Thoroughly updated, this seventh edition of Bradt's guide to Switzerland offers a unique perspective on getting the most from this mountainous country while travelling only by public transport. Switzerland boasts the world's finest public transport network the comfort, efficiency and frequency of trains, buses, boats and cable cars explain why many Swiss don't own cars yet is still enhancing services, including recently around Geneva. The Swiss Travel System is a revelation. Moreover, using public transport is a must. Visitors cannot reach many fine Swiss sights by road, and over a dozen car-free resorts enable them to experience the serenity and clean air of the country's mountains (208 above 3,000m). Walkers and cyclists enjoy superb networks almost 64,000km of footpaths and many surprisingly unhilly cycle paths beside lakes and rivers. Written by a railway expert who has been visiting this mountainous country since childhood, no other guidebook is devoted to Swiss public transport, which is the easiest, most enjoyable and responsible way to travel. The guide encompasses culture, architecture, landscapes, walking and cycling, plus fascinating facts for railway enthusiasts, numerous tips for reducing costs in a country known for being expensive, and ample advice for foodies. Switzerland offers some of the world's most stunning landscapes. Above and beyond mountains and lakes, each region offers something different and often curious such as the world's smallest vineyard, barely the extent of a dinner table, owned by the Dalai Lama while four official languages add cultural variety. Switzerland's cities are among the world's most beautiful, safest and pedestrian friendly. Its capital, Bern, is a World Heritage Site with 6km of covered arcades, where even jaded shoppers will delight in hundreds of independent shops. Luzern's lakeside setting is unrivalled, with mountains in every direction, floodlit city walls and an historic centre. Lausanne and Geneva overlook Lac Léman, Zurich is lively, and Basel enjoys a broad sweep of the Rhine. Whether you love culture or cycling, gastronomy or walking, with Bradt's Switzerland, you can enjoy the qualities that help ensure Switzerland is consistently ranked among the world's most liveable countries while travelling confidently on public transport.

Autorentext

By Anthony Lambert

Zusammenfassung
Switzerland travel guide. Expert advice on exploring Switzerland by public transport, including scenic rail routes, special trains, Swiss Travel System tips, timetables, itineraries, hotels, maps. Features hiking routes, museums, castles. Covers Zürich, Bern, Bernese Mitteland and Oberland, Basel, Luzern, Geneva, Jungfrau, Eiger, Jura, Lausanne.

Inhalt

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Why choose public transport? Tourism and sustainable transport

PART 1 GENERAL INFORMATION

Chapter 1 Practical Information

When to visit, Highlights, Tourist information, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Maps, Health, Travelling with a disability, Electricity, Money, Budgeting, Accommodation, Drinking, Food and wine, Shopping, Exploring cities, Arts and entertainment, Language, Media and communications, Snowshoeing

Chapter 2 The Swiss Travel System

General advice, Trains, Postbuses, Car, Tourist offices

Chapter 3 Special Trains

Gotthard Panorama Express, Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, Golden Pass Line, Golden Pass Panoramic, Glacier Express, Palm Express, Bernina Express, Pre-Alpine Express/Voralpen Express, Chocolate Train, Cheese Train

Chapter 4 Walking and Cycling

SwitzerlandMobility, Walking, Cycling, Maps and guides for walking and cycling

PART 2 THE GUIDE

Chapter 5 Zürich

Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, What to see and do

Chapter 6 Around Zürich

Zurichsee (Lake Zurich), Zurich HB–Uetliberg, Zurich HB–Langnau-Gattikon, Zurich HB–Zug, Zug–Arth-Goldau, Zug–Zurich HB via Affoltern, Zurich HB–Brugg, Dietikon–Wohlen, Lenzburg–Rotkreuz, Zug–Luzern, Zurich Flughafen–Zurich HB–Ziegelbrucke, Ziegelbrucke–Linthal, Zurich HB–Rapperswil, Rapperswil–Pfaffikon–Arth-Goldau & Wadenswil–Einsiedeln, Rapperswil–Winterthur, Zurich Stadelhofen–Esslingen, Zurich HB–Hinwil/Rapperswil, Wetzikon–Effretikon, Zurich HB–Winterthur, Winterthur–Bulach–Koblenz, Zurich HB–Niederweningen/Bulach–Schaffhausen, Zurich–Baden

