top 10 tourist attractions in switzerland

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Best places to visit in switzerland.

Switzerland is known around the world for its chocolate, cheese, charming towns and scenic landscapes . Everywhere you turn, you're treated to a little bit of history and a little bit of nature's beauty, as well as plenty of mouthwatering cuisine in between. U.S. News considered factors like sights, culture, accessibility and variety of things to do, plus traveler and expert input, to calculate the best places to visit in Switzerland. Peruse the list below, and vote for your favorite spots.

Appenzell District

Jungfrau region.

Interlaken's unique location between two lakes – Lake Brienz and Lake Thun – makes it a breathtaking spot for a vacation. Here, you can spend hours hiking various trails, taking in the castle-studded shores of Lake Thun on a boat cruise or gazing at the surrounding mountains from the Harder Kulm observation deck (accessible via a funicular). To see more of the region's stunning scenery, go for a ride on the Schynige Platte Railway or sign up for a paragliding or skydiving excursion.

Travelers looking to ski or snowboard in the Swiss Alps should head to Zermatt. This small, car-free town in the middle of the Alps is famous for housing one of the world's most famous attractions — the Matterhorn (a peak so popular that it inspired a Disneyland ride) — and Switzerland's highest ski resort. Novice and expert skiers and snowboarders can spend the bulk of their vacation hitting the slopes, which showcase incredible mountain views. After shredding powder, visitors can ride the Gornergrat train, pick up a slab of homemade chocolate from a local shop or savor cheese fondue at a traditional Swiss restaurant.

Picturesque Lucerne sits on Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland, framed by snowcapped mountains and medieval buildings. This beautiful city's old town is home to historic attractions, lively town squares, boutique shops and old churches. Top attractions include the Musegg Wall and its towers (the preserved fortifications date back to the 13th century) and Europe's oldest wooden covered bridge, the must-see Chapel Bridge, which was originally built in the 1330s. Those looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure can also ride a cable car to Mount Pilatus for stunning views of Lake Lucerne and plenty of activities at the top.

This lakefront city on the Swiss-Italian border offers visitors a unique travel experience. Because Lugano shares waters with neighboring Italy, the city features a mix of Swiss and Mediterranean influences in everything from its cuisine to its architecture. Plus, Lugano boasts unforgettable panoramas. Visit Monte San Salvatore and Monte Brè, both of which you can reach by funicular, for bird's-eye views of Lake Lugano and the city. Or, spend a few hours hiking the Olive Grove Trail or strolling the gardens of Ciani Park. If you'd rather lounge on a beach, head to Lido di Lugano.

Zurich is a cosmopolitan financial center, a foodie haven and a romantic European city that appeals to all types of travelers. A vacation here should include spending time admiring Lake Zurich, exploring the trendy bars and Michelin-starred restaurants, meandering through Lindenhof park and exploring the city's distinct neighborhoods. Join well-heeled shoppers (or just admire the window displays) on Bahnhofstrasse, a world-famous exclusive retail boulevard. While here, be sure to sample the famous dark chocolate Champagne truffles from specialty chocolatier Teuscher.

Visit the medieval town of Gruyères if you want to feel as if you've stepped back in time during your next trip. Its good looks (think: car-free cobblestone streets, fountain-filled squares and a 13th-century castle) create an old-world ambiance you're bound to love. Plus, the town is world-renowned for its Gruyère cheese, which you can sample and learn more about at a local cheese dairy or cellar. Sampling chocolate is also a must-do here, so be sure to check out a chocolate factory or attend a chocolate workshop while in town.

Like its neighbor Lugano, Locarno is located in the Ticino region near the Italian border. This quiet, small town is surrounded by stunning scenery (it sits on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the foothills of the Alps), and since it's the warmest destination in Switzerland, you'll have plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and explore. Be sure to stroll through the picture-perfect main square, Piazza Grande, where the city hosts several summer festivals, and trek to Madonna del Sasso, considered sacred among Roman Catholics. Then, head to the Verzasca river valley to swim or bungee jump.

Appenzell captures the essence of Switzerland with rolling hills, a car-free village and well-preserved customs. Visitors can take in the scenic landscape of the Appenzell District (located in the northeastern part of the country) by taking a cable car to the oft-photographed Aescher guest house, picturesquely built into the rock face, or hiking the region's "experience trails" like the Gonten Barefoot Trail and Appenzeller Kapellenweg, which weaves past 11 chapels. Meanwhile, the tiny village of Appenzell boasts quaint, frescoed shops and Museum Appenzell, which highlights the region's traditional crafts, folk music and art.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a small town that boasts more charm and incredible scenery than Brienz. Located in the stunning Bernese Oberland region, Brienz sits on the northeastern shore of Lake Brienz, which features gorgeous turquoise water and is flanked by towering evergreen mountains. Some of the best ways to soak up the awe-inspiring setting include strolling picture-perfect Brunngasse (often proclaimed the most beautiful street in Europe), riding the Brienz Rothorn Bahn (which traverses a steam rack railway) and taking a boat tour to lake attractions like Giessbach Falls.

Set along the banks of crystal-clear Lake Geneva in western Switzerland, this city is known for its incredible views and as the headquarters of the Red Cross and the United Nations. Geneva is also home to some iconic sights, including the Jet d'Eau (one of the world's tallest water fountains) and an old town with cobblestone streets and picturesque squares. While exploring the latter, be sure to check out the Saint Pierre Cathedral, which features Roman, Gothic and neoclassical details.

The capital of Switzerland, Bern sometimes gets overlooked for flashier Swiss cities like Zurich and Geneva. But Bern holds many charms, including an old town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) featuring the iconic Zytglogge clock tower, Renaissance-style fountains and a Gothic cathedral with the highest spire in Switzerland. The city also boasts many museums – several dedicated to Albert Einstein, who lived in Bern when developing his theory of relativity. Head to Gurten mountain – which you can reach by funicular, by bike or on foot – for sweeping views of the city below.

As the largest ski area in central Switzerland, Engelberg is a winter playground, with a long, snowy season for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and sledding. But don't sleep on a summertime visit here; warmer months allow for a bevy of fun family activities like a toboggan run, 300-plus miles of hiking trails and water activities on Trübsee lake. Regardless of when you visit, you won't want to miss the TITLIS Rotair, a revolving cable car that takes riders up Mount Titlis, and the other cable lifts that stop at a glacier cave, a panoramic restaurant, and the TITLIS Cliff Walk.

Considered "the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism," St. Moritz welcomes travelers with world-class skiing, swanky hotels, renowned après-ski offerings and top-notch restaurants. In addition to offering downhill skiing trails so highly regarded that the town has hosted the Olympics twice, St. Moritz features excellent spots for cross-country skiing, sledding and winter hikes. Come summertime, the area invites outdoor lovers to golf, bike, hike or enjoy water sports and swimming in the surrounding lakes.

The Jungfrau Region is the perfect place for first-timers wanting to experience the otherworldly splendor that is the Swiss Alps. But be forewarned: The destination is sky high. Popular attractions like the Jungfraujoch (which features Europe's highest train station), the Grindelwald-First cable car and the First Cliff Walk Presented by Tissot sit at the top of towering peaks. The innovative Eiger Express gondola offers even faster transport to the top (just 15 minutes from Grindelwald). For those who'd rather stick closer to Earth's surface, prioritize a hike on a lower-level valley path and a visit to the Pfingstegg toboggan.

Tourists may not be as familiar with Montreux as they are with its Lake Geneva neighbors, which makes this Swiss town such an undiscovered gem. Quaint Montreux features a waterfront promenade dotted with flowers and trees, a medieval castle and a charming old town, not to mention a statue commemorating Freddie Mercury (Queen recorded multiple albums here from 1978 to 1995). Montreux is also surrounded by vineyards and hosts a popular open-air jazz festival every summer, while the holiday season brings the festive Montreux Noël market.

Located less than 5 miles from Montreux, Vevey is another Lake Geneva gem. This town's picturesque promenade along the lake is filled with flowers and features a sculpture of Charlie Chaplin, who spent the last 25 years of his life in Vevey. The Alimentarium, a nutrition-focused museum, also adorns the shoreline with its beautiful sandstone building, which once served as the headquarters to Nestlé (the company is still based in Vevey). After admiring the town, visitors can take a cog railway to the scenic Les Pléiades vantage point for its stunning views and the astronomy-centric Astropléiades trail.   

The second-largest city on Lake Geneva, Lausanne is characterized by its renowned Gothic cathedral and surrounding hilly terrain. The stunning lake views and colorful city center don't hurt, either. Travelers can take in Lausanne's lively atmosphere by checking out the city's cafes, admiring the old town's beautiful architecture and perusing the exhibits at the Olympic Museum. No visit would be complete without venturing outside the city to nearby Lavaux, where you can enjoy wine from vineyards that are so scenic and well-preserved (some date back to the 11th century), the area was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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The Best 17 Places to Visit in Switzerland

It's no secret that Switzerland has scenery in spades. The small European country is big on towering, snow-capped mountains, shimmering lakes, storybook villages, and vibrant cities. For active vacationers, Switzerland offers virtually every winter sport, including, of course, some of the world's best skiing, plus hiking, biking, climbing, hang-gliding, and other temptations for adrenaline junkies. There's also plenty to fill a more leisurely vacation, with hearty cuisine, including what some say is the world's finest chocolate, high-end shopping, first-rate museums, and, at every turn, another gobsmacking panorama.

Switzerland is a year-round destination, and it would take many, many trips to see all that it has to offer. But assuming you don't have a lifetime to explore the country, here's our list of the top 17 places to see in Switzerland.

TripSavvy / Michela Sieman

Switzerland's largest city is a stunner—at once historic and modern, cosmopolitan and bohemian. Divided by the Limmat River and wrapping around Lake Zurich's shores, Zurich offers some of Switzerland's best museums, Swiss and international dining , and Bahnhofstrasse—rightfully called the world's most expensive shopping street. Plan to spend much of your time in the Altstadt, or Old Town, and enjoy at least one traditional meal in a restaurant housed in a former medieval guildhall. Many a tour of Switzerland begins or ends here, as the city is seamlessly connected to the rest of the country and Europe, thanks to the ultra-efficient Swiss Rail System .

©GenèveTourisme; ©www.geneve.com 

Switzerland's second-largest city, French-speaking Geneva sits at the southwestern end of Lake Geneva and has a long lakefront promenade on two shores offering views of the famous Jet d'Eau fountain. Geneva is one of Europe's most expensive cities in which to live; that prosperity is felt in its elegant streets and parks, high-end shopping avenues, and five-star hotels with luxury sedans parked out front. But the city is also rich in history, as the center of the Swiss Reformation and, today, the home of the International Red Cross and the United Nations.

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson

The Swiss capital of Bern sits on a sharp bend in the River Aare in the western part of the country. Its Altstadt, or Old Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to so many well-preserved medieval buildings. But the undisputed star of the show is the Zytglogge, the fascinating astronomical clock that Einstein is said to have studied when developing his Theory of Relativity. Bern Minster has the tallest church spire in Switzerland and a stunning main portal. Those with more modern tastes can head to Zentrum Paul Klee, a museum dedicated to the country's most famous artist.

Like so many Swiss cities, pretty, walkable Lucerne occupies a magnificent setting—this time on Lake Lucerne with the Alps as a backdrop. The 14th-century wooden Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) is one of the most photographed sights in Switzerland, and Lucern's medieval Altstadt (Old Town) looks much the same as it did hundreds of years ago. The innovative Swiss Museum of Transport  is the most visited museum in Switzerland.

Lake Geneva

 MontreuxRiviera.com

With one shore in Switzerland and one shore in France, Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) is a sparkling, half-moon shaped international playground. On the Swiss side, it offers the elegant city of Geneva; relaxed Montreux , famous for its jazz festival; and Lausanne, home of the International Olympic Committee. The terraced vineyards of the Lavaux wine region are a UNESCO World Heritage Site—some date back to the 11th-century. Last but definitely not least, 12th-century Chillon Castle is everything a castle should be—complete with a (partial) moat, dungeons, and a keep.

David Hanson/GettyImages 

The smallest Swiss canton, Appenzell Innerrhoden is set in the rolling hills south of Lake Constance. This is storybook Switzerland, complete with villages of brightly painted houses, folk traditions, and residents in traditional costume. In the fall, the cows literally come home, as herdsmen bring their cattle—decked out in bells and flower garlands—down from the mountains for the winter. Appenzell's car-free village is a center for folk-art, traditional festivals, baked goods, and yes—yodeling.

St. Moritz & the Engadine

Francesco Meroni / GettyImages

St. Moritz ranks as one of the world's top winter playgrounds for the jet set, and its palatial hotels, luxury shopping, and tony apres-ski scene are fun to dip into. Non-one-percenters might prefer some of the smaller, more down-to-earth towns and villages of the sunny Engadine Valley, known for its glaciers, snowy peaks, glacial lakes, forest, and folk culture. Listen closely, and you may hear Romansch being spoken—the ancient Latin-based language is still taught in the Engadine schools. The area is also a summer paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, and windsurfers.

Interlaken & Jungfrau

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove

Set between lakes Thun and Brienz, the pleasant town of Interlaken is the most convenient base for exploring the towering peaks of the Bernese Oberland—the region of glaciers, craggy mountains, and pristine lakes that offer postcard views at every turn. From Interlaken, a system of trains, cable cars, and cogwheel rails connect to the region's major ski areas and the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. For more than a century, it’s been the highest railway station in Europe. There, a high altitude playground awaits, with observatory platforms offering multi-peak views, the Eispalast (Ice Palace) walk inside a glacier, plus restaurants, and, of course, more skiing.

Lugano and Ticino

You'd be excused for thinking you've crossed over into Italy once you reach Ticino, the region wedged between the Alps and the Italian border. There's a distinctly Mediterranean vibe here, and Italian, not Swiss, is the first language. Lakes Lugano and Maggiore shares shores with Italy and offers a summertime playground for hiking, sailing, and swimming, with a touch of la dolce vita thrown in. Lugano's lakefront city is the bustling regional hub, but climb—or take a cable car—up any mountain to discover sleepy, rustic villages, clean air, and traditional country inns and restaurants.

raymondchan photo / GettyImages 

Something looms large over the car-free, stylish-yet-traditional mountain town of Zermatt—the Matterhorn. Europe's most famous mountain peak draws hordes of visitors to this otherwise sleepy town in the valley for skiing, ice-climbing, and arduous summer hikes and mountain biking. There's plenty of passive sightseeing to do here as well, and the views never disappoint. A mountaineering museum, traditional restaurants, luxe spas, and cozy—if not cheap—hotels can keep you pleasantly occupied here for a few days.

Stuart Dee/GettyImages

Near Lake Constance and the border with Liechtenstein, historic St. Gallen has a car-free center, a UNESCO-listed abbey and cathedral, and a textile-making tradition more than a thousand years old. The Rococo-style abbey library, stocked with 170,000 priceless volumes and documents, is a must-see here. There's a full cultural program in this important university town, as well as easy access to biking, hiking, boat rides on Lake Constance, and jaunts into Germany, Liechtenstein, and Austria.

Andrew Bain / GettyImages 

Pass the cheese, please. Though there's more to this charming medieval town than its namesake cheese, it would be a shame to leave Gruyères without sampling traditional raclette or fondue and visiting the Maison du Gruyère, where they make—you guessed it. In-between bites of cheese, visit the imposing 13th-century Gruyères Castle and take in the pastoral countryside. Oh, and did we mention there's a chocolate factory here, too?

Great St. Bernard Pass

irisphoto2 / GettyImages

Connecting Italy to Switzerland, the Great St. Bernard Pass has been a strategic gateway for the continent—long before the Romans first laid claim to it. The St. Bernard Hospice is still here, as are the iconic St. Bernard dogs—though they perform fewer mountain rescues than they once did. You can drive over the scenic pass or spend the day crossing it on foot, stopping at cozy village inns for hearty sustenance along the way.

Rhaetian Railway

 Dirk von Mallinckrodt / GettyImages

It's all about the journey rather than the destination when you climb aboard one of the Rhaetian Railway trains, the network of scenic Alpine train rides that includes the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express . Panoramic train cars allow for sweeping views of passing glaciers, glacial lakes, mountain passes, and dense forests. The astonishing engineering feats of these high-altitude train tracks are reason enough to make the trip on at least one leg.

Trümmelbach Falls

Catalin Daniel Ciolca / GettyImages 

If you're visiting the Jungfrau, be sure to stop and see where all that spring snowmelt goes. Trümmelbach Falls are a series of falls that crash through a scenic gorge, carrying waters of the Jungfrau as they roar through underground caverns and pools. A series of elevators, bridges, and pathways puts visitors right in the spray of the mighty falls, which are closed in the wintertime.

Ayhan Altun / GettyImages

Palm and lemon trees give Locarno a nearly tropical feel. Switzerland's warmest city sits on Lake Maggiore and is the relaxed alternative to busy Lugano. Wandering the narrow streets of the town, strolling along the lake, and having a coffee or aperitivo on Piazza Grande—these are the simple pleasures of Locarno. A hike or funicular ride up to the Madonna del Sasso pilgrimage church rewards with breathtaking views of the lake, the town, and the surrounding mountains. From there, explore the villages and streams and waterfalls of the surrounding Valle Verzasca.

