Switzerland. Tours to Switzerland by train How to get to Switzerland

How to get to Saxon Switzerland

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is located on the German-Czech border on the German side and is a mountain forest of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The color of the mountains is given by their bizarre shape, formed under the influence of the "blowing effect", in addition, there are numerous historical monuments, including the most ancient and picturesque ones - the Bastei Bridge and the Konigstein Fortress. The national park is very popular with all lovers of natural attractions and is one of the most visited parks in Germany.

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is located 125 km from Prague and 30 km from Dresden, so most of the tourists come to the park from these large cities. Group excursions to Saxon Switzerland are often organized from Prague or Dresden, but you can get to the park on your own. The infrastructure of the park itself is very developed, it is convenient for people with different abilities to move around here, and climbing the mountains along specially designed routes will not be tiring.

Petr Meissner / Winterberg, Saxon Switzerland

How to get to Saxon Switzerland from Prague

The most convenient way to get from Prague to Saxon Switzerland is a rented car. Travel time will take no more than 1 hour and 20 minutes, and on the way you can explore picturesque natural places. Prague and the park are connected by road E55. When please note that to enter the National Park you will have to cross the state border, so check with the rental office if an additional permit for the rented car is required for this.

You can also get to the park from Prague by public transport. The nearest settlements to Prague are the resort villages of Rathen and Bad Schandau. By the way, if you wish, you can stay here longer, since the resorts offer climate and mineral therapy. Trains run from Prague to Rathen Kurort and Bad Schandau, direct trains to Bad Schandau (about 2 hours on the way), to Rathen - with a change (about 3 hours on the way). You can check the train schedule and buy tickets online on the website or OBB. From Rathen you can start your hiking trip to Saxon Switzerland, while from Bad Schandau you have to take a local bus.

In addition, you can take a ready-made bus excursion from Prague to the park. Bus and walking tours are in Russian and last a total of about 10 hours. Thanks to the excursion, you will be able to see all the most beautiful places in the natural park, including the observation deck on the Elbe River, without the need for transfers, as is the case with public transport. The tour can be found locally or booked in advance through specialized services such as and others similar.

How to get to Saxon Switzerland from Dresden

Getting from Dresden to Saxon Switzerland is even easier. Direct trains run between Dresden and the resort of Rathen or Bad Schandau, the journey time is only half an hour. Trains run every hour throughout the day. You can check the train schedule and buy tickets online on the website . Next, from the Rathen resort station, you need to go to the pier, buy tickets for the local ferry across the Elbe (travel time - about 5 minutes).

Once on the other side of the Elbe, you will see the picturesque Elbe Mountains right in front of you, the hiking trails of which will lead you to their top. In the park, you should move, focusing on the signs, they are placed almost everywhere, and it is difficult to get lost here. In addition, there are a lot of tourists in the park almost at any time of the year (in winter, during snowfalls, the park may be closed).

Thomas Quine / Panorama of the Elbe River

Where to stay in Saxon Switzerland

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is quite extensive, there are many hiking trails here that will last for more than one day. If you plan to stay here longer, then it will be most convenient to stay in one of the nearest settlements so as not to return to Dresden or Prague. The nearest towns to the park are the resorts of Rathen (closer, within walking distance) and Bad Schandau (further, you need to get there by bus or train). Both resorts are quite chamber, traditional half-timbered architecture is presented here and there is all the infrastructure necessary for recreation.

So, for example, you can stay at the Rathen resort in hotels Elbiente 4 *, Elbschlosschen 4 *, Amselgrundschlossen 3 *. The advantage of the hotels is their location - in the center of the resort, as well as the presence of restaurants and indoor pools on the territory. You can stay in rooms of various sizes. As a rule, Wi-Fi in the resort's hotels is provided free of charge, and there are no problems in finding free parking if you are traveling by car.

In Bad Schandau, you can find an even larger list of accommodation options, since the town is considered a thermal spa. Several thermal complexes are located here, specializing in the treatment and rehabilitation of various diseases. Bad Schandau is a year-round resort and is in steady demand among tourists. You can stay in Bad Schandau in hotels Steiger Ban Schandau 4 *, Parkhotel Bad Schandau 4 *, Elbhotel Bad Schandau 3 *and others. A complete list of accommodation options in Bad Schandau can be found on the website Booking.com.

Torsten Maue / Bad Schandau

What to see in Saxon Switzerland

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is extremely rich in attractions. They are based on Elbe sandstone mountains, having a peculiar shape, which, in turn, was created by nature itself over many millennia by means of blowing and erosion. The landscape of the National Park is very diverse. Along specially laid routes, you can see not only the mountain range, but also fabulous forests overgrown with boxwood, waterfalls, as well as some historical sights such as königstein fortress and old bridge Bastei, which are connected by the mountain peaks of the same name, the highest in the park.

