10 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland

For many, Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries not only in Europe, but in the whole world. It’s easy to see why, as this country combines rolling hills, picturesque villages, tranquil lakes, and steep mountains.

So, whether you’re a casual visitor or you’ve decided to spend 10 days discovering the country, here are 10 of the most beautiful places to visit in Switzerland.

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

 

Is Switzerland really that beautiful?

You might have this question after seeing so many beautiful pictures and postcards of the quiet, green valleys and majestic mountains. The truth is that Switzerland is even more beautiful than its photos, as it is extremely hard to capture a true image of the whole country with a simple camera.

Switzerland has plenty of incredible views. Their iconic mountains, the Swiss Alps, are one of the most spectacular mountain ranges on Earth. It might be cold, but seeing the jagged snow-capped peaks in person is quite the experience. But even if you stay in the quiet valleys, you’ll find villages that look like they’ve been lifted from a children’s book. Even the cities have a certain charm, a clean and stylish look, with plenty of interesting places and activities.

When is the best time to travel to Switzerland?

Finding a great time to visit Switzerland is relatively easy; the country is incredibly beautiful and inviting throughout the year. Ultimately, the choice will depend on the kind of traveler that you are.

Do you want warm days, clear skies, and seeing the meadows covered with wildflowers? Travel during the summer, perfect for long hikes, and enjoy plenty of festivals. Are you dreaming of the ideal vacation with endless slopes to ski and snowboard? Winter is the season for you, even if you don’t like winter sports. You can ride the Glacier Express or visit a thermal Spa in the Alps. Even during the autumn and spring, Switzerland is an incredible country with colorful landscapes and enjoyable activities.

Photo by Tom Bradley on Unsplash

 

Stay Connected While Exploring Switzerland’s Beauty For Free!

Switzerland is full of breathtaking towns, alpine lakes, and unforgettable adventures, but don’t let roaming fees ruin the view. With Yoho Mobile’s FREE Switzerland eSIM, you can stay online wherever you go. If you want to get your eSIM plan afterwards, use the code YOHO12 at checkout for a 12% discount!

 

The Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland

Lucerne

Let’s start our trip with one of Switzerland’s most iconic and photogenic cities, Lucerne. This city is a great example of the unique charm of the country, perfectly blending urban comforts and natural beauty.

The city boasts a charming view, featuring medieval towers and pastel-painted houses, all set against the shores of Lake Lucerne. In fact, one of the most popular activities is taking a boat cruise on the lake. Whether it’s a vintage paddle boat or a modern cruiser is up to you, and both will take you through charming villages. Another great idea is to pair this cruise with a trip up the Mountain Rigi or Mount Pilatus.

Bern

Funny enough, Lucerne is not actually Switzerland’s capital; that honor belongs to Bern, a city with timeless grace and an unhurried pace. Unlike other European capitals, Bern is an old city that hasn’t changed much over the centuries. And many describe its charm as poetic and almost sepia-toned.

If you want to enjoy the best panoramic views of the city’s rooftops and surrounding countryside, you have to visit Bern Cathedral and climb its tower. From there, you can see why the town is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its well-preserved old architecture, especially if you go during the golden hour.

Zurich

Keeping up with the most beautiful cities to visit in Switzerland, we arrive at Zurich, its largest one. As with many metropolises in the country, Zurich blends Alpine charm, Lakeside serenity, and cosmopolitan culture.

It’s a great city to visit with clean streets, efficient systems, and rich history. To explore it, you can take a ride on Lake Zurich, beautiful all day but especially during sunset, or you can walk the Old Town with its cobblestone alleys, medieval guild houses, and old churches like Grossmunster and Fraumunster.

Photo by Henrique Ferreira on Unsplash

 

Montreux

Like many Swiss cities, Montreux sits beside a lake, but the experience here is uniquely different. But, if you’re expecting the lake to be called Montreux Lake, you’re wrong; it’s Geneva Lake, actually, and you can walk the Lakeside Promenade, one of the most scenic in Europe.

One of the most interesting aspects of Montreux is its music scene. First of all, you have the Montreux Jazz Festival, which is celebrated in the city every July on a variety of outdoor and indoor stages, featuring free shows and incredible Jazz performers. Another music icon that people look for in the city is the Freddie Mercury Trail, as the singer lived there for many years. You can visit the Freddie Mercury statue, a fan pilgrimage spot, and leave some flowers.

