Switzerland Travel Guide

GALLERY

Fodor's Essential Switzerland
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Whether on snow-capped mountains or in glitzy resort towns, you can experience the high life in Switzerland. Visitors are elated by its soaring outdoor recreation, riding cable cars up peaks near the Matterhorn, sipping Swiss wine while cruising on a crystalline alpine lake, and skiing the immaculate slopes of St. Moritz. At the end of the day, lavish spas beckon, along with lively après ski scenes and pots of fondue. Sophisticated cities like Zurich and Geneva take luxury to new heights, with posh boutiques and upscale restaurants lining their cobblestoned streets.

Fodor's Essential Switzerland
For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel...

View Details

ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES

25 Ultimate Things to Do in Switzerland

Kelly DiNardo

FODOR'S FINEST

The Best Hotels in Europe

The Dolder Grand Zurich, Switzerland

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FODOR'S FINEST

The Best Hotels in Europe

The Dolder Grand Zurich, Switzerland

Find a Hotel

FODOR'S FINEST

The Best Hotels in Europe

The Dolder Grand Zurich, Switzerland

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Graubünden

Although the names of its biggest resorts, such as St. Moritz and Davos, register almost automatic recognition, the region wrapped around them remains surprisingly unsung...

Valais

For many visitors, Valais is the only part of Switzerland they ever see—and for good reason. After all, 40 of the 52 13,000-foot peaks in...

Geneva

Long known for its watches, chocolate, and banks, Geneva is a postcard-perfect city with a rich history as a haven for cultural freethinkers and a...

Zürich

Zürich, which sits astride the Limmat River at the point where it emerges from the Zürichsee (Lake Zürich), is a beautiful city. Its charming Altstadt...

Vaud

In just one region, you can experience a complete cultural, gastronomic, and scenic sweep of Switzerland. Vaud (pronounced Voh) has a stunning Gothic cathedral (Lausanne)...

Berner Oberland

There are times when the reality of Switzerland puts postcard idealization to shame, surpassing advertising-image peaks and skies. Those times happen most often in the...

Basel

Although it lacks the gilt and glitter of Zürich and the Latin grace of Geneva, in many ways Basel (Bâle in French) is more sophisticated...

Luzern and Central Switzerland

With the mist rising off the water and the mountains looming above in the morning sun, it’s easy to understand why people are mesmerized by...

Ticino

Ticino is a canton apart: graceful, open, laissez-faire. This is the most glamorous of Swiss regions: the waterfront promenades of Lugano, Locarno, and Ascona contain...

Eastern Switzerland

Switzerland’s Germanic region bordering Germany and Austria should scream authenticity. Instead, it moos. With almost more cows (and alphorns) than people, Zürich’s quiet neighbor offers...

Bern

Bern, the federal capital of Switzerland, is a picturesque medieval city whose creators had a keen eye for detail—a trait shared by today’s inhabitants, who...

Fribourg and Neuchâtel

Shouldered by the more prominent cantons of Bern and Vaud, Fribourg and Neuchâtel are easily overlooked by hurried visitors. If they do stop, it is...

Luzern

Luzern city is a convenient base for excursions all over central Switzerland. The countryside here is tame, and the vast Vierwaldstättersee offers a prime opportunity...

Lausanne

"Lausanne is a block of picturesque houses, spilling over two or three gorges, which spread from the same central knot, and are crowned by a...

St. Moritz

Who put the ritz in St. Moritz? Undoubtedly, St. Moritz's reputation was made by the people who go there and who have been going there...

Lugano

Strung around a sparkling bay like Venetian glass beads, with dark, conical mountains rising out of its waters and icy peaks framing the scene, Lugano...

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Despite its fame—which stems from the iconic Matterhorn and its excellent ski facilities—Zermatt is a resort with its feet on the ground. It protects its...

Interlaken

Often touted as a town without character, Interlaken has patiently borne the brunt of being called "the best place in Switzerland to get away from"—but...

Crans-Montana

This French-speaking resort rises above the valley on a steep, sheltered shelf at 4,904 feet. It commands a broad view across the Rhône Valley to...

Fribourg

Between the rich pasturelands of the Swiss plateau and the Alpine foothills, the Sarine River (called the Saane by German speakers) twists in an S-curve...

Verbier

A big part of Verbier's appeal is skiing on sunny slopes and the fact that it has a high-tech, state-of-the-art sports complex that links Quatre...

St. Gallen

Switzerland's largest eastern city, bustling St. Gallen is dominated by students during the school year. The narrow streets of the Altstadt (Old Town) are flanked...

Davos

At 5,116 feet, this highest "city" (stretching the definition) in Europe is good for cold-weather sports even in the soggiest of winters. Davos is famous...

Grindelwald

Not counting its sheer Alpine beauty (3,393 feet), this town remains among the most popular in the Berner Oberland for the simple reason that it...

Arosa

Thanks to its altitude of 5,900 feet, the picturesque village of Arosa is a well-known year-round sports center, offering brisk hiking, paragliding, and other activities...

Neuchatel

At the foot of the Jura Mountains, flanked by vineyards and facing southeast, the city of Neuchâtel enjoys panoramic views of Lac de Neuchâtel and...

Pontresina

On a south-facing shelf along the Flaz Valley, Pontresina is a beautiful resort town. It grew by converting its farmhouses to pensions and hotels for...

Vevey

In the 1870s Henry James captured this waterfront town's mood of prim grace while writing (and setting) Daisy Miller in the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes...

Montreux

Montreux might be called the Cannes of Lac Léman—though it might raise an eyebrow at the slur. Spilling down steep hillsides into a sunny south-facing...

Gstaad

The four fingerlike valleys of the Saanenland find their palm at Gstaad, the Berner Oberland's most glamorous resort. Linking the Berner Oberland with the French-speaking...

Locarno

Superbly placed on the sheltered curve of the northernmost tip of Lago Maggiore and surrounded on all sides by mountains, Locarno is Switzerland's sunniest town...

Saas-Fee

Quieter and more low-key than Zermatt is the village of Saas-Fee, a car-free mountain resort with a family-friendly vibe. Saas-Fee also has a fantastic network...

Klosters

At one time simply a group of hamlets, Klosters has become a small but chic resort, made up mostly of weathered-wood and white-stucco chalets. The...

Sion

Rearing up in the otherwise deltalike flatlands of the western Valais, two otherworldly twin hills flank the ancient city of Sion. The two hills together...

Appenzell

Isolated from St. Gallen by a ridge of green hills, Appenzell is divided into two sub-cantons, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden. Both make up one...

Schaffhausen

A city of about 37,000, Schaffhausen was from the early Middle Ages on an important depot for river cargoes, which—because of the rapids and waterfall...

Chur

Narrow streets, cobblestone alleys, hidden courtyards, and ancient shuttered buildings hint that this Alpine city is the oldest city in Switzerland. The biggest little town...

Scuol and Tarasp-Vulpera

The villages of Scuol and Tarasp-Vulpera effectively form one large resort, although a car or bus is needed to travel between the two. The area...

Bellinzona

All roads lead to Bellinzona, the fortified valley city that guards the important European crossroads of the St. Gotthard and San Bernardino routes. The capital...

Leukerbad

At 4,628 feet, Leukerbad, called Loèche-les-Bains in French, is Europe's highest spa village; travelers have been ascending to this Alpine retreat for centuries to take...

Ascona

Although it's only a few minutes from Locarno, tiny Ascona has a life of its own. The town was little more than a fishing village...

Stein-am-Rhein

The riverside Stein am Rhein is one of Switzerland's loveliest (and wealthiest) communities. It lies at a pivotal point where the Rhine leaves the Bodensee...