Allan Gray / Rathen Resort

There are many hiking trails inside the park, designed for different levels of preparation and different times. The most popular route is the ascent to mount Bastei with inspection of the bridge of the same name, as well as a route to fortress Königstein... Both places are extremely picturesque, as they are located on the edge of rocky cliffs. Both the bridge and the fortress offer panoramic views of the mountains, the Elbe River and the Rathen resort.

In addition to Mount Bastei itself with the old bridge and the Königstein fortress, you can also see other sights in Saxon Switzerland. In particular, these include valleys, waterfalls, forests, canyons and caves. If you want to get away from popular routes, then travelers also deserve attention Lichtenhain waterfall, fortress Stolpen, rock gate Kushtal, and "Trail of artists" with the most picturesque observation platforms.

superscheeli / Bad Schandau

It is worth noting that the entrance to the Saxon Switzerland National Park is free. Only the ferry services across the Elbe and entrance tickets to the Königstein Fortress are paid (8-10 euros depending on the season).

Overall, we can say that the Saxon Switzerland National Park is a great alternative for a day trip from Prague or Dresden. It is here that you can "swap" urban landscapes for natural ones and enjoy some of the most amazing views in Europe. In addition, there is every opportunity to stay in the scenery of nature as long as possible - in the immediate vicinity are located rathen resorts and, which also offer many opportunities for leisure.

Saxon Switzerland and Dresden are frequent day trips from Prague, both popular with travelers. About, , On a note :

Going on a trip to Europe, do not forget to take out a travel insurance policy, which is mandatory already at the stage of obtaining a tourist visa. You can take out insurance yourself without leaving your home. There are special services for this, such as , other. You can buy a policy online, and then print it on a regular printer.

Photo at the beginning of the article: Bernd Thaller

Have you ever come across such a feeling when you first come to some incredible place, completely different from where you grew up, where you used to spend your leisure time? It is familiar to me. When everything around causes genuine delight, euphoria. You just have time to click the camera shutter, and then you reach for the computer again, frantically connecting to the Wi-Fi network with only one purpose: to find and buy a ticket to a new life - the life of a traveler. And here we are often disappointed. After all, traveling is not a cheap pleasure. Think, how often have you given up on a trip to the land of your dreams, looking at the pricing policy of the carrier companies? ☹

Tickets to other European countries cost a fortune, although it would seem: the distances here are not so great.

Well, it's time to stop postponing our innermost desires and aspirations on the back burner until better times! Here I will tell you in detail all the subtleties, knowing which, perhaps, like me in due time, you decide on a trip to a real fairy tale - mountainous and inaccessible only at first glance, Switzerland.

So let's get started!

Comfort or cheapness of the flight

The first thing that you should immediately determine for yourself is what you prefer when traveling: comfort, when you do not have to bother yourself with unnecessary subtleties and difficulties, or cheapness and adventurism, when already getting to your destination becomes a whole test, a kind of strength test?

Someone cannot imagine their life without hitchhiking or endless transfers from one low-budget flight to another. For such people, the journey begins already on the doorstep of the house, when they go out the door loaded with suitcases and backpacks: on their way they are ready to overcome many obstacles, and their only presence will symbolize a successful trip.

For others, “COMFORT” is spelled out in bright neon letters: for no price, they will not give up a comfortable chair on the plane, the airline of which has been flying for the hundredth time, where the staff happily greets the guest, recognizing him as a regular and loyal customer.

In essence, one may well not exclude the other, but in this case it is better to proceed primarily from personal preferences and the budget determined for travel. And yet, more often than not, one has to decide for a long time and painfully, giving preference to one of the criteria. If we represent this in the form of the so-called "preference curve", then in standard practice it will look something like this: the lower the quality and convenience parameters, and, accordingly, the higher the priority of minimum costs, the lower the price requested by the carrier will be. As the level of comfort rises, so does the price, and vice versa.

However, there are certain exceptions, which are influenced by factors such as seasonality and prudence of the traveler: skillful juggling with them will not only save you money, but also time, effort and nerves. After all, let's be honest, for the most part low-cost airlines leave much to be desired, which I was convinced from my own experience, taking tickets for a cheap airline brand, going to get new impressions: the chair was in a permanent state of not standing, the armrest was trying to fall off, and the seat lining was already pitiful lying on the floor. The rumble of the engine and the eternal zones of turbulence inspired only thoughts of hopelessness and the most deplorable outcome of the flight ...

