The Best Things To Do in Switzerland
If you’re searching for the best things to do in Switzerland, you’ve come to exactly the right place. This guide covers everything from breathtaking alpine adventures to charming city breaks, so whether you’re just starting the planning stages for Switzerland or it’s always been on your bucket list, you’ll find plenty of inspiration and guidance here.
Switzerland sits at the centre of Western Europe, a landlocked, relatively small country bordered by France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. With snowy Alps, stunning lakes, and medieval towns, you’ll be able to find something you enjoy. Known for luxury watches, Swiss chocolate, and some of the best skiing in the world, Switzerland’s reputation is well and truly earned. It suits adventurers, foodies, culture lovers, and slow travellers, with something for everyone. This is what makes Switzerland such a perfect country to visit.
From Swiss via ferratas and chocolate tasting on a Swiss Alps road trip, to city breaks in Geneva and Lucerne, a weekend in Zurich, and even a night in an igloo, what a selection! Some of the best things to do in Europe are right here, and I’ll be sharing my personal highlights alongside the places still firmly on my bucket list. Gosh, Switzerland is just incredible.
Get your bucket list at the ready; by the end of this post, you’re going to know the best things to do in Switzerland, the best places to eat in Switzerland and the best adventures to go on in Switzerland.
Getting to Switzerland:
Zurich, Geneva, and Basel all have major international airports, and Switzerland’s train network makes arriving by rail from neighbouring countries quite an experience. So I guess read through these best things to do in Switzerland, create your bucket list and then see what airport is closest and what is the cheapest / best way from your home country,
Also, some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen on trains is in Switzerland so definitely worth considering. It’s also a natural stop to take on any road trip through Europe.
Where to stay in Switzerland:
Zurich and Geneva suit city lovers, Interlaken and Zermatt deliver beautiful mountain scenery, and Lucerne offers that classic Swiss town experience. So it depends on the vibe you’re after.
There’s something for every budget (even if Switzerland is notorious for being a bit on the expensive side), from mountain hostels to lakeside luxury. Switzerland has it all. Have a little look below when you’re ready!
Best time to visit Switzerland:
Switzerland works year-round, but the best time to visit depends on the specific type of adventure you’re after. If you’re looking for a cosy winter skiing trip, consider Nov – March. If it’s beautiful, picturesque summer lakes for hiking you’re after, June – Sept. The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn offer quieter travel with often lower prices, so definitely a sweet spot for visiting Switzerland.
The best things to do in Switzerland
Here we go, the best places to visit in Switzerland for your next adventure…
Road trip through the Swiss Alps
This is hands down, without a doubt, the best road trip I have ever been on.
Driving through the Swiss Alps and exploring Montreux, Evolene, Saint-Luc and Veyonnaz with my best friend Lydia was so much fun – so much so that I can’t wait to go back in my van! A Swiss Alps road trip, in my opinion, should be near the top of the best things to do in Switzerland… if you like mountains of course.
- Check out my planning guide for a Swiss Alps road trip
- see my Swiss Alps road trip itinerary
- see my top tips on how to save money in Switzerland
Explore a city break in Geneva
Geneva is the largest city in the French part of Switzerland, and while it might not be one of the best places to visit in Switzerland, you should definitely visit at least once. It’s a melting pot of international culture and full of luxury hotels and boutiques, making it a great European weekend away.
Popular destinations like Chamonix, Lausanne and Montreux are all a short day-trip away, so you’ll never be short of places to see or things to do in Switzerland. It’s the perfect city break for anyone who loves science, as there is CERN, and for anyone who loves swimming in lakes, make sure that you don’t miss out on a dip in Lac Léman (Lake Geneva).
Just across Lake Geneva, you’ll find Château d’Oex, the hot air ballooning capital of the world. From here, you can set off on a hot air balloon ride across the Alps, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your Switzerland bucket list!
Spend a summer weekend in Zurich
One of the best things to do in Switzerland in summer is to visit Zurich. Zurich (the largest of the Swiss cities) sits on Lake Zurich, the main selling point of this destination for me. I enjoyed a diverse weekend of lake jumping, mountain hiking, catherdral ascending and city mooching, all without venturing far from the city centre at all.
Lake Zurich is filled with the most gorgeous shade of turquoise fresh water which is clear enough to see through, swim through and runs through the whole city. Yup, you’ll witness people jumping in to cool off left, right and centre and we did exactly the same.
Get close to nature at the Swiss National Park and go hiking in Switzerland
The Swiss National Park is the Alps’ oldest national park. It was founded in 1914 is located in the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. It’s the ultimate place to be at one with nature and one of the best places to visit in Switzerland. With over 80 kilometres of hiking trails, it’s one of the best places to go hiking in Switzerland. In this park, you may also be lucky enough to see ibexes, chamois, marmots, golden eagles and bearded vultures.
