[QUOTE=Arnold Winkelried]
A Swiss electric plug has two round prongs (type J: Prise électrique — Wikipédia ) with maybe a third hole for the ground.
[/QUOTE]
Correction - a plug adapter for Switzerland can be type J or type C
Prise électrique — Wikipédia
We spent 3 days in Switzerland last fall, but that was in Zurich. Definately look into a transit pass. We picked them up at the airport, and it included the rides from the airport to town and back. In Zurich, the passes cover trains, trolleys, buses, some overhead (up mountains) trams and I think at least 1 boat. We would head walking in some direction, go until we were tired and then just hope a ride back to the hotel. Take a look at the flyer that comes with the ticket. We could have also gotten discounts at a number of museum and the zoo.
As Arnold Winkelried suggests above, I’m also enjoy spending more time in less areas. I want to find the out of the way spots, not see all the touristy parts of many different towns. So I’d suggest not planning on visiting a lot of different towns. Maybe a day trip or two. If Geneva is anything like Zurich, there will be a large tourism office in the train station, where you can pick up info on tours and sights.
Keep an eye out for a local bakery/grocerystore, and pick up stuff for your own breakfast. The continental breakfast in our hotel was going to run almost $15/person, and that was when the exchange rate was about 20% more US friendly. We picked up some fruit, juice, rolls and cheese.
Visit an ATM in the airport and get some francs, if you can do it that way. The fees are less using an ATM over using a currency exchange.
Oh my god, the chocolate.
I’ll second the advice that Arnold Winkelried gave about Lucerne, it’s probably my favorite town/city I’ve ever been to. Hang out beside the lake, walk the old town, explore the medieval walls, take a cable car to the top of Mount Pilatus (bring a coat!), go hiking, there’s even a casino IIRC.
I used to teach every summer in Switzerland - it is truly beautiful. I taught in the southern region - in Lugano, “the jewel of Switzerland”, on Lake Lugano, and a short hop away from Como, Italy and Milan.
Yes, Switzerland can be pricey, but you can also find some decent bed & breakfasts for a fair price, and I found some great places to eat for little money - you just have to walk a block or two away from the main Piazza (where the locals go to eat) instead of sitting at the fancy rip-off places where the tourists go.
If you absolutely must sit at the main piazza in any city, just have a small coffee - don’t even think about real food or pastry, you will be charged a fortune just because you are sitting at that location.
I think the trains are not only a fast, convenient way to get around, they are also a great way to see the scenery as well! Take an early train, get a cup of coffee in the dining car and just sit back and watch the beautiful landscape as you zip through the countryside. I also think it is better to stop at some of the smaller villages along the way - surprise yourself - just get off the train at any stop and wander around. You can always get back on the next train passing through.
While you are there, search out the department stores. Even though they are similar to something like Sears or JC Penny in the US, they have great deals on clothes and you can pick up Italian clothing for 1/3 the price you would pay in the US. I saw racks and racks of name-brand Italian designer clothing for the same price I would pay for generic JC Penny clothing!
Have fun and be sure to come back and write and let us know how your trip went.
(Almost nobody ever does that after asking for advice on this board…and I love reading about experiences people have when travelling!)
I don’t know if it’s still true, but when I visited Zurich in 1978 there still seemed to be traces of a strong Calvinist presence, in the form of several restaurants I noticed that proudly announced that they were “Alkoholfrei” (didn’t serve alcohol).
Quite unusual in the German-speaking world (if Arnold will forgive my calling Schweizerdeutsch German.)
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus]
I don’t know if it’s still true, but when I visited Zurich in 1978 there still seemed to be traces of a strong Calvinist presence, in the form of several restaurants I noticed that proudly announced that they were “Alkoholfrei” (didn’t serve alcohol).
Quite unusual in the German-speaking world (if Arnold will forgive my calling Schweizerdeutsch German.)
[/QUOTE]
There is primarily one very large swiss supermarket and restaurant chain, Migros that does not sell alcohol or tobacco in its stores and restaurants. In addition, in Zuerich there are a few restaurants owned by the “Frauenverein” (=ladies’s society, actually founded to combat alcoholism) that don’t serve alcohol. Most other restaurants have no such restrictions.
[QUOTE=Jayn_Newell]
My first international trip was to Switzerland, and nothing stunned me more than seeing the difference between Italian and Swiss border agents. Going into Italy (via train)–no fewer than five guys, at least one if not more dogs, and apparently the Asian family in our car had their bags opened by every single guy who passed through. (I didn’t notice this, my parents did)
Going back–Two border agents, and we were moving again so fast I have doubts about whether they covered the entire train.
[/QUOTE]
Makes me think of when I entered Switzerland as a lad many years ago. I was hitchhiking, and a Brit trucker picked me up on the edge of Brussels. We went through Luxembourg and the northeastern corner of France, crossing into Basel, where he dropped me off. We’d just breezed across all the other borders, but since Switzerland was his final destination, he went into the Customs building to take care of paperwork. I stayed outside but wanted a Swiss stamp in my passport, so I approached the border guards outside and said I needed to be officially admitted. One said my buddy inside was taking care of it. I said no, I was just hitching a ride. The guard didn’t seem to know what to do, then reached out to take my passport, looked at it for a second, handed it back and said: “Welcome to Switzerland!”
