Switzerland

Switzerland's climate is not all about snowy mountains there's no excessive heat, cold or humidity, and varies according to region. In the north, the climate is moderate, with cold winters and warm summers. Switzerland’s Alpine vistas are so picture perfect, they can appear plucked from the pages of a storybook. Small, mountainous and wealthy, Switzerland is renowned for its privileged quality of life, with public services ticking along like clockwork. Come for the pungent cheese, smooth chocolate and luxury watches; stay for the exquisite culture, incredible scenery and sheer sense of fun. Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honoured by the major European powers and Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The country is a famous tourist destination for its ski resorts and hiking trails. Banking and finance are key industries, and Swiss watches and chocolate are world renowned.

Zürich lies not only in the heart of Europe but also in the hearts of those who have made the city the top destination in Switzerland. Set on the northern shores of Lake Zürich with a magnificent view of the snow capped Alps on the horizon, Zürich’s multicultural flair and variety of leisure activities makes it popular with travelers from all over the world.

The city’s downtown offers a unique mixture of attractions – over 50 museums and more than 100 art galleries, shops selling international fashion labels as well as Zürich designs, and the most flamboyant and lively nightlife in the country. Recreational activities range from sailing on the lake in the very heart of the city, to a spectacular hike on the Uetliberg Mountain.

The city is easy to reach, by train, plane or car. Its international airport is only a 10-minute train ride from downtown and Zürich’s Main Railway Station is regarded as a central European railroad hub.

Fifa head quarter in Zurich

Culturally, this city on the westernmost fringe of Switzerland has much to offer. International artists perform in the Grand Théâtre and the Opera House, and there’s a diverse range of museums including the Musée international de l’horlogerie, a watch museum with a collection of jewellery watches and musical clocks.

Set between nearby Alpine peaks and the hilly terrain of the Jura, French-speaking Geneva lies in the bay where the Rhone leaves Lake Geneva. With its humanitarian tradition and cosmopolitan flair, Geneva is the European seat of the United Nations and headquarters of the Red Cross, adding to its reputation as the “Capital of Peace.”

Lion Monument is a sculpture of a slain and tearful lion built in memory of the Swiss mercenaries that perished during the French Revolution.  The Swiss Guards are said to be the best guards in the world.  They protected the French Monarchy before the French Revolution, and they have been protecting the Pope since 1506. When Louis the 16th was about to be invaded by the revolting French in 1789, the King told his guards to protect the Louvre where he was hiding, even though he had already fled.  

More than 700 Swiss Guards where slaughtered in the attack, without knowing that their royal employers had left the building. Switzerland as a country was devastated to see that the French King had left their men to die. The monument to the Swiss Guards of the French Revolution was carved out of natural rock in 1820. 

Chapel Bridge is the most famous and oldest surviving medieval wooden road-covered bridge in Europe.  Once part of the city’s fortifications and named after the Peter’s Chapel which is located at the end of the bridge. At the end of the bridge is the Wazzerturm (water tower).  It also served as a prison, a torture chamber and once held the city archives.  Today the tower is used as the guild hall of the Artillery Association.

 It was originally built in 1333, but most of it has been replaced after a fire in 1993.  As you walk over the bridge you will notice the difference between the re-built section of the bridge and the original.  It is the most photographed object in Switzerland after the Matterhorn. 

Lucerne chapel bridge Wazzerturm (water tower)

Jesuit Church is a great example of a baroque style of church.  You will see a lot of these throughout Europe, and the style is usually depicted by a lot of cherubs and flower carvings in the foundations.  The church was built in 1667 and is dedicated to Frances Xavier, a famous Jesuit in the 16th C.  St Frances Xavier was a pioneering co-founder of the Jesuits.  

The church considers him to have converted more people to Christianity that anyone else since St Paul.  The Jesuits (the Society of Jesus) is a Roman Catholic religions order founded in 1534 by a group of University of Paris graduates.  The main features of the church are the frescoes and the huge pink marble altar piece.

Interlaken is considered the adventure capital of Switzerland and its more than 45 mountain railways, cable cars, chair lifts and ski lifts lead the adventurous to 150 miles of slopes and a dense network of hiking trails. Every day in the winter season, visitors benefit from the city’s central location by being able to choose from several different area ski regions. 

