Switzerland
Eco-friendly travel guide to Switzerland advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Switzerland, Europe.
- Air quality: 4 / 5
- Bus connections: 3.5 / 5
- Train connections: 3.6 / 5
- Hitchhiking: 4.1 / 5
- National parks: 4.2 / 5
- Outdoor activities: 4.4 / 5
- Locals' English level: 3.6 / 5
- Safety: 4.1 / 5
- Accommodation: US$22 - $600
- Budget per day: US$20 - $1000
Contents
Responsible Travel
Are you a tourist who wants to visit Switzerland but as a responsible traveler? If yes, as a traveling enthusiast, you have specific responsibilities and other moral obligations. While visiting the country, you must identify and control your activities accordingly so that you don't cause any harm to the local communities or the environment.
• Try to opt for public transports and electronic vehicles like available buses, metro trains, trams, bikes, etc. These vehicles cause comparatively less harm to the environment and are also cost-efficient.
• Instead of opting for luxurious 5-star hotels and guesthouses prefer the ones that follow eco-friendly measures like renewable resources, solar electricity, recyclable products, etc. By doing so, you can keep your carbon footprint minimal during your travel.
• Also, people prefer buying and using local businesses and artists' services rather than international brands. If you want proper exposure to the local culture, traditions, crafts, and people, the local companies will help you fulfill the needful.
• After sustaining the city life, try to visit parks and green spaces that act like an oasis buzzing with energy and gleaming bright green and blue under the harsh sun. Visiting the parks makes you feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Air Quality and Pollution
Following the planet Health Organization's guidelines, Slovenia's air quality is has improved considerably. The original recent data indicates the country's annual mean concentration of PM2. 5 is 10g/m3, precisely the recommended concentration. However, ozone and nitrogen dioxide, as well as nitrogen compounds, continue to be excessive. Before traveling to Slovenia, bear in mind the health concerns of youngsters, older people, and other people suffering from breathing problems. Tiny particles called PM2.5 irritate the eyes, nose, and systema respiratorium. Long-term exposure aggravates heart and lung disease.
The best time to travel to Switzerland is between April and June, and September to October when the weather best for trekking and there aren't too many tourists. Although, as you explore this snowy heaven further, you'll realize that Switzerland can be seen in different shades and colors as each season changes, so the best time depends on your plans.
Respect the Culture
Switzerland is made up of the oldest populations in the world. Resident foreigners make up 25.3% of the people, one of the immense proportions in the developed world. (64%) were from European Union or EFTA countries, Italians were the largest single group of foreigners, with 15.6% of Italians followed closely by Germans (15.2%), travelers from Portugal (12.7%), Serbia(5.3%), France(5.6%), Turkey (3.8%), Spain (3.7%), and Austria (2%). Sri Lanka and Tamil were the largest groups among people of Asian origin.
Switzerland has four national languages: mainly German, which is spoken by 62.8% of the population in 2016, French (22.9%) in the western part, and Italian (8.2%) in the south. The fourth national language is Romansh (0.5%), which is a Romance language spoken locally in Grisons' southeastern trilingual canton.
The cuisine of Switzerland is multifaceted. The traditional cuisine of Switzerland uses ingredients similar to other European countries. Also, it uses unique milk-made products and cheeses like Gruyère or Emmental. These are produced in the valleys of Gruyères and Emmental. The Swiss are also the world's largest consumers of chocolate.
Top 10 Places to Visit
Switzerland is considered a haven for the ones who are looking for wholesome photography as the place comes with terrific sceneries and structures which leaves the audience in shock. The swiss contains large number of craggy peaks which allows you to take some breathtaking pictures. One can explore historic districts on the outskirts of the city.Here are the most famous ten places that you should visit:
• INTERLAKEN - Popularly known as the watchmaking center from historic time, this place today is popular for its tourist attraction. Thun and Brienz are the two biggest Alpine mountains where this swiss city is located. Due to mountains, travelers done miss a chance to go boating, biking, or swimming near the lakes. The famous swiss mountain over this place namely the Eiger, the Jungfrau, and Monch allows a spectacular view. Few outdoor activities can also be done in this city such as camping and hitchhiking. A famous Swedish dish known as raclette is a must-try for food lovers.
