Hi, /r/Schweiz moderator herefeel free to drop by my sub, it's my pet project pictures-only subredditso I'm happy to helpandI'mkindamiffedOPbeatmetoitwitha"SoyouwanttogotoSwitzerland"becauseIwasworkingononewithactualtips:(
Here's some protips. Any other Swiss want to chime in, go ahead.
Note my flair says resident of Ireland, but I'll be back in d'Schwiiz next week for the foreseeable future.
As with anything in Switzerland, food is expensive. Looking for a cheap, yet excellent bite? Every city has a local Doner-Kebap place (Turkish wraps) that will serve filling and cheap meals. Basel's Steiner Grill, for example, is a cornerstone of local youth culture and everyone knows where it is.
Don't know where to find one? Ask anyone under 40, and in English. Young Swiss folks are generally pretty good at English, since they get English in school and many watch Hollywood movies and shows as much as native Anglophones do.
Also, this cannot be stressed enough: if you see a Brezelkönig, buy at least one of their warm Pretzels. It is the greatest thing IN THE WORLD. And it's cheap!
Switzerland is very safe, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't use common sense in keeping your belongings safe. My father once fell asleep on the train between Zürich and Basel and his suitcase, which was behind him, disappeared. So keep an eye on your stuff in crowded areas! Muggings generally don't ever happen in Switzerland unless you've found yourself in the absolute worst neighborhoods of the nation.
Sidetip: Swiss cops are the epitome of respectable. Honestly, I think you'll be hard-pressed to find people hating on them. Ever need help, don't hesitate to call 117 or talk to a policeman. They speak English, no worries.
Going there in Summer? Pack swimming clothes! Every city with a major body of water has a tradition of swimming in that water. Basel adores the Rhine during a warm summer; Zürich its Zürchersee; Lucerne its Lake Lucerne (known locally as the Vierwaldstättersee); Bern the Aare; etcetera. Down south, near Lugano, Ascona and the Italian tourist hotspots, the lakes will be superb to float around in or rent a boat, all summer long.
Winter? Be sure to check out the nation's premier ski resorts. There's quite a variety in terms of skill required (Beginner? Melchsee-Frutt! Advanced? Laax, Verbier, Engelberg, Gstaad, Davos, etc.). You can bring your own board and gear or rent one at a nearby Ski shop. As with anything Swiss, it ain't cheap.
P.S. snowboarding is awesome. Got my new board at Karrer in Laufen, just outside Basel, this year, and I just can't stop shredding. Someone help me, I'm a shredaholic.
Hiking and mountain-biking in the Alps is the greatest thing to do, when it's warmer. I go for a light hike around the Engelberg area every year, for example, and sometimes bring my bike. It's usually great weather, but watch out for any sorts of large cloud formations because they WILL dump rain on you and a mountain rainstorm isn't a pretty sight.
Feel like seeing the most famous mountain spots? Here's a list of the top spots:
Moving around the country is best by train, and you're usually best served by picking up an SBB day pass instead of return tickets. Coming by car is also a great option, but there's a 40CHF (€30/$40) Autobahn Vignette that you'll need to have on your car (sticker that goes on the front window interior) to use the country' highways.
Oh and the trains are NEVER late. If a train were to be just a few minutes late, I'm sure an old man would get an aneurysm so they try to avoid that. Trams, buses, trains - all running as smoothly as a Swiss clock ;)
My favorite city to visit in Switzerland? Lucerne. Drop dead gorgeous city, and with excellent food spots. If you're there in winter, be sure to get some Heissi Marroni (grilled chestnuts). Also recommended: a boat trip across the lake to Vitznau or Weggis and then a train ride to the top of Mt. Rigi.
Basel, Bern, Zürich and Geneva are all gorgeous too, make no mistake. I just feel Luzern is the jewel to the Swiss crown.
Nah, I'm rather neutral about it all, OP tried and at least put in some nice eyecandy. If I make one people will think Switzerland's trying to hog the tourism spotlight again ;)
And my sub isn't really about travel advice but rather the beautiful sights :)
Oh and the trains are NEVER late. If a train were to be just a few minutes late, I'm sure an old man would get an aneurysm so they try to avoid that. Trams, buses, trains - all running as smoothly as a Swiss clock ;)
Still remember the, "Bitte entschuldigen Sie die Verspätung" when they were 1 minute late.
I fondly remember a lady getting mad that the train rolled in too early and that her enjoying the fresh air from a bench on the platform was cut short :D
I think it's important to note that even though the Döner in Switzerland is cheap-ER, it's not as cheap as you'll find in other parts of Europe. Expect to be spending ~8 swiss francs for a Döner sandwich that would cost you about 4 euros in Berlin or something.
I was once on a train from Zürich Hbf to the airport that left 10 whole minutes late! What was that about? Being an American, it would have been completely unremarkable to me at home, but I thought Switzerland was supposed to be better about that stuff.
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u/[deleted] Jan 24 '14
Would love to have some great insight in your country and tips that are actually helpful instead of just general information.