 Alexander Spatari / GettyImages

Literary Lausanne has inspired writers and artists through the ages, no doubt inspired by Lake Geneva's views, the city's pedestrian-only medieval center, and, perhaps, its mighty Gothic cathedral. Divided between upper and lower towns connected by a subway, Lausanne the smallest city in Europe with a metro system. It's the International Olympic Committee's home and a sporty vibe pervades—as evidenced by all the bikers, walkers, swimmers, and sailors.

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Nov 24, 2023 • 8 min read

Switzerland, it really is this stunningly beautiful © scaliger / Getty Images

Nowhere is perfect, but let’s face it,  Switzerland gets pretty darned close. 

The Alps ripple across 60% of the country, and the landscapes and towns look like they have been dreamed up by a particularly imaginative child. We’re talking glacier-capped peaks, crash-bang waterfalls, turreted castles of the fairy-tale kind and lakes in the most surreal shade of turquoise blue. Red trains curl up mountains to improbable heights and clanging cowbells ring out across hilly meadows that you can skip down with Heidi-like glee.

Even the culture-filled cities have magnificent backdrops of vineyards, lakes or rivers, and the mountains are never more than a whisper away. As natural beauty goes, Switzerland is off the charts. That makes it a joy to travel around , whether by train, bus or car. Here are the 11 best places to visit in Switzerland.

1. Jungfrau

Best for outdoor activities

The idyllic Jungfrau region is the icing on the Alpine cake of Switzerland’s  Bernese Oberland . Sky-high peaks, glaciers and thundering falls elicit gasps of wonder wherever you go. Grazing the 4,000m (13,123ft) mark are Switzerland’s "big three:" Eiger (Ogre), Mönch (Monk) and Jungfrau (Virgin), enshrined in mountaineering legend.

Take a once-in-a-lifetime ride up to the everlasting snow at Europe’s highest train station, 3,454m (11,332ft)  Jungfraujoch . Hike, ski, sled and zip-line among mountains of myth in  Grindelwald , enjoy waterfalls galore in  Lauterbrunnen  and tackle every kind of extreme sport imaginable in  Interlaken (skydiving, ice climbing, glacial bungee jumping – you name it). The Jungfrau region is the great outdoors on a blockbuster scale.

Planning tip:  Rush this region and you’ll regret it. Allow a week or more to dive in deep if you have the time. It's worth it. 

Best for stepping back in time

Bern often pops up in those I-can’t-believe-it’s-the-capital trivia questions, but frankly, Switzerland’s first city deserves more love. The cobbled, flag-bedecked medieval  Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage treat, with 6km (3.7 miles) of covered arcades, cellar shops and bars, fantastical folk figures topping 16th-century fountains and the eye-grabbing  Zytglogge . Framed by wooded hills and split in two by the turquoise Aare River, this red-roofed city looks good from pretty much every angle. It’s pure storybook stuff for kids, too, with its giant who snacks on children (the  Kindlifresserbrunnen ) and  resident bears .

Sights-wise, you’ll be drawn to big-hitters like the  Einstein-Haus  (where the genius and Nobel laureate developed his theory of relativity), the  Kunsthaus  (with its outstanding fine arts collection) and Renzo Piano’s wavy Zentrum Paul Klee (Bern’s answer to the Guggenheim).

In summer, the action’s on the water with swimming, tubing, rafting and paddleboarding along the Aare River.

3. Geneva and Lake Geneva

Best for a cosmopolitan city experience

In Switzerland’s western crook, crescent-shaped Lake Geneva  (Lac Léman to Francophones) is a joy to behold with its mountain backdrop, spirit-lifting views, vineyards and shoreline necklaced with handsome cities and castle-crowned towns.

Marked by its rainbow-kissed  Jet d’Eau fountain and Mont Blanc peeping up on the horizon, Geneva wraps around the lake’s southern shore. The worldly city makes an excellent launchpad for exploring with big-hitting museums and galleries to absorb, botanical gardens to stroll, lidos to swim at, Old Town cafes to hang out in and bright-yellow mouettes  ferrying locals across the water – surely one of the world’s most scenic commutes.

Planning tip: It’s a quick boat or train hop to  Lausanne , which can culturally give Geneva a run for its money, especially with its  Plateforme 10 arts district , the lovely terraced vineyards of the  Lavaux  wine region (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and flower-draped  Montreux , host to one of the world’s most famous jazz festivals, with the picture-perfect  Château de Chillon right on its doorstep.

Best for hiking, skiing and rock-climbing

No peak has more pulling power than the 4,478m (14,692ft) Matterhorn, a terrific, gnarled fang of rock that flings up above the seductive, timber chalet-filled Alpine resort of Zermatt . It's Switzerland’s mountain icon, so beloved by the nation that it inspired the pyramid shape of Toblerone chocolate.

Zermatt is more than a one-mountain wonder. Climbers have been rocking up here since the mid-19th-century, and it’s still a magnet for challenging summit ascents today. Otherwise, come to hike, ski and gaze over a sea of glaciers and 4,000m (13,123ft) peaks at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise . 

5. Swiss National Park 

Best for wildlife (and wildflowers) spotting

Switzerland has just one national park? Yes, we know it’s a shock, but trust us it’s a good one. Snuggled away in a remote corner of the country’s southeast on the border with Italy, the 172-sq-km (66-sq-mile)  Swiss National Park is the Alps in overdrive: a nature-gone-wild spectacle of high moors, forests, wildflower-freckled pastures, waterfalls, jewel-colored lakes and mountains as high as the sky, where ibex, chamois, marmots, deer and golden eagles roam and fly free.

Planning tip: Start off on the right foot with the inside scoop on walking trails and ranger-led guided hikes at the visitor center in Zernez.

6. Bellinzona

Best for piazza dining

With medieval castles rising high and the Alps rearing beyond, good-looking Bellinzona in Ticino is a taste of the best of Italy's best food and culture in Switzerland. You’ll find a generous splash of Italian flair in its historic center, woven with flower-draped alleys, Renaissance churches and cafe-rimmed piazzas that brim with life, laughter, clinking glasses and the out-of-tune toll of countless campaniles. 

Planning tip:  Top of any wish list is seeing the castles, among them hilltop Castelgrande , which can be drawn out into a full day’s activity (bring water and comfortable shoes). 

7. Jura Mountains and Lac de Neuchâtel 

Best for road tripping

In the dark forested hills along the French-Swiss border, the Jura Mountains are a natural wonder. This peaceful region has a beauty all its own: meadows of green, ancient forests, rocky outcrops overlooking a trio of lakes against an Alpine backdrop and slow-paced villages and valleys little changed in centuries. 

Begin with a road trip . Kick off at the Jura Vaudois Nature Park for hikes with dress-circle views of Lake Geneva and Gruyère cheese tastings at rustic Alpine huts. Swing north to Lac de Joux, the watchmaking village of Le Sentier, and Vallorbe, honeycombed with Switzerland’s biggest (and most impressive) limestone caves.

Tag on a trip to Lac de Neuchâtel and you can bathe in the thermal waters of Yverdon-les-Bains, tiptoe off the map in the lushly rolling Val-de-Travers (birthplace of absinthe) and the crescent-moon canyon of Creux du Van . Cultured Neuchâtel is a fitting climax with its fantasy of a lavishly turreted château.

8. Lake Lucerne

Best for sunset promenades

Reclining on the shores of its glittering namesake  lake ,  Lucerne  is a walkable, medieval dream of a city that has a magic you can’t quite put your finger on. It will grab you when you are strolling along the promenade as the sun sets in a blaze of gold and pinks or as you cruise across its waters to mountains of myth: 2,132m (6,995ft) Mt Pilatus, where Wagner raved about the Alpine panorama and Queen Victoria trotted on horseback, and 1,797m (5,896ft) Rigi, with a light so sublime Turner painted it in three different moods.

The little city punches far above its weight culturally with its iconic medieval Kapellbrücke  bridge leaping across the Reuss River and the Jean Nouvel–designed  KKL arts center and  Sammlung Rosengart  harboring a prized private collection of Picassos. Ambling past the belle époque hotels lining its shores, the same views that captivated Goethe, Queen Victoria and Wagner in the 19th century will hold you in their thrall.

Planning tip: With more time on your hands, you can really get out on the lake. Cruise across fjord-like, mountain-rimmed Lake Uri for a taste of Switzerland’s geographical and spiritual heartland. Boats ply the glassy turquoise waters to  Rütli , birthplace of the Swiss nation.

9. Appenzell and northeastern Switzerland

Best for a bucolic Swiss experience

Northeastern Switzerland might not have the in-your-face drama of higher realms of the Alps, but it nevertheless delights in its own serene, deeply rural way with dairy country unraveling to meet the mountains and half-timbered, gaily muralled towns all fit for a postcard. This pocket-sized region is perfect for a family vacation with a hit of culture and gentle adventure.

Begin in St Gallen, with a spin round its World Heritage  Stiftsbibliothek (Abbey Library), a literary marvel and a feast of rococo art and architecture. Move on to folksy, ridiculously pretty Appenzell, popping into the  Schaukäserei to sample regional cheeses.

Muscling further south into the Alps, head on up to Säntis at 2,501m (8,205ft) for views embracing six countries and then go to  Werdenberg , a tiny speck of a medieval hamlet home to Switzerland’s oldest timber chalets.

Planning Tip: Close by is  Vaduz ,  Liechtenstein ’s princely, castle-topped capital on the banks of the Rhine.

Best under-the-radar city experience

Popularity-wise, poor old  Basel barely gets a look. But that’s a mistake. Straddling the Rhine, this city has everything going for it: world-class art in some of the country’s best galleries, a hot food scene, avant-garde buildings bearing the hallmark of Pritzker Prize–winning architects and an upbeat cafe culture.

Allow several days for a satisfying romp of the center, where must-sees include the  Kunstmuseum and its fine arts collection, the Renzo Piano-designed  Fondation Beyeler and the Frank Gehry-designed  Vitra Design Museum .

Planning tip: Basel endears itself most to those who look beyond the trophy sights, with sundown drinks by the river or a wild swim in the Rhine. Rent a Wickelfisch (a fish-shaped waterproof bag) at the tourist office, strip to your swimming suit and go with the flow, floating downstream past the city’s landmarks.

Best place to live

Regularly landing at the top in quality-of-living surveys, urban dynamo Zürich never seems to miss a beat: from cool waterside bars on the banks of the Limmat River to its alley-woven Old Town, where the twin-spired Romanesque Grossmünster shines with Augusto Giacometti’s rainbow of stained glass. Le Corbusier’s boldly colored architectural creations and the edgily post-industrial Züri-West neighborhood notch Zürich's culture cred up even further.

Planning tip: In mid-August, Zürich throws one of Switzerland’s wildest parties: the techno-pumping Street Parade. 

This article was first published September 2021 and updated November 2023

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20 of the Best Places to Visit in Switzerland — From Quaint Villages to Glamorous Cities

From tiny medieval towns to iconic ski resorts, here are 20 of the best places to go in Switzerland.

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When you close your eyes and think of Switzerland, what do you see? Is it snow-capped mountains? Perhaps a verdant valley punctuated by springtime wildflowers? Or maybe it's a quaint Swiss city filled with cultural attractions and world-class restaurants. No matter which vision comes to mind, all of them are right — because Switzerland is all that and more. 

"Switzerland is small, yet we have four official languages, and every single one of the 26 cantons (states) is unique and has something different to offer," Catja-Camilla Straub, a tour guide with GatyaGoes , shared with Travel + Leisure . "There are different ways to explore and experience Switzerland, and there is something for everyone's interests: the outdoors, activities, luxury, a large number of festivals, food, culture, and history." 

Straub isn't the only one to see the nation's remarkable beauty. "Switzerland can offer you all Europa has to offer in one country," Tim Wehrle, a tour guide and underwater archaeologist in Zurich, said. "From lonely mountain valleys to a Mediterranean flair in the south of Switzerland, from busy nightlife to historic town centers, you can find everything in Switzerland." 

Ready to see it all? Here are 20 of the best places to visit in Switzerland.

Stephanie Pollak/Travel + Leisure

“Zurich is a small gem with only 450,000 inhabitants, yet it's the largest and most vibrant city in Switzerland,” Straub shared. Zurich may be best known for its banking and shopping, but, as Staub noted, it “actually has a rich history dating back to the Romans.” Staub recommends seeing it all and learning everything you can on a walking tour with a local like her.

Mount Rigi Kulm

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Make your way to the top of Mount Rigi to get a view of three countries at once. The mountain, located between Lake Lucerne and Lake Zug, offers views of Switzerland, France, and Germany at the top, which you can reach by taking a train or hiking all the way .

Lake Lucerne

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Lake Lucerne offers some of Switzerland’s most fantastic views. The glittering lake stretches on for 43 square miles, offering visitors the chance to hike around it, boat through it, or stay at any number of fantastic hotels lining its shores to enjoy the view. 

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Make your way about an hour northeast of Lake Lucerne to the town of Rapperswil , which sits on Lake Zurich. The town is known for its abundant roses in the spring and summer and for its medieval architecture, including its very own castle.

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History lovers, this one is for you. Ticino, a town in southern Switzerland, is home to not one but two UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the Bellinzona castles and Monte San Giorgio. Come explore them all year long, dive in the lake in summer, or take to the mountains for a ski trip in winter. 

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Tucked between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, travelers can find the town of Interlaken . It’s well known as an adventure-lovers paradise, offering the chance to hike, ski, paraglide, skydive, and more through the majestic mountain range surrounding the town.

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Quinten , which sits on the shores of Lake Walen, is the place to be for those who love to see everything on foot. The entire community is car-free and offers spectacular views throughout its terraced neighborhoods lined with vineyards overlooking the Churfirsten mountain range.

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Want another car-free adventure? Head to the picturesque town of Appenzell in northeast Switzerland. The small community of just 7,000 full-time residents is known for its hand-made cheeses, best enjoyed with a picnic out in the rolling green pastures. 

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Montreux, positioned on the shores of Lake Geneva, is loved for its palm-lined promenade, castles, and gorgeous alpine vistas. It’s also the place to be over the summer when it hosts the annual Montreux Jazz Festival, which is worthy of planning an entire trip around.

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If you’re into cheese, you’ve likely heard the name Gruyère before. Visit its namesake town, located in southwest Switzerland, to dig into the cheese-making tradition and to visit its fairy-tale streets surrounded by a positively bucolic landscape.

Oeschinen Lake

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Explore another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Switzerland with a visit to the glacial Oeschinen Lake. Like many places in Switzerland, this lake comes flanked by snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows, and it offers more than its fair share of outdoor fun, including everything from hiking and biking to ice fishing in the winter.

Lavaux Vineyard

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Wine lovers will adore visiting Lavaux Vineyard, the nation’s largest contiguous vineyard area that goes on for nearly 2,000 acres. The vineyard is yet another one of Switzerland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which comes with the added bonus of gorgeous views and divine wine tastings .

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Want to feel like you’re on top of the world? Head to Stoos , a town located at 4,265 feet. The entire (car-free) town is adorable, but the coolest part is its funicular railway — which holds the record as the steepest on Earth — that takes guests some 2,400 feet high in under 10 minutes. 

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Find a little slice of luxury in St. Mortiz. The high-end town marries some of the best skiing in the world with some of the best shopping. It’s got glitz, glamour, and plenty of bona fides to back up its reputation as a winter sports heaven; St. Moritz hosted the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympic Games.

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Geneva, the second-largest city in Switzerland, is renowned for its international organizations like the United Nations European headquarters and the International Committee of the Red Cross. It’s also a spot where travelers can find luxuries galore, including high-end watch shops selling some of the most exclusive pieces on Earth.

Rhine Falls

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Feel the power of Mother Nature at Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfall. Visitors can marvel at the thunderous waters from viewing platforms, and those feeling more adventurous can take boat trips for a closer experience. Just make sure to wear something waterproof.

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Zermatt , which sits in the shadow of the Matterhorn, is one more car-free village that combines rustic charm with high-end amenities, including some of the best skiing in Europe. Of course, guests can explore the mountains all spring, summer, and fall by hiking and biking, or just enjoy the town’s fantastic (year-round) shopping opportunities.

Bern, Switzerland's capital, offers an enticing mix of old and new. The city has retained much of its medieval architecture and cobblestone streets, now the setting for world-class dining venues, boutiques, and beer gardens, all worthy of visiting on your next trip.

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Find a little taste of Italy in Lugano, the largest Italian-speaking city in Switzerland (which counts Italian among its four official languages). The Swiss city offers more gorgeous promenades to stroll, along with delicious Italian-influenced restaurants and an art scene that can't be beaten. 

Swiss National Park

Get one more taste of Switzerland’s incredible natural beauty with a visit to Swiss National Park , located in the Engadin Valley. The park encompasses 68 square miles, making it a fantastic place to explore. While on a hike, see how many animals you can spot, including the park’s resident marmots, ibexes, and golden eagles.