Many European low-cost airlines are like the same EasyJet, Air Berlin, Air Baltics and EuroWings infamous for their endless flight delays, extremely poorly scheduled connecting flights, and sometimes exorbitant extra charges for small things like baggage, seat selection and ordering meals. Yes, there are situations when such airlines are the only way out for a traveler, but personally I believe that you can skim the cream without going through such difficulties. You just need to know certain tricks and tricks, because knowledge is power, isn't it? ;)

So, returning to our sheep, we will focus on two points: buying tickets ahead of time and taking into account the seasonality of a particular tourist region. Let's be realistic: prudent acquaintance with flight options and their booking has not done anyone badly: no one was left sore and destitute with three pennies in his pocket. It is profitable and convenient. The only thing is that it is unreliable: airlines are now going broke once or twice, so it is better to resort to this method in the case of proven companies. The largest carriers to Switzerland are our Russian « Aeroflot " and swiss Swissand for both this rule works. The last time I bought tickets for a Swiss plane was in the tenth of September at the end of October for a “fifteen”, while closer to the date prices jumped to 284-312 EUR (20-22,000 rubles). The situation with Aeroflot is the same, even the range of prices remains approximately the same.

I would highly recommend when choosing between these two companies to look at their special offers and decide in favor of the most optimal and profitable one. Here it doesn’t happen once at a time, and even in different years the same season dictates its prices to each of the air carriers. By the way, the first year of my travels to Switzerland, I used exclusively Swiss. Then there were more and more flights "within the walls" of the native domestic Aeroflot.

Seasonality

New Year

As for the seasonality, here you need to be realistic: the peak of tourism in Switzerland falls in the winter period not only because of the Alps, but also thanks to the Christmas celebrations, as well as the tempting prospect of celebrating the New Year, sipping mulled wine in front of the fireplace in some small alpine house.

Last year I returned to Switzerland from Moscow on January 1: round-trip tickets cost about 879 euros (62 thousand rubles) in the economy class of Aeroflot (!), In Swiss it was even more expensive ...

The May holidays

Also, a rather popular time of a visit to Switzerland among our compatriots is the period of the May holidays, which traditionally take long vacations that can be spent with the family.

Contrary to popular belief, Switzerland is not an exclusively winter country: it is quite suitable as a summer resort place, which I would strongly recommend you to read about one of our about this fabulous country.

During this period, prices are in the range of 312-426 EUR (22-30 thousand rubles), depending on the dates of the flight.

Direct flights

Here you will find a small "surprise", because you do not have to choose much: direct flights to the Swiss Confederation are only « Aeroflot "and Swiss, which only fly to Geneva and Zurich. This is a convenient way, especially since both cities are the centers of French and German Switzerland, respectively, and from there it will not be difficult to get to other settlements and attractions.

You don't have to rack your brains with direct flights, because, in principle, everything is extremely simple: who of us is not familiar with such a simple and stress-free type of flights! I love both airlines in large part because of the wide variety of pre-order food available with ticket purchases and the airline miles and frequent flyer loyalty programs.

If you fly with animals, Aeroflot is definitely your option. In Swiss, everything is more strict with this: even cats and small dogs are asked to be carried under the seat in front of the chair, and in general they do not very much welcome body movements associated with pets. Domestic airlines are more than loyal to this. From my own experience, I can say that our stewards and flight attendants constantly inquired about the condition of our cat and gladly helped in case of unforeseen situations: after all, after all, flying for animals is a lot of stress, and not everyone can cope with it.
But Swiss has many other undeniable advantages, here are just a couple of them.

Lifehacks from a seasoned Swiss International Airlines passenger:

Flights with transfers

Numerous (and here I am not even exaggerating) small and medium European airlines will happily take you, for example, to one of the rather large and important cities in Switzerland with several transfers. Here the options are dark, so in this case it is better to focus on your personal preferences.

The most common connecting flight options are Air Baltic and Air France... Frankly, I like the latter much more for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the transfer here is done in predominantly European cities, and the airports themselves are located within half an hour of the city's key attractions. The transit zones are equipped with the latest technology and meet the expectations of passengers traveling from board to board: sleep, food and even a kind of entertainment. In the waiting area of \u200b\u200bCharles de Gaulle airport, for example, a modern lounge-zone with soft ottomans, widescreen TVs, cafes and game consoles has been created. : D

Important! If you suddenly decide to fly with a transfer at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, do not take flights with extremely short connecting times. The airport is so large that the journey from one terminal to another takes 20-30 minutes, so you risk simply not being in time for your connecting flight.

As for Air Baltic, its huge disadvantage, in my opinion, is the unimaginably long intervals between connecting flights. Perhaps this will play into the hands of those travelers who want to arrange a trip for themselves in order to travel all over Europe. However, in other cases, I see this as a disadvantage rather than an advantage. The arrival time in the mountainous state will stretch for you at least a day, if not more. And the cities of arrival are not always friendly to transit passengers. For example, if you fly with this airline in winter with a transfer in Riga or Istanbul, then be prepared to meet face to face with inclement weather conditions in both cities: swam - we know.

