If you are planning a trip abroad to Switzerland, or any other country, it certainly pays to be prepared ahead of time.
It's always great to know the basics such as:
When is the best time to go
What are the best places to visit
How can you get around easily
What are the best foods to try
What languages are spoken (and do they speak English)
In this handy guide, I will help you with all the basics, as well as some insider tips to Switzerland that you might not find anywhere else.
Below is a menu / table of contents you can use if you want to jump to a specific section, or you can just read the whole thing. There is lots of information here, so remember to take notes .
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Best Cities To Visit In Switzerland
Lucerne (Luzern).
Lucerne is a favorite of all visitors to Switzerland and even amongst the Swiss themselves.
Nestled amongst some amazing mountains and siting on the shores of the famous Lake Lucerne (the Vierwalstattersee in German) how can you not love this city.
It also has a beautiful river running right through it's center with the historic and fully restored - Kapellebrucke.
Lucerne is also only an hour's train ride from Zurich and right on the way to alps (interlaken, bernese oberland), so most people stop here way
And it has an amazing historic center, is close to both Rigi and Pilatus mountains in case you feel like taking in a panoramic view as well.
Bern (The Capital of Switzerland).
Bern, founded in 1191, is perhaps not on every tourists list, but has some worthwhile sites to visit. It is in fact a UNESCO World Heritage site, which itself makes it worth a visit. But, if in doubt, just look at the picture opposite and you will see how stunning it is.
The old town sits between the curves of the Aare river (which the daring can swim in, with the locals, in summer). The streets are filled with fun local shops (medieval arcades) to visit, many of them in basements that you have to enter from steps at the front (kind of like a storm cellar).
Bern, as the capital, also has the House of Parliament to visit as well as the historic clock tower (Zytglogge) right in the center of the old town.
There are lots of other great places to visit such as Einstein house (yes, Switzerland is where lived, worked and studied), the Rose Garden (where that picture is probably taken from) and the quite unique and newly renovated Bear Park - with live bears outside in the middle of the city!
Zurich.
You probably know Zurich as the place where spies stash all their cash or meet bankers and exchange Swiss bank account numbers. But Zurich actually has a lot to offer the visitor not after a new bank account.
Water is everywhere in Switzerland and Zurich is no exception. It has the Limmat river running right through the center (which you can see in the picture) and Lake Zurich too. So, if you come in summer, bring your bathing gear because everyone is either at the lake or in the river, and BBQing!
Zurich also has some cool sights to see including:
Grossmünster - The famous church with the two towers, you can see in the picture opposite. You can climb to the top and get a great view.
Uetliberg - Zurich's home mountain and a great place to get away from the city or just take in an amazing view of Zurich, the lake and see the mountains in the distance.
If shopping is your thing, then Zurich has all the top brands right on the main street (Bahnhofstrasse, leading right from the train station).
Check out the old town on both sides of the Limmat river.
In fact, there is so much to do and see in Zurich, I recommend you check out the cool website from the city itself for far more information!
Zermatt.
Up there with Zermatt on the "must see" list of Swiss mountain towns is Zermatt. Home of the famous Matterhorn mountain and just a stunning village nestled amongst some of the biggest mountains in the country.
Not everyone will have the time to get down to Zermatt, but with the new NEAT tunnel you can now get here from Zurich in under 4 hours. So, even if it is just a wish, it is possible!
Zermatt is a hikers paradise, but even if you don't really want to break into a sweat you can take any one of the gondolas or mountain trains (like the Gornergrat) up high and just enjoy a short walk and the amazing views!
It is an all year round ski resort too with a few glaciers that allow you go at least ski on one run or two!
And if you are on the Glacier Express, one of Switzerland (and the world) must see train journeys, you will either start or end in Zermatt anyway!
Summary.
Switzerland is an amazing place to visit almost any time of year. From hiking, mountain biking, train tours and swimming, summer is one of the best seasons. However, don't forget the coziness of a warm fireplace in winter, a big pot of fondue and a chance to learn skiing, ice skating or just sled at a speed not responsible for a 40 year old!
The cities have a lot to offer, but don't forget to get off the beaten path and explore the alps, the villages, the local culture and food. There is so much to see and do here, I never get bored!