Switzerland

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A country in central Europe.The name is Schweiz in German, La Suisse in French and Svizzera in Italian.The country bounded on the north by Germany,on the east by Austria and Liechtenstein,on the south by Italy and on the southwest, and north west by France is noted for it's lofty mountain ranges, enormous glaciers, magnificant lakes and valleys. Switzerland is home to about 7 000 000 inhabitants. It's a small but outstanding developed country.

Zurich is the largest city ( 342, 850) followed by Geneva (178, 500), then Basel ( 164, 800), Bern, the capital ( 122, 300), Lausanne ( 116, 800).

Cantons

Switzerland is a confederation of 22 cantons, three of which are divided into half cantons or administrative parts.

Official languages

The official languages are German spoken in 19 of the 25 cantons; French spoken in 5; Italian in the canton of Ticino; and Romansch spoken by people in Grison.

Ski slopes of the Alps

It's said there are 125 ski resorts to choose from and more than 100 ski schools.Snow conditions for skiiing are excellent.

Crans Montana

Crans Montana is one of the top ski destinations in Europe. Every winter thousands of skiers of all abilities flock to this Southern Swiss ski resort in the heart of the Valais canton in Switzerland to experience the magic of the European Alps.

Switzerland – Interlaken, Zurich, St. Moritz and Geneva

Switzerland is the land of skiing, chocolate and very private banking. Ah, but there is so much more to experience in the land of neutrality.

Interlaken gets its highly creative name from sitting on the split of land between two lakes.

If you’re looking for a little extreme sporting, this is place. You can backpack, horseback ride, parasail and so on. To really take in the majesty of the alps, I highly recommend you cough up the money for a go at skydiving. You may have gone ski diving before, but I guarantee you nothing compares to free falling down through the mountains of Switzerland. This is how God must feel looking down at the earth. While God gets the view for free, you will have to pay…a lot. Still, the view and experience is something you will never forget.

Zurich

Zurich is the cleanest city in Switzerland, Europe and maybe the world. There place simply sparkles. Various guide books challenge readers to find a cigarette butt or piece of trash on the sparkling streets. Personally, I find the cleanliness of the city a bit of a negative. Stop rolling your eyes. The place is simply so clean that it seems to lack anyreal character. One keeps getting the feeling you are walking around a Disneyland Park. The budget traveler should be aware that Zurich is more expensive than even Disneyland.

St. Moritz

If you’re looking for the arrogant rich, over the top luxury and incredibly expensive prices, St. Moritz is for you. Not really my crowd, so on to the next city…

Added info:

Stretching some 60 miles through Southeast Switzerland from the glitzy resort of St. Moritz, the Engadine -- or Inn valley -- is perhaps the best place in the Alps for late season hiking.

Apart from the endless hiking possibilities, villages the length of the Engadine also have access to ski areas, some of which are high enough to stay open year-round. There are cycle routes crossing the flat valley bottom and windsurfing is popular on the lakes scattered around the upper end of the valley.

In St. Moritz, passengers can take trips down the world-famous milelong Cresta bobsled run, accompanied by a driver and brakeman.

Or you should take the seven hour trip on the Glacier Express through the Swiss Alps from Zermatt to St.Moritz.

Geneva

Geneva is not “just another” clean city in Switzerland. Okay, it looks like it at first and second glance, but the third glance may prove a delight. With cobble stone streets, the city reminds one of the stereotypical Swiss images in the media. In reality, Geneva has a bustling underground of live music, art and general fun. Four aspirin and two bottles of water later, I can certainly attest to it.

The only way to let your hair down in Geneva is to buddy up to a local and follow their lead. Trust me, you’ll have a blast.

Switzerland often seems a bit too good to be true. Perhaps it truly is a mountain mirage.

Guess you’ll just have to visit to do your own investigation!

Added info: Another option is to put on your walking shoes and get ready to walk the streets of Switzerland's great cities. Zurich should be on your list.And then there's Basel which has a very different layout to Zurich.Unlike the latter Basel is far more cosmopolitan.

Car hire and taxis are available at the airport, but are expensive in Switzerland. Public transport is clean and efficient and can get you almost anywhere.

Where train tracks run out, post buses take over to more isolated mountain resorts. Swiss rail timetable:www.rail.ch.

Accommodation in the cities is great but expensive.