And now, briefly about a number of other subtleties, which it is better to know than not to know when going to Switzerland with transfers:

1. Paradoxically, transit zones exist only on the force in half of European airports. So here it is already worth starting from what kind of visa was issued to you by the Swiss Confederation. Yes, there may be as many as two visas, which you can read about in my other article about Switzerland in the section. If this is the standard Schengen area, then you can safely choose any airport, discarding the stereotypes about the obligation to open a visa only in the country that issued it to you: this rule applies only in Finland and Germany. But if you were originally issued a national Swiss visa, then here the choice of tickets is greatly narrowed.
2. Not all airports with transit zones allow travelers to leave the latter. The reasons can only be guessed at, but it is better to check such moments in advance before buying tickets, which can be done both on the website of the airports themselves where the transfer is supposed to, and on various tourist forums, where seasoned Brodilkins share their experiences and impressions.
3. The cheapness of tickets here can play into your hands only in the case of seasonal offers: May holidays, late summer and winter. In other cases, the costs may well be higher than on the directions with direct flights.

Combined routes

Finally, we turn to the topic of combined options, which allow travelers to be guaranteed to save on flights in 9 cases out of 10. Here, a trip includes several transport options at once, from the plane to buses and hitchhiking.

In essence, those options with Swiss and Aeroflot, combined with trains to any Swiss city, which I have already mentioned above, are classic examples of combined options, but there are also more favorable offers, which will be discussed. speech in this section.

Airplane + train

Lufthansa

“You can't find a cheaper Lufthansa + Deutsche Bahn combined ticket,” experienced travelers assured me! Not to say that it is not cheaper to find. Take at least the same S7, which will be discussed below. However, the pricing situation here is the same as in the case of Swiss and Aeroflot. On top of that, Lufthansa stands for excellent service, German precision and accuracy.

Previously, flights were even cheaper when the planes of the subsidiary low-cost airline EuroWings still flew to Russia, but the airline itself also pampers its passengers with low prices. A flight with luggage from Moscow to Frankfurt (such a route should be chosen if you then go to) will cost 18,000 rubles, without luggage 16,000 rubles. For this price, you get food, great service and, most importantly, the absence of any hassle due to flight delays, which simply happen very, very rarely with Lufthansa.

Upon arrival in Frankfurt, I would advise you to buy a ticket for the IC series trains or InterCity to Badischer Bahnhof in Basel, which costs about 30 EUR. The incomparable advantage of such a train is its speed: in less than 3 hours, namely 2 hours and 40 minutes, you will cover the distance that would normally take about 5 hours. In addition, IC is almost the only comfortable and tidy form of transport on the German railways. There is both free Wi-Fi and a dining car. In general, if you want to get to Switzerland in comfort, despite such a combination of options, then Lufthansa + IC Deutsche Bahn is your option.

By the way, if Deutsche Bahn does not offer any special offers on its website, then it is better to buy tickets directly on the spot: on the website of German railways, such a purchase, all other things being equal, will cost you 1.5 or even 2 times more!

Important!Most passengers on IC trains reserve their seats in advance, so be careful when boarding: such signs are located above the window. If you boarded the train and realized that there were no more empty seats, feel free to go to the dining car: your comrades in misfortune are waiting for you there, or just those who, in principle, did not want to book a guaranteed seat for themselves for a fee (by the way speaking, it is 4.5 EUR or 318 rubles).

S7

The airline flies direct flights to Munich and Dusseldorf. There, you already change to one of the Deutsche Bahn trains and go to Switzerland (here I would advise you to choose Basel because of the convenient and favorable location of both the city itself and the German railway station).

What is the plus: S7 is a fairly cheap company, mainly due to baggage rates, but in terms of the quality of service it is not inferior to the same Aeroflot. The price also depends on the season, but here it is stable - 10,000 rubles. As for Deutsche Bahn itself, it often arranges promotions, according to which tickets for certain trains can be bought for almost nothing. The whole trip - plane + train - round trip will cost you about 14,000 rubles. I would recommend finding out about such promotions, as well as about the tickets for the flight, in advance: such offers are sold quickly like hot cakes, which, in principle, is not surprising and quite expected.

But there are also peculiar disadvantages associated mainly with the train: such promotions tie you to a specific train, which means only one thing: if the flight was delayed and you missed the train you need, you will have to buy a ticket again. In this case, neither the airline nor Deutsche Bahn itself will be responsible for such inconveniences, and no one will return the money spent. By choosing such combined options, you actually assume all the risks associated with each stage of the trip.

