Switzerland

Capital City: Bern

People: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%

Religion: Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1%

Language: German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 2.8%

Currency: Swiss Franc

Electrical Voltage: 230 volts

How to get there:
By Air: Switzerland is a small multi-cultural, multi-lingual country located in the very heart of Europe. It shares common frontiers with five countries - Germany, France, Italy, Austria and the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein. Switzerland is therefore at the crossroads of the continent. It is a focal point of international air, road and rail traffic and easily accessible within hours from major European cities and centres.
Zurich and Geneva airports are fully integrated into the Swiss railroad network and have their own railway stations. Trains to the two city centres run every 10 to 20 minutes, with a travelling time of approximately 10 minutes. Hourly intercity and direct trains leave right from either airport station and will connect you to many cities and towns. In Basel, a bus service links the airport with the downtown area. The bus stops right outside the main railway station. The buses leave every 30 minutes and the ride takes 15 to 20 minutes.

By train: Thanks to its convenient central location, Switzerland is also served by fast reliable inter-European rail services from at least a dozen countries. Daily services operate from major cities in Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, France, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Scandinavia, and the Benelux countries. Most trains include dining cars, bars and a wide range of other amenities and - for night travel - comfortable sleeping compartments.

By car: For travellers arriving by road, Switzerland is linked to Europe's extensive motorway network. Cross-border travel is trouble free, with the minimum of delay and formalities.

Weather: The climate is moderate with no excessive heat, cold or humidity. From July to August the daytime temperature range is 18 to 28 °C (65° - 82° F) and from January to February the range is -2 to 7 °C (28° - 45° F). In spring and autumn, the daytime temperature range is 8 to 15 °C (46° - 59° F). Depending on the altitude the temperature range may vary. It is highly recommended to visitors to pack a sweater, good walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a compact umbrella and/or a light rain coat.

Travel Documentation and Custom Duty: Every traveler must have a valid passport. Visa are required for a continuous stay of more than three months. If your stay is shorter than three months you only need to bring your valid passport with you. This applies to citizens of the following countries: countries of the American Continent (except Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Peru), Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

For information on visa, permanent residence as well as on work permits and business matters, please contact the Swiss Consulate General located nearest you.

Getting Around: Airplane, Cars, Bus, Train

Tourism Website: http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/home

Medical Facilities:

Banks:

Emergency Numbers: 117 Police, 118 Fire Brigade, 144 Ambulance (not in all areas)