Category:Switzerland

Switzerland Region: Europe Links: CS Group Wikipedia Wikitravel HitchWiki

Switzerland is a country the center of Europe and with an area of only around 41.000 km2 it is one of the smallest countries in central Europe.

Language: The 7.590.000 Swiss people have four official languages. About 64% of Switzerland is German, 20% French and 7% Italian spoken. The Romansh is only spoken by a few thousand people (around 1%). Many of the Swiss people do not fluently speak one of the other official languages fluently (the elderly do) but most of the (younger) people do speak English. The Swiss people generally tend to try to communicate with you in your language if they are able to speak it.

Government: Direct democracy. Which basically means we have polls for everything. We vote for or against laws or projects and we elect delegates for community, area (called "canton" and very important to understand the Swiss psyche) and country.

Currency: Swiss Francs (CHF). You can pay with Euros in most of the bigger stores but they return your change in Swiss Francs.

Switzerland in CouchSurfing

The Switzerland Group A group for Swiss, inhabitants, travellers and generally anyone interested in Switzerland!

The most active CS communities in Switzerland are Neuchatel and Bern. Both towns worth seeing and lots of CS activity. Lausanne, Zurich, Basel and Geneva also have an active-ish CS communitiy.

Don't be too specific in your 'CouchSearch!'. The country's really small - in 5 hours you can cross it by train! So it doesn't really matter where you stay as long as the company is great. Usually, towns are not that spread out as overseas, and public transport is very good, so you could easily stay with somebody in the suburb if you were not able to find a couch in the town itself. However, this also costs money. Also, we strongly advice you to see the smaller towns, not only the big cities. Switzerland is not only about the cities, its also about nature, small towns, mountains and lakes, mountainbiking, hiking, climbing.... and much more. So consider visiting smaller places too. In the big cities, rent is very high, so expect to share the room with your host or to use the living-room. On the countryside, rent is lower, so there you might even get a room for yourself or a garden for the tent. (take the room if you can)!

Are you stranded somewhere in Switzerland? Check this page Stranded Travellers

Swiss Global, Country and Nomadic Ambassadors

• Vince, Global Ambassador
• Tooki, Country Ambassador
• Daniel, Nomadic Ambassador
• Fabian, Nomadic Ambassador
• Raffaella, Nomadic Ambassador
• Damien, Nomadic Ambassador
• Tanja, Nomadic Ambassador
• Jason, Nomadic Ambassador
• Pascal, Nomadic Ambassador

Tips and general information

Switzerland is a travelers paradise, in many ways. The population is almost 8 million in that small country! Public transport is worlds number one and everything is well organized and clean.

Transportation

Usually, towns are not that spread out as in overseas, and public transport is very good, so you could easily stay with somebody in the suburb if you were not able to find a couch in the town itself.

Also view: Public Transports in Switzerland

• Train: Trains in Switzerland are expensive but you can go quite anywhere with them. Go to Swiss Railways homepage to see schedules and prices. Tip: Go to "Search" and find Click and Rail for cheap train tickets within Switzerland. Also you can find all scheduled departures and prices of normal fares. You also can go to the information office at every station. If you are staying in Switzerland for a bit longer, or planning to travel a lot with the train, it is a good idea to get a halbtax, it costs 150 CHF (as of March 2008) and gives you 50% off all train rides. And you can also only get day tickets if you have a halbtax.
• Buses: There are only very few long distance buses. You will barely need them. Go by train. In the cities you will find Buses or Trams and in Zurich a dense Suburban Railway network. They usually go quite often.
• Hitchhiking: Hitchhiking, especially with a backpack and sign, is a great way to get around the country. However, not many people will stop and give you a lift. Be prepared to wait! Thats because of insurance issues in Switzerland and people are not used to meeting "strangers" or start a conversation to some "stranger" on the street. Sorry, but thats the way it is!
• Airplane: There are airports in Basel, Geneva and Zurich. If you visit Switzerland by plane you will land in one of these cities.
• Car rental: Car rental is not very popular in Switzerland but you can rent cars at most of the bigger train stations and in the larger cities.

Camping

Camping is a more or less legal activity in most cantons, depending on where you do it. Only camp in designated areas. If you want to do wild camping, choose a more remote place in the countryside, so nobody can see you. Then you'll probably get away with it for 1 or even 2 nights.

Drinking and Eating

Main article: Get fed in Switzerland

How to be a good guest and other cultural things worth knowing

Arrival Be on time - Swiss are very on time. If you run late, let your host know. Call him/her, thats probably the best. (I'd say if your delay is 10 min and more). To say hello its common to shake hands or some might even hug you. It can be possible. But handshake is more what you will expect. The swiss thing is to give 3 kisses on the cheek. Starting on the right (your right and the other persons right, got it?) but as Couchsurfing is quite international and the host is aware that you are foreign, he/she will most likely go over to handshaking. But you will be able to see it amongst you everywhere. Women have to kiss everybody and men only kiss the women.

Being a guest in somebodys home

Taking off shoes when you get into an apartment is not such a widespread thing. Some want you to take them off, some dont. Its best to ask your host and dont get too paranoid about it... You will see it immediately, if your host takes them off or not. Its advisable to do the same than your host.

