Fodor’s Essential Switzerland

634 Pages·2018·54.88 MB·English

by  Fodor’s Travel Guides

Editorial: Douglas Stallings, Editorial Director; Margaret Kelly, Jacinta O’Halloran, Senior Editors;
Kayla Becker, Alexis Kelly, Amanda Sadlowski, Editors; Teddy Minford, Content Editor; Rachael Roth,
Content Manager
Design: Tina Malaney, Design and Production Director; Jessica Gonzalez, Production Designer
Photography: Jennifer Arnow, Senior Photo Editor
Maps: Rebecca Baer, Senior Map Editor; David Lindroth and Mark Stroud (Moon Street Cartography),
Cartographers
Production: Jennifer DePrima, Editorial Production Manager; Carrie Parker, Senior Production Editor;
Elyse Rozelle, Production Editor
Business & Operations: Chuck Hoover, Chief Marketing Officer; Joy Lai, Vice President and General
Manager; Stephen Horowitz, Director of Business Development and Revenue Operations; Tara McCrillis,
Director of Publishing Operations; Eliza D. Aceves, Content Operations Manager and Strategist
Public Relations and Marketing: Joe Ewaskiw, Manager; Esther Su, Marketing Manager
Writers: Kelly DiNardo, Liz Humphreys, Susan Misicka, Alexis Munier, Chantal Panozzo
Editor: Douglas Stallings
Production Editor: Jennifer DePrima
Copyright © 2018 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Internet Brands, Inc.
Fodor’s is a registered trademark of Internet Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. Published in the United States
by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Internet Brands, Inc. No maps, illustrations, or other portions of this book
may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.
1st Edition
ISBN 9781640970328
Ebook ISBN 9781640970335
ISSN 2576–0408
All details in this book are based on information supplied to us at press time. Always confirm information
when it matters, especially if you’re making a detour to visit a specific place. Fodor’s expressly disclaims
any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, that is incurred as a consequence of the use of any of the
contents of this book.
Photo Credits: Cover: Andrey/age fotostock; Experience Switzerland: Alessandro Colle/Shutterstock.
Zürich: Switzerland Tourism swiss-image.chChristof Schuerpf; Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein:
Schweiz Tourismus swiss-image.chLucia Degonda; Graubünden: Destination Davos Klosters swiss-
image.ch; Ticino: Ticino Turismo swiss-image.ch; Luzern and Central Switzerland: Switzerland Tourism
swiss-image.chChristof Sonderegger; Basel: Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock; Fribourg and Neuchâtel: UFT
swiss-image.chOT Moleson; Bern: swiss-image.ch/Terence du Fresne; Berner Oberland: Switzerland
Tourism swiss-image.chChristof Sonderegger; Valais: Bettmeralp Tourismus / swiss-image.ch; Vaud:
Switzerland Tourism swiss-image.chChristof Sonderegger; Geneva: Switzerland Tourism swiss-
image.chSamuel Mizrachi.
v5.3.1
a
CONTENTS
Cover
Copyright
About This Guide
Welcome to Switzerland
Switzerland Images
1 EXPERIENCE SWITZERLAND
What’s Where
Need to Know
If You Like
Flavors of Switzerland
Switzerland Today
Best Hikes
Money-Saving Tips
Great Itineraries
2 ZÜRICH
Welcome to Zürich
Zürich Planner
Exploring
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Nightlife and Performing Arts
Shopping
Spas
3 EASTERN SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN
Welcome to Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein Planner
Schaffhausen and the Rhine
Bodensee to Walensee
Liechtenstein
Eating Well in Eastern Switzerland
4 GRAUBÜNDEN
Welcome to Graubünden
Graubünden Planner
Heidiland
Prättigau and Davos
The Lower Engadine
The Upper Engadine
5 TICINO
Welcome to Ticino
Ticino Planner
Sopraceneri
Sottoceneri
Ticino Lakes
6 LUZERN AND CENTRAL SWITZERLAND