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Switzerland’s top attractions

From grand buildings to stunning natural wonders, here's our checklist of the essential Switzerland attractions and sights

Rhine Falls

At 150 metres wide and 23 metres high, the Rhine Falls are Europe's largest waterfalls

Jungfraujoch railway station

• Jungfrau-Region

Surrounded by the largest glacier in the Alps, Jungfraujoch has been a top Swiss attraction since 1912. 

Lavaux vineyards

• Walks and tours
• Lavaux-Oron

A short ride from Lausanne you can find this UNESCO World Heritage site which dates from the 12th century.

Contra Dam bungee jump

• Sport events
• Tenero-Contra

Go bungee jumping off the 220 metre tall Contra Dam in Ticino, as seen in the Bond film GoldenEye. 

Chillon Castle

Explore one of Switzerland's top historic tourist attractions, which inspired the likes of Lord Byron, Rousseau, Delacroix and Courbet. 

Jet d’eau - Geneva

• Rive Droite / Right Bank

Don’t fight it: as possibly the most recognisable image of Geneva (you can even see it from the plane), it’s practically the law to get your photo taken in front of the city’s giant water fountain. Originally built as a pressure release valve for Geneva’s water supply, rather than for any aesthetic reason, the jet d’eau spurts 500 litres of water per second some 140m (459ft) into the air, before thundering back into Lake Geneva. You can get up close to the refreshing spray by walking the path to the fountain from the lake’s left bank. The jet really comes into its own during the city’s annual August fireworks display, when the colours are reflected and refracted in the spray. The fountain is occasionally switched off in high winds.

Palais des Nations

• Servette/Petit-Saconnex/Sécheron

This huge 1930s houses the European headquarters of the United Nations

CERN - Geneva

• Specialist interest

Straddling the Franco-Swiss border is the world’s largest physics lab 

Cathédrale de Lausanne

• Cité / Old Town

Perched atop a hill in the Cité, Lausanne’s 13th century gothic cathedral is the largest in Switzerland. 

Château de Gruyères

Gruyères castle is one of the most prestigious in Switzerland

CGN Lausanne-Ouchy

Making the most of its position on one of Europe’s largest lakes, Lausanne’s ferry port at Ouchy offers cruises to many destinations around the lake in both Switzerland and France. 

Discover more great things to do in Switzerland

Inspiring ski-in and ski-out hotels across Switzerland

Make the most of skiing in Switzerland during winter with a ski-in and ski-out hotel. These venues are the ideal getaway for skiers wanting super-easy access to the slopes, because they’re located  right by  those very slopes – metres away, in some cases, meaning you can spring out of bed and straight on to the piste. Time Out has chosen some of the very best venues from around the country – in association with Switzerland Tourism – which boast even more than superb slopes by your door.

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Top Attractions

Famous landmarks everywhere you look: the variety of different sights to see in Switzerland is truly incredible. Discover glaciers, mountain worlds, rivers and impressive buildings. Or explore museums and institutions that especially symbolise our country’s identity.

Top 5 attractions

The rhine falls, creux du van, matterhorn (4,478 a.s.l.) - symbol for switzerland, jungfraujoch, château de chillon, top destinations, grindelwald, lauterbrunnen, top natural spectacle, lake oeschinen, trümmelbach falls, swiss national park, vallemaggia, top experiences, glacier express, boat trip on lake lucerne, bernina express, swiss museum of transportation, lake geneva cruises, 5-seen-wanderung pizol, fondation beyeler, kunsthaus zürich, landesmuseum zürich, museum tinguely, advertisement, premium events.

• 19 Apr Patrouille des Jeunes 2024 Verbier, 19.04.2024
• until 18 Apr 100 years of St. Nicholas Cathedral Fribourg / Freiburg, 19.04. - 18.04.2025
• until 21 Apr 21st International Silvretta Pupils Cup Samnaun, 19.04. - 21.04.2024
• From 19 Apr 7. Schwyzer Kulturwochenende Schwyz, 19.04. - 21.04.2024
• until 7 Jul Annual exhibition of the artists of Grisons Chur
• until 28 Apr Annual exhibition of the artists of Grisons Chur
• From 19 Apr Vitromusée Romont – Exhibition – Swisstopo Romont
• From 19 Apr Vitromusée Romont – Exhibition – Regards du Sénégal Romont

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Grand tour of switzerland.

1,600km, 22 lakes, 5 Alpine passes, 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites and 4 linguistic regions – on the Grand Tour of Switzerland it’s all about the journey.

Premium panorama trains

Panorama trains delight with large windows, mountain and lake views and other scenic attractions.

UNESCO World Heritage sites

You’ll find everything here – from watchmaking towns to wild natural landscapes.

The most comfortable and relaxing way of discovering Switzerland is by train, boat or bus. A panoramic rail trip through the Alpine scenery, a romantic boat trip on a river or an excursion with a nostalgic paddle steamer on one of the famous Swiss lakes can be an unforgettable experience.

The biggest hotel offer in Switzerland. More than 2000 hotels available. Easy and secure online booking. No matter whether you are looking for tasteful design, wellness, golf, or are a family with children.

Travel through time with night watchman Ludwig, paraglide over the Aletsch Glacier with Xandi Furrer or hike under a full moon with Marco. Get to know your local hosts and discover a whole new side of Switzerland. Get inspired, select, book.

17 Spectacular Places to Visit in Switzerland (+ Map!)

Nestled in central Europe and dominated by the Alps, the best places to visit in Switzerland are downright sublime.

When it comes to jaw-dropping landscapes, quaint small towns, and enchanting cities that perfectly blend the past, present, and future, nowhere does it quite like Switzerland.

Many people (us included) put off planning trips to Switzerland’s beautiful corners for years because of its deserved reputation for high prices–but the best Swiss travel destinations are so incredible that, while expensive, you never doubt that you’re getting your money’s worth.

To help get you excited about planning your bucket list Switzerland vacation, we’ve worked with several other travel bloggers to round up the most magnificent places in Switzerland to visit!

Whether your dream Swiss trip involves Alpine hiking, lake swimming, skiing, or simply eating lots of fondue while overlooking the mountains, there’s an incredible getaway in Switzerland here for you.

Here are some of the most beautiful places to visit in Switzerland!

Table of Contents

Stunning Cities to Visit in Switzerland

Beautiful small villages + mountain towns in switzerland, more of the best places to visit in switzerland, map of the most beautiful places in switzerland to visit.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

From Rachel of Rachel’s Ruminations

Basel is a lovely little city with a historical core that is just perfect for strolling and soaking up the atmosphere.

The houses are simple and charming, some dating to the Middle Ages.

Art dots the streets: fountains, decorative sculpture, and painting on the centuries-old buildings as well as amusing modern art, like the dragon sculpture that breathes actual smoke!

“Reaction ferries” – no motor or sails – carry passengers across the Rhine between the two halves of the city.

If you like to see historical sights, the Romanesque and Gothic Basel Cathedral is one of the best sights in Basel , and climbing the spire to see the view is also worth the effort.

Three of the original city gates still stand, restored to their medieval glory, and the bright red Rathaus (city hall) is quite a sight too.

The more modern Tinguely fountain is an amusing cross between a fountain and a kinetic sculpture.

The Foundation Beyeler, on the edge of town, houses a truly exceptional collection of modern masterpieces by major artists such as Rothko, Picasso, Monet, and Mondrian. It’s just outside of town but easy to reach.

Basel is a year-round destination, but summer is the best season for enjoying the outdoor attractions and architecture.

However, December brings a different charm: Basel is home to what is widely considered to be the best Christmas market in Switzerland!

From Caroline of Veggie Wayfarer

Snowcapped mountains, half-timbered houses, and a city that seemingly rolls down a hill right into the most pristine lake, upon which steamboats glide to and back from France: this is the storybook city of Lausanne, in the  Vaud-region .

Built atop three hills, the very first thing you will want to bring with you is a good pair of walking shoes. Start at the Lausanne Cathedral for some of the best views over the entire city, walk down the famous wooden staircase ( Escaliers du marché ) into the heart of the city at the  Place de la Palud , which contains a clutch of restaurants and bars as well as the oldest working fountain of the city.

Meander through the tiny streets until you hit  Palais de Rumine , a Renaissance palace well worth a visit.

The buzzing Flon district is great for a night on the town, or grab a drink at Brasserie Montbenon if you are looking for a more intimate setting.

Make your way to Lake Geneva at the foot of Lausanne, where you’ll find a variety of watersports on offer throughout the year.

Time permitting, hop of a steam peddler to Chillon Castle.

On the way make a brief stop at the UNESCO Lavaux vineyards, to try a glass of locally-produced wine.

From Zoe of Together In Switzerland

For one of the best places to visit in Switzerland, consider booking your next Swiss getaway in Lugano!

Located in the heart of the Italian-speaking Ticino region, Lugano is beautiful to visit all year round.

However, the best time for  Lugano is in the summer , with long warm days and lots of local events in the city.

Since Lugano is well known also for its Lake Lugano, one of the best things to do after exploring and shopping in the city is to get out onto the lake!

You can rent cute red little paddle boats for a minimum of 30 minutes, or else book a larger boat trip that includes sightseeing at some local villages nearby. 

Lugano also is home to two funiculars that you can take up either Mount San Salvatore or Monte Bre.

Both nearby mountains are just above 900 in elevation and both have gorgeous views of the lake and the city of Lugano.

Summer is especially beautiful at each top mountain as they both have a restaurant serving drinks and food late into the night.

From there, you can see the sunset from above as well as watch the city light up in the darkness. 

If you’re visiting Switzerland in the summer, it’s also a must to bring your swimsuit to Lugano as you should not leave without swimming in the lake!

There are a few dedicated swimming areas to choose from, such as at Lido Riva Caccia right in the city center. 

From Kristin of Global Travel Escapades

When looking for the best travel destinations in Switzerland, you won’t want to miss the lakeside city of Geneva.

The city is in the French-speaking region of Switzerland and is located right next to the border of France, not far from Annecy.

In addition to being a beautiful city with lots of French-style architecture, Geneva’s location along Lake Geneva makes it an ideal Swiss city to visit.

The most iconic attraction in Geneva is the Jet d’eau Geneve, a 140m tall water jet in the middle of Lake Geneva.

After seeing the fountain, you can walk along the harbor and admire the colorful flower clock in the nearby Jardin Anglais.

The flower clock features over 6,500 flowers that create the watch’s face.

No trip to Geneva would be complete without paying a visit to Palais de Nations.

You’ll see the flag of each country that is part of the United Nations!

So if you’re looking for places to visit in Switzerland, consider Geneva, and make sure you visit during the summer months to minimize your chances of rainy weather!

From Dymphe of Dym Abroad

One of the best places to visit in Switzerland is the picturesque city of Lucerne.

Whether you are spending  one day in Lucerne  or enjoying a longer trip, this German-speaking city nestled along the River Reuss is a beautiful travel destination.

One of the best things to do in Lucerne is to visit the Kapellbrücke, a covered pedestrian wooden bridge that spans the river in the city that dates back to the 14th century.

The Kapellbrücke has unique architecture and there are historic interior paintings that are very interesting to see.

If you like the Kapellbrücke, the Spreuer Bridge is another must-see!

Other top attractions in central Lucerne include climbing the towers along the Musegg Wall for incredible views of the city and Lake Lucerne and visiting the Swiss Museum of Transport .

Another one of the best things to do in Lucerne is to spend time on Lake Lucerne to enjoy spectacular views of the mountains. You can ride the ferry or go swimming in the summer.

While visiting Lucerne, don’t miss the chance to head up to Mount Pilatus , either–not only are the views incredible but getting to the top includes riding the steepest cog railway in the world!

From Sarah of CosmopoliClan

Nestled amidst rolling green hills and hugged by the crystal-clear Aare river, lies the city of Bern.

It’s the political epicenter of Switzerland with the Bundeshaus as the seat of the Swiss Parliament.

Bern’s picturesque Old Town may be compact, this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site has a lot offer.

Visiting the Zytglogge, or Clock Tower, is one of the most popular of  things to do in Bern .

This landmark featuring a bear parade, golden rooster and time god Chronos as it strikes the hour, seems to come straight out of a story book.

As you stroll the elegant flag-lined streets of Bern, you’ll notice the many colorfully decorated water fountains.

Other architectural highlights are the stately arcades and the vaulted cellars that guarantee a pleasant shopping or dining experience regardless of the weather.

For a wonderful view over the city, climb the 312 steps to the viewing platform of the Bern Minster. This cathedral has the highest spire in all of Switzerland.

Behind it, you’ll find the Mattelift which will take you to the lower-level Matte district with its artistic flair and half-timbered houses.

From there, you can cross the Aare river to the Bärengraben where you can meet some of the city’s most famous residents: the bears.

The legend goes that the Duke who founded Bern would name the city after the first animal he encountered while hunting and that happened to be a bear.

End your visit at the Rosengarten park and take in the most spectacular panoramic view over the Altstadt and the white mountain peaks of the Bernese Oberland.

From Emma of Travel on a Time Budget

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland , with no shortage of things to do.

It’s also a beautiful city, with the Limmat River flowing through the old town and Lake Zurich at one end, surrounded by mountain peaks.

Among the best things to do in Zurich is to spend some time in the historic old town.

This has picturesque cobbled streets and squares to wander through, with beautiful churches, wonderful cafes and restaurants, and a 17th-century renaissance town hall.

Boat trips run along the river and around the lake; the ferry stops at Zurichhorn for the chance to walk around the park and visit the small pretty Chinese Garden with its lake and colorful temples.

Zurich also has a number of fascinating museums to visit.

These include the Swiss National Museum, the Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum , the Rietberg Art Museum, and the FIFA World Cup Museum dedicated to the history of football.

For visitors looking for some relaxation, there is the rooftop thermal pool at the Thermalbad and Spa that provides views out across the city.

Zurich is a wonderful place to visit at any time of year.

The summer months are perfect for walking around the lake or dipping in the water in one of the city’s lidos.

In the winter, there is skiing in the nearby mountains and ice skating in the city.

The city’s streets are lit up, and there are cozy cafes to pop into to warm up with the local fondue. At Christmas, the city hosts several markets.

Though deservedly famous for being expensive, Zurich has a range of accommodations to suit most Switzerland-friendly budgets.

The Hotel Montana near the main train station is ideal for short city breaks.

For more luxury, The Dolder Grand , with its hilltop setting, complete with an ice rink in winter, is a great option. 

From Megan of Megan & Aram

Interlaken, also known as the “Adventure Capital of Switzerland”, is a gorgeous place that can be visited in any season!

There are so many things you can do regardless of whether  you visit in winter   or summer… you just need to dress appropriately for the weather.

Go kayaking on beautiful Lake Brienz in all seasons, and relax on the beach after a swim session in the summer.

Interlaken has many fantastic hiking trails to choose from, and some of the most popular ones are Oberburghorn or Hardergrat.

You can take the funicular up the mountain to the Harder Kulm viewpoint, where you can enjoy the stunning views and dine at the Panorama Restaurant.

To see the countryside from another perspective, take a hot air balloon ride!

And for even more views, take Europe’s highest railway to Jungfraujoch, where you will get breathtaking views from an elevation of nearly 3,500 m (about 11,500 ft).

You will never get tired of the spectacular scenery no matter how many viewpoints you go to!

Travel back in time by visiting the following fairytale-like places: St. Beatus Caves, a cave system over a kilometer long where legend says St. Beatus ousted a dragon living there in the 6th century; the medieval Thun Castle; or the charming village of Grindelwald.

Interlaken is a must-visit location in Switzerland and should be added to every itinerary!

From Paul D’Souza of Paulmarina.com

Mürren  is a beautiful, small village in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland.

Situated at 5400 feet (ca. 1,646 m) above sea level, this car-free village can only be accessed by cable car or mountain train.

Visitors can get there within 10 minutes from Stechelberg with the Schilthornbahn or take the iconic mountain train via Grütschalp to travel to Mürren within 20 minutes.

The views from Mürren are beyond stunning and will enthrall every nature and mountain-loving traveler.

Mürren and the Schilthorn peak came to fame thanks to a James Bond movie. Take the cable car further up to Birg and Schilthorn to discover Bond World and enjoy brunch in the Piz Gloria rotating restaurant.

From there you can spot the Mönch, Jungfrau, and Eiger peaks.

Adventure lovers will enjoy the Brig Via Ferrata trail, a rock climbing, zip lining, and tight rope walking trail further down.

Every season is beautiful and has its perks in Mürren, but the warmer months are more suitable to go hiking and paragliding.

Skiing and snowshoe walking are popular winter activities in the area.

A winter wonderland awaits you from December to March with plenty of snow and snow-dusted Swiss mountains.

From Dean and Laynni of Routinely Nomadic

Home to the world-famous Matterhorn, Zermatt has long been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Switzerland.

So, yes, it can get very busy. But the fabulous mountain scenery more than makes up for that.

While the iconic Matterhorn dominates the skyline, the town is completely surrounded by impressive mountains and fantastic viewpoints, many of which are accessible by cable car .

Truly a year-round destination, Zermatt is one of the top skiing destinations in Switzerland in the winter, while in summer it attracts outdoor enthusiasts from all over to enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, white-water rafting, and, of course, hiking.

