SWITZERLAND

OVERVIEW ATTRACTIONS TRANSPORTATION SHOPPING WHERE TO EAT WHERE TO STAY

TRAVEL TIPS

OVERVIEW

Worldly known by its delicious chocolates,

high quality watches and the beautiful

Alps, Switzerland, in central Europe, is one

the countries with the lowest crime rates

in the world and better quality of life in

the world.

Visiting Switzerland is learning about

a country with charming streets and

houses, advanced public transportation

system and infrastructure, besides

admirable natural beauties. Huge snow

peak covered mountains and dazzling

millennium architecture make tourists fell

like in a movie set.

In spite of being a small country, with little

more than 41 thousand km2 (slightly small-

er than the State of Rio de Janeiro) Switzer-

land has 26 Cantons (federative members

of the Federal State with broad autonomy),

which until half the XVIII century were

sovereign states, each of them maintaining

its cultural roots and identities. The country

borders are France to the West; Germany to

the North, Austria and Lichtenstein Princi-

pality to the East and Italy to the South.

Switzerland unites the tranquility and

beauty of the mountains, glaciers

and lakes to the modernity of the

cosmopolitan life of larger cities. Tourists

will be charmed by the historical streets

of the capital Bern or the charming

Lucerne, and can go in an adventure on the

mountains of Interlaken, visit the countless

museums in Basel or have fun in Zürich,

the country’s most populated city.

With rich cultural diversity, every region in

Switzerland has a mostly spoken language.

The main four are: German (spoken by

63.5% of the population), French (22.5%),

Italian (8.15%) and Romansh (1%), a

dialect spoken in Graubünden Canton.

Romansh is a linguistic relic derived from

Latin, which survived in the rocky valleys

isolation and was acknowledged as national

language. In case the tourist is not fluent in

any of the languages, there is no need to

worry. English is widely spoken across the

country.

In Switzerland, the seasons are well de-

fined. The best time for visiting depends

on the kind of activities you want to enjoy.

Therefore, planning is fundamental. De-

pending on the time of the year, it may be

necessary to bring warm coats, comfortable

shoes or sunglasses and sunblock.

Winter (from January to February) is the

best time for those who wants to go ski-

ing, due to the intense snow on the lower

mountains. There are several ski resorts.

However, be prepared to face cold tempera-

tures ranging from -2º C to 7º C. Going out

on the street may be freezing.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSSWITZERLAND

Those who are not used with cold weathers

and prefers to enjoy milder temperatures

should travel on springtime (from March

to May). During this season, the fields are

deep green and flowers blossom in the

streets, inviting for a stroll. There is snow

on the highest regions of the Alps, but it is

not the best season for skiing.

During Fall (from September to November),

the leaves change their color, painting a

beautiful landscape. Temperatures range

between 8º and 15º C just like Spring.

Lots of tourists visit Switzerland during

Summer (from June to August) crowds

the cities. Daytime temperatures my vary

between 18º and 28º C reaching staggering

30º C on hotter days.

PASSPORT AND VISAThe visa is only necessary for tourists stay-

ing for more than three months in a row. All

travelers must have a passport valid for at

least 90 days after leaving the country.

For more information on visas, permanent

residency as well as work authorizations

and business matters, the traveler must

contact the nearest Swiss Consulate.

ATTRACTIONS

Visiting Switzerland is certainly on of the

most incredible experiences a traveler may

get. You will be mesmerized by its charming

rivers, bridges and museums, and admire

one of the most beautiful landscapes in the

world, with lakes and mountains showing

a wide shade of forest greens and snow

whites, depending on the season. Have fun

at the bars and restaurants of the larger

cities or practicing radical sports by the

countryside.

ZÜRICH The most populated town in Switzerland

is a great example of what the tourist can

expect in his visit. Counting with operas,

theaters, musicals, art exhibits, a sizzling

nightlife, over 50 museums and 100 art gal-

leries, having few entertainment options is

not an issue. Featuring historical buildings,

Old Town Zürich transports the visitors to

Medieval Times.

Other attraction is Zürich Lake, which counts

on walking options either on summer or

on winter. The Bürkliterrasse is a gather-

ing spot where the Alps can be admired

on cleared sky days. Rapperswil charms

visitors with many attractions: the castle,

the historical wooden bridge, the zoo and

Alpamare water park, ideal for family time.

BERNThe country capital is another city that de-

serves. Walking through the streets is trav-

eling back in the time to the medieval age.

The historical center, known as Old Town, is

part of UNESCO World Heritage. In addition

to its unique architecture, the city portrays

the longest cover shopping sidewalks in

Europe stretching for about 6km.