• LAUSANNE - Home to two well-known colleges and serving as a major ski territory for a long time, Lausanne has nothing difficult to be seen about its alluring nature. Voyagers enjoy this city because it has areas separated by a wide margin. This place once known as the Old town has very much to learn for the ones who keep interested in knowing about historic districts. The structure of church and mansions can be observed by engineers and they can take rough ideas about the ideal design and shapes of old buildings. The famous Italian style building has 5 impressive halls for exhibition, making the spot ideal for shoppers. Few famous essayists such as the Shelleys, Lord Byron, and Ernest Hemingway has written about this place multiple times making it well known for the tourists. With superb sectors for business, this place also flaunts the house of God.
• GENEVA - Geneva is the home to the United Nations and the international red cross committee with its headquarters of over 20 other well known international organization. The Green city Geneva is enjoyed by environmental travelers because a majority of the city area is covered with parks, therefore making it the city of parks. The never forgetting Jet d’Eau colossal fountain can be witnessed through the Lac Leman waterfront that sprinkles water high in the sky. The tallest belongings of the city is the Cathedrale St-Pierre can be observed by travelers but photography might be prohibited from the inside tour.
• ZURICH – The largest city of Switzerland is popularly known for its hub of finance in Europe. Albeit you're not a neighborhood of the business world, Zurich has a great deal of supply to visitors. To start off, Zurich is found right the sting beside Lake Zurich. You'll love to hike or cycle around the perimeter of the lake for a few exercises, and you'll rent a ship and head out onto the water; otherwise, there are a number of man-made beaches in this place too where you can relax and spend time with your family or loved ones by springing over the water or swimming in it. Zurich is also home to a number of churches, top-class museums, and architecture.
• ZERMATT - It may be a village that's famous for mountaineering and skiing. Thanks to its closeness to the Matterhorn, which is one of Switzerland's highest mountains. Cable cars help skiers reach the surroundings of the mountain in winter and hikers in summer. A walk-in Zermatt is highly recommended because trucks carrying gasoline is not allowed and any automobile in town should be battery operated. The area being not so big is advantageous for tourists as they can move from one place to another in less than half an hour. You can easily roam around the city with the help of trains.
• THE JUNGFRAU REGION - It is one of the simplest places to go to in this country, both in winter and summer. Hardcore adventurers who wanted to Climb or ski loved to visit this place. Now, because of in-depth routes of railways and properly maintained bike and foot paths, the world is available to all sorts of travelers. The region consists of 4 picturesque towns: Murren, Grindelwald, Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, and three imposing mountains: Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau. One of Switzerland's most tremendous rail trip, the Jungfraubahn carry visitors from the Kleine Scheidegg mountain through the Eiger and Monch up to the Jungfraujoch.
• LUGANO- "Monte Carlo of Switzerland" is the famous nickname given to this city because of its growing popularity with celebs. This town is located in between the people who speak Italian around the Alpine mountain. Warm summers are the specialty of this city. The outdoor recreation of Lugano is the major draw for this city because it gave route to a lot of ways to stay active in the city. One might spend their day hiking while the other might take a walk over the city and explore the Old Town’s architecture. One should also visit the miniature village of Swiss.
• BERN - Bern maybe a picturesque medieval city with a history that dates back to the 12th century, though it didn't become a neighborhood of the Swiss Confederacy until the 16th century. At the same time, not the most important city in Switzerland, Bern is the capital. Zytglogge, an ancient tower with moving puppets, is the most famous attraction. Bern's other favorite sites include the Munster, a Gothic cathedral that rises from the old town, and its government building. The bear is that the symbol of Bern, with several kept in an open-air pit. The travelers will appreciate the old town that boasts four miles of arcades, making it one of Europe's most extended covered shopping areas.
