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Switzerland Travel Guide

Alpine peaks, precision trains, and chocolate that tastes like money

58 live tours · 8 places · 7 cities

Popular:BernBernese OberlandBaselSchaffhausenValaisZurich
OverviewCities7Attractions8Tours58Articles

Switzerland punches above its weight. It's compact enough to cross in a day, yet packed with dramatic geology—limestone cliffs, glacier-fed lakes, and mountains that dominate every horizon. The trains run on time. The cheese is real. The prices are not negotiable.

You're either here for the outdoors (hiking, skiing, mountaineering) or the cities (Zurich, Bern, Basel). Most travellers do both. The landscape changes radically within an hour: dense forest to bare rock to pastoral villages with cows wearing actual bells.

Plan to move around. Switzerland rewards base-hopping. The rail pass is expensive but genuinely useful—the network is obsessive, and some journeys (Bernese Oberland, Rhine Valley) are scenic enough to count as attractions in themselves.

Highlights

  1. Bernese Oberland — Triple-peaked mountains, steep valleys, and the Jungfraujoch—Europe's highest rail station at 3,454 metres.
  2. Valais — Matterhorn dominates, but the region delivers serious hiking, wine, and mountain villages that feel genuinely inhabited.
  3. Graubünden — Remote, forested valleys with Swiss National Park. Less crowded than the west, slower-paced, and equally dramatic.
  4. Zurich — Finance hub with edge. Lakeside walks, independent galleries, zoo, and the best coffee-to-attitude ratio in the country.
  5. Bern Old Town — Medieval arcades and riverside views. The capital feels lived-in, not polished for tourists. Worth a full day.
  6. Rhine Falls — Europe's largest waterfall near Schaffhausen—loud, wet, and impressive without pretence.

Featured tours

View all 58 →

All cities in Switzerland

7 cities with traveller activity — sorted by place count.

Bern
2 places
Bernese Oberland
1 places
Basel
1 places
Schaffhausen
1 places
Valais
1 places
Zurich
1 places
Graubünden
1 places

Top attractions in Switzerland

8 indexed places — showing top 10 by reviews.

Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch
Bernese Oberland · nature
★ 0.0 (0)
Rhine Falls
Rhine Falls
Schaffhausen · nature
★ 0.0 (0)
Zoo Basel
Zoo Basel
Basel · attractions
★ 0.0 (0)
Dählhölzli
Dählhölzli
Bern · attractions
★ 0.0 (0)
Matterhorn
Matterhorn
Valais · nature
★ 0.0 (0)
Swiss National Park
Swiss National Park
Graubünden · nature
★ 0.0 (0)
🦁
Zoo Zürich
Zurich · attractions
★ 0.0 (0)
Bern Old Town Viewpoint
Bern Old Town Viewpoint
Bern · attractions
★ 0.0 (0)

Tours in Switzerland

Open full catalogue (58) →
Best of Bernese Oberlands from Luzern
★ 5.0 (127)
Best of Bernese Oberlands from Luzern
9 hoursfrom AUD $1341
Luzern / Lucerne Professional Paragliding Tandem Flights
★ 5.0 (86)
Luzern / Lucerne Professional Paragliding Tandem Flights
2h 30mfrom AUD $363
Vine Stories: Lavaux & Lutry wine walk
★ 5.0 (77)
Vine Stories: Lavaux & Lutry wine walk
3h 30mfrom AUD $423
Lake Luzern pick and mix Tour - Burgenstock, Rigi Seebodenalp and Luzern
★ 5.0 (65)
Lake Luzern pick and mix Tour - Burgenstock, Rigi Seebodenalp and Luzern
8 hours – 9 hoursfrom AUD $1392
3 Hour Unique Wine Tour - Half Day in Swiss Alps
★ 5.0 (62)
3 Hour Unique Wine Tour - Half Day in Swiss Alps
3 hoursfrom AUD $663
DAVOS: Paragliding Tandem Flight In Swiss Alps (Video & Photos Included)
★ 5.0 (58)
DAVOS: Paragliding Tandem Flight In Swiss Alps (Video & Photos Included)
2 hoursfrom AUD $345
Lucerne: City Highlights Walking Tour with Professional Photos
★ 5.0 (52)
Lucerne: City Highlights Walking Tour with Professional Photos
1h 45mfrom AUD $70
Lucerne Small-Group Walking Tour: History, Culture & Hidden Gems
★ 5.0 (49)
Lucerne Small-Group Walking Tour: History, Culture & Hidden Gems
2h 15mfrom AUD $109
The Grand Switzerland Private Tour (5 days)
★ 5.0 (47)
The Grand Switzerland Private Tour (5 days)
5 daysfrom AUD $10850

Articles about Switzerland

No articles published about Switzerland yet.

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Germany →France →Italy →Austria →Liechtenstein →

Everything you need to know

When should I go?+
Jun–Sep for hiking and mountain access. Dec–Mar for skiing. May and Oct are shoulder months—fewer crowds, variable weather, some high passes still closed. Avoid July–Aug if you dislike crowds and premium prices.
Do I need a visa?+
UK citizens get 90 days visa-free. EU nationals need a passport valid for 3 months beyond departure. US, Canada, Australia, NZ also get 90 days. Check current rules—Switzerland isn't in the EU but closely aligned.
How much will it cost?+
Budget traveller: 90–120 CHF/day (hostels, self-catering). Mid-range: 200–300 CHF/day (mid hotels, eating out once daily). Comfortable: 400+ CHF/day. Switzerland is expensive. Accept it early.
Is it safe?+
Yes. Crime is low, trains are reliable, hiking is well-marked. Main risks: altitude sickness in mountains, weather changes fast above 2,000m, and getting priced out of a café.
What should I pack?+
Waterproof layer and warm mid-layer even in summer—mountain weather shifts fast. Good walking shoes are non-negotiable. Sunscreen and hat if hiking high. The Swiss assume you're prepared; gear shops are expensive.