Located in Central Europe, mainland Switzerland is well known worldwide as one of the largest producers of good chocolates and beautiful watches. With its temperate climate and wonderful views such as the Swiss Alps, hills, and lakes, it is the perfect place for your dream destination for a vacation!
Although often considered an expensive travel destination many tourists still go to Switzerland, and it’s no surprise why. It is one of the safest countries in Europe and is beautiful at any time of the year, not to mention that the Swiss people have admirable values in terms of time. If you are considering Switzerland for your next vacation, here are one of the best
Things to do in Switzerland
1. Explore Beautiful Swiss Cities
Switzerland is home to wonderful and beautiful cities. Swiss cities such as Geneva, Basel, Zurich, Bern Lucerne are definitely on the list during your visit to Switzerland. These Swiss cities differ from the usual European cities. These cities not only known for their usual boutiques and large shopping malls but also are famous for rivers, bridges, gardens, parks, and historic centers. You will also find one of the best museums in the cities that are both entertaining and educational. There are more than 30 museums in the global city of Geneva alone. The city has plenty of green space with a playground. The historic centers of the city offer a unique experience. They’re like a passage of time, like going back in history.
2. Do Shopping at Flea Markets
Switzerland is a shopper’s paradise, but if you have the budget, there are plenty of flea markets that sell almost everything from fresh food to vintages. The Plainpalais flea market is one of the largest and oldest flea markets in Switzerland. The market has been around since 1970.
The famous Swiss city, Geneva, has many flea markets and product markets. You will find flea markets in almost all popular Swiss cities. Markets usually take place weekly or fortnightly on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Here is a list of the best Swiss markets:
- Plainpalais Flea Market, Geneva
- Carouge market, Geneva
- Puces de Nyon, Nyon
- Lausanne market, Lausanne
- Marchés folkloriques de Vevey, Vevey
- Flohmarkt Petersplatz, Basel
- Rosenhofmarkt, Zurich
- Helvetiaplatz-Markt, Zurich
3. Feel Comfort in Swiss Skiing Resorts
One of the popular attractions for travelers to Switzerland is the ski areas. Some Swiss resorts snow all year round and the infrastructure is just fantastic, making it a favorite destination for skiers. Also in Switzerland, the ski resorts are easily accessible due to the good train and cable car network.
Mountain resorts also have snow parks that offer a variety of fun snow activities for children and adults alike. Most of the mountain resorts in Switzerland are authentic villages such as Zermatt, Wengen, Gstaad or Engelberg. In addition to the ski adventure, you can also learn about some basic Swiss culture and architecture.
4. Take Adventures Mountain Rides
One of the best ways to enjoy the scenic sights of Switzerland is to travel by cable car or gondola. The town or village below is sure to be startled by the bird’s eye view and the towering mountains around it. Then there are cog trains that provide a completely unique experience. The cog train to Rigi Kulm is one of the oldest mountain railways running through the green meadows.
Brienzer Rothorn, one of the best things to do while visiting Lake Brienz is another unique experience. The cogwheel steam train takes visitors to the 2350 m Brienzer Rothorn peak, which offers breathtaking scenery to the Bernese Oberland.
5. Go For Amazing Train Rides
How about a train ride to Europe’s highest train station, Jungfraujoch, at 11,000 feet above sea level? Sounds thrilling right? If you’re visiting Switzerland in the winter and the chilling snow prevents you from experiencing the Swiss landscapes, a train ride is one of the best options. If you are a person who loves trains or enjoys the view from the comfort of your seat, Switzerland offers plenty of opportunities. There are a few scenic views in Switzerland, and almost all trains meander, offering the best views of the fairytale land.
The Swiss Golden Pass train route is one such scenic road that runs from Montreux to Lucerne. The train slips past quaint villages, lakes, lush meadows, chocolate-colored wooden houses, and the Lavaux vineyards. Panoramic trains and classic trains are the two types of trains on the Golden Pass route. The large windows of the Panoramic trains offer panoramic views, and the Classic Trains have vintage interiors for a varied experience.
6. Don’t Forget to Take Boat Rides to the Beautiful Swiss Lakes
Switzerland has beautiful lakes with breathtaking views of the mountains and charming villages surrounding the coast. The biggest lake in Europe is Lake Geneva. There are plenty of things to do in and around Lake Geneva. Then there is Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, which nestle in the beautiful city of Interlaken. The lakeshores are dotted with strange Swiss villages. One of the best ways to explore the lakes, the surrounding scenic views and the lakeside attractions is a lake cruise.
7. Take a Tour of the Old Towns or Historic Centers
For a peaceful stroll, you must explore the Old Swiss Towns that have an amazing history and are mostly car-free. With 2,000 years of history, Geneva’s old town is completely different from the world. Medieval buildings, houses, cafés, restaurants, the 12th-century Gothic St. Pierre Cathedral, and many museums can be found. The old towns are surrounded by charming neighborhoods in the city, with tall buildings and shopping malls.
The old towns have a wonderful history and are mostly car-free, offering a peaceful walk. The stunning medieval fountains in Bern’s Old Town, the Lucerne murals, the magnificent churches in Zurich, the picturesque wooden houses in Interlaken along the Aare River are among our favorite old towns in Switzerland.
8. Lose Yourself in the Alleys of the Swiss Villages
The small and charming Swiss villages let you experience the real Switzerland. To drift you into a time warp these villages, a peaceful haven is sure. Explore the winding alleys of these villages and appreciate the picturesque setting. The houses here look like a chocolate chalet each adorned with colorful flowers and cowbells.
Beautiful villages on the shores of Lake Brienz are Iseltwald, Bonigen, and Brienz which offer great views. The village of Brienz is a traditional wood carving village where you are sure to find wonderful works of art. Appenzell is known for its colorful houses with painted facades, and Lauterbrunnen looks as if it was taken from a fairy tale. Here are some of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland that should be on the list.
- Iseltwald and Giessbach Falls
- Grindelwald
- Traditional Village of Appenzell
- Lauterbrunnen
- The Medieval Village Gruyeres
9. For Cheese and Chocolates
One of the popular attractions for Swiss tourists is cheese and chocolate after the breathtaking sight. Switzerland treats its visitors with delicious chocolates. And when it comes to cheese, Gruyeres is everyone’s favorite. You can also visit the Gruyeres cheese factory and see how the cheese is processed. You will also get Gruyeres cheese for tasting.
Similarly, you can take a chocolate factory tour, explore the chocolate making unit, enjoy an unlimited chocolate tasting, attend a chocolate-making workshop, and take home some delicious souvenirs.
10. Take-Home Unique Souvenirs Like Cowbells, Chocolates, Watches, etc.
We believe that memories are one of the best souvenirs you can take home. But Swiss souvenirs are among the most irresistible. Cowbells, chocolates, cheeses, or Swiss watches are made from the best Swiss souvenirs. The delicious chocolates are in beautiful collection boxes that you can keep as a keepsake. Shopping malls and supermarkets usually have offers and discounts for chocolates.
Shopping malls and tourist shops have cow beads of various designs, colors, and sizes. The best place to buy a variety of cheeses is the product market, which is a weekly market in every Swiss city. And there is no shortage of watch shops in the city center. The design, quality, and royal look of Swiss watches set them apart from other brands.