Places to Visit in Switzerland

The area surrounding lovely Lake Geneva is known as the Vaud, a year-round playground for active locals and visitors. Here you can find some of the best winter sport areas in the country, catering to skiers, snowboarders, tobogganists, and even para-skiers. For something really different you can go to the top of Les Diablerets to walk the terrifying Glacier Peak Walk, suspended over a 9,800-foot-high precipice, and try the nearby bobsleigh run, which is the highest in the world. Of course, the region is not just about adventure and there are many museums and historic places to visit, including the Alimentarium Food Museum in Vevey, the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, and Chateau d'Aigle Vine and Wine Museum in Aigle.

St. Moritz is probably Switzerland's most famous ski resort and is the darling of well-heeled and trendy local skiers as well as the British royal family. You can reach St. Moritz by train on both the famous Bernina Express and the Glacier Express, both of which are bucket-list trips in their own right. The town offers world-class shopping along the Via Serlas, wonderful art at the Sergantini Museum, and spectacular and unique winter events that include the White Turf Horse Races (on the frozen lake), the Snow Polo World Cup, and an Olympic bobsleigh run. It goes without saying that the resort offers every kind of winter sport you can imagine, and it summer you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and exploring by cable car and mountain railway.

Nestled at the foot of the Alps along the shores of Lake Geneva, the city of Geneva is arguably one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Geneva beckons visitors to come an explore a wealth of cultural attractions, which include over 30 museums and art galleries - two of the most popular are the International Red Cross Red Crescent Museum and the stunning MAMCO - Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Highlights of a visit to Geneva will include walking along the lakeside promenade, exploring the cobbled old town, and visiting the artisans at the rather bohemian Carouge. The city also offers wonderful shopping (fabulous Swiss timepieces are a specialty) and excellent cuisine.

Located along the banks of the Rhine and dating back over 2,000 years, the city of Basel is crammed with wonderful historic buildings and more than 40 museums within a 14-square-mile area. Joining a guided tour is a great way to get an overview of the city and learn about its history. If you prefer to go it alone, you should start by strolling through the well-preserved old town and visiting the Rathaus (city hall). If you are staying in a city hotel, you will receive a Basel Card, which provides free public transport, Wi-Fi, and discounted entry to museums and other attractions. Art lovers will enjoy admiring several street art installations as well as visiting dozens of galleries.

The historic city of Bellinzona lies in the Ticino region of southern Switzerland, close to beautiful Lake Lugano. You may think you have crossed the border into Italy when you visit as everyone speaks Italian here and the marvelous food is strongly influenced by the neighboring country. Bellinzona is primarily famous for its three medieval castles and is surrounded by very beautiful countryside, which offers great hiking and mountain biking opportunities. To get a great overview of the surrounding Alpine peaks and stunning lakes, you can take a ride in one of two different types of gondola. For foodies the city offers a wonderful morning market and you should plan to include a visit to the Museum of Chocolate.

Switzerland's capital city of Bern lies on the backs of the Aare River and dates back to the 12th century. The city contains a treasure trove of well-preserved medieval architecture, much of which can be admired on a walking tour of the Altstadt (old town). A few of the highlights of your tour will be the Bundeshaus (the neo-Renaissance city hall) and the Zytglogge (bell tower), which dates back to the 13th century. The city is also full of interesting museums for all tastes as well as several arts and music venues. Wherever you go in the city you will never be far from impressive Swiss watch shops and chocolate stores - work off the calories by taking a long walk in the countryside.

The city of Davos is famous for hosting the annual World Economic Forum and for offering some of the best outdoor activities in the country. If you visit during the summer, you can spend hours hiking, mountain biking, or playing golf. Water activities include stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, and river rafting. Winter visitors will never have a dull moment as they can choose from downhill and cross-country skiing, tobogganing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding. After a busy day of hiking or skiing you can relax in a spa, enjoy a wonderful dinner, and then sample the après-ski nightlife. Try and arrange to travel to Davos by train for one of the most scenic train journeys you will every experience.

Located 15.5 miles south of Lake Lucerne, Engelberg is the largest summer and winter vacation destination in central Switzerland. The long winter sports season can last from October to May and the resort offers every type of winter sport you can imagine, with slopes to suit everyone from children and novices to experienced skiers and snowboarders. If you visit in summer. you can look forward to some outstanding hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, biking. and golf. Regardless of the season you can ride the impressive Titlis Rotair Gondola right up to the permanently snow-covered glacier and see the remarkable Titlis Cliff Walk suspension bridge. Engelberg is very family-friendly and offers great activities for children all year round.

Grindelwald is a picture-perfect Alpine mountain village in the Bernese Oberland region that will take your breath away. The village is surrounded by magnificent mountains, including the Eiger north face and the Wetterhorn and is one of the most popular ski resorts in the region. Winter sport enthusiasts can look forward to enjoying 100 miles of pistes and more than 30 lifts. In addition, you can try over 37 miles of toboggan runs and 50 miles of winter walking trails. In summer the resort is just as appealing, offering unlimited choices for hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking, and paragliding as well as a long list of adrenaline-boosting adventure sports like bungee and canyon jumping, ziplining, and river rafting.

Scenically nestled between two lakes (Lake Thun and Lake Brienz), the town of Interlaken has a great deal to offer visitors to Switzerland. In addition to its lakeside location, the town is also surrounded by some of Switzerland's most iconic mountains and offers daredevils a wide selection of adventure sports, including parasailing, river rafting, canyoning, and skydiving. For the less adventurous there are many guided walking tours and scenic boat trips on the lakes. You can spend a wonderful day travelling up to the top of the snow-covered Jongfraujoch on the remarkably steep cogwheel railway - when you reach the summit you have the chance to walk through some glacial ice passages.