TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FRIBOURG

HOW TO TRAVEL TO FRIBOURG? 

Fribourg, capital of the canton of Fribourg is located on the Swiss plateau 30km away from Bern, 138km from Geneva and 155km from Zurich.

• map of Switzerland

TRAVEL BY AIR
The most convenient airports for travelling to or from Fribourg are Zurich or Geneva. Inside both airports there are trains running directly to Fribourg every half hour from about 6 am to 10 pm. In both airports you can rent cars (please see the respective airports web sites for more details).

FROM GENEVA AIRPORT
The journey between Geneva airport and Fribourg takes approximately 1h40 by car or 1h30 by train. Trains are available on a 30 minutes basis. See “travel by train to Fribourg” for additional information.

FROM ZÜRICH AIRPORT
The journey between Zurich airport and Fribourg takes approximately 1h50 by car or 1h30 by train. Trains are available on a 30 minutes basis. See “travel by train to Fribourg” for additional information.

FROM BERN BELP AIRPORT
Bern is a small regional airport with mostly European connections only.

TRAVEL BY TRAIN TO FRIBOURG
Fribourg is on the country’s main railway-axis, which links Geneva to Zurich.

Fare for a one-way ticket from Geneva airport:
CHF 41.-- (second class) or CHF 68.-- (first class)

Fare for a one way ticket from Zurich airport:
CHF 57.-- (second class) or CHF 95.-- (first class).

See The Swiss Federal Railways website for timetables / prices and other interesting information about rail transport in Switzerland. Tickets can be directly printed from the web site or you can buy them at the train stations. There is a train station in Geneva airport and in Zurich airport.

TRAVEL BY CAR TO FRIBOURG
If you wish to rent a car at Geneva or Zurich airport, please click here for information.

HOW TO REACH ILFORD IN MARLY?
Marly is situated on the main road axis, which links Fribourg to Bulle via La Roche. ILFORD is located along the river “La Gérine”.


A detailed itinerary from Fribourg train station can be found here

BY BUS
In the Canton of Fribourg, the TPF (Transport Publics Fribourgeoissite in French/german) are in charge of the majority of the public transport services. From Fribourg station, public transport buses are available every 15 minutes and take you to Marly in 10 minutes. A simple fare ticket cost CHF 2.30 and is valid for 30 minutes. From the bus stop (Marly-Jonction), a ten minutes walk is necessary to reach ILFORD site.

BY CAR
Rented cars or buses are available from the airports or from the train stations. You will find more information on Fribourg tourism site.
Rented cars can also be hired from Fribourg railway station, even for a few hours. You can reserve your car online or by calling Mobility’s 24-hour service centre on 0848 824 812.

BY TAXI
Taxis can be hired from Fribourg train station. The journey to ILFORD takes approximately 15 minutes and costs about CHF 25.-.

ACCOMMODATION HOTELS IN FRIBOURG
General remark: air conditioning is an exception in the Fribourg hotels

NH Fribourg (****)
Grand-Places 14
1700 Fribourg
Phone: +41 26/351 91 91
Fax: +41 26/351 91 92
Remark: 5 minutes walk from the train station
Ilford rates: from CHF 120.- for a single room

Au Parc Hotel (****)
Rte de Villars 37
1700 Fribourg
Phone : +41 26/429 56 56
Bus stop : Vignettaz-Daler (buses n°2 or 6)
Normal rates: from CHF 145.- for a single room

For more hotels in Fribourg, please consult the tourism office web site.

HOTELS IN MARLY
both are walking distance from Ilford

Hotel du Grand-Pré (***)
Impasse du Nouveau-Marché
1723 Marly
Phone : +41 26/436 50 60
Fax. +41 26/436 21 50
Bus stop: Grand-Pré (buses n° 1, 129, 231, 233, 234, 245, 281)
Normal rates: from CHF 120.- for a single room

L’Acacia
Rte de la Gruyère 8
1723 Marly
Phone : +41 26/4 300 700
Fax +41 26/4 300 705
Bus stop : Marly-Cité (buses n° 1, 129, 231, 233, 234, 245, 280, 281)
Ilford rates: from CHF 100.- for a single room

MONEY
The Swiss currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF). In some places like restaurants, trains stations or mega stores, you can also pay in Euro. Return money will be in Swiss Francs. Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere but not always for small amount purchases. Currency exchange can be done at the airports, train stations and banks. To check the current exchange rate, please click here.

WEATHER
From January to February the daytime range is -2 to 7 °C (28° - 45° F) and from July to August the temperature range is 18 to 28 °C (65° - 82° F). In spring and autumn, the daytime temperature range is 8 to 15 °C (46° - 59° F). Depending on the altitude the temperature range may vary. It is highly recommended to visitors to pack a sweater, sunglasses, a compact umbrella and/or a light rain coat.. Forecast for Fribourg can be seen here.

TIME ZONE
Switzerland time zone is GMT +1. However due do the daylight saving time (or summer time), from March 30th to October 26th (beginning of winter time) Switzerland time zone will be GMT +2.

MEALS AT ILFORD
Meals at Ilford restaurant cost CHF 15.00. There are always two different menus per day as well as the week’s suggestion. The price includes a soup or a glass of orange juice and the day/week menu with vegetables or salad.

TOURIST INFORMATION

The town and the canton of Fribourg are rich in tourist sites, visits, excursions and sport activities. Please find hereafter a selection of some famous activities.

TOWN OF FRIBOURG

EXCURSIONS
A nice way to discover the town of Fribourg, is to follow the itinerary called “a city of culture and bridges” which starts at the tourist office near the train station.

VISITS
The St Nicholas Cathedral was built between 1283 and 1490 and is 74m high. If you have the bravery to climb his 368 steps you will be rewarded by the view of the entire town of Fribourg.
Admission (for the tower way-up): CHF 3.50

MUSEUMS
The Natural History Museum presents permanent exhibitions related to the earth sciences and biology plus many temporary exhibitions. Don’t miss the two Fribourg meteorites!
Admission: free

Visit the area called Espace Jean Tinguely - Niki de St-Phalle and discover the creations of these two great artists of the second half of the 20th century.
Admission: CHF 6.-

If you wish to understand the different aspects of letterpress printing and communication, The Gutenberg Museum is the place to visit.
Admission: CHF 10.-

RESTAURANTS

Le Pérolles
Bvd de Pérolles 18a - Fribourg
+41 (0)26 347 40 30
Gastronomic restaurant (17 Gault-Millau) market-fresh products, business and gourmet menu

Schild
Planche-Supérieure 21 - Fribourg
+41 (0)26 322 42 25
Market fresh products, season food

Auberge de la Cigogne
Rue d’Or 24 - Fribourg
+41 (0)26 322 68 34
Market fresh products

Le Grand Pont
Route de Bourguillon 2 - Fribourg
+41 (0)26 481 32 48
Market fresh products, business and gourmet menu

Hôtel de Ville
Grand-Rue 6 - Fribourg
+41 (0)26 321 23 67
Market fresh product, season food

Au Sauvage
Planche-Supérieure 12 - Fribourg
+41 (0)26 347 30 60
Market fresh product, season food, business menu

Brasserie de l’Epée
Planche-Supérieure 39 - Fribourg
+41 (0)26 322 34 07
Market fresh products, season food

Guang Dong
Route du Jura 37 - Fribourg
+41 (0)26 322 42 82
Asia (Chinese and Japanese food)

La Coupole, Au Parc Hôtel
Route de Villars 37 – Fribourg
+41 (0)26 429 56 56
Asia (Thai food)

Punkt-Grenette
Place de Notre-Dame 4 – Fribourg
+41 (0)26 322 65 21
Pan-Asiatique, Exotic specialities