	Home Travel The World Switzerland German - History of the language and why you should learn it Learn the little things of the German language The Schilthorn, summit in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland Places to Visit in Switzerland Switzerland Travel The World A country in central Europe.The name is Schweiz in German, La Suisse in French and Svizzera in Italian.The country bounded on the north by Germany,on the east by Austria and Liechtenstein,on the south by Italy and on the southwest, and north west by France is noted for it's lofty mountain ranges, enormous glaciers, magnificant lakes and valleys. Switzerland is home to about 7 000 000 inhabitants. It's a small but outstanding developed country. Zurich is the largest city ( 342, 850) followed by Geneva (178, 500), then Basel ( 164, 800), Bern, the capital ( 122, 300), Lausanne ( 116, 800). Cantons Switzerland is a confederation of 22 cantons, three of which are divided into half cantons or administrative parts. Official languages The official languages are German spoken in 19 of the 25 cantons; French spoken in 5; Italian in the canton of Ticino; and Romansch spoken by people in Grison. Ski slopes of the Alps It's said there are 125 ski resorts to choose from and more than 100 ski schools.Snow conditions for skiiing are excellent. Crans Montana Crans Montana is one of the top ski destinations in Europe. Every winter thousands of skiers of all abilities flock to this Southern Swiss ski resort in the heart of the Valais canton in Switzerland to experience the magic of the European Alps. Switzerland – Interlaken, Zurich, St. Moritz and Geneva Switzerland is the land of skiing, chocolate and very private banking. Ah, but there is so much more to experience in the land of neutrality. Interlaken gets its highly creative name from sitting on the split of land between two lakes. If you’re looking for a little extreme sporting, this is place. You can backpack, horseback ride, parasail and so on. To really take in the majesty of the alps, I highly recommend you cough up the money for a go at skydiving. You may have gone ski diving before, but I guarantee you nothing compares to free falling down through the mountains of Switzerland. This is how God must feel looking down at the earth. While God gets the view for free, you will have to pay…a lot. Still, the view and experience is something you will never forget. Zurich Zurich is the cleanest city in Switzerland, Europe and maybe the world. There place simply sparkles. Various guide books challenge readers to find a cigarette butt or piece of trash on the sparkling streets. Personally, I find the cleanliness of the city a bit of a negative. Stop rolling your eyes. The place is simply so clean that it seems to lack anyreal character. One keeps getting the feeling you are walking around a Disneyland Park. The budget traveler should be aware that Zurich is more expensive than even Disneyland. St. Moritz If you’re looking for the arrogant rich, over the top luxury and incredibly expensive prices, St. Moritz is for you. Not really my crowd, so on to the next city… Added info: Stretching some 60 miles through Southeast Switzerland from the glitzy resort of St. Moritz, the Engadine -- or Inn valley -- is perhaps the best place in the Alps for late season hiking. Apart from the endless hiking possibilities, villages the length of the Engadine also have access to ski areas, some of which are high enough to stay open year-round. There are cycle routes crossing the flat valley bottom and windsurfing is popular on the lakes scattered around the upper end of the valley. In St. Moritz, passengers can take trips down the world-famous milelong Cresta bobsled run, accompanied by a driver and brakeman. Or you should take the seven hour trip on the Glacier Express through the Swiss Alps from Zermatt to St.Moritz. Geneva Geneva is not “just another” clean city in Switzerland. Okay, it looks like it at first and second glance, but the third glance may prove a delight. With cobble stone streets, the city reminds one of the stereotypical Swiss images in the media. In reality, Geneva has a bustling underground of live music, art and general fun. Four aspirin and two bottles of water later, I can certainly attest to it. The only way to let your hair down in Geneva is to buddy up to a local and follow their lead. Trust me, you’ll have a blast. Switzerland often seems a bit too good to be true. Perhaps it truly is a mountain mirage. Guess you’ll just have to visit to do your own investigation! Added info: Another option is to put on your walking shoes and get ready to walk the streets of Switzerland's great cities. Zurich should be on your list.And then there's Basel which has a very different layout to Zurich.Unlike the latter Basel is far more cosmopolitan. Car hire and taxis are available at the airport, but are expensive in Switzerland. Public transport is clean and efficient and can get you almost anywhere. Where train tracks run out, post buses take over to more isolated mountain resorts. Swiss rail timetable:www.rail.ch. Accommodation in the cities is great but expensive.