7 Picturesque Places To Visit When Travelling To Switzerland
Switzerland was a dream come true for me. I’ve never seen anything like this beautiful land, with its glacier-capped peaks, roaring waterfalls, fairytale turreted castles, and lakes in the most fantastic shade of azure blue.
With so many great sites, places, villages, and cities in Switzerland, it might be difficult to choose which is the most beautiful, but I have endeavored to do exactly that!
1. Lucerne
Lucerne is a typical Swiss town, surrounded by stunning mountains and mediaeval city walls. It’s loaded with priceless views and landscapes, encompassing pretty much everything you’d expect to see in a gorgeous Swiss town.
From lakes to mountains, the city is endowed with every magnificent marvel. When it comes to the top places to see in Lucerne, we should include the 14th-century historical sites Chapel Bridge and Water Tower. There are structures from the Middle Ages in the city, which showcase the best of traditional design. Take advantage of the occasional musical performances, cable car trips, and boat cruises offered here.
Consider taking day trips to locations like Mt. Pilatus in the middle of the day to explore Lucerne’s other side and escape the crowds of visitors who swarm the old town. Overlooking Lucerne and the surrounding alpine scenery is Mt Pilatus, which is 6,982 feet/2,128 metres high. When the weather is suitable, you must definitely go up there!
How to Get There: When you arrive at Zurich Airport, take a train to Lucerne, which is an hour away. Lucerne is 67.4 kilometres from the airport. The Swiss Federal Railway also connects the city to nearly every other city in Switzerland.
Top Attractions: Museggmauer, Hofkirche, Lake Lucerne, Biosphaere Entlebuch, Mt. Rigi Lucerne, Chapel Bridge, Reuss River Sights
Things To Do: Old Town Tour, Dragon Ride to Mountain, Visit the Swiss museum of Transport, Visit the Glacier Garden
2. Zermatt
Most hikers stop at Zermatt, which overlooks the magnificent Matterhorn Mountain, where they spend the night before a challenging climb. The village is a pleasant, soothing location where you may unwind and revive amidst a serene natural setting, even if you are not an adrenaline junkie.
One of the greatest destinations to travel in November, December, or any winter season is Zermatt. Although it will go down to – degrees, skiing will be a dream come true thanks to the snow. Keep in mind that the village is a car-free area, so you might not see any private vehicles there.
How to Get There: It takes around an hour to travel from Geneva International Airport to Zermatt. Even a flight to Zurich is available. From every city in Switzerland, trains go to the Zermatt gondola station.
Top Attractions: Matterhorn, Sunnegga, Riffelsee, Gornergrat, Rothorn, Breithorn Zermatt, Hangebrucke
Things To Do: Mountain Climbing, Hiking, Cable Car rides, Village Tour
3. Jungfraujoch
The glacier hamlet and museums, the restaurant, high mountain peaks, and gorgeous valleys are among the region’s many attractions. The Jungfraujoch is not just the highest peak in Switzerland, but also one of Europe’s highest points.
With the spectacular Alpine valleys, you can see snow-capped mountains and the Aletsch Glacier all year. The Great Aletsch Glacier is Europe’s longest and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Jungfraujoch is connected to many destinations to visit in Switzerland, making it an ideal weekend getaway. Visitors come to Jaungraujoch for a variety of reasons, including hiking, trekking, and simply relaxing. You must not miss the gondola ride to the beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley.
How to Get There: Take a flight from Zurich International Airport to Bern Airport, then proceed toward Interlaken. Trains are running from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch, and the trip takes about two hours. Even a train can be boarded from Zurich to Jaunraujoch.
Top Attractions: Great Aletsch Glacier, Eiger Trail, Glacier Gorge, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Grindelwald
Things To Do: Hiking Trekking, Gondola cable car ride, Village tour
Read: 5 Best Mountain Hiking Spots In The World
4. Ticino
This Italian-speaking zone of Switzerland is wholly distinct from the rest of the country and is situated in the south. It is renowned for its amazing architecture, palm-tree bordered lakes, and delectable cuisine.
