Air Travel
All services are operated by Swiss (LX) (www.swiss.com). Domestic air travel is fast but expensive, and with the exception of the Geneva to Zürich flight (journey time - 45 minutes), many businesspeople prefer to travel by rail or road.
Rail Transport
Rail transport is particularly well developed in Switzerland, with excellent services provided by Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB) (tel: 00800 1002 00300;www.sbb.ch) and many other operators. Use of the Swiss Pass (see below) is a superb way to view the scenery, although mainline services are geared to the needs of the hurried business traveller.
Trains run at least hourly from the major centres and there is a country-wide timetable of regular services. There are dining cars on many trains and snacks and refreshments are widely available. Independent railways, such as the Rhätische Bahn in the Grisons and the Berner-Oberland-Bahn, provide services in certain parts of the country. The SBB has introduced specialised cars fortravellers using wheelchairs.
There are also a large number of mountain railways which are sometimes the only means of access to winter resorts. Some of these are attractions in their own right: the Gornergrat-Bahn in Zermatt is one of the oldest mountain railways and climbs to a height of over 3,000m (over 9,800ft) above sea level, offering a spectacular panorama of the Matterhorn and surrounding mountains.
Train Passes
Trains run at least hourly from the major centres and there is a country-wide timetable of regular services. There are dining cars on many trains and snacks and refreshments are widely available. Independent railways, such as the Rhätische Bahn in the Grisons and the Berner-Oberland-Bahn, provide services in certain parts of the country. The SBB has introduced specialised cars fortravellers using wheelchairs.
There are also a large number of mountain railways which are sometimes the only means of access to winter resorts. Some of these are attractions in their own right: the Gornergrat-Bahn in Zermatt is one of the oldest mountain railways and climbs to a height of over 3,000m (over 9,800ft) above sea level, offering a spectacular panorama of the Matterhorn and surrounding mountains.
A leaflet describing all the schemes is available from Switzerland Tourism. A comprehensive timetable for all Swiss public transport can also be purchased. Details of the various rail passes can be found on the Swiss Travel System (www.swisstravelsystem.ch).
Swiss Pass: gives unlimited travel on rail services, those of other main regional operators, boats, an extensive network of buses and city trams, as well as reduced price travel on other mountain railways not included in the full scheme. Tickets can be purchased for four, eight, 15, 22 days or one month.
STS Family Card: allows children up to 16 years of age free travel when accompanied by parents. There are also regional tickets for unlimited travel in different parts of Switzerland at various rates.
Swiss Transfer Ticket: allows return travel from a Swiss border or airport to a selected destination.
InterRail's One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Switzerland. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK;www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Swiss Pass: gives unlimited travel on rail services, those of other main regional operators, boats, an extensive network of buses and city trams, as well as reduced price travel on other mountain railways not included in the full scheme. Tickets can be purchased for four, eight, 15, 22 days or one month.
STS Family Card: allows children up to 16 years of age free travel when accompanied by parents. There are also regional tickets for unlimited travel in different parts of Switzerland at various rates.
Swiss Transfer Ticket: allows return travel from a Swiss border or airport to a selected destination.
InterRail's One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Switzerland. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK;www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Road Travel
Traffic drives on the right. Road quality is generally good. Many mountain roads are winding and narrow, and often closed in heavy winter conditions; otherwise chains and snow tyres may be necessary. Rail is often more efficient than driving.
Bus: Postal motor coaches (tel: 00800 10020 0300; www.post.ch) provide a service to even the remotest villages, but under the integrated national transport policy, few long-distance coaches are allowed to operate.
Taxi: All taxis have meters for short and long trips, although it is advisable to agree the fare for longer distances out of town.
Car hire: Available in all towns from hotels and airports and at all manned rail stations. All major European companies are represented.
Regulations: The minimum driving age is 18. Seat belts are obligatory and children under 12 years must travel in the back of the car. Dipped headlights are compulsory during the day. Speed limits are 80kph (50mph) on country lanes; max 120kph (75mph), min 60kph (37mph) on motorways; and 50kph (31mph) in towns.An annual road tax (vignette) is levied on all cars and motorbikes using Swiss motorways. An additional fee applies to trailers and caravans. The vignettesticker is valid between 1 December of the year preceding and 31 January of the one following the year printed. These permits, which are available at border crossings, are valid for multiple re-entry into Switzerland within the duration of the licensed period. To avoid hold-ups at the frontier, however, it is advisable to purchase the vignette in advance; call the Swiss Travel Centre (tel: 00800 1002 00300) for more details.
Emergency breakdown service: Swiss Touring Club (tel: 140; www.tcs.ch).
Documentation: A national driving licence is sufficient. Green Card insurance is advised - ordinary domestic insurance policies are valid but do not provide full cover. The Green Card tops the cover up to the level provided by the visitor's domestic policy.
Bus: Postal motor coaches (tel: 00800 10020 0300; www.post.ch) provide a service to even the remotest villages, but under the integrated national transport policy, few long-distance coaches are allowed to operate.
Taxi: All taxis have meters for short and long trips, although it is advisable to agree the fare for longer distances out of town.
Car hire: Available in all towns from hotels and airports and at all manned rail stations. All major European companies are represented.
Regulations: The minimum driving age is 18. Seat belts are obligatory and children under 12 years must travel in the back of the car. Dipped headlights are compulsory during the day. Speed limits are 80kph (50mph) on country lanes; max 120kph (75mph), min 60kph (37mph) on motorways; and 50kph (31mph) in towns.An annual road tax (vignette) is levied on all cars and motorbikes using Swiss motorways. An additional fee applies to trailers and caravans. The vignettesticker is valid between 1 December of the year preceding and 31 January of the one following the year printed. These permits, which are available at border crossings, are valid for multiple re-entry into Switzerland within the duration of the licensed period. To avoid hold-ups at the frontier, however, it is advisable to purchase the vignette in advance; call the Swiss Travel Centre (tel: 00800 1002 00300) for more details.
Emergency breakdown service: Swiss Touring Club (tel: 140; www.tcs.ch).
Documentation: A national driving licence is sufficient. Green Card insurance is advised - ordinary domestic insurance policies are valid but do not provide full cover. The Green Card tops the cover up to the level provided by the visitor's domestic policy.
Towns and Cities
Highly efficient and integrated urban public transport systems serve as a model for other countries. There are tramways and light rail services in Basle, Bern, Geneva, Neuchâtel and Zürich. These and a further dozen cities also have trolleybuses. Fare systems are generally automated with machines issuing single or multiple tickets at the roadside. Tickets are also available at enquiry offices. Fares are generally zonal. There is a day ticket for travel in one or more Swiss cities on any given day at a standard fare. Taxis are widely available and drivers expect a 15% tip.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Zürich to other major cities/towns in Switzerland.
| Air | Road | Rail | |
| Basle | 0.30 | 1.10 | 1.05 |
| Bern | - | 1.15 | 1.10 |
| Geneva | 0.40 | 2.45 | 2.55 |
| Lugano | 0.45 | 3.00 | 3.00 |