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!

25 best places to visit in Switzerland

25 best places to visit in Switzerland

Beautiful scenic locations, stunningly pretty lakes and mountains, charming towns and villages, the yummiest chocolates and cheeses, and superlative public transportation - what’s not to love about Switzerland! (Except maybe how expensive it is but hey, you get used...

The Golden Pass train line, Switzerland

The Golden Pass train line, Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its stunningly scenic train rides - the perfect combination of superbly efficient & clean trains and incredible natural beauty! The Golden Pass train line is one of the best of these routes - covering 3 mountain passes, 8 lakes, 6 cantons...

Things to do in Zurich, Switzerland

Things to do in Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is a vibrant cosmopolitan city steeped in culture and history dating back 5000 years. A beautiful river and a stunning lake surrounded by lush green hills add to the charm of this city. I’ve lived in Zurich for a couple of years and can already understand why...

10 hidden gems in Switzerland

10 hidden gems in Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries, blessed with stunning natural beauty. The best places to visit in Switzerland for me are the hidden gems, ones where you can enjoy nature, without being tread upon by hordes of tourists! So if, like me, you’d like to...

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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