Best places to visit in Switzerland: plan your itinerary

Switzerland has long been regarded as one of the best places to live in. It’s a very wealthy country where nothing ever seems to be wrong or out of place. It’s also one of the top food destinations in the world. Some of the best cheeses and chocolates worldwide are made in Switzerland, and what better place to try them than their country of origin?

In Switzerland beautiful places abound. However, something that may shock you while researching which places to visit in Switzerland is that there are different languages spoken in different regions: the official languages of Switzerland are French, German, Italian and Romansh. 

What are the best places to visit in Switzerland, and what can you do in them? Find out here. 

Zurich

You might think that Zurich is the capital of Switzerland but, plot twist, it’s not. However, it is the largest city in the country, and it’s usually the first stop of all the places to visit in Switzerland.

Zurich is famous for taking one of the top spots in international quality-of-life surveys consistently, but there’s more to the city than luxury shopping, expensive watches and banks. 

Located in the foothills of the Swiss Alps, Zurich has a beautiful old town (known as Dörfli) with cobblestone streets. Walking through its alleys will let you see the Cabaret Voltaire, where the Dadaist movement was born and the Grossmünster, two of the top attractions in the city and the country. But there’s plenty more to do, you’ll never get bored in Zurich!

Bern

Bern is the capital of the country. Its old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland, which features some of the best attractions in the city. 

Exploring the cobblestone streets of Bern will let you see its medieval history, stunning fountains, the Zytglogge clock tower and the Bern Minster (the tallest cathedral in the country).

But there’s plenty of people that consider Bern as one of the best places to go in Switzerland, including Albert Einstein, who developed his theory of relativity while living in this city. 

There are plenty of visit-worthy museums in Bern, some dedicated to Einstein and others to art (like the Zentrum Paul Klee center). During the summer, the city comes alive, with much of the action taking place along the Aare River. 

Appenzell

Appenzell is a small village, part of the unique places to visit in Switzerland. One of the things that makes Appenzell unique is that there are no cars allowed. Take advantage of the peace and quiet to enjoy the local hand-made cheeses in the surrounding nature.

Some of the top attractions in the city include the Stiftsbibliothek (Abbey Library), a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Museum Appenzell, and the Aescher guest house.

Lucerne

Lucerne is part of German-speaking Switzerland. Sitting on the shores of Lake Lucerne, this stunning medieval city is usually included in travel itineraries for Switzerland.

This entry of the best places to visit in Switzerland includes attractions like the Musegg Wall, the Glacier Garden and the Chapel Bridge, one of the most famous sites in the city and the country. It has the distinct honor of being the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe.  

Gruyères

The town of Gruyères, as its name hints, is one of the best places in Switzerland for food enthusiasts, particularly for cheese and chocolate lovers.

The first thing you need to do is to try the famous Gruyère cheese, enjoyed all over the world but originated in this Swiss city. Also, you will have plenty of opportunities to sample the most delicious milk chocolate by visiting factories or workshops, as well as, obviously, shops. 

But the city itself is one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland. You will feel like you’re in a fairytale, walking along cobblestone streets with not a car in sight, and taking in the sight of the 13-century castle Château de Gruyères surrounded by the greenest hills and small houses. 

Interlaken

Interlaken is one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland because of its unique location: it sits between two lakes (Lake Thun and Lake Brienz), which you can explore in boat cruises. 

But Interlaken is also a perfect vacation spot for adrenaline seekers and hikers. Some of the sports offered include skydiving, paragliding and skiing, which would let you take in the beautiful surroundings from a different point of view. 

Montreux

On the shores of Lake Geneva, right on the opposite of the city of Geneva, lies the lesser-known Montreux. 

Music fans may know that the English rock band Queen spent quite some time in Montreux. The band recorded six albums in this town and, nowadays, you can see the remaining memorabilia in the museum Queen: The Studio Experience. There’s also a statue in honor of Freddie Mercury in the waterfront promenade of Montreux (which you should definitely visit if you’re in the city). 

Another major cultural attraction is the Montreux Jazz Festival, held every July. 

Grindelwald Village

Grindelwald Village is one of the least-known places to see in Switzerland, but it definitely is one of the beautiful places in Switzerland that are well-worth the trip.

This small village came straight out of a fairytale. Around it all you’ll see is green hills and the tall Alps. Come winter, the green will turn to white when everything is covered in snow. 

Some of the most popular activities in the area include a visit to the summit of the Jungfraujoch and the Mt. First, exploring some of the many hiking trails available and simply taking in the great beauty of the surroundings.

Geneva

Geneva is one of the most famous places to visit in Switzerland because it’s the home of the United Nations in Europe, linked to Switzerland’s tradition of neutrality. 

As one of the cosmopolitan centers of Switzerland, it’s no surprise that it’s a perfect place to visit if you like luxury and shopping. It’s especially prominent in the high-end watch market. 

You can also get a taste of adventure in Geneva as it’s close to Mont Blanc, where people come from all over the world to ski. 

Zermatt

Zermatt is one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland that’s wonderful to visit all year long. Winter offers skiing and the rest of the seasons let you hike and bike to your heart’s content, all while taking in the marvelous sights of the Matterhorn (which gives Toblerone chocolate its distinct shape). As in most of Switzerland, you can also unwind by doing some luxury shopping in the many shops lining the car-free streets of Zermatt.

Lugano

Sitting beside a lake on the border between the two countries, Lugano is a perfect example of the beauty of Italian-speaking Switzerland. 

What makes Lugano one of the best places to visit in Switzerland? It’s precisely its location. It gives the city a mix of Swiss and Italian influences, which can be seen and tasted all over the city. To see its rich cultural offer, pay a visit to the art center LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura.

Another reason to visit Lugano is that it’s just a 45-minute drive away from Monte San Giorgio, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

St. Moritz

St. Moritz is one of the most luxurious places to visit in Switzerland, and it’s usually regarded as the place that launched winter tourism in the Alpine region. 

The best thing to do in St. Moritz is skiing (downhill and cross-country). It’s one of the most high-end ski centers in the world: the après-skis have dress codes! But its status as one of the top places to go skiing is backed by this distinct accolade: it hosted the Winter Olympics twice. Definitely one of the best places to visit in Switzerland for fans of winter sports.