The State is in the heart of Europe and is bordered by France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy, landlocked not.Virtually all of Switzerland is in the Alps and the Jura mountains.The highest peak-peak Dufour (4634 m) in the south.The total area of 41.3 thousandsquare.km.

Climate

Moderately mainland, Alpine.Powerful mountain ranges rise to differences in climate across Switzerland.The mountains in the summer is hot, 16-18 C in the lowlands and in the northern part of the country is a warm-18-27 S. In Geneva the average temperature in January is around 0 C, July 19 S. Rainfall is 800 mm.at flat to 2500 mm.a year on the western slopes of mountains.Flight of the country at any time of year.

People

About 7.3 millionpeople, 84% - Swiss, are also Germans, Italians, Austrians and French.

Time

Behind from Moscow at 2:00.

Religion

About 48% Catholic, 46% Protestant, 6% other religions.

Money

Swiss franc (CHF), equal to 100 centimes (Rappen in German Switzerland).There are notes dignity of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 francs, as well as coins in 5 2 1 franc, 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.
Many shops are accepted convertible currency, to pay for all major credit cards and travel vouchers.Invert the money can be in any branch, in the evening, in exchange large department stores, airports and some travel agencies.You better money abroad, as well as in the Swiss currency is overvalued.
Value Added Tax (VAT) in Switzerland is 7.5%.In hotels and restaurants in the invoiced amount included taxes.If you buy in one store in excess of 500 francs can recover VAT.To this effect, in a shop cheque Tax-free Shopping Cheque "(passport), which is leaving the country to pay VAT in the bank at the airport or to print.In this case, returning to her form from the press need to mail a check for the reimbursement of VAT.The big stores VAT refunded on the spot with a passport.
Banks are open from 8.00 am to 16.00 (some up to 17.00 - 18.00), on working days, a break from 12.00 to 14.00.Once a week, the banks are open longer than usual.The foreign exchange offices at airports and railway stations are open daily from 8.00 am to 22.00 pm, often around the clock.

Mail and phone

The country code 41, Geneva 22, one of Zurich, Lausanne 21, Basel 61, Lucerne 41.To enter the international automatic telephone dialling to be 00.
Telephone machines generally available at post offices, bars, coffee shops and on the streets (talk of postal offices cheaper).Call weekdays from 18.00 to 8.00 cheaper significant discounts also apply on weekends and holidays.All machines can use the phone cards, bought by mail, tobacco shops, train stations, the filling, etc.
Inquiries on the numbers of subscribers-111.
Information on the roads - 120 or 163.
Aeroflot of the Geneva-909-27-70.
In Zurich 211-46-33, 211-46-34.
Police-117.
Fire service-118.
Ambulance-14.
Help accident-140 (Autohilfe ").

Medical care

Insurance for their entire stay in Switzerland is mandatory.Vaccinations are required only in the area of disease for 14 days before the arrival in Switzerland.In the case of a visit to a doctor or hospital must make a deposit or provide health insurance.In the absence of insurance may require on-site Patients pay cash.Medicine is expensive, so serious problems requiring hospitalization or evacuation from the country, can cost several thousand dollars.

Shopping, gifts, souvenirs

Shops are on weekdays from 08.30 to 18.30, some are working to 21.00-22.00.On Saturday, all shops are from 08.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00.In large cities, some shops remain open during the lunch break, but closed on Monday morning.

Major holidays

January 1 - New Year
March 28-Good Friday
The first Sunday and Monday after the spring equinox, Easter and Easter Monday
May 8-12 - Ascension
May 18-19-Trinity and Whit Sunday
June 11-Feast of Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi)
August 1-day Swiss Confederation
25 December-Christmas
There are also regional and local holidays, such as Labor Day (1 May), the Gift ideas (the second day of Christmas), etc.