• LUCERNE which is located in the section of Switzerland where German is spoken may be considered as the city with the perfect balance of all things. It includes a lake, mountains and proper city life. The Chapel Bridge of the 14th century is the most famous place over here. Another well-known mountain the dying lion is carved totally out of rock in honor of Swiss mercenaries. The city has an area where Puff pastry, mushrooms, and veal is pounced in ice cream sauces.
• LAKE GENEVA - One of the most important lakes in Europe, Lake Geneva lies on the course of the Rhone on the frontier between France and Switzerland. Apart from the Geneva town, most destinations within the Lake Geneva region are in either the French department of Haute Savoie or the Swiss Canton of Vaud. The city's geography is varied, with the Jura mountains within the north, a hilly plain within the center, and the southwest Alps. The most attractions here are the elegant cities and towns surrounding the lake, skiing and hiking opportunities in mountain ranges, and the lake itself.
Explore
Get along with the world’s most unexpected and unexplored winding streams, high mountain peaks, and terrific landscapes, become an adventurer by climbing over vertical walls, mysterious and dense forest with amazing waterfalls. Towery hard peaks are many of the few places to hike along and climb the wildest mountains with full guidance.
City Parks
o UFSCHÖTTI - Just a couple of minutes south of the railway station of Lucerne, this place is located. The Lake’s spot for washing allows bathing fanatics and worshippers of the sun a large area where they can easily relax and lie back without any worldly tension. There are a few numbers of trees giving proper shade allowing a cool breeze to flow in along with an out-large sandy beach. Visitors can also make use of this space and play football or any other possible outdoor games. Cooking is also available over the barbecue. The bar present over this area serves both hot and cold drinks during summer. Washroom and showers are also available for visitors.
o BONSTETTEN PARK- It serves throughout the year as a valuable public recreational area right the lakeside: open grassy areas, a playground, BBQ sites make the park a well-liked destination for families. A little forest, several avenues, and therefore the nearby nature reserve of Gwattlischenmoos are ideal for long walks. o BELVOIR PARK- Among the Zurich park, this place is a real treasure with the oldest landscape gardens. This place is recreated with large meadows, massive pools, elder trees, and a calm and quiet area. When it comes to Flora this place contains more than 120 species of it with the rarest one being daylily and iris. This park is officially home to “Belvoir Park University” along with a restaurant.
National Parks
Switzerland has eighteen official natural parks (and three candidate parks) classified into three categories (national parks, regional nature parks, and nature experience parks.
• THE SWISS NATIONAL PARK - Located at the farthest portion of Switzerland is this Roman Speaking Swiss national park around the Grabunden Canyon. The favorite pastime for tourists over here is watching the beautiful landscape and hiking. Few of the things are prohibited in this park that is cycles, tents stoves, and bikes along with a stay overnight are also permitted. There is some hotel present at a distance from this national park where people can stay the night and come back again fresh the other day. Chamanna Cluozza is a famous hotel where people tend to stay. • THE JURA VAUDOIS NATURE PARK - Right from the monastic town of Romainmotier it extends to the peak of La Dole. At an altitude of 1000m lies the Vallee de Joux in the north. Programs for visitors are offered by the park officials along with the help of tourism organizations. Pleasure hikers along with snow hikers and mountain bikers find this nature park attractive because of the mystical marshland, limestone rocks, pastureland, solitary forest, and glades.
Beaches
• EAUX-VIVES BEACH - A little pleasant atmosphere in the heart of the city of Geneva. A long and wide stretch of sand covers the Eaux-Vives beach and is eagerly waiting to welcome sun worshippers in their swimsuits. This is a new beach located on Lake Geneva's shores and is the perfect place to swim, relax and splash around in the water with a view of the Jet d'Eau.
