Travelling through Switzerland - roads, airports, railway, bus transportation

Switzerland has a rather rugged relief, but the transport infrastructure in the country is well-developed. At the same time, the transportation is considered to be one of the most high-class all over the world. The Swiss are very fond of punctuality and order, so no tourist will have problems with transport. The most popular option to travel around the country is the public transport. This is especially true in mountainous areas, where inexperienced tourists are often frightened by steep serpentines. Buses run strictly on schedule, and routes are laid to the most inaccessible points of ski resorts. There is a schedule of buses and trams at each stop. There are trolleybuses in large cities, such as Geneva, Zurich, Lugano and others. In Switzerland, there is a strict system for monitoring the tickets. Stowaways are punished with large fines. You can call a taxi in any area.

The first railway in Europe has appeared in Switzerland. To this day, it is considered one of the best. The train schedule here is precisely coordinated. Even if several transfers are necessary, the passenger does not have to wait more than 30 minutes between the trains. Absolutely all the cities of Switzerland are connected by rail. This is why most tourists and local residents use this type of transport in the country. Some tourists, who are not limited in money, prefer to rent a car. Despite the size of the country, there are lots of great highways with a magnificent road surface. At the same time, there is a fee for riding them that is about 45 francs. Air transport in the country also deserves a praise. The largest airline in Switzerland is SWISS, but, in addition to it, there are dozens of private ones. Buses run to each airport on a schedule. Air transport is in demand among travelers only in the case of foreign flights, since the land transport is already well developed in Switzerland.

Despite the fact that there is no access to the sea, water transport here has become widespread. This is due to a large number of lakes. In order to get from one shore of the lake to another, ferry services are usually used. If you just want to admire the picturesque landscapes and lake surface, you can buy a ticket for sightseeing boats. They ply along the lakes in the largest cities of the country. Cash desks are located just at the coast. You can also ride a bike in the city. There are bicycle lanes, and the two-wheeled transport can be rented in any town. In Zurich and Geneva, bicycle rental is free of charge. In such a manner, cities take care of the environment and every person an opportunity to move fast without overloading public transport and polluting the city with cars.

Despite the sweeping dimensions of Switzerland, air transport here is well-developed. There are international and domestic airports. Flights to mountain regions are especially popular. The largest airport in the country is in Zurich. That’s the main airhub for Swiss company. Since 2011, a new international terminal has opened here. Today, it serves about 25 million passengers a year. All European airlines, as well as American and Canadian, fly to Zurich. In recent years, such flights have appeared in the schedule of airlines of the Middle East and some Asian countries. The next, but not least is the airport in Geneva. Most of the flights are aimed at interregional movement. Most of the flights in Basel Airport are flying to Germany and France. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Bern boasts the country's largest international airport. Its capacity is a little inferior to the airport in Zurich. There are banks, currency exchange offices, restaurants and cafes, a hotel reservation desk, a post office, as well as various organizations providing business services. The southern air harbor of Sion is very popular among mountain skiers. The main flow of foreign travelers arrives there for winter holidays. The highest airport is Samedan. It serves the most expensive resorts in the country. All Swiss airports have duty-free shops where tourists can buy anything from colorful souvenirs to elite alcoholic beverages and high-end brand perfumes.

The most popular travel mode in Switzerland is public transport. Despite the fact that the main frame of ​​the country is business, and tourists are quite wealthy, many of them refuse to purchase their own transport. That's not about saving. The country zealously struggles to improve the environment, so it promotes public transport and does everything to ensure that every passenger feels as comfortable as possible. Buses and trams run in every city in Switzerland, even in mountainous areas. They depart strictly on timetable, and you can see it at every station. There are trolleybuses in Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Lugano, and other large cities. There is also subway in Lausanne, but it was opened only in 2008 and still does not deserve much popularity either among the local population or among tourists.

Between sparsely populated points, buses shuttle. They are called postal. Despite the fact that sometimes buses are completely empty, they go on schedule and are ready to deliver even a single passenger to the necessary point of the faraway city. It is possible to book a taxi, even in mountainous areas. At the same time, be prepared for the prices that are quite high. They increase significantly in evenings and on holidays. If you like to travel with keeping everything in your hands, you can rent a car in one of the major cities. Despite the relief, Switzerland has a lot of high-speed trails. First, you have to pay the transport fee, which is about 45 francs. Many choose bicycle rental; moreover, in Geneva and Zurich this service is absolutely free.

The railway communication in Switzerland is established between all cities and regions. Trains are as punctual as possible, and all shuttles are precisely coordinated. Glacial Express and Golden Pass routes are very popular, because they are laid through the most picturesque places. You can also travel abroad by train. In Switzerland, there are lots of lakes, so the water transport is also in demand here. You can use ferries to move from one shore to another. Cruise ships and boats go along the lakes.

Swiss Travel System operates in Switzerland. It enjoys an incredible popularity among tourists. Thanks to this system, you can buy tickets for any public transport in Switzerland, if the transport company works with this system. It’s possible to buy a ticket that serves for any transport, including airplane and ferry. In addition, with such a ticket you can visit some museums and historical places absolutely free of charge. When choosing a ticket, it is necessary to determine the future journey. The ideal option is to purchase a travel card for a month. Families can buy specific tickets, thanks to which children under 16 can use public transport for free. There is an opportunity to purchase a local ticket that will operate within a certain area. It will be much cheaper and more convenient, if you are not going to travel to different cities of Switzerland.