Are you planning a trip to the country of romance? This post on the top things to do in Switzerland lists all the exciting activities and famous landmarks.
With scenic beauty and a wide range of unique experiences on offer, a trip to Switzerland is sure to create happy memories that will last a lifetime. It’s best to plan your trip in advance, so you cover the best of Switzerland’s tourist attractions.
Known as the playground of Europe, Switzerland offers a plethora of both adventurous and relaxing things for travelers to partake in. While the country boasts many outstanding resorts, it is also home to one of the world’s most expensive hotels. Culture is in abundance, and discovering the country’s fascinating history feels like reading a mystical folk tale or legend.
Without further ado, here are all the best things to do and places to see in Switzerland.
What to Do in Switzerland
Switzerland, home to the Swiss Alps, boasts ravishing alpine scenery. The looming peaks of the snow-capped mountains cast flitting shadows on the country’s many quaint villages and charming towns.
Life in the hamlets here nestled amongst the mountains is as pretty as fairy tales. The landlocked country feels like a planet of its own with its mystical charm and otherworldly scenes. Amongst the many entertainment options are hiking, climbing, biking, skiing, and paragliding. Here are the best of them.
1. Book a hotel with a view
If you’re going to spend your hard earned cash on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Switzerland, the you might as well stay in one of the most incredible hotels in the world. Hotel Villa Honegg has got a lot of attention recently (mainly due to viral Instagram images!) thanks to its spectacular infinity pool overlooking the Alps.
When it comes to a room with a view, it doesn’t get much better than this! If this is *a little* out of your budget, then below are some equally amazing and unique places to stay in Switzerland with a smaller price tag!
An alternative and much cheaper option is to stay in Chateau Guetsch, Lucerne for just €200 a night or check into a mountain pod.
2. Eat your weight in Swiss cheese
If you didn’t already know Switzerland is famous for its cheese – now you know! One of the most fun things to do on any trip to Switzerland is to see how many different types of delicious Swiss cheese you can eat. Be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, while sitting in a fancy Fondue Restaurant, or at a picnic in the park you’ve put together for your self, nothing beats a meal of cheese.
We ate at the oldest restaurant in Lausanne and I can happily say I’ve never eaten that much cheese in one sitting in my life – it was heavenly! It should be noted that in Switzerland they don’t really call it “Swiss cheese” as they simply have a huge variety of delicious Alpine cheeses, made from cows milk that comes from the happiest cows in the world.
3. Do a chocolate-making workshop
4. Stay in the world’s prettiest hostels
Whether you are on a shoestring budget or not, staying in hostels is weirdly one of the top things to do in Switzerland. They are unlike any other backpackers hostels I’ve encountered around the world – and many are even prettier and better-located than their neighbouring hotels. In Interlaken we stayed at the very famous Balmers Hostel, which is the oldest private hostel in Switzerland and has more extra facilities than you can shake a stick (of chocolate) at.
There’s a restaurant, a night club, a massive terrace and garden, a room full of hammocks and a play area with foosball and pool tables. We stayed in a private room that was more spacious than some of the hotels we’ve stayed at and the decor was certainly unique!
While we didn’t stay in Lauterbrunnen the hostel we saw there was also one of the prettiest hostels in the world and might be worth checking out for a night or two if you plan to do some hiking. Also, this is the starting point for the train to Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe!
READ: Best Hostels in Switzerland
5. Go wine tasting in Lugano
While Switzerland may not be as famous as its neighbouring countries for wine (hello France and Italy!) the wines that we tasted were pretty amazing and Switzerland in summer is drop dead gorgeous. There are even some pretty famous wine-making districts around the country from the UNESCO World Heritage Vineyards in Vevey to the warm, hills around Lugano in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. Ian and I spent a few hours at a very small family run vineyard in Lugano called La Fattoria Moncucchetto.
It was actually really nice to look around a very small vineyard (the produce 35,000 bottles a year and don’t export anything) as well as learning how their various varieties of wine are made. We tasted a few glasses of their 2014 Refolo Brut and both agreed we wouldn’t mind purchasing a bottle on ten! 😉 The bubbles went straight to my head but in a good way! Be sure to visit if passing through Lugano – the views are also incredible from their terrace.
