Switzerland is the wealthiest country in the world, nursing an average per-capita income bordering on £28,000 a year – and that’s after paying taxes of some thirty percent. The country is famous – or infamous – as one of the safest and most discreet places to stash a fortune, hard-earned or otherwise, and it’s been estimated that there’s about £1,000,000,000,000 squirrelled away in the anonymous numbered accounts of the various Swiss banks. The Swiss franc is renowned for its stability and is one of the benchmarks against which international standards are set, and Zürich is one of the world’s principal financial centres. The main impact of all this on visiting foreigners is to make the place rather pricey to travel in, unless you’re careful to watch those pennies.

Other pages of interest:

Carrying and changing money in Switzerland Cash and cheques Plastic money Currency Some basic costs