Travel in Switzerland

>> Getting to Switzerland  Getting around in Switzerland

 

Arrive by Plane:
The main entry points for international travelers to Switzerland are the airports of Zurich-Kloten and Geneva-Cointrin. Most major airlines from all around the world offer direct or connecting flights to at least one of these two airports. Basel-Mulhouse is Switzerland's 3rd largest airport also receiving daily international flights, but on a smaller level. The Bern-Belp and Lugano-Agno airports are rather small and offer just a few daily international flights exclusively to European destinations and/or often connecting in Zurich or Geneva. Travelers to destinations in the south of Switzerland (Ticino or Valais) might want to consider flying to/from Milano-Malpensa in Italy, which is situated just an hour by train or car from the Swiss border. Finally, there are some small, regional airports such as in Gstaad-Saanen or St. Moritz-Scuol for private flights with smaller planes.

Arrive by Train:
With its central location within Europe, Switzerland always has been an important center of international transportation. Major routes north-south as well as east-west connect through Switzerland, and international fast trains such as the ICE or the TGV stop in all larger Swiss cities several times daily.




Arrive by Car:
Also getting to Switzerland by road is simple, since the major European highways connect to the Swiss "Autobahn"-network. Main entry points are Basel and Kreuzlingen in the north, St. Margrethen-St. Gallen and Buchs-St. Gallen in the east, Geneva in the west, and Chiasso-Lugano in the south. When coming from the South (Italy and France) or the east (Austria) it also is possible to enter Switzerland on one of the mountain roads.


Arrive by Boat: 

You can also travel to Switzerland by boat: along the Rhine River all the way from Amsterdam, from Germany via Lake Constance, from Italy via Lake Maggiore or Lake Lugano, and from France via Lake Geneva.



 

Getting around in Switzerland

>> Travel by Train  Travel by Car

Switzerland has the most comprehensive public transport system in the world,
incorporating trains, buses, boats, lake steamers, funiculars and cable cars.
All roads and highways are well maintained and signposted.

Travel by Train:
Trains are the most popular way to travel in Switzerland, and Swiss and European Rail Passes make train travel affordable. The Swiss transportation network covers more than 5,000 km (3,105 miles). It is difficult to overstate how good this network is: you can get anywhere you want quickly, easily and relatively cheaply and everybody relies on it as a matter of course. Swiss trains are clean, on time and frequent.




There is no other form of transportation that brings you closer to the charm of Switzerland. Trains are synonymous with the spirit of going places, and nowhere is this more true than in Switzerland. The punctuality of Swiss public transport remains one of the wonders of the modern world ! Train services nearly always depart on time, and rail timetables are well integrated with those of the post bus system, which operates on routes not covered by rail, serving remote villages and valleys.


Traveling by train with a Swiss Rail Pass also allows for lake steamer cruises on most of the mayor lakes in Switzerland, and finally, you can rent a bicycle at all main train stations. There are various options of Swiss Rail Passes - depending on length of stay, and/or frequency of travel.
>> more information about Swiss Rail Passes
  
Scenic Trains:
Switzerland offers a unique network of scenic trains which connects several popular destinations, thus allowing tourists to discover Switzerland's natural beauty while traveling from one attraction to the next.


Glacier Express: from Zermatt to St. Moritz or Davos and vice versa.
Bernina Express: from Chur via St. Moritz to Lugano and vice versa.
Golden Pass: from Montreux via Gstaad and Interlaken to Lucerne and vice versa.
William Tell Express: from Lucerne to Lugano and vice versa (including cruise on Lake Lucerne)
Palm Express: scenic bus-ride from/to Lugano to/from St. Moritz via Chiavenna, Italy and the Maloja Pass.
Chocolate Train: roundtrip Montreux - Gruyere - Broc including visit of Chocolate and Cheese factories.
>> more information about Scenic Trains 


Travel by Car:
Switzerland has a well maintained network of highways and streets. It is easy to find your way since both highways and streets are clearly marked. The mountainous terrain can make for some circuitous routes and the compensation of superb - if sometimes hair-raising - mountain scenery. To make driving in the Alps easier and faster, there are several long tunnels through the mountains such as the St. Gotthard Road Tunnel or the St. Bernard Tunnel, and in some places one has to put the car on a car transporter train (e.g. Loetschberg in the Bernese Alps or Vereina in Graubunden) - note that some of the mountain roads are closed during winter months. 

Car Rental:
There are rental car agencies in most sizeable towns and at all airports. Renting a car to travel around Switzerland is easy and fun; it is recommended for parties of 4 travelers and for people that wish to be independent.
Through our partnership with Elite Rent-a-Car we guarantee the best services available -Elite strives to maintain the highest standards. As the leading luxury car rental operator in Europe, serving a discerning and demanding clientele, the professional staff of Eite recognises that attention to detail is paramount, and is always prepared to go the extra mile for each customer.
>> more information about Elite's Car Rental Program


Private Transfers and Limousine Services:
Private transfers in Switzerland are an alternative to traveling by train or renting a car. Private transfers allow high levels of flexibility and are recommended for people that want to travel at specific hours, want to be independent and want to enjoy the scenery without needing to pay attention to traffic.
Our partners for limousine services offer:
- Multilingual Drivers
- Door-to-door-Services in Switzerland and from/to neighboring countries;
- Personalized Airport and Railway Station Pickup Services;
- Sightseeing Tours with Guides;
- Transfers to Cities and Mountain Resorts (summer & winter !);
- Courier Services
>> more information about private transfer services of our partners