Between the captivating contrasts of Interlaken, a treasure trove of holiday delights is just waiting to be discovered. We are presenting you just a few of the many activities that are possible in Interlaken and its surroundings. You will be fascinated by the beauty of the Interlaken region of Switzerland.

Staubbach Waterfalls-

Staubbach Falls is the most famous waterfalls in Switzerland and the second highest waterfall with a height of nearly 300 meters. The sight is a phenomenal attraction during the summer time. When the ice melts and moves towards the cliff the wind will swirl and spray the water to create stunning waterfalls.

The sight is a phenomenal attraction during the summer time. When the ice melts and moves towards the cliff the wind will swirl and spray the water to create stunning waterfalls. Each time the wind creates a different view of the waters moving in all directions. The name Staubbach means dust fall.

Trummelbach Waterfalls

Trümmelbach is one of the great attractions you can visit at Interlaken and spend time with your family and friends enjoying the nature beauty. Watch the great forces of nature and feel the incredible water speed. Trümmelbach Waterfalls is the world’s only glacier waterfalls and a UNESCO world natural heritage. Trümmelbach waterfalls contain more than 10 glacier waterfalls which comes from the surrounding mountains such as, Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau Mountains. This magical falls are located near the Lauterbrunnen Valley. 

Trummelbach Waterfalls

Blausee Lake-

Blausee is also known as the blue lake, is one of the most romantic lake in Switzerland and a great sightseeing located in the Kander valley. Blausee is easily visited on a day trip from Interlaken.

The legend says that this is a place where a beautiful broken hearted maiden with blue eyes died, and since then the water of the lake turned to that colour, in remembrance of the eternal love of that beautiful woman..

Blausee Natural Park is a place where you can spend the day surrounded by the nature. There is a playground inside, and several paths and a fish farm of trouts, as well. The price of the ticket includes the access for all of these places and a boat ride in the lake. There are also some picnic and barbecue areas.

Brienz Lake

Lake Brienz (Brienzersee in Swiss) displays beautiful turquoise and emerald hues, colors often associated with shallow Caribbean waters. However, Lake Brienz is not shallow, plunging to depths of around 800 feet. Its beautiful colors result from glacial particles known as "rock flour" that reflect the blue-green sector of the light spectrum.

Another destination for a boat trip on Lake Brienz is the Giessbach Falls. The roaring waterfall thunders in a number of different stages down 500 metres into the lake. Immediately beside it is the historic Grand Hotel Giessbach, which looks like a fairytale castle.

Chateau de Chillon, Montreux

 Undoubtedly the prettiest Swiss castle, Chillon Castle sits on a rocky islet along the shores of Lake Geneva, near the border of Switzerland and France.

Chateau de Chillon is a romantic castle in Lake Geneva near Montreux. Chillon Castle is the most-visited historic monument in Switzerland and a great family-friendly destination. It is a fine day-trip excursion from Geneva, Lausanne, and ski resorts in the nearby Alps.

The little rocky island is pretty much surrounded by water - evidently, the lake forms a natural moat. As a result, access to the castle is via a modern bridge, which crosses the shallows of the lake. This modern bridge is the remains of the old drawbridge, and some of its workings can be seen to today. The main attraction of visiting Chateau de Chillon is the castle building itself and the location. Most rooms are fairly bare with few art works or furniture.

Because of the castle's spot on the banks of the sublime Lake Geneva, and due to its faded glory, it became an attractive choice for this new generation of thinkers, concerned with the power of nature, the significance of the past, and the follies of industrialisation.

Zermatt lies at the foot of the Matterhorn. The town's touristic development is closely linked to what is most probably the world's most famous mountain. With an enormous hiking and ski region makes it one of the world's most attractive vacation villages.

Zermatt is home to world-class health spas, challenging hiking trails and the quintessential Alpine village with its quaint Swiss architecture, cobble-stone streets and horse-drawn sleighs truly a sublime setting that enchants and delights all who visit. Gornergrat Bahn is the highest open-air railway in all of Europe and once at top, promises jaw-dropping views of the surrounding Swiss Alps.