If you have your heart set on seeing the Matterhorn , try to give yourself a few days in Zermatt in order to increase your odds of clear weather.

Along with a wide variety of gorgeous day hikes, Zermatt serves as the start or end point of the incredible  Walker’s Haute Route , a phenomenal 2-week hut-to-hut trek through the Alps that is arguably the best long-distance hike in Europe.

Secluded at the top of a picturesque valley, Zermatt is closed to vehicles (except for electric hotel and work shuttles), making it a wonderful place to wander on foot.

While long-time visitors to Zermatt lament the ever-growing number of hotels, restaurants, and retail stores, they make it a very easy place to have fun and every new building still conforms to the town’s classic ski town vibe.

Those looking for a luxury stay with amazing Matterhorn views should check out the Europe Hotel & Spa , although there are practically endless Zermatt accommodation options to fit most budgets.

Baden, Switzerland

By Nina of Nina Out and About

Baden is the spa capital of Switzerland, yet most people have never heard of it.

Unlike Bath in the UK, Baden has remained off the beaten paths for tourists, and even most  expats who live in Switzerland .

Baden is a small town located in Aargau, about 20 minutes by train from Zurich.

It’s routinely confused with Baden-Baden in Germany (even when you try to buy a ticket to visit). But don’t be fooled: it does exist!

Baden’s claim to fame is the natural springs that have made it a popular spa destination for centuries.

The most well-known is the Friedensquelle (“Peace Spring”), but there are several others to explore as well.

In addition to its spas, Baden is also home to a beautiful old town with plenty of shops and restaurants. There’s also an interesting museum dedicated to the history of the town’s springs.

You can try out the hot springs for free along the riverside.

There’s a bench with a trough of natural hot water that you can put your feet in while you enjoy a hot chocolate or takeaway pastry.

The spa inside has evening and early morning discounted tickets, which will allow you to enjoy the spa when it’s nearly empty.

If you’re looking for a relaxing day trip from Zurich to one of the most underrated places to visit in Switzerland, Baden is the perfect place to head.

The best time to visit Baden is in the spring or summer when the weather is warm and you can enjoy all the town has to offer.

Lauterbrunnen

From Martha of May Cause Wanderlust

Lauterbrunnen is a village at the base of the stunningly beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland region, and it is indisputably one of the absolute best places to visit in Switzerland!

It is the epicentre of this bucolic area, which boasts of pretty waterfalls, steep snow-capped mountains and quaint wooden chalets, and there are plenty of  things to do in Lauterbrunnen  and the surrounding area.

In the village itself, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to scenery. On either side of the village, there are green hillsides dotted with chalets and sheer cliff faces.

The stunningly delicate and impossibly tall Staubbach Falls seem to be falling on the village – although they are actually just a short walk outside it.

And the best view of all is southward across the village towards Lauterbrunnen Church.

Looking in this direction, you see the pretty church steeple flanked on either side by the steep valley walls and the Staubach Falls, with the snow-capped peaks of the Alps behind them.

It is so picture perfect, it almost doesn’t feel real!

To explore the countryside around Lauterbrunnen, there are hiking and cycling trails, and you can also take trains and/or cable cars to the neighbouring car-free alpine villages of Mürren and Wengen.

You can also take a series of trains from Lauterbrunnen to Jungfraujoch for an up-close look at one of Switzerland’s remarkable glaciers.

For a reasonably affordable stay, with good food and a chance of gorgeous views from your room, check out the Hotel Oberland .

From Marianne of Pasta, Pretzels & Passports

Located approximately 25 kilometres southwest of Lucerne, in the heart of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, lies the picturesque town of Entlebuch.

Covering a 22-square-mile area, the town is home to only 3,300 people.

But don’t let its size fool you! Entlebuch is one of the prettiest towns you will ever see.

And if you enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, climbing, or canoeing, then this town is definitely one of the best places to visit in Switzerland.

Entlebuch offers more than 60 kilometers of well-marked hiking trails.

You can also choose one of the 13 loop trails that wind through gorgeous forests, along clear rivers, and through mountain meadows.

But if you are looking for something truly unique, head over to  Stillaub Lama  where you can go Lama-Trekking with a guided tour! Enjoy an incredible hike accompanied by llamas.

If canoeing is something that interests you, the Canoe Club in Entlebuch offers canoe rentals or even guided excursions.

Paddle along the scenic Emme (Emmenuferweg) river between Hasle and Entlebuch.

And although summer is an incredible time to visit Entlebuch, if you like winter activities, the town has plenty to offer at that time of the year as well.

From snowshoeing to winter hiking, cross-country and downhill skiing, you won’t find a more scenic location.

And after an exhilarating day of exploring this incredible area, head back to town where you will find several excellent restaurants serving local cuisine.

From Trijit of Budget Travel Buff

On the banks of Lake Geneva stands the charming resort city of Montreux, which happens to be one of the most beautiful places to visit in Switzerland.

The town looks out over the entrancing splendor of the surrounding countryside as it lies peacefully tucked away within the Swiss Alps.

The architecture of the historic cities and the ancient castles of Montreux has made it a place worth exploring.

The ideal months to visit Montreux are from April to October, but you’ll also find a charming Swiss Christmas market here in December!

The French-speaking Vaud region of Switzerland, which stretches from Lausanne to Montreux, is the heart of the Swiss Riviera and has a distinct Mediterranean character.

The lakeside resorts provide a surreal view of the lush green landscape, where you can unwind.

It’s one of Switzerland’s most picturesque locations due to its gorgeous lakeside location, expansive vineyards, and mountains, hills, and valleys.

Take a relaxing boat trip on Lake Geneva to take in the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the lakefront villages.

You can visit the Freddie Mercury statue, wander along the Old Town’s streets, and circle the Montreux Lake.

It is unusual to visit Switzerland without trying  Swiss chocolate , the country’s most well-known delicacy.

The chocolate train on the Montreux-Berner Oberland Railway is devoted to the world’s most delicate temptation.

The famous Château de Chillon, which is about a 30-minute walk from Montreux, is another reason to visit.

This 13th-century fortress comes from the Middle Ages and features a beautiful view of the lake.

From Michelle C. of Intentional Travelers

When it comes to beautiful places in Switzerland to add to your bucket list, nothing compares to the Alps.

Nendaz, a small ski resort town up in the mountains, is popular for both winter and summer activities.

Arrive via train to Sion, in the valley, and then take a Postbus up to town.

The drive up the winding mountain road is a beautiful initiation to the area with spectacular views.

In the summer and fall, there are great hikes leaving from town so be sure to pack  walking shoes !

Several of the trails in the region follow along the “ bisses ,” or old waterways, in and out of small villages and farms, through the hills and forests.

The ski lift to Tracouet’s Black Lake provides another panoramic perspective and more hiking trails.

The vacation rental options in Nendaz are abundant, although many of the hotels close in the shoulder season (fall).

Staying in Haute (“high”) Nendaz not far from the Tourist Office is best for easy access to restaurants, grocery stores, bus stops, and the ski lift.

Nendaz can also be a good base for day trips to other excellent Switzerland travel destinations like Sion, Martigny, Zermatt, and even places a little further like Spiez, Interlaken, and Bern.

Ascona, Switzerland

From Giorgy of G-Extreme Travel

The small lakeside town of Ascona is located in Ticino, the sunny, warmest, and most charming place in Switzerland.

Indeed, it boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year and its mild climate makes it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.

There are always plenty of delightful things to do in Ascona, regardless of the time of year.

From hiking to discovering the holy Monte Verità, and from soaking in the Maggia or Verzasca Valley surrounded by magical waterfalls to visiting historical museums such as Castello san Materno, Galleria Borgo, and Museo Comunale d’Arte Moderna.

And, of course, the Ascona lido is always tempting in the summer.

Don’t forget to walk along the famous lungolago, where there are plenty of restaurants offering delicious Italian cuisine.

From this promenade, you can take an electric train around Ascona to discover the local attractions.

Or, you can take a boat to Brissago Island in the middle of Lake Maggiore letting you live an exciting story of only Switzerland’s Botanical Garden on the island.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing vacation or an action-packed getaway, this little hidden gem is an incredible Switzerland travel destination to add to your bucket list!

Bernina Express

It’s hard to say whether a train ride counts as a Switzerland travel destination–but then again, trains in Switzerland are a bit more exciting than just about anywhere else.

Famous for being one of the most spectacular train rides in the world, the Bernina Express runs from Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy, covering truly spectacular scenery along the way!

Featuring nearly 200 bridges and more than 50 tunnels along the way, this 4-hour scenic journey definitely belongs on your Switzerland bucket list.

Dramatic views of the Alps, glaciers, the soaring bridges, and more are waiting to be enjoyed through panoramic windows.

Be sure to book this Swiss travel experience in advance–the train is deservedly popular, and gets booked up quickly!

Schynige Platte

From Amela of Stay Wild Travels

If you’re heading to the Jungfrau Region in Switzerland, then visiting the summit of  Schynige Platte  is a must.

In order to get there, you’ll need to hop on board the Schynige Platte-Bahn, an old-fashioned, historic railway that leaves from the small village of Wilderswill which is not too far from Interlaken.

It chugs slowly up the mountainside and offers fantastic views, which is an incredible experience in itself.

Once you’ve arrived at the summit, you’ll find a plethora of hiking trails, a restaurant and a botanical alpine garden, to name a few.

The most popular hiking trail is the Panorama Trail. As the name suggests, this offers unmatched views over the Jungfrau Region, including the three major peaks in the area: Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger.

You’ll be able to visit Schynige Platte from the end of May to the end of October.

Those looking for a traditional stay among the mountains are in luck, as the restaurant also offers doubles up as a popular hotel .

The rooms are quaint with Swiss décor and offer picture-perfect mountain views.

It’s worth noting that Swiss Travel Pass holders receive a discount on the trip, and Jungfrau Pass holders have a visit included with their card.

Take This Map With You! Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. To save this map to “Your Places” on Google Maps, click the star to the right of the title. You’ll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! To open the map in a new window, click the button on the top right of the map.

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

2 thoughts on “17 Spectacular Places to Visit in Switzerland (+ Map!)”

One place that should be a must to visit when in Switzerland is the Rheinfall (Rhinefall) near Schaffhausen which also is a beautiful town. It is less then 1 hour from Zurich. PS: A small typo, the river in Lucerne is called Reuss, not Neuss

Thanks, Thomas, I’ll get that fixed. 🙂

And yes, I hear the falls are supposed to be gorgeous!

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10 best things to do in Switzerland

From scavenger hunts in an abbey to interactive art tours in the cultural district, here are the top travel experiences.

Known as the “playground of Europe,” this small mountainous country offers a wealth of Alpine adventures, from skiing and sledding down powdery slopes to exploring an extensive network of biking and hiking trails. But there is more to Switzerland than its breathtaking scenery. Here are 10 of the top ways to experience it.

Watch water become wine in Zürich

On special occasions, Zürich ’s Münsterhof Fountain dispenses wine thanks to a special device connected to the fountain’s well. Otherwise, it is one of the more than 1,200 public water fountains, most spewing potable water 24 hours a day, found in the city. Discover many of them, some of which date as early as the 15th century, on the “Water in Zürich” city tour .

Stroll a meticulously preserved medieval town

Located about 40 miles from the popular Rhine Falls, the medieval old town of Stein am Rhein received its very first Wakker prize for its preservation of historical buildings and architectural heritage. Admire the Rathaus (town hall) and half-timbered houses adorned with jewel-toned painted facades and oriel windows. At the Museum Lindwurm , learn how the Swiss lived and worked during the 19th century.  

See decorative signs in Appenzell

Tafeens —artful traditional store signs hanging from doorways—can be found throughout the town of Appenzell . The most elaborate ones hang from hotel, store, and restaurant doorways along Hauptgasse and Marktgasse Streets .  

Hike in one of Europe’s greenest valleys

Snaking through several idyllic Swiss villages, the Simmental House Trail   passes wooden chalets and grazing cattle. Learn the history behind the well-preserved 15th-century houses constructed by wealthy farmers who bred and exported the now renowned Simmental cattle . They became popular for their high milk and beef yield and good temperament.

Board an iconic Swiss train

Experience the marvels of Swiss engineering by taking a ride on the Brienz Rothorn Railway . This historic steam rack railway has been chugging daily along the Alpine meadows and turquoise waters of Lake Brienz since 1892. It starts in the wood carving village of Brienz and ends at Rothorn Kulm , 7,362 feet above sea level. The summit offers a panoramic view of 693 mountain peaks on clear days. The train to Rochers-de-Naye is a great way to experience Switzerland’s natural beauty, offering a grand view of Lake Geneva and the Swiss and French Alps.

( See the world’s epic landscapes on these nine train trips .)

Meet Charlie Chaplin in Lausanne

The Photo Elysée   museum houses the historic photographic archives of Charlie Chaplin, an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame during the silent film era. Plateforme 10 is a new exhibition space in Lausanne that houses this renowned photography museum, as well as the Vaud Museum of Fine Arts (MCBA) and the Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (MUDAC), the only institution dedicated to design in western Switzerland. Travelers can visit MCBA for free on Saturdays to explore the museum’s collection of more than 10,000 paintings and participate in cultural activities, guided tours, and interactive workshops.

Take a tuk-tuk tour in Geneva

Short on time? One of the best ways to quickly tour Geneva is on an electric tuk-tuk . It’s the newest addition to Switzerland’s extensive list of sustainable transport systems. Discover local wineries, sample decadent fondue, and admire some of Geneva’s iconic architecture, all with a local guide.

Plan a pilgrimage to Einsiedeln

Learn about the history of the 10th-century Einsiedeln Abbey —one of Europe’s most significant pilgrimage sites—and the daily life of modern monks on the Monkstrail scavenger hunt. Look for clues in the Chapel of Grace with the Black Madonna   and the stables of the “Cavalli della Madonna,” where monks have been breeding horses since the Middle Ages. Hear the angelic voices of the choir perform the Salve Regina   (hymnal prayer) in the chapel every day at 4:30 p.m. or take a guided tour of the monastery library.

( More than 50 monasteries across the small nation are open to the public .)

Explore the Swiss-Italian region

Head to the Ticino region for a distinct Mediterranean flair. Stroll along Lugano ’s Via Nassa for antiquarian bookshops, trendy boutiques, and high-end jewelry stores. Shop for seasonal fruits and vegetables on Via Pessina .

Families love Swissminiatur, an open-air miniature museum in Melide. On the one-hour tour, visitors tower over 1:25 scale models of the country’s most famous buildings and monuments. In nearby Morcote , find arcades of old patrician homes, lakeside gardens, and protected heritage sights, such as the C hurch of Santa Maria del Sasso and the Tower of Capitano .    

Eat your way through central Switzerland

Sample the local flavors of Switzerland’s first UNESCO biosphere reserve on the Marbach food trail in Entlebuch . Specialties made from raw local ingredients include tasty cheeses and meats. Take a gondola ride, meet alpine dairy farmers, and enjoy panoramic views between bites.  

( For more tips on what to do in Switzerland, see our   Switzerland Explorer’s Guide .)

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18 Best Places to Visit in Switzerland

You are probably thinking about Swiss chocolate, Swiss cheese, and clocks, too. These are some of the things that you know about Switzerland already. But this landlocked country is a haven for anybody who might be looking for some truly picturesque and sweepingly dramatic landscapes. It’s in the middle of the Alps, so how couldn’t it boast the picture perfect look that it does?

You might find yourself getting a cogwheel railway up a mountain one moment and visiting slices of medieval heritage nestled on lakes the next. You’d better prepare yourself for some breathtaking views of craggy peaks from Swiss mountain towns, exploring historic districts on a crisp backdrop of glittering water, and marveling at majestic alpine meadows ringed by snowy mountains. Here’s a look at the best places to visit in Switzerland:

Map of Switzerland

With over 300 days of sunshine every year, there’s never a bad time to be in Basel. Set along the Rhine River, Basel is the third-largest city in Switzerland. But tradition, quirkiness, and a splash of rebellious spirit make Basel different to the rest.

Baslers, as they are known, are a fascinating community. You’ll find them floating along the Rhine in summer, going with the current until something else calls them forth. That thing could be a family swim in one of the city’s historic fountains.

The joie de vivre goes through all parts of life. You can find it in their excellent galleries (plus 40 museums) and atmospheric markets. The latter includes Marktplatz in the Old Town. Also, in the way they celebrate Christmas.

Along the old streets, you’ll find elaborate architecture, from the town hall to the cathedral. Not to mention some of Switzerland’s best theaters.

17. Appenzell

Enveloped in beautiful countryside, Appenzell is equal with its surroundings. The lovely village is complete with vibrant gabled architecture, a great selection of museums, some mouthwatering bakeries and cultural events.

Speaking of events, Appenzell maintains tradition. For several weeks from mid-May, alpine herdsmen don their customary wear and guide their cows in an enormous procession up into the high hills. The cattle drive occurs again towards the end of summer. In between is the Appenzell Folk Music Festival, where the town’s artistic heritage is on full display.