Every year there are many different events business, cultural and sporting character, many of which are known far beyond the country's borders.
In Geneva, attracting the attention of historic fancy-dress party "Fete de Escalade (December), the International Race of equestrian sports (December), the International Motor Show (March), Antiques Fair" Brocante (November) and the International Exhibition "ideal home" (November).
In St.-high cuisine Festival of the Islands "(January-February).The Lausanne-International weapons (December), the International Jazz Festival (November), the exhibition pets "Animaliya" (October) and the International rowing.
In Lucerne-exhibition of antique hunting weapons (April), Festival blues and classical painting Music Festival (November).Â Áàçåëå - Ìåæäóíàðîäíàÿ âûñòàâêà ìîíåò è êóïþð "Óîðëä Ìàíè Ôýéð" (ôåâðàëü), Áàçåëüñêàÿ îñåííÿÿ ÿðìàðêà (îêòÿáðü - íîÿáðü), Ìåæäóíàðîäíàÿ âûñòàâêà ÷àñîâ è þâåëèðíûõ èçäåëèé (ìàðò) è Ìåæäóíàðîäíàÿ âûñòàâêà õóäîæåñòâåííûõ ãàëåðåé "ÀÐÒ" (èþíü).In Saas-Fe International Ice Sculpture Festival (December).
In Zurich-the annual wine fair Ekspovina "on board moored to the shore of Lake Zurich cruise ships (November), the World Festival of avant-garde art (August-September), Jazz Festival (November) and Exhibition collectors (December).In Grindelvalde World Snow Festival (January).At Chateau d'Aviation Week-International air ballooning (January).In Kampione-water competition "Formula-1" high-speed boats and at the ceremony for the "Golden Mask".And, of course, many winter sports resorts in the country.

Kitchen

Swiss cuisine is the result of a complex, lengthy and controversial development influenced many people in the country.Particularly affected by the French, Italian and German culinary traditions.The feature of the local cuisine is a lot of cheese and dairy products as well as meat with a variety of seasonings.Be sure to try the traditional "Foie gras" or "Czyz Fondue" - molten in boiling white wine cheese "gryuyer" or "Emmental", seasoned with spices.Is this dish should be hot, obmakivaya in cheese pieces of white bread and always "squeezed" white wine.Another popular dish-cheese "raklett", a specially fried cheese with crisp pickled cucumber and potato in tough.It is very popular "Bernes platter-grilled pieces of beef and pork with green beans or sour cabbage, as well as" lyurih leshnettseltes-thin pieces of veal in sauce.Everywhere consumed breakfast sausages of all kinds, especially famous sausages and St. Gallen canton of Bern, as well as enormous dvuhmetrovye sausages from Zurich, excellent bacon and potatoes specially prepared "to deal with", which is best served in conjunction with Munich white sausage "Bratwurst."
Swiss chocolate and desserts "hyuhli and krepfli" also known worldwide.It is specially prepared to try and very strong coffee "ristretto".
In the southern canton is used almost exclusively Italian cuisine with "pasta, pizza," carpaccio "Scampi" and "risotto" with lots of green and olive oil.
Swiss wine and beer are great.Among white wines are "Yohannioberg, Ferdan, Lavyu" to the red-Lami, Corona and Dol. "Good liqueurs "Kirsch, Pflyumli and Villamin," but they are very strong.

Transportation

The internal rail is a modern and high-quality, but also very expensive (2nd class Zurich-Geneva-77 CHF, Zermatt, Geneva, about 100 CHF, in the first-class travel for a 50% higher).Book seats only recommended by the special train tickets are usually sold at all.The normal train tickets booked only for large groups.
Easy to buy a single ticket "Swiss Pass" in Switzerland to travel by buses, trains and boats, as well as giving a 25% discount on the car and various other benefits.It automatically buy a "Swiss Family Card" (family card), entitling free transportation to children under the age of 16."Swiss Pass, valid for the selected date and does not allow for exceptions or additions days."Swiss Pass" are of two types - "Swiss Flexi Pass and Swiss Card."
"Swiss Flexi Pass, valid for all three days of this month."Swiss Card" offers a 50% discount if you buy tickets at all "Swiss Travel System, plus entitles you to two free trips (when entering and leaving the country).
Public transport consists of buses, trams and, in many places, trolley buses.Tickets are sold at machines (receiving only coins), established at each stop.In the vehicle could not buy a ticket.The stowaway charge large fine.Tickets cost 2.2 CHF allowed to visit for an hour, the number of changes is not limited.Passengers under 16, women over 62 and men over 65 is 50% off.Tickets cost CHF 1.5 entitles you to visit the three stops with the return in half an hour.Tickets to "carte journaliere (5 CHF) entitles you to unlimited travel within the city centre for the day.It can be purchased at newsstands with the inscription "Transports Publics Genevois (TPG)."Owners ticket "Swiss Pass" can travel on public transport free of charge Geneva.
Public transportation network Zurich-tram routes (VBZ-Zuri-Linie "), working from 05.30 to midnight, with an interval of 6 minutes in peak hours and 12 minutes at other times.The stops are machines, where you can buy maps of the routes, ticket per trip, as well as ticket for a day at a cost of CHF 6.4.
Taxis can be booked by calling 022/321-22-23, 022/794-71-11, 022/331-41-33.Base rate on landing-CHF 5 per passenger, then charged at CHF 2 per kilometer.In the evenings and on Sundays there is an additional cost.
Take the car can be rented in all airports, railway stations and big cities from rolling firms.In addition, international firms, car rentals, have offices throughout the reservation, where visitors can reserve a special rate car when they were in their own country.Terms of the rental cars are at least 20 years old (in the case of hiring prestigious limousine-25), a road right (to be issued not later than 1 year) and credit cards (not!) .Approximate prices from $ 28 a day or $ 142 a week for a car "Economy", the amount is not tax (6.5%), oil and lubricants.Mileage is unlimited.
Move right hand.Use of seat belts compulsory for front seat occupants, children under 12 years of age must be in the back seat of the car.During rain and tunnels using headlamps required.The ride to the parking lights.Speed limits in urban areas is 50 km / h on the main highway 80 km / h speed route (freeway) - 120 km / h (indicated by green pointers, for them to pay an annual toll fees "vignette (CHF 40), and are a sign of payment, it typically include lease amount).Most parking-fee, the first hour is worth about 1.5 CHF.

