantial fine is collected for fare-dodging in public transport .

15. You can go skiing in Switzerland not only in winter, but also in summer. Many ski resorts are open all year round.

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Switzerland guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Switzerland

Colorful and unique places in Switzerland

Flower Clock in the English Garden

From the series “Enchanting Flower Clocks Built by Humans”

One of the world's most famous flower clocks can be found in Geneva, in the English Garden. Geneva is a very special place in the watch industry of the country, so it’s not surprising that one of the most upscale and accurate live clocks in the world is located here. It opened in 1955. The clock diameter is 5 meters. Among the main design features, it’s worth noting the presence of the second hand of 2.5 meters long. Not all flower clocks have a seconds hand.

You can admire the flower clock in the English Garden in summer. Florists use more than 6 500 flowers to create a dial. Every month, new flowers are planted, so the clock looks special during each of the summer months. At the time of opening, the flower clock in Geneva was the largest in the world. Over the time, it lost its … Read all

Tortin Ski Slope

From the series “Top 13 Furious Ski Resorts and Pistes”

'Torin' is one of the most dangerous and treacherous ski runs in the world. It is located on the territory of the Swiss spa town of Verbier. The skiers who ski on this run in Hochwinter can not understand why Torin is considered a difficult and dangerous runway. If the ski slope is well protected, it seems to be quite comfortable. As soon as the snow melts a little, all the dangerous peculiarities become visible.

The big sharp stones, the cracks and the icy stretches on which you can slip through - even some professionals can not overcome this difficult path. The general length of the slopes, which are available to guests Verbier, is about 200 km. More than a quarter of the slopes are black. In many respects, the complexity of certain routes depends on the season. In the Hochwinter some … Read all

Eiger Run Ski Slope

From the series “Top 13 Furious Ski Resorts and Pistes”

Eiger Run, located on the territory of the health resort Grindelwald in Switzerland, has been recognized as one of the most dangerous ski slopes. There is almost no signposting on the slopes, which are steep on the sharp curves and descents. It is also crossed by railroad tracks in some places. According to the official data, there were no lethal accidents on the ski slope up to the present time. The unofficial data, however, speak for the contrary.

The representatives of the Autoklub ADAC from Germany recently evaluated the ski slope condition. They designated Eiger Run as 'broken' and unusable for skiing. If you do not know exactly the location of the railroad tracks, you can stumble over it. And this is one of the many dangers the skiers can encounter here.

At present, the … Read all

All unique sightseeing Switzerland

Advices for popular cities of Switzerland

Zurich

1. The majority of banks, shops and other public institutions are from Monday till Friday. All major shopping and entertainment centers work seven days a week. 2. Zurich is notable by its excellent public transport. Tourists can easily get to any sight of the city by bus or trolley. In order to save money on travel, you can buy a special pass. 3. Taxi rates are quite low, so this type of transport can be a good alternative to buses. Prices rise only in the evening. 4. Make sure you … Read more

Geneva

1. Local hotels, as well as the majority of restaurants and nightlife facilities are distinguished by rather high rates. Those, who wish to save, are recommended to pick a hotel near the river and visit entertainment venues that are located away from the center. The most affordable restaurants for travellers are located close to the university. 2. The best to move in the city is to use the public transport. If you want to save more, you can buy a special ticket that allows saving up to 50% … Read more

Interlaken

1. Travelers should definitely not forget to take hotel card when they go outside. It entitles you to free travel on all types of public transport, as well as to discounts on some excursions and cultural events. 2. Budget travelers should pay attention not only to local hotels, but also to camps that work throughout year. The most popular among them is called Alpenblick 2 and it is located on the shore of Lake Thun. The cost of accommodation in the camp will cost you just 6 francs a day. … Read more

Luzern

1. Interurban train is the optimum way for tourists to get from Lucerne to any neighboring town and city. Tourists who are not constrained in time should not limit their exploration only with the city area but should set off to Interlaken, Lugano, Zurich and Geneva. 2. The city center can be cruised only on foot as it is totally placed in service of pedestrians. The public transport of the city is presented with branched network of buses which are cruising the streets of the city from the … Read more

Basel

1. The city is full of numerous banks and exchange offices, which offer really favorable exchange rates. Therefore taking much cash with you is absolutely not necessary. 2. Rates in local restaurants and cafes are quite high, so if you expect to save on food, it is recommended to have food in numerous bistros and eateries that can be found throughout the city. You can also easily find excellent gastronomy shops which sell fresh salads and pastries close to major shopping and entertainment … Read more

Locarno

1. Setting off to the local restaurants one should take into account some of the important points. The tips are given to a waiter only in case if these are not included into the total sum. The cash reward should not accede 10% of total order sum and the tips should be given only after the waiter brings the change. 2. All the wholesale marts and shopping accept center credit cards. The system of cashless transfers spreads over the restaurants and refueling stations as well. Withdrawing cash … Read more

Lugano

1. The main transportation means of the city is a bus. Tickets should be bought in advance in specialized POS terminals, set in the bus stops. The prudent tourists should better buy a day travel pass for telling economy. 2. The only available transport at night is taxi. The car can be either called by phone or taken from a specialized taxi parking lot. Stopping a car in the street is not customary. Even in case of cruising the car will not stop. Despite of every taxi car being equipped with a … Read more

Bern

1. Many restaurants and shopping centers accept payments by credit cards of international standard, so you don’t have to take a lot of cash to the trip. If you need the local currency, it is better to exchange money in banks – as a rule, they offer the most favorable rate. Exchange offices usually charge a commission, which amount can be up to 5% of the total sum. 2. The majority of shops and trading centers work from 9:00 to 18:00 - 19:00 on weekdays. Saturday is usually a short … Read more