Page 592 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

590  GERM AN Y , A USTRIA , AND SWITZERLAND

Practical & Travel Information an avalanche bulletin hotline.
If skiing or hiking at altitude,
Thanks to the famous Swiss efficiency, traveling around remember that dehydration or
Switzerland is generally a pleasant and hassle-free experience. sunburn can cause problems.
The country prides itself on its excellent transportation
systems, with an extensive national rail network and frequent Banking and Currency
tram and bus services in the big cities. There are abundant The unit of currency in
tourist information offices and banking and communication Switzerland is the Swiss franc
facilities are of a high standard. Switzerland has four national (CHF). Banking hours are
languages – German, French, Italian, and Romansh – but the generally 8:30am–4:30pm
use of English is widespread, especially in tourist destinations. Monday to Friday, with some
branches in tourist resorts also
opening on Saturdays. Outside
the big cities, some banks may
Tourist Information Visa Requirements
close for lunch between noon
Up-to-date information on many Visitors to Switzerland must have and 2pm. Money can be changed
of Switzerland’s towns and cities a valid passport to enter the at banks or at bureaux de
can be obtained from brochures country. A visa is not required for change. The latter are found in
and Internet sites. Most large visitors from the European Union, hundreds of locations, including
cities have at least one centrally USA, Canada, Australia, and New at major train stations. Swiss
located tourist information office Zealand for stays of up to 90 days. francs and euros can also be
Verkehrsverein, Tourismus, Border controls at road and rail withdrawn from cash machines.
or Office du Tourisme, offering frontiers have been abolished Credit cards are widely accepted.
a wide range of information within the Schengen Area,
and facilities. Even the smallest which covers Switzerland and Communications
towns and resorts have tourist 25 other European countries.
offices, but the opening hours Switzerland’s bright yellow mail
of those in ski resorts may boxes are easy to spot, though
be limited in summer. Safety and Emergencies post offices are not as prevalent
Embassies are located in Bern, Switzerland is one of the world’s as they used to be. They usually
but many countries also have safest countries but you should open from 7:30am to noon and
a consulate or diplomatic still take all the usual from 1:30 to 6:30pm Monday to
mission in Geneva. precautions. Since Switzerland Friday, and from 8 to 11am on
has no public health system, Saturday, with some regional
travel and health insurance are variation. Public telephones are
Opening Hours essential, especially considering less common now, and often do
The 24-hour society has yet the medical costs associated not take coins. Phone cards,
to reach Switzerland, and while with skiing accidents. Hospitals called taxcards, are sold at kiosks
large stores in cities may have have 24-hour emergency cover and post offices, and some offer
late-night opening (usually and in cities and towns there is low-cost international rates. Calls
on a Thursday), most shops, always a pharmacy open. All to 900-prefix numbers incur
museums, and offices close at pharmacies should post details higher charges. Free Internet
5 or 6pm. Many museums are of a 24-hour roster in their access at airports and businesses
closed on Mondays and village window. Emergency services, is increasingly widespread.
restaurants often close one or including helicopter rescue, are The principal newspapers
two days a week. very efficient, and there is also with nationwide circulation
are the Neue Zürcher Zeitung
The Climate of from Zürich and Le Temps from
Geneva. Most British news-
Switzerland BERN papers are available in major
Generally summers are sunny °C/ºF centers from lunchtime.
with temperatures frequently
reaching 25° C (77° F), though 23/73 Flying to Switzerland
thunderstorms can be a feature 12/54 13/55 13/55
of summer evenings. Winters 6/43 2/36 Switzerland has international
are cold with plenty of snow, 3/37 -2/38 airports at Zürich, Geneva,
but many places get a lot of 6 8 4 2 Basel, Bern, Lugano, and Sion.
winter sunshine, especially the hrs hrs hrs hrs Among the major airlines that
ski resorts of the Valais. South 70 85 65 75 fly to Switzerland are Swiss
of the Alps, in the Ticino, the mm mm mm mm International Airlines (Swiss),
climate is milder and much more month Apr Jul Oct Jan Qantas, American Airlines, and
Mediterranean in character. British Airways. Low-cost airline
easyJet (see p25) flies from

590-591_EW_Europe.indd 590 14/07/16 10:19 am