This landlocked European country is filled with attractive cities, fine ski-resorts, and famously idyllic mountain scenery dotted with cuckoo-clock houses and bell-adorned cows. From my many visits to this breathtaking country, here are my all-time favourite places…
1. Lake Geneva
Switzerland is often called the country of mountains and lakes – it harbours around 1500 lakes, and I think all are beautiful! My favourite, though (and many others!), is Lake Geneva, the largest lake in the Swiss Alps and the second-largest freshwater body in Central Europe.
It fascinates with its pristine beauty and apparent waters and has even been compared with a mirror! This natural mirror reflects picture-postcard mountain peaks, vineyards, tall spruces, buildings, and medieval castles scattered across the slopes.
You can even go on a beach holiday here, where you sunbathe whilst admiring snow-capped mountains!
Location: Southwestern part of the country.
Best time to visit: Summer (to enjoy boat tours, swimming, and the lakeside promenades).
Activities on offer: Boat tours, swimming, walking along lakeside promenades, and wine tasting at nearby vineyards.
Accommodation: Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Grand Hotel du Lac, and Hotel d’Angleterre Geneva.
We can book your trip hopping around Switzerland’s beautiful places through our free, top-rated travel planning service!
2. Zurich
Located on the northern shores of a huge crystal-clear lake, Zurich wins hearts with a magnificent panorama of the snow-covered Alps on the horizon.
The city centre is bristling with tourist attractions, sights, and exciting things to do – more than 50 museums, 100 art galleries, boutiques, and a vibrant nightlife will keep you pretty busy.
Architecture lovers will appreciate centuries-old buildings adorned with fresco paintings and plants in flowerpots. When visiting the Old Town of Zurich, I suggest looking closely at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Europe’s most prominent clock face!
If you prefer recreational activities outside of city confines, you can boat on the lake or hike along the scenic Uetliberg Mountain trails.
Location: Northeastern part of the country.
Best time to visit: Spring and Fall (for mild weather and fewer crowds, perfect for city exploration).
Activities on offer: Visiting museums, exploring the old town, shopping along Bahnhofstrasse, and boat trips on Lake Zurich.
Accommodation: Baur au Lac, The Dolder Grand, and 25hours Hotel Zurich West.
Lucerne, located at the foothills of picture-perfect Mount Pilatus, is a quintessentially Swiss city beloved by many visitors. I’m a huge fan of is traditional town squares, historic buildings, painted facades, and narrow cobbled streets lined with shops selling traditional goods.
The gorgeous city is also famous for its beautifully preserved medieval bridges, one of which dates back to 1333. There are many things to see and do in Lucerne; add extra visiting time for the picturesque Lake Lucerne.
It’s a vast, irregularly shaped lake encircled by towering mountains – an area often said to be similar to Norway’s famous fjords.
Location: Central part of the country.
Best time to visit: Summer (for boat rides and hiking around Mount Pilatus and Rigi).
Activities on offer: Boat cruises, hiking Mount Pilatus or Rigi, visiting the Swiss Transport Museum, and exploring the Chapel Bridge.
Accommodation: Hotel des Balances, Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern, and Art Deco Hotel Montana.
Switzerland has only one national park, but this one is pretty special, and I’m a huge fan! It is located in the Western Rhaetian Alps in eastern Switzerland and is part of the UNESCO biosphere reserve.
It’s home to beautiful scenery, wildlife, and 80 kilometres of paths that allow visitors to explore the carefully preserved alpine environment. Expect to see winding, wild, azure rivers, stunning peaks, and dense areas of beautiful alpine forest.
Location: Eastern part of the country.
Best time to visit: Summer (to explore hiking trails and experience the park’s biodiversity).
Activities on offer: Hiking, wildlife viewing, nature photography, and exploring alpine meadows.
Accommodation: Hotel Parc Naziunal Il Fuorn (inside the park), Hotel Piz Buin Zernez, and Hotel Crusch Alba.
Lake Geneva is one of the world’s most famously beautiful lakes, but if you want to crank up the fairytale factor, head for Chateau de Chillon.
This medieval castle lords over Lake Geneva from its rock island, offering gorgeous views inside and out.
