This thoroughly updated edition of Bradt's guide to Switzerland offers a unique perspective on getting the most from this mountainous country travelling only by public transport – a timely release with the Gotthard Base Tunnel transforming north–south train services. Switzerland boasts the world's finest public transport network, and the Swiss Travel System is a revelation. The comfort, efficiency and frequency of train, bus, boat and cable car services explain why so many Swiss don't own cars.
Visitors cannot reach many of the finest Swiss sights by road, and there are over a dozen car-free resorts for experiencing the peace and clean air of the mountains. For walkers and cyclists, there are superbly managed networks of paths – almost 64,000 kilometres of footpaths and many surprisingly unhilly cycle paths beside lakes and rivers.
Bradt's Switzerland is unique. No other guide book is devoted to Swiss public transport, which is the easiest, most enjoyable and responsible way to travel. The guide offers depth and breadth of coverage, encompassing culture, architecture, landscapes, walking and cycling, and fascinating facts for railway enthusiasts! There's a host of tips for reducing costs in a country known for being expensive, while a new section on food and wine includes a list of top restaurants.
Switzerland has some of the world's most beautiful landscapes; though mountains and lakes cover most of the country's regions, each offers something quite different – and the four official languages add colour and variety.
Switzerland's cities are among the world's most beautiful – and safest. Its capital, Bern, is a World Heritage Site with 6 kilometres of covered arcades, where even jaded shoppers will be enthralled by hundreds of independent shops. Luzern's lakeside setting is unrivalled, with mountains in every direction and the floodlit city walls providing a breath-taking backdrop to the historic centre. Lausanne and Geneva overlook Lac Léman, and Basel is enhanced by a broad sweep of the Rhine.
With Bradt's Switzerland: a guide to exploring the country by public transport, you can enjoy all the qualities that help ensure Switzerland and its cities are consistently ranked as the most liveable in the world.
Anthony Lambert has been visiting Switzerland since childhood and has a deep affection for the country. He has written or contributed to half a dozen guide books and written 15 books about railways and travel. He has written about travel and railway journeys for such newspapers and magazines as The Daily Telegraph, Orient-Express Magazine, New York Times, The Sunday Times and Wanderlust. He was consultant editor for the nine-volume part work, The World of Trains, and has travelled on the railways of over 55 countries.
Anthony's part-time work for the National Trust reflects an interest in architecture and cultural history, and he is also a keen cyclist and walker. He has given talks on railways and travel to a wide range of audiences, including the Royal Geographical Society, of which he is a Fellow.
