According to the company Mattherhorn Gotthard Bahn the first trains connecting Zermatt with Täsch started running this afternoon at 17:15 after two days of closure. Trains from Täsch to Visp are expected to open tomorrow. Until then a replacement bus service will operate. Road access to the Saas valley has also been restored. The Gornergrat […]
5 tips for winter fun in Switzerland’s capital
Longer winter nights mean bright lights and festive gatherings. Our supposedly quiet little capital city in Switzerland is no place to hibernate. Mulled Wine The heart-warming elixir for cold outdoor Holiday shopping is mulled wine, that hot mess of steaming red wine and spices. Herewith, some cauldrons around town recommended by Bern Tourism. Christmas Markets Christmas […]
Rotating carriages keep passengers upright on world’s steepest funicular
Over the weekend, Swiss president Doris Leuthard officially opened the world’s steepest funicular railway. The track, which runs from Schywz to the Alpine resort of Stoos in central Switzerland, has a gradient of 111% at its steepest point, according to the company ABB which built the motors. This is 48 degrees, 90 degrees being vertical. […]
Three of the top ten most mentioned wintery destinations on Instagram are Swiss
Three of the top ten most mentioned wintery locations on Instagram are Swiss. Focus Clinics, an eye surgery in London which counts Queen guitarist Brian May among its customers, ran a list of 70 wintery travel destinations through an Instagram search to identify the most photographed. Une publication partagée par Tom Archer ? (@tomarcherphoto) le 4 […]
Start-up airline hangs in the balance after losing key investor
The ski-focused airline Powdair was to fly its first passengers on 11 December 2017. That was the plan anyway. In an email earlier this week the company said: “This morning our key financial backer walked away from the powdair journey for personal reasons….We’re faced now with two options. We either postpone starting powdair this winter – […]
Here’s why the Chateau de Chillon is Switzerland’s most-visited castle
The Chateau de Chillon is the most-visited historic building in Switzerland. There must be a reason, beyond the fact that it’s easy to get to on the edge of Lake Geneva near Montreux. You enter the Middle Ages as you cross the little castle’s covered bridge into its walled courtyards. This is no fairytale castle, […]
Where Swiss travelled in 2016 and who went the most
A recent government report shows Swiss residents spent 22.4 million nights away from home in 2016. Two thirds of these nights were spent in six countries. By far the favourite destination was Switzerland, which accounted for 33% of all overnight stays. Next were Germany (13%), Italy (12%), France (9%) and Austria (4%). A long list […]
Swiss launches multi-flight subscriptions from Geneva
Swiss has launched multi-flight tickets from Geneva airport. The new test product was launched on 20 September 2017. The offer is a use it of lose it type deal. Any unused flights cannot be refunded, transferred or credited. Owned by the Lufthansa, Switzerland’s flag carrier is offering two subscription options. The first, the Discover Europe Pass, […]
Start-up airline plans flights between Zurich and Sion
The ski-focused airline Powdair, launching in December 2017, recently announced plans to add direct flights between Zurich and Sion. Starting on 11 December 2017, the airline will offer 21 flights a week between Zurich and Sion, the closest airport to the Swiss resorts of Verbier, Zermatt and Crans Montana. Flights from Zurich are planned seven […]
Geneva lags well behind Zurich in airport ranking
A recent airport ranking by Handelszeitung ranks airports around the world. 65 aviation experts looked at airport architecture, atmosphere, passenger flow, staff friendliness, relaxation, recreation, restaurant and shopping areas. Geneva airport at rank 50 is far behind third-placed Zurich. Two asian airports, Singapore (first) and Hong Kong (second) take the top spots. Changi Airport in Singapore offers free-to-access […]