Basel

From the airport

Bus: Bus 50 takes you to Basel'main train station in 20 minutes.

Shop

Rostfrei (Rustfree) has an extraordinary assortment of gifts and accessories made from stainless steel, from speciality knives to watches.
The tiny stationery shop Abraxas sells new and antique pens, paper and reproduction seals, and is a must for calligraphy enthusiasts.

A two-hour hike from Basel up the Gempenturm provides fantastic views of the Alsace, Black Forest and, on clear days, south to the Alps.

The grassy, shady Petersplatz is the centre of the university, the site of a massive Saturday flea market and the entrance to the fabulous Basel Botanical Gardens.

There are two ice-skating rinks in the centre of Basel: a large one at Margarethen Kunsteisbahn, and a smaller (more romantic) option on Theatreplatz in the evening. Skates are available to hire at both locations.

Markplatz hosts a daily morning market and is also home to the stunning Basel Town Hall, built in 1504 to mark joining the Swiss Confederation.

Day trip

Lucerne. Lucerne's Fasnacht may not be as well executed as Basel's but most will agree that Switzerland's second-most-famous carnival is a lot wilder.
Munster Valley. The Alsace's Munster Valley, west of Colmar, is full of charming villages, spectacular hilly scenery and that famously smelly cheese around every corner.

Zurich

From the airport

Train: trains make the 10-minute journey to the city centre every 15 minutes.


Shop
The Swiss are famous for watches but Zurich's Maurice de Mauriac is one of the quirkier and more cutting-edge brands. The shop itself is unlike any other. There are no pristine luxurious displays. Instead the watch faces are scattered chaotically about on wooden tables and shelves amongst vintage toys, old magazines and boxes of colourful sample straps.


Hop on and off trams, buses and even boats as often as you like with a daily Tageskarte Zone 10 card and it covers the whole city.

A lakeside stroll from Bellevue will bring you to the serene Zurichhorn Park. It has stunning views of the Alps and a beautiful Chinese garden.

Don't bother buying expensive bottles of water. Keep an eye out for one of Zurich's 1200 drinking water fountains dotted all over the city.

The clubs in the trendy district of Zurich West are fast turning the city into one of the clubbing hotspots of Europe. A large number of old factories now house hip venues such as Rohstofflager, Hive and Tonimolkerei, all open well past 3am.

Zurich is home to Europe's oldest vegetarian restaurant, the Hiltl, which opened in 1898.

Day trip

Hoch-Ybrig. Take a cable car up to this pretty region below the Alps. Perfect for summer hiking, picnics, swimming in a cool mountain lake or even a spot of mini-golf. From Zurich take the train via Wadenswill to Einsiedeln, then from Einsiedeln go by postal car to Unteriberg or Oberiberg. It is about a 90-minute journey.

Uetliberg. A range of Alpine peaks, at 871 metres above sea level, Uetliberg towers over the city. Take a trip from Zurich's main station on the S10 service of the Sihltal-Zurich-Uetliberg railway, Europe's steepest normal-guge railway. It is about 20 minutes up to the Uetliberg station.

general information

Because of its landlocked location, Switzerland is a mix of German, Italian and French influences. The mountain villages of Zermatt, St Moritz, Interlaken and Gruyeres are full of the glamour of rich European society. Go trekking in the Berner Oberland and the Valais region where you can admire the stunning peaks of the Jungfrau and Matterhorn. Ascend Appenzell's famous peak, Santis, from which you can see into Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Lichtenstein and Switzerland all at the same time. Visit the beautiful lakes and castles around Locarno and Lugo, as well as the capital Bern, and Zurich, Geneva and Basel, a university city on the banks of the Rhine.

Swiss Pass

The Swiss Pass offers unlimited travel in the whole of Switzerland at very attractive rate. It includes trains, buses, boats, city transportation, our scenic routes, free admission to 450 museums and 50% discount on most mountain peak excursions. Besides the Swiss Pass, our Swiss Cards and Swiss Transfer Tickets offer easy transfers from the airport to your holiday destination and back at unbeatable rates. And take your children along for free: just ask for your free Family Card. 

Swiss Passes are available at the airport railway stations in Basel, Geneva and Zurich, at major railway stations in Switzerland or at one of the many sales points abroad. 

Switzerland has the highest percentage of people who are older than 100 in European countries. There were 798 centenarians in 2000, out of a population of 7.2 million.

The Zermatt ski area is open all year on the Klein Matterhorn glacier.

Geneva

From the airport
Train: trains to go to Geneva's main station Cornavin and the journey takes 10 minutes.

Shop
For luxury shopping, you need look no further than the department store Globus. It is the Harrods of Switzerland and stocks everything you could want, from fashion to furniture, at a price. Browse the food department and fabulous delicatessen.
For one-stop shopping try Manor. The supermarket and delicatessen are a real treat.

In restaurants, be careful how you ask for the menu. If you request le menu this means a set meal, usually comprising a starter, main course and dessert. If you want to read the restaurant's menu, ask for la carte.

Both banks of the lake come alive in August with the host of fairground rides and games. The Jardin Anglais is taken over by Fetes de Geneve activities and is a great place to try dishes from around the world at one of the many food stands or relax with a massage in the fresh air. For outdoor movies check out the summer cinema Cinelac, at Port Noir.

Geneva's Old Town is made for the wintry months, when a stroll through the cobbled back streets seems to take you back in time. Check out the 14th century Maison Tavel and Cathedrale St Pierre, before heading to the Place de Bourg du Four and warming up in one of the many cafes and bars. Browse the antiques and art shops then grab a bite to eat in one of the many cafes. Alongside the traditional Swiss restaurants you will find all the international cuisines you would expect from a multicultural city.

Switzerland's cosmopolitan city sits on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Jura Mountains. It is 90-minute flight from the UK and has an amazing restaurant scene.

The Swiss are renowned for their clock-making skills and are, accordingly, very keen on punctuality. It is worth remembering that most restaurants stick to strict serving times at lunch (noon - 2pm) and even just a minute later than that may result in a refusal, so make sre you are prompt if you want a bite to eat.


Day trip
Yvoire. For an interesting excursion, why not sail the lake and take a steamboat to France? The medieval town of Yvoire is famous for its flowers, gardens and labyrinth, as well as its many restaurants. There are scores of lace and craft shops, too, making it a great spot for souvenir hunters. Regular departures from Geneva's Jardin Anglais.
Saint Cergue. For a snow-filled day of skiing and tobogganing, take the train up the mountain to this picturesque village. You can hire all your equipment on site and there are plenty of restaurants for the less active to sit back in and savour the sights. Trains leave regularly from Cornavin, via Nyon. Check times on www.cff.ch