From the airport to the city centre Switzerland

Switzerland's main airports (Geneva, Basel, Zurich) are never far from city centers.

At Geneva Cointrin (www.gva.ch), for example, you can get to the SBB train station via the arrivals level without leaving the airport - just plan to walk 5-8 minutes. You can also reach the Cornavin station in the city center by bus, free of charge. Just pick up a ticket at the baggage carousel and before going through customs.

From Zurich airport (www.flughafen-zuerich.ch), it takes around 11 minutes to travel the 8 km by train from the airport to the main station. Around 194 trains depart from Zurich airport and arrive at the main station every day.

From Basel EuroAirport (www.euroairport.com/fr), the connection to Basel SBB station is via bus no. 50. The EuroAirport is not directly accessible by rail. Journey time: 20 minutes. Service from 4.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m.

Arrival by train Switzerland

From France, Switzerland is easily accessible by TGV Lyria from Paris to Geneva/Basle (3h), Lausanne (3h40) and Zurich (4h) - www.tgv-lyria.com - ✆ 3635.

For Geneva, 8 round trips on weekdays; best journey time: 2h58. For Lausanne, up to 6 round trips per day; best journey time 3h40.

Arrival by boat Switzerland

Switzerland isn't known for being a seaport, yet you can get to Switzerland by boat from France. From Haute-Savoie, it's easy to reach the canton of Vaud. There are three ferry lines operated by CGN (N1, N2, N3): Lausanne-Évian, Lausanne-Thonon and Nyon-Yvoire. The shuttles operated by CGN-Mobilité are a relatively convenient way of linking the two countries quickly and economically. To purchase your crossings: www.cgn.ch

Lake country and cruises in sight! Several major companies offer cruises on Switzerland's largest lakes, allowing you to create your own itinerary. For Lake Lugano, the Société de navigation du lac de Lugano (www.lakelugano.ch); for Lake Constance, the Société de navigation du lac de Constance (sbsag.ch); for Lake Lucerne, the Société de navigation du lac (www.lakelucerne.ch/fr/). Finally, on Lake Geneva, CGN (www.cgn.ch) operates the prestigious Belle Époque fleet.

Public transport Switzerland

Swiss Travel System (STS): to enable you to travel comfortably throughout Switzerland and enjoy a host of benefits, your Swiss Travel Pass is almost indispensable. Unlimited access to trains, buses and boats. Unlimited access to public transport in 90 cities. Including mountain trains: Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos. Free admission to over 500 museums in Switzerland. Two free information applications are available for train, bus and boat travel. On the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, discover must-see sites and collect stamps and rewards with the app of the same name. During your journey, the Swiss Travel Guide app takes you to over 500 highlights, with integrated maps, timetables and tips.

Each canton has its own public transport network . Public transport (bus, streetcar) is very well organized, reliable and easy to use. Some even offer cross-border transport, as is the case in Geneva with the Léman Express (RER), which connects to Haute-Savoie from the north. 230 km of line and 45 stations are connected within a 60 km radius of Geneva. Tickets can be purchased online from the SNCF, TPG and CFF websites.

Bike, scooters & co Switzerland

Despite the sometimes vertiginous slopes, Switzerland is a well-developed country for cycling, biking and mountain biking. Numerous signposted trails and fully signposted city-to-city routes enable you to cross almost the entire country on over 3,300 km of signposted cycle paths. You can also comfortably combine your tour with public transport thanks to the recommended relay route timetables. This way, you can avoid dangerous climbs and crossings by train or bus. Guidebooks are available from bookshops or at https://schweizmobil.ch/de/veloland.

Thewww.cycliste.ch/itine raires-velo-route/website suggests itineraries. The Switzerland Mobile application www.schweizmobil.ch/ is a must to download before you set off. It provides a wealth of information, including 32,000 km of signposted routes (national, regional and local) for soft mobility, national maps from Swisstopo down to 1:10,000 (the best), 60,000 km of hiking trails (all of them signposted), geolocation and compass functions, etc.

Rent a Bike lets you rent or borrow bicycles in all Swiss cities. Most cities offer free services. Rent a Bike rents bikes all over Switzerland, at over 200 stations, since it's in partnership with the country's railway stations that you can rent city bikes, electric bikes or mountain bikes, children's trailers, baby seats, combine a train tour with authorized bikes on board... with the possibility of returning the bikes at a station other than the one from which you picked them up. It's a very practical service for touring Switzerland by bike! The website offers itineraries throughout the country. Special bikes are available for people with disabilities.

www.rentabike.ch - [email protected]

Scooters can be self-service. The Swiss Confederation's website shows you where to find service providers in Swiss cities: www.sharedmobility.ch

With a driver Switzerland

There are many chauffeur-driven service companies in Switzerland. Let's not forget that major cities such as Zurich, Geneva and even Davos host major international summits, which encourages diversity of supply. Obviously, these services aren't cheap, but they do give you a privileged trip with tailor-made stops. If this type of tour is for you, consider combining it with a local guide who can tell you all the secrets of Switzerland. Some destination management companies (DMC) offer customized packages, such as SMT Travel in Geneva (smtravel.com). Many chauffeur-driven vehicles (VTC), such as Geneva Limousine, will accompany you anywhere in Switzerland.

