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With a population of just 7.5 million, Switzerland is renowned for its fabulous quality of life in a country that ticks along like a well oiled machine. Its products are sought after the world over, from its delicious cheese and chocolate to luxurious watches and nor forgetting of course the renowned Swiss Army Knife. Small, mountainous and wealthy it is not only a place for professionals, it is also a stylish tourist destination.

Places to Visit in Switzerland

• Basle The ancient university and trading city
• Lausanne, situated on the northern shore of Lake Geneva.
• Geneva, Elegant shops, nightclubs, restaurants, fine museums and art galleries.
• Luzern, located on the edge of a sizable lake, the Vierwaldstättersee. An international music festival is held in Luzern every year.
• Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city is set on its own lake, Zürichsee.
• Bern,The ancient capital provides opportunities for sightseeing and shopping in the 11th-century arcaded streets.
• Graubünden, famous for glamorous ski centers, spa resorts and dramatic alpine landscapes.

My favorite things

Basle Carnival (Basler Fasnacht).... a pre Lenten festivity where visitors take part in grand masked parties and street parades with fancy costumes.
Chocolate.
“Aprés Ski”

Driving tips/rules.

If you wish to use motorways in Switzerland you need to buy a small sticker or vignette which is displayed on the windscreen to indicate to the Swiss traffic authorities that the appropriate toll has been paid. Drivers caught without a vignette are subject to a mandatory fine of 100 Swiss Francs. You can buy these ahead online and save some time.

Speed limits in Switzerland are strictly enforced with radars and speed cameras. Being caught driving 5km p/h over the speed limit will get you an immediate fine, while driving 20km p/h above the limits leads to a hefty fine and a court appearance. The speed limit on motorways is 120 km p/h... main roads 80km p/h. The Swiss speed limit for urban areas is 50 km p/h and in residential areas you must adhere to a 30 km p/h speed limit.

Seat belts are obligatory for car drivers and passengers.
Children under 7 cannot travel in the front unless they use a proper child restraint.
Children between 7 and 12 must use seat belts or child restraints which are appropriate to their size and age.

Drinking and driving: Don't do it. Anything over 0.08 per cent and you could face anything up to imprisonment.

Interesting facts

• The average Swiss eats 23 lbs of chocolate per year.
• The CHF1,000 bill is the highest denomination note in the world.
• James Bond's mother is Swiss and The first “Bond Girl” Ursula Andress was Swiss.
• Albert Einstein was working as a clerk in a Swiss Patent Office when he proved his Theory of Relativity.
• Switzerland has more than 1,500 lakes, and it is said that you are never more than 10 miles from a lake anywhere in the country.
• And last but not least..(do we believe this.......??)In 1471, a chicken in Basel was found guilty of laying a brightly colored egg and it was burned at the stake! Say no more!!!!!!

Local food/drink

Swiss cuisine is varied. The great specialty is fondue, Pork sausages or salami come in a variety of local recipes including Beinwurst, Engadinerwurst, Knackerli, Landjäger and Leberwurst (liver pâté). A great variety of Swiss wines are available throughout the country. National specialties:

• Viande sèchée (dried beef or pork) served with pickled onions.
• Pieds de porc (pigs’ trotters).
• Rösti (shredded fried potatoes).
• Fondue Bourguignonne (cubed meat with various sauces).
• Leckerli (spiced honey cakes topped with icing sugar), decorated in Bern with a white sugar bear.

Weather

The Alps cause many climatic variations throughout Switzerland. In the higher Alpine regions temperatures tend to be low, while the lower land of the northern area has higher temperatures and warm summers...best to check the local weather before you go so you can best decide what clothing to pack!!