Switzerland

01Why Travel to Switzerland?

Switzerland is a country where nature reaches perfection. From snow-capped Alpine peaks to impossibly blue lakes, from flower-decked chalet villages to cosmopolitan cities, everything seems designed by an obsessive landscape artist. This small country at Europe’s crossroads packs an astonishing diversity of scenery, languages and cultures into just 41,000 km².

But Switzerland is far more than a postcard. It is a remarkable UNESCO heritage (13 listed sites), a network of legendary panoramic trains, comforting gastronomy (fondue, raclette, chocolate), and an art of living where watchmaking precision meets Alpine contemplation. Contrary to popular belief, Switzerland is also an accessible hiking country — 65,000 km of marked trails criss-cross the nation.

02The Must-See Regions of Switzerland

The Bernese Oberland

The Alpine heart of Switzerland. The trio Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau dominates a landscape of waterfalls, flowering meadows and chalet villages. Interlaken, between Lakes Thun and Brienz, is the ideal base. The Jungfraujoch (“Top of Europe”, 3,454 m), reached by cog railway, offers a vertiginous view of the Aletsch Glacier — the largest in the Alps, UNESCO-listed.

Lauterbrunnen, the valley of 72 waterfalls, inspired Tolkien’s Rivendell. Grindelwald is a paradise for skiing and hiking with the First Cliff Walk (suspended walkway above the void). Mürren, a car-free village accessible only by cable car, offers the finest views of the Alpine trio.

Valais and Zermatt

The Matterhorn (Cervin), Switzerland’s absolute icon, towers over Zermatt at 4,478 metres. This car-free village is a gem: pedestrian streets, wooden chalets, and a permanent view of the world’s most photographed mountain. The Gornergrat (3,089 m), reached by cog railway, offers a panorama of 29 peaks above 4,000 metres.

Valais also means the terraced vineyards of Lavaux (UNESCO-listed), the bisses (medieval irrigation channels turned hiking trails), the resorts of Verbier and Crans-Montana, and the natural thermal baths of Leukerbad — the largest Alpine spa in Europe.

Central Switzerland and Lucerne

Lucerne (Luzern) is perhaps Switzerland’s most beautiful city: its 14th-century covered wooden bridge (Kapellbrücke), its lake surrounded by mountains, and its medieval old town charm every visitor. Pilatus (reached by the world’s steepest cog railway, 48% gradient) and Rigi (the “queen of mountains”) offer 360° panoramas across the Alps and lakes.

Ticino — Italian Switzerland

Cross the Gotthard tunnel and you’re in the Mediterranean. Ticino offers palm trees, piazzas, gelaterias and an Italian joie de vivre. Lugano and its lake, Locarno and its film festival, the wild valleys of Verzasca (crystal emerald water) and Maggia — it’s Italy with Swiss punctuality.

Geneva and Lake Léman

Lake Léman (Western Europe’s largest lake) offers a spectacular setting with the Alps as a backdrop. Geneva is cosmopolitan and international (home to the UN, CERN, the Red Cross). Montreux hosts the legendary Jazz Festival in July and is home to Château de Chillon, Switzerland’s most visited monument. The Lavaux terraced vineyards above the lake are an enchanting UNESCO site.

03Switzerland’s Panoramic Trains

Switzerland boasts the world’s most spectacular panoramic trains. These legendary routes are not mere transport — they are experiences in themselves, crossing breathtaking Alpine scenery.

• Glacier Express: Zermatt – St. Moritz (8h, 291 bridges, 91 tunnels). “The slowest express train in the world”
• Bernina Express: Chur – Tirano (4h). UNESCO-listed, it crosses the Bernina Pass at 2,253 m and descends into Italy
• GoldenPass: Lucerne – Montreux (5h). From lakes to vineyards via Alpine pastures
• Jungfraujoch: cog railway to 3,454 m, the highest station in Europe
• Pilatus: the world’s steepest cog railway (48% gradient)

04Swiss Gastronomy: Beyond Fondue

Swiss cuisine reflects its four cultures. Fondue (half Gruyère, half Vacherin) and raclette are the icons, but every region has its treasures: Bernese rösti, Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (Zurich-style veal), Ticinese polenta, Engadiner Nusstorte (Grisons nut tart). And of course, chocolate — Switzerland produces 200,000 tonnes per year and consumes more than any other country.

05Getting Around Switzerland

Switzerland has the world’s most efficient public transport network. Trains, PostBuses (the iconic yellow coaches), lake boats and cable cars form a seamless network serving even the most remote villages. A car is unnecessary — and parking is prohibitively expensive.

