Neuchatel



Neuchâtel (German: Neuenburg) is a town of 35,000 people (2018) in the western Switzerland. Neuchâtel is part Suisse Romande — the French-speaking Switzerland.

Understand
It was founded in 1011 in a wonderful location between the eponymous lake and the Jura mountain chain. You can travel from the mountains to the beach in just a couple of minutes. There's a magnificent view to the Alps as well across the lake. Lac Neuchâtel is 38 km long and 8 km wide, and thus the largest lake entirely in Switzerland.

By train
Neuchâtel is served by the major train line which crosses Switzerland on the southern Jura. Trains arrive in hourly, if not more often, from major Swiss cities such as Bern, Lausanne, Geneva, and Zürich. The railway station is a 15-minute walk from downtown, alternatively you can take the bus 7 or 9 towards Place-Pury or take the funicular down to the lakefront.

By plane
The nearest major airports are in Geneva and Basel, the one in Bern is chiefly for charter flights.

By car
The A5 motorway between Basel and Geneva passes next to the city. Neuchâtel has nine car parks, six underground and three outdoors.

By boat
Thanks to the many boat lines on the lake, you can easily get into town from places like Estavayer-le-lac, Yverdon-les-Bains, Morat or Bienne. At the web site of Navigation you can find schedules and prices.

By public transport
Public transportation in Neuchâtel is fairly good. Neuchâtel has a reliable bus, tram, and train network operated by Transports Neuchâtelois (TN) and running throughout the city, to the many outlying communities, and to other towns in the area. The public transport network also comprises three funiculars. All bus lines converge at the main square of the city, Place Pury.

You can buy a ticket from vending machines found at bus stops and there is a 24-hour pass for Fr. 7 which allows you to use any transport in the Neuchâtel area for 24 hours from the time of issue.

By bike
Getting around by bike is possible even if you didn't bring one. The local organization Neuchâtel roule rents bikes and biking equipment like helmets and child seats.

By foot
The old town is pedestrianized and pleasant to walk in. The way up to the railway station from downtown is fairly steep, though.

Do
Visit the old downtown with a historic center. Neuchâtel is home to several museums, including a museum of natural history and a museum of ethnography.

Buy
A Swiss watch made in the Val-de-Travers.

Neuchâtel features a variety of small fashion boutiques in the downtown area; however, cheaper clothing can easily be purchased at the city's only shopping centre, the Maladiere, which is combined with the soccer stadium near the waterfront.

Eat
Fondue Neuchâteloise, which is a speciality of Switzerland, that consists of molten cheese in which you dip bread.

Neuchâtel features an abundance of restaurants and eateries, including several Crêperies. As well, there are several chocolate shops and bakeries throughout town which sell small sugary treats at varying prices.

Drink
A number of regional wines, including the ones from Auvernier, Cortaillod, Hauterive and La Coudre. They may seem bitter.

Neuchâtel has many bars and clubs throughout the city center, with varying degrees of classiness. Depending on the bar, different crowds are often present.



Stay safe
Neuchâtel is a fairly safe city, but compared to the rest of Switzerland, it may have a relatively high "crime-rate". Although violent crime is unheard of, petty crime and pickpocketing is a problem. Avoid going to suspicious places like Jolimont and Serrieres after dark.

Go next
Train travel from Neuchâtel can easily take you to many of the major destinations in the area; the TGV from Bern to Paris passes through Neuchâtel, taking four hours to reach the City of Lights. Train travel to major Swiss cities is also very simple: 40 minutes to Bern, 1 hour 30 to Zürich, 40 minutes to Lausanne, around 1 hour to Geneve, and between 2 and 3 hours to reach destinations in the Swiss Alps such as Grindelwald, Brig, and Kandersteg.


 * Murten — A small town by Lake Murten with a beautiful old town and intact defensive walls.