Conservation of the park has been highly successful, partly because it is forbidden to leave the trails, a rule that you must remember.
Hiking in the Swiss Alps is one of the best things to do in Switzerland and a completely unforgettable experience. Switzerland is packed with beautiful trails, stunning mountain peaks and quieter valleys to explore, especially in Grindelwald. It is easy to navigate because there are clearly signposted pathways, lifts and buses, as well as must-have apps such as ‘SwitzerlandMobility’ that help you navigate your hiking route.
If you’re looking for a must-do in Switzerland, hike the Eiger Trail. This 6km UNESCO World Heritage-listed hiking trail is nestled at the base of the incredible Swiss Alps and boasts stunning WOW views of the Grindelwald valley and the Jungfraujoch mountain, known as “the Top of Europe”. If you want a challenging hike in Switzerland, try the Hardergrat Trail in Interlaken. One for your Switzerland bucket list!
Go skiing with a top-tier view of the Matterhorn
One of the top things to do in Switzerland is to hit the slopes in the Alpine region, and one of the best places to go skiing in Switzerland is in the shadow of the Matterhorn, the infamous rock within the Alps. From the fresh powdery snow to the fun apres-ski parties, as well as the absolutely stunning views, you’re guaranteed to make some memories to last a lifetime. There are also places near the Matterhorn for you to stay in an igloo in Switzerland, if you’re looking for a completely unique and fun thing to do in Switzerland!
If you don’t want to be in the snow, you can see the iconic Matterhorn in different ways. Head to the summit of the Rothorn, a short 30-minute cable car journey away from Zermatt, and you’ll get the most beautiful panorama of the Swiss Alps.
Indulge in the local Swiss cheese, wine and chocolate
One of the best things to do in Switzerland (if not THE best) is to try Swiss chocolate and cheese, a foodies heaven. Switzerland is known globally for its amazing chocolate, with famous brands such as Lindt and Toblerone originating in Switzerland! Head into a local chocolatier and try some of the world’s best chocolate… I promise you’ll never look at chocolate the same way again!
Gruyères is famous for its cheese, and one of the best things to do in Switzerland is to visit this medieval town and try it for yourself. La Maison du Gruyère offer tours about the cheese-making process, and you can even try some when you’re there!
Visit Rhine Falls, the biggest waterfall in Europe
The Rhine Falls, the biggest waterfall in Europe, should definitely be on your Switzerland bucket list. The falls are a perfect day trip destination from Zurich, which is only 47 km away. One of the best things to do in Switzerland is to experience the power of the water as it cascades down 23m across a width of 150m. There are viewing platforms so close to the Rhine Falls that you can touch the water, and there’s also a boat that takes you to a rock in the middle of the falls. Any history lovers can learn more about history and culture will enjoy the castles on either side of the falls.
Spend a weekend in Lucerne
Another great place to visit in Switzerland is Lucerne. The small city of Lucerne is centrally located in the Swiss-German-speaking region of Switzerland.
Roughly one-fifth the size of Zurich, Lucerne is a microcosm of the rest of the country with its namesake lake reflecting the towering peaks of Mount Pilatus and Mount Titlis. Make sure that when you are in Lucerne, you take a trip to these mountains!
One of the best things to do in Switzerland in summer is to take a dip in Lake Lucerne! The River Reuss flows through the outstandingly preserved and charming squares of the Old Town, a wonderful place to grab coffee and watch the world go by.
There is also the Golden Pass train line that runs between Lucerne and Montreux, a must-do on your Switzerland bucket list if you love trains and beautiful views of lakes, mountains, valleys and rivers!
Visit Jungfraujoch, the top of Europe
If you’re after scenic train rides in Switzerland and absolutely stunning views of the glaciers, one of the best things to do in Switzerland is taking the train to Jungfraujoch. At 3,454 metres, Jungfraujoch Top of Europe is the highest train station in Europe, overlooking the Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps. The views from the top of the mountains are jaw-droppingly beautiful. The Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn region is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and people from all over the world come to admire this stunning mountain scenery.
Take on a via ferrata
I absolutely love Via Ferrata adventures, and in Switzerland, you are never too far from one.
These ‘iron paths’ built into the rocks consist of ladders, bridges, and all sorts of challenges, and will guide your climb, making it a little more ‘straightforward’ than rock climbing, but believe me, they aren’t to be underestimated.
I did the Via Ferrata of the Belvédère in Nax, Valais. This is considered to be a beginner’s via ferrata so great if you’ve never done one before!
Check out my trip to Nax and my via ferrata experience here. You cannot beat those views!
What are your favourite things to do in Switzerland?
Where are your favourite places to visit in Switzerland? Anything you’d add to this Switzerland bucket list?
Love as always and happy adventuring,
