Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It’s incredible how such a small country is blessed with natural beauty in spades. Credit to the Swiss for making their country so friendly for tourists – from ridiculously friendly people to amazingly well-organized tourist destinations. In Switzerland, you not only marvel at the stunning natural beauty but also at the famed Swiss efficiency.

I’m sure you can tell that I’m obsessed with Switzerland! I’ve been living here for a very short time but already I’m blown away by how beautiful everything is.

Here’s a quick reckoner about Switzerland:

  • Location: Western Europe. Switzerland is a landlocked country bordered by France on the West, Germany on the North, Austria & Liechtenstein on the East and Italy on the South
  • Languages: German (a dialect called Swiss German is in practice in Switzerland), French, Italian, Romansh
  • Currency: CHF (Swiss Franc), although Euro is widely accepted
  • Visa: Schengen
  • Public transportation: Excellent public transportation comprising trains, trams, buses, cable cars. As a tourist, you can easily employ public transportation instead of renting a car
  • Driving side: Right
  • Electrical plug category: Power plugs and sockets are of type J. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz
  • Major cities: Zurich, Bern (capital city), Geneva, Basel
  • Famous food: Cheese – who hasn’t heard of Fondue?!, Cheeses such as Gruyère or Emmental are produced in the valleys of Gruyères and Emmental
  • Famous souvenirs: Swiss knife, Swiss watches, Swiss chocolates, Cowbells
  • Useful phrases to know:
    • Hello – Grüezi
    • Thank you – Merci!, Danke! Dankeschön!
    • Yes – Ja
    • No – Nein
    • Please – Bitte
    • Do you speak English – Sprechen Sie Englisch?

Here are some travel guides to get you started on planning your Swiss vacation!

Best hikes near Zurich!

Best hikes near Zurich!

Hiking in and around Zurich is one of the best things to do while in the city - not only to see some of the most incredible, untouched beauty of the Swiss Alps but also to get some exercise to compensate for all the cheese & chocolate you are bound to indulge in...

Zermatt 5 lakes hike, Switzerland

Zermatt 5 lakes hike, Switzerland

5 beautiful lakes, the mighty Matterhorn, snowy mountains and impressive glaciers - all await you on this lovely hike in Zermatt, also known as 5-Seenweg. One of the most famous trails in the Zermatt region, the 5 lakes hike is one of the best things to do if you are...

Gornergrat – Riffelsee Hike in Zermatt

Gornergrat – Riffelsee Hike in Zermatt

If you were to do just 1 hike in the Zermatt region, make it this Gornergrat hike. The Sun Trail from Gornergrat to Riffelberg descends along the Gornergrat Bahn, the world-famous railway line and takes you along cascading glaciers, stunningly beautiful lakes and lush...

First Cliff Walk, Switzerland

First Cliff Walk, Switzerland

The Grindelwald First Cliff Walk is a narrow metal walkway clinging to the edge of a steep cliff at a dizzying height of 2000+ meters leading to a sky bridge which rises 45 metres out into the void. Oh, and the sky bridge has a glass floor so you look down into that...

About me

Gruezi, Hi! My name is Smita, a part-time traveller and a travel writer. So far I’ve been what you might call a serendipitous traveller! I got a chance to visit several amazing places more by chance than by design. I would love to put all my extensive travel planning to good use by sharing it with you and hope that these inspire you to visit all those famous, and not-so-famous locations! Read More

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