Have you ever encountered such a feeling when you first come to some incredible place, completely different from where you grew up, where you used to spend your leisure time? It is familiar to me. When everything around causes genuine delight, euphoria. You just have time to click the camera shutter, and then you reach for the computer again, frantically connecting to the Wi-Fi network with only one purpose: to find and buy a ticket to new life- the life of a traveler. And here we are often disappointed. After all, traveling is not a cheap pleasure. Think, how often have you given up on a trip to the land of your dreams, looking at the pricing policy of the carrier companies? ☹

Tickets to other European countries cost a fortune, although it would seem: the distances here are not so great.

Well, it's time to stop postponing our innermost desires and aspirations on the back burner until better times! Here I will tell you in detail all the subtleties, knowing which, perhaps, like me at one time, you will decide on a trip to a real fairy tale - mountainous and inaccessible only at first glance, Switzerland.

So let's get started!

Comfort or cheapness of the flight

The first thing that you should immediately determine for yourself is what you prefer when traveling: comfort, when you do not have to bother yourself with unnecessary subtleties and difficulties, or cheapness and adventurism, when already getting to your destination becomes a whole test, a kind of strength test?

Someone cannot imagine their life without hitchhiking or endless transfers from one low-budget flight to another. For such people, the journey begins already on the doorstep of the house, when they go out the door loaded with suitcases and backpacks: on their way they are ready to overcome many obstacles, and their only presence will symbolize a successful trip.

For others, “COMFORT” is spelled out in bright neon letters: for no price, they will not give up a comfortable chair on the plane, the airline of which has been flying for the hundredth time, where the staff happily greets the guest, recognizing him as a constant and loyal customer.

In essence, one may well not exclude the other, but in this case it is better to proceed primarily from personal preferences and the budget determined for travel. And yet, more often than not, one has to decide for a long time and painfully, giving preference to one of the criteria. If we represent this in the form of the so-called "preference curve", then in standard practice it will look something like this: the lower the quality and convenience parameters, and, accordingly, the higher the priority of minimum costs, the lower the price requested by the carrier will be. As the level of comfort rises, so does the price, and, accordingly, vice versa.

However, there are certain exceptions, which are influenced by factors such as seasonality and prudence of the traveler: skillful juggling with them will allow you not only to save money, but also time, effort and nerves. After all, let's be honest, for the most part low-cost airlines leave much to be desired, which I was convinced from my own experience, taking tickets for a cheap airline brand, going to for new impressions: the chair was in a permanent state of not standing, the armrest was trying to fall off, and the seat lining was already pitiful lying on the floor. The rumble of the engine and the eternal zones of turbulence inspired only thoughts of hopelessness and the most deplorable outcome of the flight ...

Many European low-cost airlines are like the same EasyJet, Air Berlin, Air baltics and EuroWings infamous for their endless flight delays, extremely poorly scheduled connecting flights, and sometimes exorbitant extra charges for small things like baggage, seat selection and ordering meals. Yes, there are situations when such airlines are the only way out for a traveler, but personally I believe that you can skim the cream without going through such difficulties. You just need to know certain tricks and tricks, because knowledge is power, isn't it? ;)

So, returning to our sheep, we will focus on two points: buying tickets ahead of time and taking into account the seasonality of a particular tourist region. Let's be realistic: prudent acquaintance with flight options and their booking has not done anyone badly: no one was left sore and destitute with three pennies in his pocket. It is profitable, it is convenient. The only thing is, it's unreliable: airlines are now going broke once or twice, so it's better to resort to this method in the case of proven companies. The largest carriers to Switzerland are our Russian « Aeroflot " and swiss Swiss and for both, this rule works. The last time I bought tickets for a Swiss plane was in the tenth of September at the end of October for a "tag", while closer to the date the prices jumped to 284-312 EUR (20-22,000 rubles). The situation with Aeroflot is the same, even the range of prices remains approximately the same.

I would strongly recommend when choosing between these two companies to look at their special offers and decide in favor of the most optimal and profitable one. Here, once at a time, it is not necessary, and even in different years the same season dictates its prices to each of the air carriers. By the way, for the first year of my travels to Switzerland, I used exclusively Swiss. Then there were more and more flights "within the walls" of the native domestic "Aeroflot".

Seasonality

New Year

As for the seasonality, here you need to be realistic: the peak of tourism in Switzerland falls in the winter period, not only because of the Alps, but also thanks to the Christmas celebrations, as well as the tempting prospect of celebrating New Year drinking mulled wine in front of the fireplace in some small alpine house.

Last year I returned to Switzerland from Moscow on January 1: round-trip tickets cost about 879 euros (62 thousand rubles) in the economy class of Aeroflot (!), In Swiss it was even more expensive ...

The May holidays

Also, a rather popular time of a visit to Switzerland among our compatriots is the period of the May holidays, which traditionally take long vacations that can be spent with the family.

Contrary to popular belief, Switzerland is not an exclusively winter country: it is quite suitable as a summer resort place, about which I would strongly recommend you to read one of our about this fabulous country.

During this period, prices are in the range of 312-426 EUR (22-30 thousand rubles), depending on the dates of the flight.

Direct flights

Here you will find a small "surprise", because you do not have to choose much: direct flights to the Swiss Confederation are only operated « Aeroflot " and Swiss, which fly only to Geneva and Zurich. This is a convenient way, especially since both cities are the centers of French and German Switzerland, respectively, and from there you can get to other settlements and sightseeing is not difficult.