Voltage

Voltage 220 V, 50 Hz.Outlets are Swiss configuration different from the pan, an adapter.

Tipping

Tipping not be accepted, except restaurants, and the amount is 5-10% of the order value.To observe the tradition should carefully read the account and will never exceed 10% gratuities.Tipping is only after the bear delivery to the nearest cent.

Visa

To enter the country must have a passport and visa.To obtain a tourist visa must submit a passport (valid for at least three months of their departure from Switzerland), and a copy of the first page of his name and photograph, a fully-completed questionnaire with a personal signature (not fully completed or unsigned form will not be accepted), 1 photo applicant (without injury and made recently) zayavlenie-anketu stuck to the original and a copy of the ticket, valid for travel to Switzerland and back (Open tickets are not accepted), the original and a copy of medical insurance and insurance against accidents, confirmation prepaid hotel or apartment giving the name of the customer and the length of stay (printouts from the web or sent by e-mail documents are not accepted), a certificate from the employer indicating the date of the contract, the amount of wages and availability of employer confidence in subsequent return to contender Switzerland, confirmation of the availability of financial resources (signed cheques travel, a statement from the bank account, etc.) at the rate of $ 100 per day, as well as a written undertaking that the applicant will leave Switzerland at the end of the visit.
The trip to her car to provide a copy of an international driving permit, a copy of the certificate of registration and international motor insurance policy, the so-called "Green Card" (original and copy).
Â îòäåëüíûõ ñëó÷àÿõ ïîñîëüñòâî îñòàâëÿåò çà ñîáîé ïðàâî ïîïðîñèòü ïðåäñòàâèòü äîïîëíèòåëüíûå äîêóìåíòû, ïåðåäàòü ïðåäúÿâëåííûå äîêóìåíòû íà ðàññìîòðåíèå â øâåéöàðñêèå îðãàíû âëàñòè èëè ïðèãëàñèòü îáðàùàþùåãîñÿ çà âèçîé äëÿ ëè÷íîé áåñåäû.Travellers who wish to visit Switzerland as a tourist should apply to the visa office in person or through a travel agency accredited to the Swiss embassy in Moscow.
Visa issued within two days.The private invitation-only single-entry visa for tourism and the service could be extradited multivizy for a specified period.Consular fee for visas of all types of visas is 45 dollars for adults and $ 25 for those under 18 (free, even if the visa is denied).C children traveling on a parent's passport, the fee is not charged.

Customs regulations

The import and export of currency is not limited.Allowed duty-free import for personal use, such as clothing, photographs and cameras, sports equipment, musical instruments and food per day in January.Tourists arriving from EU countries can import duty-free to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams.tubular tobacco (those younger than 17), liquor-1 litre.and up to 2 litres.wine (not strengthened 15 °).For tourists from other countries such restrictions doubled (with the exception of alcohol, there were the same).You can also bring in gifts of up to CHF 100.
Prohibited the importation of drugs, meat and meat products, hides of wild species, crocodiles, lizards and goods from them, flowering plants and soil.

The embassy of Russia

Russian embassy in Bern :
352-05-66, 352-85-17.
Consular Section :
352-05-67, 352-77-76.
Consulate in Geneva :
734-90-83, 734-79-55.

Tips

To use lifts to buy time or day tickets (there are several different types) or better "ski-passy" for a few days.

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