By its central geographical location, Switzerland is an ideal international destination for business, incentive and leisure travel. On request, we can personalise your welcome at the airport when your guests arrive and depart. Throughout the country, the public transport network provides efficient and full coverage. Switzerland is a country with many different facets. It unites an impressive variety of landscapes in a small geographical area and benefits from an exceptional natural heritage. As an important centre for communication and transport between the countries of Northern and Southern Europe, it has a common frontier with Germany, France, Italy and the Principality of Liechtenstein. The Alpine Arc, just a few kilometres away from Lausanne, features some of the finest mountain peaks like the Mattahorn, Mont-Blanc or the Jungfrau and spectacular passes: Grimsel, St-Gothard, Simplon and Great St-Bernard. Two rivers have their source here: the Rhone and the Rhine. These natural assets are further enhanced by security and dependability, Swiss values par excellence.

POPULATION

7 million inhabitants

CAPITAL

Bern

RELIGIONS

Catholics 41%
Protestants 35%
Other 3% 

POLITICAL STRUCTURES

Confederation consisting of 26 cantons, 3 of which are divided into half cantons. Each canton is politically independent as far as home affairs are concerned. Federal Council 7 members National Council 200 members State Council 46 members.

NATIONAL LANGUAGES

German 64%
French 20%
Italian 7%
Romansh 1% 

GEOGRAPHY

3 geographic regions: the Alps, Jura and Plateau.
41'293 km2
East – west 348 km
North – south 220 km 

SHOPPING

• Top-quality Swiss products, particularly watches and clocks, jewellery, chocolate, embroidery and textiles
• Swiss wines and liqueurs, such as Kirsch and Williamine
• Souvenirs: Swiss bells, Swiss knives, Swiss dolls, musical boxes and cuckoo clocks. Wood sculptures, lace and pottery, not to mention chocolate and cheese... 

GASTRONOMY

Through its exceptional cultural diversity, Switzerland offers a wide choice of different types of cuisine, influenced by the surrounding German, French-speaking and Italian regions. The many national and regional specialties include cheese fondue and raclette, ham and sausages, dried meat, röstis (potatoes), émincé of veal, to name but a few. Each dish is accompanied by the finest wines of the region; most of them come from the nearby Lavaux vineyards, which figure on the UNESCO world heritage list.

CREDIT CARDS

All major credit cards are accepted.

VAT 

7.6 % included in all marked prices.

TIPS

Included in all charges.

LOCAL CURRENCY

Swiss francs CHF 1.– = 100 centimes
Euros are accepted in most tourist establishments (change given in Swiss currency).

VOLTAGE

220 volts (alternating courant).

CAR HIRE

The majority of car hire companies are represented throughout the country.

TRANSPORTS

Complete local and long-distance public transport system: a network of unequalled density worldwide (rack-railways, funiculars, cablecars and other types of cableway, ships etc.) Taxis available on request.