You don't have to rack your brains with direct flights, because, in principle, everything is extremely simple: who of us is not familiar with such a simple and stress-free type of flights! I love both airlines in large part because of the wide variety of pre-order food available with ticket purchases and the airline miles and frequent flyer loyalty programs.

If you fly with animals, Aeroflot is definitely your option. In Swiss, everything is more strict with this: even cats and small dogs are asked to be carried under the seat in front of the chair, and in general they do not very much welcome body movements associated with pets. Domestic airlines are more than loyal to this. From my own experience, I can say that our stewards and flight attendants constantly inquired about the condition of our cat and gladly helped in case of unforeseen situations: after all, after all, flying for animals is a lot of stress, and not everyone can cope with it.
But Swiss has many other undeniable advantages, here are just a couple of them.

Lifehacks from a seasoned Swiss International Airlines passenger:

Flights with transfers

Numerous (and here I am not even exaggerating) small and medium-sized European airlines will happily take you, for example, to one of the rather large and important cities in Switzerland with several transfers. There are a lot of options here, so in this case it is better to focus on your personal preferences.

The most common connecting flight options are Air Baltic and Air France... Frankly, I like the latter much more for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the transfer here is done in predominantly European cities, and the airports themselves are located within half an hour of the city's key attractions. Transit zones are equipped with last word technology and meet the expectations of passengers "wandering" from board to board: sleep, food and even a kind of entertainment. In the waiting area of ​​Charles de Gaulle airport, for example, a modern lounge-zone with soft ottomans, widescreen TVs, cafes and game consoles has been created. : D

Important! If you suddenly decide to fly with a transfer at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, do not take flights with extremely short connecting times. The airport is so large that the journey from one terminal to another takes 20-30 minutes, so you risk simply not being able to catch your connecting flight.

As for Air Baltic, its huge disadvantage, in my opinion, is the unimaginably long intervals between connecting flights. Perhaps this will play into the hands of those travelers who want to arrange a trip for themselves in order to travel all over Europe. However, in other cases, I see this as a disadvantage rather than an advantage. The arrival time in the mountainous country will stretch for you at least a day, if not more. And the cities of arrival are not always friendly to transit passengers... For example, if you fly with this airline in winter with a transfer in Riga or Istanbul, then be prepared to meet face to face with inclement weather conditions in both cities: swam - we know.

And now, briefly about a number of other subtleties, which it is better to know than not to know when traveling to Switzerland with transfers:

1. Paradoxically, transit zones exist only on the force in half of the European airports. So here it is already worth starting from what kind of visa was issued to you by the Swiss Confederation. Yes, yes, there can be as many as two visas, which you can read about in my other article about Switzerland in the section. If this is standard Schengen, then you can safely choose any airport, discarding the stereotypes about the obligation to open a visa only in the country that issued it to you: this rule applies only in Finland and Germany. But if you were originally issued a national Swiss visa, then here the choice of tickets is already greatly narrowed.
2. Not all airports with transit zones allow travelers to leave the latter. The reasons can only be guessed at, but it is better to check such moments in advance even before buying tickets, which can be done both on the website of the airports themselves, where the transfer is supposed to be, and on various travel forums, where seasoned Brodilkins share their experiences and impressions.
3. The cheapness of tickets here can play into your hands only in case of seasonal offers: the May holidays, late summer and winter. In other cases, the costs may well be higher than on the directions with direct flights.

Combined routes

Finally, we move on to the topic of combined options, which allow travelers to be guaranteed to save on flights 9 times out of 10. Here, the trip includes several transport options at once, from the plane to buses and hitchhiking.

In essence, those options with Swiss and Aeroflot, combined with trains to any Swiss city, which I have already mentioned above, are classic examples of combined options, but there are also more favorable offers, which will be discussed. speech in this section.

Airplane + train

Lufthansa

"You can't find a cheaper Lufthansa + Deutsche Bahn combined ticket," they assured me seasoned travelers! Not to say that it is not cheaper to find. Take at least the same S7, which will be discussed below. However, the pricing situation here is the same as in the case of Swiss and Aeroflot. In addition, Lufthansa stands for excellent service, German precision and accuracy.

Previously, flights were even cheaper when the planes of the subsidiary low-cost airline EuroWings still flew to Russia, but the airline itself also pampers its passengers. low prices... A flight with luggage from Moscow to Frankfurt (this route should be chosen if you then go to) will cost 18,000 rubles, without luggage 16,000 rubles. For this price, you get food, great service and, importantly, the absence of any hassle due to flight delays, which simply happen very, very rarely with Lufthansa.

Upon arrival in Frankfurt, I would advise you to buy a ticket for the IC series or InterCity trains to Badischer Bahnhof in Basel, which costs about 30 EUR. The incomparable advantage of such a train is its speed: in less than 3 hours, namely 2 hours and 40 minutes, you will cover a distance that would normally take about 5 hours. In addition, IC is almost the only comfortable and tidy mode of transport on railroad Germany. There is both free Wi-Fi and a dining car. In general, if you want to get to Switzerland in comfort, despite such a combination of options, then Lufthansa + IC Deutsche Bahn is your option.

By the way, if Deutsche Bahn does not offer any special offers on its website, then it is better to buy tickets directly on the spot: on the German Railways website, such a purchase, all other things being equal, will cost you 1.5 or even 2 times more!

