The Swiss work a lot, but they also know how to enjoy their time off. Spending time with friends, reading and going for walks are among the most popular pastimes, according to a Federal Statistical Office survey of 2003.

More than half the population engages in some kind of sports activity at least once a week.

Attending a course and playing a musical instrument came at the bottom of the list.

Other surveys indicate that the favourite pastime of the Swiss is watching television.