Important!These special offers, unfortunately, are usually valid in the direction of the northern and part of the central part of Switzerland, where Zurich is located. For more western parts, like the same, such options do not work. ; (

"Victory"

As for our domestic low-cost airlines, here, it seems to me, everything is quite complicated. "Pobeda", in principle, flies to the German Memmingen, which is located in relation to Switzerland no less convenient than the same one: Deutsche Bahn already familiar to us, but the same 5 hours by train.

The downside is that they impose additional fees on almost everything, while the basic ticket (let's call it that) includes the minimum number of benefits and amenities. Ultimately, it turns out that you can "snatch" tickets for 5-7,000 rubles, and then simply pay the same amount on top of that.

In addition, Pobeda, like any low-cost airlines, in principle, does not differ in punctuality and diligence, so the option of buying promotional offers for the Deutsche Bahn train is not very suitable here: there is a high probability of large losses and no less large frustration and anxiety. And the extra nerves are clearly not on the must-do list of our trip, right? ;) Otherwise, our "Victory", as in the famous cartoon about Captain Vrungel, will turn into a real "Trouble" ... But, as they say, once at a time you don't have to and, perhaps, you will be lucky!

Airplane + bus

You also always have the option “plane + bus” at your disposal. Personally, I have never seen an offer in which a bus ticket would have already been provided in advance. Here, you yourself will need to look through all the offers that are on the websites of companies for the transportation of passengers over long distances by buses: first of all, Eurolines, FlixBus and the IC Bus belonging to the Deutsche Bahn concern. In this situation, you yourself choose the time of transfer and can calculate that the break will cover the flight delay.

In principle, you can buy bus tickets right on the spot, but there is always the possibility that there will be no empty seats by your arrival. As you probably already understood, I personally prefer to do everything in advance and I urge everyone to do so. ☺

The only drawback is that the duration of a bus trip is 1.5–2 times longer than that of a train. On the way, you will, of course, make stops, but perhaps they will be even more forced due to traffic jams on the motorways. By the way, the cleanliness and comfort of such long-distance buses are sometimes an order of magnitude higher than the conditions provided by Deutsche Bahn trains, which are often quite dirty and not cleaned. ☹

The cost of a trip on such a bus will be approximately 29 EUR (2,045 rubles). For this price, you will get a seat in a comfortable armchair, Wi-Fi and a built-in toilet, which is quite presentable and clean.

Airplane + bus + train

Well, for the main adventurers and adventurers, I have another option in store, which will allow you to see, perhaps, in less than 24 hours, 3 or even 4 countries at once, including our beautiful Motherland with its fields, forests, rivers and lakes ... Have you guessed? If not, then now I will slightly open the veil of secrecy and still immediately warn that I myself did not use this option, but if you believe the stories of many of my fellow travelers, this method is one of the most budgetary and interesting.

Having collected your suitcases, you happily run ... to the station for tickets to Kaliningrad. Yes, you read everything correctly, before Kaliningrad. The fact is that the convenient geographical location of this city allows you to get by bus to the key airports in Poland and Lithuania (Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport, Vilnius International Airport, Klaipeda Airport) in one sitting and from there fly to European countries.

Tickets for flights of local airlines here will cost several times cheaper than even the same S7 and Lufthansa with their special offers. So, a flight by Polish airlines LOT from Gdansk straight to Zurich will cost you about 8,000 rubles. Unusual? Yes. Does it take your breath away? Yes. Conveniently? I'm not sure about this, but if you really want to breathe new life into your tourist and not so trips, if you want to diversify the routine of home-auto-airport-plane-airport-auto-hotel, then such an adventure should definitely appear in your mini-plan ! ☺

And on top of that, you will be given the opportunity to see the wonderful city of Kaliningrad with your own eyes. What to do there and where to go, you can read in one of our, dedicated to the former Königsberg.

Finally

We need all flights, all trips are important to us. Regardless of which option is preferable to you and which one you choose in the end, what is important is, first of all, the correct, correct attitude to new adventures and crazy, unforgettable accomplishments, in which even a millionth transplant will look like a kind of quest in search of your ideal vacation, or even a whole journey into the wilds of the unknown, and therefore so alluring and attractive!

In my opinion, in life it is worth trying each of the ways of travel I have listed, and, believe me, every time Switzerland will open up for you from a new, previously unknown and unnoticed side. Is this not the goal of the most real trouble-seekers of their own Odysseus? ;)

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Anything to add?

Small Switzerland is usually associated with success, prosperity, comfort. And also - with reliable banks, expensive (and accurate) watches and the best cheeses in the world. In a word - not a country, but a real dream. Dream of paradise vacation.