The Klein Matterhorn cable car, the highest in all of Europe, soars to more than 12,500 feet for spectacular mountain views. Or, climb aboard the Cervinia cable car and dolce la vita in Italy. But the piece-de-resistance is the Gornergrat Bahn the highest open-air railway in all of Europe departs every 24 minutes and as it climbs the Gornergrat crossing bridges, plunging into mountain tunnels, crusing through idyllic Alpine meadows, and soaring above cavernous gorges and valleys unforgettable moments along every railroad tie of the journey.

A most spectacular view of Switzerland from the panorama car aboard the Bernina Express.

The spectacular Jungfrau Region is named after a grand triple-peaked ridge – the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau – which crests 4000m. Imposing mountains, a plethora of leisure activities and a wide range of hotel offerings make the Jungfrau Region a highly desirable vacation destination.

The mountains around Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren and Lauterbrunnen continue to hold a great fascination and, in the meantime, offer something to suit everyone from adventure sports enthusiasts to expert looking for relaxation. A trip from Wengen or Grindelwald to the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest train station at 3,453 metres above sea level, transports visitors into the magical world of eternal snow and ice. 

Living in the Swiss Alps will change your life and sometimes, all you have to do is to close your eyes and listen carefully to the calling of Mother Nature. You see, Mother Nature is the most talented designer of them all and the Swiss Alps are one of her most beautiful masterpieces.

Explore the 72 Waterfalls of the Valley of Lauterbrunnen-

Starting from Interlaken, your number one stop in the Jungfrau region is Lauterbrunnen (30 minutes by train), known as the valley of the waterfalls. In fact, you can find 72 waterfalls in the 3-hour hike that goes from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg.

72 Waterfalls of the Valley of Lauterbrunnen

Eiger Trail from Kleine Scheidegg-

TThe hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is a fairly easy short route with only slight ascents and descents. From Kleine Scheidegg, there is a beautiful view of the Jungfrau massif. The trail leads through grasslands where many alpine flowers can be seen in Summer. This route is perfectly suitable for families with small children and for people who want to walk in the high mountains without too much effort. The trail can be rather crowded on beautiful days, as it is very popular among tourists.

Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe

Located at an altitude of 3,454 meters (11,332 ft), the Jungraujoch is a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you can walk in the snow all year round and enjoy an up-close view of the most famous peaks of the region.

Cable car to Grindelwald-

From Grindelwald you can take the cable-car up to the place known as the First  from where you can zip-line and take beautiful hikes with the Wetterhorn mountain in the background.

Cable car to Grindelwald

Swiss National Park was one of the first national parks in Europe, and to this day remains Switzerland’s only national park. Understandably, the major activities within the park are hiking and observing wildlife. Thanks to the strict conservation rules in place, visitors are prohibited from veering off the marked footpaths, allowing a plethora of wildlife to be seen in an unspoiled environment.

Abide by Park Rules-For conservation purposes, a number of park rules have been established, with significant fines in place for those found to be breaking them.

The easiest way to get to the SNP is by railway, then take a coach of the postal service into the park. It takes about 2.5 hours from Zürich to Zernez (one way). You can travel by car but can take same amount of time if no traffic ahead. 

St. Moritz first became famous thanks to its mineral springs, which were discovered 3,000 years ago and established the town as a summer spa resort early on.St. Moritz is more than just a holiday resort. It was also the birthplace of Alpine winter holidays (in 1864) and has twice hosted the Winter Olympics. 

This leaning tower seems to be the symbol of Saint Moritz.

It dates back in 12 century and it was a part of the Saint Mauritius church that was demolished in 1890. It is 33 meters high and its inclination is 5.5 degrees.

The 150 m wide and 23 m high waterfall is located near the village of Neuhausen in Northern Switzerland. The nearby city of Schaffhausen is commonly associated with the falls too. Even though the Rhine Fall is a form of mass tourism, the natural beauty is overwhelming and for sure worth your time. May/June is the best time to visit because the amount of water peaks then.

Come on the national holiday, August 1, for the famous fireworks display. In summer, the best views are from daredevil boats which scurry about in the spray from Schloss Laufen or Schlössli Wörth, across the river, from where a restaurant gives a great view of the falls.

The Rhine Falls