Mürren

Mürren is perched on a mountaintop shelf—5,361 feet high, to be precise. This village, along with neighboring Wengen, has always lured the rich and famous...

Maienfeld

Above this graceful little village full of fountains, vineyards, and old stucco houses, the Zürich author Johanna Spyri set Heidi, the much-loved children's story of...

Gruyères

Rising above the plain on a rocky crag against a backdrop of Alpine foothills, the castle village of Gruyères seduces from afar. This perfect specimen...

St-Saphorin

At the end of the Corniche Road, just west of Vevey, St-Saphorin is perched above the water. With its impossibly narrow, steep cobbled streets and...

Les Alpes Vaudoises

At the eastern tip of Lac Léman, the Alps on the French and Swiss sides close in on the Rhône, and the lakefront highways begin...

Brienz

The romantic waterfront village of Brienz, world renowned for its wood carving, is a favorite stop for people traveling by boat as well as by...

Vitznau

For a quintessentially scenic spot, stop over in Vitznau, a tiny waterfront resort that competes with Weggis for the balmiest weather. Small as this village...

Murten

The ancient town of Murten, known in French as Morat, is a popular resort on the Murtensee/Lac de Morat (Lake Murten). The bilingual town has...

Aletsch

Ice-capped peaks with small mountain resorts staggered up their spines rim the Aletsch, a glacier that shares its name with the area surrounding it, paralleling...

Lauterbrunnen

Acclaimed by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, as "the stateliest bit of landstrip," the Lauterbrunnen Valley is often ranked as one of the most beautiful places in...

Wengen

Lord Byron, Consuelo Vanderbilt (the Duchess of Marlborough), and other posh folks put Wengen on the map, spreading the word about its incomparable eagle's-nest perch...

Morges

On the waterfront just west of the urban sprawl of Lausanne, Morges is a pleasant lake town favored by sailors and devotees of its Fête...

Les Diablerets

This small resort (3,806 feet) lies at the base of the 10,525-foot peak of the same name—which sheds the dramatic namesake 9,840-foot glacier. The village...

Thun

Built on an island in the River Aare as it flows from Lake Thun, this picturesque market town is laced with rushing streams crossed by...

Nyon

Lovely Nyon, with its waterfront drive, shops, museums, and a castle dominating its cliff-top Old Town, was founded by Julius Caesar around 45 BC as...

Weggis

With a pretty waterfront park and promenade, Weggis is a summer resort town known for its mild, almost subtropical climate—little wonder that it is a...

Val d'Anniviers

If you drive east of Sierre and south of the Rhône, following signs for Vissoie, you enter a wild and craggy valley called Val d'Anniviers...

Prangins

You'll see the elegant hillside château that's home to the national museum before you reach this little commune, where the pace of life moves gently...

Toggenburg Valley

...

Yverdon-les-Bains

With a center closed to traffic, Yverdon-les-Bains is a charming, bustling place. Located at the southernmost tip of Lac de Neuchâtel, this pastel-colored lakefront town...

Meiringen

Set apart from the twin lakes and saddled between the roads to the Sustenpass and the Brünigpass, Meiringen is a resort town with more than...

Schwyz

This historic town is the capital of the canton Schwyz, root of the name Switzerland and source of the nation's flag. Switzerland's most precious archives...

Morcote

At the southernmost tip of the glorious Ceresio Peninsula is the atmospheric village of Morcote, its clay-colored houses and arcades looking directly over the waterfront...

Walensee

Between Liechtenstein and Zürich, the spectacular, blue-green lake called the Walensee stretches 16 km (10 miles) through the mountains, reflecting the jagged Churfirsten peaks. Once...

Estavayer-le-Lac

Along with its history-soaked and highly picturesque Old Town (in summer, don't miss the Saturday morning market bursting with local produce), lakeside Estavayer is a...

Martigny

At the foot of the Col du Grand St-Bernard, Martigny has long been a commercial crossroads. A small, primarily residential town backed by vineyards, it...

Stans

In the heart of lush valley terrain and mossy meadows, Stans is an old village whose appealing Old Town center is dotted with the deep-roof...

Spiez

With its mild climate and lakeside location, Spiez provides a striking contrast to the snowy Alps. A good reason to visit might be the nearby...

Brig

A rail and road junction joining four cantons, this small but vital town for centuries has been a center of trade with Italy. Often overlooked...

Hilterfingen and Oberhofen

Lake Thun is famous for its waterside castles, and Hilterfingen and Oberhofen, a little farther along the shore, have two of the best...

Parc Naziunal Svizzer

This Swiss National Park is a magnificent federal preserve of virtually virgin wilderness teeming with local wildlife...

Gottlieben

The village of Gottlieben has a Dominican monastery-castle, where the Protestant reformers Jan Hus and Jerome of Prague were imprisoned in the 15th century by...

Altdorf

Schiller's play Wilhelm Tell sums up the tale for the Swiss, who perform his play religiously in venues all over the country—including the town of...

St-Maurice

Pushed up against a stern, gray rock face, this small town is quiet and peaceful, with patrician homes lining its Grand-Rue. Once a customs station...

Bodensee

Known in English as Lake Constance, the Bodensee is about 65 km (40 miles) long and 15 km (9 miles) wide, making it second in...

Campione

In the heart of Swiss Italy lies Campione. Here, in this southernmost of regions, the police cars have Swiss license plates but the officers inside...

Gandria

Although its narrow waterfront streets are crowded with tourists, the tiny historic village of Gandria still merits a visit, either by boat or by car...

Zernez

This friendly little crossroads, the last town before the higher valley of the Inn, lies along the route over the Ofen Pass to the Val...

Lutry

From its origins as a simple fishing village, this medieval town on the skirt hem of Lausanne expanded in the 11th century with the installation...

Col du Grand St-Bernard

...

Mt. Pilatus

Unlike Queen Victoria, who rode to the summit of this 6,953-foot mountain by mule in 1868, you can travel to Mt. Pilatus via cable car...

Kreuzlingen and Konstanz

The German city of Konstanz, with its Swiss-side twin of Kreuzlingen, dominates the straits that open into the Bodensee. Though Kreuzlingen itself offers little of...

Route du Vignoble

Parallel to the waterfront highway, threading through the steep-sloping vineyards between Nyon and Lausanne, the Route du Vignoble (Vineyard Road) unfolds a rolling green landscape...

Payerne

The meandering streets in this market town are filled with pastel-painted 18th-century buildings, now converted to shops and restaurants. The star attraction, however, remains the...

Coppet

...

Iseltwald

Set on a lovely and picturesque peninsula jutting out into the quiet waters of the lake, Iseltwald has a bevy of cafés, rental chalets, and...

Rütli Meadow

At the south end of Lake Luzern, past the gorgeously scenic Seelisberg Peninsula, the narrow, majestic Urnersee accesses some of the most legendary landmarks in...

Mt. Santis

Mt. Säntis bills itself as “the mountain,” and it’s hard to argue with that. Soaring 8,209 feet, it offers Alpine views as stunning as its...

Arenenberg

East of Stein-am-Rhein the Rhine opens up into the Untersee, the lower branch of the Bodensee. In its center lies the German island of Reichenau...

Bulle

With more than 17,000 inhabitants, the town of Bulle has many attractions worthy of a larger destination: a castle (not open to the public), three-story...

Grandson

A tour of the Old Town of Grandson is eminently worthwhile. The church, tower, fountains, and narrow streets lined with extraordinary facades make this a...

Romont

The best way to approach this 13th-century town of two broad streets is to leave the highway and drive up to its castle terrace. The...

Guarda

The former main road through the Inn Valley (Engadine) was higher up on the slopes than today's road. It passed through Guarda, one of a...

Valle Verzasca

Ticino's mountain valleys, just a short distance from its major cities, are rugged reminders of the region's modest history. Stone homes, called rustici, dot the...

Bürgenstock

The rich have always headed to Lake Luzern, thanks, in good part, to the famous Bürgenstock hotel resort. This high-end hideaway, perched atop its own...

Bürglen

Wilhelm Tell was supposedly from the tiny, turreted town of Bürglen, just up the road from Altdorf...

Graubünden

Although the names of its biggest resorts, such as St. Moritz and Davos, register almost automatic recognition, the region wrapped around them remains surprisingly unsung...

Valais

For many visitors, Valais is the only part of Switzerland they ever see—and for good reason. After all, 40 of the 52 13,000-foot peaks in...

Geneva

Long known for its watches, chocolate, and banks, Geneva is a postcard-perfect city with a rich history as a haven for cultural freethinkers and a...

Zürich

Zürich, which sits astride the Limmat River at the point where it emerges from the Zürichsee (Lake Zürich), is a beautiful city. Its charming Altstadt...

Vaud

In just one region, you can experience a complete cultural, gastronomic, and scenic sweep of Switzerland. Vaud (pronounced Voh) has a stunning Gothic cathedral (Lausanne)...

Berner Oberland

There are times when the reality of Switzerland puts postcard idealization to shame, surpassing advertising-image peaks and skies. Those times happen most often in the...

Basel

Although it lacks the gilt and glitter of Zürich and the Latin grace of Geneva, in many ways Basel (Bâle in French) is more sophisticated...

Luzern and Central Switzerland

With the mist rising off the water and the mountains looming above in the morning sun, it’s easy to understand why people are mesmerized by...

Ticino

Ticino is a canton apart: graceful, open, laissez-faire. This is the most glamorous of Swiss regions: the waterfront promenades of Lugano, Locarno, and Ascona contain...

Eastern Switzerland

Switzerland’s Germanic region bordering Germany and Austria should scream authenticity. Instead, it moos. With almost more cows (and alphorns) than people, Zürich’s quiet neighbor offers...

Bern

Bern, the federal capital of Switzerland, is a picturesque medieval city whose creators had a keen eye for detail—a trait shared by today’s inhabitants, who...

Fribourg and Neuchâtel

Shouldered by the more prominent cantons of Bern and Vaud, Fribourg and Neuchâtel are easily overlooked by hurried visitors. If they do stop, it is...

Luzern

Luzern city is a convenient base for excursions all over central Switzerland. The countryside here is tame, and the vast Vierwaldstättersee offers a prime opportunity...

Lausanne

"Lausanne is a block of picturesque houses, spilling over two or three gorges, which spread from the same central knot, and are crowned by a...

St. Moritz

Who put the ritz in St. Moritz? Undoubtedly, St. Moritz's reputation was made by the people who go there and who have been going there...

Lugano

Strung around a sparkling bay like Venetian glass beads, with dark, conical mountains rising out of its waters and icy peaks framing the scene, Lugano...

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Despite its fame—which stems from the iconic Matterhorn and its excellent ski facilities—Zermatt is a resort with its feet on the ground. It protects its...

Interlaken

Often touted as a town without character, Interlaken has patiently borne the brunt of being called "the best place in Switzerland to get away from"—but...

Crans-Montana

This French-speaking resort rises above the valley on a steep, sheltered shelf at 4,904 feet. It commands a broad view across the Rhône Valley to...

Fribourg

Between the rich pasturelands of the Swiss plateau and the Alpine foothills, the Sarine River (called the Saane by German speakers) twists in an S-curve...

Verbier

A big part of Verbier's appeal is skiing on sunny slopes and the fact that it has a high-tech, state-of-the-art sports complex that links Quatre...

St. Gallen

Switzerland's largest eastern city, bustling St. Gallen is dominated by students during the school year. The narrow streets of the Altstadt (Old Town) are flanked...

Davos

At 5,116 feet, this highest "city" (stretching the definition) in Europe is good for cold-weather sports even in the soggiest of winters. Davos is famous...

Grindelwald

Not counting its sheer Alpine beauty (3,393 feet), this town remains among the most popular in the Berner Oberland for the simple reason that it...

Arosa

Thanks to its altitude of 5,900 feet, the picturesque village of Arosa is a well-known year-round sports center, offering brisk hiking, paragliding, and other activities...

Neuchatel

At the foot of the Jura Mountains, flanked by vineyards and facing southeast, the city of Neuchâtel enjoys panoramic views of Lac de Neuchâtel and...

Pontresina

On a south-facing shelf along the Flaz Valley, Pontresina is a beautiful resort town. It grew by converting its farmhouses to pensions and hotels for...

Vevey

In the 1870s Henry James captured this waterfront town's mood of prim grace while writing (and setting) Daisy Miller in the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes...

Montreux

Montreux might be called the Cannes of Lac Léman—though it might raise an eyebrow at the slur. Spilling down steep hillsides into a sunny south-facing...

Gstaad

The four fingerlike valleys of the Saanenland find their palm at Gstaad, the Berner Oberland's most glamorous resort. Linking the Berner Oberland with the French-speaking...

Locarno

Superbly placed on the sheltered curve of the northernmost tip of Lago Maggiore and surrounded on all sides by mountains, Locarno is Switzerland's sunniest town...

Saas-Fee

Quieter and more low-key than Zermatt is the village of Saas-Fee, a car-free mountain resort with a family-friendly vibe. Saas-Fee also has a fantastic network...

Klosters

At one time simply a group of hamlets, Klosters has become a small but chic resort, made up mostly of weathered-wood and white-stucco chalets. The...

Sion

Rearing up in the otherwise deltalike flatlands of the western Valais, two otherworldly twin hills flank the ancient city of Sion. The two hills together...

Appenzell

Isolated from St. Gallen by a ridge of green hills, Appenzell is divided into two sub-cantons, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden. Both make up one...

Schaffhausen

A city of about 37,000, Schaffhausen was from the early Middle Ages on an important depot for river cargoes, which—because of the rapids and waterfall...

Chur

Narrow streets, cobblestone alleys, hidden courtyards, and ancient shuttered buildings hint that this Alpine city is the oldest city in Switzerland. The biggest little town...

Scuol and Tarasp-Vulpera

The villages of Scuol and Tarasp-Vulpera effectively form one large resort, although a car or bus is needed to travel between the two. The area...

Bellinzona

All roads lead to Bellinzona, the fortified valley city that guards the important European crossroads of the St. Gotthard and San Bernardino routes. The capital...

Leukerbad

At 4,628 feet, Leukerbad, called Loèche-les-Bains in French, is Europe's highest spa village; travelers have been ascending to this Alpine retreat for centuries to take...

Ascona

Although it's only a few minutes from Locarno, tiny Ascona has a life of its own. The town was little more than a fishing village...

Stein-am-Rhein

The riverside Stein am Rhein is one of Switzerland's loveliest (and wealthiest) communities. It lies at a pivotal point where the Rhine leaves the Bodensee...

Mürren

Mürren is perched on a mountaintop shelf—5,361 feet high, to be precise. This village, along with neighboring Wengen, has always lured the rich and famous...

Maienfeld

Above this graceful little village full of fountains, vineyards, and old stucco houses, the Zürich author Johanna Spyri set Heidi, the much-loved children's story of...

Gruyères

Rising above the plain on a rocky crag against a backdrop of Alpine foothills, the castle village of Gruyères seduces from afar. This perfect specimen...

St-Saphorin

At the end of the Corniche Road, just west of Vevey, St-Saphorin is perched above the water. With its impossibly narrow, steep cobbled streets and...

Les Alpes Vaudoises

At the eastern tip of Lac Léman, the Alps on the French and Swiss sides close in on the Rhône, and the lakefront highways begin...