• LORELEI BATHING ISLANDS BY THE REUSS DELTA - The "Lorelei" islands on Lake Uri is quite perfect for beach lovers. This archipelago was formed with 3.3 million tons of rock excavated from the Gotthard Base Tunnel to preserve the Reuss Delta's shoreline. There are numerous big, flat rocks where you can take in vitamin d from the sun.
• YVONAND - Gently sloping beaches, fine sand, and turquoise-blue waters. The beaches at Yvonand evoke that seaside feeling. Since the current in Lake Neuchâtel is only low, this bathing paradise is also suitable for children. The beaches at Yvonand are greenery and are the ideal place to kick back and relax.
Landmarks
• JET D'EAU - One of the most famous landmarks in Switzerland is this water fountain. It sprinkles up to a height of 140 meters. The place where the Lake of Geneva mixes with the river Rhone is where Jet d’Eau meets. The area of this river is so massive that travelers see it from a distance. It shoots more than 7 tons of water directly into the air. There are different variants of color such as blue, pink, and red in order to mark the occasion of humanity every two or three times a year. The best view of this fountain can be observed from the Bains de Paquis.
• ZYTGLOGGE - The great historical site which is also one of the earliest city gates in the town is the clock tower gate. This gate was constructed in the 1100s. one of the earliest watches built over this clock tower is a thing to see and this is one of the main reasons why tourists are attracted to this place 365 days a year. The watch was built before the 16th century. The clock tower gate was considered as the master’s clock for a long time. The style of this monument is as important as gold at this age to both professional and amateur photographers. Due to this construction, Switzerland has become one of the most important clock making region around the globe.
• CHAPEL BRIDGE- The Chapel Bridge is a 204 meter (670 foot) long bridge crossing the Reuss River in Lucerne. It is one of the oldest wooden covered bridges in Europe and Switzerland's main tourist attractions. The covered bridge was constructed in 1333 and was designed to help protect Lucerne's city from attacks. Inside the bridge, there are paintings from the 17th century, depicting events from Luzerne's history. In 1993, most of the images and the bridge were destroyed in the fire, but it was rebuilt quickly.
Museums
• LANDESMUSEUM - This museum creates a period scale of the growth of civilization. It depicts the time from the prehistoric era to the modern era. It displays artifacts that are made by early man to Romas to the 1900s. It is a glance at the 10,00 years of human existence. This is one of Switzerland's best art museums and is a must-visit for those who love history.
• BODMER MUSEUM - The Bodmer Foundation contains the literary collections of Martin Bodmer. It's a must-visit for travelers interested in the history of the written word. There are copies of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and a first edition of the Gutenberg Bible, documents hand-written by Beethoven, Napoleon, Borges, and other historical figures. There are also fascinating exhibitions held throughout the year. The travelers will leave the city feeling great and impressed by the many literary artists' power on show.
• NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF BERN - Among the many Natural History Museums in Switzerland, Bern's stands out as one of the best. Including many other exciting exhibitions, the Natural History Museum in Bern is Barry's resting place; it displays the 'legendary' rescue dog, which was credited with saving no fewer than 40 people from the Great St. Bernard Pass. It also houses a collection of giant crystals found in the canton of Uri in 2005.
Eat
The eateries of Swiss are mainly a combination of Northern Italian, German and French cuisine. Though the history of this place was mainly focussed on agriculture. Due to this reason many of the swiss dishes are comparatively more nutritious with the help of essential historic ingredients. Switzerland will never disappoint you with the menu of food it offers. It is compared to heaven for food lovers because the mouth-watering and lip-smacking food over this place is unforgettable.
