Switzerland Travel Guide - Essentials

Safety: generally speaking, Switzerland is one of the safest countries in Europe to travel in and few visitors have any problems here. However, some of the big cities such as Geneva and Zurich do have occasional problems with bag snatchers and pick pockets so tourists should take care when visiting some of the busiest tourist areas or in bus and train stations.

The summer months of July and August are the busiest, so you should be extra vigilant at this time. If your hotel has a safe, it’s worth using it for peace of mind, although in reality you need no more than ‘common sense’ rules here.

When to go: the question of when to go to Switzerland all depends on what you are looking for. The effect of the mountains here cause plenty of climatic variety, the high alpine regions tend to be cool while the northern low lands have high temperatures and warm summers. If skiing is the reason for your visit then the ski season runs from November to April and there are a number of top class ski-resorts to be enjoyed here.

The months of July and August see the hottest temperatures and with it, high numbers of tourists around the countryMany people consider June and September the best time to visit, the weather is pleasant without being too hot and you’ll find fewer crowds.

All major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are commonplace, as you would expect. There are plenty of Bureau de Change booths in airports, stations and town centres and tourists are advised to take travellers cheques in pounds sterling, US dollars or Euros.

Language: German is easily the most widely spoken language in Switzerland with 17 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons speaking only German. You’ll find French spoken in four cantons, including Geneva, while in Bern, Fribourg and Valais both German and French are spoken.

Emergency: like many things in Switzerland, emergency response is generally efficient and hospitals in the major cities are of a good standard. Call 112 in emergencies.

Ambulance: 144 (112 is also used and recommend from mobile phones)

Police: 117

Recommended hospitals:
Geneva - University Hospital +41 22 717 8400
Lausanne - University Hospital +41 21 314 1431
Zurich - University Hospital +41 44 255 8538
Bern - Salem Hospital +41 31 337 6000

Typical business hours:

• Government departments: 08:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday.
• Retail: 08:30 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:30, Monday to Friday; 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 16:00, Saturday. Most shops are closed on Monday mornings.
• Banking: 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.