LUCERNEConsidered by many as the most beautiful

town in the country, it lives up to its

reputation. With breathtaking landscapes,

one of the most enchanting is the “cherry

street”, just out of town, offering the

tourist a beautiful sight of the cherry trees.

The trip to the Pilatus or Rigi mountains

and the steamship tour on the waters

of Lake Lucerne with its curves and

embranchments, are also noteworthy.

GENEVALocated on the French Canton, it is another

important city, which welcomes its visitors

from around the globe. Due to its human-

itarian traditions and cosmopolitan envi-

ronment it the European capital of the UN,

the the Red Cross headquarters, and is also

known as the “capital of peace”.

BASELLocated in northwest Switzerland, near the

French and German border, it is the oldest

town in the country. It is a must-go for the

culture, art, and design lovers, boasting on its

40 museums. The highlight is the Art Muse-

um, which has approximately 200 sculptures

and art works from outstanding artists such

as Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, among others.

The medieval style squares, several modern

art fairs, the Münster Cathedral and Reno

River are other attractions. The city also

have the country’s larger zoo, surpassing 600

species. Also in Basel is Dufry’s headquarters,

which was founded in 1865.

MATTERHORN MOUNTAINConsidered on of the country’s main sym-

bols, the mountain in the city of Zermatt

is a must-see attraction. Immortalized on

Toblerone chocolates wrappings, it is one

of the most photographed mountains in the

world. Climbing the Motterhorn is extremely

challenging and recommended to expert

mountaineers. For the non-mountaineers, is

possible to use the Zermatt Lift Chair to the

highest station of the Alps, 3,820 meters

above sea level. The view is stunning.

INTERLAKENIt is one of the most sought after destina-

tions by tourists, especially those who enjoy

adventures. Located between the Thun and

Brienz lakes, the site offers a beautiful view

of the enormous Eiger, Mönch and Jung-

frau . Internationally famous, it is the start-

ing point for many excursions throughout

Switzerland. With more than 45 railroads

taking you to an amazing tour through the

mountains, in addition to several ski lifts,

ski slopes and ice skating and several

hiking tracks.

Still in Interlaken, a mandatory visit is the

St. Beatus Caves, a limestone cave with

about 1 km large and gorgeous waterfalls.

It is accessible by boat, car, bus or hiking.

Another unforgettable tour is the Top

of Europe, train ride up to Jungfraujoch

Mountain, the highest peak of the conti-

nent, where you can get to by train (nearly

3,500m of altitude).

TRANSPORTATION

Switzerland has one of the largest public

transport networks in the world, with

around 26 thousand kilometers, and fully

interconnected system. It is also why the

country is considered one of the best ones

to live on. Tourists have the convenience of

being able to use only one type of “all-in-

one” fare, which works for train travel, boat

or bus across Switzerland. The trains are

extremely comfortable and departures have

regular times, every half-hour or 1 hour,

depending on the place of destination.

SWISS TRAVEL PASS Is a fair way to save money for those who

want to visit several cities using public

transport. It offers a series of advantages:

free and unlimited travel (by train, intermu-

nicipal bus or boat); free and unlimited trav-

el in municipal transportation for 75 towns

and cities; 50% off in the main cable car

rides and free admission in more than 490

museums. The fare amount varies according

to the number of days you want to use it

(3, 4, 8 or 15 days).

SWISS TRAVEL PASS FLEXIn this fare modality, in addition to all the

advantages of the Swiss Travel Pass, you

can choose the dates and destinations. The

fare is valid for a given number of days

within the selected month. Days can be

selected individually and do not need to be

consecutive.

SWISS TRANSFER Indicated for travelers who want to stay in

only one city. The fare includes transporta-

tion to and from the airport train station to

your destination and is valid for one month.

It also has all the advantages of the Swiss

Travel Pass.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSSWITZERLAND

SWISS FAMILY CARD If the visitor takes a family trip and uses

one of the fares listed above, a free Swiss

Family Card may be requested with no

charge. Children under 16 years old travel

with no charge when accompanied by at

least one of the parents. If they want to

travel unaccompanied, they are entitled to a

50% discount on any one of the fares. Chil-

dren under 6 years old travel for free, even

without the Swiss Family Card.

SWISS YOUTH PASSPurposed for passengers under 26 years old

who wants to travel through Switzerland

by train, bus or boat. They are entitled to

a 15% discount on the regular Travel Pass

Swiss value.

SWISS HALF FARE CARDIndicated for those who want to spend

many days in Switzerland. Valid for 1

month, the ticket offers a 50% discount

on the purchase of train tickets and urban

transport fares. There are no discounts for

attractions and sightseeing.