• Traditional Local Restaurants
• Zeughauskeller - The city’s one of the biggest beer halls which is centrally located on Zurich's Paradeplatz was built in 1487. It has been displayed as an important part of the culinary history of Zurich. This place was recently used as an arsenal for weapons along with a few different military-related devices. This massive building’s interior is filled with traditional stone pillars and ceilings are made up of wood. The making of the city’s biggest hall gives a typical ambiance to the tourist and local natives. During busy days people tend to share table while loving enjoying their meal.
• KRONENHALLE - It is a culinary institution and one of the most renowned restaurants in the country. The restaurant's elegant interior features masterpieces by Picasso, Chagall, and Mirò, and visitors will feel as if they have returned to a more sleek period in time. It has also earned a reputation for world-class Swiss cuisine and regional specialties. The adjoining bar is one of the best globally, and it is well worth visiting before indulging in the traditional dishes. The Kronenhalle is the culinary event of a lifetime and a landmark of the Swiss restaurant scene.
• Vegetarian and Vegan
• HILTL - It is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Europe, founded by Ambrosius Hiltl in 1898 and was run by the same family for four generations. While the à la carte menu features numerous healthy and tasty dishes, the restaurant's extensive brunch is its real highlight with over 100 hot and cold vegetarian and vegan dishes (try the vegetarian "beef" tartare). The cooking reflects Swiss as well as international influences with all goods on offer marked. The Hiltl complex also features the first veggie butcher shop in Switzerland and a cooking studio.
• SAMSES - Harp directly over the large buffet system or individually choose from the la carte dishes, it’s your choice either way. This place is popularly known for its vegan palate. The menu of this restaurant is mixed with traditional swiss leading dishes, few of them are savory roulade loaded with bacon. Along with the special menu, there is a lot of all-around offerings in the buffet section. • AU DEUX PORTES - The food in this place is particularly of never-ending combinations and varieties, whichever suits ones taste. The management of this restaurant offers everything from Dumplings and Shushi to quiches and curries and in addition, the mighty desserts fill in the left out space. The specialty of this place is that it also offers cooking courses for the ones interested along with space for stocking up your place with the built in grocery from where you can stock up your kinds of stuff.
• Street Food
• CAROUGE MARKET - Carouge is a place where you will not regret going be it any time of the day. Many architects from the district of Geneva built this independent town in the 18th century. The most attractive part of this place is the shuttered townhouses. Carouge is filled with great enthusiasm along with good restaurants. Shopping becomes a lot interesting as the area covers a number of independent shops and artistic workshops over the center of the town. Travelers are recommended to carry large bags so that they can shop around the streets of Carouge and fill their bags with cheese, veg, flowers, vine, honey, and many other eatables.
• HILTL VEGI-MRTZG - The concept that this store uses is very catchy and cool. This vegetarian butcher is a famous brand of Hiltl as summed up by the Guinness books of the world record, it is the oldest restaurant in the entire world. Switzerland’s first non-veg delicacies were also introduced here such as sausages, burgers, and even local favorites of native people made of meat such as tempeh or tofu. In addition, there are a great variety of juices, fine wine, and lastly salads to buy too.
Drink
One of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Switzerland is beer, the majority of travelers enjoy both big and dark beers during their trip. The traditional way of serving white wine has become famous in recent times. A variety of espresso based milky drinks is served in Swiss Glass. Local people also like to drink the famous ‘Kaffee Crème’.
• Organic Cafes
• CAFÉ SPRÜNGLI - At Café Sprüngli, you'll want to try the house specialty Luxemburgerli macaroon. At the main café on the Bahnhofstrasse, you can consume various chocolates, cakes, biscuits, and tarts alongside the morning coffee. The Sprüngli brand goes back to 1836. This was the first store opened in Zurich, so you know you are in safe hands when your order here.
• LA STANZA - Near the Paradeplatz, La Stanza is a busy coffee joint straight out of Italy. The sharply dressed waiters dish out sweet Mediterranean treats, and traditional coffee machines spurt out the best espresso in town. Plus, if you're in the mood for freshly baked brioche for breakfast, then La Stanza is the place to find it.
