Switzerland

Switzerland has been the world’s most favourite holiday destination for decades now and the reason can be seen as soon as you get off the plane! Switzerland is home to simple breathtaking scenery with the  landscape being dotted with towering peaks, shimmering lakes and countless waterfalls.

Switzerland has entertained tourists for a very long time and this means that here, you will be able to get tailored experiences like nowhere else.  You can be a part of fascinating train journeys through pristine landscapes, walk on suspension bridges that seem to float between two mountains offering panoramic views, walk behind waterfalls and through frozen glaciers.

Having said that, Switzerland tourism involves a lot more than your days out into the wild! Swiss people also have a distinct culture with age-old civilizations still living in their traditional chalet-style homes. If you are lucky, you will be able to spot the locals in their traditional attire, playing their huge alphorns in the marketplace.

You can also visit the remote villages you get a taste of true Swiss culture! The Swiss countryside is dotted with numerous castles, forts and their ruins with fascinating histories. You can visit several scenic landmarks that sit alongside its numerous lakes and walk through centuries old vineyards  that follow age-old techniques.

Apart from the quintessential villages and towns, you can also enjoy the more cosmopolitan and modern side of the Swiss country through its cities and metropolises. You can visit Geneva and experience first-hand some of the world’s most sophisticated machinery at CERN.

Or, you can go to Zurich to witness some of the most contemporary and eclectic architecture in the world! Also, you can visit Basel which is considered an arts capital of the world with its modern installations of Art Basel which showcase the best in the world of  contemporary art.

Which are the famous town or cities in Switzerland?

1. Locarno: Locarno is one of the most picturesque villages in Switzerland with a distinctly Italian feel. The streets are teeming with bougainvillaeas, camellias, grapevines and lemon trees. The village is located in the shadows of the Sacred Mount Madonna del Sasso. The village is known for its natural views, pizzas and wine.

2. Lucerne: Your Switzerland tours are incomplete without a trip to Lucerne. This medieval town is home to the beautiful Lake Lucerne on which you can enjoy steamboat rides and catch panoramic views of the snow-capped Alps. You can explore historical landmarks such as the oldest covered bridge in Europe and other ancient frescoes, churches and paintings when you are here.

3. Interlaken: One of the most famous villages in Interlaken which is home to some of the most famous (and tallest) peaks in the Alps including Mönch, Jungfrau and Eiger. It is ideal for hikers and adventure-enthusiasts who can enjoy activities like trekking, ziplining, rafting and much more.

4. Grindelwald: Tucked under the shadow of the famous Eiger North Face, Grindelwald is a typical Swiss village with flowering valleys, quaint railway stations, wooden chalets and a beautiful old-world charm. It is also a popular spot for ziplining with some of the best views during your Switzerland tours. 

5. Zurich:Zurich is consistently ranked as one of the world's most livable cities due to its thriving cultural scene, efficient administration, and gorgeous setting at the crossing of a river and a lake. It is the largest and wealthiest city in Switzerland, which has a long history as a savvy, hardworking financial hub, post-industrial edge best exemplified by its exuberant summer Street Parade.

With its twisting streets and soaring church steeples, much of the old center has been carefully preserved. However, Zurich has also fully embraced modern ideas, transforming former industries into cultural hubs and innovative new residences. Zuri-West, the center of the city's nightlife, is the place where that is most visible.

6. Geneva:Explore Geneva's Old Town's riches and attractions by getting lost in its maze of winding stone streets. The Old Town is home to various museums, galleries, and intriguing historical sites for you to visit, showcasing old Geneva and everything that the city stands for.

The finest things to do in Geneva include visiting opulent hotels, independent shops, and high-end jewelers, in addition to the city's top-notch dining establishments and delicious chocolatiers. Geneva, Switzerland's second-largest city and one of its most luxurious, is situated on the shores of the lake that carries its name.

7. Lausanne:The capital of the canton of Vaud, Lausanne, is located near Lake Geneva. Lausanne's scenery is breathtaking, to say the least, and it consistently ranks among the most attractive cities in Switzerland and the entire globe. One of the first things you'll notice is its pure natural beauty, which includes snow-covered mountains, verdant meadows, and Lake Geneva.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame, a significant landmark in this area, was built in the 12th century and is famous for its impressive arches and facades as well as for holding a 12-million-dollar organ that was a gift from the city of Boston. 

8. Bern:Enjoy the spectacular views of Bern, Switzerland's capital, as you travel through the Entlebuch and Emmental valleys! Follow the beautiful Grand Zurich and try the superb quality cookies at Kambly. Enjoy the speechless views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau peaks, and visit the Emmentaler exhibition dairy to sample the world's biggest cheese.

After seeing the Triple Mountain peaks, get a gift bag filled with delicious Swiss treats. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau triple mountains, and bring a goodie bag filled with the delicious Swiss treats you gathered while visiting these sites. 

9. Lugano:Lugano is a famous tourist destination in Switzerland, drawing visitors and globetrotters from all over the world to its shores with its laid-back lifestyle and wonderful natural beauty. The city, a medieval community with no traffic, is surrounded by a lot of mountains, parks, and high viewpoints.