All tickets may be purchased at the coun-

try’s official site (http://www.myswitzer-

land.com/en-us/transport-travel/trans-

port-travel-passes/swiss-travel-pass.html)

or Swiss railway stations.

SHOPPING

Going to Switzerland and not buying at

least one piece of cheese or chocolate is

such a waste! However, those are not the

only popular items among tourists. The

Swiss clocks, knives and pocketknives are

renowned worldwide and are among the

most sought after by travellers utensils.

One of the more traditional clock and jew-

elry stores is the Bucherer, in Lucerne.

Famous for having the most complete

selection of Rolex watches, it has a huge

diversity of models and other brands. In ad-

dition, the jewels of its own creation, such

as natural color diamonds, uniquely colored

stones and Tahiti pearls are also a hit.

For those seeking Swiss pocketknives, the

best option is Victorinox. With several units

throughout the country, it is also possible

to find knives, watches, suitcases, clothes,

perfumes and various traveling articles. It

is a great place to buy souvenirs for friends

and relatives. It is worth knowing the Vic-

torinox Brand Store, in Brunnen, which

houses a museum that shows the story of

the Swiss army knife. If this visit is not part

of the script, the good news that is that

Dufry shops sell Victorinox accessories in

the main airports of the world. Therefore,

save a space in your bag to ensure the best

products fit in there; and better yet: with

special discounts.

We also recommend that you save space in

your bag for the irresistible Swiss delicacies.

And one of them, without a shadow of a

doubt, is the famous and traditional cheese.

One of the must-see activities is visiting

the Switzerland Cheese Marketing, in

Bern, with about 450 types of cheese. The

most famous are the spicy Appenzeller and

Sbrinz AOP, the extremely soft Vacherin Mont

d’Or AOP, and the aromatic Le Gruyère AOP

. The cheese bombs, known as Malakoffs,

are also delicious and ideal for savoring in

slices.

The famous Swiss chocolates could be

left out of the list, right? Sold throughout

the country, Frey chocolates melt in your

mouth. In addition to the irresistible flavor

and diversity of flavors, their price is more

accessible. Also worth a visit is the beautiful

Cailler chocolate factory in the city of Bulle,

near Lake Geneva. In addition to knowing

the entire manufacturing process, it is

possible to experience all products and

choose your favorite. And last, but not least,

the authentic Lindt chocolates, which are

worldly famous and can be found on the

main markets.

Another great place to buy traveling

souvenirs is in the Bahnhof Street, in

Zürich. Considered the main shopping

area of the city, has several fashion and

department stores, boutiques and souvenir

shops. Another tip is to know the Freitag, a

shop specialized in ecological bags, made of

recycled materials, with stunning designs. A

great option for a gift.

Bern is also a great city for shopping,

boasting the longest shopping promenade

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSSUÍÇA

in Europe. There are 6 km of arcades

(covered shopping sidewalks) where it is

possible to find clocks, chocolates, clothes,

pocket knifes and high quality perfumes.

LOCAL CURRENCY AND TAXThe currency is the Swiss Franc, represent-

ed by the acronym CHF. Although Switzer-

land is not part of the European Union, it

is common to find products being sold in

Euros, for it receives many visitors from all

over the continent. However, it is likely that

the returned change is in Swiss Francs.

The Swiss franc has 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents

and 1, 2 and 5 franc coins. The bills are 10,

20, 50, 100, 200 and 1,000 CHF.

In addition to the official exchange houses,

it is possible to exchange money in banks,

airports, in the main railway stations

(Western Union) and in big hotels . Usually,

the banks offer the best rates. The hotels

and some exchange houses may charge an

extra fee for this service.

Foreign tourists are eligible for a refund in

case of purchases over CHF 300 (including

value added tax) in case the goods leave

the country within 30 days. The tax on the

value added in Switzerland is 8 % on pur-

chased products.

When paying for the purchase, the tourist

can request a Refund Check to the seller.

When leaving the country, it is necessary

to show the goods purchased, invoices and

the passport at the customs authorities so

theRefund Check is stamped. At the nearest

Refund Office, just show the stamped Re-

fund Check, your passport and credit card

to request an immediate credit card Refund.

Reimbursement can also be done in cash.

WHERE TO EAT

As the habits and traditions that have been pre-

served over the years, Switzerland has a huge

wealth and culinary diversity. World famous for

its cheese and chocolate, Swiss dishes go way

beyond that and are delicious. In rural areas,

there are a number of festivals and foodie

exhibitions, in which local chefs present their

typically Swiss irresistible creations.

In addition to the above, in Zurich, for in-

stance, there are more than 1,700 restau-

rants and bars, where the tourist can enjoy

from the most traditional dishes to exotic

specialties. There are various types of fla-

vors for all tastes and budgets.