• Breweries
• HAARIGE KUH BREWERY - It is Byron's micro-brewery. Delicious beer along with artificial oven-baked pizza over the banks of rock river is enjoyed by the community altogether. It is a great community gathering place where the travelers can bring friends and family and enjoy delicious craft beer and pizza while sitting on the patio overlooking the riverfront or from the beautiful window view in the taproom. This is a perfect place where travelers can dock their boat, watch sand volleyball, or enjoy time with friends around the outdoor fire-pit.
• WHITEFRONTIER BREWERY - awakes your senses with unique flavors at the heart of the Alps. This micro-brewery allows guests to widen their knowledge on the different steps needed to elaborate a beer. The WhiteFrontier invites visitors to step into its manufacture. According to their preferences, three tour packs are at visitors' choice: Pack S, L, or XL. Each of them includes a welcome drink, the brewery's guided tour, and beer tasting.
Tap-water
Yes, tap water is highly drinkable in Switzerland. Always take extra precautions while drinking tap water. Tap water is the safest product in Switzerland, and it meets the highest standards of safety and cleanliness. Like other natural products, it contains traces of other substances, but concentration levels are too low. Therefore, the tap water is safe to drink at any time.
Activities
Fill your next international holiday with Alpine adventure, tremendous folk culture, slick cities, and beautiful landscapes of lakes, rivers, and picturesque countryside. There're museums and medieval buildings to visit, lakes and gardens to picnic-away the days, mountain tops to hike or ride up, futuristic urban locales, and ancient Roman baths to soak in.
• Yoga and Retreats
The art of practicing yoga helps in maintaining an individual's mind, body. It also helps in managing flexibility, muscle strength, and body tone. After a busy and hectic schedule, people should find a way to rejuvenate, and doing yoga is the easiest way to reduce stress. Here are the most famous yoga centers in Switzerland are:
• SANAPURNA AYURVEDA & YOGA, ZÜRICH
• YOGA LAB, GENEVA
Accommodation
With access to a range of quality and affordable accommodation options, you'll find the perfect place to live in Switzerland. The vast majority of hostels, hotels, guesthouses, and homestays include breakfast – and nine times out of ten, this is toast topped with an egg, sugar, banana, and a cup of coffee.
Green Hotels
• SORELL HOTEL KRONE
• GAIA HOTEL BASEL
Hostels and Guest Houses
Some people often think about what is the real difference between hotels and guest houses. A guesthouse is a small and private house given out for rent daily to give a clear idea. Guesthouses are as social as hostels in Switzerland; if you are traveling with a friend, it's mostly cheaper or around the same price to get a private room.
• THE CHEDI ANDERMATT
• HOTEL VILLA HONEGG
• EIGER GUESTHOUSE MÜRREN
• B&B GUESTHOUSE DU LAC
Apartments
If you appreciate a place for yourself at the end of a day, an apartment or flat is the best home away from home. Furnished rooms and kitchen facilities give groups and families the flexibility to enjoy downtime separately or plan the next day's activities over a shared meal. Often available for short and long-term. Some of the famous apartments in Switzerland are:
• NACO APARTHOTEL
• MARCO POLO BUSINESS APARTMENTS
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is a traveling group with millions of members worldwide and is the best way to experience Switzerland like a local. Reach out to over hosts in Switzerland to discover unique places to stay and locals to stay. Use Couchsurfing to find accommodation in Switzerland, meet up with locals and travelers, and more.
Camping
Switzerland's nature is quite a perfect setting for camping or glamping. Around the country, sites offer beautiful accommodation with all the modern amenities a guest needs. Some of the best camping sites in Switzerland are: • CAMPING AROLLA
• TCS CAMPING SEMPACH
Regions
• Slovenia comes with caves, coastline, and hills in the southwestern side of the Karst and Coast • The northwestern lakes along with the Triglav mountain which is basically the Julian Alps. • The capital city is the central region which is Dolenjske, Novo Mesto, and Toplice. .
