Switzerland always has been a neutral and safe country and is located in the very heart of Europe. Our country can be reached through the airports in Zurich, Geneva, Berne, Basel and Lugano (named in the order of importance) or by train. Switzerland has four (4) official languages (German, French, Italian and Romansch) thus offers a great diversity of culture, history and food. It is a tiny country but we have many lovely lakes, a lot of astonishing mountains and quite some picturesque farmland trails.
Switzerland is a unique country offering distinctive architecture, enchanting nature, wonderful castles, palaces and museums, a diverse culture, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. All of this gives our country a special charm which will make your visit memorable. Switzerland is a popular destination for international MICE events. Its well-developed infrastructure makes it ideal for corporate and business events, as well as for private trips, incentives, congresses, and world-class festivals. In Switzerland, you will find state-of-the-art conference halls and venues suitable for any event, as well as great hotels and restaurants, to suit your requirements.
Felix Event Management was established in 2006 and is a first-class independent Destination and Event Management Company based in Switzerland. We are recognized for our creativity, flexibility and client satisfaction. Our service operates throughout Switzerland for meetings, events, incentives and special interest tours (golfing, skiing, train journeys or museum visits).
We became a member of SITE (The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence) in 1991; also the Geneva Convention Bureau and the Swiss register of commerce.
General facts about Switzerland
Local time: GMT +1 Currency: Please note that Switzerland remains with the Swiss franc, usually indicated as CHF. While Switzerland is not part of the European Union and thus is not obliged to convert to the Euro, many prices are nonetheless indicated in euros so that visitors may compare prices.
Merchants may accept euros but are not obliged to do so. Change given back to the client will most likely be in Swiss francs.
The Swiss franc comes in the following denominations:
Coins
5, 10, 20, 50 Cents and 1, 2, 5 Francs
Bank notes
10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 Francs Airports: – Zurich – International hub flights to/from all over the world – Geneva – 2nd largest airport in Switzerland – Basel, Berne and Lugano are local airports with some European connections
Entry (Passport and Visa): Every traveller must have a valid passport. Visas are required for a continuous stay of more than three months. If your stay is shorter than three months you only need to bring your valid passport with you. This applies to citizens of the following countries: countries of the American Continent (except Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Colombia and Peru), Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
For information on visas, permanent residence as well as on work permits and business matters, please contact the Swiss Consulate General located nearest you. Languages: Switzerland has four unevenly distributed languages and a wealth of dialects, but English is widely spoken in the major cities and resorts but not in the countryside.
German (63.5 %)
German is by far the most widely spoken language in Switzerland: 19 of the country’s 26 cantons are predominantly (Swiss) German-speaking.
French (22.5 %)
French is spoken in the western part of the country, the “Suisse Romande.” Four cantons are French-speaking: Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel and Vaud. Three cantons are bilingual: in Bern, Fribourg and Valais both French and German are spoken.
Italian (8.1 %)
Italian is spoken in Ticino and four southern valleys of Canton Graubünden.
Rhaeto-Rumantsch (0.5 %)
Rumantsch is spoken in the only trilingual canton, Graubünden. The other two languages spoken there are German and Italian. Rumantsch, like Italian and French, is a language with Latin roots. It is spoken by just 0.5% of the total Swiss population.
Other languages (6.6 %)
The many foreigners resident in Switzerland have brought with them their own languages, which taken as a whole now outnumber both Rumantsch and Italian. The 2000 census showed that speakers of Serbian/Croatian were the largest foreign language group, with 1.4% of the population.
Climate: The climate is moderate with no excessive heat, cold or humidity.
From July to August the daytime temperature range is 18 to 28 °C (65° – 82° F) and from January to February, the range is -2 to 7 °C (28° – 45° F). In spring and autumn, the daytime temperature range is 8 to 15 °C (46° – 59° F).
Depending on the altitude the temperature range may vary. It is highly recommended to visitors pack a sweater, good walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a compact umbrella and/or a light raincoat. Seasons: The seasons are clearly distinguishable. In autumn (September to November), the fruit ripens and the leaves of deciduous trees change colour.
The winters were formerly generally cold and snowy, but now freezing temperatures and snow are no longer the rule, especially in the lowlands. Nowadays, many ski resorts could hardly survive without artificial snow.
In spring (March to May) the trees blossom and the meadows turn green. Sometimes in April the winter returns for a short period and sometimes there are summer conditions as early as May.
Summer temperatures rise to 25 to 30°C, with temperatures exceeding the 30°C mark during hot summers. Electricity: The voltage in Switzerland, as in most of Europe, is 230V/50 Hz.
Switzerland uses type C (2-pin) and Type J (3-pin) plugs. (Type C 2-pin plugs also fit J sockets.)
Most power sockets are designed for three-pin round plugs. The standard continental type plug with two round pins, applied for many electrical travel products, may be used without problems. Adaptors are available in most hotels.
Shopping: Switzerland’s superb products make it a shopper’s paradise. English is spoken in most shops and department stores. Any stay in Switzerland is incomplete without buying a famous Swiss watch. Fine watches come in an infinite variety and are generally less expensive than in other countries. Bucherer is the country’s biggest and most famous watch retailer offering a wide range of watches from CHF 50 to 100’000.
Typical products and souvenirs
Chocolates come in a variety of sizes, shapes and flavours. Excellent buys are textiles, embroideries, fine handkerchiefs, linen, precision instruments, drafting sets, multi-blade pocket knives, music boxes, woodcarvings, ceramics and other handmade items as well as antiques and art books.
VAT tax
The VAT tax you pay on purchased goods in Switzerland is 8.0%. You may ask at the shops for your Global Blue Cheque and reclaim the VAT. Global Blue offers you a swift and safe cash refund system at Zurich and Geneva airports as well as at all major airports in Europe and all major road exit points. All major Credit Cards are accepted in fine shops and most department stores.
VAT tax
Shops are usually open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Once a week they extend their hours to 9 p.m. They are closed on Sundays except for those at airports, some railway stations and highway rest stops.
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