The climate is moderate with no excessive heat, cold or humidity.
The seasons are clearly distinguishable. In autumn (September to November), the fruit ripens and the leaves of deciduous trees change colour.
During this season the daytime temperature range in Zurich is 9 to 19 °C (47° - 67° F).
The currency and legal tender of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF).
Shops may accept EUR or USD, but are not obliged to do so. Change given back to the client will most likely be in Swiss Francs.
Coins:
5, 10, 20, 50 Cents and 1, 2, 5 FrancsNotes:
10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 FrancsCurrency exchange:
1 CHF = 1.07 USD
1 CHF = 0.98 EUR(Data: February 2015)
You can exchange currency at the following places: most banks, airports, main railway stations and major hotels.
Credit cards:
Many banks in Switzerland have equipped their ATM machines with the CIRRUS or MAESTRO system. Many other Swiss banks offer ATM machines for cash advances with your credit card. It is recommended to have a small amount of cash on hand upon arrival in Switzerland for immediate expenses.
Most merchants accept internationally-recognised credit cards.
Food and drink
If variety is the spice of life, Swiss food truly presents a flavorful platter. Regional cuisine is wide and varied. Some gain international acclaim with edible artworks based on simple country fare. There's a match for every taste and budget.
Meal times
Lunch is usually served between noon and 2 pm, and even a little earlier at some restaurants. Dinner is usually served from 6 pm to 9.30 pm. Many restaurants and pubs, especially in the cities, also offer continuous (11 am-10 pm) hot dishes.
For vegetarians
Eating vegetarian is not a problem - in Switzerland there are many vegetarian restaurants and almost all of the places offer at least one meatless dish on their menu.
Tipping: not necessary
Tips are included in the price. You can, however, rounding up to the nearest Franc or round figure if you are satisfied with the service.
What does a meal cost in Switzerland?
Usually, the most affordable way to eat at lunchtime is to order the "menu of the day". This usually consists of a starter (soup or salad) and a main course. In the evenings there are partially defined menus, which are slightly cheaper than freely select from the menu.
An "à la carte" main course costs between 20 and 50 Francs. More affordable meals are possible by snack bars or restaurants located in department stores.
top of pageSwitzerland has four official languages which are unevenly distributed:
German (65.6 %)
French (22.8 %)
Italian (8.4 %)
Rumantsch (0.6 %)
Other languages (5.6 %)
Zurich's official language is German. English is widely spoken and understood; hotel staff may also speak additional languages.
Medical
In case of an emergency, you may want to go to the nearest hospital or emergency practice, or in urgent cases, call the ambulance (144). Each hospital has an emergency department.
Make sure you are adequately insured. Depending on your health condition, an additional travel insurance may be worth considering. You should have your insurance card with you each time you visit a doctor or purchase medicines. Depending on your insurance, you can be refunded part of the cost.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies in Zurich have a sign saying "Apotheke" and are usually open during regular business times (8 am to noon, and 2 pm to 6 pm, and on Saturday to 4 pm/5 pm). On Sunday there is minimum one on-duty pharmacy opened.Taxis are always available in the hotel area.
Public transports in Zurich are easily available, as well as the most popular transport solution.
For more information please check the website of the Zurich's public transports company: www.zvv.ch
For conference’s participants, the following train tickets are included in the Conference fees:Arrival day: Zurich-Kloten Airport - Zürich HB (Central Train Station) - Conference Village
Leaving day: Conference Area - Zürich HB (Central Train Station) - Zurich-Kloten Airport
Click here to discover how to reach the Conference Village.
Time zone
From the end of March to the end of October, Summer Time applies (CET + 1 hour)
Business hours
Usually in Zurich 8:30 am to 18:00 pm
In Zurich, opening hours can range between 06.00 to 23.00 (Monday to Saturday), though only a little few shops are open that long. Bwloe is a rough guide to opening hours:
Banks 08.30 - 16.30 Monday to Friday
Authorities & public offices 08.00 - 12.00 Monday to Friday
14.00 - 17.00
Shops in the city centre 09.00 - 20.00 Monday to Friday
09.00 - 17.00 SaturdayReligion
42% Roman Catholic, 35% Protestant, 4% Muslim, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.2% Jewish.
Without religious affiliation 11%.Smoking
Since 1 May 2010, smoking has been forbidden in Switzerland in enclosed areas when they are open to the public or serve as a workplace for more than one person. Hence it is forbidden to smoke in restaurants, public buildings and offices. Smoking is also forbidden on public transport. Smoking is permitted in separate smoking rooms, outdoors and in private homes.
Electricity
The voltage in Switzerland, as in most of Europe, is 230V/50 Hz.
Switzerland uses type C (2-pin) and type J (3-pin) plugs. (type C 2-pin plugs also fit J sockets.)Emergency Calls117 Police
118 Fire
144 Ambulance