Cities
Geneva, Lausanne, Winterthur, Zurich, Basel, Gallen, Bienne, Lugano, Koniz, Thun, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Chur, Schaffhausen, Sion and Uster.
Getting There and Moving Around
EEA citizens and non-EEA citizens who are visa-exempt (e.g., US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia) need only produce a valid passport for the entirety of their stay in Switzerland. Other nationals of the city who are required to have a visa (e.g., South Africa) must produce a passport with at least three months' validity beyond their period of stay in Switzerland.
Air
Zurich has some important international airports while Geneva and Basel have comparatively smaller airports located in Berne and Lugano. The trips between certain cities such as Milan, Lyon, Frankfurt, Germany, or Munich is quite costly and consumes a longer time. Several international flights also give discounts such as Germany and Friedrichshafen which is not very far from Zurich. If you want to fly from Zurich make sure you have good cash in hand.
Bus
Eurolines and Flixbus services have included Switzerland into their bus networks and routes. Due to the Bosnian war, which was fought in the 1990s, numerous bus companies serve the Bosnian diaspora. This provides a cheap, safe, and clean way of getting to the Balkans city.
Train
Europe is available for the arrival of trains from every corner. Switzerland is a country which is next to Germany on the basis of Europe’s most significantly situated countries. Making it the central hub of railways and highways. Few of the important routes include: TGV Lyria- it is a French/swiss railway route connection, connecting high-speed railway trains running over the track all around Switzerland. Few of the trains that carry daily passengers arrive and depart from Avignon, Dijon, Nice, and Paris. Few of the direct trains run from Lausanne, Geneva, and Basel. Along with daily and direct trains, Switzerland also facilitates hourly trains running to and from Zurich to Karlsruhe, Mannheim, and many other train routes that run through Berlin or Hamburg. There are no less regular trains along with daily trains, few of them run over Stuttgart or Munich from Zurich directly. Along with daytime the TGV also runs night trains straight from Amsterdam, Hamburg, Paris, Zurich, Rome, Barcelona and many other countries.
Hitchhiking
As good as the Swiss train system is, if you have a little time, and you only want to travel 1-200 miles, you could try purchasing the world's best footpath maps and walk 10-20 miles a day over some of the most beautiful and clearly-marked paths, whether it is in a valley, through a forest, or over mountains. There are more than 60,000km of well maintained and documented hiking trails, and it is usually safe and adventurous.
Others
Cars are the significant mode of transportation over destinations for common tourists within the border of Switzerland. The Swiss motorway Vignettes is an important get through if you are traveling in a car and do not already have the proper paperwork for Swiss motorways. This is very much necessary to continue your trip. The Swiss will spoil you with fantastic transport - swift, disturbingly punctual trains, clean buses, and a half dozen different kinds of mountain transport systems, integrated into a coherent strategy. The discount options and various tickets can be bewildering, from half fare cards to multi-day, multi-use tickets suitable for buses, boats, trains, and even bike rentals.
• Walk Switzerland offers lovely walking. The established trails with their distinctive yellow signposts take you through some stunning lakes and mountain scenery. There are gentle walks - often with sections that can be enjoyed by cable car, boat, or rail - to all-day hikes on more challenging terrain.
• Bicycle Volland Schweiz has built up an extensive network of long-distance cycle trails all across the country. There are many Swiss cities where you can rent bicycles if you are traveling and even rent electric bikes. During the summer it is quite common for cities to offer bicycle 'rental' for free! Cycling in cities is pretty safe, at least compared to other countries, and very common.
• Electronic Vehicles In Switzerland, nearly all railways run electrically. Numerous electric trains get their power from a single-phase AC network at 15,000V, 16.7 Hz in Switzerland.
• Public Bus In addition to Postautos, cities and bigger villages have their local bus network. City buses usually run quite frequently. Depending on the city's size and the time of day, you'll see anything between 30-minute down to two-minute intervals.