Important! Most passengers on IC trains reserve seats in advance, so be careful when boarding: these signs are located above the window. If you boarded the train and realized that there were no more empty seats, feel free to go to the restaurant car: your comrades in misfortune are waiting for you there, or simply those who, in principle, did not want to book a guaranteed seat(by the way, it is 4.5 EUR or 318 rubles).

S7

The airline operates direct flights to Munich and Dusseldorf. There you already change to one of the Deutsche Bahn trains and go to Switzerland (here I would advise you to choose Basel because of the convenient and advantageous location of both the city itself and the German railway station).

What is the plus: S7 is a fairly cheap company, mainly due to baggage rates, but in terms of the quality of service it is not inferior to the same Aeroflot. The price also depends on the season, but here it is stable - 10,000 rubles. As for Deutsche Bahn itself, it often arranges promotions, according to which tickets for certain trains can be bought for almost nothing. The whole trip - plane + train - round trip will cost you about 14,000 rubles. I would recommend finding out about such promotions, as well as about the tickets for the flight, in advance: such offers are sold quickly like hot cakes, which, in principle, is not surprising and quite expected.

But there are also peculiar disadvantages associated mainly with the train: such promotions tie you to a specific train, which means only one thing: if the flight was delayed and you did not catch the train you need, you will have to buy a ticket again. In this case, neither the airline nor Deutsche Bahn itself will be responsible for such inconveniences, and no one will return the money spent. By choosing such combined options, you actually assume all the risks associated with each stage of the trip.

Important! These special offers, unfortunately, are usually valid towards the north and part of the central part of Switzerland, where Zurich is located. For more western parts, like the same, such options do not work. ; (

"Victory"

As for our domestic low-cost airlines, here, it seems to me, everything is quite complicated. "Pobeda", in principle, flies to the German Memmingen, which is located in relation to Switzerland no less convenient than the same one: Deutsche Bahn already familiar to us, but the same 5 hours by train.

The downside is that they impose additional fees on almost everything, while the basic ticket (let's call it that) includes the minimum number of benefits and amenities. Ultimately, it turns out that you can "snatch" tickets for 5-7,000 rubles, and then simply pay the same amount on top of that.

In addition, Pobeda, like any low-cost airlines, in principle, does not differ in punctuality and diligence, so the option of buying promotional offers for the Deutsche Bahn train is not very suitable here: there is a high probability of large losses and no less large frustration and anxiety. And the extra nerves are clearly not on the must-do list of our trip, right? ;) Otherwise, our "Victory", as in the famous cartoon about Captain Vrungel, will turn into a real "Trouble" ... But, as they say, once at a time there is no need and, perhaps, you will be lucky!

Airplane + bus

You also always have the option “plane + bus” at your disposal. Personally, I have never seen an offer in which a bus ticket would have already been provided in advance. Here, you yourself will need to look through all the offers that are on the websites of companies for the transportation of passengers over long distances by buses: these are, first of all, Eurolines, FlixBus and the IC Bus belonging to the Deutsche Bahn concern. In this situation, you yourself choose the time of transfer and you can calculate that the break will cover the flight delay.

In principle, you can buy bus tickets right on the spot, but there is always the possibility that there will be no empty seats by your arrival. As you probably already understood, I personally prefer to do everything in advance and I urge everyone to do so. ☺

The only drawback is that the duration of a bus trip is 1.5–2 times longer than that of a train. On the way, you will, of course, make stops, but perhaps they will be even more forced due to traffic jams on the motorways. By the way, the cleanliness and comfort of such buses long distance sometimes an order of magnitude higher than the conditions provided by the Deutsche Bahn trains, which are often quite dirty and not cleaned. ☹

The cost of a trip on such a bus will be approximately 29 EUR (2,045 rubles). For this price you will get a seat in a comfortable armchair, Wi-Fi and a built-in toilet, which is quite presentable and clean.

Airplane + bus + train

Well, for the main adventurers and adventurers, I have another option in store, which will allow you to see, perhaps, in less than 24 hours, 3 or even 4 countries at once, including our beautiful Motherland with its fields, forests, rivers and lakes. ... Have you guessed? If not, then now I will open the veil of secrecy and nevertheless immediately warn that I myself did not use this option, but if you believe the stories of many of my fellow travelers, this method is one of the most budgetary and interesting.

Having packed your suitcases, you happily run ... to the station for tickets to Kaliningrad. Yes, you read everything correctly, before Kaliningrad. The point is that convenient geographical position this city allows you to get by bus to the key airports in Poland and Lithuania (Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport, Vilnius International Airport, Klaipeda Airport) in one sitting and from there fly to European countries.

Tickets for flights of local airlines here will cost several times cheaper than even the same S7 and Lufthansa with their special offers. So, a flight by Polish airlines LOT from Gdansk directly to Zurich will cost you about 8,000 rubles. Unusual? Yes. Does it take your breath away? Yes. Conveniently? I'm not sure of this, but if you really want to breathe new life into your tourist and not so trips, if you want to diversify the routine of home-auto-airport-plane-airport-auto-hotel, then such an adventure should definitely appear in your mini-plan ! ☺

And on top of that, you will be given the opportunity to see the wonderful city of Kaliningrad with your own eyes. What to do and where to go, you can read in one of our dedicated the former Königsberg.