Other traditions still take place year-round, including the creation of Appenzeller cheese, known for its bold taste. Complement this with some Rösti, and you’ll receive the proper local culinary experience.

From there, it’s time to hike. You’ll have endless options, from hiking hut to hut across the Appenzell Alps to trekking up to the romantic Berggasthaus Äscher, a guesthouse built into the side of a mountain.

16. Swiss National Park

In Engadine, the Swiss National Park is renowned for its wildlife, a sanctuary set in an utterly Swiss landscape. With room to roam and well-maintained trails, it’s exciting and easy to explore the country’s only national park.

You can be assured of the spectacular here. Lace-up your boots and discover dense forests that quickly dissolve into vast meadows beset with wildflowers. The valleys drive you towards tumbling falls and azure lakes. It’s once you’re here that you will appreciate the towering moors and summits.

Some of the park’s best hikes include the 21km Lakes of Macun Trail through high alpine plateaus and Alps views. The easier 13km Munt la Schera takes you through steppe-landscapes.

While the family-friendly Alp Trupchun remains steady, providing a great overview of the park and wildlife. This includes stag rutting in autumn, marmots, chamoix, ibex and deer.

15. St. Moritz

A beloved winter destination since the mid-19th century, St. Moritz remains at the height of Swiss glitz and glamour. The snow forecast beckons high-end ski bums from across Europe, hoping to explore the slopes that have hosted two Winter Olympics. But there’s much more to St. Moritz for those who prefer to leave the skis at home.

Luxury palatial hotels bring warmth to the heart of winter. Day spas, retreats, romantic ice skating, even horse racing on ice. When the skiers and snowboarders return, swap stories in front of the cozy alpine fireplace.

Summer is a great time to visit St. Moritz and not just for the discounted 4 and 5 star hotels. One can sail on Lake St. Moritz, windsurf on Lake Maloja or float along the surging Inn River. To stretch your legs, plan a hike up to the Hedi Hut or wander the Segantini Museum.

14. Gruyères

In the flowing hills of French-speaking Switzerland, Gruyères’ cobbled streets lead you to a colorful mix of culinary and cultural delights. In classic Swiss fashion, the picturesque medieval town is also a proverbial trailhead for adventures beyond.

The Gruyères Castle dates back to the 13th century, from which the town surrounded it and spread out. It remains in great condition, atop the hill, offering splendid views of the diminutive Old Town.

From there, wander down to the historic main street, which at 300m long is packed with historic sights, charming buildings and cafe patios. Soon you’ll connect with the Les Grands Chemins, Gruyères’ walking path that circles the town.

As you explore, aromas will capture your attention. When in Gruyères, you’ll have an excellent opportunity to learn about the town’s famous cheese at the La Maison du Gruyère. Not to mention try the famous fondue at Restaurant des Remparts.

To work it off, hike the ionic Gastlosen or take the funicular to Moléson-sur-Gruyères.

13. Verzasca Valley

Lost in the midst of Switzerland’s many amazing destinations, the Verzasca Valley is home to azure waters, deep valleys and imposing summits. In southern Switzerland, the valley too has more than a splash of Italian influence.

The valley is a place to be in nature and admire the diversity of landscape that Switzerland has to offer. You’ll feel a long way from Jungfrau, with the Mediterranean atmosphere providing an entirely different environment.

It all starts at the valley’s 220m dam wall, made iconic by James Bong. Verzasca expands to be a haven for hikers. The Sentierone goes end to end, while mountain bikers will also get their fix.

But perhaps the most famous part of the entire valley is the Ponte dei Salti. This 400-year-old medieval footbridge features two arches that run over the emerald waters, leading you to the small town of Lavertezzo.

12. Montreux

On the eastern shores of Lake Geneva, Montreaux is an elaborate collection of 19th century noble excellence amidst 13th century medieval architecture. Its beautiful surroundings, in partnership with a cooler climate has made it a popular summer escape.

This can be traced back to the 1800s, when the community slowly became the stuff of legend. It’s a magical mix of Swiss Alps scenery, the snow-fed lake and the rows of celebrated vineyards. This has created a renowned arts culture, of which the annual Montreux Jazz Festival, held in July, is the centerpiece.

But you can’t get to know Montreux’s contemporary history without understanding what came before, and what still stands today. This includes the Chateau de Chillon, a Middle Ages masterpiece on the lake’s edge.

Cap that off by wandering the parts of the 10km promenade. All before walking up the cobbled streets, encased in Belle époque elegance and wrought-iron balustrades.

11. Rhine Falls

In Schaffhausen, the Rhine Falls is Europe’s largest waterfall. The stupendous beauty of the falls is a natural spectacle, one worthy of a spot on your packed Switzerland itinerary.

In the country’s north, the falls can be found on the High Rhine. They were created as the tectonic plates shifted during the Ice Age some 15,000 years ago. From the observation platform, you can see upwards of 600,000 liters of water surge off the edge every second. For reference, that’s the equivalent of 20,000 basketballs!

The best time to visit the Rhine Falls is in the middle of the year. Come June and July, the snowmelt floods the region where this waterfall surges and drops over 21-meter ledge of pure Jurassic rock.

Surrounding the Rhine Falls, you can uncover the amazing Schloss Laufen, a 9th century castle. Its glass elevator offers some of the area’s best views with the castle’s thousand-plus year history dancing on your fingertips.

10. Interlaken

Interlaken used to be known as a watch making center, but today it’s more popular as a tourist resort. Tourists started coming to Interlaken in the early 1800s to breathe in the mountain air and partake of spa treatments. Its popularity only grew from there. The Swiss city is located directly between two major Alpine lakes: Thun and Brienz. As a result, you’ll never be too far from the chance to go swimming, boating or biking around the lakes.

Offering spectacular views of three famous Swiss mountains, the Eiger, the Jungfrau and the Monch, the city is also a popular base camp for outdoor acitivites in the surrounding Bernese Oberland Alps. Travelers looking for something different to do might want to sign up for a class or two at a woodcarving school. Hungry tourists may want to try raclette, a classic Swiss dish made from cheese.

9. Lausanne

Right on the shores of Lake Geneva, and with views of both the Swiss Alps and the French Alps, is the city of Lausanne. Serving as a gateway to a major ski area and the home to two major universities, it is easy to see the universal appeal of Lausanne.

The city is divided into districts, and the Cité district is by far the most important for travelers. In Cité, you can explore what was once known as the Old Town, and you can explore some of the architecture, which includes everything from cathedrals to castles. If you only have time to explore one attraction in Lausanne, make it the Palais de Rumine. This Italian Renaissance-style building is home to five different museums, making it the perfect place to spend an entire day learning more about local art, culture and history.

A part of the Swiss Riviera, Lausanne has been popular with writers over the centuries, include Lord Byron, the Shelleys and Ernest Hemingway. Located in the French-speaking sector of Switzerland, Lausanne boasts an impressive cathedral and wonderful outdoor markets.

Geneva is a city where international influences reign supreme. It is home to the International Red Cross Committee and the European headquarters of the United Nations, as well as 20 other international organizations. Environmental travelers will enjoy the fact that Geneva is a “green” city, with 20 percent of its land devoted to parks, earning it the nickname of “city of parks.”

A highlight of a visit to Geneva is a chance to see the iconic Jet d’Eau, an enormous fountain seen from the Lac Léman waterfront that spews water high into the air. In the Old Town, the towers of Cathédrale St-Pierre are the tallest things you can see, and you will definitely want to stop for some photographs of the exterior and a tour of the interior. Geneva also is a good city explore by bike or rest weary feet by taking a boat ride on Lake Geneva.

The city of Zurich is the largest in Switzerland, and it is known for being a major financial hub in Europe. Even if you’re not a part of the business world, Zurich has plenty to offer to visitors. To start, Zurich is located right on the edge of Lake Zurich. You can hike or cycle around the perimeter of the lake for some exercise, you could rent a boat and head out onto the water or you could check out some of the man made beaches and jump into the refreshing water for a lake swim.

Zurich is also home to a number of historic churches, world-class museums and renowned architecture. Not to be missed is the Swiss National Museum, located in a fairytale castle, it is dedicated to Switzerland’s cultural history. To see as much of Zurich as possible at once, hop aboard the Polybahn, a funicular dating back to the 19th century, for amazing views and a chance to dine at the charming cafe terrace at the top.

Zermatt is a small town that is famous for skiing and mountaineering due to its proximity to the Matterhorn, one of Switzerland’s highest mountains. Cable cars whisk skiers up surrounding mountains in the winter and hikers in the summer.

Zermatt is a good town for walking to various sites, since gasoline-driven vehicles are not permitted; any vehicles within the city limits must be battery-operated. As you wander, sun-soaked patios beckon you in. The same ones whose aromatic espresso and hot chocolates promise a warm escape once the snow has arrived. But keep your eyes peeled, as a striking view of the impregnable Matterhorn lies in wait.

Under the summer sun, the mountain blooms green, creating a mix of nature, rock and glaciers that create a climbing and biking mecca. Treks like the 5 Lakes Trail, peel back the curtain of the area’s beauty showcasing, yes, five lakes, many with Matterhorn reflections.

However, it’s the winter fun that brings most visitors. Funiculars and gondolas run up multiple sections to create a skiing and snowboarding paradise. With a touch of après-ski added in.

5. Jungfrau Region

The Top of Europe, the Jungfrau Region, brings together all that is great about Switzerland. Offering a bounty of outdoor adventures, it’s the centerpiece of the Bernese Oberland with endless snowy peaks that descend via glaciers into the lush valley.

Home to Grindelwald, Mürren, Wengen and the fairytale waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen, it’s easy to access the all-encompassing bonny beauty of Jungfrau. That’s all before you truly get to know how Switzerland makes some of its best scenery accessible to you, without overpowering nature.

Gondolas sweep you up from the deep valleys and place you alongside classic mountain chalets surrounded by alpine farms. One of Switerland’s most scenic rail trip, the Jungfraubahn takes visitors from the Kleine Scheidegg mountain through the Eiger and Mönch up to the Jungfraujoch.

Hiking trails snake through blooming meadows to remote villages and the views just, don’t, stop.

The four Jungfrau towns noted above are great places to visit in Switzerland and a good pick to base yourself. This isn’t an area you want to rush through. Take your time to discover the towns themselves, and the peaks that rise from their doorsteps.

Lugano has been nicknamed the “Monte Carlo of Switzerland,” because of its growing popularity with celebrities. The city is located on Lake Lugano, in the Italian speaking section of this alpine country. Lugano, which is blessed with warm summers, dates back to the 9th century.

A major draw to Lugano is outdoor recreation, and there are plenty of ways to stay active in and around the area. You might spend the day hiking along the clearly signposted Olive Tree Trail, or you could go for a swim at the easily accessible Lido di Lugano right by the city center. After strolling through the Old Town to enjoy the architecture, view it all from a unique perspective at the charming and fascinating Swiss Miniature Village.

3. Lake Geneva

A joyous blend of Swiss and French soak Lake Geneva in opulent elegance as captivating as the scenery itself. And with the Rhône flowing into Europe’s largest alpine lake, encompassing high altitude peaks and rolling green meadows, there are few better.

Crescent-shaped Lake Geneva is speckled with fascinating towns and cities alike. The kind that doesn’t overwhelm the surroundings, but merely blend in.

Here, you can explore world-class museums, discover Renaissance and contemporary arts, laze in gorgeous botanical gardens, admire the Jet d’Eau and take your pick of the waterfront cafes. As you do, you’ll see the mouettes, a boat taking locals from A to B across the glass surface of Lake Geneva.

Another beautiful example of Lake Geneva’s life is Lausanne. The medieval old town, backed by towering peaks, boasts a stunning cathedral and access to the lake and mountains.

There is something effortlessly romantic about Lucerne . Whether it’s the glacial-fed lake that reflects the world like a mirror, or the utterly walkable Old Town. Magic abounds here. Medieval buildings have become the home of modern luxuries and comfort. While the ancient streets eventually lead you to the iconic Kapellbrücke Bridge.

Before you notice the 14th century bridge, however, you’ll sense the peace that comes from a car-less Old Town. A haven for pedestrians, and a dream to wander, you can bounce between plazas, by frescoed buildings and along the edge of the Reuss River. Another famous monument is the Dying Lion, which was carved out of rock to honor Swiss mercenaries who died in France in 1792.

Along the way, you’ll discover that not much has changed since the likes of Queen Victoria, Goethe and Wagner were entranced by Lucerne two centuries ago. You’ll be glad it hasn’t.

After wandering across the Kapellbrücke Bridge and visiting the KKL and Rosengart galleries, head to the town’s namesake lake. Here you’ll find some of Switzerland’s best sunsets surrounded by epic peaks.

Bern is a picturesque medieval city with a history that dates back to the 12th century, though it did not become a part of the Swiss Confederacy until the 16th century. While not the largest city in Switzerland, Bern is the capital. Its most famous attraction is the Zytglogge, an ancient clock tower with moving puppets. Other popular sites in Bern include the Munster, a Gothic cathedral that rises from the old town, and its town hall.

The bear is the symbol of Bern, with several being kept in an open-air pit. Shoppers will appreciate the old town that boasts four miles of arcades, making it one of the longest covered shopping areas in Europe.

Switzerland Travel Video

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15 Best Cities to Visit in Switzerland

17 Top Attractions & Things to do in Switzerland

14 Most Scenic Small Towns in Switzerland

10 Most Beautiful Castles in Switzerland

12 Most Beautiful Lakes in Switzerland

9 Most Amazing Places to Stay in Switzerland

11 Most Beautiful Regions in Switzerland

16 Top Tourist Attractions in Zurich, Switzerland

Where to Stay in Geneva: 8 Amazing Hotels

15 Top Tourist Attractions in Geneva

Reader interactions.

December 14, 2020 at 10:57 am

I really loved Montreux. I love walking the path right next to Lake Geneva and all the beautiful artwork.

November 4, 2019 at 4:44 pm

I agree with all of the above comment! one thing in particular that I enjoyed is the punctuality of the trains. Did you know that the Bern StAtion is completely underground. .AMaZING!!! FYI, The Matterhorn, most of the time, it is surrounded by clouds (you cannot see the top).

December 27, 2018 at 2:52 pm

Most beautiful city in the Switzerland for me is Fribourg with biggest, best-preserved and best-maintained old city with large number of true medieval buildings. Beautiful Fribourg is unfortunately in shadow of only 30 km away politicaly more important capital city Bern, also very beautiful but more modern predominantly baroque.

January 1, 2018 at 3:21 pm

I am making my 11th trip to Switzerland next week. I always use rail passes and have travelled extensively on Swiss trains. I would highly recommend all the routes from Interlaken up to the Jungfrau and also Zermatt and the Gornergrat. Then the Glacier Express to St Moritz followed by the Bernini Express to Tirano. Also the Goldenpass train and a visit to Titlis and Pilatus. If time permits do Lugano in the South and Arosa in the East. Luzern is great along with the lake trips. Any of the above are very good see them all and you’ve cracked it. Oh and Martigny to Chamonix and the cable cars there and you’ll be amazed at what the Alps has to offer. Just do it. Enjoy.

October 27, 2017 at 2:22 am

I have been to Switzerland thrice and I think it is the most beautiful country in the world. I can go there again and again and again.

May 18, 2017 at 10:51 pm

St. Gallen is also worth visiting. Not only it has a UNESCO world heritage site, the Abbey of Saint Gallen, but the landscapes also are quite beautiful. The Appenzell Alps and the Lake Constance create some really pleasing views.

April 19, 2017 at 7:37 am

My favorite area is the Berner-Oberland region which comprises Interlaken, Beatenberg (stunning views), Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Wenger. I have seen every corner of this country and if you are looking for stunning natural wonders that seem like you are in a cartoon you can’t beat the areas I just mentioned.

May 10, 2016 at 6:46 am

I visit Switzerland last year. For me the best place was the Jungfrau region.

March 14, 2016 at 2:35 am

been to switzerland but i haven’t visited Lugano. Got to visit in my next trip.

November 15, 2015 at 7:09 pm

Switzerland is indeed the most beautiful and sensational country in every way. The scenery, culture and traditions are just a visual and aesthetic delight!!! My most favourite alpine village is Zermatt and of course the Mattterhorn, what a incredible presence that mountain exudes over the whole village. Every time the mountain seems to call me and the trip up the Gornergrat railway blows me away!!! Love the country, the people, culture, food, wines and traditions.

October 3, 2015 at 1:21 pm

I have visited Switzerland more than 5 times. I have visited several places of this beautiful country like Geneva, Zurich, Bern, Luserne, Laussane, Jungfrau, Interlaken Aust & West, Zermatt, Vevey, Lugano, Swiss Alps, Grindelwald, any several more. It is one of my favourite country in the World.

June 2, 2015 at 3:01 am

I visited Switzerland in May including Lucern, Interlaken, Luzane and Bern. The best one was Interlaken which is beautiful and very interesting.