Its unique attractions, combined with almost perfect service and picturesque nature, make Switzerland so desirable for those who love to travel and explore the world. Here, in a small space, there are marvelous natural panoramas and no less attractive creations of human hands: many countries can envy Swiss museums, the monastery library of St. Gallen is the only library today that is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the bell tower of the Bernese Gothic Cathedral is one of the the highest in the world. In addition, in Switzerland you can choose almost any type of recreation - skiing on the slopes of the Swiss Alps, delightful beach holidays on local lakes, health and eco-resorts ... This beautiful country cannot boast of its seaside resorts - simply because that Switzerland, located in the very center of Europe, has no access to the sea.

Yes - there is no sea in this country. But everything else in Switzerland is plentiful.

How to get there

Today, for those wishing to go to Switzerland, there are no problems associated with the means of transportation. The most convenient and fastest way to get to the country is to fly by plane: the travel time from Moscow will take about three hours. Aeroflot, STC Rossiya, Swiss International Air Lines and some others operate regular flights to Switzerland every day. Basically, you can choose an airport in any part of the country - from Russia you can fly to Geneva, Zurich, Basel, from other European countries - additionally to Bern and Lugano.

If you decide that it will be more convenient for you to travel by train, you should know that there is no direct flight to Switzerland - as a rule, the transfer is carried out at the Berlin train station. Travel time in this way will be approximately one and a half days. Such a trip will cost even more than a flight.

There are many bus services - also with connections in Berlin.

If you dream of seeing a lot of interesting things on your way, you will most likely enjoy traveling by your own car. This, of course, is not very convenient (after all, you have to overcome about three thousand kilometers of the way), but it promises a lot of impressions.

Domestic transport

Upon arrival in the country, you will not have any problems with movement - both in the city and in any necessary direction - there is a well-developed network of both road and railways, buses, trolleybuses, electric trains, small motor ships and (in mountainous areas ) funiculars. Moreover, unlike many countries, in Switzerland everything is scheduled literally in seconds - as they say, exactly like a clock. For example, if you are going to go with a transfer, you will see that the bus arrives at the desired station just in time for the departure of the desired train. Tickets must be purchased in advance - at the box office or ticket machines. Travel passes will help to save money: some of them are sold in Russian travel agencies, others in Switzerland - for example, Swiss Card, Swiss Pass, if you are traveling with children - Family Card, etc. These tickets generally offer 25 to 50% discounts on travel around the country. A taxi ride will cost you an average of 2 euros per kilometer, on weekends and at night there is an additional charge.

Climate and weather, tourist season

If you dream of resting in this particular country, then you will be right - after all, then you will have the opportunity to see “Europe in miniature”. Most of Switzerland is occupied by the Alps, in the north there are plains, in the center - the Swiss plateau and throughout the country - about 600 amazingly clean and beautiful lakes. Considering all the features of the landscape, you can expect that in a couple of hours you can get from summer to winter and vice versa. What time is better to choose to visit is up to you: it all depends on the purpose for which you came to the country. If you are going to one of the ski resorts, the most convenient time for this is from the beginning of November to April. But on the lakes it is better to relax in the summer - in June-September (as a rule, prices rise at this time).

Hotels

Switzerland would not be the most successful and comfortable Switzerland if it did not offer its guests an excellent level of service. Here you will find hotels of various categories - there are both world-class hotel brands and hotels with one star in the country. Depending on the number of stars, you can expect the selected hotel to provide exactly those services that meet the requirements of the European Hotel Association. In each hotel, as a rule, breakfast is provided; in hotels of 4 stars and higher, the room rate also includes dinner. On the shores of the lakes, you can rent a camping (in summer it is better to book rooms in advance), there are also private pensions and family hotels - usually in small resorts and cities. In ski resorts, you can often find chalets and even igloo villages. In health resorts, accommodation services are provided by resort hotels - as a rule, their cost includes treatment with procedures.

By the way, when going on vacation to Switzerland, it is worth considering that the cost of accommodation and services will cost you more than in some neighboring countries: for example, a room in a three-star hotel costs 105 euros on average, in a four-star hotel - 133 euros.

National cuisine

Swiss cuisine is a richness and variety of dishes - German and Italian, French and Austrian cuisines are mixed here. Hearty sausages came from Germany, risotto from Italy, France gave Switzerland its delicious fish dishes with fantastic sauces. If we talk about the original Swiss, then it will probably be cheeses and dishes based on them - fondue, raclette. Of course, Swiss chocolate is no less famous, especially milk chocolate. Rösti, potato casserole, is also considered a national dish. And at the same time, in every part of the country you can find dishes inherent in this particular region: in central Switzerland, these are amazing sweet and sour dishes, in Bern, an assortment of various types of sausages and fried meat is popular (it is usually served with beans or sauerkraut), West Friborg is proud its signature dish is a soup made from pasta, vegetables, herbs, milk and cheese, but in the southeast, stuffed jerky beef and ragout with lamb and potatoes are considered one of the favorite dishes.