I second T-Square in saying that taking the train is a good way to get around switzerland. Look into getting a Swiss Pass. It not only covers unlimited travel on the rail system and post bus system, but also boat tours on many lakes and trams and buses in most major cities. In addition, you get a 50% fate reduction on many cable cars, and reduced entrance fee for many museums.
Switzerland is expensive, but for a cheap(ish) Middle Eastern lunch/snack, the shwarmas (gyros) at Al Amir (22 Rue de Berne) in Geneva are amazing. This is a few minutes walk from the train station, down Rue de Mont Blanc and then left. For a grocery store, there is one on the ground floor of the Manor department store at the other end of Rue de Berne (to the right from Rue de Mont Blanc when going away from the train station).
The UN tour probably isn’t worth it, but walking down to the lake to see the water jet is amazing.
Once at the Swiss/Liechtenstein boarder going into Lichtenstein, the red/white gate was up and a sign posted. “Gone to Lunch, Please Come In”.
If you land in Geneva and are taking the train to Montreux from the main station downtown, just as you are leaving the customs hall, to the left of the green arch/door leading out, there is a machine that will give you a free 80 minute pass (just push a button) for local transport which includes the train to the main “Cornavin” station downtown.
[QUOTE=Arnold Winkelried]
One day go to Lucerne. I know it’s cliché and every tour bus in the world goes there, but it is a very pretty city. Walk around the old town and its small quaint pedestrian streets. Another reason why Lucerne is a must-see is because, a short bus ride from the station, you can go to the base of Mt. Pilatus and take the cable car to the top. If I remember right, it is a three cable-car ride to the top of the mountain (meaning you take one, change to another, change to yet another.) You can’t go to Switzerland without climbing at least one mountain.
[/QUOTE]
I lived in Lucerne for a while, and I went to the top of Mt. Pilatus twice–but I never took the cable car, I just hiked up. It’s definitely worth the trip, and the city itself is too.
[QUOTE=Arnold Winkelried]
But as other people have said, dining in Switzerland will be expensive. If you want to eat cheap, I would go inside a Migros (the biggest chain of Swiss grocery / department stores). Look for the MMM migros (M = small store, MM = medium store, MMM = large store) which usually have a cafeteria.
[/QUOTE]
I worked in an MMM Migros, and they have just about anything you could want at a good price. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to eat in Switzerland if you know where to go.
[QUOTE=Foxy40]
I have an unexpected opportunity to go to Switzerland next week. My friend has business and has invited me to join her to take advantage of already paid for accommodations.
[/QUOTE]
Just because your friend invited you and the room is paid for, don’t assume she’ll be paying for your meals and souveneirs! 
(Come on! I can’t be the ONLY one who was thinking that!)
On monday, april 14th, Zuerich will celebrate its annual spring festival with a parade in historic costumes ( Sechseläuten , see photos here)). The children’s parade on Sunday is also quite cute.
Have a great trip, take lots of pictures.
[QUOTE=Count Blucher]
Try Swiss wine. In many cases it is better than the French wine available in the same shops at the same price. (And the Swiss are very proud of that…)
[/QUOTE]
There used to be a restaurant near us that served Swiss wine. The white wines were a lot like those of the Italian Alto-Adige region.
We don’t often see Swiss Wine for sale in stores here, but surprisingly often, even at today’s exchange rates, we can get quite decent French wine, IMO often better than local wine at the same price.
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus]
There used to be a restaurant near us that served Swiss wine. The white wines were a lot like those of the Italian Alto-Adige region.
We don’t often see Swiss Wine for sale in stores here, but surprisingly often, even at today’s exchange rates, we can get quite decent French wine, IMO often better than local wine at the same price.
[/QUOTE]
We’ve obviously been talking to, shopping with (and possibly hanging out with) people of two very different points of view while abroad. 
Also, if I may be obvious, you can get very good quality Swiss Army Knives in Switzerland. But have them engraved or something & pay the shop to ship them to your home. No need greasing the pockets of the TSA with ‘contraband’. :dubious:
I don’t know if it fits with your plans but market days in Bern are Tuesdays and Saturdays. The cathedral just off the main street is well worth a look.
If you’re into that sort of thing, the cathedral in Geneva has some amazing Roman stuff underneath.
There’s also a cool clock museum in Geneva.
And I don’t see it mentioned here but I hope you’ll be dashing from the airport to Chateau Chillon in Montreux. Byron scratched his name into one of the pillars when he was imprisoned there.
On my way…just printing off the last of the terrific suggestions.
I’ll link pictures.
Have a great week dopers. You’re da bomb.
[QUOTE=T_SQUARE]
You can skip Interlaken unless you want to do some extreme sports, go to a Hooters, see 600 Army Knife shops, or pay a fortune to ride the train up to the top of the big mountain. (The rest of the trains are reasonable, this is a special route)
[/QUOTE]
I, on the other hand, loved Interlaken and environs but then, I’m a train nut. I hiked around the area a lot but I wouldn’t call it extreme. And, yeah, I skipped the trip to the top of Jungfrau.