Finally

We need all flights, all trips are important to us. Regardless of which option is preferable to you and which one you choose in the end, what is important above all is the correct, correct attitude towards new adventures and crazy, unforgettable accomplishments, in which even a millionth transplant will look like a kind of quest in search of your ideal vacation, or even a whole journey into the wilds of the unknown, and therefore so alluring and attractive!

In my opinion, in life it is worth trying each of the ways of travel I have listed, and, believe me, every time Switzerland will open up for you from a new, previously unfamiliar and unnoticed side. Is this not the goal of the most real trouble-seekers of their own Odysseus? ;)

, .

Anything to add?

How to get to Saxon Switzerland

National park"Saxon Switzerland" is located on the border of Germany and the Czech Republic on the German side and is a mountain forest of the Elbe sandstone mountains. The color of the mountains is given by their bizarre shape, formed under the influence of the "blowing effect", in addition, there are numerous historical monuments, including the most ancient and picturesque ones - the Bastei bridge and the Königstein fortress. The national park is very popular with all lovers of natural attractions and is one of the most visited parks in Germany.

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is located 125 km from Prague and 30 km from Dresden, so most of the tourists come to the park from these large cities. Group tours are often organized from Prague or Dresden excursion tours to Saxon Switzerland, but you can get to the park on your own. The infrastructure of the park itself is very developed, it is convenient for people with various abilities to move here, and climbing the mountains along specially designed routes will not be tiring.

Petr Meissner / Winterberg, Saxon Switzerland

How to get to Saxon Switzerland from Prague

The most convenient way to get from Prague to Saxon Switzerland is in a rented car. Travel time will take no more than 1 hour and 20 minutes, and along the way you can explore picturesque natural places. Prague and the park are connected by motorway no. E55. At Please note that to enter the National Park you will have to cross the state border, so check with the rental office if you need an additional permit for the rented car.

You can also get to the park from Prague by public transport. The nearest settlements to Prague are considered resort villages Rathen and Bad Schandau. By the way, if you wish, you can stay here longer, since the resorts offer climate and mineral therapy. Trains run from Prague to Rathen Kurort and Bad Schandau, direct trains to Bad Schandau (about 2 hours on the way), to Rathen - with a change (about 3 hours on the way). You can check the train schedule and buy tickets online on the website or OBB. From Rathen you can start your hiking trip to Saxon Switzerland, while from Bad Schandau you have to take a local bus.

In addition, from Prague to the park, you can take a ready-made bus tour... Bus and walking tours are in Russian and last a total of about 10 hours. Thanks to the excursion, you can see all the most Beautiful places natural park including observation deck to the Elbe River, without the need for transfers, as is the case with public transport. The tour can be found on site or booked in advance through specialized services such as and others similar.

How to get to Saxon Switzerland from Dresden

Getting from Dresden to Saxon Switzerland is even easier. Direct trains run between Dresden and the resort of Rathen or Bad Schandau, the journey time is only half an hour. Trains run every hour throughout the day. You can check the train schedule and buy tickets online on the website . Next, from the Rathen resort station, you need to go to the pier, buy tickets for the local ferry across the Elbe (travel time - about 5 minutes).

Once on the other side of the Elbe, you will see the picturesque Elbe Mountains right in front of you, the hiking trails of which will lead you to their top. In the park, you should move, focusing on the signs, they are placed almost everywhere, and it is difficult to get lost here. In addition, there are a lot of tourists in the park almost at any time of the year (in winter, during snowfalls, the park may be closed).

Thomas Quine / Panorama of the Elbe River

Where to stay in Saxon Switzerland

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is quite extensive, there are many hiking trails here that will last for more than one day. If you are planning to stay here longer, it will be most convenient to stay in one of the nearest settlements so as not to return to Dresden or Prague. The nearest towns to the park are the resorts of Rathen (closer, within walking distance) and Bad Schandau (further, you need to get there by bus or train). Both resorts are quite intimate; traditional half-timbered architecture is presented here and there is all the infrastructure necessary for recreation.

So, for example, you can stay at the Rathen resort in hotels Elbiente 4 *, Elbschlosschen 4 *, Amselgrundschlossen 3 *. The advantage of the hotels is their location - in the center of the resort, as well as the presence of restaurants and indoor pools on the territory. You can stay in rooms of various sizes. As a rule, Wi-Fi in the resort's hotels is provided free of charge, and there are no problems in finding free parking if you are traveling by car.

In Bad Schandau, you can find an even larger list of accommodations, since the town is considered a thermal spa. Several thermal complexes are located here at once, specializing in the treatment and rehabilitation of various diseases. Bad Schandau is a year-round resort and is in steady demand among tourists. You can stay in Bad Schandau in hotels Steiger Ban Schandau 4 *, Parkhotel Bad Schandau 4 *, Elbhotel Bad Schandau 3 *and others. A complete list of accommodation options in Bad Schandau can be found on the website Booking.com.

Torsten Maue / Bad Schandau

What to see in Saxon Switzerland

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is extremely rich in attractions. They are based on Elbe sandstone mountains, having a peculiar shape, which, in turn, was created by nature itself over many millennia by blowing and erosion. Landscape National park very diverse. On specially paved routes you can see not only mountain range, but also fabulous boxwood forests, waterfalls, as well as some historical sights such as königstein fortress and old bridge Bastei connected by the same names mountain peaks, the highest in the park.