Brienz

The romantic waterfront village of Brienz, world renowned for its wood carving, is a favorite stop for people traveling by boat as well as by...

Vitznau

For a quintessentially scenic spot, stop over in Vitznau, a tiny waterfront resort that competes with Weggis for the balmiest weather. Small as this village...

Murten

The ancient town of Murten, known in French as Morat, is a popular resort on the Murtensee/Lac de Morat (Lake Murten). The bilingual town has...

Aletsch

Ice-capped peaks with small mountain resorts staggered up their spines rim the Aletsch, a glacier that shares its name with the area surrounding it, paralleling...

Lauterbrunnen

Acclaimed by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, as "the stateliest bit of landstrip," the Lauterbrunnen Valley is often ranked as one of the most beautiful places in...

Wengen

Lord Byron, Consuelo Vanderbilt (the Duchess of Marlborough), and other posh folks put Wengen on the map, spreading the word about its incomparable eagle's-nest perch...

Morges

On the waterfront just west of the urban sprawl of Lausanne, Morges is a pleasant lake town favored by sailors and devotees of its Fête...

Les Diablerets

This small resort (3,806 feet) lies at the base of the 10,525-foot peak of the same name—which sheds the dramatic namesake 9,840-foot glacier. The village...

Thun

Built on an island in the River Aare as it flows from Lake Thun, this picturesque market town is laced with rushing streams crossed by...

Nyon

Lovely Nyon, with its waterfront drive, shops, museums, and a castle dominating its cliff-top Old Town, was founded by Julius Caesar around 45 BC as...

Weggis

With a pretty waterfront park and promenade, Weggis is a summer resort town known for its mild, almost subtropical climate—little wonder that it is a...

Val d'Anniviers

If you drive east of Sierre and south of the Rhône, following signs for Vissoie, you enter a wild and craggy valley called Val d'Anniviers...

Prangins

You'll see the elegant hillside château that's home to the national museum before you reach this little commune, where the pace of life moves gently...

Toggenburg Valley

...

Yverdon-les-Bains

With a center closed to traffic, Yverdon-les-Bains is a charming, bustling place. Located at the southernmost tip of Lac de Neuchâtel, this pastel-colored lakefront town...

Meiringen

Set apart from the twin lakes and saddled between the roads to the Sustenpass and the Brünigpass, Meiringen is a resort town with more than...

Schwyz

This historic town is the capital of the canton Schwyz, root of the name Switzerland and source of the nation's flag. Switzerland's most precious archives...

Morcote

At the southernmost tip of the glorious Ceresio Peninsula is the atmospheric village of Morcote, its clay-colored houses and arcades looking directly over the waterfront...

Walensee

Between Liechtenstein and Zürich, the spectacular, blue-green lake called the Walensee stretches 16 km (10 miles) through the mountains, reflecting the jagged Churfirsten peaks. Once...

Estavayer-le-Lac

Along with its history-soaked and highly picturesque Old Town (in summer, don't miss the Saturday morning market bursting with local produce), lakeside Estavayer is a...

Martigny

At the foot of the Col du Grand St-Bernard, Martigny has long been a commercial crossroads. A small, primarily residential town backed by vineyards, it...

Stans

In the heart of lush valley terrain and mossy meadows, Stans is an old village whose appealing Old Town center is dotted with the deep-roof...

Spiez

With its mild climate and lakeside location, Spiez provides a striking contrast to the snowy Alps. A good reason to visit might be the nearby...

Brig

A rail and road junction joining four cantons, this small but vital town for centuries has been a center of trade with Italy. Often overlooked...

Hilterfingen and Oberhofen

Lake Thun is famous for its waterside castles, and Hilterfingen and Oberhofen, a little farther along the shore, have two of the best...

Parc Naziunal Svizzer

This Swiss National Park is a magnificent federal preserve of virtually virgin wilderness teeming with local wildlife...

Gottlieben

The village of Gottlieben has a Dominican monastery-castle, where the Protestant reformers Jan Hus and Jerome of Prague were imprisoned in the 15th century by...

Altdorf

Schiller's play Wilhelm Tell sums up the tale for the Swiss, who perform his play religiously in venues all over the country—including the town of...

St-Maurice

Pushed up against a stern, gray rock face, this small town is quiet and peaceful, with patrician homes lining its Grand-Rue. Once a customs station...

Bodensee

Known in English as Lake Constance, the Bodensee is about 65 km (40 miles) long and 15 km (9 miles) wide, making it second in...

Campione

In the heart of Swiss Italy lies Campione. Here, in this southernmost of regions, the police cars have Swiss license plates but the officers inside...

Gandria

Although its narrow waterfront streets are crowded with tourists, the tiny historic village of Gandria still merits a visit, either by boat or by car...

Zernez

This friendly little crossroads, the last town before the higher valley of the Inn, lies along the route over the Ofen Pass to the Val...

Lutry

From its origins as a simple fishing village, this medieval town on the skirt hem of Lausanne expanded in the 11th century with the installation...

Col du Grand St-Bernard

...

Mt. Pilatus

Unlike Queen Victoria, who rode to the summit of this 6,953-foot mountain by mule in 1868, you can travel to Mt. Pilatus via cable car...

Kreuzlingen and Konstanz

The German city of Konstanz, with its Swiss-side twin of Kreuzlingen, dominates the straits that open into the Bodensee. Though Kreuzlingen itself offers little of...

Route du Vignoble

Parallel to the waterfront highway, threading through the steep-sloping vineyards between Nyon and Lausanne, the Route du Vignoble (Vineyard Road) unfolds a rolling green landscape...

Payerne

The meandering streets in this market town are filled with pastel-painted 18th-century buildings, now converted to shops and restaurants. The star attraction, however, remains the...

Coppet

...

Iseltwald

Set on a lovely and picturesque peninsula jutting out into the quiet waters of the lake, Iseltwald has a bevy of cafés, rental chalets, and...

Rütli Meadow

At the south end of Lake Luzern, past the gorgeously scenic Seelisberg Peninsula, the narrow, majestic Urnersee accesses some of the most legendary landmarks in...

Mt. Santis

Mt. Säntis bills itself as “the mountain,” and it’s hard to argue with that. Soaring 8,209 feet, it offers Alpine views as stunning as its...

Arenenberg

East of Stein-am-Rhein the Rhine opens up into the Untersee, the lower branch of the Bodensee. In its center lies the German island of Reichenau...

Bulle

With more than 17,000 inhabitants, the town of Bulle has many attractions worthy of a larger destination: a castle (not open to the public), three-story...

Grandson

A tour of the Old Town of Grandson is eminently worthwhile. The church, tower, fountains, and narrow streets lined with extraordinary facades make this a...

Romont

The best way to approach this 13th-century town of two broad streets is to leave the highway and drive up to its castle terrace. The...

Guarda

The former main road through the Inn Valley (Engadine) was higher up on the slopes than today's road. It passed through Guarda, one of a...

Valle Verzasca

Ticino's mountain valleys, just a short distance from its major cities, are rugged reminders of the region's modest history. Stone homes, called rustici, dot the...

Bürgenstock

The rich have always headed to Lake Luzern, thanks, in good part, to the famous Bürgenstock hotel resort. This high-end hideaway, perched atop its own...

Bürglen

Wilhelm Tell was supposedly from the tiny, turreted town of Bürglen, just up the road from Altdorf...

Geneva

Long known for its watches, chocolate, and banks, Geneva is a postcard-perfect city with a rich history as a haven for cultural freethinkers and a...

Zürich

Zürich, which sits astride the Limmat River at the point where it emerges from the Zürichsee (Lake Zürich), is a beautiful city. Its charming Altstadt...

Basel

Although it lacks the gilt and glitter of Zürich and the Latin grace of Geneva, in many ways Basel (Bâle in French) is more sophisticated...

Bern

Bern, the federal capital of Switzerland, is a picturesque medieval city whose creators had a keen eye for detail—a trait shared by today’s inhabitants, who...

Luzern

Luzern city is a convenient base for excursions all over central Switzerland. The countryside here is tame, and the vast Vierwaldstättersee offers a prime opportunity...

Lausanne

"Lausanne is a block of picturesque houses, spilling over two or three gorges, which spread from the same central knot, and are crowned by a...

St. Moritz

Who put the ritz in St. Moritz? Undoubtedly, St. Moritz's reputation was made by the people who go there and who have been going there...

Lugano

Strung around a sparkling bay like Venetian glass beads, with dark, conical mountains rising out of its waters and icy peaks framing the scene, Lugano...

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Despite its fame—which stems from the iconic Matterhorn and its excellent ski facilities—Zermatt is a resort with its feet on the ground. It protects its...

Interlaken

Often touted as a town without character, Interlaken has patiently borne the brunt of being called "the best place in Switzerland to get away from"—but...

Crans-Montana

This French-speaking resort rises above the valley on a steep, sheltered shelf at 4,904 feet. It commands a broad view across the Rhône Valley to...

St. Gallen

Switzerland's largest eastern city, bustling St. Gallen is dominated by students during the school year. The narrow streets of the Altstadt (Old Town) are flanked...

Verbier

A big part of Verbier's appeal is skiing on sunny slopes and the fact that it has a high-tech, state-of-the-art sports complex that links Quatre...

Fribourg

Between the rich pasturelands of the Swiss plateau and the Alpine foothills, the Sarine River (called the Saane by German speakers) twists in an S-curve...

Davos

At 5,116 feet, this highest "city" (stretching the definition) in Europe is good for cold-weather sports even in the soggiest of winters. Davos is famous...

Grindelwald

Not counting its sheer Alpine beauty (3,393 feet), this town remains among the most popular in the Berner Oberland for the simple reason that it...

Arosa

Thanks to its altitude of 5,900 feet, the picturesque village of Arosa is a well-known year-round sports center, offering brisk hiking, paragliding, and other activities...

Neuchatel

At the foot of the Jura Mountains, flanked by vineyards and facing southeast, the city of Neuchâtel enjoys panoramic views of Lac de Neuchâtel and...

Vevey

In the 1870s Henry James captured this waterfront town's mood of prim grace while writing (and setting) Daisy Miller in the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes...

Pontresina

On a south-facing shelf along the Flaz Valley, Pontresina is a beautiful resort town. It grew by converting its farmhouses to pensions and hotels for...

Montreux

Montreux might be called the Cannes of Lac Léman—though it might raise an eyebrow at the slur. Spilling down steep hillsides into a sunny south-facing...

Gstaad

The four fingerlike valleys of the Saanenland find their palm at Gstaad, the Berner Oberland's most glamorous resort. Linking the Berner Oberland with the French-speaking...

Locarno

Superbly placed on the sheltered curve of the northernmost tip of Lago Maggiore and surrounded on all sides by mountains, Locarno is Switzerland's sunniest town...

Saas-Fee

Quieter and more low-key than Zermatt is the village of Saas-Fee, a car-free mountain resort with a family-friendly vibe. Saas-Fee also has a fantastic network...

Klosters

At one time simply a group of hamlets, Klosters has become a small but chic resort, made up mostly of weathered-wood and white-stucco chalets. The...

Sion

Rearing up in the otherwise deltalike flatlands of the western Valais, two otherworldly twin hills flank the ancient city of Sion. The two hills together...

Schaffhausen

A city of about 37,000, Schaffhausen was from the early Middle Ages on an important depot for river cargoes, which—because of the rapids and waterfall...

Appenzell

Isolated from St. Gallen by a ridge of green hills, Appenzell is divided into two sub-cantons, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden. Both make up one...

Chur

Narrow streets, cobblestone alleys, hidden courtyards, and ancient shuttered buildings hint that this Alpine city is the oldest city in Switzerland. The biggest little town...

Scuol and Tarasp-Vulpera

The villages of Scuol and Tarasp-Vulpera effectively form one large resort, although a car or bus is needed to travel between the two. The area...

Bellinzona

All roads lead to Bellinzona, the fortified valley city that guards the important European crossroads of the St. Gotthard and San Bernardino routes. The capital...

Stein-am-Rhein

The riverside Stein am Rhein is one of Switzerland's loveliest (and wealthiest) communities. It lies at a pivotal point where the Rhine leaves the Bodensee...

Ascona

Although it's only a few minutes from Locarno, tiny Ascona has a life of its own. The town was little more than a fishing village...

Leukerbad

At 4,628 feet, Leukerbad, called Loèche-les-Bains in French, is Europe's highest spa village; travelers have been ascending to this Alpine retreat for centuries to take...

Mürren

Mürren is perched on a mountaintop shelf—5,361 feet high, to be precise. This village, along with neighboring Wengen, has always lured the rich and famous...

Maienfeld

Above this graceful little village full of fountains, vineyards, and old stucco houses, the Zürich author Johanna Spyri set Heidi, the much-loved children's story of...

Gruyères

Rising above the plain on a rocky crag against a backdrop of Alpine foothills, the castle village of Gruyères seduces from afar. This perfect specimen...

Brienz

The romantic waterfront village of Brienz, world renowned for its wood carving, is a favorite stop for people traveling by boat as well as by...

Les Alpes Vaudoises

At the eastern tip of Lac Léman, the Alps on the French and Swiss sides close in on the Rhône, and the lakefront highways begin...

St-Saphorin

At the end of the Corniche Road, just west of Vevey, St-Saphorin is perched above the water. With its impossibly narrow, steep cobbled streets and...

Murten

The ancient town of Murten, known in French as Morat, is a popular resort on the Murtensee/Lac de Morat (Lake Murten). The bilingual town has...

Vitznau

For a quintessentially scenic spot, stop over in Vitznau, a tiny waterfront resort that competes with Weggis for the balmiest weather. Small as this village...

Aletsch

Ice-capped peaks with small mountain resorts staggered up their spines rim the Aletsch, a glacier that shares its name with the area surrounding it, paralleling...

Morges

On the waterfront just west of the urban sprawl of Lausanne, Morges is a pleasant lake town favored by sailors and devotees of its Fête...

Lauterbrunnen

Acclaimed by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, as "the stateliest bit of landstrip," the Lauterbrunnen Valley is often ranked as one of the most beautiful places in...

Wengen

Lord Byron, Consuelo Vanderbilt (the Duchess of Marlborough), and other posh folks put Wengen on the map, spreading the word about its incomparable eagle's-nest perch...

Thun

Built on an island in the River Aare as it flows from Lake Thun, this picturesque market town is laced with rushing streams crossed by...

Les Diablerets

This small resort (3,806 feet) lies at the base of the 10,525-foot peak of the same name—which sheds the dramatic namesake 9,840-foot glacier. The village...

Nyon

Lovely Nyon, with its waterfront drive, shops, museums, and a castle dominating its cliff-top Old Town, was founded by Julius Caesar around 45 BC as...

Weggis

With a pretty waterfront park and promenade, Weggis is a summer resort town known for its mild, almost subtropical climate—little wonder that it is a...

Val d'Anniviers

If you drive east of Sierre and south of the Rhône, following signs for Vissoie, you enter a wild and craggy valley called Val d'Anniviers...

Lenzerheide and Valbella

...

Prangins

You'll see the elegant hillside château that's home to the national museum before you reach this little commune, where the pace of life moves gently...

Meiringen

Set apart from the twin lakes and saddled between the roads to the Sustenpass and the Brünigpass, Meiringen is a resort town with more than...

Schwyz

This historic town is the capital of the canton Schwyz, root of the name Switzerland and source of the nation's flag. Switzerland's most precious archives...

Yverdon-les-Bains

With a center closed to traffic, Yverdon-les-Bains is a charming, bustling place. Located at the southernmost tip of Lac de Neuchâtel, this pastel-colored lakefront town...

Stans

In the heart of lush valley terrain and mossy meadows, Stans is an old village whose appealing Old Town center is dotted with the deep-roof...

Spiez

With its mild climate and lakeside location, Spiez provides a striking contrast to the snowy Alps. A good reason to visit might be the nearby...

Walensee

Between Liechtenstein and Zürich, the spectacular, blue-green lake called the Walensee stretches 16 km (10 miles) through the mountains, reflecting the jagged Churfirsten peaks. Once...

Estavayer-le-Lac

Along with its history-soaked and highly picturesque Old Town (in summer, don't miss the Saturday morning market bursting with local produce), lakeside Estavayer is a...

Martigny

At the foot of the Col du Grand St-Bernard, Martigny has long been a commercial crossroads. A small, primarily residential town backed by vineyards, it...

Brig

A rail and road junction joining four cantons, this small but vital town for centuries has been a center of trade with Italy. Often overlooked...

Morcote

At the southernmost tip of the glorious Ceresio Peninsula is the atmospheric village of Morcote, its clay-colored houses and arcades looking directly over the waterfront...

Bodensee

Known in English as Lake Constance, the Bodensee is about 65 km (40 miles) long and 15 km (9 miles) wide, making it second in...

Hilterfingen and Oberhofen

Lake Thun is famous for its waterside castles, and Hilterfingen and Oberhofen, a little farther along the shore, have two of the best...

Engelberg

...

Parc Naziunal Svizzer

This Swiss National Park is a magnificent federal preserve of virtually virgin wilderness teeming with local wildlife...

Gottlieben

The village of Gottlieben has a Dominican monastery-castle, where the Protestant reformers Jan Hus and Jerome of Prague were imprisoned in the 15th century by...

St-Maurice

Pushed up against a stern, gray rock face, this small town is quiet and peaceful, with patrician homes lining its Grand-Rue. Once a customs station...

Altdorf

Schiller's play Wilhelm Tell sums up the tale for the Swiss, who perform his play religiously in venues all over the country—including the town of...

Gandria

Although its narrow waterfront streets are crowded with tourists, the tiny historic village of Gandria still merits a visit, either by boat or by car...

Campione

In the heart of Swiss Italy lies Campione. Here, in this southernmost of regions, the police cars have Swiss license plates but the officers inside...

Payerne

The meandering streets in this market town are filled with pastel-painted 18th-century buildings, now converted to shops and restaurants. The star attraction, however, remains the...

Kreuzlingen and Konstanz

The German city of Konstanz, with its Swiss-side twin of Kreuzlingen, dominates the straits that open into the Bodensee. Though Kreuzlingen itself offers little of...

Mt. Pilatus

Unlike Queen Victoria, who rode to the summit of this 6,953-foot mountain by mule in 1868, you can travel to Mt. Pilatus via cable car...

Zernez

This friendly little crossroads, the last town before the higher valley of the Inn, lies along the route over the Ofen Pass to the Val...

Lutry

From its origins as a simple fishing village, this medieval town on the skirt hem of Lausanne expanded in the 11th century with the installation...

Iseltwald

Set on a lovely and picturesque peninsula jutting out into the quiet waters of the lake, Iseltwald has a bevy of cafés, rental chalets, and...

Coppet

...

Valle Verzasca

Ticino's mountain valleys, just a short distance from its major cities, are rugged reminders of the region's modest history. Stone homes, called rustici, dot the...

Bulle

With more than 17,000 inhabitants, the town of Bulle has many attractions worthy of a larger destination: a castle (not open to the public), three-story...

Romont

The best way to approach this 13th-century town of two broad streets is to leave the highway and drive up to its castle terrace. The...

Mt. Santis

Mt. Säntis bills itself as “the mountain,” and it’s hard to argue with that. Soaring 8,209 feet, it offers Alpine views as stunning as its...

Bürgenstock

The rich have always headed to Lake Luzern, thanks, in good part, to the famous Bürgenstock hotel resort. This high-end hideaway, perched atop its own...

Bürglen

Wilhelm Tell was supposedly from the tiny, turreted town of Bürglen, just up the road from Altdorf...

Rütli Meadow

At the south end of Lake Luzern, past the gorgeously scenic Seelisberg Peninsula, the narrow, majestic Urnersee accesses some of the most legendary landmarks in...

Guarda

The former main road through the Inn Valley (Engadine) was higher up on the slopes than today's road. It passed through Guarda, one of a...

Arenenberg

East of Stein-am-Rhein the Rhine opens up into the Untersee, the lower branch of the Bodensee. In its center lies the German island of Reichenau...

Grandson

A tour of the Old Town of Grandson is eminently worthwhile. The church, tower, fountains, and narrow streets lined with extraordinary facades make this a...

Geneva

Long known for its watches, chocolate, and banks, Geneva is a postcard-perfect city with a rich history as a haven for cultural freethinkers and a...

Zürich

Zürich, which sits astride the Limmat River at the point where it emerges from the Zürichsee (Lake Zürich), is a beautiful city. Its charming Altstadt...

Basel

Although it lacks the gilt and glitter of Zürich and the Latin grace of Geneva, in many ways Basel (Bâle in French) is more sophisticated...

Bern

Bern, the federal capital of Switzerland, is a picturesque medieval city whose creators had a keen eye for detail—a trait shared by today’s inhabitants, who...

Luzern

Luzern city is a convenient base for excursions all over central Switzerland. The countryside here is tame, and the vast Vierwaldstättersee offers a prime opportunity...

Lausanne

"Lausanne is a block of picturesque houses, spilling over two or three gorges, which spread from the same central knot, and are crowned by a...

St. Moritz

Who put the ritz in St. Moritz? Undoubtedly, St. Moritz's reputation was made by the people who go there and who have been going there...

Lugano

Strung around a sparkling bay like Venetian glass beads, with dark, conical mountains rising out of its waters and icy peaks framing the scene, Lugano...

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Despite its fame—which stems from the iconic Matterhorn and its excellent ski facilities—Zermatt is a resort with its feet on the ground. It protects its...

Interlaken

Often touted as a town without character, Interlaken has patiently borne the brunt of being called "the best place in Switzerland to get away from"—but...

Crans-Montana

This French-speaking resort rises above the valley on a steep, sheltered shelf at 4,904 feet. It commands a broad view across the Rhône Valley to...

St. Gallen

Switzerland's largest eastern city, bustling St. Gallen is dominated by students during the school year. The narrow streets of the Altstadt (Old Town) are flanked...

Verbier

A big part of Verbier's appeal is skiing on sunny slopes and the fact that it has a high-tech, state-of-the-art sports complex that links Quatre...

Fribourg

Between the rich pasturelands of the Swiss plateau and the Alpine foothills, the Sarine River (called the Saane by German speakers) twists in an S-curve...

Davos

At 5,116 feet, this highest "city" (stretching the definition) in Europe is good for cold-weather sports even in the soggiest of winters. Davos is famous...

Grindelwald

Not counting its sheer Alpine beauty (3,393 feet), this town remains among the most popular in the Berner Oberland for the simple reason that it...

Arosa

Thanks to its altitude of 5,900 feet, the picturesque village of Arosa is a well-known year-round sports center, offering brisk hiking, paragliding, and other activities...

Neuchatel

At the foot of the Jura Mountains, flanked by vineyards and facing southeast, the city of Neuchâtel enjoys panoramic views of Lac de Neuchâtel and...

Vevey

In the 1870s Henry James captured this waterfront town's mood of prim grace while writing (and setting) Daisy Miller in the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes...

Pontresina

On a south-facing shelf along the Flaz Valley, Pontresina is a beautiful resort town. It grew by converting its farmhouses to pensions and hotels for...

Montreux

Montreux might be called the Cannes of Lac Léman—though it might raise an eyebrow at the slur. Spilling down steep hillsides into a sunny south-facing...

Gstaad

The four fingerlike valleys of the Saanenland find their palm at Gstaad, the Berner Oberland's most glamorous resort. Linking the Berner Oberland with the French-speaking...

Locarno

Superbly placed on the sheltered curve of the northernmost tip of Lago Maggiore and surrounded on all sides by mountains, Locarno is Switzerland's sunniest town...

Saas-Fee

Quieter and more low-key than Zermatt is the village of Saas-Fee, a car-free mountain resort with a family-friendly vibe. Saas-Fee also has a fantastic network...

Klosters

At one time simply a group of hamlets, Klosters has become a small but chic resort, made up mostly of weathered-wood and white-stucco chalets. The...

Sion

Rearing up in the otherwise deltalike flatlands of the western Valais, two otherworldly twin hills flank the ancient city of Sion. The two hills together...

Schaffhausen

A city of about 37,000, Schaffhausen was from the early Middle Ages on an important depot for river cargoes, which—because of the rapids and waterfall...

Appenzell

Isolated from St. Gallen by a ridge of green hills, Appenzell is divided into two sub-cantons, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden. Both make up one...

Chur

Narrow streets, cobblestone alleys, hidden courtyards, and ancient shuttered buildings hint that this Alpine city is the oldest city in Switzerland. The biggest little town...

Scuol and Tarasp-Vulpera

The villages of Scuol and Tarasp-Vulpera effectively form one large resort, although a car or bus is needed to travel between the two. The area...

Bellinzona

All roads lead to Bellinzona, the fortified valley city that guards the important European crossroads of the St. Gotthard and San Bernardino routes. The capital...

Stein-am-Rhein

The riverside Stein am Rhein is one of Switzerland's loveliest (and wealthiest) communities. It lies at a pivotal point where the Rhine leaves the Bodensee...

Ascona

Although it's only a few minutes from Locarno, tiny Ascona has a life of its own. The town was little more than a fishing village...

Leukerbad

At 4,628 feet, Leukerbad, called Loèche-les-Bains in French, is Europe's highest spa village; travelers have been ascending to this Alpine retreat for centuries to take...

Mürren

Mürren is perched on a mountaintop shelf—5,361 feet high, to be precise. This village, along with neighboring Wengen, has always lured the rich and famous...

Maienfeld

Above this graceful little village full of fountains, vineyards, and old stucco houses, the Zürich author Johanna Spyri set Heidi, the much-loved children's story of...

Gruyères

Rising above the plain on a rocky crag against a backdrop of Alpine foothills, the castle village of Gruyères seduces from afar. This perfect specimen...

Brienz

The romantic waterfront village of Brienz, world renowned for its wood carving, is a favorite stop for people traveling by boat as well as by...

Les Alpes Vaudoises

At the eastern tip of Lac Léman, the Alps on the French and Swiss sides close in on the Rhône, and the lakefront highways begin...

St-Saphorin

At the end of the Corniche Road, just west of Vevey, St-Saphorin is perched above the water. With its impossibly narrow, steep cobbled streets and...

Murten

The ancient town of Murten, known in French as Morat, is a popular resort on the Murtensee/Lac de Morat (Lake Murten). The bilingual town has...

Vitznau

For a quintessentially scenic spot, stop over in Vitznau, a tiny waterfront resort that competes with Weggis for the balmiest weather. Small as this village...

Aletsch

Ice-capped peaks with small mountain resorts staggered up their spines rim the Aletsch, a glacier that shares its name with the area surrounding it, paralleling...

Morges

On the waterfront just west of the urban sprawl of Lausanne, Morges is a pleasant lake town favored by sailors and devotees of its Fête...

Lauterbrunnen

Acclaimed by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, as "the stateliest bit of landstrip," the Lauterbrunnen Valley is often ranked as one of the most beautiful places in...

Wengen

Lord Byron, Consuelo Vanderbilt (the Duchess of Marlborough), and other posh folks put Wengen on the map, spreading the word about its incomparable eagle's-nest perch...

Thun

Built on an island in the River Aare as it flows from Lake Thun, this picturesque market town is laced with rushing streams crossed by...

Les Diablerets

This small resort (3,806 feet) lies at the base of the 10,525-foot peak of the same name—which sheds the dramatic namesake 9,840-foot glacier. The village...

Nyon

Lovely Nyon, with its waterfront drive, shops, museums, and a castle dominating its cliff-top Old Town, was founded by Julius Caesar around 45 BC as...

Weggis

With a pretty waterfront park and promenade, Weggis is a summer resort town known for its mild, almost subtropical climate—little wonder that it is a...

Val d'Anniviers

If you drive east of Sierre and south of the Rhône, following signs for Vissoie, you enter a wild and craggy valley called Val d'Anniviers...

Lenzerheide and Valbella

...

Prangins

You'll see the elegant hillside château that's home to the national museum before you reach this little commune, where the pace of life moves gently...

Meiringen

Set apart from the twin lakes and saddled between the roads to the Sustenpass and the Brünigpass, Meiringen is a resort town with more than...

Schwyz

This historic town is the capital of the canton Schwyz, root of the name Switzerland and source of the nation's flag. Switzerland's most precious archives...

Yverdon-les-Bains

With a center closed to traffic, Yverdon-les-Bains is a charming, bustling place. Located at the southernmost tip of Lac de Neuchâtel, this pastel-colored lakefront town...

Stans

In the heart of lush valley terrain and mossy meadows, Stans is an old village whose appealing Old Town center is dotted with the deep-roof...

Spiez

With its mild climate and lakeside location, Spiez provides a striking contrast to the snowy Alps. A good reason to visit might be the nearby...

Walensee

Between Liechtenstein and Zürich, the spectacular, blue-green lake called the Walensee stretches 16 km (10 miles) through the mountains, reflecting the jagged Churfirsten peaks. Once...

Estavayer-le-Lac

Along with its history-soaked and highly picturesque Old Town (in summer, don't miss the Saturday morning market bursting with local produce), lakeside Estavayer is a...

Martigny

At the foot of the Col du Grand St-Bernard, Martigny has long been a commercial crossroads. A small, primarily residential town backed by vineyards, it...

Brig

A rail and road junction joining four cantons, this small but vital town for centuries has been a center of trade with Italy. Often overlooked...

Morcote

At the southernmost tip of the glorious Ceresio Peninsula is the atmospheric village of Morcote, its clay-colored houses and arcades looking directly over the waterfront...

Bodensee

Known in English as Lake Constance, the Bodensee is about 65 km (40 miles) long and 15 km (9 miles) wide, making it second in...

Hilterfingen and Oberhofen

Lake Thun is famous for its waterside castles, and Hilterfingen and Oberhofen, a little farther along the shore, have two of the best...

Engelberg

...

Parc Naziunal Svizzer

This Swiss National Park is a magnificent federal preserve of virtually virgin wilderness teeming with local wildlife...

Gottlieben

The village of Gottlieben has a Dominican monastery-castle, where the Protestant reformers Jan Hus and Jerome of Prague were imprisoned in the 15th century by...

St-Maurice

Pushed up against a stern, gray rock face, this small town is quiet and peaceful, with patrician homes lining its Grand-Rue. Once a customs station...

Altdorf

Schiller's play Wilhelm Tell sums up the tale for the Swiss, who perform his play religiously in venues all over the country—including the town of...

Gandria

Although its narrow waterfront streets are crowded with tourists, the tiny historic village of Gandria still merits a visit, either by boat or by car...

Campione

In the heart of Swiss Italy lies Campione. Here, in this southernmost of regions, the police cars have Swiss license plates but the officers inside...

Payerne

The meandering streets in this market town are filled with pastel-painted 18th-century buildings, now converted to shops and restaurants. The star attraction, however, remains the...

Kreuzlingen and Konstanz

The German city of Konstanz, with its Swiss-side twin of Kreuzlingen, dominates the straits that open into the Bodensee. Though Kreuzlingen itself offers little of...

Mt. Pilatus

Unlike Queen Victoria, who rode to the summit of this 6,953-foot mountain by mule in 1868, you can travel to Mt. Pilatus via cable car...

Zernez

This friendly little crossroads, the last town before the higher valley of the Inn, lies along the route over the Ofen Pass to the Val...

Lutry

From its origins as a simple fishing village, this medieval town on the skirt hem of Lausanne expanded in the 11th century with the installation...

Iseltwald

Set on a lovely and picturesque peninsula jutting out into the quiet waters of the lake, Iseltwald has a bevy of cafés, rental chalets, and...

Coppet

...

Valle Verzasca

Ticino's mountain valleys, just a short distance from its major cities, are rugged reminders of the region's modest history. Stone homes, called rustici, dot the...

Bulle

With more than 17,000 inhabitants, the town of Bulle has many attractions worthy of a larger destination: a castle (not open to the public), three-story...

Romont

The best way to approach this 13th-century town of two broad streets is to leave the highway and drive up to its castle terrace. The...

Mt. Santis

Mt. Säntis bills itself as “the mountain,” and it’s hard to argue with that. Soaring 8,209 feet, it offers Alpine views as stunning as its...

Bürgenstock

The rich have always headed to Lake Luzern, thanks, in good part, to the famous Bürgenstock hotel resort. This high-end hideaway, perched atop its own...

Bürglen

Wilhelm Tell was supposedly from the tiny, turreted town of Bürglen, just up the road from Altdorf...

Rütli Meadow

At the south end of Lake Luzern, past the gorgeously scenic Seelisberg Peninsula, the narrow, majestic Urnersee accesses some of the most legendary landmarks in...

Guarda

The former main road through the Inn Valley (Engadine) was higher up on the slopes than today's road. It passed through Guarda, one of a...

Arenenberg

East of Stein-am-Rhein the Rhine opens up into the Untersee, the lower branch of the Bodensee. In its center lies the German island of Reichenau...

Grandson

A tour of the Old Town of Grandson is eminently worthwhile. The church, tower, fountains, and narrow streets lined with extraordinary facades make this a...

Graubünden

Although the names of its biggest resorts, such as St. Moritz and Davos, register almost automatic recognition, the region wrapped around them remains surprisingly unsung...

Valais

For many visitors, Valais is the only part of Switzerland they ever see—and for good reason. After all, 40 of the 52 13,000-foot peaks in...

Vaud

In just one region, you can experience a complete cultural, gastronomic, and scenic sweep of Switzerland. Vaud (pronounced Voh) has a stunning Gothic cathedral (Lausanne)...

Berner Oberland

There are times when the reality of Switzerland puts postcard idealization to shame, surpassing advertising-image peaks and skies. Those times happen most often in the...

Luzern and Central Switzerland

With the mist rising off the water and the mountains looming above in the morning sun, it’s easy to understand why people are mesmerized by...

Ticino

Ticino is a canton apart: graceful, open, laissez-faire. This is the most glamorous of Swiss regions: the waterfront promenades of Lugano, Locarno, and Ascona contain...

Eastern Switzerland

Switzerland’s Germanic region bordering Germany and Austria should scream authenticity. Instead, it moos. With almost more cows (and alphorns) than people, Zürich’s quiet neighbor offers...

Fribourg and Neuchâtel

Shouldered by the more prominent cantons of Bern and Vaud, Fribourg and Neuchâtel are easily overlooked by hurried visitors. If they do stop, it is...

Toggenburg Valley

...

Route du Vignoble

Parallel to the waterfront highway, threading through the steep-sloping vineyards between Nyon and Lausanne, the Route du Vignoble (Vineyard Road) unfolds a rolling green landscape...

Col du Grand St-Bernard

...

Simplon Pass

Beginning just outside Brig, this historic road meanders through deep gorges and wide, barren, rock-strewn pastures to offer increasingly beautiful views back toward Brig. At...

Tellskapelle

Have your camera ready for this magnificently picturesque lakeside chapel, set at the foot of the Axen mountain...

Kander Valley

...

Graubünden

Although the names of its biggest resorts, such as St. Moritz and Davos, register almost automatic recognition, the region wrapped around them remains surprisingly unsung...

Valais

For many visitors, Valais is the only part of Switzerland they ever see—and for good reason. After all, 40 of the 52 13,000-foot peaks in...

Vaud

In just one region, you can experience a complete cultural, gastronomic, and scenic sweep of Switzerland. Vaud (pronounced Voh) has a stunning Gothic cathedral (Lausanne)...

Berner Oberland

There are times when the reality of Switzerland puts postcard idealization to shame, surpassing advertising-image peaks and skies. Those times happen most often in the...

Luzern and Central Switzerland

With the mist rising off the water and the mountains looming above in the morning sun, it’s easy to understand why people are mesmerized by...

Ticino

Ticino is a canton apart: graceful, open, laissez-faire. This is the most glamorous of Swiss regions: the waterfront promenades of Lugano, Locarno, and Ascona contain...

Eastern Switzerland

Switzerland’s Germanic region bordering Germany and Austria should scream authenticity. Instead, it moos. With almost more cows (and alphorns) than people, Zürich’s quiet neighbor offers...

Fribourg and Neuchâtel

Shouldered by the more prominent cantons of Bern and Vaud, Fribourg and Neuchâtel are easily overlooked by hurried visitors. If they do stop, it is...

Toggenburg Valley

...

Route du Vignoble

Parallel to the waterfront highway, threading through the steep-sloping vineyards between Nyon and Lausanne, the Route du Vignoble (Vineyard Road) unfolds a rolling green landscape...

Col du Grand St-Bernard

...

Simplon Pass

Beginning just outside Brig, this historic road meanders through deep gorges and wide, barren, rock-strewn pastures to offer increasingly beautiful views back toward Brig. At...

Tellskapelle

Have your camera ready for this magnificently picturesque lakeside chapel, set at the foot of the Axen mountain...

Kander Valley

...

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Top Destinations

Graubünden

Valais

Geneva

Zürich

Vaud

Berner Oberland

Basel

Luzern and Central Switzerland

Ticino

Eastern Switzerland

Bern

Fribourg and Neuchâtel

Luzern

Lausanne

St. Moritz

Lugano

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Interlaken

Crans-Montana

Fribourg

Verbier

St. Gallen

Davos

Grindelwald

Arosa

Neuchatel

Pontresina

Vevey

Montreux

Gstaad

Locarno

Saas-Fee

Klosters

Sion

Appenzell

Schaffhausen

Chur

Scuol and Tarasp-Vulpera

Bellinzona

Leukerbad

Ascona

Stein-am-Rhein

Mürren

Maienfeld

Gruyères

St-Saphorin

Les Alpes Vaudoises

Brienz

Vitznau

Murten

Aletsch

Lauterbrunnen

Wengen

Morges

Les Diablerets

Thun

Nyon

Weggis

Val d'Anniviers

Prangins

Toggenburg Valley

Yverdon-les-Bains

Meiringen

Schwyz

Morcote

Walensee

Switzerland

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