Mail

Mail rates are divided into first-class "A" (airmail) and second-class "B" (surface). Letters and postcards to North America weighing up to 20 grams (about.70 ounce) cost 1.90 SF and 1.60 SF. It generally takes three to seven business days to reach the United States when mailed first class and seven to fifteen in second class.

If you're uncertain where you'll be staying, you can have your mail, marked poste restante or postlagernd, sent to any post office in Switzerland. It needs the sender's name and address on the back, and you'll need proof of identity to collect it. You can also have your mail sent to American Express for a small fee; if you are a cardholder or have American Express traveler's checks, the service is free. Postal codes precede the names of cities and towns in Swiss addresses.

Shipping Packages

FedEx and UPS operate out of Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lugano, and Zürich, although overnight service is guaranteed only to selected European destinations. An envelope weighing up to 1.1 pounds will cost about 70 SF to the United States and Canada.