Population :
City of Geneva: 180,000 inhabitants
City and Canton : 400,000 inhabitants

Official language : French
Other languages spoken : English, German

Altitude : 375 m (1227 ft) above sea level
Climate: average temperatures : winter 10C (50F), summer 23C (74F).

Time Zone: Central European (Greenwich GMT + 1hour), summer time + 1hour
(last weekend of March to last weekend of October)

Currency: Swiss francs (SFr.) / 1 SFr. is made up of 100 centimes.

Credit cards : the following cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops :
Mastercard, Eurocard, Diners Club, American Express, Visa, Carte Blanche.

Tipping : prices in hotels and restaurants and taxi fares are calculated to include taxes and service. A tip, therefore, is at the clients discretion.

Voltage: 220 volts

Airport - city center: the airport is located 5 km (3 miles) from the city centre.

Connections:

Rail link: departures every 10 minutes, duration: 6 minutes. One-way ticket SFr. 5.- (2nd class) SFr. 8.40.- (first class).
Taxis: duration: 15-20 minutes, cost Sfr. 25.- to 30.- per vehicle carrying a maximum of 4 passengers.
Bus: n10: Sfr. 2.20.- valid 1 hour on the urban network, including changes.

Banks
Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (Wednesdays 5.30 pm),
Closed Saturdays and Sundays.
At other times, money can be exchanged at Cornavin Railway Station, the airport and at most hotels.

Exchange
Cornavin Railway Station : daily, 6.45 am to 9.30 pm (closed December 25th)
Mont-Blanc Change: Rue du Mont-Blanc 21, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 7 pm, Saturdays, 9 am to 5 pm

Dorcire Change: Coach Station, Place Dorcire, daily, 7.30 am to 8.30 pm
Airport : UBS, daily, 6.30 am to 9 pm

Department stores
Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 6.45 pm, non-stop.
Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm, closed on Sundays.
Late-night shopping : every Thursday until 8 pm

Post offices
Monday to Friday, 7.30 am to noon and 1.45 pm to 6 pm (however, most large post offices are open non-stop)
Saturdays, 7.30 am to 11 am, closed on Sundays.
Express service : rue des Gares 16 (behind the railway station)
Monday to Friday, 6 am to 10.45 pm.
Saturdays, 6 am to 8 pm.
Sundays, noon to 8 pm.

Postage:
Postcards and letters up to 20 grams:
(A) = rapid delivers, (B) = normal delivery
Switzerland: SFr 0.90 (A), SFr 0.70 (B),
Europe and Mediterranean countries: SFr 1.30 (A) SFr 1.20 (B),
Other countries: SFr 1.80 (A), SFr 1.40 (B).

Telephone
Local calls : minimum charge, Sfr. 0.60
Direct dialing abroad from public phone booths with coins (SFr 1.- to SFr 5.-) or with a phone card (PTT taxcard available at post offices)

Speed limits and driving :
In town: 50 km per hour, major roads outside urban areas: 80 km per hour, motorways: 120 km per hour.
Compulsory sticker for motorways and semi-motorways, SFr. 40.- (valid one year)

Food and Drink
Most restaurants propose daily specials at lunchtime, from SFr. 12.- to 19.-
beer, 3 dl: SFr. 2.80 to 3.50
good quality local wine, 5 dl: SFr. 12.- to 15.-
coffee: SFr. 2.70.-
Menus for groups with starter, main course and dessert range from SFr. 25.- to 50.- depending on the category of the restaurant.
Gourmet menus, between SFr. 45.- and 120.-

Customs regulations
Persons entering Switzerland may import personal belongings and sports equipment free of duty. Those aged over 17 are entitled to import two liters of alcohol of less than 15 and 1 liter of more than 15, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of pipe tobacco, as well as gifts valued to SFr. 100.-
Personal belongings and other goods purchased in Switzerland, whatever their value, may be exported duty free.

Vaccination
Persons : no vaccinations are required for entry into Switzerland.
Animals : dogs and cats may be imported without a permit, however, a veterinary rabies vaccination certificate is compulsory. The vaccine must have been applied not less than 30 days and not more than one year prior to crossing the border. Young dogs and cats up to 5 months of age can be imported whithout rabies vaccination if a veterinary health certificate has been issued and if they originate from a European country (other than Turkey and the former Soviet Union) or from the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Should you intend to import other animals, please contact the Federal Veterinary Office , CH-3097 Liebefeld (Bern), Tel. (031) 323 85 24/09 - Fax (031) 323 85 22 befor travelling

Public holidays
New Year's Day (January 1st)
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Ascension Day
Whit-Monday
Swiss National Day (August 1st)
Geneva Fast (Thursday following the first Sunday of September)
Christmas (December 25th)
Restoration Day (December 31st)