How to Reach Switzerland

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How to Reach Switzerland

Each one of us has planned to visit Switzerland once in our life for the chocolate, cheese, winter skiing, and portrayal of the beautiful scenes of the city in various movies. It is considered to be the ideal place for the destination. However, a lesser-known fact for tourists is that it is situated in the heart of Europe surrounded by beautiful scenic views. It attracts huge tourist attention because of the nature and delicious chocolate made here. Switzerland is also known for its neutral stance in political conflict thus, defining the welcoming and peaceful nature of people.

If you are planning to visit this place anytime soon, you have arrived at the right article. Here we plan to discuss things one needs to be aware of before traveling to Switzerland and certain dos and don’ts.

1. Modes of travel

Depending on your current location you can choose the mode of transport. Since Switzerland is a tourist place, there are multiple routes to reach here, the city has well-developed airports, train routes, and roadways. Thus depending on your feasibility, you can choose to travel.

Airways:
Traveling by flight is the most common way to reach Switzerland. Being a tourist attraction, it has multiple airports, the three major airports that connect you to the destination are Zurich, Geneva, and Basel-Mulhouse Airport.
1. Zurich Airport:
  Zurich Airport: It is one of the largest and busiest airports with international and domestic flights flying in and out. Visiting Zurich airport can be a trip in itself, the airport has more than 100 shops with a wide range of products. You will find books, eateries, souvenirs, cosmetics, and much more.
2. Geneva Airport: It is a major hub for international travel, especially from France. The airport consists of facilities to provide every comfort to the passenger. Transportation from here to Switzerland is quite feasible due to easy access to rental cars, urban trains, and regional buses.
3. Basel-Mulhouse Airport: The airport is situated on the border of three cities, France, Germany, and Switzerland. This airport is a hub for international flights and has easy travel access to neighboring cities. You can travel via rental cars or trains to Switzerland from this airport.
Tips for Air travel
1. Book the flight tickets well in advance to prevent last-minute hassle and extra charges
2. If you are traveling from far make sure to carry some books or other entertainment gadgets for the flight
3. Keep all your medicines handy if you are suffering from any health issues. Make sure to carry appropriate prescriptions for the medicines
4. If you are traveling with babies, make sure to carry all the essentials for them
5. Most importantly, keep yourself hydrated
Tips for Train Travel
1. Ensure to have your passport handy
2. Book the tickets in advance to avoid last-minute extra charges
3. The train coaches are categorized as 1st class and 2nd class. 1st class tickets are 75% costlier compared to 2nd class. The only difference between the two classes is, the 1st class has extra legroom. Thus depending on your budget make the preference.
4. If you are traveling with pets, the European government has certain rules for it. Make sure you get acquainted with it before the travel.
Train Travel:

If you are a resident of nearby cities such as Milan, France or Germany traveling by train would be a great option for you. The city has many rail routes with frequent trains for the tourist’s comfort.
1. Eurocity:
  These trains connect various cities such as Milan, Paris, and Venice to Switzerland. The trains are spacious, and airconditioned, and provide timely meals with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
2. TGV Lyria: The train carriages are spacious and royal. The tourism department has put in immense efforts to make the travel comfortable for the tourists. One can buy food at the buffet on the train. The train also consists of vending machines for light snacking.
3. Intercity Express(ICE): The ICE trains give you a luxurious experience of traveling since it is one of the top-of-range family of high-speed trains. It connects various hubs such as Frankfurt, Berlin, and Munich. The trains have recliner seats with spacious legroom, each seat has sockets for charging and the train also provides free wifi while traveling. One can book the train tickets at ICE 90 days in advance.
Road Travel
There are innumerable rental car options right outside all three major airports. Getting a car equipped with 4X4 driving would be feasible to drive through snow during winter or a usual car would work during summer. You can compare the car rental prices on websites that are easily available online.

