It’s hard to make friends, visitors say, and Swiss culture is more impenetrable than stale Gruyère. You’ll be transacting in Swiss Franc, not Euro. By showing up on time, the Swiss are saying ‘I value you, and therefore, I value your time.’ So what does this mean for travellers in Switzerland? Happy cows + alpine pastures = exceptional dairy. As you may have guessed, all those guns aren’t just for show. The three regions of Switzerland differ greatly in terms of culture and mindset, not just in … The Swiss do business with the Swiss Franc (indicated as CHF), but visitors will find that many prices are also indicated in Euro so they can compare prices. The law says if your guinea pig’s best bud dies then you’ve got to get another to keep it company. Fun fact! The four main languages are Swiss German (very different from actual German, with a vaguely French quality on the ear), French, Italian and Romansch. READ MORE: Coronavirus: Switzerland promises everyone will be vaccinated by summer Do you have to get vaccinated in your canton of residence, or are you free to do it anywhere in Switzerland? MOST IMPORTANT TRANSPORT TIP: SWISS HALF CARD. All you need is a 10% deposit to secure your seat! Another important thing you need to know is that Switzerland is expensive. When you visit Switzerland, make a point of sampling their incredible dairy products and to buy some (tax-free!) The country is divided into 26 different areas (called cantons), much like the different states that make up the United States of America. A cup of coffee comes in at 4 CHF, a public transport ticket at 2.5 CHF, a three-course meal at 35 CHF and a movie ticket at 18 CHF. to take back home. The southern canton of Ticino speaks Italian. Switzerland: 10 Interesting facts to know before you go, I agree to receiving a personalised response via email, https://expatexplore.com/blog/europe-by-season-when-to-travel-where/, Europe seasons, weather and climate: When to travel where. Read more about Europe’s weather (and when to travel where) here: https://expatexplore.com/blog/europe-by-season-when-to-travel-where/. It all depends on what you want to experience when you’re there? Visitors can also take advantage of tax-free shopping. Others merely become incensed at this fact. At least for me, I consider it to be pricey. It was defeated. One of the best things about Switzerland is all the beautiful nature. You can buy fresh, unhomogenised milk from vending machines in some Swiss metropoles thanks to Stadtmilch, a crowd-funded project that was inspired by a young entrepreneur’s nostalgia for the days when milk was still delivered to your door. This is just one of the many awesome things the Swiss have given us. If it’s a good thing or not, this is not our area of expertise, so we let that in … Swiss Franc is the only official currency in Switzerland Switzerland is neither a European Union nor European Economic Area member. Switzerland has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world. 20 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: MY SWITZERLAND TRAVEL TIPS: You probably didn’t even think of half of these. We’d love for you to join one of our tours, you can take a look at our tours to Switzerland here >>https://expatexplore.com/tour_groups/switzerland/. Many tourists flock to Switzerland each year just to enjoy the Alps. But, like any destination, this Central … One of my favorite countries. But more on Schweizerdeutsch another time). 7 Essential Things to Know About Switzerland. Yeah, me neither. It’s only natural that a business-focused country like Switzerland should be the site of a rebellion against bad PowerPoints. There is magic in Switzerland no matter what time of the year you go. Brier Rose Smith said 4 years ago. Depending on you requirements during your stay, you could for instance invest in the all-inclusive Swiss Travel Pass that gets you free travel on premium panorama trains, use of public transport in 90+ urban areas, admission to 500+ museums and up to 50% off on mountain excursions. Spent a week in Switzerland and loved every minute, the people were very helpful with directions and an absolute joy to chat with, America can learn a few things from the Swedish. Image Source: Pexels.com But that doesn’t hide the fact that the Swiss have an almost unhealthy bond with their cows. It is a tiny country that makes people feel like rather in a large city due to its distance to neighbour countries. (Sources: SIPRI Database, IFOR Schweiz) The country hasn’t engaged in a single military conflict since, and Switzerland has no standing army. 15 Best Things to Do in Grindelwald (Switzerland) Picture a dream mountain resort and it would look a lot like Grindelwald in the Bernese Alps. Pro packing advice for your next big adventure! Dogs are allowed in restaurants, and can often be seen eating in them, while ‘social’ animals must be kept in pairs. Find what to do today or anytime in January. For one, if you make plans with a Swiss national, arrive on time if you don’t want to offend your hosts; for another, their trains leave on time, so don’t miss your connections! Or that the country has 208 mountains above 3000 metres? If you want to reward good service, it is accepted practice to round up to the nearest Franc. Switzerland is a model of democracy and was neutral during World War II. Weed growers tinker with other chemicals in the legal drugs so you still feel mellow. Among other things, Swiss manufacturers are exporting assault rifles, sniper ammunition and tanks to countries like Denmark, Germany, Saudia Arabia or Ukraine. plastic, paper, glass, edibles) before you put something in it. Always check to see whether a trash can in a public space is designated for a particular type of waste (e.g. OK, that’s not exactly true. We have reviews of the best places to see in Switzerland. Swiss Infodesk is an annotated link directory of selected online information about … 30 facts about Switzerland Swiss facts: geography, economy and population. Switzerland is one of a kind. However, you don’t have to go first class to enjoy all the amenities of a Swiss train – second class in Switzerland is far more luxurious than first class in many other countries in the world. VAT in Switzerland stands at 8%, but travellers can ask for Global Blue Cheques at any shop (provided their purchase exceeds 300 CDF, including VAT) to reclaim the tax at the airport. If you’re into skiing and winter sports, then you should go from November to March. What is a visa and do I need one for my tour? Take advantage of that youthful vitality and get out to discover the best of Switzerland. 37 Bucket List things to do in Europe this year. It’s kind of cool having a nuclear shelter (which is obligatory by law in Switzerland) particularly as it gives you somewhere to stock your stuff. The high living standard in Switzerland is reflected in the high cost of living. One of the seven is voted to be top-dog for one year only. There are so many of these heavily armoured stuff-holders that the entire Swiss population could hide away come nuclear war, once all that stuff is moved out of course. Posted on February 13, 2017 February 15, 2017 by cha. Thank you, Hello Angelyn! 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