Allan Gray / Rathen Resort

There are many hiking trails inside the park, designed for different levels of training and different time... The most popular route is the ascent to Mount Bastei with an inspection of the bridge of the same name, as well as a route to fortress Königstein... Both places are extremely picturesque, as they are located on the edge of rocky cliffs. Both the bridge and the fortress offer panoramic views of the mountains, the Elbe River and the Rathen resort.

In addition to Mount Bastei itself, old bridge and the Königstein fortress, in the territory of Saxon Switzerland you can also see other attractions. In particular, these include valleys, waterfalls, forests, canyons, and caves. If you want to get away from popular routes, then travelers also deserve attention Lichtenhain waterfall, Fortress Stolpen, rock gate Kushtal, as well as "Trail of artists" with the most picturesque observation platforms.

superscheeli / Bad Schandau

It is worth noting that the entrance to the Saxon Switzerland National Park is free. Only the ferry services across the Elbe and entrance tickets to the Königstein fortress are paid (8-10 euros depending on the season).

Overall, we can say that the Saxon Switzerland National Park is a great alternative for a day trip from Prague or Dresden. It is here that you can "swap" urban landscapes for natural ones and enjoy some of the most amazing views in Europe. In addition, there are all the possibilities here to stay in the scenery of nature as long as possible - in the immediate vicinity are located Rathen resorts and, which also offer many opportunities for leisure.

Saxon Switzerland and Dresden are frequent tourist routes one day from Prague, both destinations are popular with travelers. About, , On a note :

Going on a trip to Europe, do not forget to take out a travel insurance policy, which is mandatory already at the stage of obtaining a tourist visa. You can take out the insurance yourself without leaving your home. There are special services for this, such as , other. You can buy a policy online, and then print it on a regular printer.

Photo at the beginning of the article: Bernd Thaller

Regular flights on the Moscow-Zurich and Moscow-Geneva routes are operated by Aeroflot and Swiss aircrafts.

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skyscanner
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Regular flights on the Moscow-Zurich and Moscow-Geneva routes are operated by Aeroflot and Swiss aircrafts. The latter also flies from St. Petersburg to Zurich.

It is possible to get to Switzerland with a transfer at the airports of such major cities as Vienna, Prague, Paris, Amsterdam and Dusseldorf.

In the active part of the tourist season, which is directly related to the ski season, charter flights from Moscow to Geneva, Basel and Sion are added. Further, by changing to the train you will get to the main ski resorts in Switzerland.

The planes of Ukraine International Airlines and Swiss Airlines fly from Kiev to Zurich. The latter also mastered the Kiev - Zurich route. Aircrafts of Austrian Airlines (transfer in Vienna) and LOT (transfer in Warsaw) operate in the direction Odessa - Geneva.

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People who are accustomed to living in grand style go to Switzerland. From Geneva to Zurich, everything is steeped in material prosperity: the best alpine ski resorts, best service, the best upscale hotels and the best vacation in Europe.

General information about Switzerland for tourists

Switzerland is located in western Europe, bordering Germany, Italy, Austria, France and Liechtenstein. The modern Swiss Confederation is the embodiment of a stable and peaceful life.

In the Middle Ages, the most important trade routes between Europe and Italy passed here; from about that time, Europeans learned about the existence of the country itself. It was in Switzerland that the first developments of nuclear weapons and the World Wide Web began, the first servers, browsers and websites were created here.

The territory of the country is 41.2 thousand sq. km, and the population is 8.2 million people. The largest ethnic group in Switzerland is the Swiss. Immigrants live on a par with them, but there are not many of them in the country, since it is very difficult to obtain Swiss citizenship.

In order to become a full-fledged resident of Switzerland, a person must obtain a three-tier citizenship. People who immigrate to Switzerland are considered the labor force. Foreign labor helps keep the Swiss economy stable.

Immigrants work in restaurants and catering, in hotel business and at construction sites. Along with immigrants, the country often attracts workers from abroad who work in the field of science, engineering and programming.

Switzerland has no official capital, but Bern is considered the main city. The town is comfortably located north of the Alpine mountains in the valley of the Aare River. 131.5 thousand people live here, and within the region - 270 thousand. Bern is the political center of the country, the central bank, parliament and government are located here, and the historical buildings of the city are included in the list world heritage UNESCO.

Religion and language

Switzerland has always been a Christian country. Currently, two religions are professed here: Catholicism and Protestantism (49% of people for each). All religious movements are divided into some more directions, for example, here you can see Calvinists or Zwingilians, but mainly immigrants from Germany and France adhere to these religions. It is forbidden in the country to kill animals on a kosher or halal basis, as it is considered not entirely humane.

There are four official languages ​​in the country: French, German, Italian and Romansh (Swiss). Most people speak German (63%), and newspapers, television and other mass media use the language that is widespread in the broadcasting region.

Tourist regions and resorts in Switzerland cities

The largest resorts in the country:

• St. Moritz;
• Berne;
• Geneva;
• Zurich;
• Zermatt.

There are about 40 popular resorts in the country, somewhere a ski area is developing, somewhere rest on sandy beach by the lake, but somewhere there are simply beautiful sights.