There are innumerable rental car options right outside all three major airports. Getting a car equipped with 4X4 driving would be feasible to drive through snow during winter or a usual car would work during summer. You can compare the car rental prices on websites that are easily available online.
1. A1: It is a 4-hour drive that connects cities St Gallen and Geneva passing through major cities such as Lausanne, Bern, and Zurich. It is the longest route that runs from east to west and is more than 400 km.
2. A2:This motorway connects Bassel to Chiasso, passing through Lucerne and Lugano.
Tips for Road trip
1. Make sure to have the physical road map and not just rely on the maps built into the car.
2. Get an E-Vignette before starting the road trip. There are multiple websites to get it.
3. The motorways have rest stops for tourist’s comfort. A1 route has 19 rest stops whereas A2 has 12, many tourists stop not just for rest but to explore the surrounding scenery too.
4. On motorways, the speed limit for vehicles is 120km/h and 100km/h in the tunnels. Make sure to acquaint yourself with local traffic rules and regulations before hitting the road.
Entry Requirements
:
1. Visa Information
  Switzerland is a part of the Schengen area, which allows for visa-free travel for citizens from many countries. However, the rules differ for individuals based on their nationality. A visa application can be applied online at least 6 months before entering the Schengen area. A business visit or tourist visit Visa is for short term of 90 days.
2. Covid Guidelines
  According to the updated guidelines by the Swiss Embassy, one needs to test results for COVID-19 before boarding the flight and display the certificate of vaccination. Exception for negative test reports is made for individuals with full vaccination and individuals under the age of 16. Please check out the page of the Federal Office of Public Health for further details before booking tickets.
Travel Tips:
Switzerland is a place that is beautiful the entire year. During the Spring season (March to May) you will witness lush greenery, blooming flowers, and fading away snow. Lake Geneva and Lake Lugano are all recommended places to visit this time of the year with beautiful blue skies reflecting on their surface. Spring is also considered the best time of the year to visit Switzerland because multiple cultural festivals are held in Zurich. This is also the time when you can ski with less population around. You can also witness the Lucerne festival – world famous festival for music lovers.

Summers (July to August) in Switzerland can also be considered as the best time to visit because you indulge in various activities that winters block. This is the season when finally rope cars are functional, you can trek on the rocky mountains and mesmerize in nature. The traditional entertainment Alpine wrestling championship called Schwingen is worth a visit for quirky memories. You will get to see the street parade at Zurich at this time of the year and socialize at many events of Fetes de Geneve.
Just make sure to carry an umbrella or raincoat so that unexpected rain does not hamper your plan!

For tourists, autumn (September to November) is not the famous season to visit Switzerland but the locals will tell you about the allure of the city during this time. The city is comparatively less populated, winter is approaching, and there is mist and fog gathering. This is the time of the year when local citizens get their cows together for warm pastures before winter. One gets to witness adorable cows gathered at the same place along with cute activities such as music night and cheese exhibitions.

Winter (December to March) is the ideal time to visit Switzerland! If you are into winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding you must book the famous skiing lodges well in advance as they get filled with Christmas around the corner. Geneva has attractive and lively festivals during this time of the year that contain age-no-bar activities and a lot of chocolates! A major and huge attraction of Switzerland during winter is the World Snow Festival in Grindelwald showcasing amazing ice sculptures and an exquisite carnival in Lucerne or Basel.
Thus, overall Switzerland can be visited any time of the year and the place will make you fall for it.
Packing Essentials
Any trip is incomplete and disappointing without appropriate clothing. Packing can be tricky when traveling to Switzerland as the weather is unpredictable. You might want to carry layers of clothing that you can put on or take out rather than one thick layer. If you are planning to climb the Alpine mountains make sure to carry trekking shoes. If you are not a trek person carry a pair of shoes for usual walking. The city also has beautiful restaurants and bars to spend the evening, for such you might want to carry an evening gown and casual footwear to go with it. Below is the list of things you might want to carry while visiting Switzerland:
1. Shoes with sturdy sole if you plan to trek
2. Cap, water bottle, first aid kit, personal medicines, and an extra pair of clothes when trekking
3. In general, for the trip, you can carry clothes that are easy to wash, and dry and have a material that does not need ironing.
4. Shorts, capri-pants, zip-off pants for the day
5. 2-3 extra pairs of jackets or sweaters for nights or if you are traveling in winter.
6. Casual outfits for the evening, gloves, and nightwear
7. Make sure to carry a Swiss plug adapter (Europe type C plus), and chargers for other electronic gadgets.
8. Carry a raingear or umbrella to be on a safer side
9. Have all the documents such as Visa, passport, and E-Vignette handy while traveling.
  It is recommended to carry light during travel for comfort. Above mentioned are general suggestions, you can always modify the list based on your needs and comfort.

How to Reach Switzerland

How to Reach Switzerland

1. Modes of travel

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