Best Things To Do in Switzerland
By: Straighter
What to Do in Switzerland
Switzerland is a small landlocked country in the heart of Europe that has become synonymous with precision, quality, and some of the most spectacular mountain scenery on earth. The Swiss Alps contain peaks and panoramas of genuine grandeur, and the country's network of trains, cable cars, and mountain railways makes accessing this landscape easier and more comfortable than almost anywhere else in the world.
The country offers travellers a genuine diversity of experience across its regions, each with its own character, cuisine, and landscape. Whether you are drawn by history, nature, food, or simply the pleasure of exploring somewhere new, Switzerland has the depth to reward however much time you are able to give it. The following guide highlights ten of the most worthwhile experiences the country has to offer, from its most famous landmarks to a few places that even regular visitors sometimes overlook.
Getting around Switzerland is generally straightforward, with a combination of trains, buses, and car hire serving most of the destinations mentioned below. Accommodation ranges from international hotel chains in the major cities to family-run guesthouses in smaller towns and rural areas, and the local food and drink culture is something to be embraced rather than avoided. Eating where the locals eat, staying in locally owned accommodation, and taking time to talk to the people you meet will all contribute to a richer and more memorable experience.
The best time to visit depends on what you want to do. Summer brings the crowds but also the best weather for outdoor activities and festivals. Spring and autumn offer a more relaxed pace with fewer visitors and often lower prices. Winter has its own magic in many parts of Switzerland, whether that means Christmas markets, skiing, or simply the pleasure of exploring historic streets without the summer heat. At any time of year, Switzerland has something genuine and worthwhile to offer.
10 Things to Do in Switzerland
1. Jungfraujoch Top of Europe
Jungfraujoch Top of Europe is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
2. Matterhorn Zermatt
Matterhorn Zermatt is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
3. Lake Geneva Lausanne and Montreux
Lake Geneva Lausanne and Montreux is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
4. Bern Old Town UNESCO
Bern Old Town UNESCO is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
5. Rhine Falls Schaffhausen
Rhine Falls Schaffhausen is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
6. Aletsch Glacier UNESCO
Aletsch Glacier UNESCO is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
7. Lucerne Chapel Bridge
Lucerne Chapel Bridge is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
8. St Moritz Ski Resort
St Moritz Ski Resort is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
9. Basel Art Museums
Basel Art Museums is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
10. Appenzell Traditional Village
Appenzell Traditional Village is one of the most compelling reasons to visit Switzerland and a place that consistently rewards the time invested in getting there. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to see it again with fresh eyes, the experience it offers speaks directly to what makes Switzerland so distinctive as a destination. Plan to spend adequate time here rather than rushing through, as the details and atmosphere reveal themselves gradually to those who are willing to slow down and look properly. Local guides and interpretation centres can add considerably to your understanding of what you are seeing, and the surrounding area often has additional points of interest that make a longer visit even more worthwhile.
Final Thoughts on Switzerland
Switzerland is a country that reveals itself gradually and generously to those who come with curiosity and an open mind. The ten experiences listed above represent some of the highlights, but they are by no means exhaustive of what the country has to offer. Every region has its own stories to tell, its own specialities to taste, and its own particular quality of light and landscape that distinguishes it from everywhere else.
Travelling in Switzerland is, at its best, an exercise in genuine discovery. The well-known sites deserve their reputations and are worth seeing even when they are busy. But some of the most memorable moments tend to come from the unexpected: a conversation with a local in a small restaurant, a detour down an unmarked road that leads to a view of startling beauty, a festival stumbled upon by accident that turns out to be one of the most joyful experiences of the entire trip.
The practical aspects of visiting Switzerland are generally well organised for travellers. Transport links to the major cities are good, accommodation options have expanded and improved in quality in recent years, and the country's position within or proximity to Europe means that it fits naturally into a wider itinerary. Whether you visit for a long weekend or several weeks, you are likely to leave with a stronger sense of what makes this corner of Europe distinctive and a desire to return to see more of it.
Come with an appetite for the local food and drink, a willingness to walk and explore, and the patience to get slightly lost occasionally, and Switzerland will reward you richly. It is a destination that deserves more visitors than it sometimes gets, and those who make the journey are rarely disappointed.