Travel Guide Switzerland will take you to different fantastic places in Switzerland as well as some of the famous landmarks and notable places, so you will already have a general idea about Switzerland if and when you decide to actually travel and explore this fascinating country. And other than the places of interest, Travel Guide Switzerland will also give you valuable information such as the geography, demographics and the languages spoken in different parts of this country. Don’t forget to check out the travel safety tips in Switzerland as well as the other sections in our Travel Guide Switzerland! We do hope you will come back often to travel with us to other destinations around the world.

Introducing Switzerland

If you are traveling to Swtitzerland, you may be assured that you can expect many great things to see and experience. Our Switzerland pocket travel guide will give you an overview of this European country. You can find out where to go and what to see. You’ll learn about things you can do in the country as well as safety travel tips. As an added plus we also give you a few German words and phrases to use so you can communicate with the Swiss. Although there are four recognized official languages in Switzerland (German, French, Italian and Romansch), the most commonly spoken language is Swiss German. Our Switzerland travel guide is written in sections so that you can easily look up what you need and find the information that you are looking for. This way, as you travel around Switzerland, you can familiarize yourself with the exciting trivia and parts of Switzerland.

It is a land locked country bordered by France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Italy located in Central Europe. Switzerland is a country known to be peaceful and neutral. In fact, it did not even participate in both World Wars inspite of its close proximity to many of the war’s players such as Germany and France. It only joined the United Nation in 2002, although Geneva has served as its headquarters for several decades. The country is also the birthplace of the Red Cross.

It has a land area of 30,753 square kilometers or 15,940 square miles. The country is home to over 7.8 million Swiss nationals who are of German, French and Italian descent. About 22 percent of the population is of foreign descent, and many are naturalized citizens. This diversity is further proof of the peaceful and neutral culture of the nation, allowing for a number of different ethnic groups and nationalities to live together harmoniously. Some famous Swiss include Henri Nestle, milk chocolate inventor Daniel Peter, chocolatier Philippe Suchard, watchmaker Georges Piaget, Daniel Bernoulli, the mathematician who founded Bernoulli’s equation, philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, pyschologists C.J. Jung and Hermann Rorschach, tennis player Roger Federer, actresses Ursula Andres and Renee Zellwegger, Johanna Spyri who authored the famous book Heidi, author Gottfried Keller, scientist August Piccarde, Red Cross founder Henri Dunant, protestant reformer John Calvin and German born Albert Einstein who later was naturalized as a Swiss citizen.

Switzerland is of course famous for its majestic mountains which provide breathtaking scenery during the summer and a winter playland during the colder months. Over on the southern side are the Swiss Alps, which it shares with its Austrian neighbors. Up on the northwest, is a mountainous region called the Jura. In Valais, travelers can find the highest peaks and the largest glaciers in all of Europe. The landscape of the country is quite diverse, from rolling hills to large lakes and some of the most fertile plains.

Travelers can choose to go to Switzerland any time of the year since there is always much to do. The place to be is the peak of the Alps in the Zermatt region. This is where the world famous Matterhorn is. In the summertime, there is hiking but in the winter, it becomes a sportsman’s playground. The Interlaken region and the Jungfrau region are where travelers can go if they wish to enjoy a river raft ride, go bungee jumping or even go sky diving. Sightseeing is a delight in Laussaune as well as in the nation’s capital of Bern, with its old cathedrals and some World Heritage Sites. Over at Lucerne, there is the famous wood covered bridge. Travelers can enjoy the cosmopolitan pulse of Zurich, the largest city of Switzerland. On the other hand, going to Geneva is a great way to see varied cultures, as this is the most international of the cities, being home to the United Nations, World Health Organization and a number of other international organizations. Travelers will notice the slight nuances in the people as influenced by its neighbors depending on the region of Switzerland that they are in.

Switzerland is a very prosperous nation, having only about a two percent unemployment rate. That’s about half compared to its other European neighbors. It has a famous banking system, making it a haven for many investors. It also has a strong pharmaceutical industry largely based in Basel, with top companies such as Novartis and Roche leading the way.

Travelers seeking to enjoy Swiss cuisine will notice that many items are heavy on dairy. Swiss cheese, Swiss milk chocolate, fondue and raclette and the popular Swiss softdrink Rivella are all dairy based. Much of the cuisine is influenced by the nations surrounding Switzerland, so there is a diverse number of delicious food items to be enjoyed. Foodies will take delight with the cheese from Guyere or the wine from Valais.

Of course, no Travel Guide Switzerland is complete without making mention of the Swiss chocolate industry. Some of the world’s most delectable chocolates are made in Switzerland, with brands such as Lindt, Sprungli and Toblerone placing Switzerland on the mind of every chocolate lover. This country is the birthplace of the milk chocolate, hazelnut and the filled chocolate. It is also the Swiss who invented the chocolate that melts in your mouth. It is also here that the chocolate making production process was perfected such as tempering, as well as the technology to mix cocoa powder and sugar.

There are four recognized languges spoken in Switzerland. The most commonly spoken language is German, with over 60 percent of the population speaking it. This is followed by Italian, French and Romanasch. Swiss German is the vernacular, although the medium of instruction and the language used by the media is standard German. On the other hand, Swiss French is largely similar to standard French, although spoken more slowly. The language in Switzerland is slightly different from the standard versions due to the influence of other languages on how they speak and the vocabulary words used. The diverse number of languages as well as the saw the words are spoken and pronounced is largely due to the influence of the neighboring countries around Switzerland. Tourists not familiar with these languages will take comfort knowing that English is also widely spoken in many cities as it is a common second language for many of the Swiss. If you are traveling to Switzerland, take the time to read the Travel Guide Switzerland section on language and frequently spoken phrases and words to help you navigate your way around the Swiss cities.

While touring Switzerland, it’s also a good idea to pick up a few souvenirs that are proudly Swiss made. If you have the cash to spare, splurge on a genuine luxury Swiss made watch, which have garnered a reputation for its fine craftsmanship and high precision. Chocolates also make for wonderful presents for loved ones back home. Swiss army knives are another great gift item to buy while in Switzerland.

Allow our Travel Guide Switzerland to be your companion as you take a delightful journey through the Swiss Alps and discover one of the cleanest and most interesting countries in the world. Discover Switzerland using our Travel Guide Swizerland to help you havigate your way through some of the most cosmopolitan yet charming cities in the world, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery on Switzerland’s mountaintops.