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Depends on the time you have. Figure out what you want to see, and match that against time. It's really a combination of budget and interests. A stay in the mountain interior of two full days (three nights) will give you a good sample of the mountains, whetting your appetite for more. (We find more than enough to do in the area and on excursions to have very busy 10-14 day visits in the mountains.) Luzern is a very special city -- large enough to be one, quaint and compact enough to be a village -- and it's very Swiss. It makes a good base for daytrips to lakes, mountains and villages, by car or train/boat/cable. Zürich is a very sophisticated city with excellent shopping, nearby scenic sights and the center of Swiss rail transport. We've spent a week at a time 'in' Zurich and felt it was too short -- enjoying both the city's attractions and day trips using the efficient Swiss rail system. Though a tiny country (7 million residents) there's so much variety that you can't -- or shouldn't -- try and pack it all in to a short trip. Airfares are relatively cheap in our view compared to ground costs, though that's a minority opinion and may reflect the way we spend money on the ground. If you think you may have the option of a week now and a week or more later in life, do a little now -- well -- and plan on more later. Avoid spending your visit in a car or on trains. If you think it's once now and never again, you can certainly get a good flavor of the best of Switzerland in a week or less. (See 'A Short Visit to Switzerland.') But again, going for whatever length is better than not going.
Few. City hotels are as expensive as any in Europe, though there are a few bargains. Better, hotels in the mountains are considerably less expensive, and if you're flexible in your hotel needs you can get a bed for less than $10 a night in heaven's backyard.
The official languages are German, French, Italian and Romantsch. All are spoken in varying degrees in a dialect, though German speakers, for example, speak 'Hochdeutsch' as well as they speak dialect. To make the picture even more complicated, many/most of the workers in the hospitality industry are non-Swiss whose native tongue is neither English nor any of the above. The good news is that Swiss school children study two of the Swiss languages plus several years of English. English is understood and spoken as, or more, widely than anywhere in Europe (excepting the British Isles of course, and perhaps The Netherlands.) If you're visiting Ticino Canton, Italian is useful. French is helpful in the Southwest (Geneva eastward to Murten/Morat on the north) and to some degree elsewhere (where it's often the second language) and German covers most of the balance of the country. As in any other country, whether in Europe or elsewhere, at least a small dose of phrasebook German (or French or Italian) will serve you well, and bring an appreciative response.
Well, like anything else, more money can help you enjoy yourself more, but doesn't guarantee satisfaction. We know people that spend $400 a night for a hotel but never get 'into' the places they visit. Money can sometimes be an impediment While you want your hotel clean and conveniently located, if you're out seeing the sights the size doesn't matter. 'Clean' is a synonym for 'Swiss.' Swiss breakfasts are usually hearty, eat picnics for lunch, and save your food dollars for the evening and the filling Swiss meals. (Save one of the rolls or slices of wonderful bread from dinner (you've probably paid for it anyway!) and have that for breakfast with a $2 cup of coffee at a local 'bar'. (In most of Switzerland, excluding large cities, breakfast is commonly included in the room price.) Walking is free, and especially delightful in the mountains, and, if you take advantage of the Swiss rail system passes, getting around the country and up and down the mountains needn't be a financial burden. And, there's always those $10 beds in Gimmelwald, plus the campgrounds, Zimmer Freis and holiday apartments.
Take a look at A Personal Visit to Switzerland. You'll find there lots of ideas, planning information, and sources -- in book form and on the Net -- for getting all the facts. If you've not traveled to Europe before we recommend also reading Steves' Europe Through the Back Door. We don't subscribe to his recommendations for skimming through Europe quickly. We personally like getting to know a few things very well. But in any event, ETBD is an excellent primer in how to visit Europe, how to get around, how to get into the culture, how not to be an 'Ugly American', and how to do all this on a limited budget ($60 per day per person, plus travel and incidentals.) Figure out what you and your companion(s) are interested in. Then take yourself to a friendly, knowledgeable travel agent. Complete Index of Articles on Switzerland Our Favorites Trip Tips and Tools Copyright © 1996-2001 E.J.
Gehrlein Traveling
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istory has given
Switzerland little land, but nature has blessed it with the finest natural sights in
Europe. You'll get the best of the best when you visit the Alpine regions. 
he Jungfrau region
south of Interlaken is a cut above the rest. Its forbidding mountains, soft Alpine
pastures, breathtaking waterfalls and crystalline lakes will enchant you. The Alps has
many scenic areas, but the Berner Oberland, and especially the Jungfrau region, has more
easy access, more possibilities, a greater number of spectacular views, more convenient
mountain transport and more and more-varied walks.
witzerland is more
than Alps. Every visitor finds other sights to charm the eye and enlighten the mind. Rural
settings are perhaps the finest in the world. Picturesque Medieval villages abound. Its
scenic lakes and rivers seem to have a special sparkle. 
or us, Switzerland is
its mountains, and the Jungfrau range the finest mountains to savor.
hen
should we go?
oney is tight, so how
can we have a great time on a limited budget?