May 22, 2015 at 11:35 pm

Rhine falls – Great experience, every time you visit. Next is Chapel Bridge and Water Tower Others are definitely worth visting

May 19, 2015 at 7:20 am

To me, Switzerland is the most beautiful country on earth…. the nature is Switzerland is such a great sight to watch…… I would place Zermatt and Zurich a little higher than where you placed…

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Best Places to Visit in Switzerland: Top 10 Tourist Attractions + 5 Amazing Alpine Lakes

There are many stunning countries around the world, but in this article, we will look at the best places to visit in Switzerland . There is a vast beauty to this country that is undeniable, and each location on the list is worthy of being added to your bucket list. 

Why You Should Visit Switzerland

Switzerland might be landlocked and small, but packed within its borders is an exceptional natural beauty. This Central European country offers a string of majestic vistas filled with lofty peaks, the bluest lakes, and the most charming Alpine villages you could imagine.

The Jungfrau, Matterhorn, and Eiger are the country’s most renowned mountains. But did you know Switzerland’s mountains cover 60% of the country ?

Beyond the awe-inspiring scenery, Switzerland is also known for its love of the Helvetica font, its culture of banking secrecy befitting a spy movie, those quirky little red pocket knives, and the very best watches . The Swiss are also renowned for their  delectable chocolate , cheese, and muesli.

Truly Switzerland is an eclectic mix of the modern, the natural, the cultural, and the historical.

10 Places to See and Things to Do in Switzerland

It is impossible to capture all of Switzerland’s medieval grandeur and natural beauty in words. To illustrate the magical charm of this country, we have listed some of the best places to visit in Switzerland below.

Wengen is one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland. Nestled on the Lauterbrunnen Valley’s slopes, this charming Swiss Alpine hamlet in the Jungfrau region is high up on Mount Eiger. The white glaciers surrounding Wengen are the loftiest in the Bernese Alps, which surround Wengen’s countryside like a wall. The ‘maiden’ or Jungfrau mountain is the highest peak of this particular massif.

You will find snow-capped tops all year round. These snow-layered tips perfectly contrast the greenery of the surrounding valley, creating the most celestial views you have ever laid your eyes on. Add to it the old school allure of the village’s timber chalets, and it’s easy to see how this is one of the most sought-after tourist spots in Switzerland.

Did You Know – Wengen has been luring tourists since the Edwardian age.

Wengen’s hotels are of the belle époque age and perfectly capture the village’s romantic appeal. These intimate lodgings were the meeting places of lovers and bons vivants of the 19th century. These old school abodes still hold the grandeur that high society craved at the turn of the last century. Yet, despite that, they have an undeniable homeliness to them.

What is even more spectacular about Wengen is that you can only get to this village via the Wengeralp railway. Wengen is, therefore, a car-free town that has a calming quietness to it. 

Everything in Wengen is within walking distance. You can find plenty of fine dining and skiing opportunities here. Other Alpine adventures popular amongst the Wengen tourist crowd are zip lining, sledding, tobogganing, and snowshoeing. The to-go-to activity for those interested in something less hair-raising is a hike up Wengenalp.

2. Montreux

Montreux is Switzerland’s hidden gem. It is not a touristy town like other towns on Lake Geneva, but it is nevertheless gorgeous. The town has an unrivaled view of Lake Geneva, sitting by the water’s shoreline at the base of the Swiss Alps. While, a waterfront promenade stretches along the lake’s bay.

Its elevated surroundings shelter it from east and north winds, giving it an all-year resort-like climate. Along the lake’s shores are beautiful bay, mulberry, fig, and almond trees interspersed by palm and magnolia. It is a Mediterranean paradise, despite its close location to the Alps.

The historic town has aristocratic roots and is one of the country’s most noble resorts. As a result, there are some fantastic historic sites and examples of picturesque architecture. In addition, the town hosts many international festivals such as the International Choral Festival , Montreux Jazz Festival , and the September Musical Concert.

Freddie Mercury loved Montreux so much that he made it his home. Queen had their Mountain Recording Studio here, and it is where Freddie recorded his last album. The town even has a bronze statue on its waterfront to honor Freddie’s memory.

Montreux has many winter and summer activities for tourists, including biking and hiking. You must plan a visit to Chateau de Chillon. One of Switzerland’s most famous historic castles, lies just half an hour’s walk away from Montreux.

3. St Moritz

If you had all the money in the world, where would you spend it?

St Moritz has been a billionaire’s go-to resort for decades. This glitzy alpine town is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland for winter sports. A traditional resort town enjoyed by the social elite.

Perched high at 1856M elevation on Upper Engadin in the Switzerland mountains, St Moritz is sheltered from the cool north winds and is sunny 322 days of the year. The town is the birthplace of winter tourism and has twice played host to the Winter Olympics.

The Swiss town’s propensity for tourism kicked off over 3000 years ago, with the discovery of mineral springs on St Moritz. Named after a Christian saint, the little alpine village would host many a pilgrim who would come to drink of its healing bubbling waters. The lore goes that in 1519, the pope offered absolution to any pilgrim that made the journey up to the alpine springs.

Today, this beautiful region attracts celebrities, dynasties, and billionaires that come to drink up the beauty of its 25 clear mountain lakes, glaciers, and forests. While there, they also enjoy first-class gourmet dining and some of the best shopping spots in the country.

St Moritz is an outdoor sports arena famous for its windsurfing, hiking, sailing, climbing spots. It is also a renowned glacier skiing and horseback riding town.

Basel is a culturally diverse riverboat port town that straddles the mighty Rhine. It is Switzerland’s third-largest city . This is the only town on earth where you can cross international borders by tram. Basel borders both Germany and France. For this reason, it is a prolific transport and trade hub.

A visitor to Basel will be awestruck by the city’s eclectic architectural style with gothic cathedrals and ornate public buildings.

Basel is a city of art and has close to 40 museums. In 1967, the town unanimously decided to purchase some Picasso paintings. This action moved Picasso so much that he gave three of his works to the city’s museums. The ART Basel festival pays homage to the city’s art-loving artful culture, museums, and galleries.

What makes Basel one of the best places to visit in Switzerland is its multicultural energy.  To experience Basel’s beauty and grandeur, wander its cobbled streets, browse the amazing food markets and eat your fill dining al fresco on the riverside. 

Taking a walk along the Rhine is a great way to experience this part of beautiful Switzerland. The river view is to die for. In addition, there are six bridges to cross should you want to move from one side of the city to the other. While at it, grab an ice cream cone or snack at one of Basel’s renowned buvettes.

5. Lake Lucerne and Lucerne

Some of the best places in Switzerland are synonymous with high adrenaline sports such as skiing. Lake Lucerne’s pace is different. Its beauty is best appreciated by the slow crowd looking for blooming mountain flower scenery, water, and greenery. 

The lake’s mountain areas are connected via walking routes, cog railways, and cable cars. A visit to the crystalline blue lake framed by the lofty peaks of the Switzerland mountains is a must-do activity. Experience the beauty of the lake atop century-old paddle steamer tours.

The old town of Lucerne has historic buildings and medieval bridges, including Chapel Bridge, that cross the River Reuss. The chapel bridge is one of the oldest wooden bridges in Europe. Its old churches, town square, and fresco facades give the charming town an unrivaled fairy tale book-like look. The city’s home mountain is Mount Pilatus, with its dramatic and stark lonely peak. Lore has it that the solitary peak had a resident dragon and a darker history.

Did You Know – The cog railway to Lucerne is the steepest there is in the world.

6. Swiss National Park

Did you know Switzerland has only one national park? The Swiss National Park is not only one of the oldest in Europe, but it’s also the only such park in the Alps to have ‘strict nature reserve’ status from the ICUN.

Established in 1914 on the national day of Switzerland and offering stunning alpine views, it easily shows off how beautiful Switzerland is. The views alone are reason enough for this to be one of the best places to visit in Switzerland. 

The 172.3 km² Swiss national park is situated in the Western Rhaetian Alps and boasts stunning peaks, dense forests, and azure rivers. Hidden amongst the wilderness, nature lovers will find long trails perfect for hiking.

Wildlife spotters will enjoy the region’s magnificent anthills and sightings of the once almost extinct bearded vulture. Hunted to its knees, the park reintroduced it in 1991, and it is thriving under protection. You will also find the golden eagle, one of Europe’s largest birds of prey. Other attractions include marmots, elk, and chamois.

The city of Bern is a place that perfectly captures how beautiful Switzerland is. Its charm and history alone give this old town a warranted place on your bucket list. The old city is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

Its most remarkable feature is the Child Eater Fountain, and its medieval arcades. A trip to Bern should always begin in the old town.

Here you will find fantastic examples of medieval European architecture. Some must-see features include the Prison Tower and the Church of the Holy Ghost or Heiliggeistkirche. The old town also hosts the 16th-century Pfeiferbrunnen (Bagpiper Fountain) by Swiss sculptor Hans Gieng. 

Bern hosts Einsteinhaus, Albert Einstein’s former residence, now a museum. Here, the scientist chanced upon the theory of relativity. The Bern tower’s majestic 300 steps are one of the city’s favorite viewpoints. Visit it for sweeping views of Bern and the snow-capped Switzerland mountains surrounding it.

Zermatt is an alpine paradise for winter sports fans, and the home of the famous mountain, the Matterhorn. From cross country skiing and snowboarding to ice skating and curling, there is nothing that can’t be done under the impressive gaze of the Matterhorn. The near-perfect pyramid is one of the most famous mountains in Europe, and that alone makes Zermatt one of the places in Switzerland you just have to visit.

Alongside sporty activities, the main street offers a rich bounty of hotels, boutiques, and restaurants, giving you plenty to do once you’ve put your skis to rest for the day. 

Zermatt is a 100% car-free zone and holds the distinct honor of being Europes highest summer skiing resort. Regardless of the season, you can enjoy the 360km of skiing routes accessible via 54 different mountain railways and ski lifts.

You might wonder why anybody would want to travel to a city dubbed the worldwide center for diplomacy; it’s usually not for a tour of the United Nations headquarters.

However, once you look beyond the pure business district, you will find that Geneva is a beautiful city and one of the best places to visit in Switzerland. Set along the southern edge of its namesake lake, the city boasts views of all the Switzerland mountains, both the Alps and Jura mountains. 

The city also offers stunning views of Mont Blanc, yet another one of the famous mountains found on Swiss soil. Geneva is a city rich in history, laying claim to no less than 82 different Swiss heritage sites of national importance. The old town in its entirety is a protected site and offers intrepid travelers a multitude of places to go and things to see.  

Did you know the old Geneva city covers just 6 square miles?

There have been many famous faces who have called Geneva home over the years. Non more influential than Henry Dunant, the man who founded the Red Cross and was the first-ever recipient of the Novel peace prize. 

Despite being a relatively small city, Zurich is considered one of the largest financial centers in the world. Much like Geneva, however, there is much more to this city than just businessmen and money. 

Zurich, as a city, was founded in 15BC and is now one of the key travel hubs for the entire country. One of the best places to visit in Switzerland, it has a rich history and is a culturally diverse paradise. Located in the north of the country, it feels like a city with the attitude of a small mountain town.

If you venture into the old town area, you will find yourself going backing time, wandering along narrow cobbled streets lined with boutiques and cafes.

A visit to the city is not complete without visiting either the Swiss National Museum or Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland. Their champagne truffles are reason enough to consider Zurich as one of the best places to visit in Switzerland. 

5 Amazing Swiss Lakes

Switzerland is a land chock full of stunning scenery and gorgeous snowcapped mountains. However, there is another side to the country. Their beautiful lakes attract travelers from the world over.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the iconic lakes you could visit in this breathtaking country.

1. Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva is the most well-known of the Swiss lakes. It is also the largest body of water in the country. Lake Geneva is a crescent shape lake nestled within the Swiss Alps. There is no shortage of things to do around the lake also. A small town shopping trip or maybe a visit to Chateau de Chillon.

It should not be confused with Geneva Lake in Wisconsin, United States.

Lake Geneva has been a popular tourist spot for over two centuries. With cruises, old-fashioned paddle steamers, and a host of other water sport activities on offer it’s not surprising this central Europe’s largest lake remains popular.

2. Lake Lucerne

Lake Lucerne is a valley filled with glacial water. It is one of many glacial lakes in the country. Recent reports suggest that since 1850, ongoing climate change has ‘created’ over 1000 new glacial lakes in Switzerland.

Lake Lucern has been a popular spot for centuries, with the Shelley family choosing to frequent it whenever possible. The surrounding mountains and old town Lucerne only add to its everlasting appeal.

3. Lake Zurich

Switzerland’s fifth largest lake, Lake Zurich is a water lover’s paradise. It offers everything you could think of, from paddle boarding adventures to swimming and a plethora of lakeside bars and eateries. With a backdrop of lush green alpine meadows, it is the ideal location for nature lovers.

Certainly one of the best places to visit in Switzerland. As we have already mentioned, you also have the city of Zurich with its quaint old town begging to be explored.

4. Lake Thun

Nestled away in the Jungfrau region of the Swiss Alps lies the astonishingly blue Lake Thun. Set in a carefully preserved alpine environment, this lake is a fantastic spot for those who enjoy spending time on the water.

Not as well known as some of the other lakes on this list, it offers everything from cruises and paddle steamers to swimming and sailing.

The views on offer include sweeping vistas of the surrounding snowcapped mountains sprinkled with one romantic alpine village after another. Just away from the water, you can enjoy a stroll through the medieval old town of Thun with its castle and beautifully preserved medieval bridges.

Lake Brienz

Another lake from the Jungfrau region, Lake Brienz is a small slice of paradise watched over the Swiss Alps.

The lake is the ideal place to go and relax and enjoy water sports, while the surrounding mountains offer endless miles of beautiful alpine forest and, during the right seasons, unforgettable cross country ski trails.

The namesake medieval town of Brienz is part of the UNESCO world heritage site that covers the Jungfrau region.

Why You Should Consider Visiting Beautiful Switzerland

Well… the flag’s a big plus.

All jokes aside, Switzerland is a wonderful country to visit. A paradise for those who enjoy hitting the slopes, good food, beer, and chocolate. If the above list didn’t give it away, the views alone are reason to visit beautiful Switzerland. It doesn’t matter where you venture; you will be confronted by gorgeous mountain vistas and stunning architecture. 

From adrenaline junkies to foodies, the country promises the world and delivers it on a chocolate-coated, cheese-boasting silver platter. 

It should not be forgotten that Switzerland is also a nation that enjoys itself. From your everyday nightlife to a string of festivals throughout the year. 

Experience the Swiss Alps in All Their Glory

There is so much more to the Swiss Alps than just their beautiful scenery. They are an experience that needs to be experienced to be understood. From the winding wild azure rivers weaving their way through the mountains and around picturesque towns with their medieval castles and traditional town squares.

There is a peace that is found among their shadows. Whether you are going to horse drawn carriage rides through the Swiss National Park or exploring the Swiss Riviera, nothing happens beyond their snow-capped watchful gaze.

The Alps offer you the chance to take a cable car or a boat ride into some medieval old town that otherwise may have gone unvisited. The small town locations that don’t make it into the guidebooks or reviews on TripAdvisor.

Switzerland is a Skiing Paradise

Beyond the different sightseeing locations, some of the truly best places to visit in Switzerland are the ski resort locations . Yes, visiting historic buildings is fun but when you’re in the mountains, you want to experience skiing the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Switzerland’s highest ski resort is found around its most famous mountain, the Matterhorn. Matterhorn paradise is, at almost 4,000m elevation a trip that every ski enthusiast needs to make in their lives.

You don’t even need to stick to the popular places either. There are lots of mountain destinations that offer the chance to ski, followed by some good food and a stroll through local shops selling traditional g

Best Places to Visit in Switzerland: Parting Words

These are just but a few of the most beautiful places in Switzerland. However, you could easily pluck any random location out of the atlas, and rest assured that a good time is waiting for you. From cultural diversity to stunning mountains, it could be argued that Switzerland itself is the best place to visit in Switzerland.

What do you think? Have you visited any of the places on your list? If so, please let us know in the comments . What did you enjoy most about your time there? Would you go back, and if so, what would you make sure you spent more time doing? Perhaps you feel there are other places to go in Switzerland that warrant inclusion on the list. 

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19 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Basel

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Dec 22, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

With more than 40 museums to choose from and an atmospheric old town to explore, you won't have any trouble finding things to do in Basel. Few cities in Europe can match Switzerland's second-largest city for its concentration of cultural attractions and things to do.

Moreover, many of these are housed in buildings that are themselves works of art, designed by great architects that include Renzo Piano, Frank O. Gehry, and Mario Botta. Basel's university became a center for humanism in the 16th century and continued to be a magnet for distinguished scholars and teachers, which may account for its remarkable cultural heritage today.

The two sides of Basel are joined by six bridges over the Rhine, as it makes a sharp turn before flowing north to become the German-French border.

It's the higher left bank where you'll find the old town and cultural attractions. The river itself is a good vantage point for sightseeing, and you can take short cruises or cross the river on the quirky little cable-operated ferry.

Whether you enjoy sightseeing or immersing yourself in art, you can be sure of finding the best places to visit using this list of the top tourist attractions and things to do in Basel.

