Introduction
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is situated in Europe and landlocked by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
It is geographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura, spanning a total area of 41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi), and land area of 39,997 km2 (15,443 sq mi).
While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately 8.5 million is concentrated mostly on the plateau, where the largest cities are located, among them the two global cities and economic centres of ZĂĽrich and Geneva.
Facts
Capital: Bern
Languages: French, German, Italian, Romansh
Currency: Swiss Franc
Time zone: UTC+1 (UTC+2 DST)
Orangutans have never been more at risk.
Deforestation is the greatest threat facing orangutans – so protecting and restoring their habitat is vital for their survival. Find out how you can help.
Our Posts on Switzerland
Como to Lugano: Our Cross-Border Day Trip from Italy to Switzerland
There’s something really exciting about crossing an international border. That moment when you pass from one territory to another, where things are done a little bit differently to how you’re…
A Non-Skier’s Guide to Sledging in the Jungfrau Region
In the first part of my non-skier’s guide, I introduced Winter hiking as an option for those who want to experience all that the Swiss mountains have to offer, but…
A Non-Skier’s Guide to Winter Hiking in the Jungfrau Region
I’m not a skier, so on a recent trip to the Jungfrau region in Switzerland, I went in search of alternative Winter activities. What I discovered was that I could experience the…
Plan Your Visit to Switzerland
Getting there
With it’s multiple international airports and a numerous rail and road crossings, Switzerland is very easy to get to from anywhere in the world.
Flights
Zurch is Switzerland’s largest airport, followed by Basel and Geneva. To find flights from your nearest airport to Switzerland, we recommend Kayak.
Bus & Train
Crossing the border from neighbouring countries by bus & train is very straightforward, with almost zero border control checks. To find the best prices on bus & train tickets to Switzerland, we recommend Omio.
Getting around
Switzerland’s public transport network is one of the best in the world. It’s efficient, clean and well integrated.
Bus & Train
State-run operator SBB runs a majority of train services in Switzerland with other companies running local services. You can buy tickets on the spot or in advance via Omio.
By Car
Driving in Switzerland is problematic and expensive and is not advisable for short stays. If however you want to hire a car, you’ll find some great deals on Skyscanner.
Accommodation
Like most European countries, Switzerland has a wide variety of accommodation options. Rates tend to be higher on average than elsewhere in Europe.
Hotels
Hotels are generally of a high standard. You can find the best rates using Tripadvisor.
Airbnb
To live like a local and for the best value compared with hotel rates, we heartily recommend Airbnb. Sign-up now and get free credit to spend on your first stay.
Activities & Excursions
Switzerland is full of exciting activities, from leisurely walks through meadows and valleys, to full-on action winter sports.
To get a flavour of the type of activities you can expect, head to Viator.