The remarkably well-preserved castle displays over a thousand years of history, and the building has inspired the works of famed writers Jeans-Jacque Rosseau and Lord Byron—if you visit, you’ll see why!
Visitor Center Address: Av. de Chillon 21, 1820 Veytaux
Best time to visit: Summer (to enjoy lake views and guided tours in pleasant weather).
Activities on offer: Guided tours, exploring historical exhibits, photography, and walking along Lake Geneva.
Accommodation: Hotel Victoria in Montreux, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, and Hotel Bon Rivage.
Map Location and Directions
6. Zermatt and the Matterhorn
This is Switzerland’s highest ski resort in southern Switzerland’s Valais canton. Zermatt is a car-free Alpine village famous for its picture-postcard prettiness and close location to the imposing Matterhorn.
The steep slopes of this famous mountain once intimidated hikers from even attempting to scale it. Since the first successful attempt in 1865, many more brave mountaineers have reached the top of the famed mountain.
I love this place, but this kind of scenery comes at a price – accommodation in Zermatt is among the most expensive in the country!
Location: Southern part of the country.
Best time to visit: Winter and Summer (for skiing in winter and hiking in summer).
Activities on offer: Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain climbing, and exploring the Matterhorn Museum.
Accommodation: The Omnia, Hotel Monte Rosa, and Mont Cervin Palace.
There are many stunning cities in this country, but I personally think Bern, which is located near the country’s centre, stands out! It’s Switzerland’s capital but one of Europe’s smallest capitals. Bern’s Old Town’s medieval streets are particularly scenic and have earned them a UNESCO World Heritage status.
It’s a compact, relaxed city where time moves slowly, and the locals don’t seem nearly as busy as in other cities.
Expect to see covered arcades, whimsical fountains, cobbled streets, world-class galleries, fantastic urban swimming, and traditional architecture, all framed by rolling hills and the glacial Aare River.
Location: Central part of the country.
Best time to visit: Spring and Summer (to enjoy the historic old town and outdoor events).
Activities on offer: Walking tours of the old town, visiting the Zytglogge clock tower, exploring museums, and attending festivals.
Accommodation: Hotel Bellevue Palace, Hotel Schweizerhof Bern, and Hotel Savoy Bern.
The Alpine village in the Bernese Oberland region is seriously picturesque! Wengen is an impossibly perfect example of an Alpine village where traditional timber chalets cling to the slopes of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
It’s been developed into a car-free resort town with an exclusive upscale feel and a fine collection of belle époque hotels. In winter, the high altitude and gorgeous scenery attract a discerning skiing crowd; in fact, Wengen has so many skiers at this time that its population has increased almost tenfold.
Location: Central part of the country.
Best time to visit: Winter (for skiing and the annual Lauberhorn downhill race).
Activities on offer: Skiing, hiking, paragliding, and riding the Wengen-Männlichen cable car.
Accommodation: Hotel Regina Wengen, Hotel Belvédère, and Beausite Park Hotel.
Located in Switzerland’s Kander Valley, this stunning lake is fed by the glacial brooks of three surrounding mountains.
It’s a beautiful and tranquil spot where nature lovers come to swim, row, hike, and – in winter – ride the 3.5-kilometer-long toboggan run, which travels from the lake to the gondola station.
The surrounding area is also known for its rich flora and fauna – orchids, gentian, edelweiss, and herds of grazing sheep and cows all call this place home.
Location: Central part of the country.
Best time to visit: Summer (for hiking, swimming, and boat rides on the clear waters).
Activities on offer: Swimming, fishing, hiking, tobogganing, and boat rentals.
Accommodation: Berghotel Oeschinensee, Blümlisalp Hotel, and Chalet-Hotel Adler in Kandersteg.
This is a traditional resort town located between two Alpine Lakes. However, it’s not so much the town that has earned itself a place on this list as the surrounding area—Interlaken follows the footsteps of the most beautiful alpine range in the country and arguably the whole world.
The scenery is breathtaking, with snowcapped mountains sprinkled with waterfalls, glacial lakes, and lush green alpine meadows. It’s also the main transport gateway to the region’s mountains and lakes, making it an excellent base for exploring.
Expect stunning mountains, dense forests, alpine meadows, and glaciers, which are great for hiking and skiing.
Location: Central part of the country.
Best time to visit: Summer (for adventure sports like paragliding, hiking, and boat trips).
Activities on offer: Paragliding, hiking, boating on Lakes Thun and Brienz, and skydiving.
Accommodation: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel, Lindner Grand Hotel Beau Rivage, and Hotel Interlaken.
One of the oldest ski resorts in the world, it is the highlight of the Engadin Valley and tends to attract a well-heeled crowd. While its counterparts often suffer from unpredictable weather, St. Moriz boasts 322 sunny days yearly.
This is likely why royal dynasties, politicians, billionaires, and celebrities prefer St. Moriz as a resort of their choice. The high cost puts many people off St. Moritz, but those who get here benefit from a kind of ski’ business class’. Skiing (sledging, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing) is the best reason to visit these parts, but not the only one.
St. Moritz-Bad is a famous health resort with many spas, thermal pools, massage salons, beauty parlours, mud baths, and saunas.
Location: Southeastern part of the country.
Best time to visit: Winter (for world-class skiing and luxury resorts).
Activities on offer: Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, attending luxury events, and enjoying spa resorts.
Accommodation: Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, and Suvretta House.
Brienz is a traditional village located near Interlaken, surrounded by towering mountains and on the shores of the brilliant turquoise Lake Brienz. It deserves a special mention.
For a touch of romance, head for Brunngasse, which was once awarded the title of the most beautiful street in Europe. Here, most of the houses are wood-carved and date back to the 18th century, giving them a chocolate box prettiness.
Location: Central part of the country.
Best time to visit: Summer (for hiking and exploring the Brienz Rothorn railway).
Activities on offer: Boat trips on Lake Brienz, visiting the Brienz Rothorn railway, wood carving workshops, and hiking.
Accommodation: Grandhotel Giessbach, Hotel Brienz, and Brienzerburli Hotel.
Sitting on the sunlit southern terrace in the Rhone Valley, the gorgeous upscale resort town of Villars-sur-Ollon offers breathtaking views of the Dan du Midi, Mont Blanc massif, and Lake Geneva.
The world-famous ski resort boasts 25 kilometres of premier snow slopes and 44 kilometres of cross-country ski trails. Besides that, it has three snowparks, a snow kindergarten, sledging hills, and numerous winter hiking trails, not to mention the lively après ski activities!
I would also recommend trying out one of my many wellness centres in the thermal spring area. In summer, the main activities of Villars-sur-Ollon are hiking, mountain biking, and golf.
You can explore over 300 km of marked trekking routes and 150 km of mountain bike trails. One of the most exciting routes leads to the pretty mountain lakes Lac de Chavonne, Lac de Bretaye, and Lac Noir.
Location: Southwestern part of the country.
Best time to visit: Winter (for skiing and enjoying snow-covered landscapes).
Activities on offer: Skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and visiting the nearby Glacier 3000.
Accommodation: Chalet RoyAlp Hotel & Spa, Alpe Fleurie, and Hotel du Golf.
One of Switzerland’s most famous ski resorts, Grindelwald, sits in the shadow of three magnificent peaks: Jungfrau (4158 m above sea level), Mönch (4099 m), and Eiger (3970 m).
Nature skillfully crafted this one-of-a-kind landscape consisting of steep rocks, neat plateaus, and gentle slopes. No place in Central Europe has glaciers so close to the valley, and they are easily accessible for snow enthusiasts.
Besides skiing, you can explore the mysterious Blue Ice Grotto and the sublime Glacial Canyon, just a stone’s throw from Grindelwald. However, in my opinion, the main highlight of this place is the cogwheel railway nestling on the summit of the Kleine Scheidegg Mountain.
Location: Central part of the country.
Best time to visit: Winter (for skiing and ice-climbing, or Summer for hiking and mountain biking).
Activities on offer: Skiing, ice climbing, hiking, mountain biking, and taking the Eiger Express gondola.
Accommodation: Hotel Belvedere Grindelwald, Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof, and Aspen alpin lifestyle hotel Grindelwald.
Divided in half by the Rhine River, Basel, the third-largest Swiss city, proudly sits between Germany and France. It owes its cultural diversity and bizarre mixture of architectural styles to this unique geographical position.
