Switzerland: A Guide to Exploring the Country by Public Transport

by Anthony Lambert

Overview

Thoroughly updated, this seventh edition of Bradt's guide to Switzerland offers a unique perspective on getting the most from this mountainous country while travelling only by public transport. Switzerland boasts the world's finest public transport network – the comfort, efficiency and frequency of trains, buses, boats and cable cars explain why many Swiss don't own cars – yet is still enhancing services, including recently around Geneva. The Swiss Travel System is a revelation.

Moreover, using public transport is a must. Visitors cannot reach many fine Swiss sights by road, and over a dozen car-free resorts enable them to experience the serenity and clean air of the country's mountains (208 above 3,000m). Walkers and cyclists enjoy superb networks – almost 64,000km of footpaths and many surprisingly unhilly cycle paths beside lakes and rivers.

Written by a railway expert who has been visiting this mountainous country since childhood, no other guidebook is devoted to Swiss public transport, which is the easiest, most enjoyable and responsible way to travel. The guide encompasses culture, architecture, landscapes, walking and cycling, plus fascinating facts for railway enthusiasts, numerous tips for reducing costs in a country known for being expensive, and ample advice for gastronomists.

Switzerland offers some of the world's most stunning landscapes. Above and beyond mountains and lakes, each region offers something different and often curious – such as the world's smallest vineyard (dinner-table-sized and owned by the Dalai Lama) – while four official languages add cultural variety (although English is ubiquitous in tourist areas).

Switzerland's cities are among the world's most beautiful, safest and pedestrian friendly. Its capital, Bern, is a World Heritage Site with 6km of covered arcades, where even jaded shoppers will delight in hundreds of independent shops. Luzern's lakeside setting is unrivalled, with mountains in every direction, floodlit city walls and an historic centre. Lausanne and Geneva overlook Lac Léman, and Basel enjoys a broad sweep of the Rhine.

Whether you love culture or cycling, gastronomy or walking, with Bradt's Switzerland, you can enjoy the qualities that help ensure Switzerland is consistently ranked among the world's most liveable countries – while travelling confidently on public transport.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784779139
Publisher:	Bradt/Sawday/Wh
Publication date:	02/07/2023
Edition description:	7th Edition
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Anthony Lambert has been visiting Switzerland since childhood and has a deep affection for the country. At an early age, he was captivated by the sheer scale of the montane landscapes in which his family walked, and the character and number of mountain railways, cable cars and chairlifts, which all seemed much more fun than cars. Decades later, while researching this book, Anthony realised that cars were a pointless encumbrance in many parts of Switzerland, so often took up to 25 separate journeys per day on public transport. Now a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Anthony has written or contributed to several guidebooks, 20 further books about railways and travel, and has written about travel and railway journeys for The Daily Telegraph, Orient-Express Magazine, New York Times, The Sunday Times and Wanderlust. He was consultant editor for the nine-volume The World of Trains, and has journeyed on the railways of over 55 countries.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Why choose public transport? Tourism and sustainable transport

PART 1 GENERAL INFORMATION

Chapter 1 Practical Information

When to visit, Highlights, Tourist information, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Maps, Health, Travelling with a disability, Electricity, Money, Budgeting, Accommodation, Drinking, Food and wine, Shopping, Exploring cities, Arts and entertainment, Language, Media and communications, Snowshoeing

Chapter 2 The Swiss Travel System

General advice, Trains, Postbuses, Car, Tourist offices

Chapter 3 Special Trains

Gotthard Panorama Express, Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, Golden Pass Line, Golden Pass Panoramic, Glacier Express, Palm Express, Bernina Express, Pre-Alpine Express/Voralpen Express, Chocolate Train, Cheese Train