Rest by the lake:

• Ascona;
• Lake Geneva;
• Yverdon-les-Bains;
• Interlaken;
• Lausanne;
• Locarno;
• Luhansk lake;
• Lugano;
• Lucerne;
• Lake Lucerne;
• Lake Zurich;

Ski resorts:

• Arosa;
• Verbier;
• Grindelwald;
• Gstaad;
• Davos;
• Crane-Montana;
• Leukerbad;
• Nenda;
• Saas-Fee;
• Champery;
• Engelberg;
• Jungfrau.

Difference in time

Time difference from major cities Russia in the summer is different from the winter (the difference in the summer will be indicated in brackets):

• Kaliningrad -1 hour (no);
• Moscow -2 hours (-1);
• Samara -3 hours (-2);
• Yekaterinburg -4 hours (-3);
• Omsk -5 hours (-4);
• Krasnoyarsk -6 hours (-5);
• Irkutsk -7 hours (-6);
• Yakutsk -8 hours (-7);
• Vladivostok -9 hours (-8);
• Magadan -10 hours (-9);
• Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky -11 hours (-10).

Climate

The country is landlocked. The entire territory of Switzerland is divided into three natural regions: northern mountains Yura, southern mountains Alps and Swiss plateau in the center of the country. The country has a continental climate, the air temperature differs in each region, it all depends on its location above sea level.

Winters are usually cold and summers are warm. In mountainous areas, the temperature drops to -10. The closer to the west of the country, the more the influence is felt Atlantic Ocean, strong winds blow in this part of the country. And some territory is completely constantly under a small layer of ice.

The most favorable time to visit the country depends on the purpose of the trip. To relax on ski resorts winter is best - January-February. But it is better to rest on the lakes from late spring to early autumn.

Peculiarities of visiting the country

Switzerland is one of the countries of the Schengen agreement. Therefore, to visit the country, tourists from Russia and the CIS countries are required to obtain a Schengen visa and medical insurance. To apply for a visa, you will need a standard "general Schengen" set of documents.

Since Switzerland is a very expensive country, then in the certificate of solvency the amount should be written at the rate of 6,000 rubles. on every day. The package of documents should be accompanied by data on the route that the tourist plans to adhere to for the entire duration of his stay in the country.

How to get to Switzerland?

The country has two major international airports - Geneva and Zurich. You can get directly from Moscow to Geneva by plane: a ticket costs about 160 euros (travel time is 3 hours 40 minutes). The cheapest way to get there is with transfers: a flight with a connection in Minsk will cost 110 euros (travel time will take 13 hours 20 minutes).

You can get from St. Petersburg to Geneva by plane only with a transfer. A plane ticket with a transfer in Moscow will cost 140 euros (travel time 22 hours). It will be cheaper to get there with a transfer in Minsk - the ticket price is 120 euros (travel time is 20 hours).

The flight to Zurich will cost more. A direct flight from Moscow costs 250 euros (travel time 3.5 hours). Flights with transfers will cost 2 times cheaper: with a transfer in Riga - 100 euros (18 hours on the way), with a transfer in Istanbul - 135 euros (8.5 hours on the way).

There is a direct flight from St. Petersburg to Zurich - the travel time is 3 hours 10 minutes, the ticket price is 445 euros. Connecting flights will cost less: with a change in Riga - 140 euros (9.5 hours), with a change in Warsaw - 200 euros (20 hours on the way), with a change in Stockholm - 210 euros (20 hours on the way).

You can also take a bus from St. Petersburg and Moscow to Bern and Zurich. The fare is 150-160 euros, the trip itself will take 50 hours. You can also get to Switzerland by car, but you will have to cover a distance of 2,700 km, which will take about 28 hours.

Excursions and sights of the cities of Switzerland

The landmarks of the country are the embodiment of taste and elegance. Tourists enthusiastically visit ancient castles and museums that keep medieval secrets. hiking on scenic spots and beautiful lakes, actively slide down the slopes of the majestic Alps.

Bern attractions:

• Berne Cathedral;
• Federal Palace;
• Clock tower;
• Einstein House Museum;
• Egensdorf Castle Museum;
• Paul Klee Museum;
• Park Gurten;
• Swiss Museum wildlife and hunting in the castle Landshut.

Attractions in Zurich:

• Kunsthaus Museum;
• Urania Observatory;
• Rhine Falls;
• Cathedral of Grossmünster;
• Langstrasse;
• St. Gallen;
• Collection of the Emil Bührle Foundation;
• Fraumünster;
• St. Peter's Church.

Attractions Lucerne:

• Water tower;
• Chapel Bridge;
• Dying lion;
• Richard Wagner Museum;
• Mussegg Wall;
• Swiss Museum of Transport.

Attractions in other cities of Switzerland:

• The Anatomical Museum of the University of Basel;
• Jean Tinguely Museum (Basel);
• Beyeler Foundation Museum (Basel);
• Castelgrande Castle (Bellinzona);
• Montebello Castle (Bellinzona);
• Basilica of Notre Dame in Geneva;
• Place Bourg-de-Four (Geneva);
• Flower Clock in Geneva;
• Gruyère Castle (Lausanne);
• Ouchy Castle (Lausanne);
• Esplanade of Montbenon (Lausanne).

Transport

Major cities of the country are connected by rail, trains always follow the timetable, and the trains themselves are very comfortable. Inside each car there is everything for this: from the dining car to the playrooms for children.