And don't forget that cab fares in Geneva and Zurich are very expensive. For example, in Geneva the average fare is over CHF 6 per pick-up and CHF 3.20 per kilometer, while in Zurich it's CHF 8 per pick-up and CHF 5 per kilometer. To give you an idea, taking a cab in Zurich costs almost four times as much as in Paris.

By car Switzerland

Of course, the car guarantees a great deal of freedom, but beware: it's not always easy to find a parking space in major cities.

Motorway vignette. To be able to drive on the Swiss motorway and semi-motorway network, even for just a few meters, a vignette is compulsory for both cars and motorcycles. It costs CHF 40, is valid until January 31 of the following year, and can be purchased at Swiss customs posts, most service stations and post offices. If the amount seems high, you should know that after that you won't have to pay any tolls at all. (Except for certain Alpine road tunnels, including the Great St. Bernard)

Checks. As well as being courteous, the police are discreet enough to keep order efficiently. You certainly can't get away with acrobatics in the city center, but controls are fairly rare, including for the famous motorway vignette. The most serious infringements of the law generally involve illegal parking, for which the penalty is unstoppable. Tickets for non-payment of parking meters start at CHF 40. But for that price, you're entitled to a plastic bag so that you can read the ticket, even on a rainy day.

Traffic rules. Speed limits are not quite the same as in France, and there are many speed cameras. In town: 50 km/h; ordinary roads outside built-up areas: 80 km/h; freeways: 120 km/h. The colors are also different: green for freeways, blue for trunk roads.

In the event of a breakdown, the safety triangle is compulsory, in addition to the hazard warning lights. Last but not least, pedestrians always have the right of way - and in Switzerland, that's not an option! Note that fuel prices are higher than the European average.

Winter: remember to fit snow tires before you leave, as the roads are icy, and take your chains in the boot in case of snowfall.

For vehicles running on natural gas, the list of stations is available at www.erdgastanken.ch.

Accessibility Switzerland

Switzerland is a real role model when it comes to facilities for disabled travelers. From public transport to museums, restaurants and excursions, they can travel in comfort. By car, foreign visitors with disabilities can park in reserved parking spaces. The badge or card must be placed behind the windscreen or in another conspicuous place. Vehicles specially adapted to the needs of disabled people can be hired from various car rental companies and organizations. For train travel, simply call the SBB Disabled Call Center on ✆ 0800 007 102 (free number) one hour before the train's departure (or ✆ 0041 51 225 71 50 from abroad). Assistance with boarding and/or disembarking will be provided.

For international journeys, please give three working days' notice. This service is free of charge for all people with reduced mobility, the blind or partially sighted, and the mentally handicapped. For further information, please consult the brochure "Passengers with disabilities", available in stations and downloadable from the SBB website in PDF format (www.cff.ch, click on "travel", then "services" in "travel market", then "more info", and finally "passengers with disabilities"). Passengers who need special assistance at the station can take advantage of Compagna's voluntary service, available at all major stations.

If you have a physical or mental disability, or are going on vacation with someone in this situation, there are a number of organizations and associations that can help, such as www.myswitzerland.com/fr-fr/handicapes.html.

Accompanying people with disabilities :

Compagna-reisbegleitung: www.compagna-reisebegleitung.ch/fr

Mobilitiy International Suisse (MIS): https://www.procap.ch/

My Switzerland, accessibility for all: www.myswitzerland.com/fr-ch/planification/transports-sejour/voyager-sans-obstacles/

Tourist traps Switzerland

When you come from France, the price of parking seems exorbitant. However, it's better to use private underground parking lots, for example, than to venture out into the open without being sure of payment. Parking tickets are very common and will put a strain on your budget (no less than CHF 40 to start with). Favoring the P+Rs at the ends of towns and cities, which offer extended parking at preferential rates, with the public transport ticket included.

When you rent a car in Switzerland, it will never be fitted with the compulsory vignette on Swiss freeways, on pain of a CHF 200 fine. They can be purchased at customs offices, service stations and post offices for CHF 40.

To stay informed on the road, don't forget to check the traffic news on www.tcs.ch and www.rts.ch/info/trafic.