The city of Lugano has also established a strong relationship with artworks and artists. There are some establishments that support traditional artistic and architectural styles. There are also a tonne of museums in the city, including the Museum of Cultures, the Swiss Customs Museum, the Fondazione Gabriele e Anna Braglia Lugano, etc.

10. Montreux: Montreux, a stunning resort community, is situated on Lake Geneva in southwest Switzerland. People go from all over the world to the town, which is set between Lake Geneva, hills, forested woods, and vineyards, to escape the monotony of their daily lives and soak in its beauty.

Enjoy lake boating as well as taste delicious Swiss cuisine and wines close to the riverbank cafés. Flowers and vines that represent Swiss fauna and other odd shapes are dotted around the gardens at the beaches. The most famous citizen of the city, Freddie Mercury, has been memorialized by a statue.

Which are the best things to do in Switzerland?

1. Walk on the Chapel Bridge: This is a historic bridge that carries great architectural and cultural importance. Standing on the Reuss River in the city of Lucerne, this bridge was built in the year 1333 to protect the city from outside attacks. Stretching over a length of 670 feet, this is a covered bridge, making it the oldest covered bridge in the entire continent.

Inside the bridge, you will find several 17th-century paintings depicting major events from Lucerne's history. Although several of the buildings were destroyed during a fire, the bridge still remains one of the top tourist attractions in the country.

2. Go Wine Tasting: If vineyard or wine interests you, then you have to visit the Lavaux Vineyards that stretch for 30 kilometres between Château de Chillon and Lausanne, along the shore of a lake! The vineyards are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to their rich history that dates back to the Roman times.

This hidden spot on the Switzerland tourism map allows some of the best experiences where you can choose to tour the vineyards and taste the best Swiss wine here. If you happen to be here around the spring season, you can try the wine at discounted rates and sample as many as you like.

3. Ride the Albula/Bernina Railway Line: The Albula/Bernina railway line has found its place in the very short list of train lines on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. This train has wide glass windows that run almost the entire length of the sides of the train to offer breathtaking views of the train's route.

It passes through some unspoilt Alpine landscape, iconic viaducts and tunnels that last for several kilometres on end! The entire route extends for 122 kilometres and passes over more than 200 scenic bridges! Different seasons offer varied but equally beautiful scenery from the train.

4. Visit the Palais Des Nations: When in Geneva, you can actually visit the home of the United Nations. The building which was built to house the League of Nations functioned as the headquarters for the same prior to the formation of the UN.

The grey monument might seem like a regular structure but has been covered with heat-resistant titanium which was donated by the USSR. The place organizes several tours on a daily basis which allow access into not only the building but also to it's 46-hectare park! The park has centuries-old trees and several peacocks that roam around freely.

5. Spend time at CERN: The European Organization for Nuclear Research was founded in the year 1954 and has been a world-famous name ever since the Large Hadron Collider came into existence. You can go and view the world's largest machine at work as it creates new matter through proton acceleration.

The 27 kilometre-long tube can be viewed on any given day but tours must be booked in advance. This favourite destination of Switzerland tourism is sometimes fully booked months in advance! The place also has dedicated displays for children and a souvenir shop, making it a place where you can bring your family for some learning and fun.

6. Go Skydiving in Interlaken: Interlaken is a prominent town situated in the heart of Switzerland and its location is what makes it the perfect skydiving destination. You can dive from an airplane at a height of 14,000 feet and take in the breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains, glistening lakes and chalet-adorned towns.

The rush of the fall is followed by a calming feeling that you experience as you slowly descend towards the land on your parachute. This is when you get the time to enjoy the bird's eye view of the valleys and mountains. Also, there are skydiving options for people of every proficiency, you can try it tandem or on your own.

7. Enjoy the Spray of Jet d’Eau: The predecessor of the present Jet d’Eau was installed in the year 1886 as a safety valve for a nearby project and was moved to its current location only in the year 1891. The present Jet d’Eau is much more of an aesthetic addition and sprays 500 litres of water per second to an altitude of 140 metres.

It is so high that you can also spot it from an airplane upto the height of 10 kilometres! During sunny days, you can expect to spot a rainbow as the water turns into spray and drenches the people sitting around it! If you are lucky, you can also see it illuminated in different colours as it is done a few times every year for humanitarian causes.

8. Ride a Cable Car: Switzerland is a cable-car country and you will find hundreds of cable-car routes strewn all over the place, taking people to the summits of mountains within a matter of minutes! You can take a cable-car ride to the top of Europe, to Jungfraujoch or to the infamous Matterhorn.

The glass-windows of these cable cars allow breathtaking views of forests and waterfalls turning to rugged, snow-covered scenery. Interlaken has around 45 different cable-car routes that you can take from the town. You can also access ski destinations through a cable car when in Zermatt.

9. Go Boating in the Rhine Falls: If viewing one of Europe’s most fierce waterfalls from a viewing platform is not enough for you, then we suggest you get on a boat and get in there! You can get up and close with the waterfalls as you ride a boat right upto the falls.

A rock jutting out of the water, bang in the middle of the walls, offers one of the best views you will experience anywhere on your map of Switzerland tourism. The views of thousands of gallons of water crashing at full speed are simply unforgettable.