Home to the world’s largest archive of modern Olympic artifacts, Lausanne’s Olympic Museum is a magnet for sports fans and history lovers. Visitors of all ages are catered to across the museum’s three floors, while the encircling Olympic Park is an ideal location for families or solo travelers to while away an afternoon.
The National Museum Zurich (Landesmuseum Zürich) is the go-to museum in Zurich for Swiss history and culture. The museum holds the country’s largest collection of artifacts from ancient Switzerland through the Middle Ages to the present day. One of Zurich’s most popular tourist destinations, the museum has collections so vast, you could easily spend a full day exploring them.
Film buffs won’t want to miss Chaplin’s World by Grévin, the first museum dedicated to the life of actor Charlie Chaplin. Set in Chaplin’s neoclassical mansion in Corsier-Sur-Vevey, the museum features many of the home’s original furnishings and personal mementos, while the adjacent studio recreates sets and shows vintage movie clips.
The town of Montreux, in eastern Switzerland, boasts a 10-foot-tall statue of Freddie Mercury that commemorates the singer’s years living here and his lasting musical influence. The memorial is a popular tourist attraction, and many Queen fans make a pilgrimage to the spot to leave flowers and other tributes.
It might not be a household name, but with a panorama spanning some of Europe's most iconic peaks—including Jungfrau, the Eiger, and even the distant Mont Blanc—the Schilthorn summit offers one of Switzerland's most spectacular mountain views. The 9,744-foot (2,970-meter) mountain lies in the Bernese Alps and is famous for its revolving mountaintop restaurant, Piz Gloria, which was featured in the 1969 James Bond movieOn Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Celebrating the history and legacy of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Association, this museum in central Geneva will be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn more about the humanitarian association’s impact on the world.
Montreux, on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva, has been a popular hangout among artistic types since the 19th century. The Old Town of Montreux (Vieille-Ville de Montreux) is an often overlooked part of the city, due to its location on a steep hill high above the town, but the views and relaxed atmosphere are worth the climb.
Best known as the KKL (Kultur und Kongresszentrum Luzern), this waterfront concert hall and cultural center is famous for avant-garde architecture and its status as a top music venue. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the site boasts contemporary features like a “floating” roof, which contrasts against Lucerne’s historic cityscape.
Geneva's English Garden (Jardin Anglais) is an English-styled flower garden at the foot of the Mont Blanc Bridge. The garden is perhaps best known as home to the city's celebrated Flower Clock, a top attraction honoring Genevan watchmaking. It's the perfect spot to enjoy unobstructed lake views after strolling along the Quai Gustave Ador.
Exploring the 16th-century Protestant Reformation in Europe that sparked religious reforms around the world, Geneva’s International Museum of the Reformation is a gem for anyone interested in this area of history. Books and artifacts abound, tracing the work of significant Reformation pioneers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, through to the modern day.
A series of suspended walkways and cave tunnels make this limestone gorge easily accessible for explorers after an intimate glimpse of the Alpine landscape. Formed by Ice Age glaciation, the mile-long Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht) ranges in width from three to 100 feet and flanks the Aare all the way from the Grimsel Pass to Lake Brienz.
There's no better place for a stroll than Geneva’s Bastions Park (Parc des Bastions). This verdant oasis down the street from Geneva’s Old Town boasts green lawns, tree-lined walkways, and benches perfect for sipping coffee. Visitors entering through the main gate, at Place Neuve, can enjoy a quick game of chess at the giant public sets.
Lake Walen (Walensee is a lake in eastern Switzerland, separating the cantons Glarus and St. Gallen. It is part of a region known as Heidiland, which is named after the famous story by Johanna Spyri. The mountains rise almost vertically on all sides of the lake, and nestled on little plateaus and along the shores are several traditional Swiss towns.
Along the banks of the Reuss River in Lucerne, Jesuit Church is the most magnificent Baroque church in Switzerland. The church is a major tourist attraction for its beautiful Rococo interior, marble stucco nave, and ceiling paintings. It often serves as a concert venue.
Soaring over the Bernina Pass and climbing to a dizzying 7,392 feet (2,253 meters) above sea level, the famous Bernina Express is one of Europe’s most beautiful railway routes. Running for 75 miles (122 kilometers) from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy, it’s the only railway that connects the North and South Alps, and offers dramatic mountain views.