I’ve listed Lugano as one of the top places to in Switzerland. Want to see the the other top 10 beautiful towns and villages? Read this post about “Where to go in Switzerland.”
6. Discover Switzerland’s oldest town
The city of Chur, located in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, is officially the oldest town in Switzerland dating back over 5,000 years and visiting is one of the most unique things to do in Switzerland. The towns official language is German but the main language spoken here is the Alemannia Swiss German dialect. The old part of the town is very picturesque and 100% car free making a visit here even more enjoyable.
7. Cruise down the River Rhine
One of my favourite things to do in Switzerland was a morning spent cruising down the famous River Rhine. We hopped on board in the town of Schaffhaussen in Switzerland and watching in awe as the boat manoeuvred its way down the river with Switzerland to one side and Germany to the other. Was sort of like being in two countries at once.
We passed some stunning little villages, camp sites and absolutely massive mansions on either side of the river and it was by far one of the most relaxing mornings we had.
As most of the boats rides in Switzerland are included in your Swiss Travel Pass, we just hopped off the train and onto the boat with our giant backpacks and took a sort of two-hour detour down the river then re-joined the train further down the route.
8. Experience three cultures in one
You may laugh at me, but until I actually travelled around Switzerland I was not aware that there are three separate languages spoken. Four if your can Romansh, a language only spoken in the Graubünden area to the West of the country.
Three languages means three separate cultures and three very different varieties of food. It’s quite fun travelling from the French-speaking area around Lausanne – where you’ll find delicious baked goods, crepes and other delightful delicacies from France to the German-speaking area where you will suddenly see street signs in German and advertisements for Bratwursts!
The moment we got off the train in Lugano it actually felt life we had already crossed over into Italy – expect the prices of course!
9. Descend a mountain in a cable car
Whether you decide to take the cable car up the mountain or down, riding in a cable car is definitely one of the most fun things to do in Switzerland!
In the winter they’re obviously used by the masses to get to the top of the mountains before skiing or snowboarding back down, while in summer there a little quieter and can be used to get to the top of various peaks to admire the spectacular view from the top. As we had a 8-day Swiss Rail Pass, we were allowed to take some cable car rides for free such as the one linking Mount Rigi near Lucerne to Weggis at the lakeshore.
Switzerland is also home to the world’s first revolving cable car – while we didn’t get to experience this personally I’ve heard it’s an incredible experience. Cable car rides up the mountains is definitely one of the most fun things to do in Switzerland!
10. Take an old cog railway up Mount Rigi
One of the best day trips on our 8-day Grand Train Tour was a morning ascending Mount Rigi in an old cog railway. the incline was seriously steep and the train went at a snail’s pace, but this meant all the passengers could easily hang our the windows and take some of the most stunning panorama shots of the surrounding lakes and mountains.
One photo I took was so spectacular that most of my friends thought it was taken with a drone! Once at the top there is a cafe and restaurant and some great photo opportunities looking back down to the three lakes that surround Mount Rigi.
The walk back down to the cable car station is extremely easy, and you might even come across a paraglider flying off the mount as you walk by! Going up Mount Rigi was one of the best things to do in Switzerland – especially if you’re after some spectacular photos!
11. Photograph the world’s happiest cows
Did you know Switzerland is famous for having the “happiest cows in the world”? Apparently, that’s why Swiss chocolate is so famous – it’s all about the rich and creamy milk! We saw these happy cows everywhere we went, roaming freely through fields, hills and with their cute bells hanging around their necks. We never got too close, but we did have fun trying to get some picture-perfect shots of these famous milk-makers!
12. Go skydiving in Interlaken
Forget about Queenstown in New Zealand or Victoria Falls in Southern Africa, I can say with confidence that Interlaken is the new adrenaline-junkie capital of the world.