Chapter 4 Walking and Cycling

SwitzerlandMobility, Walking, Cycling, Maps and guides for walking and cycling

PART 2 THE GUIDE

Chapter 5 Zürich

Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, What to see and do

Chapter 6 Around Zürich

Zurichsee (Lake Zurich), Zurich HB–Uetliberg, Zurich HB–Langnau-Gattikon, Zurich HB–Zug, Zug–Arth-Goldau, Zug–Zurich HB via Affoltern, Zurich HB–Brugg, Dietikon–Wohlen, Lenzburg–Rotkreuz, Zug–Luzern, Zurich Flughafen–Zurich HB–Ziegelbrucke, Ziegelbrucke–Linthal, Zurich HB–Rapperswil, Rapperswil–Pfaffikon–Arth-Goldau & Wadenswil–Einsiedeln, Rapperswil–Winterthur, Zurich Stadelhofen–Esslingen, Zurich HB–Hinwil/Rapperswil, Wetzikon–Effretikon, Zurich HB–Winterthur, Winterthur–Bulach–Koblenz, Zurich HB–Niederweningen/Bulach–Schaffhausen, Zurich–Baden

Chapter 7 The Northeast

Winterthur–St Gallen, St Gallen–Trogen, St Gallen–Wattwil–Rapperswil, St Gallen–Romanshorn, St Gallen–Gais–Appenzell, Gais–Altstatten Stadt, Gossau–Herisau–Appenzell–Wasserauen, St Gallen–Gossau–Sulgen–Weinfelden, Wil–Wattwil–Nesslau-Neu St Johann, St Gallen–Rorschach, Rorschach–Romanshorn, Rorschach–Heiden, Romanshorn–Schaffhausen, Schaffhausen–Erzingen, Schaffhausen–Thayngen, Schaffhausen–Winterthur, Winterthur–Etzwilen/

Stein am Rhein, Winterthur–Romanshorn, Frauenfeld–Wil, Lake Constance/Bodensee, Wil–Weinfelden–Kreuzlingen–Konstanz, Rorschach–Sargans, Rheineck–Walzenhausen

Chapter 8 Bern

Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, What to see and do

Chapter 9 The Eastern Bernese Mittelland

Bern Fischermattelli–Bahnhofplatz–Worb Dorf , Bern–Worb Dorf , Bern–Solothurn, Solothurn–Moutier, Solothurn–Niederbipp–Oensingen–Langenthal, Solothurn–Olten, Oensingen–Balsthal,

Solothurn–Burgdorf, Burgdorf–Konolfingen–Thun, Bern–Olten, Langenthal–St Urban Ziegelei, Bern–Luzern, Langnau–Burgdorf, Ramsei–Sumiswald-Grumen–Huttwil, Wolhusen–Huttwil–Langenthal

Chapter 10 The Western Bernese Mittelland

Bern–Biel/Bienne, Lyss–Buren an der Aare, Biel/Bienne–Neuchatel, Biel/Bienne–La Chaux-de-Fonds, Sonceboz-Sombeval–Moutier–Delemont, Biel/Bienne–Delemont, Biel/Bienne–Solothurn, Biel/Bienne–Ins, Lyss–Murten–Payerne–Palezieux, Fribourg, Bern–Lausanne, Flamatt–Laupen, Fribourg–Payerne–Yverdon, Romont–Bulle, Bern–Schwarzenburg

Chapter 11 Bernese Oberland

Bern–Belp–Thun, Bern–Thun–Spiez–Interlaken Ost, Interlaken, Lake Thun, Interlaken–Zweilutschinen–Lauterbrunnen, Wilderswil–Schynige Platte, Lauterbrunnen–Grutschalp–Murren, Lauterbrunnen–Kleine Scheidegg, Kleine Scheidegg–Jungfraujoch, Zweilutschinen–Grindelwald, Grindelwald–Kleine Scheidegg,Spiez–Zweisimmen, Spiez–Brig

Chapter 12 Luzern

Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, What to see and do

Chapter 13 Around Luzern

Lake Luzern (Vierwaldstattersee), The Swiss Path, Vitznau–Rigi, Arth–Rigi, Luzern–Lenzburg, Luzern–Olten–Basel, Zofingen–Lenzburg, Luzern–Stans–Engelberg (LSE), Luzern–Meiringen–Interlaken, Alpnachstad–Pilatus, Meiringen–Innertkirchen, Luzern–Meiringen–Interlaken, Brienz–Rothorn, Luzern–Airolo–Lugano–Chiasso

