Page 593 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

SWITZERLAND  591

London Gatwick, London Luton, popular is the Swiss Travel Pass, of congestion. Driving around
and other European cities to which allows unlimited travel major cities, however, can be
Zürich, Geneva, and Basel. on trains, lake ferries, and many more difficult. Road signs are
Many business travelers fly to mountain railways. Switzerland generally clear, with main roads
Switzerland on a weekly basis, has a number of spectacular in blue and freeways in green.
so Monday and Friday flights train routes. The best-known are Historic sights are usually
can be hard to obtain, especially those that pass through the signposted in brown. Speed
during the skiing season. Alps, such as the Glacier Express limits are strictly enforced –
between St. Moritz and Zermatt. 120 km/h (75 mph) on freeways,
These services are included in 80 km/h (50 mph) on main roads,
Traveling by Train the Swiss Travel Pass and are and 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-
Switzerland is at the heart of reasonably priced. up areas. Many mountain passes
Europe and rail links to major are closed from November to
European cities are fast and Traveling by Car June. A sign at the foot of the
efficient. The journey time from pass will indicate whether the
Zürich to Paris is six hours; from The most direct route by car road is open or closed.
Geneva to Paris it is three and from Great Britain to Switzerland
a half hours. is via the Channel Tunnel and Getting Around Cities
Switzerland’s rail network is French motorways to western
operated by the state-owned Switzerland. If you want to make and Towns
Swiss Federal Railways and use of the excellent motorway Buses and trams are found
private companies. It reaches network, you will need to buy a in the major cities and they
all major cities and towns and motorway sticker (vignette), provide frequent and reliable
some of the smallest villages available at border crossings, services. Tickets can be
in the mountains. There is an tourist offices, and gas stations. purchased from machines
integrated ticketing and fare Most of the international car at bus and tram stops. Taxis
system. When traveling to a rental firms have offices at are generally very expensive.
major city, ask for a ticket that airports and in the major towns. Some cities such as Bern offer
covers your destination’s Many allow you to leave the bicycle rental facilities, as do
transportation network too – car at a destination in France, 80 of the major train stations.
this usually costs only a small Germany, or Italy. Many small villages that are
amount more. The Swiss Travel As in the rest of continental not served by trains are on a
System (www.swisstravelsystem. Europe, the Swiss drive on the “post bus” route, which usually
com) offers a range of discount right. Since most freight is moved originates at the train station of
offers, which vary depending on by rail in Switzerland, the majority the nearest main town. Buses
how long you want to stay and of country routes, main roads, are timed to coincide with the
where you want to go. Most and motorways are generally free arrival and departure of trains.
DIRECTORY
Tourist Embassies and Emergency Ireland
Information Consulates Numbers Tel 01-890 200 515.
Australia Ambulance New Zealand
UK
Chemin des Fins 2, Tel 144. Tel 0800-945 220.
Switzerland Tourism, Case Postale 172,
30 Bedford Street, Geneva 1211. Avalanche Bulletin Switzerland
Tel 187.
London WC2E 9ED. Tel 012-799 9100. Tel 0848-700 700.
Fire
Tel 00800-100 200 29. Canada Tel 118. UK
Kirchenfeldstrasse 88, Tel 0845-601 0956.
US & Canada 3005 Bern. Helicopter Rescue
Swiss Center, Tel 031-357 3200. Tel 1414 / 1415. US & Canada
608 Fifth Ave, New York, Ireland Police Tel 1-877 359 7947.
NY 10020. Kirchenfeldstrasse 68, Tel 117. ∑ swiss.com
Tel 00800-794 7795. 3005 Bern. Weather Forecast Traveling by Train
Tel 031-352 1442.
Switzerland & all Tel 162. Swiss Federal
other countries UK Swiss
Thunstrasse 50, 3000 Railways
P.O. Box 695, Bern. Tel 031-359 7700. International Hochschulstrasse 6,
8027 Zürich. Airlines 3000 Bern.
US
Tel 00800-100 200 29. Sulgeneckstrasse 19, 3007 Australia Tel 0900-300 300.
∑ myswitzerland.com Bern. Tel 031-357 7011. Tel 130-072 4666. ∑ sbb.ch

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