• Tram, Train, and Subway In Switzerland, nearly all railways run electrically, but it is possible to find many steam railways such as the Brienzer Rothornbahn or the Furka Railway. There are many impressive mountain railways of all types. Zurich, Basel, and Bern all have pretty dense tram networks with excellent services.
Sustainable Shopping
Switzerland is a dreamlike holiday destination for all. When it comes to shopping, Switzerland is equally mesmeric and fantastic. When you are planning a trip to Switzerland never forget to carry a piece of extra luggage with you where you can load a good amount of Swiss goods. Some of the famous picks are stylish clothes, perfumes, accessories, and most importantly chocolates. Malls full of lightning with a long street full of independent markets, Switzerland is filled with thrill and fun.
• Food Market
A food market is a pedestrianized area and has been designated for restaurants and cafes. Browsing through markets is always a great way to spend free time. Whether buying food, art or rummaging through antiques, Switzerland needs to suit. Lose yourself among the inviting market stands that offer local food or unique art and accessories. Some of the best food markets in Switzerland are:
• CAROUGE MARKET
• VEVEY SUMMER FOLK MARKET
• Flea Markets Slovenia shows the travelers' stunning scenery, and the flea markets mostly make up most of the splendid landscape. Switzerland hosts some of Europe's loveliest and most rewarding flea markets. Some of the famous flea markets are: • BARFÜSSERPLATZ FLEA MARKET
• FLEAMARKET PETERSPLATZ
• Second- Hand Stores
Thrifty lovers would spend hours just to scour for the right piece of clothing that resonates with them. In a way, shopping at a second-hand shop is no longer about finding the right design for yourself, but it's about finding the right history that you would happily boast. Some of the famous second-hand stores in Switzerland are : • RAZZO SECOND HAND
• CARITAS SECOND HAND
• Eco-Fashion
Sustainable Eco-fashion is a process of creating a useful change in developing fashion products. It also includes the fashion system to achieve greater ecological integrity and social justice. The most famous brands which make eco-fashion clothes and accessories in Switzerland are : • FREITAG
• IREMA SLOW FASHION
Recycling
Waste management in Switzerland is one of the finest and most efficient globally, with a recycling rate of 54% and an objective of reaching 60% in 2020. Common household materials like aluminum and tin cans, batteries, light bulbs, paper, plastic bottles, clothes, electronic gadgets, etc., are recyclable.
Waste
In Switzerland, unique garbage bags are required for garbage collection, and these bags are priced according to their size. Recycling collection points for glass, plastic, aluminum, paper, textiles, and batteries are widely available.
• SRS SWISS RECYCLING SERVICES
• REMEX RECYCLING AG
Work and Study Abroad
Students gathering from different countries such as EEA, EFTA, and EU can find work during the duration of their study as an alternative way to earn. People not from the above-mentioned cities are treated in quite a different way. The students are only allowed to work after they have successfully completed their six-month study in the respected university.
Exchange Student
Swiss universities are very popular with international students, who make up 17% of the student body, almost three times the OECD average. As a result, international students are catered well for on Swiss campuses, and all the relevant information is available in English. The students can apply for one or two semesters as an exchange student or a visiting student and complete most of the degree at their home university. You can expect to pay about $600 per week for an exchange program. Add to the fees other expenses such as your travel cost, which can be equal to the price of the exchange itself, your visa expenses (if any), and insurance. You'll also need some money to buy meals.
Au Pair
An au pair is a helper or supporter from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family in another city or country. Typically, au pairs help the family by taking responsibility for childcare and some housework and receive a monetary allowance for personal use. A large number of opportunities are available for Au pair in Switzerland.
Volunteering
Volunteering means a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to launch a service. Opportunities are now available for professionals, volunteers, nurses, doctors, and healthcare professionals in Switzerland.