Travel info & itinerary Switzerland:

Located in Europe’s heart and amidst the Alps, this country offers abundant natural wonders. From a spectacular mountain world with high peaks and glaciers to idyllic lakes and wild rivers, it has it all. Along with vibrant cities this Alpine nation makes an ideal vacation destination. Find here a guide to visiting Switzerland complete with a basic tour and five modular tours to complement your journey as you wish.

Switzerland as a travel destination

Switzerland has been a known travel destination since the early 19th century. At the time, it all started with summer tourism.

British nobility came to the Swiss Alps to climb the peaks and to benefit from the clean air. As from the mid 19th century, the winter tourism began to develop, too. Again the first visitors were rich British. Surprisingly enough, they had a faible for the ice rather than for the snow. Popular activities were skating, curling or bobsledding. This only changed in the early 20th century when downhill skiing did take off. It did not take long until the Alps became the center of the Alpine skiing world!

And in summer a paradise for hikers!

To this day, Switzerland remains a magnet for international travelers, both in summer and winter time. While in the early days tourists went to Alpine regions only, this is different now. In the last 25 years, more and more visitors came to urban areas, too. Whereas in the past most visitors to Switzerland were from Europe and the USA, this recently changed. The share of travelers from Asia coming to Switzerland grows from year to year.

Before coming to a guide how to visit this Alpine nation, a few facts about it.

What to know about Switzerland

Location & geography

Switzerland is a small, landlocked country in western Europa right in the heart of the Alps. It is bordered by Italy, France, Germany and Austria. While the Alps occupy the greater part of the Swiss territory,

the population lives mostly in the Swiss Plateau (Swiss Mittelland). Here you find the largest cities such as Zurich or Geneva.

In the north-west of the country there is another mountain range, the sub-Alpine Jura, where you find hills rather than mountains.

Sights

As mentioned above, Switzerland is famous for its spectacular mountain scenery full of high peaks that are 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in altitude or higher. The most famous one is probably the Matterhorn.

There are lots of valleys, amongst them the well known Engadine, and many glaciers,

the biggest one is the Aletsch Glacier. And there is a myriad of lakes and rivers, which cover around 4% of the country’s surface area and contain 6% of Europe’s stock of fresh water. And last but not least, there are vibrant cities just as Zurich, Basel, Bern or Geneva.

Getting around

The spectrum of different things to see in Switzerland is really big. And everything is close together, so it is possible to see a lot in one or two weeks. You never need more than a few hours to get from point A to point B. In terms of getting around, Switzerland has one of the best public transport systems in the world. I strongly recommend using it. And as a plus, there is a couple of really awarding panoramic train trips!

Alternatively, you may rent a car, although this is more costly. While the road network is well developed, driving may not always be that easy in the mountainous area. Sometimes roads in the Alps are narrow and curvy, and they might be snow-covered in the winter time.

Best time to visit

If you come to Switzerland for skiing, you have to visit in winter (there is only limited summer skiing). While the season usually starts in December and ends in April, the best time for skiing is from January to March. I personally consider January and March as the ideal months for this purpose as there are fewer vacationers around.

Generally, the climate in Switzerland is moderate with no excessive heat, cold or humidity. Recently, it is getting warmer year round, as almost everywhere. If you want to go hiking, May and June as well as September and October are ideal, given you do it not in the High Alpine area. Here, you better go in July or August. For sightseeing in lower regions (Swiss Mittelland), March to June and September to November are good times.

How to visit Switzerland

There are plenty of activities to undertake in Switzerland. I advise checking out the official tourism website of Switzerland, My Switzerland. Here you receive plenty of tips, information and itineraries.

When it comes to how tourists travel the country, unfortunately most opt for the short version outlined in the following chapter. You find a much better way of exploring this Alpine destination right afterwards, a guide for visiting Switzerland.

What the typical tourist does in Switzerland

Many tourists coming to Switzerland visit it along with neighboring ones on the same trip. Therefore, they only spend a few days here. They go to Lucerne, a city in the country’s center, on the shores of beautiful Lake Lucerne (see my post about staying here at a premium hotel).

Here they have a look at the Chapel Bridge, one of the oldest covered wooden bridges in Europe, and at some other sights nearby. A trip to a mid-high mountain (2,000 m resp. 6,500 ft) is often also on the agenda (Pilatus, Rigi or Stanserhorn).

Next on the list is Interlaken, the gateway to the dramatic mountain landscapes of the Bernese Alps. Here an excursion aboard the Jungfrau railway to Jungfraujoch, Europe highest-altitude railway station at 3,454 m (11,332 ft), takes place.