Chapter 7 The Northeast

Winterthur–St Gallen, St Gallen–Trogen, St Gallen–Wattwil–Rapperswil, St Gallen–Romanshorn, St Gallen–Gais–Appenzell, Gais–Altstatten Stadt, Gossau–Herisau–Appenzell–Wasserauen, St Gallen–Gossau–Sulgen–Weinfelden, Wil–Wattwil–Nesslau-Neu St Johann, St Gallen–Rorschach, Rorschach–Romanshorn, Rorschach–Heiden, Romanshorn–Schaffhausen, Schaffhausen–Erzingen, Schaffhausen–Thayngen, Schaffhausen–Winterthur, Winterthur–Etzwilen/

Stein am Rhein, Winterthur–Romanshorn, Frauenfeld–Wil, Lake Constance/Bodensee, Wil–Weinfelden–Kreuzlingen–Konstanz, Rorschach–Sargans, Rheineck–Walzenhausen

Chapter 8 Bern

Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, What to see and do

Chapter 9 The Eastern Bernese Mittelland

Bern Fischermattelli–Bahnhofplatz–Worb Dorf , Bern–Worb Dorf , Bern–Solothurn, Solothurn–Moutier, Solothurn–Niederbipp–Oensingen–Langenthal, Solothurn–Olten, Oensingen–Balsthal,

Solothurn–Burgdorf, Burgdorf–Konolfingen–Thun, Bern–Olten, Langenthal–St Urban Ziegelei, Bern–Luzern, Langnau–Burgdorf, Ramsei–Sumiswald-Grumen–Huttwil, Wolhusen–Huttwil–Langenthal

Chapter 10 The Western Bernese Mittelland

Bern–Biel/Bienne, Lyss–Buren an der Aare, Biel/Bienne–Neuchatel, Biel/Bienne–La Chaux-de-Fonds, Sonceboz-Sombeval–Moutier–Delemont, Biel/Bienne–Delemont, Biel/Bienne–Solothurn, Biel/Bienne–Ins, Lyss–Murten–Payerne–Palezieux, Fribourg, Bern–Lausanne, Flamatt–Laupen, Fribourg–Payerne–Yverdon, Romont–Bulle, Bern–Schwarzenburg

Chapter 11 Bernese Oberland

Bern–Belp–Thun, Bern–Thun–Spiez–Interlaken Ost, Interlaken, Lake Thun, Interlaken–Zweilutschinen–Lauterbrunnen, Wilderswil–Schynige Platte, Lauterbrunnen–Grutschalp–Murren, Lauterbrunnen–Kleine Scheidegg, Kleine Scheidegg–Jungfraujoch, Zweilutschinen–Grindelwald, Grindelwald–Kleine Scheidegg,Spiez–Zweisimmen, Spiez–Brig

Chapter 12 Luzern

Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, What to see and do

Chapter 13 Around Luzern

Lake Luzern (Vierwaldstattersee), The Swiss Path, Vitznau–Rigi, Arth–Rigi, Luzern–Lenzburg, Luzern–Olten–Basel, Zofingen–Lenzburg, Luzern–Stans–Engelberg (LSE), Luzern–Meiringen–Interlaken, Alpnachstad–Pilatus, Meiringen–Innertkirchen, Luzern–Meiringen–Interlaken, Brienz–Rothorn, Luzern–Airolo–Lugano–Chiasso

Chapter 14 Basel and the Northwest

Basel, Basel–Rodersdorf, Basel–Delemont, Delemont–Porrentruy–Boncourt, Porrentruy–Bonfol, Basel–Olten, Liestal–Waldenburg, Sissach–Olten, Olten–Brugg, Aarau–Schoftland, Aarau–Menziken, Basel&#…