Switzerland is a small multi-cultural, multi-lingual country located in the very heart of Europe. It shares common frontiers with five countries - Germany, France, Italy, Austria and the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein. Switzerland is therefore at the crossroads of the continent.

Whatever the season, Switzerland is a classic holiday destination. Switzerland offers a unique diversity of natural and manmade attractions. And thanks to the country's compactness and excellent public transport system, all are so easily accessible to the vacation visitor.

Switzerland offers vacation visitors a vast range of leisure and pleasure activities. Hiking, biking, golf, skiing, sailing, horse riding, tennis and trekking, these are just a few of the many sports on offer.

Entry Regulations/Visas
Click Visa for detailed information

Languages
Switzerland has four national languages: German (spoken by 64% of the population), French (19%), Italian (8%) and Romansch (1%). Knowledge and use of English are widespread in business/tourist circles.

Currency : Swiss Francs
Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50 Cents and 1, 2, 5 Francs
Bank notes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 Francs

Weather
Average Temperature: Temperatures tend to decrease by 0.5c for every 100m rise in altitude. Even in the summer months the mountain tops can be cool.

Average Temperatures (C High to Low)

Business Hours

Electricity

220 volt, 50 cycles. The power sockets differ from those used in many other countries.

Telephone
Taiwan - Switzerland: 002-41-
Switzerland - Taiwan: 00-886-

Tax Refund
A 7.5% VAT tax is levied and included in retail prices. Shoppers can ask for a ETS cheque (tax free shopping cheque) and reclaim the VAT paid on goods bought (over Sfr 500), at the cash refund centres at Zurich and Geneva airports.

 

Swiss Holidays 2009/2010
 

Holidays celebrated in the whole of Switzerland, offices and most shops remain closed.