If they have a bit more time available, a trip to Zermatt, at the foot of Matterhorn peak, in the south-western Alps (see my post about staying at a luxury hotel and how to ski in style here), is part of the itinerary. Here in this well-known mountain resort at an elevation of 1,608 m (5,276 ft) they board the cog railway up to Gornergrat

for best views of the iconic Matterhorn, said to be the most-photographed mountain in the world.

While this  trip allows a short glimpse into the country’s offerings, it is the absolute minimum. The guide to visiting Switzerland I am going to propose, gives you the chance to get a real sense of Switzerland however. It is essentially one grand tour that you can divide in parts according desire.

A guide to visiting Switzerland: 1 basic tour & 5 modular tours

The basic itinerary that I am going to suggest corresponds more or less to the typical one mentioned above. But I highly recommend completing it with one or more of several modular tours. Every one of them covers only a certain part of the country and all together with the basic one result in a grand tour of Switzerland (about 26 days).

In case you care for a map of the whole journey, please refer to the one of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland on the official Switzerland Tourism website. It shows not exactly the same trip yet provides a good overview.

There are two variants of this minimum Switzerland journey. The first one with Zermatt (1a) is for people who only do this trip here and want to see the absolute must-see landmarks.

The second (1b) is for travelers who visit Zermatt on modular tour No 3 Zermatt-Saint Moritz.

Basic tour No 1a Lucerne-Interlaken-Zermatt: about 5 days, for those doing this tour only

Highlights of Switzerland

Lucerne is the heart of Switzerland and a good starting point. Take in the sights as described above (Chapel Bridge and a trip to one the mid-high mountains in the area). If you want to stay at prestigious luxury hotel on the mountain, see my post about Buergenstock mountain. In case you prefer lodging by the lake there is a more relaxed option (my post) or a more fancy one (my post).

Then proceed to Interlaken. Here I would stay no longer than necessary as I consider it to be not one of the nicer places in my home country. Having said that it is perfectly located for visiting the more accessible high mountains in the Bernese Alps.

In Interlaken I would ponder replacing the Jungfraujoch by the Schilthorn. The former is in my opinion an overpriced attraction for tourists only – many Swiss have never been there. The Schilthorn is a peak, made famous in the James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, and ideal for views of the Jungfrau, Eiger and Moench peaks. But only do this trip if the weather is nice enough! Otherwise, you will not see anything.

Next is Zermatt, a must-see landmark. Do the Gornergrat excursion (see above) for a great view of Matterhorn, Switzerland’s most famous peak (this also makes only sense if the weather permits it). Also go to “Old Zermatt”, the oldest part of the town, to have a look at period barns, stables and residential houses (Hinterdorf). See also my post about skiing in style here.

Basic tour No 1b Lucerne-Interlaken: about 3 days, for those also doing modular tour No 3

Highlights of Switzerland without Zermatt

This is the same tour as above (1a) but without Zermatt as you visit this place on modular tour No 3 Zermatt-Saint Moritz.

After this basic tour that allows you to see the country’s top attractions now to the modular tours. You can add them before or after the basic tour as you please.

Modular tour No 1 Basel-Solothurn-Bern: about 4 days

Northwest of Switzerland: culture-baroque-historic old town

Basel, the border city where France, Germany and Switzerland meet, is the country’s cultural capital. It is home to 40 museums and so the city with the highest density of museums in Switzerland.  It has also a stunning old town,

modern architecture and the river Rhine.

And do not miss the art space in nearby Riehen, the Fondation Beyeler complete with the building designed by Renzo Piano and the park around it.

Before you visit another major city, it might be a good thing to get a sense of a smaller town. I would recommend paying a visit to Solothurn, which is considered as the finest Baroque town in Switzerland.

Next on the list is Bern, the country’s capital, where you want to make a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage listed old town. An interesting stop might also be the Bear Park to see the brown bears that are the symbol of this city.

After this tour it might be obvious to head to Lucerne and do the basic itinerary.

Modular tour No 2 Interlaken-Gstaad-Montreux-Lausanne(-Geneva): about 4 days (5 with Geneva)

Southwest of Switzerland: panoramic trail ride-Bernese Oberland-Lake Geneva

This tour is ideal to undertake after the basic tour (1b), given the fact that this one ends in Interlaken. In this case, you probably need one day less.

Here indulge yourself in one of Switzerland’s several scenic train rides, the GoldenPass Panoramic. Board the train in Interlaken to Gstaad, a village in the Bernese Oberland and a popular destination for international celebrities. Stroll around the chalet village and maybe make a hike to the idyllic Lake Lauenen.

Hop on the Panoramic-Express again and enjoy your trip through the French speaking part of Switzerland to Montreux on the banks of Lake Geneva. The town is famous for its mild climate and subtropical vegetation. Stroll along the lake side promenade with the statue of Freddy Mercury and go to Chillon Castle, the most visited historic building in Switzerland. For staying in style in this lakeside town, here a suggestion with great views of lake and mountains (my post).