Swiss are very frank and direct. If they say that they are going to do something "tomorrow" it is definitely going to happen! (unlike many other cultures it means its not going to happen)

If you are a guest, it does not usually mean that your host will show you around AND pay everything for you. Because everything is so expensive. You are expected to pay a bus/trainticket or museum entrance yourself. That is not meant rude. Of course its possible that your host invites you and pays. Than that whould be highly appreciated and is not something that will happen very frequently. So show respect to that and try to contribute something during the next occasion. Usually if somebody pays for you in Switzerland it gives a bad feeling towards this person, so dont overdue it.

Going out

Private parties: its common to bring something for the host and unusual to drink that very bottle of wine you brought. Its actually quite rude if you do that unless the host has opened it himself/herself. The host will be prepared with some other drinks like for example beer which you are supposed to drink. He got it for the guests, so please drink it.

If you go out a couple of people at night, expect people to pay "rounds". That means somebody will get all the drinks for the group and then the first one to finish his drink will go and get just the same drink for everybody again. And so on and so on. So be prepared and think before you choose. Its quite common though, if all the participants are students, that everybody pays himself.

Telephones and mobiles

We use text messages more often (calling is more expensive) than calling up. Its considered rude if you sit/go out with somebody and your mobile phone constantly rings. Put it on loudless and sent text messages while outside or return your call later, on the way home. If you go out on a date, better switch it off. Maximum pick it once during the whole evening, otherwise its considered rude.

Its not common to give your phone number to just somebody you met on the street or to post it in public places (better not post it in the group, as i say, its expensive to call and nobody will call you anyway if its a foreign number, except maybe some wierdows). Also its totally uncommon to give the number of a friend to somebody else. Only ask numbers directly to that person. In emergency (i really mean emergency) though its ok... It will be very odd if friend of a friend called me up suddenly and asked me out. Swiss will say no or hung up the phone or pretend not to know you. Seriously!

Money and Banking

The currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc CHF.

You can change money at all the mayor railway stations and the airports, that's also where money transfer institutes are situated. To get cash dispensers working, a normal Maestro/EC Card is required. Sometimes Credit Cards work as well. Generally every bank card working within the EU works in Switzerland as well. In doubt, ask your bank if the card will be working.

See valid cards: Maestro/EC cards

Credit Cards are widely accepted but not that common. Many shops have a minimum purchase limit for credit cards. Usually around CHF 20. The accepted Cards are signed on the doors of smaller shops and restaurants. The supermarket chains generally take credit cards. The common way to pay in Switzerland is still cash and debit Cards.

Drinking/Smoking

• You are allowed to smoke cigarettes in public but not in the following places:
  • Public transport
  • Public buildings (There are designated areas in stations and such)
  • Areas marked with a non-smoking sign.
  • Most of the cabs
• Restaurants often provide a smoking and a non smoking part. There are areas in Switzerland where smoking is forbidden in restaurants.
• You may buy cigarrettes when you're 16 at any store/kiosque.
• You may buy beer and wine when you're 16 and stronger alcohol from 18 years.
• Drinking in public places (such as parks) is not forbidden and during summer seen quite often. As long you behave no one will say something.
• Don't drink and drive! If you do, just have one glass because with a blood alcohol over 0.5 per thousand, you'll pay very (and I mean veeery) high penalties.
• Prices: 6 - 7 CHF for a package of cigarettes, 5-10 CHF for a beer, 10-20 CHF for a cocktail, 5-10 CHF for a shot. These are bar/restaurant prices. It is much cheaper in stores: 2-4 CHF for a beer, 20 CHF for a bottle of booze and 6-? CHF for a bottle of wine.

In Supermarkets you can also pay in Euro, but only in banknotes (no coins), the change will be in Swiss Francs and the exchange rate deadly bad!

Places

Cities

Central Part

Eastern Part

North Western Part

Western Part

Southern Part

Rural Places

Switzerland is not only towns and urban areas. For sure you heard about the Swiss mountains and its great nature. Here are Places to visit which are not in a city.

Hiking, Trails

The Swiss Alpine Club maintains many fantastic hotels in the remote areas of the mountains. This hotels can be reached through fantastic trails. [1] To organize a trail check for the hostel you want to go. Usually a recommended trail to the hotel is described. Arrange for the public transportation to the starting point through [2] and enjoy the trip.

Advises

• 1 hour from Zurich: In the summer (and good weather) take the train to Ennenda [3]. Take the "crazy" furnicular [4] up to the SAC hostel [5] "Aeugsten Hütte" 1500 meters o.s.l. You can stay overnight and see fantastic sunsets and sunrise. The overnight stay costs you including some dinner less then 20 SFr. per person. For some insights, check Flickr [6] [7] [8] [9]. Last advise don't go at weekends... Google Earth: 47°01'44.76N 9°06'21.97E

Links

'General'

• Train: SBB - Swiss Train schedules in English (For local transport systems, view the city page i.e. Zurich)
• Airplane: Swiss - Swiss airline page in English (For airports see Zürich, Geneva, Basel)
• Car rent: Europcar Swizterland in English
• Tourist info: MySwitzerland - Swiss Tourist site in English
• About Switzerland: ch.ch - Swiss government site in English

'CS-Wiki'

• Media reports about chouchsurfing in Swiss media: Media reports
• Wrong things in CS-Wiki. Help to fix! Wrong locations
• Biking in Switzerland: |Traveling by bicycle

Work

• See Geneva and Zurich