Switzerland

Switzerland…..land of chocolate, St Bernard dogs, Swiss banks, precision engineering, watches, Swiss army knives; Cowbells, green rolling hills, yodeling, and Swiss Bank accounts. The entire country of Switzerland is mind-blowing; from the mountains, crystal clear lakes quaint villages; and beautiful people who are VERY proud of their country.

Switzerland – Absolutely Breath Taking

The Swiss embrace the natural beauty and vast landscape; it provides the perfect conditions in all seasons. Traveling to Switzerland in winter or summer will provide you with two very different experiences. Summertime the mountains are lush and green; the birds are chirping, the rivers and lakes are full; the locals are embracing their glorious country by doing hiking trails, swimming, and bike riding. If you are planning on visiting Switzerland in winter, first of all, lucky you! The mountains of Switzerland make up around 60% of the land area, and the Swiss are well within their rights to boast about the beauty and height of their mountain ranges. In fact the Swiss lay claim to come pretty amazing world records

Some Swiss world records – Switzerland

So back to winter in Switzerland; the snow is falling, the mountain peaks turn white. The charm of the colder months is truly a special time. Winter really brings the country to life; especially with the extreme winter sports.

Swiss Army Knives

Swiss Army Knives are one of the icons of Switzerland. Every recruit received a Swiss Army Knife upon entry into the Swiss Army. The idea behind them was to create a multipurpose tool for the soldiers. Each knife is equipped with a blade, screwdriver and a can opener; since then the tool has been modified and modernized. Eventually resulted in the products we have today with the iconic red plastic handle and more tools. Like everything, the Swiss do the quality is the most important thing. Every single knife that is released for sale is required by law to go through a quality control check before it is dispatched.

The Swiss Army knife replicas are all over the world; you will never find one as good quality as the proper Swiss Army Knife. Traditionally they are red with the markings of the maker; these days you can get them in a variety of colours; these common knives are exported all over the world.

There is a small tip, you will only be able to buy a genuine white Swiss Army knife in the country of Switzerland; they do not export the white ones outside the country. If you are looking for that special gift; be sure to get a white Swiss Army Knife; to make it even more special you can get the person’s name engraved on the side. Tourists can buy in Switzerland tax-free; make sure you have your passport with you, fill out the tax-free form and you will be exempt. Lucerne is great for Swiss Products, if you are looking for some places you can get yourself a Watch, Swiss Army Knife or even a Rolex be sure to check out our post Fairytale towns Switzerland

Helpful Hints when Travelling Switzerland

Switzerland is not the cheapest country to travel through; in fact, be warned you probably will go over your budget but it is totally worth every penny. You know the old saying you pay for what you get? Well, it applies in Switzerland the food, the products, and the incredible scenery are worth splashing your cash for.

Accommodation is very expensive in Switzerland you can save money by booking your hotel outside the city yet and close to public transport. Switzerland has the most amazing public transport system and it is easy to catch a train or tram into the city. The average cost of a decent hotel in the major cities is around $150 per night, the closer you get to the main attractions expect to pay around $200 per night.

Airbnb is a fantastic cost-effective way to travel Switzerland one-bedroom studio apartments can range from 70 Swiss Franc per night.

Swiss food has been influenced by French, German, and Italian cuisine. Swiss Cuisine tends to reflect the climate and many foods found here are popular all over the Alps, Generally speaking, basic food items include a huge selection of bread, dairy products such as milk, yogurt, butter, and of course the world-famous Cheese. The Swiss are also world-famous for their chocolate with names like Lindt, Toblerone, Nestle.

Cheese Fondue: Who doesn’t love cheese (sorry to those who are intolerant); traditional fondue is melting 4 different types of cheeses over a little tea light flame; making a gooey mess of deliciousness. Just be prepared the flavour is quite intense; with the 4 different types of cheese, it is like an explosion in your mouth of dairy goodness. It is not just about the molten cheese it is all about the experience; and sharing it with friends, taking your crunchy bread scooping up the flavoursome cheese with a bottle of wine; what more can you ask for in life.

Chocolate Fondue- The same deal as the cheese but with chocolate! The milk chocolate is melted over a small flame and kept at a perfect temperature for dipping; you can use almost anything you like to dip but the most popular foods are fruits like bananas and strawberries.

Rösti: Grated potato fried or baked and often served with an apple or a pear. This was originally eaten by Burn farmers but is now eaten all over and considered a national dish.

Eating out in Switzerland can vary in price, bars and cafes are a cost-effective way to stay on budget. Look for lunch specials which range from 10-15 Swiss Franc. By visiting the local supermarket you can pick yourself up a pre-made meal for around 10 Swiss Franc.

Switzerland is very well connected and offers the best public transport to get you anywhere you want to go, from Trains, buses, funiculars, and Cog ways.

Train – The trains in Switzerland are the best way to get around, It’s economical and efficient. you can get from Bern to Geneva in two hours which will set you back around $30, Zurich to Bern is about a 1.5-hour trip which averages about $25. Book your tickets in advance and save yourself some money, use The Trainline’s website to compare times and special prices.

Bus – Flixbus operates on a few routes throughout Switzerland, it does take a bit longer but it is much cheaper.