FAQs

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FA�s

01 Beautiful view of Zurich © Mattias Nutt/Zürich Tourism 02 Fronalpstock hiking © Andre Meier/Switzerland Tourism

�What are the main arrival points for Australians?

AMost Australians would fly into Zurich or Geneva Airports in Switzerland and can then connect to onward destinations by train or other public transport. If you arrive on a river cruise, you would probably come into Basel and start your discovery of Switzerland from there.

�What is the best time to visit Switzerland?

ASwitzerland is a year-round destination, and when you go depends on what you want to do there. For skiing and snowboarding, the best time to visit is from December to March. Or, if you want to hike the glorious green meadows and alpine passes, spring through autumn are best. � What are the major traditional Swiss dishes to be found around the country?

AIn Zurich, try delicious Zurich geschnetzeltes, a veal ragout that is one of the classic dishes of this region. In Graubuenden/Grisons, capuns are the regional specialty with locals filling the spinach beet wraps with their own recipes. In Romandie, French-speaking Switzerland, experience saucissons (pork) and fondue, with one of the best cheesy fondue styles served in Fribourg. While in the Bern region, crunch your way through delicious rösti. Basel’s traditional dish is its flour soup, best served in the early hours of the morning – especially during the iconic Basel Carnival. Polenta is synonymous with the Ticino area, where it is mixed

with cheese and made into a thick mash as a side with rabbit or a roast. In the Lucerne region, you must try the chügelipastete – the Swiss meat pie – which dates back to the 18th century. It is a pie filled with ragout made with veal and sausage meatballs.

�How much time should I put aside for the Grand Tour by car?

AYou can enjoy the Grand Tour in your own time, and at your own pace – if you can’t do the entire route (which takes around nine days, at a leisurely speed), you can choose to just drive the sections that appeal to you the most.

�And what about for the Grand Tour by rail?

AThe original Grand Train Tour takes a minimum of eight days and takes in all the panoramic trains and all highlights. The Classic tour takes a minimum of seven days.

�What languages are spoken in Switzerland?

AGerman is by far the most widely spoken language in Switzerland with 19 of the country’s 26 cantons predominantly (Swiss) Germanspeaking. French is spoken in Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel and Vaud cantons in the western part of the country. Three cantons – Bern, Fribourg and Valais – speak both French and German. Italian is spoken in Ticino and in four southern valleys of Graubünden canton, with Romansh/Rumantsch also spoken here.

Important information

Switzerland Tourism

myswitzerland.com

Entry requirements

For holidays and travel in Switzerland, you will find all the current information here.

Swiss Travel System

Swiss Travel System stands not only for the roughly 29,000 kilometres of extensive public transport network in Switzerland, but also for a unique range of tickets available to foreign guests. Exploring Switzerland has never been easier. The all-in-one ticket Swiss Travel Pass is the key to Switzerland’s public transport network.

Emergency numbers

112 – International emergency number 117 - Police 118 - Fire 144 - Ambulance 140 - Breakdown service 162 - Weather report 163 - Road report

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