Transportation in Switzerland
ON THE GO
Traveling by plane
Air traffic within Switzerland is operated, among others, by Swiss International Air Lines (LX). There are flights from Zurich to Lugano and Geneva.
On the way by car / bus
Car: According to youremailverifier, Switzerland has a well-developed road network. Many mountain roads are narrow, extremely winding and often not passable in winter when the weather conditions are unfavorable. Snow chains and winter tires are needed in winter.
Many petrol stations are equipped with note or credit card machines and allow you to refuel at night. Unleaded petrol is available at every petrol station.
Car rental: booking offices of the major European companies in all cities, hotels, airports and major train stations.
Automobile clubs: Automobile Club of Switzerland, Giacomettistrasse 15, CH-3000 Bern 31. Tel: (031) 311 38 13 (Internet: www.acs.ch). Touring Club of Switzerland, Thunstr. 63, CH-3006 Bern. Tel: (031) 356 34 00 or (0844) 88 81 11. Internet: www.tcs.ch). Documents: national driver’s license and vehicle registration document. For nationals of EU and EFTA countries, the car registration number is used as proof of insurance. Nevertheless, EU and EFTA citizens are advised to take the international green insurance card with them in order to make it easier to record accidents in the event of damage and to enjoy full insurance cover. Otherwise, the statutory minimum liability insurance cover applies. When temporarily importing a private vehicle, no customs document is required for a stay of up to one year. Traffic regulations: wear seat belts;
Children under 12 must be seated in the back seat.
Even during the day you have to drive with low beam.
Drunk driving is subject to heavy fines.
Blood alcohol limit: 0.5 ‰ (novice drivers: 0.1 ‰).
Snow chains are temporarily compulsory on some mountain roads.
Telephoning with the mobile phone is only permitted via the hands-free system while driving.
Speed limits:
in built-up areas: 50 km / h;
on country roads: 80 km / h;
on expressways: 100 km / h
on motorways: 120 km / h; Exception: 100 km / h on the Inntal Autobahn (A12) between Kufstein and Zirl, between Karrösten and Zams and on the Brenner Autobahn (A13) between Innsbruck and Schönberg;
For vehicles with spike tires, the maximum speed is 80 km / h.
Bus:
Post bus routes also go to the most remote villages.
Flixbus (Internet: www.flixbus.ch) connects cities within Switzerland.
Right-hand traffic / left-hand traffic r Note on traveling by road
Motorway tax (vignette): For the use of the Swiss motorways and national roads you have to pay a flat fee per calendar year. Trailers and caravans cost additional. Vignette stickers can be bought at border crossings, post offices, petrol stations and car repair shops; they are valid for multiple entries within the validity period (from December 1st to January 31st of the year after next, ie 14 months). It is advisable to purchase the stickers in advance from the nearest Swiss tourist office or from one of the automobile clubs in order to avoid waiting times at the border crossings.
In Germany, the ADAC sells the vignette, which is also available online (Internet: www.adac-shop.de). It can also be bought at the Bad Bellingen petrol station and rest area or via the Internet from Deutsche Post or from www.myswitzerland.com. Information on the current prices for the passage of the Great St. Bernhard Tunnel is available on site or from the Tunnel Company’s sales department at Tel: (027) 788 44 00, Internet: www.sitrasb.it.
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world and connects north and south.
Traveling in the city
The urban means of transport are considered exemplary. Trams and suburban trains run in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Neuchâtel and Zurich. These and many other cities also have trolleybuses.
With Mobility tickets, which are available when you check in at the hotel, you can use public transport in Basel, Geneva and Bern as well as in the canton of Ticino free of charge. The Bern Ticket also enables free use of public transport.
Ticket machines are available everywhere. Tickets can also be purchased at information and sales counters. However, tickets are not sold directly on the bus.
The fares are based on the respective travel zones; Day passes that are valid for one or more cities are also offered. Swiss Pass, Swiss Flexi Pass (only on valid days) and Swiss Youth Pass are valid on 37 urban transport networks (see special tickets).
The ZürichCARD is available for 24 or 72 hours. In addition to free travel on public transport in the greater Zurich area, this card also entitles you to entry to more than 40 museums. In 18 Zurich restaurants there is theZürichCARD a free welcome drink, discounts at the zoo, in the Chinese Garden and at Europcar. It is available at the airport and at some train stations in Zurich. Further information on the ZurichCARD discounts at www.zuerich.com.
On the go by train
The route network covers 16,000 km including post bus lines, mountain railways and shipping lines. Operators are the Swiss Federal Railways (address: Postfach, CH-3030 Bern, Internet: www.sbb.ch) and private companies such as the Rhaetian Railway (Internet: www.rhb.ch) in Graubünden / Grisons and the Bernese Oberlandbahnen. The main trains have dining cars and a minibar service. Bike and car rentals are available at all major train stations. Many of the winter sports resorts can only be reached by mountain railways.
The train journey from Bern to Visp in Valais takes 55 minutes.
The highlight of every Swiss trip is a trip on one of the numerous panoramic routes including:
Gotthard Panorama Express: From Lucerne by boat across Lake Lucerne to Füelen. From Füelen by train via Göschenen – Airolo – Bellinzona to Lugano.
Bernina Express (Internet: http://www.rhb.ch/) Chur / Davos – St. Moritz – Bernina Pass – Pontresina – Poschiavo – Tirano (The Unesco World Heritage Committee included the section from Thusis to Tirano in 2008 as a World Heritage Site.);
Heidi Express : Davos – Bernina Pass – Tirano;
Glacier Express (Internet: www.glacierexpress.ch) Zermatt – Brig – Andermatt – Chur – Davos / St. Moritz;
Golden Pass (Internet: www.goldenpass.ch ) Montreux – Lucerne;
Crystal Panoramic Express : Montreux – Geneva or with the
Voralpen-Express (Internet: www.voralpen-express.ch) Romanshorn – St. Gallen – Rapperswil – Arth-Goldau – Lucerne.