See also: Where to Stay in Basel

1. Admire Art in the Kunstmuseum Basel (Museum of Art)

2. stroll through the old town, 3. take the kids to the zoologischer garten (zoo), 4. visit basler münster (basel minster), 5. museum tinguely, 6. learn about printing at papiermühle (paper mill museum), 7. rathaus (town hall) and marktplatz, 8. smile at the tinguely fountain, 9. take a break at tierpark lange erlen, 10. historisches museum (historical museum), 11. be a kid again at the spielzeug welten museum (toy museum), 12. tour the museum für gegenwartskunst (museum of contemporary art), 13. antikenmuseum and the sammlung ludwig (museum of antiquities and the ludwig collection), 14. jüdische museum (jewish museum), 15. visit the haus zum kirschgarten, 16. spalentor, 17. fondation beyeler, 18. cross the border to vitra design museum, 19. take a day trip to solothurn, where to stay in basel for sightseeing, map of attractions & things to do in basel, basel - climate chart.

The Kunstmuseum , enhanced by the added exhibition space of a 2015 wing, is considered the finest collection of paintings in Switzerland, representing both old masters and modern art. On the first floor are the old masters and a collection of French and Dutch paintings.

Outstanding among these are the 15th-century Heilsspiegelaltar (Mirror of Salvation Altar) by Konrad Witz, 16th-century portraits by Holbein the Younger, Crucifixion by Mathias Grünewald, and Rembrandt's David with Goliath's Head from 1627. The second floor houses an outstanding collection of 19th- and 20th-century Impressionists, Expressionists, and Surrealists.

You'll find major works by Gauguin, Van Gogh, Corot, Cézanne, Braque, Picasso, Kandinsky, Léger, Chagall, Klee, Dali, Max Ernst, and others, along with later works and special exhibitions.

Address: St. Alban-Graben 16, Basel

The part of Basel that lies roughly between the river and the old city gate at Spalentor is not large but quite atmospheric with its stone streets, medieval churches, beautifully maintained old homes, and brightly painted fountains. But leave it to Basel to introduce a thoroughly modern and whimsical fountain by Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely in the midst of the stately historic houses.

From Marktplatz , wander west along Spalenberg with detours into some of the narrow side streets, such as Leonhardsberg and Spalenberg, Heuberg. This was the old artisans' neighborhood. Or wander along Freiestrasse, which begins with the Renaissance Geltenzunfthaus , from 1578. At number 25 is the guild-house of the locksmiths dating from 1488 and decorated in Baroque style in 1733.

Look for more wall paintings at the guild-house of the Hausgenossen at 34. In the little Fischmarkt , you'll find a reproduction of a Gothic fountain whose original you can see in the historical museum.

The two-hour Stories of Basel's Old Town walking tour explores the oldest parts of the city with a knowledgeable guide who will explain local history and highlight points of interest, stopping at major sightseeing destinations like Basler Münster , Rathaus , and Tinguely Fountain . The tour focuses on the area's rich history and varied architecture.

Switzerland's oldest and largest zoo, Basel Zoo is affectionately known as the Zolli by locals, and it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Switzerland. It has been named one of the fifteen best zoos in the world.

Founded in 1874 with 510 European animals, today the zoo is known more for exotic species. With predators, primates, mammals, reptiles, birds, and aquatic life, the population ranges from seahorses to elephants, the latter now enjoying an elephant enclosure added in 2015 with wallowing pools, showers, and a savannah-like environment.

The lion enclosure and monkey house are highlights, along with the penguins in the vivarium, which also houses fish and reptiles. The aviary houses both indigenous and exotic birds, as well as birds of prey. The zoo has been particularly successful in breeding rhinoceros and cheetahs. The realistic habitats and variety of exotic animals make this one of the favorite places to visit with children in Basel.

Address: Binningerstrasse 40, Basel

Set atop the highest point on Münsterhügel (Minster Hill), Basel's Minster is easily spotted by its prominent spires and brightly patterned roof tiles. The spacious Münsterplatz , formerly the site of a Roman fort, is an elegant 18th-century square. Built of red sandstone from the Vosges mountains of France between the ninth and 13th centuries, the minster was rebuilt in Gothic style after an earthquake in 1356.

But some of the original church remains. The high altar and much of the furnishings were destroyed by Protestants in 1529, but the greatest treasures were hidden in the sacristy vaulting and survived; you can see some in the historical museum.

Be sure to see the St. Gallus doorway in the north transept, with its many 12th-century Romanesque stone carvings - one of the oldest figured doorways in German-speaking Europe. The tympanum above the doorway shows the Wise and Foolish Virgins, with Christ enthroned above flanked by Peter and Paul.

A large rose window lies above the doorway. Inside, the lower part of the choir is Romanesque; be sure to notice the capitals carved with rich foliage and animals and the Romanesque capitals in the nave and ambulatory. In front of the pulpit, under glass, is a piece of the Late Romanesque pavement from the 12th century.

From inside the church, you can access the stairs to the top of the south tower. The crypt, which can be entered from beside the choir, contains the tombs of 10th- to 13th-century bishops and an excellent Romanesque frieze on the piers; ceiling frescoes depict scenes from the life of the Virgin and other New Testament themes. The beautiful 15th-century double cloister, entered from Rittergasse, contains monuments ranging over five centuries.

Address: Münsterplatz, Basel

The Museum Tinguely contains the largest collection of this influential Swiss artist's work thanks to a generous donation by his widow Niki de Saint Phalle, as well as contributions by other collectors. The collection includes Tinguely's sculptures and drawings, as well as an extensive library of documents and photographs.

The museum also hosts visiting installations that change every three months, focusing on artists who inspired Tinguely, as well as the work of contemporary artists. The building housing the collection was designed by famed architect Mario Botta.

Address: Paul Sacher-Anlage 2, 4002 Basel

Set on a medieval canal with an operating waterwheel, an old paper mill has been turned into a museum of writing, printing, and paper, showing the printing and papermaking processes with actual working machinery.

As you tour the museum, you can watch the laborious production of handmade paper, explore the evolution of printing from before Gutenberg's press through the demise of lead type in the 1980s, and see how books are bound. Displays follow the development of writing from primitive pictographs through modern typography.

Address: St. Alban-Tal 37, Basel

The focal point of the Old Town is Marktplatz, where you'll still find the colorful daily market selling local produce, flowers, and food specialties. Dominating the square is the bright red Basel Rathaus , with its colorful painted facade. The arcaded main building is in Late Burgundian Gothic style dating from 1504 to 1521; the new wing to the left and the tall tower on the right are 19th-century additions.

The clock dates from the building's origins, the work of Master Wilhelms from the early 1500s. Be sure to step into the beautiful courtyard to see the wall paintings, restored from 1608-11 originals. The statue, from 1574, on the outer staircase represents the legendary founder of the town, Munatius Plancus. You can also see the two council chambers, the Regierungsratssaal , with its impressive wood paneling, and the Grossratssaal , decorated by 15 coats-of-arms of the Swiss cantons.

Address: Marktpl. 9, 4001 Basel, Switzerland

Completed in 1977, the playful fountain designed by the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely quickly became a Basel landmark. Placed inside a large shallow pool, 10 large figures made of scrap metal seem to be playing with each other in the water as they move and spray jets of water into the air.

Powered by low-voltage current, these playful and ingenious water-spouting mechanical figures are built from pieces of metal equipment from the old theater that once stood on this spot. In the winter, the fountain becomes a series of fantastic ice sculptures as the water freezes around the figures. You can see more of his unusual and imaginative sculpture in Basel at the Jean Tinguely Museum.

Address: Theaterstrasse, Basel

When you need a break from Basel's abundance of museums and historic attractions, or if you are looking for things to do with children, take a tram or bike to the Tierpark, an expanse of green parkland alongside the river. Here, you'll meet a variety of local wildlife — deer, lynx, wild boar and others — roaming free in their natural habitat, discreetly fenced from the public.

Swans and ducks swim as herons fish in the ponds, and colorful peacocks roam about the grounds. More birds inhabit the spacious aviary, and an assortment of farm animals are in stables and paddocks. It is a peaceful green space for walking and relaxing, and a good place for children to meet animals in a non-zoo environment. They can also let off energy in the large playground.

Address: Erlenparkweg 110, Basel

The 14th-century Barfüsserkirche (Church of the Barefoot Friars) was renovated in the 1970s to house the Historical Museum with important collections on local history and culture. It spotlights particularly the city's unique position at the crossroads between Swiss, German, and French cultures.

In the nave of the church are the Late Gothic tapestries and the curious Lällenkönig (Babbling King), a crowned head with a movable tongue and eyes that was the emblem of Gross-Basel in the 17th century. In the aisles are weapons and furnished period rooms, in the choir religious art, and in the crypt is the minster treasury, recovered after being saved from destruction during the Reformation.

Interesting exhibits deal with the importance of silk ribbon manufacture in Basel from the late 18th through the 19th century.

Address: Barfüsserplatz 7, Basel

The Spielzeug Welten Museum collection of more than 6,000 toys, including dolls, stuffed animals, dollhouses, shop models, and carousels is not just for children. The dollhouses are exceptional, not only the historical examples but the newly commissioned works of artists who create rooms and shops in miniature.

One section is devoted to the Neapolitan folk art of nativity scenes set in the context of everyday life in early Naples , with figures dressed in infinitely detailed costumes. The museum's collection of 2,500 teddy bears is thought to be the world's largest.

Even if you don't tour the museum, don't miss walking around to look in the windows. Six display-sized windows facing the street are dedicated to changing displays from the collections, based on seasonal and other themes and representing current special exhibitions.

Address: Steinenvorstadt 1, Basel

Housed in an old paper mill with modern extensions, Basel's Museum of Contemporary Art highlights art from 1960 to the present. You'll find paintings and sculptures by artists that include Chagall, de Chirico, Dali, Braque, Mondrian, Klee, Giacometti, Moore, and the Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely.

It was the first public museum in Europe dedicated exclusively to artworks created in the late 20th century. Guided tours in English are available with advance notice and are included in the admission price.

Address: St. Alban-Rheinweg 60, Basel

Basel's Museum of Antiquities and the Ludwig collection feature Egyptian, Greek, Italian, Etruscan, and Roman works of art, covering antiquity from about 4000 BC to the 6th century AD. The strongest areas are sculptures and Greek vases, although there are outstanding exhibits of gold jewelry, bronze sculptures, and clay figures.

The museum also operates Skulpturhalle Basel , located near Basel University, which features more than 2,200 plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculptures including a complete set of casts of the Parthenon, part of the Acropolis in Athens , as well as scale-size architectural sculptures.

Address: St. Alban Graben 5, Basel

One of central Europe's best collections of Judaica, the Jüdische Museum depicts religious and everyday life as it explores the Jewish history of Basel and its surrounds. In addition to documenting the local history, it introduces visitors to Jewish ceremonies and customs from the broader diaspora through exhibits focused on Jewish Law, the Jewish Year, everyday life, and history.

In the courtyard, medieval gravestones and documents go back as far as the medieval Jewish communities with documents printed in Hebrew by the city's book printers from the 16th through 19th centuries. Significant documents focus on the two World Wars.

Address: Kornhausgasse 8, Basel

One of the finest of Basel's patrician houses, the Haus zum Kirschgarten was built between 1775 and 1780 in the early Classical style. It was the home and office of a prosperous Basel manufacturer of silk ribbons and is among Switzerland's best museums of domestic life.

Throughout the 25 furnished rooms are displays of the furniture of a wealthy 18th-century commercial family, as well as internationally important collections of decorative arts. The Pauls-Eisenbeiss Foundation's collection of porcelain, a significant watch and clock collection, and major groups of Basel silver and scientific instruments are displayed.

Address: Elisabethenstrasse 27/29, Basel

Dating from 1370, the Spalentor is a fortified gate marking the end of the old town. The town gate, once part of the old town walls, has stood alone since their destruction in 1866. Look to the left of the gate to find an early 19th-century letterbox with the emblem of the Basel pigeon.

The adjacent Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church) was rebuilt in the 15th century, but the vaulting in the choir is from an earlier 14th-century building. There are frescoes in the Eberler chapel and the nave. Adjacent is the university, with a botanical garden that was founded in the 16th century, one of the oldest in the world.

Collectors Ernst and Hildy Beyeler opened the Fondation Beyeler in 1997 to allow the public to enjoy their extensive personal collection of Classic Modernist art. A staggering number of works by both Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse are on display, including drawings, paintings, and sculpture.

Also displayed are multiple sculptures by Alberto Giacometti and Max Ernst, and a variety of works by celebrated artists, including Georges Seurat, Marc Chagall, Marlene Dumas, Paul Klee, and Vincent Van Gogh. The collection also includes pieces from the Beyelers' world travels to Africa, Oceania, and Alaska.

The museum is set in a lovely park, housed in a building designed by architect Renzo Piano.

Address: Baselstrasse 101, Basel

Because Basel lies right on the international border, some of its suburbs spread over into Germany and France. So it is with the Vitra Design Museum , which although considered a Basel institution, is a five-minute train ride just across the German border from central Basel.

By any measure, it is one of the world's most important museums of design. The building itself is a landmark, designed by Canadian architect Frank O. Gehry. Inside are changing exhibitions - two or three each year - examining current and historical design trends and themes. The displays are stunning and provocative, often inviting interaction.

Add some outdoor exercise to your gallery hopping by hiring an electric bicycle at the central train station to follow the Rehberger-Weg bike path across the border to the Vita campus.

Address: Charles-Eames-Str. 2, Weil am Rhein, Germany

Lying astride the river Aare, about 67 kilometers from Basel, Solothurn is an elegant town of Renaissance and Baroque buildings that indicate its splendor in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries as the residence of the French ambassadors to the Swiss Confederation. Earlier, the town of Salodurum ranked with Trier in Germany as one of the oldest Roman settlements north of the Alps.

Marktplatz is a beautiful square with a 12th-century clock tower, the Zeitglockenturm , that has mechanical figures from 1545. The Mauritius fountain is decorated with a figure by the master Hans Gieng of Fribourg. You'll see several more fountains with colorfully painted figures as you stroll down picturesque old Hauptgasse .

Stop there at the Jesuit church to see its interior, decorated with stucco work by 17th-century artists from the Swiss Ticino region. In the cloister is a collection of stones with Roman inscriptions. Just inside the 1508 Baseltor gate stands the Italian Baroque Cathedral of St. Ursen , built from 1763 to 1773.

Its treasury is especially rich in goldsmiths' work and textiles from the 15th to 19th centuries. In the hills outside of Solothurn, be sure to visit Schloss Waldegg - Waldegg Castle. The palace is set among lovely Baroque gardens and its beautiful interior gives you an idea of the splendor in which the French ambassadors lived.

The Old Town, which lies between the river and the Spalentor gate, is relatively small, but many of Basel's several dozen museums are here, along with medieval churches, the old artisans' neighborhood, and Marktplatz, with the magnificent Rathaus (city hall). These highly-rated hotels in Basel are in or close to the Old Town. Most Basel hotels include a free city bus pass.

Luxury Hotels :

• With old-world elegance enhanced by modern luxuries, Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois , which often hosts royalty, overlooks the Rhine River in the center of the Old Town.
• Close to the Munster and several museums, Der Teufelhof Basel rooms are designed by artists, so guests live in a work of art instead of just looking at it.
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Basel has a pool and is in the center of a cluster of museums; the tram from the central station stops right in front of the hotel.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Near the Spalentor and botanic gardens and a short walk from the heart of the Old Town, Hotel Spalentor Basel has spacious modern rooms.
• On the hill above the Old Town, on a bus line, and a 15-minute walk from the train station, Steinenschanze Stadthotel is literally steps away from the shopping and restaurant area.
• Near the Spalentor and a tram stop with regular trams into the town center, the family-friendly Hotel Odelya is in a heritage building set in a park.

Budget Hotels:

• Beside the university, a few blocks from the Rathaus, and an easy walk to the Munster and art museums, Hotel Rochat has plain rooms but includes breakfast.
• Adjacent to the train station and airport bus stop, Ibis Basel Bahnhof is on a bus line to the historic center.
• A five-minute walk away, Ibis Budget Basel City is only two minutes from two tram lines into the Old Town.

More on Switzerland

The 10 best ski resorts in Switzerland

M odern skiing in Europe evolved largely in Switzerland in the late 19th century thanks to pioneering British visitors in classic resorts such as Davos , St Moritz , Wengen , Grindelwald and Mürren.  

France , Austria and Italy attract the vast majority of British visitors each year, but while its Alpine neighbours have their own particular strengths, in many respects Switzerland is hard to beat. It has an unfair share of the most dramatic mountain scenery, and ditto the most captivating traffic-free old mountain villages, some of the best mountain restaurants, and impressive ski runs . Most destinations can be reached directly by train from Geneva, Zermatt and other hub airports as rail travel becomes increasingly popular among skiers.

Sadly, with the Swiss Franc’s strength against the pound, prices for British visitors have become almost prohibitive in the big-name resorts. Even in the cheaper, lesser-known Swiss villages, day-to-day costs on the ground are higher than in the average resort in Austria, France or Italy.

However, by shopping around carefully for budget-conscious accommodation and avoiding buying lunch on the mountain, it’s still possible to enjoy a superb ski holiday here. Here’s our pick of 10 resorts that are definitely worth the trip.