Bern’s towering Gothic cathedral is a must-see for any visitor to the de-facto capital. Begun in 1421 and completed almost 500 years later, the structure’s ornate façade and detailed interior provide a glimpse of Switzerland’s cultural heritage. Its 330-foot (100-meter spire, the highest in Switzerland, affords panoramic views across the Aare peninsula.
Running along the east bank of the Limmat River, Limmatquai is a popular street for visitors, home to many restaurants, hotels, and shops. You will most likely find yourself somewhere on the street during your exploration of Old Town (Altstadt).
Covering a total area of over 45 square miles (72 square kilometers, the Great Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacial landscape in Europe. It’s located in the eastern Swiss Alps flanked by the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains.
German-born Albert Einstein was undoubtedly one of Switzerland’s most famous immigrants. In this Bern apartment, the Nobel Prize winner developed many of his groundbreaking ideas, including the Theory of Relativity. Today, the restored residence functions as a museum, providing insight into the life and work of the world’s most famous physicist.
The Mönch is the middle peak of a mighty trio of mountains in the Swiss Alps—the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau—set in the Bernese Oberland. With a 1,347-foot (4,107-meter) summit altitude that’s more for mountaineers than everyday folk, the Mönch can still be viewed in all its glory from the nearby Jungfraujoch saddle or the Schilthorn summit.
The Swiss mountain village of Maienfeld is best known as the setting of the classic children’s book Heidi—but the alpine beauty of Maienfeld would have attracted flocks of visitors even without the help of a bestseller. Mountain landscapes aside, the village, flanked by the Bündner Herrschaft vineyards, is a popular destination thanks to its robust and fruity red wines.
The pre-Alpine town of Gruyères is best known as the home of Switzerland’s most famous cheese. The town’s working show dairy, La Maison du Gruyère, educates visitors on the region’s traditional and modern cheese-making through an interactive exhibition and factory tours, which include ample opportunity to savor a taste of authentic Gruyère AOP.
The Ariana Museum (Musée Ariana) is a mansion filled with thousands of ceramic and glass objects from the 9th century to the current day. Pottery enthusiasts and stained glass fans will be in their element here, as will architecture buffs who are drawn to the museum’s Italian baroque style.
The Zurich Opera House (Opernhaus Zürich), one of the busiest classical music venues in the world, is a delight for both classical music lovers as well as architecture enthusiasts. Opened in 1891, the building was designed by Viennese architects and incorporates neoclassical and rococo styles.
What do Swiss cheese and Ridley Scott’s Alien franchise have in common? The pre-Alpine town of Gruyères is not only home to the famous hard cheese, but also the HR Giger Museum (Musée HR Giger. Opened by the late Swiss artist himself, the museum offers an immersive experience of his surreal, sci-fi-infused artwork and set designs.
Montreux’s picturesque promenade extends for over six miles (10 kilometers along Lake Geneva, from Chillon Castle all the way to Port du Basset. Flanked by exotic flowers, trendy cafes, and public artwork, it’s a great place to unwind away from the city buzz, with its well-placed lookouts offering unparalleled views of the Alpine landscape.
St. Peter’s Church (St. Peterskirche) is one of Zurich’s most distinctive landmarks. The building is a combination of the original 9th-century edifice, 13th-century additions, and 18th-century reconstructions. Its clock face is the largest in Europe, and its spire rises high above the surrounding buildings.
This luxury shopping mall, not far from the Swiss-Italian border, sells all sorts of designer names at cut prices. Drawing Swiss locals, Italian day trippers, and fashion-loving tourists, the center is home to more than 100 outlets, including Armani, Michael Kors, and Swarovski, and offers discounts of up to 70%.
Rousseau Island (Île Rousseau) is a tree-lined oasis nestled into a waterfront nook where the Rhône River meets Lake Geneva. Cross a pedestrian bridge to find the park adorned with benches, trees, and a statute of Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Pop into the café for a snack or sit and reflect on the picturesque city views.
Legend has it that in the 6th century, a dragon took shelter in these caves while the monk and hermit Beatus of Lungern was hunting him. The St. Beatus Caves (St. Beatus Hohlen), which sit next to the lakes of Interlaken, were formed over many centuries and are full of stunning stalagmites, stalactites, lakes, and waterfalls.
