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About Switzerland
Switzerland is a small country in the heart of Europe with so much to offer and to discover.
Spoken Languages
Swiss-German, French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic are official languages.
English is widely spoken. Spanish is growing fast.
Culture
For once size dosen't matter, Switzerland is small but has so much to offer to the visitors. You can experience the German, French or Italian touch depending in which part of the country you are. German is northeast, French is west, Italian is south.
Every city has a good number of Museum and Fondation that are open to the visitors. A Swiss Museum Pass is available to have access to more than 430 museums across the country. Please visit our directory section to find the most important and click here for all details about the Museum Pass.
Weather
Global warming is affecting Switzerland like every country in the world. Switzerland has four season with cold Winter and hot Summer, Spring and Fall are a mixed.
Southern Switzerland tend to have a mild Winter as it is located south of the Alps.
Please click here to visit the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology for weather forecast
Fauna
A variety of plants and flowers grow in Switzerland. In the south you can find palms and in the north more pines on high levels. Fruit trees can be found all over.
Switzerland has a long tradition of wine and nice wineyard can be found in Ticino (Southern Switzerland), Vallais/Wallis Canton and Vaud Canton (East Switzerland). The region of Rivaz a little village in the Canton Vaud offer a stunning view. This region is also known in French as Lavaux.
Switzerland has a number of bothanic garden that deserve to be seen if you like flowers, such as the bothanic garden in the Brissago islands.
In the moutains if you are lucky you can spot some animals in the wild such as the red deer, beaver, fox, etc...
Sports
Switzerland offers unlimited possibilities for sport lovers. Ski and hockey are the two most popolar Winter sports. In Summer hiking in the mountains is very common. Swimming, work out and other indoor sports can easely done in every city. Usually a one day tickect entrance is available for visitors.
Money
Swiss Franc is the official currency of the country. The Euro was adopted by all our border countries in 2002 is accepted in border regions and major cities. Change is given in Swiss Francs only, a commercial exchange rate may apply. Credit card are accepted widely and all trasaction are made with Swiss Francs. Exchange offices can be found at all major stations, tourist location and major cities, banks tend to have a higher fee.
Swiss Francs bills are divided in pieces of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 Francs.
Swiss Francs coins are divided in pieces of 1, 2, 5. 1 Franc is devided in centimes with coins of 5, 10, 20, 50 cents.
Tips
Service is usually included, tips are always welcome. Swiss people tend to round up, i.e. if the bill is 9,20 Francs a bill of 10 Francs is given. If you wish to give more, please do so.
Swiss Embassies
Switzerland has embassies in most countries around the world. Most Western countries do not need a visa. Western europeans can travel with ID only.
Please be aware this formality can change at any time without notice please contact the nearest Swiss Embassy or Consulate, Alternatively your travel agent or airline can provide more details.
Please click here to visit the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Transport system
Switzerland have an excellent public transport system. you can virtually go everywhere with the Swiss Rail (www.rail.ch). The same website includes the timetable of trains, yellow busses and boats.
Gay Destinations
Zurich, Basel, Bern, St. Gallen, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano have gay bars, gay sauna and gay local associations, etc...
Zurich have the largest LGBT community of Switzerland, it is also the biggest city.
Lausanne, Geneva, Bern also have a good offers of sauna, club, bars, etc...
Basel, St. Gallen, Lucerne and Lugano have a limited number of gay places.
In every case all are worth a visit. Every city have a very special charme on their own.
Not Gay but a Must See Destinations
Zermatt (Matterhorn), Montreux, Ascona, Arosa, St. Moritz, Interlaken Wengen Murren (Jungfrau Region), Davos, Bettmeralp, Neuhausen am Rheinfall (Rheinfall Europe's largest), Gstaad, Saas-Fee, Neuchatel, Bienne/Biel.
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