Switzerland Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Western Europe.

Language

German in central and eastern areas, French in the west and Italian in the south. Romansch is spoken in parts of the southeast. English (as a second or third language) is widely spoken.

Area

41,293 sq km (15,936 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Population

7.6 million (2009).

Population Density

184 per sq km.

Capital City

Bern. Population: 127,650 (2007).

Government

Federal Republic since 1848.

Head of State

President Doris Leuthard since 2010.

Religion

Roman Catholic (48%), Protestant (44%), others (8%).

Recent History

Switzerland has a long tradition of neutrality in its international relations, and has kept out of foreign conflict since its neutral stance was declared in 1815. In the 21st century, Switzerland is still not a member of the EU, following a negative vote in a referendum in 2001. Nine years earlier, membership of the European Economic Area was also rejected by referendum. Switzerland did, however, join the United Nations in 2002, and relations with the EU are now based on a wide range of bilateral agreements; as a result of a popular vote, Switzerland joined the Schengen treaty and Dublin Convention in 2005, bringing the country into Europe's passport-free zone and increasing co-operation on crime and asylum issues. A further referendum the same year opened the job market to workers from the 10 newest EU member countries.

Seats in the Swiss Parliament, based in Bern, are allocated by proportional representation and by canton size. The largest party is currently the SVP (Swiss People's Party).

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +41. Phonecards are available for use in payphones. SIM cards are available for mobile phones and the Swiss network supports many data-roaming packages.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet

Internet access is available in Internet cafés and phone booths operated across Switzerland, found in most major town and cities. In the case of phone booths, charges are payable by phonecard or credit card, while cafés are mostly independently run. Internet coverage is good across Switzerland.

Media

The main broadcaster in Switzerland is the public Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. It operates seven TV networks (three in German, two in Italian and two in French) and 18 radio stations. Most of its funding comes from license fee revenues, while a smaller proportion comes from TV advertising. Private TV and radio stations operate in the regions. TV stations from France, Germany and Italy are widely available, thanks in part to the very high take-up of multichannel cable and satellite TV. Some German commercial broadcasters provide tailored versions of their channels for the Swiss market.

Post

Airmail within Europe takes three days.Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1345-1830. Saturday closing is at 1100 except in major cities.

Press

European and international newspapers in English, including The International Herald Tribune and USA Today, are widely available.

Local press includes the Zürich-based Neue Zürcher Zeitung and Tages-Anzeiger, the Geneva-based Le Temps and the Lugano-based Corriere del Ticino.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
2 Jan * Berchtold’s Day
22 Apr * Good Friday
25 Apr * Easter Monday
2 Jun * Ascension
13 Jun * Whit Monday
1 Aug * National Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
2 Jan * Berchtold’s Day
6 Apr * Good Friday
9 Apr * Easter Monday
17 May * Ascension
28 May * Whit Monday
1 Aug * National Day
24 Dec Christmas Eve
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
(a) * These holidays may not be observed in certain cantons. (b) There are additional regional holidays which are observed in certain cantons only.

Contact Information

British Embassy in Switzerland

Thunstrasse 50, 3005 Berne
Tel: (0 31) 359 7700
Website: www.ukinswitzerland.fco.gov.uk

Switzerland Tourism in Switzerland (main office)

Tödistrasse 7, 8027 Zürich, Switzerland
Tel: (44) 288 1111 or 00800 1002 0030 (international toll-free) or 011800 1002 0029 (toll-free from US & Canada).
Website: www.myswitzerland.com

Embassy of Switzerland in the UK

16-18 Montagu Place, London W1H 2BQ, UK
Tel: (020) 7616 6000 or 09065 508 909 (recorded visa information).
Website: www.swissembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.

Switzerland Tourism in the UK

1st Floor, 30 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED, UK
Tel: (020) 7420 4900 or 00800 1002 0030 (toll-free in Europe).
Website: www.myswitzerland.com

Embassy of Switzerland in the USA

2900 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 745 7900.
Website: www.swissemb.org

Switzerland Tourism in the USA

608 5th Avenue, Swiss Center, New York, NY 10020-2303, USA
Tel: (212) 757 5944 or 1 877 794 8037 (USA-only) or 011800-1002 0030 (international toll free).
Website: www.myswitzerland.com