Did you know that Switzerland has four national languages; it gave us Muesli and Velcro, and Swiss people are not big fans of night parties? If not then here you will get to know 15 things to know about Switzerland before travelling to Switzerland. Yes, a place with expensive living and tons of natural beauty that can please your soul. Excited? Let’s know then!
15 Things to Know about Switzerland
- Switzerland speaks many languages
- Switzerland is a small country
- They start early and end early
- No small talk welcome in Switzerland
- The capital of Switzerland
- Not famous for its nightlife
- Swiss milk is loved across the globe
- Pay to use the bathrooms (in major cities)!
- Home to beautiful natural sights on Earth
- Weed is legal in Switzerland
- Switzerland invented some cool stuff
- Everything is expensive here!
- Go local for good Swiss chocolate
- Reliable public transportation
- Fondue wasn’t always famous
Also read – Switzerland Visa For Indians: Simple Guide For A Carefree Vacation!
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1. Switzerland speaks many languages
Doesn’t it feel like Swiss is the official language of Switzerland but the fact is Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. The majority of the country speaks Swiss German; the western provinces which are called cantons speak French. The southern canton of Ticino speaks Italian and Romansh is the least spoken in Switzerland making up 1% of the Swiss population. Not to worry as Swiss people have some knowledge of English too.
2. Switzerland is a small country
You can cross the country by train in 5 hours ONLY! Also, Switzerland’s whole population is approximately 8,723,115. This is the reason why cities in Switzerland, like Zurich and Basel, are easily manageable and have rapid growth.
3. They start early and end early
A country that starts early and goes to bed early, what this means for you is that cafes open at 6:00 AM, Grocery stores at 7:00 AM, Classes start by 8:00 AM and so on. By the time you’re done with your day, so are everyone else and go off to sleep. The country truly follows early to bed early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise, hope you are not a night owl!
Also read – Top 10 Flims Shot in Switzerland – Re-live the magical movie moments.
4. No small talk welcomed in Switzerland
Swiss people are not much into talking with strangers. The culture to show friendliness or warmth to strangers is not followed in Switzerland, for example, friendly small talk with waitresses and cashiers is strongly discouraged. People do follow “Mind your own business” seriously here, so do not take it personally.
5. The capital of Switzerland
It is so easy to get confused and wrongly assume either Zurich or Geneva is the capital of Switzerland but the actual capital of the country is Bern which became the capital in 1848.
6. Not famous for its nightlife
If you are looking to party and have fun with your friends at night in clubs then Switzerland is not the place. It does not mean that it does not have clubs at all; The Swiss city best known for its nightlife is the student hub of Lausanne but there are not many partygoers in the country. If you do decide to venture out, firstly check the train and bus schedules because public transport halts after midnight, even on the weekend.
Also read – 10 Most Important historical sites in Switzerland-Absolutely Surreal
7. Swiss milk is loved across the globe
The Swiss milk is very rich and creamier and is exported to many other countries. The cows in the alpine region are the secret to such amazing milk. Also, this milk is used in cheese and chocolates which make them tastier and make people fall in love with them.
8. Pay to use the bathrooms (in major cities)!
In Switzerland, you have to pay to use public washrooms. In big cities like Zurich, Basel, Bern, and others, if you need to use a toilet or need a private space to freshen up or change your clothes you will have to pay up to 2.00 CHF (roughly $2.00 USD) for a sit-down toilet and 1.50 CHF for a standing toilet. Washrooms in small cities are free to use.
Also read – 20 Famous Lakes in Switzerland That Are Absolutely Surreal
9. Home to beautiful natural sights on Earth
Switzerland is a place that we can resemble heaven. Amazing Alps mountain range, serene lakes, historic buildings like castles, and more. These natural and beautiful sights in Switzerland are worth seeing with the naked eye!
10. Weed is legal in Switzerland
Yes, you can buy and consume weed in Switzerland legally. The THC levels (the part that makes you ‘high’) has to be less than one per cent which results that it won’t get you high but still feel mellow.
Also read – 10 Street Foods to Try in Switzerland – End your cravings!
11. Switzerland invented some cool stuff
Things we use in our daily life like Velcro (mostly used in shoes), Muesli (a famous breakfast eaten all over the world), Milk chocolate, Rex Peeler, Fondue (cheese dip dish), Aluminum foil, etc are all invented in Switzerland. Surprising, isn’t it?
12. Everything is expensive here!
Switzerland is an expensive country and has one of the highest costs of living in the entire world. You will forget how it feels to pay less than twenty dollars for lunch, no free water, and thinking before paying two dollars per minute for a taxi ride. All you have to take care of is your finances or you’ll be out of cash before you even know it.
Also read – Most scenic train journeys to take in Switzerland- let’s go for a ride!!!
13. Go local for good Swiss chocolate
Switzerland is very famous for its Swiss chocolates all over the world; Lindt to Toblerone is tasted by everyone. So, to taste the real Swiss chocolates, go to a local grocery store or chocolate shop. It is said – to know the real side of any country, go on the streets to explore!
14. Reliable public transportation
Public transportation in Switzerland is very reliable, and the view makes it even better. There’s a handy application with schedules for every type of transport, like buses, trains, metros and are always on time. If you’re planning to stay in Switzerland for a long time, it is better for you to buy a Swiss Pass. This pass allows you to take any train, bus, cable car, boat, anything for free all the time so it is quite beneficial. You can use a Swiss Pass card for a minimum of four months and it will cost you around sixty dollars a week.
15. Fondue wasn’t always famous
Fondue is a famous Swiss dish made of cheese and cheese! Unfortunately, fondue wasn’t always this famous, and got its popularity in the 20th century. Thanks to the Swiss Cheese Union, they aggressively advertised both Swiss cheese and fondue to raise their sales and profits.
Also read – 10 Things to Do in Switzerland in Christmas
So, aren’t you excited to visit Switzerland and explore it ASAP? There are a ton of reasons to travel to this beautiful country. So, Check out Pickyourtrail for ravishing Switzerland tour packages or you can customize your Switzerland itinerary by your own likes and choices.
FAQ
Generally, the best time to visit Switzerland is in the spring/early summer and in the early fall, April through June or September and October. This is when you’re unlikely to battle thick tourist crowds and enjoy some of the most pleasant weather.
Some traditional Swiss dishes, such as fondue and raclette, are more typically eaten in the winter. Others, such as muesli – also known in Switzerland as Birchermüesli – and rösti are popular all year round and come in many variations.
With 10 days in hand you can not only to cover the main Swiss attractions but also have some leisure time to go off the beaten path or just walk around soaking in all the beauty.
Basel is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland,
As the country’s capital, Bern is a well-known city in Switzerland,
Located at the foot of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is one of the most popular and beautiful places to visit in Switzerland.