Best for experts

Other Swiss resorts may match Verbier for luxurious chalets and hotels and vibrant après, but none quite have its cool cachet – and that’s largely because few can rival its challenging high-altitude terrain. Anyone who can handle Verbier’s itinerary routes, never mind its couloirs, can consider themselves pretty darn good.

The itineraries (which, though loosely marked, are not formally avalanche controlled or checked by the ski patrol) are where many experts spend their time, treating them like pistes. Epic highlights are the 900m-vertical route from Col des Gentianes to Tortin, and the 1,000m vertical Vallon d’Arby down to La Tzoumaz on the edge of the ski area.

The 67 lifts access 412km of runs, including some of the best lift-served off piste in the Alps. From Mont Gelé (3,025m) there are steeper itineraries and serious off-piste routes, while the top of Mont Fort (3,330m) offers a black mogul run on the front and adventurous off-piste routes off the back that end down in Siviez. An alternative front-face descent is by zip-wire – reaching speeds of 130kph.

The resort is a gentle sprawl of chalets, hotels and apartments, few of which are ski-in/ski-out – but the free ski bus system is generally efficient. Resort life revolves around the après hub of the Place Centrale, the main lift base at Médran 500m away, and the buzzing street between the two.

Where to stay

La Tintaz costs from £358, with SNO , based on six sharing the three-bedroom self-catering apartment. The accommodation is 400 metres from the village centre, has its own garden, terrace, and parking spaces for up to two cars. It’s also 50 metres from the ski bus stop.  Find more of the best hotels and chalets in Verbier here .

Alternatives 

Andermatt’s main mountain, Gemsstock, is an expert’s dream, with some seriously steep pistes and challenging off-piste routes. The resort is now in partnership with Vail and lifts are included in the multi-resort Epic Pass.

All of the main sectors in Zermatt have long, testing marked itinerary runs, there are also epic off-piste routes from several points. Zermatt also has one of Europe’s biggest heliskiing operations.

Best for intermediates

In St Moritz, ski trains and buses give fairly efficient access to a wide variety of intermediate slopes in six widely spread sectors. The two largest are Corviglia, accessed from town, and Corvatsch, a 25-minute free ski bus ride away. All sectors go up to around 3,000m, and afford fabulous panoramic views. The wide, open slopes above the treeline make for particularly attractive piste cruising.

St Moritz is famous for being the world capital of winter glitz, attracting a clientele with stratospheric income. However, with its 350km of sunny, reliably snowy pistes, there’s more to it than bling. The resort village is divided into two main parts. St Moritz Dorf is the largest and where most of the five-star hotels, swanky clubs and restaurants are located. Quieter St Moritz Bad has the cross-country track around St Moritz lake as its focal point.

Overall, the resort offers a huge range of quality leisure facilities, notably ice-skating, tobogganing, bobsleigh, and the famous Cresta Run for skeleton – which is, infamously, still only open to men. Most unusual is golf (using red balls), cricket, horse-racing, show jumping, and polo – all on the frozen lake.

Hostel by Randolins is next to the three-star Hotel Randolins with its restaurant, spa, and shuttle service. They’re within walking distance from the Chasellas chairlift and close to the Suvretta Hotel. In good snow conditions, you can ski down a secret path back to the hostel. From CHF 580 per room for five nights, B&B, not including travel, booked direct . Find more of the best hotels and chalets in St Moritz here .

Alternatives

Davos has an extensive network of linked intermediate pistes on offer in its six separate sectors of slopes, shared with its smaller neighbour Klosters. The main ski area, Parsenn, links the two resorts. Laax and neighbouring Flims share 224km of almost entirely intermediate slopes.

Best for beginners

The gorgeous traffic-free village of Saas-Fee looks a bit like a small Zermatt with its age-blackened wooden chalets, and it is surrounded by magnificent glaciers and mountain peaks, including the Dom – the highest mountain located entirely within Switzerland. The ideal time to visit is later in the season, when the village gets a decent amount of sun.

The ski area is relatively small, with 100km of pistes, and best suited to beginners and intermediates. The nursery slopes are long, gentle, quiet and only a short walk from the main street – plus the glacier area and most of the top half of the mountain are ideal for beginners with glorious easy blue runs up at altitude. Even runs that are marked red here are generally very gentle, and would be classified blue in many resorts.

Saas-Fee has a friendly atmosphere and is good for families as there is plenty of après-ski entertainment to keep everyone occupied, including the state-of-the-art Aqua Allalin pool and spa complex. The Feeblitz Rodelbobbahn (a bobsleigh/rollercoaster hybrid) makes an excellent afternoon’s entertainment – especially when the weather closes in.

The Allalin Apartments are located a 12-minute walk from the village centre. The three-star apartments are managed by the hotel of the same name and you can opt to eat in the hotel’s restaurant. Accommodation ranges from studios to two-bedroom flats. From £513, self-catering and based on foud sharing, with Inghams . Find more of the best accommodation in Saas-Fee here .

Villars is a reassuringly slow-paced resort where novices can make first turns in a relaxed, low-pressure atmosphere. The gentle nursery slope is at village level. Laax has plenty of long, easy blue runs from high on the mountain back to the village for beginners looking to move on from the nursery slopes.

Best for charm

The largest and most attractive of the four resorts in the beautiful Val d’Anniviers, Grimentz shares a ski area with linked Zinal. Nearby St Luc and Chandolin are also included on the lift pass. Grimentz has the most  restaurants, bars and accommodation. It is reached by a dramatic winding road that zigzags up from Sierre in the Rhone Valley, fringed with sheer drop-offs. The reward for this scary initiation is the feeling of discovering a secret Alpine hideaway. The village has a charming centre with ancient wooden chalets as well as some 1970s additions that are less appealing – think uncommercialised Zermatt on a much smaller scale.

Even though these days Grimentz is not so secret, its offbeat location means that it has not been overexploited by the demands of tourism and it is all the better for it. The ski areas total 210km of pistes served by 46 lifts. Grimentz-Zinal is on one side of the valley while St Luc-Chandolin is on the other. It’s best to have a car to get between the two ski areas as the bus service isn’t great.

Together, the ski areas offer the quantity and variety of pistes needed for a full week’s entertainment. While there is a substantial amount of easy and intermediate terrain in the area, the steeps and off piste are big attractions. The World Cup black run at Grimentz, is a proper challenge, but it pales into insignificance when compared with the black Piste du Chamois on the Zinal side. The winching of a piste-bashing machine here is an impressive testament to Swiss engineering expertise. The off-piste opportunities to be discovered with a mountain guide are stupendous. For the less gung-ho, St Luc is home to more benign runs against a quite beautiful Alpine backdrop.

Les Vieux Chalets No 7 is a two-storey top-floor apartment with four bedrooms sleeping eight in Grimentz. It’s 200m from the main Bendolla gondola to the slopes.From £1,299 total for eight guests self-catering, travel not included, with Mountain Heaven .

Mürren is pretty, with narrow lanes lined by small chalets at an altitude high enough to more or less guarantee snow on the rooftops. It’s also car-free. Saas-Fee is traffic-free aside from its electric carts and taxis, and the buildings are mainly in traditional Alpine style – look up, and tumbling glaciers loom above.

Best for partying

Après that starts on the mountain in mid-afternoon is a well-known feature of Austrian resorts, and is being propagated in big-name French resorts through the Folie Douce franchise – but it’s arguably been going on in Zermatt as long as anywhere in the cute huts that dot the lower part of the Matterhorn sector of slopes.

These days, it isn’t just amiable sing-songs fuelled by schnapps concoctions. Bars such as the Hennu Stall at the bottom of the Matterhorn sector and Cervo at the bottom of Sunnegga have live bands generating an atmosphere to rival anything in St Anton.

Later on, Zermatt suits all tastes, from the panelled Elsie’s Bar for a glass of wine (and maybe oysters or snails), to the popular Papperla Pub, to having your eardrums assaulted in one of the various venues in the Hotel Post.

Zermatt has lots of other attractions too – 322km of varied, extensive slopes including those of Cervinia in Italy which is linked across the Klein Matterhorn.  There are  testing off-piste itinerary runs; heliskiing on tap; quality mountain restaurants; a characterful, car-free village; and, naturally, fabulous views of the Matterhorn from around almost every corner.

Argos is a self-contained apartment on the ground floor of Chalet Ulysse and is a five-minute walk from the Matterhorn Express gondola station, with the possibility of skiing back to within 200m of the door for much of the winter. It has two double bedrooms, a large bathroom, and a south-facing living room.  From CHF 3,900 total for a self-catered apartment for four people with Matterhorn Chalets , not including travel. Find the best hotels and chalets in Zermatt here .

Verbier presents the full range of après options, starting with lively bars on the mountain and progressing through to happy-hour live bands and seriously expensive night clubs. Laax has succeeded in attracting lots of young people, mainly snowboarders, who fill the bars early and late, particularly at the Laax lift base.

Best for families

Essentially car-free (with the exception of taxis), Wengen might have been specially designed for families. At its heart there’s a snow-covered field that serves as a combined playground and gentle nursery slope. For children progressing beyond this stage, one of the two ways up the mountain is by cog railway that also gives access to the village from Lauterbrunnen down in the valley. The other main lift is the speedier Männlichen cable car.

The village sits on a sunny shelf and is made up of a mix of small chalets and bigger, more institutional-looking hotels. Wengen shares a ski area with Grindelwald, and most of the slopes are above its neighbour – lovely long red and blue runs under the towering north face of the Eiger. The Jungfrau region lift pass covers the slopes of neighbouring Mürren as well as Wengen and Grindelwald – 210km of pistes in total served by 58 lifts as well as the mountain railways that form the backbone of the uphill transport system. Lift passes are free for the under sixes, and reduced up to age 19. Over 62 year olds also benefit from reduced prices.

There are plenty of family-friendly activities on offer, including 50km of toboggan runs. The most popular of these is the 4.5km run from Wengernalp down to the train station in town, but there are also long runs from the top of the mountain going in the opposite direction towards Grindelwald. In the middle of the village there’s indoor curling and outdoor skating.

Hotel Caprice is a boutique hotel that is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and is comfortable and relaxed with excellent cuisine. Weather-permitting, you can ski back to the hotel. From £1,299, half board, with Iglu Ski . Find more of the best hotels in Wengen here .

Arosa is a child-friendly wintersports village with an unintimidating ski area, traditionally enjoyed by all family members – be they toddlers, skaters, cross-country enthusiasts, walkers, and alpine skiers. If you stay in participating hotels and apartments you can benefit from free ski school lessons for the under 17s.

Best for powder

Andermatt sits in a prime high altitude position for attracting snow cover. On one of its two separate ski areas, steep and shady Gemsstock, most of the slopes are between 2,000m and 3,000m.

There’s often high-quality conditions in Andermatt when cover in the Valais region – Switzerland’s main concentration of major resorts – is mediocre. Although it does have several intermediate pistes, Gemsstock is really an expert’s mountain. The main face of 900m vertical consists almost entirely of black runs and off-piste routes to mid-mountain, and the one run to the valley is also a black, although an easy one.

However, Andermatt’s other sector, Nätschen-Gütsch-Sedrun, has a whole expanse of intermediate slopes, bringing the total pistes on offer in Andermatt to 120km. A network of modern lifts and pistes links Nätschen-Gütsch with Sedrun, 15km away to the east, the link being part of an ongoing £1.2 billion redevelopment of the resort, backed by Swiss-educated billionaire Egyptian entrepreneur Samih Sawiris. Once only linked by train, there is now a series of red and blue pistes and lifts including six-seater chairs and a fast 10-person gondola from Oberalppass to Schneehüenerstock. Vail Resorts has now acquired a controlling share in the resort’s development and the transaction includes a £130 million investment in the skiing infrastructure and guest experience, as well as the wider Andermatt Swiss Alps real estate business. Andermatt-Sedrun ski area now offers unlimited access to Epic Pass holders, the first resort in Europe to do so.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Reusson in Andermatt is a modern hotel set in the most recently-built enclave with shops and restaurants, a short walk from the railway station. A shuttle bus will take you to and from the lifts. From £1,885 per room per week, B&B, not including travel, booked direct .

With its village at 1,500m and slopes up to 3,330m, Verbier’s altitude ensures there’s a strong chance of good snow throughout the season. Engelberg is a favourite of Zürich weekenders. Not far north of Andermatt, it has a similarly well-deserved reputation for snow – although the village is quite low, most of the slopes are high (up to 3,030m).

Best for terrain parks

The ski area shared by the villages of Laax, Flims and Falera targets a youthful market, and the area’s key appeal lies in its five terrain parks, high up on Crap Sogn Gion (the local dialect generates some awkward names – Crap translates as “peak”).

In total the parks have almost 90 features such as rails, boxes and kickers as well as two halfpipes (the larger one is the world’s biggest, a massive 200m long, 22m wide and 6.90m high). The resort also has an indoor freestyle facility at the Freestyle Academy, with a skate bowl, ramps, jumps, trampoline, foam pit and airbag.

The 224km ski area served by 28 lifts also has lots to offer freeriders, with a good range of ungroomed but marked and patrolled freeride runs, as well as vast off-piste areas. However the sunny orientation of the slopes means snow conditions can be highly variable, especially late in the season.

There’s a wide choice of places to stay, from the quiet backwaters of Falera and Laax Dorf to the roadside hotels of Flims Dorf, the wooded seclusion of Flims Waldhaus or at the Laax lift base.

rocksresort is a four-star self-catering apartment building conveniently located at the foot of the slopes. It has an in-house bar and restaurant. From £1,298, self-catering including transfers, with Heidi .

Davos is a great area for freeriders when the snow is good, with long runs from the top of the mountains down to the valley, but its appeal to freestylers is equally compelling – the Jakobshorn sector has an extensive terrain park and a superpipe. Saas Fee has plenty of wide, well-groomed pistes and an impressively big and varied terrain park up on the glacier.

Best for value

The key to getting value for money, particularly in Switzerland, is to steer clear of the high-profile, fashionable resorts. In this respect, it’s hard to beat Leysin. It’s known as a resort for schoolchildren and also snowboarders, mainly for the reason that prices here are lower than in the big, well-known resorts.

Drinks in particular are reasonably priced by Swiss standards. Originally, Leysin was the setting for tuberculosis sanitoriums, thanks to its sunny climate and proximity to Geneva, about a 90-minute drive away. These days it’s a traditional ski resort with chalets scattered across a sunny meadow, although a few larger buildings of institutional architectural style bear witness to its health-tourist history. A cable car and a quad chair provide main mountain access from the edge of the village.  

The slopes best suit beginners to intermediates, with 100km of pistes going up to 2,200m and a terrain park with areas to suit all levels plus a halfpipe that’s good enough to host the Junior World Snowboard Championships in halfpipe each January. There is also a 7km cross-country track meandering through the forest. The lift pass includes nearby Villars and Les Diablerets.

Residence Castel Club Leysin Parc is 10 minutes’ walk from the resort centre, and offers studios and apartments with mountain views. Studios have a separate eating area with cable satellite TV and a sofa, plus a kitchenette with microwave. From CH 420 per room per week, in a self-catered studio for two, not including travel, booked direct .

Engelberg has a relatively low international profile, and three-star hotels outnumber four-stars eight to one. Local prices are about as low as Swiss resort prices go. Andermatt has undergone a lot of change of late with upmarket new developments, but the original old village still offers modest hotels and prices (for Switzerland).

Crans-Montana

Best for weekends.

Grabbing a quick weekend at short notice when snow conditions are good is a very appealing prospect. Crans-Montana is a great place for a bit of short-break indulgence, with a wide choice of seriously good hotels and restaurants, and it is easily reached from Geneva. Trains run from the airport to the valley town of Sierre, from where a funicular zips up to Montana, a total transfer time of about two hours and 40 minutes.

Last-minute weekends are a particularly good idea because while it has a scenic, extensive and varied ski area, virtually all its slopes face south or south west. This means that although around a third of its 140km of slopes are covered by snowmaking, it is exceptionally vulnerable to the sun after midwinter. Booking a week-long holiday here can mean risking poor snow conditions.

It’s a big place – a merging of the two towns of Crans and Montana with centres a mile apart – in a prettily wooded setting. The panoramic views are fabulous, particularly from the mountain restaurant terraces, but it does lack resort-village atmosphere. For ski tourers, there are 15 uphill ski touring routes ranging from easy to difficult

Hotel Art de Vivre is an intimate four-star hotel with just 24 rooms. It has a swimming pool and spa, as well as wonderful views. From £1,485, with Ski Solutions . Find more of the best hotels and chalets in Crans-Montana here .

Villars is just over two hours from Geneva airport by train. The slopes, though rather limited for a week-long holiday for those beyond beginner level, have plenty to offer for a weekend. Champéry is about two and a half hours from Geneva airport by train. Champéry is the main resort on the Swiss side of the cross-border Portes du Soleil circuit, which also takes in Avoriaz and Châtel in France.

Unless stated otherwise, package prices are per person, based on two sharing a double or twin room, half-board, for seven nights, including flights and transfers.

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