Please note that Switzerland remains with the Swiss franc, usually indicated as CHF. While Switzerland is not part of the European Union and thus is not obliged to convert to the Euro, many prices are nonetheless indicated in euros so that visitors may compare prices. Merchants may accept euros but are not obliged to do so. Change given back to the client will most likely be in Swiss francs.
Switzerland uses type C (2-pin) and Type J (3-pin) plugs. (Type C 2-pin plugs also fit J sockets.) Most power sockets are designed for three pin round plugs. The standard continental type plug with two round pins, applied for many electrical travel products, may be used without problem.
There are seven major train stations in Zurich stations:
- Zurich HB Main Station
- Train station Oerlikon
- Zürich Wipkingen
There is a dense network of trams, buses and local trains (S-Bahn). A car is absolutely not necessary to get around; it’s more a burden than a benefit. The train station Zurich HB is the main hub for all transport services. All public transport in Zurich is free with a Swiss Travel Pass and several other rail passes.
Zurich’s public transportation network is one of the most efficient and reliable in the world. It therefore comes as no surprise that streetcars and buses are the preferred means of transportation for the city’s population. The dense network and frequent services connect every point in the city, and passengers get to see even more of the surroundings on their journey.
All the transportation companies are united in the Zurich Transport Association (ZVV), which is why one ticket can be used on all forms of transportation on the city network. This also includes boats, funicular railways, and cable cars.
Travelers are allowed to carry medicinal products containing narcotic or psychotropic substances without an import or export permit, provided that the quantity carried is no greater than that required for 30 days, and in the case of exportation, that the destination country allows this.
N.B. You may only carry the quantity required for a month if it is for your own personal use and not for someone else.
You can find further information and advice on certifications on the website of the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, Swissmedic.( https://www.swissmedic.ch/swissmedic/en/home.html).
Switzerland is conveniently located in the centre of Europe, making Switzerland’s airports popular launching points for travel within the European continent as well as destinations further afield. There are seven airports in Switzerland that serve domestic and international flights to and from Switzerland, as well as a number of private Swiss airports.
The busiest airports in Switzerland are in Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. The Zurich Airport had the lion’s share of passengers in 2015 with more than 26.2 million passengers flying from the airport. Following Zurich, Geneva was the second-busiest Swiss airport with 15.7 million passengers in 2015.
The main Swiss airports, specifically the airports located in Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern, are popular starting points for tourists looking to access the top places to visit in Switzerland.
You can hail one of the taxis with a blue and white taxi sign from the street. You can also call a taxi company like City Taxi Zürich (+41 76 250 3131) to request that a driver comes and picks you up, or use one of the local taxi company apps to order your ride.
The visa policy of Switzerland is a set of regulations established for foreign citizens who intend to travel to the country. The requirements are determined depending on the traveler’s nationality.
If the traveler has a passport from one of the 26 Schengen Area European countries, they do not need a Swiss visa, This is because Schengen citizens are granted passport-free access to Switzerland for an indefinite stay, if they enter the country using a valid ID card.
Other visa-free citizens for Switzerland are required to present a valid passport to gain entry to the country, for a maximum stay of 90 days within every 180 days. These visits may be for either tourism, business, or transit purposes.
However, from 2022, all passport-required travelers with Swiss visa exemption will be subject to the ETIAS visa waiver program. Once introduced, pre-registering for an electronic travel authorization with this online application system will become a mandatory requirement for these citizens to travel to Switzerland.
Foreign passport holders from around 150 additional countries must apply for a Schengen consular visa from a Swiss diplomatic government office to travel to the country, no matter the intended period of stay or reasons for the visit.
An embassy visa application for Switzerland should be submitted well in advance, as it may take several weeks for the travel document to be correctly processed and approved. Switzerland does not offer visas on arrival at Swiss ports of entry, nor does it currently issue any entry bans against any foreign nationality.