Travel Alert Status
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Time Difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Travel Climate
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Travel Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)
Languages
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Ethnic Groups
Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
National Holiday
National Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990
Geographic Coordinates
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Location
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland