Switzerland, a federated country located at the confluence of Western, Central and Southern Europe. Switzerland is home to some jaw-dropping sceneries filled with loads of storybook charm. Offering a chance for the travelers to discover the pleasing landscape brimmed with seasonal flora and fauna. Tourist attractions in Switzerland consist of some well – groomed alpines of Davos and the blankets of fluffy snow in the Jungfrau Hoch.
Switzerland’s history is one of a medieval defensive league formed during a time and in an area lacking imperial authority. Switzerland originates from the Old Swiss Confederacy established in the Late Middle Ages, following a series of military successes against Austria and Burgundy; the Federal Charter of 1291 is considered the country’s founding document.
Switzerland is not only its beauty, but the culture, food, adventure sports and historical monuments also make thousands of tourists flock here. From the unequaled alpine sceneries of The Matterhorn in Zermatt to the ancient artifacts preserved in the museums of Bern, Switzerland is truly a place where one can experience the best blend of history with nature.
Be it the breathtaking sceneries of Zurich or the green meadow of Lucerne, and beautiful Lake Geneva tourist places in Switzerland impart you with a memorable experience and blissful staycation. The eye-catching view of the clouds piercing the Swiss alpine landscape leaves tourists breathless.
MUST VISITING PLACES IN SWITZERLAND
1. Lucerne
Lucerne is a top spot for tourists. A sparkling blue lake surrounded by mountains, a car-free medieval old town, covered bridges, waterfront promenades, frescoed historic buildings, and sun-splashed plazas with bubbling fountains.
Famed for its music concerts, this quintessential Swiss town lures renowned soloists, conductors, and orchestras to its annual International Music Festival. The Culture and Convention Center is home to one of the world’s leading concert halls.
For beautiful views of Lucerne, the Alps, and the lake, ride the funicular to the Dietschiberg on the north side of Lake Lucerne; cruise up Mt. Pilatus on the cableway; or head to the Rigi a famous lookout point.
2.Lake Geneva
Switzerland’s western crook, crescent-shaped Lake Geneva is a joy to behold, with its mountain backdrop, spirit-lifting views, vineyards and shoreline necklaced with handsome cities and castle-crowned towns.
Marked by its rainbow-kissed Jet d’ Eau fountain and Mont Blanc peeping up on the horizon, Geneva wraps around the lake’s southern shore. The worldly city makes an excellent launchpad for exploring, with big-hitting museums and galleries to absorb, botanical gardens to stroll, lidos to swim at, Old Town cafes to hang out in and bright-yellow moquettes ferrying locals across the water – surely one of the world’s most scenic commutes.
3. Zurich
Zurich is well-loved by people worldwide. You can begin a fantastic walking tour of the cobbled streets in the Old Town with quaint shops, cafés, and galleries. The mile-long Bahnhofstrasse boasts one of Europe’s most delightful shopping strands, beckoning with great boutique designer stores selling jewelry, fashion, and watches.
The views of the surrounding mountains are breathtaking, and the lake is a great place to relax and take in the beauty of Switzerland. There are more than 100 galleries and 50 museums for those seeking cultural enrichment, such as the Swiss National Museum, as well as plenty of other exciting exhibits like the Zurich Zoo or a train ride through the city and countryside to the Uetliberg Mountain.
4. Bellinzona
With medieval castles rising high and the Alps rearing beyond, good-looking Bellinzona in Ticino is a taste of the best of Italy’s best food and culture in Switzerland. You’ll find a generous splash of Italian flair in its historic center, woven with flower-draped alleys, Renaissance churches and cafe-rimmed piazzas that brim with life, laughter, clinking glasses and the out-of-tune toll of countless campaniles.
5. Bern
Don’t miss the Zytglogge, a medieval clock tower with unique moving puppets, or the Rosengarten, which offers beautiful views from the old town center.
There are plenty of tourist attractions just waiting to be discovered in Bern. Visitors will appreciate the impressive galleries and the markets where you can better view the elegant Renaissance-style parliament building or the family-friendly Bear Park.
It’s also home to the first Lindt chocolate factory, legends of bears (and real bears) and Einstein’s most famous published work.
