Switzerland Without a Car von Lambert, Anthony

This new, thoroughly updated edition of Bradt's guide to Switzerland continues to offer a unique perspective in how to get the most out of this mountainous country travelling only by public transport - a timely release with the Gotthard Base Tunnel transforming north-south train services. Switzerland is home to the world's finest public transport network and for visitors the Swiss Travel System is a revelation. The comfort, efficiency and frequency of train, bus, boat and cable car services - all perfectly dovetailed - explain why so many Swiss don't bother to own to car. For visitors, you cannot reach many of the finest sights in the country by road, and there are over a dozen car-free resorts for those who want to experience the peace and clean air of the mountains. For walkers and cyclists, there are superbly maintained and signed networks of paths - over 64,000 kilometres of footpaths and many surprisingly unhilly cycle paths beside lakes and rivers. Bradt's Switzerland is unique. No other guide book to Switzerland is organised for those using public transport, which is the easiest, most enjoyable and responsible way to travel. The guide also offers significant depth of coverage as well as a breadth which encompasses culture, architecture, landscapes, walking and cycling, not to mention railway enthusiasts! What's more, in a country that is known for being expensive, Bradt's Switzerland suggests a host of money-saving tips that could reduce costs. Also in this new edition, a new section on food and wine, with a listing of the most highly ranked restaurants. Switzerland has far more than its fair share of the world's most beautiful landscapes - even commuters into the largest city, Zurich, have a journey worth travelling half way round the world to see. 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 to the country's people, architecture and cuisine. Switzerland's cities are among the world's most beautiful - and safest. Its capital, Bern, is a World Heritage Site for its 6 kilometres of covered arcades, providing sheltered access to hundreds of independent shops to enthral the most jaded of shoppers. Luzern's lakeside setting is unrivalled, with mountains in every direction and the floodlit city walls providing a breathtaking backdrop to the historic centre. Both Lausanne and Geneva look out over Lac Leman, and Basel is enhanced by a broad sweep of the Rhine. With Bradt's Switzerland: a guide to the country by public transport, you can enjoy all the qualities that help to make Switzerland and its cities constantly ranked as the most liveable in the world.