Tickets are bought at the box office at the station. A trip from the capital to Zurich or Geneva will cost about 3000 rubles. Tourist panoramic routes run across Switzerland. Ride on the "chocolate express" costs about 6,000 rubles. During the trip, tourists get to know the traditions of Swiss pastry chefs by listening to an audio guide. The Glacier Express runs from St. Moritz to Zermatt. During the trip, tourists have a magnificent view of the mountains and picturesque lakes.

It is quite possible to travel around the country on intercity bus- they are bright yellow. You can buy a ticket on the carrier's website, at the train station or at the ticket terminal. Buses, like trains, run along memorable places so that tourists can get acquainted with the most beautiful panorama of the country. The fare is from 5500 rubles.

Movement within the city

The transport system in the country is considered one of the most advanced in the whole world. Buses, trams and trolleybuses run in cities. For tourists, special travel tickets have been made (cost from 21 thousand rubles), which give the right not only to travel for free on public transport, but also to receive impressive discounts on tickets to the museum and excursions.

In addition to tourist passes, you can buy a ticket for one trip, it costs 120-450 rubles. There are tickets on sale for one day, for a week, for several days and for a whole month. Taxis in Switzerland are very expensive, like everything else. The fare may well reach 3000 rubles. per trip depending on the city. Bicycles are a pleasant alternative to public transport: in any city you can rent them for free, but you will have to leave either your passport or credit card, or 1200-3000 rubles.

Car rent

The roads in Switzerland are flawless: they are flat, clean and spacious. Other drivers are always polite. From traffic rules it is worth remembering that public transport runs in specially designated lanes, and travel may be restricted due to repairs.

To rent a car, you will need an international driving license, and the driver himself must be at least 21 years old. Driving experience must exceed 3 years. A valid credit card is required as collateral.

Communication andWi-Fi

Mobile communications in Switzerland are very expensive. For calls to Russia, it will still be more profitable to buy a local SIM card than to activate roaming. There are three mobile operators in the country, but the largest of them is Swisscom, which covers 98% of the territory of Switzerland.

You can buy a SIM card at the train station, at the airport, at mall or at the company office. To connect a tourist SIM card, you only need to present your passport. The service of international calls will cost 300 rubles / month.

There are a lot of access points in the country, literally in every corner of the country you can find a wireless connection to the network, but most of them are paid. Free wi-fi is rare even in hotels, usually it is in cafes or fast food outlets, but tourists are only told the password if they make an order.

Swiss currency

The Swiss franc is the official currency of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The authorities issue banknotes in denominations of 10-1000 francs and coins in denominations of 5-50 centimes and 1-5 francs. On the obverse of each franc there is a portrait of a famous person and the denomination of the banknote in 3 languages. The Swiss currency is very stable and is therefore used as a reserve currency.

It is better for tourists to take Swiss francs or euros with them. In many shops you can pay in euros, but change will be given in francs. For convenience, prices are quoted in both Swiss francs and euros. If necessary, you can exchange currency at a bank, at the airport, in a department store or at a travel agency.

Banks are open from 8:00 to 18:00, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00. Exchange offices work from 8:00 to 22:00. There are special currency ATMs throughout the country for currency exchange, but the service fee reaches 15%. You can pay with a plastic card anywhere.

How much money to take to Switzerland?

Switzerland is perhaps one of the most expensive countries in the world. For comfortable rest you will have to pay 150 francs per person (9,000 rubles) per day. Approximate prices:

• dinner in a restaurant - 4200 rubles;
• lunch in a cafe - 900-1800 rubles;
• snack at the food court - 600-1200 rubles;
• a bottle of wine - 300-600 rubles;
• liter of drinking water - 60 rubles;
• a pack of cigarettes - 300 rubles;
• chocolate bar - from 120 rubles;
• handmade lollipop - 60 rubles;
• a bed in a hostel - 1200 rubles.

1. Most dangerous city country, oddly enough - Geneva. It is here that there is a large flow of immigrants from other countries, and they are more prone to violence and crime.
2. Another place where tourists should not go is the Langstrasse area in Zurich. It is full of brothels and the drug trade is flourishing. If you still wonder how the Swiss live in this place, then it is better to come here during the day.
3. On toll roads, you must definitely buy a vignette, it costs 2,500 rubles, the fine for its absence is about 12,000 rubles. The fine for speeding can reach 45,000 rubles.
4. Medical services are very expensive in Switzerland, so it is better to take out health insurance when visiting the country.

Five largest cities Switzerland:

Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lausanne

Shopping

Geneva is considered the Swiss shopping capital. There are more than 3,000 retail outlets here, and the best of them are located on the left bank of the Rhone. Grand Rue is full of antiques shops, and branded clothing and books are sold on st. Confederation. Shopping in Bern is better in the Ratausgasse area - there are plenty of antique and jewelry stores, small markets and clothing stores. But in Zurich there are places where budget shopping is available - the Niederdorfstrasse area. It sells youth clothing, perfumes and cosmetics, shoes and accessories from local designers.

Shops are open on weekdays from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm, with larger boutiques open until 10:00 pm on Thursday. On Saturday, shops are open from 8:00 to 16:00. They are usually closed for lunch between 12:00 and 14:00.

Top 5 gifts from Switzerland

1. Swiss watches - quality workshops located in French speaking regions. Here you can buy expensive watches or pick up a budget option... Products of masters "without a name" are no worse than famous brands.
2. Cheese - there is a kind of "cheese cult" in the country. It is sold everywhere: in supermarkets and grocery stores, many shops specializing in the sale of cheese have been opened throughout the country. Each region has its own and even unique type of cheese.
3. Swiss chocolate - along with cheeses, the country is madly in love with chocolate. Many brands are known even here in Russia, for example, "Toblerone" or "Lindt". In addition to inexpensive chocolate in Switzerland, you can try exclusive bars (cost up to 800 rubles per bar).
4. Army knives are knives that combine many functions: scissors, opener, screwdriver, corkscrew, knife, etc. They were invented in Switzerland. Therefore, here they can be found in almost every supermarket.
5. Bells - it is customary to decorate their homes with them, not only at Christmas, but at any other time of the year. They are sold in souvenir shops: small bells for room decoration and huge bells.

Swiss cuisine

Swiss cuisine drew its traditions from neighboring regions: France, Italy, Austria and Germany. The main ingredients of the dishes are aromatic cheeses and agricultural products. When visiting Switzerland, you should definitely try the traditional dishes of the country.

1. Cheese fondue is a national dish made from melted stretching cheese. As spices, nutmeg, garlic and strong kirsch are added to the dish. Fondue is usually served for dinner in a large company, as guests dip slices of bread, olives or potatoes on long sticks (or forks) in a bowl of melted cheese.
2. Raclette - the basis of the dish is also processed cheese. But in this case, the cheese does not fall in the bowl, but is scraped individually into a plate. Processed cheese is served with pickled cucumbers, potatoes, ham and mustard-fruit sauce.
3. Roshti - a dish similar to Belarusian pancakes. Small cakes are formed from grated potatoes and fried in vegetable oil. Roshti is usually served as a side dish for meat.
4. Polenta is a Swiss dish with Italian roots. A dish is prepared from corn flour and water, which are mixed in a special copper kettle, and then boiled, stirring constantly, to thicken. On the table, the dish is served cut into small pieces. Polenta is eaten separately, and can be served as a side dish with meat, mushrooms or fish. There are many options for polenta in Switzerland - it can be sweet, soft, hard, etc.
5. Saffron risotto is an Italian dish popular in Switzerland. Risotto is made from rice, which is first fried in oil, and then boiling broth or plain water is poured into it. The finished mixture is stewed until tender.

Holidays and events in Switzerland

At the state level, only Switzerland's national holiday is celebrated in the country. Each region has its own holidays, the dates for them are set by each canton independently. On the territory of the country, all people celebrate only three holidays - New Year, Christmas and the Ascension of the Lord. A list of holidays that can be found in different regions of Switzerland:

April - Good Friday, Easter

May-June - Ascension of the Lord

The country hosts many festivals, each of which is unique in its own way:

Gourmet Festival (St. Moritz)

Carnival of Masks (Lucerne)

Bernese Carnival (Bern)

Carnival of laughter and fun (Basel)

Jazz Festival (Montreux)

Music Festival (Verbier)

Swiss Escalade (Geneva)

Top 5 interesting facts about Switzerland

1. More than 150 years ago, Switzerland was considered the poorest state in Europe.
2. The country has a four-day work week - weekends on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
3. In Switzerland, education is free, but medicine is only paid.
4. The UN headquarters is located in Switzerland.
5. In Geneva, spring officially comes at the moment when the first leaves are blooming on the "Presidential Chestnut".

HOW TO GET TO SWITZERLAND

Aircraft to Switzerland

There are several daily flights to Switzerland from Russia on the routes Moscow-Zurich and Moscow-Geneva. You can also get to Switzerland by plane in transit, with a transfer in other European cities. International airports Zurich, Geneva and Basel receive flights from all over the world, Lugano and Bern - only from Europe.

Moreover, during ski season from Russia there are charter flights to Switzerland.

Zurich International Airport ( ZRH) is located 12 km north of the city... Telephone help desk airport: +41 43 816 22 11; official website: www.zurich-airport.com.

Geneva Airport ( GVA) is located 5 km north-west of the city center. Airport Information Telephone:

41 22 717 71 11; official website: www.gva.ch.

Both airports have train stations from which it is easy to get to anywhere in Switzerland.

Tickets to Switzerland

The search form on our website will allow you to select and book plane tickets to Switzerland online. Here you can also view the flight schedule and ticket prices to Switzerland by choosing the cheapest option. Keep in mind that the earlier you book your ticket, the cheaper it might cost.

Enter the appropriate cities in the fields " Point of departure" and " Destination"; specify the departure date and other required information, and click " Find". You will see a complete list of flights between the cities you have marked, with prices indicated. If there are no direct flights between these points, then you will be offered the best (both in price and in time) routes with transfers.

You can buy tickets to Switzerland without leaving your computer. By clicking on the " Buy», You will be taken to the site, which contains all the necessary information about the payment and delivery of the ticket.

How to get to Switzerland by land

There are no direct trains to Switzerland from Russia. You can get to Switzerland by rail with one change in Germany if you have a Schengen transit visa. The trip will take about one and a half days. The price of a train ticket to Switzerland from Russia is comparable to the price of an air ticket.

You can get to Switzerland by bus with a change in Germany, but you will have to spend two days on the road and you will need a transit Schengen visa. The distance from Zurich by road to Moscow is 1950 km, to Berlin - 905 km, Paris - 610 km, Vienna - 765 km, Prague - 685 km, Munich - 320 km, Milan - 275 km, Rome - 850 km.