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.