This is perhaps the only place on Earth where you can travel to another country (more precisely, to two foreign countries) by tram!
If you focus only on Basel’s centre, you’ll have much to see and do. Head to the market square with its richly embellished government buildings and the Gothic cathedral to soak in history or visit one of the 40 local museums – concrete proof that Basel is a city of arts.
Location: Northwestern part of the country.
Best time to visit: Spring and Fall (for art festivals, mild weather, and cultural events).
Activities on offer: Exploring museums, walking along the Rhine River, visiting the Basel Zoo, and attending art festivals.
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Hotel Basel, and The Passage Hotel.
Situated at 400 meters in northeastern Switzerland, this lake is known as Lake Constance, Bodensee, and the Swabian Sea.
The vast reservoir, about 65 kilometres long, is the third-largest lake in Europe. Thanks to its enormous size, it washes the shores of three countries – Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.
The picture-perfect landscape around the lake is a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Water sports, hiking, roller-skating, and biking activities lure tourists worldwide. While you are here, I highly recommend cruising across the azure waters!
Location: Northeastern part of the country.
Best time to visit: Summer (for boating, cycling along the shores, and visiting nearby towns).
Activities on offer: Boating, swimming, cycling along the lake, and visiting nearby towns like Konstanz.
Accommodation: Hotel Bad Horn, Seehotel Am Kaiserstrand, and Hotel Heiden.
The Seebergsee Lake, in the canton of Bern, seems almost like a pond compared to other Swiss lakes. However, while being inferior to its counterparts in size, it is not defective in beauty.
This oasis of tranquillity offers several routes for cyclists and backpackers running across ravishing green foothills. Picturesque grassy landscapes framing the lake are ideal for picnics, sunbathing, and chilling out.
Feel free to plunge into these calm waters and swim across the lake (remember to keep safe!). Afterwards, you can climb cliffs, lending epic views of the Seebergee and the surrounding mountain terrains.
Location: Western part of the country
Best time to visit: Summer (for hiking and enjoying the stunning alpine scenery).
Activities on offer: Hiking, picnicking, photography, and exploring the surrounding alpine trails.
Accommodation: Nearby options include Hotel Landgasthof Schönbühl, Hotel Alpenblick in Bern, and Hotel Moosegg.
A journey to Jungfraujoch Mountain is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those who love mountain peaks, clear air, crystal clear sky, and chilling wind. You can get there by the cog railway Jungfrau, running 9 km from the Kleine Scheidegg pass to Jungfraujoch.
By the way, the Jungfraujoch station, housed at 3454 meters above sea level, is the highest in Europe. It offers fantastic panoramic views of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountain peaks and the longest glacier in the Alps.
Spend a few minutes enjoying these divine views and then plunge through a tunnel to reach the Ice Palace, which exhibits an extensive collection of ice sculptures. Afterwards, you can climb the Sphinx observation terrace or stroll along the Alpine Sensation circular underground walk.
Location: Central part of the country.
Best time to visit: Summer (to experience the “Top of Europe” viewpoint and glacier walks).
Activities on offer: Glacier walks, visiting the Ice Palace, riding the Jungfrau Railway, and enjoying panoramic views.
Accommodation: Eiger Guesthouse, Hotel Silberhorn Wengen, and Hotel Alpenruhe Kulm.
Spiez is a small town in the picturesque bay of Lake Thun. The city is charming in the summer, filled with lush greenery and flowers. Unlike many other cities in Switzerland, Spiez does not have an ancient core—except for an old castle dotted with small but lovely low-rise buildings.
However, the local nature is worth visiting Spitz on your trip to Switzerland. The skyy waters of Lake Thun are surrounded by the towering Swiss Alps, which carefully protect the lake from calm winds.
The stunning greenery of Swiss nature and vineyards complement the blue-ish colour palette. I suggest trying the local wineries’ products—they’re delicious!
Location: Central part of the country.
Best time to visit: Summer (for boat rides, castle visits, and vineyard tours).
Activities on offer: Boat tours, visiting Spiez Castle, wine tasting, and hiking through nearby vineyards.
Accommodation: Belvédère Strandhotel, Hotel Eden Spiez, and Strandhotel Seeblick.
