Switzerland is located at the centre of Europe and is a country of great versatility: historic towns, Mediterranean coastal landscapes, alpine mountain regions, business hubs and four different languages.

The cities are best explored on foot – meandering through the old towns of Bern or Zurich is a wonderful experience. Basel has an impressive art scene, Lucerne's Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) is just crying out to be crossed, and the Olympic city of Lausanne is great for exploring at any time.

The Swiss mountains are simply breath-taking. There are few other places with such accessible mountains that can also be admired from a distance. All of the Swiss mountains are wonders to explore – the Piz Beverin in the canton of Graubünden, the Matterhorn – Switzerland's landmark – in sun-blessed Valais, the Rigi in central Switzerland or the unique trio comprising the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps, to name but a few. Although Switzerland is landlocked, this is soon forgotten due to all the magnificent lakes

Another advantage of Switzerland is that it can be easily explored using public transport. As you travel by bus or train through towns, fields and forests, the beautiful scenery is definitely something to be enjoyed – superb and unique! There really is much more to Switzerland than just chocolate, clocks, cheese and pocket knives.

It is an absolute haven for travellers

! Facts & Figures:

Location: Land-locked country in Europe

Population: 8.039 million

Size: 41,285 km²

Public transport: Switzerland has an excellent train and bus network. Some cities also have

trams.

Climate: Mild climate with moderate hot spells, cold spells and humidity.

Best time to visit: Any time of year. Many tourists visit between May and September. However,

Switzerland is also great for a winter break in the snow.

Good to know: The currency here is the Swiss franc, as opposed to the euro of other European

countries.

Nice to know: Four languages are spoken in Switzerland: German, French, Italian and Romansh

are the national languages, alongside a multitude of different dialects.

Airport: Airports in Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lugano. The largest airport is in Zurich.

Bus: Bus connections get you everywhere.

Railway: The Swiss railway, covers the whole country with first-class services to get you from A

to B.

Taxi: There is no shortage of taxi stands. However, travelling by taxi is expensive in Switzerland.