Icon Switzerland & Lake Como Journey

Wedged between Germany, France, Italy, and Austria, this small, efficient country is famous for its chocolate, its watches, and most of all, its remarkably beautiful natural landscapes. The towering snow-capped Swiss Alps make up sixty percent of the country, providing visitors with limitless outdoor activities, while the numerous star-studded, glitzy ski resort towns allow them to experience the high life too. A refreshing counterpoint to this winter wonderland is a slew of incredible cities including the capital Bern, with its quaint medieval old town and cutting-edge art; the chic city of Geneva, a sophisticated shopping haven located alongside Europe’s largest lake; and, of course, uber-cool Zurich with its funky rooftop bars and atypical Swiss street grit. Whatever your preference, Switzerland is the ultimate destination for both outdoor adventure and relaxed self-indulgence.

Currency

Switzerland's official currency is the Swiss Franc (abbreviations CHF, sFr, Fr.), and is divided into 100 Rappen [Rp] / Centimes [cts], but the smallest coin in use is 5 Rp. 

Banking

Banks open Monday -- Friday 8h30 to 16h30 in bigger cities. These hours are extended once per week. In rural areas, banks are open Monday-- Friday 08h30-12h00 and 14h00-17h00

Credit and debit cards are accepted at most places throughout Switzerland, including American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and Visa. ATMs are widely available throughout Switzerland, especially in the major cities.

In terms of travellers’ cheques, pound Sterling, US Dollar or Euro cheques are accepted at airports, railway stations and banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, visitors are advised to take traveller's cheques in Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars. As of 2013, American Express has discontinued traveller’s cheque distribution in Switzerland. 

Switzerland's public transport system is known to be one of the finest in the world. A dense network of railroad, bus and tramway lines and a systematic timetable allow to reach almost any point in the country once per hour. In most cases one ticket is enough for one journey even if numerous railway, bus and ship operators are involved.

Almost any village in Switzerland can be reached by a regional bus line several times a day, most of them even once per hour. Swiss post operates many of these bus lines with their famous yellow post buses. Schedules and tickets of all cross-country buses are integrated into Switzerland's unique system of integrated public transports.

Standards of hygiene in relation tofood health and safety in Switzerland are generally high in hotels, restaurants, pubs and nightspots. Restaurants are subject tofood safety control legislation, which is implemented by local government. Regulations include certification and regular inspections by health inspectors to ensure hygienic standards are maintained.

It is safe to eat fresh fruit, vegetables and salads, and to put ice in your drinks. Switzerland's fish, meat and chicken are of excellent quality, so there is no need to limit yourself when enjoying the local cuisine.

In Switzerland, breakfast typically includes bread, butter or margarine, marmalade or honey, maybe some cheese or cereals, plus milk, cold or hot chocolate, tea or coffee. Lunch may be as simple as a sandwich or a birchermüesli or it could be a complete meal. Depending on what people had for lunch, dinner can be a full main course or just some bread, cheese, maybe some dried meat or any other light meal.

Tap water throughout Switzerland is safe to drink and cook with when taken from taps in urban areas. Not all tap water in rural areas is safe for consumption, so take precautions if necessary.

Generally speaking, spring is wet and cool, April is well known for fast and often changing weather conditions. Summer is typically warm and dry with maximum temperature up to 35°C (95°F). The temperature depends primarily on the elevation, the zero line (0°C or 32°F) may raise as high as 4000 meters above sea level (13125 feet). Fall is usually dry, but cool. The temperature will drop significantly in September or October, with the zero line around 2000 meter above sea level (6560 feet). Winter is typically cold and dry. The temperature may drop below 0°C everywhere in Switzerland, especially at night. In the alps, they usually get a lot of snow, but even at lower elevations, there is a good chance that they will get a foot of snow every now and then.

Smart casual clothing will be appropriate for sightseeing and for eating out. A light raincoat and travel umbrella are useful all year round. The sun can be deceptively strong even if the temperature feels cool. This is especially so at altitude and on the lakes, so we suggest that you use a good quality sunscreen and sunhat. Make sure you take comfy footwear for daytime.

Most accommodation offer Wifi (free or paid) in their business centres, rooms or restaurants. Internet cafes are found in most business areas and shopping malls. In addition, some restaurants offer WiFi access (free or paid).

Electrical sockets in in the Swiss Confederation are Type J (SEV 1011) and Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug). If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets in Switzerland usually supply electricity at 230 volts AC/ 50 Hz frequency. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 230-volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 230 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.

It is easy to understand why Italy is one of the world’s most celebrated tourist destinations. This is a country that truly does have it all: exquisite landscapes, an abundance of art and architectural treasures, world renowned museums and a national obsession with decadent food and fine wine. Not to mention the country’s sun-kissed olive groves, glacial lakes, fiery volcanoes and snow capped peaks. Dive the clear green waters of the Mediterranean, browse the market stalls in Naples or experience the diverse wildlife inhabiting the country’s national parks. And if you find the vast range of choices overwhelming, take some advice from the locals: sit back, relax and take a moment to indulge in the “bella vita” (the good life). As they say: when in Rome!

Currency 

Local currency: Euro 
Symbol: € 
ISO code: EUR 
Subunit: Cent 
Banknotes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500 
Coins: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2 

Banking 

Card Transactions: Yes 
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Yes 
Visa: Yes 
American Express: Yes 
Diner’s club: Yes 

Banking Hours: 
Weekdays: 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM 
Weekends: Closed 
Public Holidays: Yes (Limited hours) 
Foreign exchange services: Yes 

Air: 

Main airlines: Alitalia, Ryanair, EasyJet 
International Airports: Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Rome), Malpensa Airport (Milan), Marco Polo Airport (Venice) 
Domestic Airports: Ciampino Airport (Rome), Bergamo Airport (Milan) 

Road: 

Driving on the: Right 
Tar roads: Yes 
Gravel roads: No 
Valid International Driver's License needed: No 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
E-hailing services: Yes 

Bus: 

Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: Yes 

Rail: 

Railway system: Yes 
Subway System: Yes 

Water: 

Ferries: Yes 
Water taxis: Yes 
Leisure cruises: Yes 

Food and water safety: 

Can you drink the tap water: Yes 
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes 
Ice: Yes 
Meat: Yes 
Street food: Yes 

Local cuisine: 

Italian cuisine is celebrated globally for its diversity and flavors. From pasta dishes like spaghetti carbonara and lasagna to pizzas with various toppings, Italian food delights the palate. Risotto, gnocchi, and antipasti are also popular. Italy is renowned for its wine, with varieties like Chianti and Barolo. Limoncello, grappa, and espresso are notable local drinks. 
Tipping: Not expected, but rounding up the bill is appreciated. 

Annual rainfall: Varies by region 

Average temperature: Varies by region 

Summer: 

Average highs: 25°C - 30°C 
Average lows: 15°C - 20°C 

Winter: 

Average highs: 8°C - 15°C 
Average lows: 0°C - 5°C 

Best time to visit: 

The best time to visit Italy is during the spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) when the weather is mild and crowds are fewer. 

Spring and Summer 

Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: No 

Winter and Autumn 

Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Recommended 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: Yes 

General 

Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: Yes 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes