Luxury Switzerland Tours & Travel

Where to visit in Switzerland

Our travel experts have collated their top recommendations of where to visit in Switzerland.

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  Bern

  Bern isn’t your typical capital, especially picturesque, from the lush surrounding hills to the red roofs dotted across a spit of land along the turquoise Aare River. Its medieval city center is a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site with picturesque bridges, covered arcades, the country’s tallest bell tower and 16^th-century fountains, all backed by the dramatic soaring Alps. It’s remained virtually unchanged since the 15^th-century while boasting a surprisingly laid-back atmosphere for a capital city. Visitors can also enjoy a unique bear park, world-class museums, and a thriving drinking scene.

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  Geneva

  Set alongside Europe’s largest lake, Geneva is a cosmopolitan city home to the European headquarters of the United Nation and the International Red Cross. It’s also filled with interesting attractions and striking beauty. A boat cruise on Lake Geneva brings breathtaking views of the Alps where locals and visitors can enjoy outstanding hiking or skiing, depending on the season. With vineyards and wineries dotted around the lake, it’s ideal for wine enthusiasts year-round. There are many offbeat markets for shoppers and clubs for those who want to experience lively nightlife as well.

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  Interlaken

  Interlaken is tucked between two alpine lakes, a tourist resort that was once most well-known as a watchmaking center. Today, visitors come for its enchanting landscape with snow covered mountain peaks where cascading waterfalls trickle down to sparkling lakes and lush valleys. It also offers jaw-dropping views of some of the country’s most famous mountains, Eiger, Jungfrau and Monch, as well as being popular base for taking part in outdoor adventures, including hiking and paragliding. Visitors can also become immersed in local daily life by taking a class at a woodcarving school.

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  Lausanne

  A popular day trip from Geneva, Lausanne also lies on the banks of Lake Geneva and is known for its outdoor markets as well as being a popular base for skiing some of the world’s top slopes. The city faces the Alps, providing even more dramatic vistas than Geneva, and is surrounded by vineyards, including the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyard, making it popular among wine connoisseurs. It’s also one of the greenest cities in Europe in addition to housing unique museums and a Gothic Old Town.

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  Lucerne

  The quintessential Swiss city, lakeside Lucerne is a breathtaking city with a well-preserved Old Town, attractive town squares, painted veneers and narrow cobbled lanes, all highlighted with a dramatic mountain panorama. Discover castles, towers, pretty bridges and a Renaissance town hall. The ideal place for a stroll, one can get lost among its labyrinth of passageways, enjoying the colorful medieval architecture. Head to the top of Mount Pilatus for a dazzling view over it all and experience it from the water on a vintage paddle-wheeler boat cruise across Lake Lucerne, which many call Switzerland’s most picturesque lake.

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  Lugano

  Bordering Italy along the shores of Lake Lugano, rimmed by mountains in Switzerland’s southern region, the town of Lugano is an attractive city with a maze of steep cobbled streets. They meander down to the edge of the lake and alongside a flower-filled promenade, lined with sidewalk cafes, upscale designer boutiques and buzzing bars. Famous for its enchanting Mediterranean-like scenery, temperate trees grow alongside cypress and citrus trees. It’s also known as the former residence of Nobel Prize winner Herman Hesse. The Herman Hesse Museum in nearby Montagnola houses memorabilia from his time here for more than 40 years up to his death.

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  St. Moritz

  St. Moritz has long attracted VIPs from royals to Hollywood celebrities, with jaw-dropping good looks that include a sparkling aquamarine-hued lake, emerald forests and imposing mountains. While it’s famous for its skiing, most visit for its glitz and glamour, with everything from Europe’s highest shopping street to fine dining restaurants for indulging in caviar and truffles. There are plenty of decadent spas with mud and mineral baths ideal for relaxing after a day of play whether hiking the soaring mountains or taking part in popular winter activities.

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  Zurich

  Switzerland’s wealthiest metropolis and largest city offers everything from impressive architecture, world-class museums and art galleries to thrilling outdoor adventures. It boasts a picturesque well-preserved Old Town with cobblestone streets, winding lanes and medieval buildings. Its top attractions are the Swiss National Museum and Bahnhofstrasse, the main downtown street that’s one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping avenues in the world. It’s also become a hip and trendy destination with old factories converted in creative living spaces and cultural centers, particularly in Zurich West, the hub of nightlife.

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  Zermatt

  The stunning resort town of Zermatt is overlooked by the Alps’ most famous peak, the Matterhorn which soars nearly 14,000 feet high near the Italian border. One of the world’s most photographed mountains, visitors can ride a cable car to the summit to soak up views from the highest scenic outlook platform in Europe and discover an ice palace. It’s also an easy ride or walk to villages that seem lost in time and miles of scenic hikes. In the car-free village itself you’ll find many outstanding restaurants and exciting nightlife options, including swanky lounge bars that attract the style-conscious.