Zurich

Switzerland

Europe

Destinations

Switzerland is undoubtedly one of the most amazing places to visit on the planet. This exquisite country has a diverse terrain where you can saturate your senses in the astounding beauty of the Swiss Alps, soak up the quiet aura of quaint countryside villages and immerse yourself in the beauty of stunning azure lakes.

Switzerland is undoubtedly one of the most amazing places to visit on the planet. This exquisite country has a diverse terrain where you can saturate your senses in the astounding beauty of the Swiss Alps, soak up the quiet aura of quaint countryside villages and immerse yourself in the beauty of stunning azure lakes. From skiing and hiking to art and food, Switzerland is a portal to countless adventures, and it’s time to get started.
<h2>1. Interlaken</h2>
Interlaken sits between two lakes, the Thun and the Brienz. Known for watchmaking, Interlocken offers spectacular views of three mountains: Eiger, Jungfrau, and Mönch. This popular destination serves as a base for outdoor recreation in the surrounding Bernese Oberland Alps. If paragliding in the Alps is on your bucket list, nearby Beatenburg-Niederhorn is glider paradise. The St. Beatus Caves are staggering. Wander past waterfalls and giant stalagmites on foot via the historic Pilgrims Way. If you are visiting Interlaken in January, check out The International Trucker and Country Festival or the Jungfrau Music Festival.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1023857" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_611229743.jpg" alt="Old town of Oberried, Brienz, Interlaken and misty Alps mountains reflecting in lake, Switzerland " width="1000" height="618" />


<h2>2. Lausanne</h2>
French-speaking Lausanne is the second largest city on Lake Geneva, and it is also the gateway to some of the best skiing in Switzerland. The ideal spot to enjoy panoramic vistas of both the lake and the mountains is in front of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Old Town. If you tire of walking, take a helicopter for a birds-eye view of the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1023858" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_677562121-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Beautiful Lausanne" width="1024" height="683" />


<h2>3. Geneva</h2>
Cosmopolitan and French-speaking, Geneva sits comfortably in the bay where the Rhone River leaves Lake Geneva. One of Geneva’s most remarkable landmarks is the Jet d’Eau, a beautiful 500-foot fountain in the lake that is visible from much of the city. If you are short on touring time, get an overview of the area via a cruise on Lake Geneva, where magnificent castles and exceptional mountain panoramas are breathtaking.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1023859" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_319406843.jpg" alt="Panoramic view of Geneva skyline with famous Jet d'Eau fountain and traditional boat at harbor district in beautiful evening light at sunset" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>4. Zurich</h2>
One of the richest and cleanest cities in the world, Zurich is a cosmopolitan, boutique city. Zurich is a prominent, global financial center and boasts 50 museums, including the interactive FIFA World Football museum and 100 art galleries. You can shop for a luxury watch, fragrances, gifts and world-famous Swiss chocolates on Bahnhofstrasse. Celebrate the evening clubbing in stylish lounges or hip renovated warehouses. The best place to view this beautiful city and Lake Zurich is from Uetilberg, Zurich’s landmark mountain. Urban Zurich is not without its natural charms, so take a day trip for hiking in lush green meadows or boating on a mountain lake.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1023860" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_704449381.jpg" alt="Zurich, Switzerland. View of the historic city center with famous Fraumunster Church" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>5. Zermatt</h2>
Within the shadows of the world renowned and awe-inspiring Matterhorn, this small town is a prized destination for skiers and mountaineers. Summer and autumn are ideal times to hike, walk or cycle along the Zermatt Lake Trail. The cog rail is a restful way to see the Matterhorn and the Swiss summits as well as those of neighboring Alps in France and Italy. Zermatt hosts the Open Air Curling championship in January, a Folklore Festival and the Swiss Food Festival in August.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1023861" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_723381523.jpg" alt="Reflection of Matterhorn in lake Riffelsee, Zermatt, Switzerland" width="1000" height="663" />


<h2>6. Jungfrau Region</h2>
Four quaint towns offer a quiet retreat sheltered by three immense mountains in the Bernese Alps. The World Snow Festival in January showcases amazing snow sculptures, and in August the area hosts a week-long celebration of classic Mendelssohn music. Well-maintained foot and bike paths meander from rolling green meadows to mountain foothills. The most staggering scenic railway trip is via the Kleine Scheidegg mountain to the apex of Jungfraujoch.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1023862" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_237214858.jpg" alt="Summer landscape in the Jungfrau region" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>7. Zernez</h2>
This lovely village rests in an alpine region called Engadine. This enchanting spot is beautiful untouched countryside, and the gateway to the Swiss National Park, Switzerland’s largest nature preserve. In the village, take a dip in the family baths, swim in the pool or get a relaxing spa massage. The Ofen Pass area has several nature trails. There’s a bike marathon in July that passes over several of the national park’s mountain trails.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1023863" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_1042173781.jpg" alt="Hiking in swiss national park near zernez in switzerland " width="1000" height="750" />


