Switzerland

A valid passport is required upon entry to Switzerland expiring a minimum of 6 months past the date of exit from the country. US citizens traveling to Switzerland do not require a tourist visa if their stay is ninety days or less.

Every traveler planning to visit Switzerland should be fully up to date on his or her routine vaccines prior to entering Switzerland. No other travel vaccinations are required for entry to Switzerland.

Switzerland has four distinct seasons: autumn, winter, spring and summer. The autumn months are September, October and November. The winter months, December, January and February, are generally cold and snow-filled. The spring months occur during the months of March, April and May. Summer in Switzerland is from June through August and are generally more humid and warmer than any other season in Switzerland. Pack warm clothes in addition to light clothes, so you are properly prepared for all seasons and regions in Switzerland.

The country code for Switzerland is +41. The cell phone coverage in Switzerland is exceptional and is widely available across the country. Switzerland is one of the world’s leaders in maintaining one of the highest proportions of fixed broadband in the world. Hence, the access to Internet and Wi-Fi is very good in Switzerland.

Switzerland’s voltage is 220-240AC, 50HZ. Switzerland actually has its own standard plug, that makes its socket incompatible with most plugs from abroad. If you are coming from the US, you will need a power plug adapter, as well as a converter.

While Switzerland is known to be amongst the safest countries to visit, it has been recently recommended that travelers practice increased caution in Switzerland due to terrorism threats. Terrorist attacks can occur with little or no warning, so it is imperative be aware of your surroundings and vigilant in areas that are highly populated (i.e. locations of worship, shopping malls, major tourist attractions, local government facilities…etc.). Additionally, petty crimes, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching are on the rise in Switzerland, especially in railway stations and on trains. Make two photocopies of your passport and tickets. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

The currency used in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (Fr). The euro is accepted in some place, but not all, and it will ultimately be more expensive to use euros. US dollars are not regularly accepted in Switzerland. It is best to exchange your money at an official money exchange location, bank or even at the airport upon arrival. ATM machines are very common in Switzerland and are located in many train stations, banks and town centers.

The type of government active in Switzerland is a semi-direct democratic federal republic. Though these two systems do not always align in all aspects, they do have one common agenda: both have sought and continue to seek to maximize individual freedoms. This commonality is the main source for the success of Switzerland’s government structure. Ueli Maurer is Switzerland’s president, taking office for the second time on December 5^th, 2018. His first presidential year was in 2013.

The largest affiliated religion present in Switzerland is Roman Catholic, making up 37.7% of the population. 24.9% identify as Protestant, 5.8% as other Christian, 5.1% as Muslim, 0.2% Jewish, 1.4% as other, 1.3% as unspecified and 23.9% report having no religious beliefs.

Approximately 65% of the population in Switzerland identify as German, 18% as French, 10% as Italian, 1% as Romansch, and 6% as other.

There are four national languages of Switzerland, and they are German, French, Italian and Romansh. Though English is not recognized as a national language in Switzerland, it is becoming more prevalent.

Switzerland has one of the world’s most advanced economies. Switzerland’s economy primarily relies on precision manufacturing, metals, pharmaceuticals, electronics and chemicals. In addition, the service sector, such as tourism and Swiss banking, has been a growing contributor to Switzerland’s economic success.