Compared to the rest of Switzerland, it has a more Mediterranean air, and the cuisine is identical to that of Italy, which is right next door. Milan and Lake Como are both within a few hours’ drive from Ticino. Therefore, combining this vacation with a Northern Italy itinerary is definitely worthwhile. If you ask me is this one of Switzerland’s top locations? I’ll say 100%!
The classic stone houses in the highlands will astound you. Corippo, Lavartezzo, Sonogno, and Foroglio are a few of my favourite towns and villages. From Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, take a trip north; you’ll be impressed by what you see.
How to Get There: Ticino can quickly be reached from Milan and from Central Switzerland by car and train. There are roads and bus services from the canton of Graubünden to Ticino too. The best way to reach Ticino from Central Switzerland, is by boarding Gotthard Panorama Express to Bellinzona and Lugano.
Top Attractions: Lake Lugano, Bellinzona Castles, Monte San Giorgio, LAC culture center, Verzasca valley, Monte Brè
Things To Do: Village tours, Hiking, Try adventure sports, Cross the Tibetan hanging bridge at Curzútt, Relax at Brissago Islands, Chocolate tasting at Alprose Chocolate Museum
5. Lauterbrunnen
This is one of those vacation spots that you can return to time and again. Lauterbrunnen’s beautiful vista has made it a destination where you may rest amidst the mesmerising scenery.
What is it about Lauterbrunnen that makes it so unique? There are gushing waterfalls, beautiful green valleys, and mountain ranges that overlook the bustling metropolis. You will observe the craggy cliffs and rivers formed by the melting glacier. The Jungfrau area, which is only a few kilometres away from Lauterbrunnen, adds to its attractiveness. Lauterbrunnen is gorgeous all year round, regardless of the season. In Switzerland, whether in winter or summer, you will witness nature at its best, with many stunning sights to behold.
How to Go There: Travelers may take a flight to Zurich or Bern to get to Lauterbrunnen. Later, you can take a train to Lauterbrunnen via Interlaken. To get to Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken, rental cars are also available.
Top Attractions: Trummelbach Falls, Ballenberg Open-air Museum, Staubbach Fall, Kleine Scheidegg
Things To Do: Trail hike, Rock climbing, Cable car ride, Isenfluh village tour
Read: 12 Tips For Fearless Solo Traveling
6. Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland’s capital and largest city, is among the most picturesque destinations in the world because of its breathtaking natural surroundings. The city is a well-known vacation spot with lakes, mountains, historic cathedrals, museums, and intriguing marvels.
The city’s cobblestone streets lead to the old town, where you may experience the delightful city life with quaint cafés and shops. It wouldn’t be inaccurate to refer to Zurich as a fairyland since modern architecture and art have added life to every little corner of the city. There are sites to visit in Zurich, including lakes and man-made beaches that are situated close to snow-capped mountains.
How to Get There: The Zurich International Airport is 11 kilometres from the city. It is the only airport in the city that accepts foreign travelers. Zurich is easily accessible by car from any linked European country because it is connected by nearly all of Switzerland’s highways.
Top Attractions: Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich Lake, The museum of fine arts, Swiss National Museum, Zurich Zoo, Uetliberg Mountain
Things To Do: Musuem Tours, Visit Old Town, Boat ride, Shop from Bahnhofstrasse, Explore the art galleries
7. Interlaken
With its idyllic location nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken is a popular holiday destination for families and newlyweds.
This charming vacation spot provides a view of the three most captivating mountain ranges, including the Eiger, Jungfrau, and Monch. Nearly any exhilarating activity on the list of the finest things to do in Europe can be tried because of the abundance of scenic beauty and adventure nearby. This top tourist destination in Switzerland has the greatest boutique resorts and homestays. Interlaken has all you need for your summer vacation and winter vacation, regardless of when you want to visit.
How to Get There: Despite the absence of an international airport, Interlaken is accessible to all major cities. Fly to Zurich, Geneva, or Bern with ease, then take a train to Interlaken. Even more conveniently, it just takes 45 minutes to travel from Bern to Interlaken.
Top Attractions: Harder Kulm, Höhematte Park, Schynige Platte, Unterseen, Höheweg, Alpenwildpark, Lake Thun
Things To Do: Ski Lifts, Cable Cars, Paragliding, Snowboarding, Paddle steamer cruise
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