Everything is in order in Switzerland and with the wines - here they are simply wonderful: apparently, the amazing mountain air and the bright Alpine sun affect.

Cities and resorts

No one will deny that Switzerland is a skier's paradise. Moreover, it is this country that is considered the birthplace of both skiing and mountaineering. Its resorts Grindelwald and St. Moritz, Engelberg and Davos, Verbier and Zermatt and many others are considered a benchmark in both piste preparation and service level. Holidays in these ski resorts will delight especially professionals and fans of extreme skiing.

If you prefer silence, beautiful landscapes and lakeside beaches, you will certainly love the resorts of Lakes Lugano and Maggiore - the waters here are the warmest. In Lake Geneva, the water is cooler - it is better to go here in July-August. But here tourists are attracted by delightfully clean air and an extraordinary combination of snow-capped peaks and subtropical vegetation.

But the combination of medicine with the wonderful mountain air creates real miracles - to understand this, it is enough to visit one of the health resorts of Leysin, Arosa, Interlaken, Pontresina. Among the spa resorts, the most visited are Bad Ragaz, Baden, St. Moritz, Schinznach Bad.

Shopping

If you are planning to go shopping, be prepared for the fact that the prices in Switzerland cannot be called the lowest. However, an abundance of quality goods will be provided to you.

In Lucerne, you can buy famous ceramics, Zurich is famous for its jewelry and fashion accessories (by the way, compared to other Swiss cities, you can buy tea and spirits here relatively inexpensively). But small souvenirs (magnets, T-shirts, cups, Swiss knives) are better to buy if you are in Lausanne. This city is famous for its cheeses, perfumes, cosmetics.

If you by all means decide to buy a famous watch in Switzerland, then it is better to do it in Geneva. Watches can be purchased here at prices ranging from 45 to 700 euros (prices for Rolex are not limited at all). Chocolate lovers will also be able to experience pleasure here - in some shops selling these sweets, there are up to 500 types of products.

Shops in Switzerland usually work on weekdays from 9.30 to 18.30 (large ones are open on weekends), grocery stores - daily, until 20.00. Many shops run seasonal sales from July to September and from Christmas to early February.

If you believe the legend, God, distributing the wealth of the earth's interior, did not calculate a little - and Switzerland did not get anything. Then the Almighty decided to correct the injustice, rewarding it with sparkling glaciers, countless lakes, rumbling waterfalls and fertile valleys. And now everyone can admire all these beauties.

Tours by train to Switzerland: cities, resorts, routes and attractions. What you need to know about Switzerland train tours. Tour operators.

• Last Minute Tours to Switzerland
• Tours for May all over the world

There are many connoisseurs of leisure in Switzerland: tourists come here en masse to get acquainted with cultural and historical sights, enjoy outdoor recreation and improve their health. Despite the fact that the fastest means of transportation remains the plane, many tourists prefer to travel around Switzerland by train and they are understandable. The romantic moods that invariably fill train journeys are harmoniously combined with the string of luxurious natural and urban landscapes for which the Alpine regions of Switzerland are so famous.

The romantic moods that invariably fill train journeys are harmoniously combined with the string of luxurious natural and urban landscapes for which the Alpine regions of Switzerland are so famous.

Typical excursion programs

Most of the train tours to Switzerland are organized according to the combi system: "train + bus", the transfer to the bus takes place in the city of Brest. From Moscow the train to Brest departs from the Belorussky railway station, and from St. Petersburg - from Vitebsky (train number 49, departure at 15:00). The basic program of train tours includes visits to several large Swiss cities and acquaintance with their sights.

For example, together with the Swiss Ballad tour you will visit the Principality of Liechtenstein and explore the historic center of its capital, Vaduz, then you will visit the most beautiful Swiss Lucerne, stroll around the capital of the Swiss Confederation, Bern, see the most interesting architectural and historical monuments of Geneva and Zurich and enjoy the views of the Swiss Riviera. In addition, you will get acquainted with the old city of Regensburg, which is one of the four largest cities in Bavaria, and take a sightseeing tour of Nuremberg.

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Tours from Basel

In addition, Swiss train tours from Basel are available for booking. In this direction, the following programs are offered: "Mission in Zurich", "Geneva - Zurich", "Rest on the lakes of Switzerland" (Lake Geneva, Lake Luhansk, Lake Maggiore and Lake Firwalsted). Excursion tours include sightseeing trips in Geneva and Zurich, as well as a variety of additional excursions (a trip to Gruyeres, Lausanne, rest at the Rhine Falls).