• Swiss Travel Pass: unlimited on the entire network (trains, buses, boats) + 500 museums + mountain discounts. The essential
• SBB (CFF): trains punctual to the minute. Zurich – Geneva in 2h40, Bern – Interlaken in 50 min
• PostBus: yellow buses serving Alpine valleys and passes. Some routes are spectacular
• Lake boats: services on all major lakes (Léman, Zurich, Lucerne, Thun, Brienz). Included in Swiss Travel Pass
• Cable cars: over 600 lifts, many operating in summer for hikers

06Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Switzerland Cost?

Switzerland is expensive — that’s a fact. But with a few tricks, it remains accessible. Budget 120 to 250 CHF per day per person (€110 to €230) for a comfortable trip. The Swiss Travel Pass and Coop/Migros supermarkets with their self-service restaurants are your best allies, just as in Norway.

• Accommodation: hostels 40–70 CHF, hotels 120–250 CHF, chalets 150–400 CHF. Swiss Youth Hostels are excellent
• Meals: Coop/Migros restaurants 12–18 CHF (a full lunch!), restaurant 25–50 CHF, fondue 30–45 CHF/person
• Transport: Swiss Travel Pass 232 CHF (3 days), 389 CHF (8 days). Single Zurich–Geneva 88 CHF
• Activities: Jungfraujoch 230 CHF (-25% with Swiss Travel Pass), paragliding 170–200 CHF. Hiking is free!
• Top tip: Coop and Migros self-service restaurants offer quality full meals for 12–18 CHF — the locals’ secret

07When to Visit Switzerland?

Switzerland is a four-season destination par excellence. Summer (June – September) is the season for hiking, lakes and Alpine pastures. Temperatures are pleasant (20–28°C in the lowlands, 10–20°C in the mountains) and all trails are open. Spring (April – May) brings Alpine meadow blooms and the first warm days.

Winter (December – March) transforms Switzerland into a ski paradise with over 300 resorts. Zermatt, Verbier, St. Moritz, Jungfrau — the domains are vast and impeccably maintained. Christmas markets (Basel, Montreux, Zurich) add a magical touch. Autumn (September – October) is the secret season: grape harvest in Lavaux, blazing colours in the Engadine, and tourists gone.

08Recommended Itineraries

The Grand Tour of Switzerland (10–14 days)

Zurich (2 days) → Lucerne and Pilatus (2 days) → Interlaken, Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen (3 days) → Zermatt and the Matterhorn (2 days) → Glacier Express to St. Moritz (1 day) → Bernina Express to Lugano (1 day) → Montreux and Lavaux (1 day) → Geneva (1 day). The complete circuit by panoramic train.

French-Speaking Switzerland (7 days)

Geneva (1 day) → Montreux and Château de Chillon (1 day) → Lavaux vineyards (1 day) → Gruyères and Cailler chocolate factory (1 day) → Zermatt and the Matterhorn (2 days) → return. The perfect itinerary for food and mountain lovers in the French-speaking region.

Intensive Bernese Oberland (7 days)

Interlaken base (7 days): Jungfraujoch (1 day), Schilthorn and Mürren (1 day), Lauterbrunnen and waterfalls (1 day), Grindelwald and First Cliff Walk (1 day), Lake Brienz and Iseltwald (1 day), Bachalpsee hike (1 day), Thun (1 day). The best of the Oberland for mountain lovers.

09Switzerland Off the Beaten Path

Beyond Zermatt and Interlaken, Switzerland is full of hidden gems. Appenzell (eastern Switzerland) offers preserved traditions (open-air voting, Alpine descent festivals) and spectacular hikes on the Säntis. The Lauterbrunnen Valley hides the underground Trümmelbach Falls (fed by meltwater from the Eiger glaciers).

The Val Verzasca in Ticino has crystal waters of a hallucinatory emerald green. The Creux du Van (Neuchâtel) is a spectacular rocky amphitheatre home to ibex. The Engadine and its lakes (Sils, Silvaplana) bathed in light inspired Nietzsche. Discover all our destinations for more inspiration.

10Formalities and Practical Information

Switzerland is not in the EU but is part of the Schengen area. The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), but euros are often accepted in tourist areas (at an unfavourable rate). Bank cards accepted everywhere.

• Visa: valid ID card or passport for EU nationals. No visa for stays under 90 days
• Currency: Swiss franc (CHF). 1 EUR ≈ 0.95 CHF. Bank card accepted everywhere
• Languages: German (Zurich, Bern, Lucerne), French (Geneva, Lausanne, Valais), Italian (Ticino), Romansh (Grisons)
• Getting there: Geneva and Zurich 1h from Paris by plane, or 3h by TGV Lyria to Geneva, Lausanne, Basel
• Health: EHIC accepted for emergency care. Medical infrastructure among the world’s best
• Safety: one of the safest countries in the world. Only watch out for mountain weather conditions