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Current Weather |
he Swiss climate, generally ... and
excluding the high mountains, is mild. Temperatures are roughly similar to the US East
Coast ranging from Washington, DC to southern New England. Geneva and Lugano are at the
warm extreme, with Zürich somewhat cooler.
You can find weather for 7-8 regions of Switzerland at Planetmeteo. In German, but you'll be able to figure out 99% of what's shown.
t's cooler yet at
higher altitudes, though in summer you'll often be quite warm in the middle of a sunny
day, as a rule. Layers of clothing are a good idea. Weather reports/forecasts for cities
have no meaning for the mountains.
The Weather Underground is our favorite weather site. Includes five day forecasts and day by day weather history ... you can see what the weather was like last year (or earlier) on the dates you'll be visiting - hour by hour. Far better, if you look at several years, than the "high/low-for-the-month" that most sites give you. Look for "Historical Conditions" toward the bottom left.
f you will be in the
mountains, the weather is unpredictable and often changes suddenly. Most first-time
visitors will be surprised by the 20-40 degree (F) difference in temperature between where
they began the day and the mountain peaks they visit.
As well as chill, be prepared, even on overcast or cloudy days, for a faster suntan (or burn) at high altitude. The thin air not only makes breathing and staying warm harder, it blocks less of the suns rays.
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We suggest you take at look at our brief notes on mountain weather. As well, if you're considering visiting the moutains outside the summer or winter seasons you'll benefit from a look at Timing Your Visit.
We never leave home, or our hotel
room, without a pocket phrase book and pocket dictionary. Depending on where you'll be in
Switzerland, these are our recommendations: (if you only want to pack one set German is
spoken in about 70% of the country) See Language Skills for a longer discussion of the usefulness of a bit of language prep before your trip. We also have a very basic set of phrases. Tipping
In cabs and restaurants you may wish to 'round up' the bill (maximum 5%). For example, if the bill comes to CHF38, leave the change from two twenties as a tip. "Service" is almost invariably included in the total bill. Ordinarily you'll find a phrase like "Service Compris" or "Service Inbegriffen" or "Bedienung Inbegrift". A one - two franc per bag tip is appropriate for the bellman, as well as each added service you request of a staff person. (Concierge services should be tipped depending on the service.) For an extended stay, you may wish to leave the maid 1/2 to 1 franc per day, and in resort properties leave with the manager or maitre d' a gratuity to be split among staff at the end of the season, which includes appropriate recognition for dining room personnel. Somewhat conversely don't be afraid to leave a relatively large tip (percentage-wise) for a small purchase. For cup of coffee, perhaps three francs, you might leave nothing, 10 centimes, a half franc, or a franc. Depends on mood and how much change you have in your pocket. Don't feel obligated to tip ... as long as service is included in the price. And if you have an especially fine meal with excellent service and want to tip 5%, or more (even 10%), do so if you'd like. If you're staying long enough to get your hair cut or styled a tip of up to 15% is appropriate. Unnecessary to tip for the for the ordinary, included breakfast, whether it's the standard "cuppa-roll-butter-jam" continental breakfast or a more elaborate buffet of some sort. Should the service person perform a special service for you (specially boiled egg, etc.) you might wish to provide a small tip (not 15% of anything) as thanks. 15 and 20% tips are an American habit, and "guilt trip", arising from the fact that US waitstaff are poorly paid and depend on tips for a major portion of their income. This is not the case in Europe, and certainly not in Switzerland. Bear in mind the words/phrases for "tips" in such languages as German and French equate to "drinking money" ... something that would pay for an afterwork beer. It seems some waitstaff see Americans and expect a 15% tip ... just because you're American. Don't let them con you. We've just recently reviewed tipping with a few Swiss. You may have an interest in what we learned.
Currency and Exchange
There are 100 rappen (German), centimes (French) or centismi (Italian) to the franc. Bills range from CHF10 through 20, 50 and 100 (and up.) Coins range from CHF5 (putting holes in your pocket) through 2, 1, and 50 rappen. Public pay toilets are common, and usually require 50 rappen, or 1 franc. 20, 10, 5, and 1 rappen coins are rarely found. The exchange rate has lately run between 55 and 60 US cents for one franc. While not cheap this rate is 30% or more lower than the peak exchange rate in the last ten years. Note that 250 rail stations will change money to and from Swiss francs from morning to night, seven days a week ... with rates as good or better than you'll get at the bank. Major credit cards are widely
accepted. More information on Money and
Exchange in Western Europe. Check the current conversion rate.
CH?
Actually no. Switzerland has four official languages, French, Italian, German and Romantsch. It would be very un-Swiss to select one language over another (and illegal in Switzerland) and there are no common ones that would work. Hence, the choice of a Latin construct, Confoederatio Helvetica This translates as Helvetic Confederation. The Swiss form of government arose as a confederation of independent states. The Helvetii were one of the native tribes in the area of Switzeraland in Roman times, and Helvetica a Roman province. These are now cantons instead of states, and today's form of government is federal, quite similar to the US. In fact, the Swiss modeled their 1848 constitution on the US example. For instance:
Modeled doesn't mean copied exactly. There are a number of significant differences. The most notable, perhaps:
Practical Information continued on Page 2, for: Safety
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Gehrlein Traveling
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ublic transport in Switzerland is spectacular and cost-effective.
Schedules are reliable and rail connection times as short as two minutes (yes, 2!) are
legal and reliable. We have not missed a connection in thousands of miles of travels
to/from trains, boats and buses. Having a Swiss Pass is like having an unlimited
"E" ticket to Disneyland. It's an easy country to 
bout 70% of Swiss use German as a first language,
18% French, 11% Italian, and 1% Romansch. English is understood and spoken (to one degree
or another) widely in all tourist areas. English is more rare in small towns or shops off
the beaten track. Like anyone else, the Swiss appreciate a few words in their own tongue,
so a little language preparation for your trip has rewards. 
o two dollar bills,
please, nor Kennedy half dollars. If you were a waiter in the US what would you do with a
5 franc coin? 
hy is CH the two-letter
country abbreviation (as on cars and the currency abbreviation)? Wouldn't SU make more
sense from the French name for the country, La Suisse. (Or SU from Italian Svizzera, or
German's SC for Schweiz?)