Geneva

Geneva is the final city we’ll be visiting on this trip to the most beautiful places in Switzerland, but it’s not the last. Like many cities in Switzerland, Geneva is set right next to Lake Geneva and surrounded by stunning natural beauty.

Between the most interesting views there and one of the symbols of the city, you find the Jet d’Eau, one of the world’s tallest fountains, reaching a whopping 140m into the air. There are also plenty of parks and museums to explore, like the Parc de Bastiones, with giant chessboards, or the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire.

Photo by Dino Sabic on Unsplash

 

The Beautiful Swiss Countryside

Interlaken

Just as we promised, we will keep exploring the most beautiful places in Switzerland, but now we’ll focus on the incredible villages and towns in the countryside, starting with Interlaken. This town is best known as the adventure capital of Switzerland, and is a paradise for thrill-seekers.

Nowhere else in the world can you enjoy activities like paragliding, skydiving, and bungee jumping against such a beautiful and fascinating backdrop. Even if you go there just to sit down at a restaurant and enjoy some good Swiss chocolate and fondue, the Swiss outdoors are there, making everything more picturesque.

Grindelwald

Now, if you really want to see the best views of the Swiss Alps, you have to travel to Grindelwald, one of the most iconic villages in the mountains. It’s a great place if you want to access world-class hikes and ski areas, but it’s also great just to feel like you’re inside a Swiss postcard.

There, you can do the common adventurous things, like walking the First’s Cliff, a steel walkway clinging to the edge of a mountain. Definitely not a good idea if you’re afraid of heights. You can also hike to Bachalpsee, which is popularly known as one of the most scenic hikes in Switzerland, and it will take only two to three hours to complete.

Photo by Jheng-Da Chen on Unsplash

 

Swiss National Park

Moving a bit from villages and small towns, we arrive at the Swiss National Park, located in the Engadine Valley. This is actually Switzerland’s only national park, and one of the oldest in Europe, being established in 1914. It offers visitors a pristine environment to experience untouched mountain landscapes.

The best way to start your day in the Swiss National Park is with an interactive visit to the National Park Center, to learn more about the area and get great trail suggestions. There are plenty of hikes and trails to enjoy there, but among the most famous are hiking the Val Trupchun Trail, especially if you’re trying to see more of the area’s biodiversity. The valley in itself is often called Europe’s Serengeti because of how abundant deer, chamois, and ibex are.

Photo by Janis Wolf on Unsplash

 

Appenzell

Another great village that you can explore in Switzerland, and it’s one of the most beautiful in the country, is Appenzell. It’s renowned for its well-preserved traditions and customs, such as the use of bright colors in the houses and traditional events, such as the annual cattle descent.

You can explore the whole village on foot, especially the car-free center, admire the hand-painted facades, and try local delicacies like biberli, a spiced honey and almond pastry. If you are a cultural traveler, don’t forget to visit the Appenzell Museum to learn more about the local customs, costumes, and, especially, the cheese culture.

Photo by Robert Hrovat on Unsplash

 

Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is probably one of the most fascinating regions you can explore in Switzerland. It has a lot of natural wonders, like the 72 waterfalls that give it its name, and the Valley of Dreams, impossibly photogenic, and closed by massive rock walls and Alpine peaks.

The waterfalls in themselves are quite magical. They range from simple, yet beautiful waterfalls, to the spectacular Staubbach Falls, which has nearly 300m of height, and you can see clearly how the water plunges from the cliff right above the village. And actually, if you travel during the summer, you can hike behind it, an experience often described as misty and ethereal.

Foto de Leo_Visions en Unsplash

 

FAQs about the Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland

Is Austria more beautiful than Switzerland?

Austria and Switzerland are both stunning in their own way. Austria is famous for its rich culture and scenic beauty, while Switzerland is renowned for its natural landscapes and picturesque villages. Therefore, choosing one over the other is totally up to you.

How expensive is a trip to Switzerland?

Traveling to Switzerland is often considered expensive. However, there are ways to manage costs: using the Swiss Travel Pass, staying in budget-friendly hostels, and dining at local restaurants can help make the trip more affordable.

What are the most beautiful cities in Switzerland?

It is hard to define the most beautiful cities in Switzerland, as the country has many. Lucerne, Bern, Zurich, and Geneva are some of the most beautiful places. Interlaken, Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lausanne, and Montreux are also stunning towns in the Swiss countryside. Each has something special and beautiful to offer.