6. Lake Lugano and Ticino
Lake Lugano lies on the Swiss/Italian border in Ticino. Citrus, figs, palms, and pomegranates flourish in the mild climate here even as snow – capped peaks beckon in the distance.
Visitors can explore the area by touring the lake on one of the white steamers or renting a boat. For a panoramic overview, Monte San Salvatore offers one of the most spectacular vistas of the surrounding countryside, lake, and snowcapped peaks.
Lugano, a financial center and the largest and most significant town in Ticino is a popular summer resort. Northwest of Lugano, in sun-drenched Locarno on Lake Maggiore, Swiss lakeside living takes on a subtropical touch with warm days, blossoming gardens, and palm-studded estates.
7. Swiss National Park
Founded in 1914, Swiss National Park in the Engadine Valley is the oldest reserve in the Alps. The scenery is especially dramatic in winter when the forested mountains are covered in a blanket of snow, and the views from the cross-country ski trails are stunning.
Visitors can explore the region on the large network of trails, though veering off these paths is forbidden to preserve the natural ecosystems. More than 5,000 species of wildlife call the park home, including marmot, red deer, chamois, ibex, fox, and more than 100 species of birds.
8. The Albula/ Bernina Railway Line
The Albula/Bernina line on the croation Railways offers a majestic ride not to be missed. The route extends throughout the Albula and Bernina landscapes, covering 122 kilometers and winding through almost 200 bridges, the Graubünden mountains, and several tunnels and viaducts along the way.
A ride on this train means panoramic seats that overlook unspoiled mountain landscapes, including the Piz Bernina, the highest mountain in the Eastern Alps at just over 4,000 meters tall. The train operates all year long, and the views are just as magical in summer as they are in winter.
9. Wengen
Wengen is a stunning example of a mountain community nestled in the wooded crags of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It’s a pretty Swiss Alpine village known for its timber chalets and belle époque hotels
It has since become a car-free resort town with a unique high-end atmosphere and a fantastic range of activities on offer. In Wengen, you can enjoy stunning views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains. There are plenty of activities to keep you busy, such as hiking, mountain biking, golfing, and swimming. You can also relax in one of the town’s many spas and wellness centers.
Wengen is the perfect place to relax in a traditional resort town setting and enjoy the beauty of the Swiss Alps. This area is home to some of the best hotels in all of Switzerland.
10. Zermatt
No peak has more pulling power than the 4478m (14,692ft) Matterhorn, a terrific gnarled fang of rock that flings up above the seductive, timber chalet-filled Alpine resort of Zermatt. It’s Switzerland’s mountain icon, so beloved by the nation that it inspired the pyramid shape of Toblerone chocolate.
Zermatt is more than a one-mountain wonder. Climbers have been rocking up here since the mid-19th century, and it’s still a magnet for challenging summit ascents today. Otherwise, come to hike, ski and gaze over a sea of glaciers and 4000m (13,123ft) peaks at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
11. Oberhofen Castle
Right on the shore of Lake Thun and surrounded by a 2.5-hectare park, this 13th-century castle is one of the most breathtaking in Switzerland. Because Oberhofen Castle changed hands many times through the centuries, and new owners kept adding rooms to it, the result is a magical mix of many styles: Bernese Baroque-style buildings, Romantic – style facades, and Prussian-inspired exotic new areas (including a library and a smoking room).
12. Swiss Grand Canyon
The Ruinaulta also known as the “Swiss Grand Canyon” is a deep gorge surrounded by expansive meadows and forested cliffs, located in Eastern Switzerland.
Today, the Swiss Grand Canyon is a preferred destination for hikers, bird-watchers, and nature lovers. It’s possible to raft the rapids here between May and October or rent a canoe or kayak for a gentler route with stunning views of the cliffs all around.
13. Gruyères
You’ve probably heard about the hard yellow cheese that made its name famous. Today, that’s one of the town’s main attractions. Visitors can tour a cheese factory, sample the local specialties, and wave to the cows that call the surrounding green hills home. If cheese isn’t enough, the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory also operates in town.
Stunning landscapes surround Gruyères, including the Gorges de la Jogne (favorite with hikers) and the nearby Mont Moléson, popular with climbers in the warmer months and home to ski and snowshoe trails during winter.
14.Davos
The highest village in the Alpine region, as well as a high-altitude medical center, is Davos. Tourists may select from a variety of businesses, restaurants, and pleasant lodgings in the city’s core. In addition, there are numerous alternatives for apres ski, nightlife, and events.
Davos is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a high-altitude town with plenty of activities to keep you busy. The town is home to some of the best skiing in Switzerland, and plenty of restaurants, bars, and nightlife options are available.
15. Jungfrau
The idyllic Jungfrau region is the icing on the Alpine cake of Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. Sky-high peaks, glaciers and thundering falls elicit gasps of wonder wherever you go.
Take a once-in-a-lifetime ride up to the everlasting snow at Europe’s highest train station, 3454m (11,332ft) Jungfraujoch. Hike, ski, sled and zip-line among mountains of myth in Grindelwald, enjoy waterfalls galore in Lauterbrunnen and tackle every kind of extreme sport imaginable in Interlaken (skydiving, ice climbing, glacial bungee jumping – you name it). The Jungfrau region is the great outdoors on a blockbuster scale.
16. St. Moritz
For the best nightlife, the number one resort in Switzerland for the glitz and glamour is St. Moritz Saint Moritz has a variety of exciting activities, a wide range of shopping, and tons of great opportunities for Apres Ski.
There were also two Winter Olympics games held here. Make an interesting Swiss winter trip to St. Moritz by skiing, snowboarding, cross-country ski trails, or snowshoeing through the mountains.
Mineral springs in St. Moritz helped boost tourism in the 1800s and today it is one of the most popular ski resorts in the world, known for its consistently snowcapped mountains. This five-star luxury hotel has everything you could want, from a spa and wellness center to a casino, as well as a wide range of restaurants.
17. Appenzell captures
Appenzell captures the essence of Switzerland with rolling hills, a car-free village and well-preserved customs. Visitors can take in the scenic landscape of the Appenzell District by taking a cable car to the oft-photographed Ascher guest house, picturesquely built into the rock face, or hiking the region’s “experience trails” like the Gonten Barefoot Trail and Appenzeller Kapellenweg, which weaves past 11 chapels. Meanwhile, the tiny village of Appenzell boasts quaint, frescoed shops and Museum Appenzell, which highlights the region’s traditional crafts, folk music and art.
18. Engelberg
As the largest ski area in central Switzerland, Engelberg is a winter playground, with a long, snowy season for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and sledding. But don’t sleep on a summertime visit here; warmer months allow for a bevy of fun family activities like a toboggan run, 300-plus miles of hiking trails and water activities on Trübsee lake. Regardless of when you visit, you won’t want to miss the TITLIS Rotair, a revolving cable car that takes riders up Mount Titlis, and the other cable lifts that stop at a glacier cave, a panoramic restaurant, and the TITLIS Cliff Walk.
19. Vevey
Located less than 5 miles from Montreux, Vevey is another Lake Geneva gem. This town’s picturesque promenade along the lake is filled with flowers and features a sculpture of Charlie Chaplin, who spent the last 25 years of his life in Vevey. The Alimentarium, a nutrition-focused museum, also adorns the shoreline with its beautiful sandstone building, which once served as the headquarters to Nestlé (the company is still based in Vevey). After admiring the town, visitors can take a cog railway to the scenic Les Pléiades vantage point for its stunning views and the astronomy-centric Astropléiades trail.
20. Lake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake in Switzerland in northwestern Switzerland’s Lake Constance region. It has three names: Lake Constance, Bodensee, and Lake Constance, Bodensee. It is one of the most enormous lakes on Earth and Europe’s third-largest. This vast lake borders Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.
This gorgeous lakefront setting is a dream come true for all outdoor enthusiasts. Watersport activities, trekking, roller-skating, and cycling are among the most popular with tourists from all over the world. This is your chance to go on a journey to these azure waters.
