World City Guide

Getting There By Road

Swiss road designations follow the normal European systems (E, A and B). Swiss roads are generally good, although mountain routes can be narrow and winding. Chains and/or snow tyres may be required in winter, and after a heavy snowfall some routes may be closed altogether. There is a telephone number for information on national road conditions (tel: 163). Cars drive on the right. The maximum speed limits are 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 80kph (50mph) on main roads, and 50kph (31mph) in towns. On minor roads, traffic going up a mountain has priority, except postal buses when a yellow posthorn on a blue background sign is displayed (a line through this same sign cancels this). Road numbers on green signs indicate toll expressways, where a toll vignette must be displayed. An annual road tax is levied – motorists should purchase a vignette (sticker) at border points or from Switzerland Tourism before departure. Stickers are valid for one calendar year. The legal driving age is 18 and a national driving licence is sufficient documentation, although Green Card insurance is recommended. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%.

There are two motoring associations in Switzerland. These are Touring Club Suisse – TCS (tel: (01) 286 8616; website: www.tcs.ch) and Automobil Club der Schweiz – ACS (tel: (01) 387 7500; website: www.acs.ch).

Emergency breakdown service:
TCS/ACS 140.

Routes to the city: The A1 passes through Zurich’s outskirts on its way from Geneva and Berne to Winterthur and St Gall. The A3 skirts the southwest shore of Lake Zurich from Lucerne (via the A4), Chur and Sargans. The A136 to Innsbruck and on to the E17 north takes drivers to Munich, while the E17 south takes one directly to Zurich from Basle. The A51 connects Zurich with the airport

Approximate driving times to Zurich: From Basel – 1 hour; Geneva – 3 hours; and Munich – 3 hours 30 minutes.

Coach services: Alsa and Eggmann (tel: (0900) 573 747; website: www.alsa-eggmann.ch), operates in conjunction with Eurolines (website: www.eurolines.com) to provide services throughout Europe. There are regular Postauto bus services, run by Swiss Post (tel: (01) 317 2700; website: www.post.ch), to much of rural Switzerland and excursions from major towns and cities. Zurich-Sihlquai station, located near the Hauptbahnhof on Bahnhofplatz, serves all bus companies.