Switzerland is divided into 26 cantons (very similar to the U.S.’s states), of which Geneva is one. Geneva is also a city, located in the canton of Geneva. Zürich is the largest city in the country, and Bern is the capital.

You’ll often see Switzerland’s abbreviation as CH – whether in their currency (CHF), their top-level domain (.ch), or elsewhere. CH stands for Helvetic Confederation in English, “Confederation” from the full name of the country (the Swiss Confederation), and “Helvetic”, from Helvetia, the female national personification of the country. The Latin name, Confœderatio Helvetica, is used when inappropriate to use the name of the country in all four official languages.

Currency Language Government Wealth Food Stockpiling

As far as languages, Switzerland is very unique. A 63% majority of the population speaks Swiss German as a primary language, 23% speaks French, and some 8% or so speaks Italian. A few areas speak the Romansh language, though it’s very few people (about 0.5%), and you won’t see it that much. Those four languages are the official languages of Switzerland. You’ll often see signs in German, French, and Italian as you travel throughout the country. Each of the languages include some “Helvetisms,” unique word substitutions done only in Switzerland, a few of which are discussed in the French section below.

But interestingly, English is one of the most common secondary languages in the country. Oftentimes, when the Swiss travel from one area to another, English is the common language between them. As a result, you’re much more likely to see signs in German and English, for example, when you’re traveling throughout the Swiss German sector than you are to see French.

But their passion for direct democracy doesn’t end with simple legislation. While it’s not the case in most Swiss cantons anymore, thanks to a change in law enacted just a couple decades ago, some areas in Switzerland vote on citizenship applications by vote in a town hall setting. Anyone in the town that wants to speak in favor – or opposition to – the new citizen may appear, speak their mind, and vote on the application. This has led to some interesting results in recent years.

The median salary for jobs like a restaurant server or cashier in Geneva is around CHF 50,000, which likely explains why you’re paying so much for a Big Mac at McDonald’s. Check out the government’s national wage calculator.

Food

There’s a lot more info about restaurants in Geneva later on, but I want to call attention to a few foods that you’ll see throughout the city and Switzerland, in general.

• Fondue – Yes, you’re familiar with the big, melting pot of cheese, but nothing beats it here. You’ll find a few different combinations – sometimes a 60/40 of 50/50 mix of cheeses, and sometimes it’s just gruyère. Some places add beer, champagne, or white wine to it. You’ll just have to venture out and try them all to know what you like best.
• Malakoffs – If you like fondue and fried things, this is the treat for you. It’s essentially a huge cheese stick, fried to perfection. Sometimes you get them in restaurants as an appetizer, but they also appear in multiples with a salad to make the perfect balanced meal.
• Rösti – Basically hash browns, but they usually come with good additions like vegetables, cheese, and/or bacon. If you want a special treat, go to the city of Gruyères and find a restaurant with gruyère cheese-topped rösti!
• Raclette – They cut a raclette cheese wheel in half, and stick it under high heat, melting the top layer. Then they slide a knife along the melted cheese, smothering a plate of potatoes and other things in the cheese. It’s pretty amazing!