Know before you go
Switzerland
General Information
Switzerland is located in western Central Europe bordering Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany and France. Its capital is Bern while its largest city is Zurich. Even though Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, it is part of the Schengen Area. They drive on the right side of the road.
Visa
Holders of a EU passport don’t require a Visa. For holders of a different passport check out this link to see if you are required to apply for a visa or not or contact your ministery of foreign affairs.
Power
Switzerland uses Type J plug outlets. They also work with Type C. Type N however doesn’t work. The voltage is 230 Volt and the frequency is 50 Hz.
Language
Switzerland has 4 official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. With 63% Swiss German has the largest number of native speakers. English is also commonly spoken as a foreign language.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Grüezi! | Hello! |
| Tschüs! | Bye! |
| ja | yes |
| nein | no |
| Danke! | Thank you! |
| Bitte! | You're welcome! |
| Entschuldigung! | Excuse me! |
| Prost! | Cheers! |
Weather Forecast
Climate
The Swiss climate is generally temperate, but can vary greatly between the localities, from glacial conditions on the mountaintops to the often pleasant near Mediterranean climate at Switzerland’s southern tip. Summers tend to be warm and humid at times with periodic rainfall so they are ideal for pastures and grazing. The less humid winters in the mountains may see long intervals of stable conditions for weeks, while the lower lands tend to suffer from inversion, during these periods, thus seeing no sun for weeks.
Average Temperature in Bern
Average Precipitation in Bern
Transportation
How to get around?
Most cities are small enough to walk everywhere. However, there are also public buses available.
Money, Money, Money
Currency
The currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc. Check out the currency converter to find out about current exchange rates.
Accommodation
Depending on where you are staying prices will vary of course. Expect to be paying around 55€ per person per night.
Cash
Even though credit cards are widely accepted, you should still withdraw Francs at an ATM. Cash is still king in many places like restaurants, markets and small shops. How much you will need of course depends on your spending habits. Expect to need around 60€ per day for food, transportation, activities and souvenirs.