21. Rhine Falls
As Europe’s most powerful waterfall, it’s easy to see why Rhine Falls is one of the top things to do in Switzerland. Visitors can take in the beauty of the waterfall – located near the northern town of Schaffhausen – from several viewing decks. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can even rent a canoe and check out some nearby castles from the water. Every August, the falls host a spectacular fireworks display that attracts visitors from around the country as part of Switzerland’s National Day celebrations.
22. Château de Chillon
No trip to the Swiss Riviera is complete without checking out the medieval Château de Chillon. Located on an island in Lake Geneva near the popular town of Montreux, the castle dates back to the 10th century, when it was used as a strategic water fort. It then became a lakeside summer home for the wealthy Counts of Savoy, when the castle rooms were decked out with all manner of art and treasures visitors can enjoy today. The castle is Switzerland’s most-visited historical monument and is a must-see while you’re exploring the country.
23. The Matterhorn
This pyramid-shaped giant is one of the world’s most photographed mountains, which means it’s a top place to visit in Switzerland. Standing at an impressive 4,478 meters, thrill-seeking mountaineers from around the globe descend on Switzerland to attempt the summit. If you’re not feeling quite so energetic, why not stick to the cable car? The mountain is home to the highest cable car station in the Alps, which offers some excellent views of the mountain peak and beyond. It doesn’t get much more Swiss than a trip to the Matterhorn.
24. Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is the gateway to the Jungfrau Region and is referred to as the Valley of 72 Waterfalls. The high rock walls and many waterfalls serve the small town as a transit town to Mürren, Wengen, Jungfraujoch, and the Schilthorn, keeping it busy and buzzing with tourists year-round. It’s also car-free, offering a highly-walkable experience as you traverse through the stunning waterfalls, hiking trails, and quaint villages alike.
25. Interlaken
Interlaken is located in the country’s southwest, between Lake Thun to the west and Lake Brienz to the east. It is one of Switzerland’s most popular summer getaways. There are plenty of great things to do in Interlaken during any season.
In the middle of town, you’ll find Höhematte, a marvel of urban planning with over 35 acres of open space surrounded by hotels, cafes, and flower gardens, making the area unique and beloved.
26. Spiez
Spize is a picturesque hamlet on the Lake Thun peninsular, close to the town center. The city has a gorgeous aspect in the summer when its greenery is at its peak. It’s a beautiful lakeside resort surrounded by hills and vineyards.
The rural character (and wine) of Spiez in Switzerland makes it a fantastic place to stop by. The magnificent Swiss mountains encircle it carefully, keeping it safe from the chilly breeze.
The beautiful lush greenery and vines go well with the blue tones. Wine and other local delicacies are available as well as freshwater fish.
27. Montreux
Montreux is located on Lake Geneva in the southwestern part of Switzerland. Visitors can enjoy boating in the lake or tuck in delectable Swiss food and wines near the riverside cafes. The gardens at the beaches are adorned with statues made of flowers and vines depicting the wildlife of Switzerland and other quirky silhouettes. Montreux hosts several international jazz festivals that attract people from all over the world. The Montreux Jazz Festival, the September Musical Concert, and the International Choral Festival are the most famous.
28. Basel
Basel is a city on the Rhine River in northwest Switzerland. It has over 40 museums that house world-famous galleries, and collections of paintings and artworks. It has stone houses with tiled roofs, beautiful cafes, well-kept boutiques, and vantage points to see stunning views of the River Rhine. This is the most attractive place for its festivals, art events, concerts, and open-air cinemas.
29. St. Gallen
St. Gallen is a city south of Lake Constance (Bodensee), in northeastern Switzerland. It’s home to the Abbey of St. Gall, a monastery of various architectural styles including baroque. The complex includes a library with a rich collection of ancient books and a twin-towered cathedral. It is famous for its award-winning German wheat beers and schwarzbier.
30. Thun
Thun is known as the gateway to the Bernese Oberland. The city and its surrounding landscape serve as a wonderful introduction to the history, culture, and natural beauty of this region in Switzerland. A fun- filled activity to do here is to take a ride on the famous Ferris wheel to see views of the Aare River and the entire city framed by the mountains in the foreground.
