In the very heart of old Europe lies the country of Switzerland, whose territory is more than half occupied by the Alps. Ideal landscapes, absolute safety, pleasant climate and an abundance of tourist attractions make the Alpine state very popular with travelers. If you are a fan of classics in everything, go to celebrate the New Year in Switzerland. It is here that the festive mood is felt in absolutely everything: in the skillfully decorated streets and squares, and in the sparkling Christmas trees, lovingly dressed by the hostesses, and in the aromas of mulled wine and hot chocolate floating along the streets of Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne and disquieting gourmets out of dozens countries of the world.
Let's take a look at the map
Located in the continental climate zone, Switzerland welcomes guests with different weather in different areas. Air temperature and humidity, depending on the altitude and the proximity of the Atlantic, can vary significantly even at the same time of the year. In the valleys in winter it can be about 0, while in the mountains up to -10 ° C and even lower. During the New Year holidays in Geneva and Zurich, it is rarely warmer than + 2 ° С, although sometimes daytime temperatures can reach + 10 ° С in the valleys.
Ski resorts in Switzerland are open to everyone on New Year's Eve. Snow cover is established here in November and you can confidently ride until the May holidays. Some slopes host athletes all year round and you may not check the weather forecast if you fly to celebrate the holidays on the slopes of Zermatt, Verbier, Crans-Montana or Saas Fee.
How New Year is celebrated in Switzerland
The Swiss began celebrating the New Year on the first day of January back in the 17th century. Since then, they have managed to form certain traditions, which they are proud to share with foreign guests who have come on winter holidays.
The last day of the outgoing year in the country is dedicated to the celebration of Saint Sylvester. According to the Old Testament, he helped humanity to avoid serious problems, and therefore he is esteemed and respected especially.
The main attribute of the upcoming holiday is fabulous costumes, in which residents of Swiss cities and villages dress up. They arrange colorful processions to the ringing of bells, go into houses and wish their owners prosperity and prosperity.
Special celebrations take place on the shores of the Swiss lakes in Zurich and Geneva. Exactly at midnight, the water surface is colored with thousands of bright lights of New Year's fireworks, and fairs with souvenirs and delicious New Year's dishes are noisy on the streets of cities.
If you decide to celebrate the New Year in Bern, Switzerland, a surprise awaits you on January 2. On this day, residents of the city honor the founder of Bern, and the New Year's celebration smoothly flows into the celebrations of the name of St. Berthold.
On the slopes with the breeze
Swiss ski resorts are the perfect way to spend New Year's holidays in a combination of business and pleasure. It is very difficult to choose the track of your dreams among the abundance of slopes, but Switzerland is exactly the country where both a beginner and a confident skiing amateur and a professional athlete can ride comfortably and with pleasure:
- The most picturesque resort is Zermatt. Its business card is the view of the Matterhorn Peak. In addition to ideal views, Zermatt offers slopes for advanced skiers, a modern snow park for boarders, not cheap but ideal even from the point of view of Michelin experts, a menu in restaurants and excellent opportunities for a varied and exciting time off the slopes.
- Verbier, in the Four Valleys ski region, boasts 400 kilometers of trails of varying difficulty levels and a vibrant nightlife. The "Esserts" amusement park offers a variety of pleasures to all fans of other winter activities, and therefore even those who are not yet ready to start alpine skiing can safely come to Verbier.
- The fashionable St. Moritz is not very popular with the budget conscious public, but if you are willing to spend a little more money than others, this is your choice. On the slopes of this resort, you will meet movie stars or representatives of the royal dynasties of the Old World, and you can have fun off the ski slopes on excursions in the picturesque surroundings, dine in Michelin-star restaurants and in thermal salons with effective body and facial programs based on mineral water, healing mud and unique developments of world-class cosmetologists.
A special pleasure is a vacation in the Jungfrau ski resort overlooking the peak of the same name. The postcard landscapes are more than complemented by ideal infrastructure, high-quality service and opportunities for skiing for beginners and serious athletes alike. The most popular excursion is climbing the Jungfrau by train. The highest railway station of the Old World is located on the mountain and you can take some interesting photos in memory of the New Year in Switzerland on the observation deck of the station.
Useful information for travelers
- New Year's sales start in Switzerland shortly after Christmas. In Zurich, the market near the main train station becomes a place where you can buy souvenirs, clothes, shoes, cheeses and famous liqueurs prepared on the basis of dozens of alpine herbs during the winter holidays.
- Direct flights from Moscow to Zurich and Geneva are operated by Aeroflot. Travel time is about 3.5 hours, the price of the issue is about 400 euros. For 250 euros from Sheremetyevo, you will fly on the wings of Air Baltic via Riga and LOT Polish Airlines with a connection in Warsaw.
Don't forget the popularity of Switzerland during the New Year holidays. Thousands of tourists dream of celebrating their favorite holiday in a hotel overlooking the Alps, and therefore you better book flights and hotels in advance.
For the Swiss, New Year and Christmas is an excuse to meet friends, take an extra vacation and relax. Keep this in mind when planning excursions, shopping, dinners and lunches, and even exchanging money at banks. Many offices, shops and restaurants may close earlier or not work at all on the occasion of the holiday.