Welcome to Luzern and Central Switzerland
Luzern Planner
Luzern
Around Luzern
Urnersee
Lake Luzern
7 BASEL
Welcome to Basel
Basel Planner
Exploring
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Nightlife and Performing Arts
Shopping
Greater Basel
8 FRIBOURG AND NEUCHÂTEL
Welcome to Fribourg and Neuchâtel
Fribourg and Neuchâtel Planner
Fribourg
Murten
Lac de Neuchâtel and Nearby
Cheese: Fribourg’s Calling Card
9 BERN
Welcome to Bern
Bern Planner
Exploring
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Nightlife and Performing Arts
Sports and the Outdoors
Shopping
Spas
10 BERNER OBERLAND
Welcome to Berner Oberland
Berner Oberland Planner
The Jungfrau Region
Brienzersee
Thunersee
Simmental and Gstaad
11 VALAIS
Welcome to Valais
Valais Planner
Bas Valais and Sion
Conversion de la Vallée
Zermatt and Saas-Fee
Brig and the Alpine Passes
12 VAUD
Welcome to Vaud
Vaud Planner
La Côte
Lausanne
Lavaux Vignobles and Riviera
Eating Well in Vaud
13 GENEVA
Welcome to Geneva
Geneva Planner
Exploring
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Nightlife
Performing Arts
Shopping and Spas
TRAVEL SMART SWITZERLAND
ABOUT OUR WRITERS
MAPS
Cantons of Switzerland
Zürich
Where to Eat and Stay in Zürich
Schaffhausen and the Rhine
Schaffhausen
Bodensee to Liechtenstein
Chur to Davos
Upper and Lower Engadine
Sopraceneri
Sottoceneri
Lugano
Luzern (Lucerne)
Central Switzerland
Basel
Fribourg and Neuchâtel
Bern
The Jungfrau Region
Brienzersee
Thunersee, Simmental, and Gstaad
Bas Valais and Sion
Conversion de la Vallèe
Zermatt to Aletsch
La Côte
Lausanne
Lavaux Vignobles and Riviera
Geneva (Genëve)
Where to Eat and Stay in Geneva
Language Regions of Switzerland
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Fodor’s Recommendations Everything in this guide is worth doing
—we don’t cover what isn’t—but exceptional sights, hotels, and
restaurants are recognized with additional accolades. Fodor’sChoice
indicates our top recommendation. Care to nominate a new place?
Visit Fodors.com/contact-us.
Trip Costs We list prices wherever possible to help you budget well.
Hotel and restaurant price categories from $ to $$$$ are noted
alongside each recommendation. For hotels, we include the lowest
cost of a standard double room in high season. For restaurants, we
cite the average price of a main course at dinner or, if dinner isn’t
served, at lunch. For attractions, we always list adult admission
fees; discounts are usually available for children, students, and
senior citizens.
Hotels
Our local writers vet every hotel to recommend the best overnights in each price
category, from budget to expensive. Unless otherwise specified, you can expect
private bath, phone, and TV in your room. For expanded hotel reviews, facilities,
and deals visit Fodors.com.
Restaurants Unless we state otherwise, restaurants are open for
lunch and dinner daily. We mention dress code only when there’s a
specific requirement and reservations only when they’re essential
or not accepted.
Credit Cards The hotels and restaurants in this guide typically
accept credit cards. If not, we’ll say so.
EUGENE FODOR
Hungarian-born Eugene Fodor (1905–91) began his travel career as
an interpreter on a French cruise ship. The experience inspired him
to write On the Continent (1936), the first guidebook to receive
annual updates and discuss a country’s way of life as well as its
sights. Fodor later joined the U.S. Army and worked for the OSS in
World War II. After the war, he kept up his intelligence work while
expanding his guidebook series. During the Cold War, many guides
were written by fellow agents who understood the value of insider
information. Today’s guides continue Fodor’s legacy by providing
travelers with timely coverage, insider tips, and cultural context.