74903GER
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us
OPENING TIMES
Shops 08.00 – 12.00 / 14.00 – 18.30 Department stores stay open all day. Closed Saturday afternoons (depending on canton) and Sundays. Most towns have a late shopping evening. In major cities/tourist centres many shops do not close at lunchtime.
Banks Mon to Fri 08.30 – 16.30. As there are so many banks, Bureaux de Change are infrequent. Late opening banks can be found in stations, airports, etc. There are many ATMs.
Post Office 07.30 – 12.00/13.45 – 18.30. Saturdays 08.00 – 11.00
Museums and Monuments usually open between 10.00 and 17.00 and frequently close between 12.00 and 14.00 Average admission to museums and monuments: minimum 15 SFR, reductions usually only for children.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2019
1st & 2nd Jan, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May 30th (Ascension Day),
June 10th (Whit Monday), August 1st (National Day), Christmas Day, December 26th. There may be several additional public holidays in some cantons (eg. Lucerne), for catholic religious festivals (June 20 – Corpus Christi, Aug 15 Assumption).
US CONSULATES
US Embassy: Bern: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, Tel. (031) 3577011 (Open 09.00-11.30) Phone service to 17.00. Emergency number after hours (031) 3577777. Consulates: Geneva: rue Versonnex 7, Tel. (022) 8405160 (Open 10.00-13.00) and Zurich: Dufourstrasse 101, Tel. (043) 4992960 (Open 10.00-13.00). Closed Saturdays and Sundays.
TELEPHONES
112 is the general emergency number (Police is 117; Fire is 118; Ambulance is 144 – but 112 will get you any of them)
STAMPS (Postcards to USA = 2.30 SFR)
Available from Post Offices and sometimes from postcard kiosks.
TAX REFUND INFORMATION
Although Switzerland is not an EU member state, they do now have a customs agreement with the EU such that Tax-free purchases can be dealt with at a Swiss airport on departure for goods bought in other EU member states, likewise Swiss Tax-free forms can be dealt with at EU airports. It is not possible to submit such forms at land border crossings.
HOWEVER, note that some TMs have reported issues with this and not all EU airports will do as they should. Therefore make sure any pax with tax-free forms are aware that it is not guaranteed that this will be possible if they are leaving from an EU airport (and that it is not possible to do it at a land crossing).
TIPPING
In cafés and restaurants tips are generally included but small gratuities are expected – around 5%. If paying with a credit card, it’s polite to give your server the tip in cash.
Taxis – again 5% is quite adequate.
ADDITIONAL FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS.
Tourist information offices are very helpful for each town and surrounding area. The Public Relations Offices of Bucherer shops have city maps of all Swiss towns (only one copy), and other useful leaflets. Hotels can usually supply a tourist information leaflet and sometimes a few city maps. The staff are usually well informed – do not hesitate to ask them.
You can also log-on to the Swiss National Tourist Office website at www.myswitzerland.com