SWITZERLAND

A scintillating blend of pastoral, rustic lifestyles and metropolitan attractions, the mountainous paradise called Switzerland attracts tourists of varied persuasions. Switzerland is the land of cuckoo clocks and bankers, historic landmarks and chalet-dotted countryside.
Though the Swiss are united neither by religion or language they have lived peacefully together for centuries and have maintained their neutrality which has since become their hallmark. They have deliberately kept aloof from political issues the world over and are a self-contained nation, both culturally and economically. Visitors often presume that this would mean meeting a reserved and unfriendly people – Not true! The Swiss can envelop you with their warm hospitality as soon as you allow them to… so be ready for one of the most pleasant travel experiences when you come a-visiting.

Capital : Bern

Best time to visit :

  1. The best time to visit Switzerland depends upon what’s on your to-do list.
  2. If you are into adventure sports then the ideal time to visit Switzerland is during the winter which starts from late December and goes on to March.
  3. The best time to visit Switzerland for sightseeing and to experience the scenic beauty and varying colors is the summer season (June to September) 
  4. Autumn is a good time for hiking in the Swiss Alps as the view from the mountain peaks can take your breath away. The temperature starts to fall around this time of the year and the air gets cooler.
  5.  May and October are the shoulder months when you will find good hotel bargains as this is time the tourists flow falls considerably.

Minimum days required : 6 days

Places of Interest :

  1. Geneva – Geneva Motor Show, Jet D’ Eau, Grand Theater De Geneva, Victoria Hall, St. Pierre Cathedral
  2. Lucerne – Lake Lucerne , Mount Pilatus, Rigi, Culture and Convention Center, Lion Monument, Kapellebrucke, Rotsee
  3. Zurich- Lake Zurich, Kunsthaus Zürich, Swiss National Museum, Katzensee
  4. Basel – Zoo Basel, Kunstmuseum Basel, Birsig
  5. Bern – Zentrum Paul Klee, Federal Palace of Switzerland, Historical Museum of Bern, Moossee, Bern Minster, Egelsee
  6. Interlaken

Climate :

  1. The cool Alpine air is the primary attraction that draws tourists like magnets towards the highlands of Switzerland in the summer months.
  2. The dry southeasterly foehn that blows in the higher regions makes for a perfect summer getaway that is cool and yet soothing.
  3. The higher you go the colder it gets. For the sporting crowd, the Alpine winter with its inviting valleys and snow-laden hills is home to some of the most famous and luxurious ski resorts in the world.
  4. The days are clear, but make no mistake, it is cold! Average temperatures during the summer are normally between 20 and 25°C, while the figure during the winter drops to below freezing point.

Currency : Swiss Franc

Things to carry :

  1. Even in summer the evenings can still be cooler so pack a lightweight jacket, jumper or a versatile pashmina shawl
  2. A light raincoat and umbrella are useful all year round.
  3. Dressing in layers will help you with the temperature changes during the day, whatever time of year you visit.
  4. The sun can be deceptively strong even if the temperature feels cool. This is especially so at altitude and on the lakes, so we suggest that you use a good quality sun screen
  5. In the winter most people wear snow or thermal boots, even in the cities. It is important that you get soft rubber soles because even medium soles get really hard in the freezing cold. Make sure too that they have large spaces between the tracks, or the snow will get stuck in them and make them very slippery.
  6. If going up mountains or on the lakes in winter it is best to wear layers e.g. silk thermals, proper walking trousers, a thin jersey and two high tech fleeces, one with a zip and one without and a light Goretex jacket which is waterproof and windproof. This will keep the bulk down and it’s easy to remove layers and pop them in a day pack.

How to get there:

Air

  1. Geneva International Airport and Zurich Airport , have frequent flights connecting Switzerland to major destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas.
  2. The national airline, Swiss (LX), is the chief carrier, although a number of other international airlines- including Lufthansa, British Airways, Darwin, Air France, United Airlines, Continental Airlines and American Airlines also fly to/from Switzerland. Bern-Belp and Lugani Airport are the secondary airports but are rapidly growing.