Top destinations for train travel

All articles about railway tours on "Subtleties"

• In Russia: from Moscow and from St. Petersburg, to the Northern capital, to Anapa, to Kazan, to the Black Sea
• Austria Vienna
• Baltics: Latvia (Riga), Estonia (Tallinn)
• Finland: Helsinki

The best ski resorts in the world, ancient castles and magnificent chateau are looking forward to visiting the next tourists from Russia. A few days surrounded by the snowy Alps will be the best winter adventure of your life. Today we have to go from Moscow to one of the most attractive countries in Europe. We will tell you how to get to Switzerland, and which of the proposed ways will appeal to domestic travelers.

A nice bonus only for our readers is a discount coupon when paying for tours on the site before February 29:

• AF500guruturizma - a promo code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
• AFT2000guruturizma - promo code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Turkey from 100,000 rubles.
• AF2000KGuruturizma - a promo code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Cuba from 100,000 rubles.

The Travelata mobile application has a promotional code - AF600GuruMOB. He gives a discount of 600 rubles for all tours from 50,000 rubles. Download app for and

On the website onlinetours.ru you can buy ANY tour with a discount of up to 3%!

How to apply for a visa to Switzerland on your own - read our article.

The easiest, fastest, but not the cheapest way to find yourself in the company of magnificent mountain ranges is by air. To find the best flights for air travel, we will again use the already familiar service aviasales.ru.

How to get from the airport to Zurich - detailed guide.

Today, regular flights in this direction are made by both aircraft of the domestic carrier Aeroflot and aircraft of European companies. Let's try to find the cheapest and most affordable offer. Immediately, we note that you can fly to Switzerland both in economy class and sitting comfortably in an easy chair of business class, which is so loved by many businessmen and other wealthy Russians. Accordingly, the range of companies' offers is replete with attractive offers of direct flights and more economical flights with transfers.

The list of low-cost airlines flying from Moscow to Europe - we recommend that you familiarize yourself.

So, the most budgetary option is the offer of Pegasus, the cost of services of which will be only 8900-9400 rubles. True, you have to spend at least 23 hours on the road, 16.5 of which falls on the waiting time for a transfer in Istanbul.

What to do and where to go in Switzerland with children - read our article.

Having paid only 700-1100 rubles, you can find yourself in the cabin of the Brussels Airlines aircraft, which will take you to the cherished Alps in just 6-7.5 hours. In this case, you will also have to make one change in Brussels.

There are also direct flights from Sheremetyevo to Geneva airport. The domestic company "Aeroflot" is ready to offer its services to tourists, the cost of a flight by plane will be 12,300 rubles. As you can see, the difference in cost is insignificant, and the travel time is reduced to 3 hours 45 minutes! Daily flights are scheduled for 10.05 am, 04.20 pm and 19 pm.

Having paid a little extra for comfort, you can find yourself in the cabin of a Swiss aircraft of the Swiss company, a ticket for which will cost 4-5 thousand rubles more. At the same time, you will not be able to get to the outskirts of the Alps faster, because the time spent in the sky will be 3 hours 50 minutes.

Planning to celebrate New Year or Christmas in Switzerland? Then our life hack will help you.

A train

At the moment, there is no direct rail link between Russia and Switzerland. Therefore, for those who like to travel by train, there is only an alternative in the form of transit trips through France, Germany and Austria. You can get to the capitals of these countries from Russia by bus, train or plane, so we will not dwell on the choice of routes in detail.

Once in Paris, take care of purchasing an express ticket to Zurich, which departs every two hours. The first train departs from the Parisian platform at 7 hours 9 minutes local time, and the last one is scheduled for 18 hours 55 minutes. You will spend 4 hours on such a trip. There is also an alternative route that takes you from Paris to Geneva. Five times a day, a direct Paris-Geneva train leaves from the central train station, which will take you to your final destination in just 3 hours 15 minutes.

You can reach Geneva, Basel or Zurich by train from Berlin and Vienna. So, direct trains leave from Berlin to Basel, and you will have to go with transfers to Geneva and Zurich. Depending on the route, the journey will take from 8 to 11 hours. From Vienna you can get to Zurich by one of six express trains, and the journey will take about 8-8.5 hours.

Check the cost of all tickets on the official websites. As elsewhere, if you buy your ticket in advance, you can save a lot.

Bus

Unfortunately, there are no direct bus routes to the Swiss Alps from Russia either. If you love to travel, we advise you to use the mixed route, which runs either through Germany or through Austria. The cost of the trip cannot be called modest, and the travel time will be from two to three days, which will not please all tourists.

Now you know how to get to Switzerland from Russia, and what kind of transport will save you not only time, but also money. We advise you to carefully think over the entire route so that the trip does not turn into large financial losses.