Chapter 14 Basel and the Northwest

Basel, Basel–Rodersdorf, Basel–Delemont, Delemont–Porrentruy–Boncourt, Porrentruy–Bonfol, Basel–Olten, Liestal–Waldenburg, Sissach–Olten, Olten–Brugg, Aarau–Schoftland, Aarau–Menziken, Basel–Brugg–Zurich

Chapter 15 Neuchâtel and Jura

Neuchatel, Neuchatel–Boudry, Neuchatel–La Chaux-de-Fonds, La Chaux-de-Fonds–Le Locle, Le Locle–Les Brenets, La Chaux-de-Fonds–Glovelier, Le Noirmont–Tavannes, La Chaux-de-Fonds–Les Ponts-de-Martel, Neuchatel–Travers–Buttes/Pontarlier, Neuchatel–Yverdon-Les-Bains, Yverdon-Les-Bains–Ste-Croix, Yverdon-Les-Bains–Lausanne, Chavornay–Orbe, Lausanne–Cossonay–Vallorbe, Vallorbe–Le Day–Le Brassus

Chapter 16 Geneva and Lausanne

Geneva, Lac Leman, Coppet–Geneva–Annemasse–Evian, Geneva–La Plaine–Bellegarde, Geneva–Lausanne–Brig, Nyon–La Cure, Morges–Biere/L'Isle-Mont-la-Ville, Lausanne, Ouchy–Les Croisettes, Lausanne Flon–Echallens–Bercher, Lausanne–Vevey

Chapter 17 Vevey and Montreux

Vevey, Vevey–Mont Pelerin, Vevey–Puidoux-Chexbres, Vevey–Les Pleiades, Blonay–Chamby, Geneva–Vevey–Montreux–Brig, Montreux, Montreux (Territet)–Glion, Montreux–Rochers-de-Naye, Montreux–Gstaad–Zweisimmen–Lenk, Montbovon–Gruyeres–Bulle–Palezieux, Bulle–Broc, Geneva–Montreux–Aigle–Brig

Chapter 18 Southeast Vaud and the Valais

Aigle, Aigle–Leysin, Aigle–Les Diablerets, Aigle–Champery, Geneva–Aigle–Martigny–Brig, Bex–Bevieux–Villars, Villars–Col-de-Bretaye, Sion–St Maurice–St Gingolph, Martigny–Vallorcine–Chamonix–St Gervais, Martigny–Orsieres/Le Chable, The Great St Bernard, Geneva–Martigny–Brig, Brig–Domodossola, Brig–Zermatt, Zermatt–Gornergrat, Brig–Andermatt, Realp–Gletsch–Oberwald, Andermatt–Goschenen, Oberwald–Meiringen, Oberwald–Airolo, Airolo–Andermatt, Andermatt–Furka–Oberwald

Chapter 19 Ticino

Airolo–Lugano, Lugano, Lake Lugano, Around Lugano, Lugano–Ponte Tresa, Lugano–St Moritz, Luino–Cadenazzo–Bellinzona, Bellinzona–Locarno, Locarno, Lake Maggiore, Around Locarno, Locarno–Domodossola, Lugano–Chiasso–Milan, Lugano–Stabio–Malpensa, Capolago–Generoso

Chapter 20 Graubünden

Andermatt–Chur, Disentis–Biasca, Chur–Bellinzona, Chur–Arosa, Chur–St Moritz, St Moritz–Scuol-Tarasp, The Swiss National Park, St Moritz/Samedan–Tirano, Filisur–Davos–Chur, Chur–Ziegelbrucke–Zurich

Appendices

Appendix 1 Language

Appendix 2 Useful Addresses

Appendix 3 Railway and Postbus Routes by Timetable Number

Appendix 4 Further Information

Index

Editorial Reviews

This book should be in the pocket or day-pack of all English-speaking visitors to Switzerland.

Swiss Express

The most comprehensive guide to Switzerland's transport system and the best reading.

The Times

This guide to Switzerland by all forms of public transport is the most detailed and reliable on the shelf.

The Bookseller

The most comprehensive guide to Switzerland's transport system and the best reading.

The Times