Travel Bug: Switzerland

Heidi ho, to the land of chocolate and cheese we go

Spires of St. Peter's and Fraumunster churches (courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office)

In this story: Entering Zurich Playing the Matterhorn Off you go RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Rob Lenihan
CNNfn Staff Writer

NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Slap on your climbing boots and get ready to yodel--we're heading for Switzerland.

You name it, this central European country's got it -- awesome scenery, fabulous chocolate, and those nifty multi-purpose knives. You can zip from an international financial center to a quaint mountain village in the Alps faster than you can say "Dufourspitze," which just happens to be the highest point in Switzerland.

German, French, and Italian cultures are all represented here in a fine national fondue. If you're looking for brains, look no further. The Swiss have won more Nobel Prizes and racked up more patents than any other nation on earth, according to travel guide book publisher Lonely Planet. Want to work your muscles? The rugged countryside inspires all sorts of activity, with skiing and hiking being two of the more popular pursuits.

"It's a huge place for hiking," said Katrin Gygax, a contributing writer on the Fodor's Guide to Switzerland. "I think every inch of Switzerland is mapped out with some kind of hiking trail."

Sailing on Lake Zurich (courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office)

Zurich, Switzerland's most populous city, is known the world over as an economic powerhouse. A leading European financial and gold-trading center, Zurich is the home of the deal.

Despite the heavyweight reputation, the city retains a kind of small town charm. There are only three high-rise buildings cutting through the skyline and Fodor's says they are pretty small compared to the concrete canyons found in the United States.

If you're tempted to skip Zurich in favor of the Alps, Gygax said you should reconsider.

"Zurich is a very beautiful city," she said. "It's like a medieval town. They don't have any skyscrapers. It's right on the lake. And it's a cultural hotspot as well, with a really big night life. There are plenty of discos, legal or otherwise."

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Cultural sites include the Swiss National Museum, a massive collection of objects from the Stone Age to present day, St. Peter's KircheZurich's oldest parish church which has the largest clock face in Europeand the Museum of Fine Arts. Literary enthusiasts take note: James Joyce is buried herehonestly. The famed Irish author is buried in the Fluntern Cemetery, not far from the grave of Nobel Prize winner Elias Canetti.

Switzerland is known for its great public transportation system. In fact, the various trains and buses run so well, Gygax said you may not want to rent a car while you're there. You can go from Zurich to the Italian-flavored city of Lugano by train in about three hours.

If it's mountains you want, then you have to check out the mother of them allthe Matterhorn. Looking down on the resort of Zermatt, the Matterhorn stands some 14,685 feet, inviting climbers and scenery lovers alike.

The train ride up the Gornergrat, the highest open-air rail system in Europe, will give you fabulous views of the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks. This is skiing country, with 74 lift installations capable of moving more than 50,000 skiers per hour.

Come and get it: the Matterhorn (courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office)

Now, if its stunning scenery you want, then Berner Oberland is for you. In this canton, you'll find some of the most renown peaks in Europe, such as the Eiger, standing some 13,022 feet high; the Monch, which stands 13,445 feet, and the Jungfrau, which comes in at 13,368 feet.

Interlaken is the gateway to this fabulous region. Located about 36 miles southeast of Bern, Interlaken lies between Lake Brienz and Lake Thum. Gygax said the town has become something of a tourist trap, and smog often obscures the views of the three mountains.

However, Gygax is very high on Luzerne, which she describes as a beautiful medieval city with its covered bridges and fine monuments. Some of the sites include the Glacier Garden and the Transport Museum.

A word on language: While many people in Switzerland speak EnglishGygax said the locals like to joke that English is the fifth national languagedon't automatically assume people will understand you. It's better to ask first before you start yaking away.

Winter in Sainte-Croix (courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office)

Switzerland has a low rate of violent crime, according to the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs. Purses snatching and pick pocketing do occur, the bureau report said, especially during peak tourist periods. Most crime is restricted to certain spots in major cities that careful travelers and residents try to avoid.

One U.S. dollar converts to about 1.6 Swiss francs. Costs are higher in Switzerland than in any other European country. Lonely Planet said a budget meal costs between $5 and $10, a mid-range meal goes for $15 to $20, while a top end meal costs about $25 to $50. Budget lodging would cost $10 to $30, mid-range would set you back $40 to $70, and a top end room costs $80 and up.

Switzerland is open all year round, but bear in mind that during the summer, there will be crowds, higher prices and scarce accommodations. Lonely Planet said you'll find better deals and less people in April-May and late September into October. If you're thinking of going to Switzerland, a little Web climbing might turn up a good deal. For example:

• The site Vacation Rentals by Owner, lists homes for rent in Switzerland. A two-bedroom home costs between $500 and $650 per week depending on the season exchange rate. A one-bedroom apartment goes for $400 to $450 per week.
• Vacation Villas International lists vacation homes and apartments in various locations, including Switzerland. An apartment with a scenic view of Lake Geneva, for example, rents for about $286 per week.
• Grand European Tours offers the "Switzerland & Glacier Express" tour, taking in Zurich, St. Moritz, Zermatt, Lake Geneva and Interlaken. The 15-day tour costs $2,849, including airfare, hotels and 20 meals.

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