Proceed to Lausanne, always along Lake Geneva, and past the impressive Lavaux wine region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 800-year-old terraced vineyards.

If you have some time left in Lausanne, do not miss walking the wine growing slopes here (around St-Saphorin, Dézaley & Epesses). Here is a recommendation where to go for a walk and a gourmet lunch. As to Lausanne, it is known as the “Olympic capital”. It is home of the Olympic Committee and the Olympic Museum. For staying in style here, excellent choices are either a luxury hotel by the water (my post) or one a bit further away from the lake yet with views too (my post).

In case you have some time to spare, continue your journey to Geneva, a historic lakeside city.

Tour its old town, the country’s largest historic center, see the Jet d’Eau water fountain or the European headquarters of the United Nations (for a luxury stay on the lake border’s check out my post). When opting for this variant, you might need one day more.

Modular tour No 3 Zermatt-Saint Moritz: about 5 days

Southwest of Switzerland: 2 famous mountain resorts & 8 hours Alpine train ride

Zermatt with the Matterhorn peak is one of the absolute highlights in Switzerland. For details refer to the last paragraph of basic tour 1a. From here it is time for another wonderful train ride, the one to Saint Moritz on board of the Glacier Express. You cross the Alps in about 8 hours, passing through 19 tunnels and over 291 bridges.

If you wish to make an en-route stop at a small place with lots of austere mountain appeal, you can do so in Andermatt. Here awaits you also one of Switzerland’s most glamorous luxury hotels (my post).

Once arrived in Saint Moritz, an upscale resort in the Upper Engadine (maybe you fancy lodging here at the most beautiful village, my post), stay here around the splendid mountains lakes

or proceed to the Lower Engadine (you might wish to stay here at Switzerland’s smallest five-star hotel, my post), which is less chic yet more authentic. Make use of the fantastic mountain and lake scenery, maybe make the easy walk from Saint Moritz to Lej da Staz or visit Switzerland’s oldest National Park in the Lower Engadine near Zernez.

Modular tour No 4 Zurich-Saint Gallen-Appenzell-Bad Ragaz: about 6 days

Northeast of Switzerland: cosmopolitan city & rural experience

Zurich is the one and only cosmopolitan city in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Here you find a nice old town, Lake Zurich (for staying in style a bit outside of town you can do so either on the lake – my post – or a bit elevated above it – my post) and upscale shopping at Bahnhofstrasse.

From here make a tour through the north-eastern part of Switzerland, head via the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall, to Saint Gallen, the compact town between Lake Constance and Appenzell.

See the old town with the Abbey District, a UNESCO world heritage site. Do not miss the splendid Baroque cathedral and the Abbey Library.

In case you want to explore the mentioned Appenzell, a nearby rural area with a magical landscape of rolling hills.

Go for example to Heiden, a small town with neoclassical architecture.

Continue towards south to the final stop of this tour. This is Bad Ragaz, a health resort in the pre-Alps, a great place for some relaxation (refer to my post about walking the area and to my post about staying in style at Europe’s one and only hotel with six Michelin stars).

Add here modular tour No 5 for crossing the Alps by train and getting a taste of Switzerland’s Mediterranean like south.

Modular tour No 5  Chur-Ticino: about 3 days

South of Switzerland: panoramic Alpine train ride to the palm trees

Once arrived in Chur, make yourself ready for another terrific train ride, this time on board of the Bernina Express. Once again crossing the Alps is on the agenda, this time from north to south. You pass amongst other things the Landwasser Viaduct, the signature structure of the Rhaetian Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now you are in the canton of Ticino, the country’s south with a Mediterranean flair. Here you have the choice between Lugano or Locarno resp. Ascona to spend some time in the subtropical landscape. While Lugano

on Lake Lugano is the largest town in this Swiss canton featuring a nice old town and numerous mountains with splendid viewpoints, Locarno is smaller (and more touristy). The same is true for Ascona, a neighboring village. And both places are located on Lake Maggiore. Ascona is a truly idyllic spot, boasting an enchanting historic core and a picturesque lakeside piazza.

Locarno has a gorgeous piazza as well,

in the heart of the town, and a nice lake promenade. There is much to do in the area, do not miss a trip to the nearby Verzasca and Maggia valleys with their picturesque wild scenery. Also check out my posts about staying at luxury hotels in the area (Lugano/Ascona).

Luxury & gourmet travel in Switzerland

After this guide to visiting Switzerland you might wonder about premium destinations too and where to stay and dine in style in my home country. I will inform you about “sexy places” in the blogpost to come. Recommendations for top luxury hotels, part one and two, and (Michelin) fine dining restaurants will follow later on (part one and two). And I will bring them to you along the grand tour of Switzerland I have just suggested.

last revised: December 2023

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