Print
Email
Bookmark & shareLeave the lederhosen at home and get in line with the stylish Swiss.
Switzerland may be neutral but it is certainly not flavourless. The fusion of German, French and Italian ingredients has formed a robust national culture, and the country's alpine landscapes have enough zing to reinvigorate the most jaded traveller.
Goethe summed up Switzerland succinctly as a combination of 'the colossal and the well-ordered'. You can be sure that your trains and letters will be on time. The tidy, just-so precision of Swiss towns is tempered by the lofty splendour of the landscapes that surround them.
Fast Facts
Country Full Name
Swiss Confederation
Population
7,300,000
Currency
Name: Swiss Franc
Code: CHF
Symbol: CHF
Electrical Plugs
230V 50Hz
Languages Spoken
Official: German, French, Italian
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +1
Country Dialing Code
+41
Weights & Measures
Metric
Related Travel Stories
-
Budget Skiing
article by Nicola Williams, January 2008
Skiing in Europe needn't drain you of your small fortune. With a bit of savvy, you can get on the slopes for a song. Read the full article ›
Tags: Skiing & Snowboarding • France • Switzerland
-
May the Best Santa Win
photofeature by Lisa Burns, December 2007
Switzerland's Santa Claus World Championships - or the Clau Wau - is as much go-go-go as ho-ho-ho. Read the full article ›
Tags: Festivals & Events • Switzerland
-
Twain Down the Rhine
podcast by Patrick Abboud, December 2006
Build a raft and make like Huck Finn, Alpine-style. Follow three friends as they float down the Rhine. Read the full article ›
Tags: Great Trips • Switzerland
BLUELISTS blu,list to recommend a travel experience
-
Best places to cross boundaries
— 04 Dec 07 -
5 Best Medieval Europe
— 18 Jan 07 -
6 Nations, 6 Days
— 13 Jan 07 -
Places you want to live, in Europe
— 07 Jan 07 -
Riding mountain bikes in the Swiss Alps
— 31 Mar 06
Advertisement
Book Your Trip
Travel insurance. Be covered by our recommended partner.
Compare & book flights from 100's of domestic & international airlines.
Hotels & Hostels
Booking hotels is simple with Lonely Planet. See our reviewed and recommended hotels in one place and book online. Browse hotels ›
Lonely Planet Newsletters
Updates, offers and inspiration - straight to your inbox.
Subscribe now ›
Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