FOOD IN ALL PRICE RANGESThe most accessible meal usually is the

“Tagesmenü” (the today special), offered

by restaurants at lunchtime, which includes

an entry (soup or salad) and a main course.

During the evening, choose between dishes

a little less expensive than those offered

on the menu. The average price of a main

dish “à la carte” may vary from 20 to 50

Swiss francs. If the option is to pay less for

meals, the best choice are the snack bars

or restaurants in the department stores,

such as Migros, Coop and the Manor. Those

visitors who do not eat meat will also find

all kinds of options in vegetarian dishes and

restaurants.

Lunchtime is usually between 12 and 2pm.

However, in some restaurants, it can be

even sooner. Most of the times, dinner is

served between 6pm and 9:30pm. Many

restaurants, mainly in the cities, also offer

hot meals throughout the day, from 11am

to 10pm.

FOODIE TOURSA delicious activity is to visit the traditional

Klamby Bakery, in Trubschachen, Central

Switzerland. There, it is possible to see the

bakers in action, make your own cookies and

try over 100 types of Swiss biscuits. The best

option is to take the train. There are daily

departures, hourly, taking the BLS going from

Berne or Lucerne to Trubschachen.

Another place you can’t-miss is one of the

Swiss chocolate factories. The Chocosuisse

is an association of 18 manufacturers, large

and small, as Cailler, Aeschbach Alprose,

Chocolatier, Frey Chocolates, among others.

Visitors learn how chocolate is produced,

taste them and may buy chocolate directly in

the factory store.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSSWITZERLAND

For those who enjoy wine, one must stop

is Vaud, one of the main wine regions of

Switzerland. Located on Lake Geneva, it has

an ideal landscape to appreciate one of its

48 special labels.

It is worth remembering that Switzerland

has more than 200 varieties of grapes, pro-

duces different noble wines and only 2% of

them are exported. The small vineyards and

steep slopes make it a difficult and limited

production. Therefore, the organization in-

vests in a smaller-sized production, but with

very high quality.

WHERE TO STAY

With unique quality hotels, Switzerland

hospitality is a world reference. Country

of cultural diversities, in Switzerland there

are different types of accommodations:

ski resorts, luxury hotels, accommodations

in which guests sleep on haystacks, stilts,

apartments, chalets and hostels.

RESORTS AND LUXURY HOTELSElected the best hotel in the world by

TripAdvisor in 2014, the Grand Hotel Kro-

nenhof in Pontresina, was founded in the

19th century and has luxurious rooms with

unique architecture. The Alpine region also

houses several options of luxury hotels and

resorts for anyone who wants to go skiing.

The majority of them has comfortable ac-

commodation with spa, jacuzzi, heated pool,

in addition to the incredible mountain view.

RURAL HOTELFor those who enjoy picturesque lodgings,

we recommend the Erlebnisbauernhof

Weid. Located in the Obwalden Canton, hosts

travelers in its farm wooden stable with an

area of 9 acres. In operation since 1914, on

the same access road to Melchsee-Frutt ski

station, the farm specializes in rural tourism

and welcomes guests with cheese, apple and

cherry juice: all locally produced.

PALAFITTE HOTELConsidered the only one in Europe that was

built on stilts, the accommodations in which

guests have exclusive access to the Lake

Neuchâtel, in western Switzerland. With

approximately 218 km² is considered the

biggest Swiss lake. In the summer the tem-

perature reaches 23º C; one can even swim.

APARTMENTS AND CHALETS: Those who want a little more privacy can

also choose to rent an apartment or chalet.

Available in all major regions, prices vary

between 400 CHF 700 CHF per week.

YOUTH HOSTELSAvailable in almost all regions, these hostels

are great options for those in search for

economy. Charming and cozy, it is possible

to find daily rates of up to 50 CHF. One of

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

41 COUNTRY CODE

POLICE

FIRE DEPARTMENT

MEDICAL

EMERGENCIES

RESCUE

117118

144

1414

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

(41) 22-717-7111

(41) 43-816-2211

GENEVA AIRPORT

ZÜRICH AIRPORT

TOURIST INFORMATION

00800 100 200 29

the most sought is in Basel, famous by

design and architecture.

BED & BREAKFASTThis type of accommodation is another

option for those who want to make a trip

on budget. Search www.bnb.ch and you will

find different options and descriptions of

the accommodations. The Vivement jeudi

Bed & Breakfast in Couvert, a municipality

with less than 3 thousand inhabitants, of-

fers rooms in remodeled trailers for guests.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSSWITZERLAND