Switzerland

Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Which one is spoken depends on the region — German in the north, east, and center, French in the west, Italian in the south (Ticino), and Romansh only in parts of eastern Graubünden. English is widely understood in cities and tourist areas, less so in small villages and among older residents.

Prepaid SIM and eSIM plans from Swisscom, Sunrise, or Salt are easy to buy at airports and phone shops. Mobile coverage is excellent even in high mountain valleys and ski areas.

Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Switzerland, including most public fountains in towns and cities (a sign reading "Kein Trinkwasser" / "eau non potable" marks the rare fountain that is not drinkable). Pharmacies ("Apotheke" / "pharmacie" / "farmacia") are well-stocked, and a rotating pharmacy stays open outside normal hours in most towns. No special vaccinations are required for entry.

Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area, though not part of the European Union. Citizens of the EU/EFTA, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter for tourism without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Travelers from countries without a visa-waiver agreement need a Schengen visa, applied for through a Swiss embassy or consulate before travel.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Swiss culture values punctuality — arrive on time for trains, tours, and reservations. Greet shopkeepers with a simple "Grüezi" (German-speaking areas), "Bonjour" (French-speaking areas), or "Buongiorno" (Italian-speaking areas) when entering a small shop; walking in silently can come across as rude. Quiet hours matter, especially on Sundays, when loud activities like mowing the lawn or running a washing machine are frowned upon. Keeping public space clean and sorting recycling correctly are both taken seriously.

Public holidays vary somewhat by canton, but the dates below apply nationwide. Many shops close on Sundays and on public holidays, and some smaller towns still keep a midday lunch break.

• By train: The network, run mainly by SBB/CFF/FFS, is fast, frequent, and famously punctual, reaching even small Alpine villages. A Swiss Travel Pass covers unlimited trains, buses, and boats for a set number of days; book tickets and check timetables at SBB.
• By boat: Scenic lake steamers connect towns on Lake Geneva, Lake Lucerne, and Lake Zurich — a relaxing alternative to the train for short hops.
• By bus: Yellow Postbuses, recognizable by their three-note horn, extend the rail network into mountain valleys and villages with no train station.
• By air: Domestic flights are rarely worth it. The country is small, and trains are usually faster city to city.

Swiss meals tend to follow a light breakfast, a proper hot lunch that is still the main meal of the day for many workers, and a lighter dinner. Cheese and potatoes anchor much of the classic cooking: fondue (melted cheese with bread), raclette (melted cheese scraped over potatoes and pickles), and rösti (a fried potato cake) are the dishes most associated with the country, alongside Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (veal in cream sauce) in the German-speaking regions.

Chocolate and pastries are a serious local specialty — look for meringues with double cream around Gruyère, or a slice of spiced Basler Läckerli. A mid-morning or afternoon coffee break is a normal part of the day. Restaurants range from simple mountain huts to formal dining rooms; markets and bakeries are cheaper, good options for a quick lunch.

Switzerland's most-visited destinations cluster around its cities and lakes. Zurich is the country's largest city and financial center, with a compact old town on the river Limmat. The capital, Bern, has a UNESCO-listed medieval center built on a bend in the river Aare.

In French-speaking Switzerland, Geneva sits on Lake Geneva and hosts many international organizations, while Lausanne nearby is known for its Olympic heritage and hillside old town. Montreux, further along the lake, is known for its jazz festival and mild lakeside climate.

Lucerne, on Lake Lucerne, is a classic base for exploring the mountains of central Switzerland, and Basel in the north is known for its art museums and easy access to Germany and France. In the south, Italian-speaking Lugano sits on a lake ringed by palm trees.

For mountain scenery, Interlaken is the main gateway to the Jungfrau region, Zermatt is a car-free village beneath the Matterhorn, and St. Moritz is a high-Alpine resort town in the Engadin valley.