Whatever sort of crazy activity you can think of, be it skydiving, bungee jumping, paragliding, mountain biking, off-roading, quad biking and loads of others that i can’t begin to explain – they have it. It is also one of the most spectacular spots on earth to go skydiving – surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Alps. Check out Skydiving Interkalen for info on prices!
Skydiving in Interlaken has to be one the most fun things to do in Switzerland!
13. Visit a UNESCO Vineyard at Vevey
14. Explore old railway bridges
Depending on how much time you have in Switzerland, one fun thing to do is to spend a day exploring old railway bridges. We did this while passing through St Gallen, where the tallest railway bridge in Switzerland is located.
There are actually three bridges next to each other – one for cars and two for trains. Whether you walk over them or under them, they are a sight to behold and a great place to meet some locals or even take a dip in one of Switzerland’s many perfectly-clean rivers.
15. Get soaked by a waterfall
This might happen by accident but it will most definitely happen! One thing Switzerland has a lot of is powerful waterfalls. we actually came across a few by accident and the one that we paid to get into was one of the most incredible waterfalls I’ve ever had the opportunity to visit. if you take the train to Lauterbrunnen and take the super-easy 1 hour hike to Trummelbach, you will actually pass about two or three other waterfalls along the way.
If you have a few more hours (or even days) to kill, you can check out all 72 waterfalls to be found in this mountainous region of the country! Trummelbach, the most famous waterfall, has been formed by the melting snow breaking through cracks in the rocks and gushing down into the valley. Because it’s so cold and so clear, the colour of the water is this unusual greyish white colour which can be viewed up close at the bottom of the falls.
To see the falls up close, they have carved steps and platforms into the rock face so visitors can view the waterfall in all its glory from varying dizzying heights.
16. Discover picturesque villages
While Switzerland is famous for a few of its large and well-known cities, the real beauty is to be found in all the small and picturesque villages you pass along the way. It’s best not to try fit too much into your daily itinerary so you have time to hop off the train as you please to have a coffee in a cute little village, take a walk around and unknown lake or simply to take pictures which is what I did.
At one stage I hopped off the train in a town called Spiez with all my bags and left Ian ride on to Zurich by himself as I was so keen to take some drone shots (which you can see below!). The same goes for boat rides – give yourself enough time to jump off at some the more picturesque towns and villages you see along the way.
17. Stroll through Stein Am Rhein
A town I had never heard of until a local took us there following a boat ride down the River Rhine, Stein Am Rhein is a medieval town in the German-speaking part of Switzerland with perfectly preserved ancient centre. No amount of photos would be enough in this storybook town – I kept feeling as if I had walked into a fairytale such a Shrek as not one building looked like any i had ever seen before. Dating back hundreds of years, the front of most buildings were perfectly preserved with ancient paintings in beautiful colours. Has to be seen to be believed!
18. See Europe’s most powerful waterfall
If you didn’t get your fill of amazing waterfalls in The Alps, then a visit to Rhine Falls just 40 minutes outside of Zurich by train is must.
Our train passed right by and I honestly nearly jumped out the window of the train i was in such awe at what I was seeing. I kicked myself for not doing my research and knowing that it existed so I would have known to get off the train!! Don’t make the same mistake as me – plan your journey and be sure to make s all photo stop here!
19. Take in a Zurich sunrise
This wasn’t planned (we just happened to need to get up very early when leaving Zurich) but I highly recommend you set your alarm clock and explore this beautiful city as the sun rises. It’s so quiet and peaceful in the morning, the light is at its best for photographs and the river is flat calm allowing for some stunning reflection shots.
20. Visit the Olympic Museum
While there are lots of fantastic museums in Switzerland, The Olympic Museum in Lausanne is by far the best by a long shot. Located in the Olympic City, the home of the founder of the modern-day olympics and the International Olympic Committee, visiting this museum is both fascinating and exciting.
Perfect for all ages, this interactive museum takes you through the history of the olympics, all about its founder and his life in Lausanne as well as a chance to see signed memorabilia from many of the past Olympic Games. You can take a photo of yourself holding the Olympic Torch from Rio and you can even try your hand at some Olympic Sports from athletics to shooting as well as playing games to test your balance.
Tom Cafe, the restaurant on the top floor, has a beautiful terrace with panoramic views of Lake Geneva and delicious buffet to treat yourself to. My travel buddy Ian has written a separate post all about why he loved The Olympic Museum which you should definitely check out!
21. Tour Switzerland by train
I honestly think the ONLY way to visit Switzerland is by train. There’s this thing called the “Grand Train Tour of Switzerland” which we did. You can either buy a 4 day or an 8 day pass and it essentially lets you travel anywhere in Switzerland by boat, bus or train and even some cable cars. If not covered by the pass, there’s almost always a 25% or 50% discount.
While you might need to make a reservation for some of the more popular trains in the summer, or the panoramic trains through the Alps, we didn’t need to reserve seats anywhere and found travelling from city to city by train super easy for extremely enjoyable.
The ticket also gets your first class so you ride in style! Here’s another great post with more information about travelling Europe by train. Train travel in Switzerland really the only way to go!
22. Cruise around Lake Lucerne
As I’m sure you’ve guessed already – Switzerland is essentially full of mountains, lakes and rivers. around every corner there is a mountain to be climbed and a lake to be explored by boat.
We loved taking an old steamer across Lake Lucerne – the views were spectacular and you can hop on and off as your please visiting some of the pretty lakeside towns that I previously talked about. A great day trip from Lucerne is to check out Mount Titlis – where you can actually plan in the snow even during the summer!
23. Cycle around Zurich
Zurich is a very easy city to get around and despite being known as the banking capital of the world, it is in fact a very beautiful old city with a lot to see and do. Full of excellent museums and attractions, renting a bike and exploring this city on two wheels is definitely the best way to see all of has to offer. Be sure to check out the giant clock face, Europe’s largest clock face at St Peter’s Church.
24. Old railway to Lauterbrunnen
Taking a traditional train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, or even further up into the mountains if your budget allows it, is one of the most unique things to do in Switzerland. The view is beautiful along the way as the train slowly winds its way up the valley and on arrival in Lauterbrunnen you will feel like you’ve arrived in a fairytale town. Whether you visit in Winter or Summer, a walk around this magical village will put a smile on your face. Grab a hot chocolate at one of the cute cafes or book into one of the most picturesque hostels in the world.
25. Explore lakeside town of Spietz
There are many amazing lakeside towns in Switzerland to check out! One cute lakeside town only a short train ride from Interlaken, and a perfect stop if you are travelling on to Zurich. Spend a day walking around this town and be sure to check out Spietz Castle, the marina and the church that sits by the lake.
You can also take a boat trip out around the lake if you have time and enjoy the spectacular backdrop of the mountains behind you.
26. Rent a paddle boat in Lausanne
Visiting Lausanne is a little like travelling back in time to the summer resorts of the past. Watch as families sit by the lake enjoying the sunshine or rent a paddle boat and paddle along the shore of beautiful Lake Leman. You can enjoy great views of the Olympic Museum as well as an alternative view of some of the best hotels in the world which live the side of the lake overlooking the clear waters.
27. Watch the paragliders in Interlaken
If paragliding isn’t in your budget it can also be fun to go the park in Interlaken to watch as hundreds and hundreds of them descend on the town, doing flips and tricks, landing mere meters from your comfortable park bench. It’s a real sight to behold and will ensure your photo of Interlaken have a pretty energetic background!
28. Stay in an old jailhouse
There’s a hotel in Lucerne that use to be the city jail. you can now pay to get the full “jail experience” complete with small beds in cell-like rooms, bars on the windows and dim lighting.
A unique Swiss experience for sure! The prison dates back to 1862 – so you might imagine a few visitors while you sleep!
29. Eat a great, big Swiss steak
Like I mentioned earlier, Switzerland is pretty famous for having the happiest cows in the world and some of the world’s tastiest cheese. It’s no surprise that it is also a meat-lovers heaven an is home to the tastiest cuts of steak as well as a huge variety of mouth-watering dried meats.
We treated ourselves to a steak dinner while in Lausanne and it was way up there with one of the best-cooked steaks I’ve ever eaten. Enjoy it with some good Swiss red wine and you’ll be in foodie heaven!
30. Stay in the leading hotels of the world
Switzerland must have more luxury hotels per capita than anywhere else in the world. Some aren’t even widely marketed – they’re just known by those in the know.
Many are famous for having hosted some of the world’s biggest celebrities and one such hotel in Lausanne was the home Coco Chanel for two years and even has a suite in the hotel named after her. Be in castles up in the mountains or 5-star lakeside retreats, many dating back over 100 years, you are sure to find a hotel you’ll never forget while in Switzerland.
We spent two nights in the Carlton Lausanne and I had the most incredible balcony overlooking the street with the lake in the near distance. While the hotel had kept much of its old-world charm (there were even a hotel posters in the breakfast room), it didn’t feel old and the rooms were beautifully decorated.
31. Go hiking
There are so many amazing hiking opportunities in Switzerland. You could probably go hiking every day of your holiday and never get bored as the routes are all equally different and equally enchanting.
Climb up to snow-capped peaks or take it easy walking around gently sloping paths surrounding Switzerland’s endless lakes. Take a cable car up and walk back down or if you’re feeling energetic walk up and take an old railway back down.
32. Take a funicular to Harder Kulm
If you have a few days in Interlaken, be sure to take the old funicular up to Harder Kulm. The large windows and glass roof will allow you spectacular views as you rise up to one the surrounding mountain peaks located 1,322 metres above sea level.
There’s a Chinese restaurant at the top that looks like a mixture between a castle and a temple where you can enjoy the view with a sundowner!
33. Visit the James Bond restaurant
The famous James Bond restaurant in Switzerland is located at the top of Schilthorn, a 2970 meter high mountain peak in the middle of the country. The restaurant at the top, called Piz Gloria, is where the 1969 James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was set.
The restaurant actually revolves and affords visitors panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. You will need to take a series of trains and cable cars to get here so the reward of such an incredible view is a welcome treat on arrival.
34. Explore Switzerland’s stunning castles
Every village, every town, every lake, every river and everywhere else in between seems to have its own stunning castle in Switzerland. I was blown away by the first one I saw (probably as it’s one of the most famous – Chilean Castle on the shores of Lake Geneva) but that it almost got to a stage when I stopped noticing them as there were so many to take pictures of.
If you take a 2 hour train journey through the Swiss countryside you won’t be able to count the amount of castles you see on both hands. In fact, there is said to be a grand total of 62 castles in Switzerland so see how many you can tick off!
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35. Listen to Jazz in Montreux
The small town of Montreux on the shore of Lake Geneva is very much a traditional lakeside resort town but with a small twist. It’s most famous for its annual Montreux Jazz Festival held each July, and dating back over 50 years.
It’s the second largest annual jazz festival in the world, second only to Canada’s famous Montreal Jazz Fest, attracting artists and festival-goers from around the world. While primarily focusing on Jazz music, you can listen to all types of music genres imaginable. The festival lasts two full weeks and attracts almost a quarter of a million people each year.
Where To Stay in Montreux
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace – from €305 a night
Hotel Helvetie – from €117 a night
Eurotel Montreux – from €167 a night
36. Watch the sunset over Lake Lucerne
While Switzerland is full of beautiful places to watch the sunset, I particularly loved watching the sunset in beautiful Lucerne. The city has a very unique layout, stretching down each side of the lake, which makes viewing the sunset all the more pleasurable.
You can also take sunset cruises out on to the water and look back on the city as the sun sets behind it. An unforgettable experience. There’s even a bar called ‘Sunset Bar’ as part of the Hotel Seeburg where you are guaranteed the best sunset pics!
37. Drink Swiss wine at Mojito in Lugano
While in Lugano we discovered this very cute lakeside bar called Mojito. Unlike every other bar we frequented on our travels so far, this bar is run by the local community and all profits made of directly back into the running of the bar and funding local festivals and events that take place next to Lake Lugano.
Prices were very reasonable and they served up some of the mojitos this side of the world. Highly recommend visiting and supporting this social enterprise.
38. Take the Glacier Express
No visit to Switzerland would be complete without riding the famous Glacier Express through the mountains, right up to some of the most spectacularly beautiful spots on all of Europe.
Riding this train is like being transported into a Disney movie – complete with huge panoramic, glass windows to ensure you don’t miss a single mountain whizzing by. Taking about seven hours, it goes all the way across the Alps from Zermatt to Davos or St. Moritz. On a single day trip, you will pass by deep gorges, delightful valleys, 91 tunnels and over 291 impressive bridges!
39. Eat some cobblestone chocolate
If you are spending some time in the Olympic City be sure to take yourself on a self-guided tour up and down the cobblestone streets until you come across the cities most famous chocolate shop.
Here the master chocolatier at Paves Tony makes small cobblestone-shaped chocolatey with a very high alcohol content that are sure to melt in you mouth and have your returning time and time again for more tasty delights.
40. Explore 3 countries in 1 in Basel
Basel is one of the most unusual cities in the world which makes a visit here one of the best things to do in Switzerland. It’s unique location on the border of three countries means that parts of the city are in France, another part is in Switzerland and a third part is in Germany!
Besides its unique location, it was one of the prettiest cities in the country with plenty to keep you occupied for a few days. Basel is also an art lovers paradise – as Jet-Settera found out recently. If visiting during Winter be sure to check out the famous Basel Winter Carnival – the biggest of its kind in Switzerland.
41. Go window shopping in Geneva
Oh Geneva. If you have to ask for the price tag, then you probably can’t afford it! this city is FULL of glamorous shop fronts, women clad in designer clothes from head to toe and people driving cars that cost more than an average house.
It’s quite the experience to soak it all in for a day or two and look on at a lifestyle you will probably never have! 😉
42. Walk around Kapellbrücke in Lucerne
The Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge, in Lucerne is one of the biggest defining features of the city and a must-visit attraction. Slightly creepy at night, and equally atmospheric, walking around this ancient bridge (the oldest covered bridge in Europe) is an experience you won’t be forgetting.
Be sure to check out the intricate interior paintings that date back to the 17th century and 43 meter tall water tower at the end of the bridge.
43. Swim in a Swiss river or lake
I’m not going to lie. The rivers and lakes in Switzerland are not exactly the warmest. In fact, if you are brave enough to take a dip in a river that has been formed from melting snow, be prepared for an icy surprise. While some are warmer than others, they have one thing in common – they contain some of the clearest and cleanest water in Europe and a real delight to swim in. Be brave, make the jump!
44. Mingle with the rich in St Moritz
It is said that Winter Tourism was actually invented in St Moritz over 150 years ago after a local hotel owner and its gets made a bet with each other.
Over the years, St Moritz has grown into one of the most well-known and prestigious ski resorts in the world – popular with the rich and famous from all four corners of the world. A hub for winter sports enthusiasts – 70% of St Moritz visitors come during the Winter months. Be sure to have a nice bit of savings if you plan of travelling here as winter sports, food, accommodation and everything in between don’t come cheap! Looking for some alternative ski resorts? Read all about where locals would recommend!
45. Eat your way around Gruyères
For the foodies amoung, you (or anyone that simply enjoys some good cheese!) Gruyere should be added to your Swiss bucket list. Famous for the large concentration of cheese factories as well as some of Switzerland’s most famous meat products, Gruyeres is also a picture-perfect medieval town with a lot of history.
Visit the Maison Cailler and Gruyères Chocolate factories, discover how to make traditional cheese at La Maion du Gruyere or learn to make traditional, organic bread in the Adde bread oven. There are literally endless things to do in this tiny place.
46. Have a night out in Le Flon in Lausanne
Looking for the best nightlife in Switzerland? It has to be Le Flon district in Lausanne. While many people would argue it’s all about Geneva – many locals from Geneva actually travel to Lausanne for the nightlife.
This old warehouse district, which is full of retro clubs and new bars which have kept the old warehouse-style architecture and vibe transform this part of the city into an eclectic nightlife area. In the summer lots of live music and festivals take place here and at the weekends the district really comes alive. Be sure to check out the iconic Mad nightclub….you’ll see why when you get there.
47. Visit picturesque Albogasio
While this picturesque village is technically on Italian territory, it can be accessed on a one hour cruise from Lugano, the southern most city in Switzerland. We had to actually google the name when we arrived back to our hostel as we were pretty mesmerised by this tiny but perfectly formed stepped village on the shore of Lake Lugano. A photographers dream – and a village that conjures up images of many of the more famous villages around Southern and Northern Italy.
48. Take On the Matterhorn
One of the highest mountains in the Alps, The Matterhorn rises to an astounding 4,478 meters (14691.601 feet). At the base of this mountain is Zermatt, a world-famous mountain resort town. With horse-drawn carriages and whimsical chalets, Zermatt’s charm pulls in tourists like a magnet.
The village of Zermatt has a lively après-ski scene with skiing, biking, climbing, paragliding, and hiking on offer. Many experienced climbers visit this mighty peak each year to brave the heights and conquer this summit.
You can enjoy the iconic views while skiing down world-class slopes. Or, take a peaceful 30-minute cable car ride to the Rothorn’s peak.
49. Don’t Miss the Magic of Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is the largest Alpine lake in Europe. You can rent a kayak on the lakeside and enjoy the serenity of the water with the picturesque backdrop of the mountains and a castle.
Straddling the Switzerland and France border, this crescent-shaped lake has many cities greeting its shores. Amongst these are the major cities of Geneva and Lausanne.
A perfect blend of the French aesthetic and Swiss architecture, the lovely city of Geneva showcases many promenades, parks, and gardens. Stroll the old town exuding medieval charm and don’t miss famous landmarks like the Opera House and Grand Théâtre.
50. Visit the Top of Europe
Located in Bernese Oberland, Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe, sitting 3,454 meters (11332.02 feet) above sea level.
It’s one of the best places to visit in Switzerland, with an observation terrace and scientific observatory to take in the mighty Swiss Alps. Also visible from the summit is the Great Aletsch glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps stretching 23 kilometers (14.29 miles) long.
Getting to Jungfraujoch is a bit of a mission but well worth the journey. The expedition includes a series of trains from different starting points and a cable car ride.
51. Capture the Views on the Goldenpass Line
Amongst the top things to do in Switzerland is journeying the GoldenPass Line. The views of which are sure to leave you in awe.
The line is a train route beginning in Lucerne and running through Switzerland to Montreux (or vice versa). Since it’s not a direct line, your journey comprises three train rides with stops in Interlaken and Zweisimmen.
About five to six hours long, the train ride is a slow and calming experience filled with scenic views of mountains, forests, lakes, and waterfalls. Also dotted across the route are Swiss chalets nestled in valleys with an old-town charm.
52. Immerse Yourself in the Local Culture
Switzerland is home to a wide variety of cultures and traditions which the Swiss like to celebrate through boisterous festivals. Since it’s surrounded by countries with different cultures, like Italy, France, and Germany, Switzerland’s culture is an amalgamation of various European cultures and customs.
The biggest carnival, named Basler Fasnacht, occurs every year between February and March. During this festival, participants mask their identity and take to the streets of Basel with pipers and drummers. Other festivals like the Annual Witches Downhill Race and Fête de L’Escalade also give a glimpse of Swiss culture’s vibrancy and eccentricities.
Concluding Switzerland Things to Do & Places to See
The landscapes and sceneries of this heavenly destination are a feast for the eyes. From the glistening mountain lakes to glaciers as white as the snow that blankets these towns, Switzerland is a sight for sore eyes. When it comes to natural beauty, Switzerland is hard to beat.
Couple nature with some of the most thrilling and adventurous sports in the world, Switzerland is also a haven for daredevils. The list is endless, with boating, bungee jumping, paragliding, biking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and rafting being the most famous.
Last updated on October 13th, 2023 at 02:57 pm
