Switzerland Travel Guide

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Shopping

Special purchases include embroidery and linen, Bernese woodcarving, chocolate, cheese, Swiss army knives and luxury handmade clocks and watches. Zürich is the shopping capital, centerd on the luxury boutiques and department stores of the celebrated Bahnhofstrasse.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0830 or 0900-1200 and 1400-1800 or 1830, Sat 0800 or 0900 -1200 and sometimes 1330-1600 too. Many shops (especially in rural areas) are closed on Monday mornings.

Currency

Swiss Franc (CHF; symbol SFr) = 100 cents (called centimes in French, rappen in German and centesimi in Italian). Notes are in denominations of SFr1,000, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of SFr5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.

Currency Exchange

There are bureau de change at train stations and banks.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. ATMs are widely available.

Travelers Checks

Pound Sterling, US Dollar or Euro checks are accepted at airports, railway stations and banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, visitors are advised to take traveler's checks in Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars.

Currency Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0830-1630.

Exchange Rate