Antica Roma
Place de la Gare 1 – Fribourg
+41 (0)26 322 28 16
Italian specialities, season food

Chez Dino – Hôtel de la Rose
Rue de Morat 1 – Fribourg
+41 (0)26 351 01 01
Pizzas, home made pasta, fish

Pizzeria San Marco
Boulevard de Pérolles 18 – Fribourg
+41 (0)26 322 55 57
Italian specialities, Pizzas and pasta “à gogo”

CANTON OF FRIBOURG

EXCURSIONS
Montsalvens lake round tour in Charmey is an easy and picturesque excursion with a 60m long wooden footbridge and several picnic spots.

The sculptures trail around the “lac de la Gruyère” is a pleasant excursion in the forest. Numerous wooden sculptures created by woodcutters sculptors edge this easy trail, which starts near the camping of Sorens.

 

VISITS
The gruyère cheese will have no more secrets for you once you have visited “La Maison du Gruyère”. After that, do not miss the famous Gruyeres Castle, which you can reach with the picturesque “little train”.
Admissions: CHF 7.- (Maison du Gruyère) + CHF 9.50 (Gruyères Castle) + CHF 5.- (little train)

If you want to know how chocolate is made (and taste it), visit the Cailler Chocolate Factory in Broc.
Admission: free

Want to see the world from above? A funicular and a cable car take you to the top of the Moléson (2002m) where the world’s most powerful binoculars will let you discover a splendid panorama.
Admission: CHF 27.- (return ticket for funicular and cable car)

If the words “Roman vestiges” and “mediaeval tower” thrill your imagination, do not hesitate to visit Avenches and his historic site.

MUSEUM
Museum of the Gruyère Region in Bulle (history, art and traditions of the Gruyère region).
Admission: CHF 8.-

WELLNESS
Need to relax? Try the Gruyère Thermal Baths in Charmey.
Admission: CHF 22.- (for 3 hours)

RESTAURANTS
Les Trois Tours
Rte de Bourguillon 15 - Bourguillon
+41 (0)26 322 30 69
Market fresh products

Petit Marly
Nouveau-Marché 1 - Marly
+41 (0)26 430 03 30
Market fresh products, season food

La Cabriolle
Rue de Gruyères 5 – Bulle
+41 (0)26 912 22 37
La Cabriolle Fondue (made with goat’s cheese), regional food

Restaurant de la Tour
Rue de l’Ancien Comté 57 – La Tour-de-Trême
+41 (0)26 912 74 70
Market fresh products

Hostellerie Le Castel
Rue de la Gare 10 – Le Pâquier
+41 (0)26 912 72 31
Season food

SEVERAL OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST IN SWITZERLAND

Bern, capital of Switzerland
Zermatt and the Matterhorn
The Eiger-Village of Grindelwald
Luzern and his famous Chapel Bridge
Wellness, sport and much more in Gstaad
Les Rochers-de-Naye for a spectacular view of the Alps and the “Lac Léman” (lake of Geneva)

VARIOUS INFORMATION

Some famous local flavours:
Gruyère AOC cheese, Vacherin fribourgeois AOC cheese, “half-and-half” fondue (Gruyère and Vacherin cheese fondue), Bénichon mustard, Cuchaule (sweet saffron bread), double cream, meringue…

Shops in Switzerland are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 6.30-7.00pm and on Saturday from 8am to 17pm (16pm in the canton of Fribourg). Small shops are often closed during lunch time (from 12am to 1.30pm). In Fribourg, shopping centres are open till 21pm every Thursday. On Sundays shops are usually closed. However, in resorts such as Zermatt, they are open 7 days a week.

Site of the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology.

Webcams of the town of Fribourg, Gruyères, Moléson.

For more excursions, visits, museums or for any other information please consult the Fribourg region website, the Gruyere website or MySwitzerland website.

 

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