Whats it like in Switzerland ?

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Northchild

People here in Switzerland can be very nice, but i always have the feeling that people in the U.S. are more friendly to tourists. But most people here speak a little bit English.

In January and February it can be very cold here, March is better, April we have usually a lot of rain. The summer month should be nice and warm sometimes very hot in July and August, then it is nice to hike our mountains. Don't come in November, we always have a lot of fog! If you come here for winter sports, take end of January and February.

Think about that Swiss people go to the U.S. for shopping, only if you want to buy Chanel, Dior and other European Brands, it is cheaper here.

If you go out for Lunch and Dinner, prices looks higher then the U.S, but you don't need to give a tip, the prices are incl. Tip and VAT. Take small Italian restaurants, they are like the gourmet italiens in california, but a lot cheaper. Alcoholics are expensive only beer is "cheap". Till today, in the most restaurants you can smoke inside, so if you don't smoke, ask for the non-smoking section.

Hope that helps you.

Ina

Hi there,

I do not think there is many to compare between L.A. and Switzerland.
Switzerland surely has big cities like Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern, but nothing is as big as Los Angeles. Throught that culturally this country is quite different, created by people freeing themselve from the Habsburg supremacy centuries ago, each state, and I would say some of them are just as big as L.A. , kept his own heritage, festivals, culture and language.
Switzerland might look scenic, and it is for the tourists, but behind it there is hidden a high tech economy and a baking system famous in the world.
The swiss always had to be special and full of ideas to make their living giving the surrounding mountains and climate.
The mountains are wonderful for hikers and skiing, but having a decent agriculture is pretty hard, which makes Swiss people hard workers who also value hard working. The weather can also be pretty rugged here, especially from December to March, when winter is hitting the country and loads of snow are covering the towns and mountains making Switzerland to one of the most famous skiing areas.
Switzerland does not have an ocean, but there are many lakes for water sports and swimming. I experience all of them to be very clean and pretty warm in summer. Well, I still think the Pacific is pretty cold and I never liked to swim in Malibu, even in summer.
It can get hot in summer, but this is not as predictable as in L.A. and due to that will you find less airco usage in restaurants, museums or stores. I remember having to defrost myself while visiting an museum in L.A..
People are also a bit different here. Even though most speak English are they not as easy going as Californians, which I miss quite a bit. It is hard to get to know people, but if you have managed then you have found a friend. Not like in the U.S. were it is easy to get to know someone, but it is hard to know when you can call them friends.

Shopping in both places is nice and the main shopping street in Zurich can be compared to the Rodeo Drive, or I would even claim is much better. But be warned, things can feel quite expensive here, especially due to the weak Dollar exchange rate.

I must say I love both places California and Switzerland especially the landscape.

Ina

pastrybabe

Switzerland is a totally different than here in North America. The villages and cities are really close together. The northern part of Switzerland like the Zurich, Basel and Arrau is basically flat with some fields. And the Southern part of Switzerland is where the Alps are found. Switerland is so small that you can drive from one end of the country to the other in less than a day.

Switzerland have at least four different laungages-German, French, Italian and Romanish. It is a really fast paced country, but everyone is hard working. It can also be expensive. They have a great trasit system, so getting around is not a problem.

Switzerland is also really old. Many of the houses are passed down from generation to generation. And there are many old buildings and bridges. If you love history, you would love europe all together.

If you are thinking about going to Switzerland, I recommend it. I have been there three times and can't wait to go again.

topolina88

If you would to come to Switzerland and you don't speak German: don't worry, the most of the Swiss people do speak English...

The climate: in December, January and February is winter and it's cold. In spring in March, April and beginning June it's a little bit warmer. In July, August and September it's warm and then it would be always a little bit more cold...

In Switzerland the States are called Cantons. In the Canton Tessin (Ticino) is the weather almost always better than in the other Cantons, because it's situated in the South and it confines with Italy.

Robert M

Beautiful

Swiss Alps are amazing

I love the diversity in Switzerland. I enjoyed towns off the beaten path like Biele/ Bienne where there is a very strong French and German mixture in the city. You can go to one bar or restaurant with mostly Swiss patrons and then to the one next door that is German. The scenery is so beautiful, everywhere, and so varied. I loved the way mountains varied in different areas. I loved the feeling of going way back in time when walking through Old towns all over. Solothurn was a very interesting experience for me, too.
As far as food goes: Great Italian, fine wines, some of the best quiche anywhere and of course - Chocolate.
Everything is so very clean, love the outdoor fruit and vegetable markets. Love the varied cultural celebrations and Carnival time when for two weeks, children do the equivalent of Trick or Treat from business to business and at night the adults come out and live their fantasies in costumes of their choice, haunting the area bars and restaurants.
I love the way Christmas is celebrated there, the calendars for children with the little gifts inside for each day of Christmas. Love the coffee with little bars of chocolate on the side. Amused that so much is paid for McDonalds and KFC!
Various Gypsy tribes are colorful in their caravans, setting up camp near parks while the older men play their bocce ball.
Loved the countryside and letting sheets in spring and summer, dry on the clover dappled hillsides and smell authentically fresh and clean, sterilized by the sun.
Ahh Switzerland!
Can't leave out the Italian culture in the South with the gorgeous lakes, Lugano and Locarno. And which town is it that has a border in the middle of the town, one side of the border in the middle of a street is Italy the other side Switzerland?

Servette

People are nice and climate have the four seasons, like in the North West of the US.

visit: www.myswitzerland.com

Diona T

www.switzerland.com/en.cfm/home check out this website

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