Page 271 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

claim free medical treatment in Switzerland with needs. The website of Mobility International
an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). Switzerland (MIS) provides further details for
Visitors from outside these areas must arrange travellers with impaired mobility.
their own private medical insurance. You may Mietauto
have to pay up front for medical treatment. ∑ mietauto.ch
EHIC Mobility International Switzerland (MIS)
∑ gov.uk/European-health-insurance-card ∑ mis-ch.ch/reiseinfos
SBB Call Centre Handicap
Vaccinations § 0800 007 102 (within Switzerland, toll-free),
+41 51 225 78 44 (from abroad, subject to charge)
No inoculations are required for Switzerland. Switzerland Tourism
∑ myswitzerland.com
Money
Language
Major credit and debit cards are accepted in
most shops and restaurants; prepaid currency Switzerland has four national languages – French,
cards and American Express are accepted in German, Italian and Romansh. Although English
some; carry cash for smaller items. Contactless is not an official language, it is often used to
payments are becoming more widely accepted. bridge the language divides (especially in cities),
Cash machines are frequently found at banks and much official documentation is available in
and at various points in town and city centres. English. German is spoken mostly in the east,
French mostly in the west, and Italian mostly in
Booking Accommodation the southern canton of Ticino and the southern
parts of neighbouring Graubünden. Romansh is
Switzerland offers accommodation to suit all spoken only in the canton of Graubünden.
tastes and budgets, from five-star hotels, farm
stays and mountain refuges to family-run B&Bs Closures
and budget hostels. Lodgings fill up quickly and
prices are often inflated, most notably in the Monday Some shops, museums and tourist
mountain regions during ski season (December attractions are closed on Monday mornings
to April), when advance booking is essential. The or for the entire day.
website of the Swiss Hotel Association offers a Thursday Some cities have late-night shopping
com pre hensive list of accommodation. on Thursdays until 8pm, including Bern,
Swiss Hotel Association Geneva and Zürich.
∑ swisshotels.com Saturday Most post offices close at 11am; most
shops close at noon.
Travellers with Specific Needs Sunday Most shops and businesses are closed
for the day.
Switzerland offers a high standard of facilities Public holidays Most shops, churches, museums
for travellers with specific needs. Most main and restaurants either close early or all day.
sights and public buildings have wheelchair
access. Amenities in more rural areas may be PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
limited, so it is always worth calling ahead to
check that your requirements will be met. 1 Jan
For assistance at any of the 170 suitably New Year’s Day
equipped stations on the Swiss rail network, 19 Apr Good Friday
phone the SBB Call Centre Handicap one
hour before departure (or three working days 30 May Ascension Day
beforehand for international travel). Mietauto 1 Aug National Day
has details on adapted hire vehicles.
Switzerland Tourism can provide full details 25 Dec Christmas Day
of suitable hotel facilities for guests with specific

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