<h2>8. Appenzell Village</h2>
Aside from the region’s fondness for yodeling and beer, this village is also one of the best cheese regions in the country. The countryside is characterized by barn-dappled rolling hills dotted with dairy cows. The Appenzell Museum is a great place to learn about the culture and history of the smallest Swiss canton. The area has a rambling network of scenic trails for hikers, birders and photography buffs.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1023864" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_1011435640.jpg" alt="Beautiful Appenzell village in Switzerland " width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>9. Lucerne</h2>
Lucerne is most famous for the covered 14th century Chapel Bridge and Water Tower. In Lucerne, there's a delightful mix of city life, lakes, and mountains, and it's known for the Victorinox brand of Swiss army knives, World-class classical music comes to the area at Easter and in the summer and the fall. The International Comics Festival is in April.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1023869" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_1365018731.jpg" alt="Scenic city center view of Lucerne with famous Chapel Bridge and lake Lucerne " width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>10. Bern</h2>
Bern, Switzerland’s capital, is a historic town with narrow streets, stone fountains, fashionable boutiques, and lively cabarets. With a history dating back to the 12th century, this medieval city is known for the Zytglogger, an ancient clock tower complemented with moving puppets. Bears are Bern's symbol, so don’t miss the famous family of bears that inhabit the open pit. Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has four miles of covered arcade shopping. For several days in July, Bern hosts the international music scene at the Gurten Festival.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1023870" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/shutterstock_1216412197.jpg" alt="Old Town of Bern, capital of Switzerland" width="1000" height="667" />

Spectacular Things to Do in Switzerland

Zurich, Switzerland brings together beautiful mountains, sparkling water and a deep sense of history going back centuries. The town was founded by the Romans a bit over 2,000 years ago. Recent excavations show evidence of settlement even before that over 6,400 years ago.

Zurich, Switzerland brings together beautiful mountains, sparkling water and a deep sense of history going back centuries. The town was founded by the Romans a bit over 2,000 years ago. Recent excavations show evidence of settlement even before that over 6,400 years ago. This rich history makes it an amazing town for history buffs, even for the Rathaus or city hall which only dates back to the late 1600s. As the largest city in Switzerland outdoor activities from hiking to boating are easy to find.
<h2>1. Banking City with Pre-Medieval History</h2>
Zurich's Old Town or Altstadt gives a sense of history that you can explore for hours while offering plenty of shopping and sightseeing right on the tram line. One of the oldest buildings, from 1260, is home to the restaurant Kaiser's Reblaube, worth a visit for traditional Swiss food. The restaurant was once the bedroom of writer, statesman and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

[caption id="attachment_1004923" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/09/459401895-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /> AleksandarGeorgiev / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>2. Churches of Old Town</h2>
The Grossmunster is a 12th-century church, Fraumunster dates from the 11th century and features stained glass windows by renowned artist Mark Chagall. St. Peter's church requires a short trip up a footpath, but both the 8th-century church itself and the beautiful view from the top are worth the excursion from Bahnhofstrasse or the Munsterplatz. Then there are the bells of St. Peter's which you don't have to visit to enjoy, but why not?

[caption id="attachment_1010035" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/1056783456-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="682" /> JaCZhou / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>3. Bahnhofstrasse Shopping</h2>
It's Switzerland's largest city and one of the world's biggest financial centers, so you know the shopping is going to be upscale and fantastic. Bahnhofstrasse decorates lavishly at Christmastime, and it's a great area to shop and relax at any time of year. For those who aren't fans of history, it provides plenty to do while others explore the old city.

[caption id="attachment_1010036" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/627760498-1024x684.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="684" /> gdefilip / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>4. Zurich Opera House</h2>
The city enjoys opera, ballet and theater performances at this theater first built in the early 19th century. It has been home to the Zurich Opera since 1891. It was here, in the original theater, that Richard Wagner composed during his exile from Germany. When rebuilding the aging building was proposed in the 1970s, it aroused the cultural passions of the locals who began months of street riots in May, 1980 in protest of the changes. By the way, after dining in Goethe's bedroom at Kaiser's Reblaube, why not have a nightcap at the Goethe Bar next to the opera house?

[caption id="attachment_1010037" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/867342054-1024x748.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="748" /> prill / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>5. Mountain Hiking with Panoramic Views Near Zurich</h2>
From the Zurich train station or Hauptbahnhof, it's about 90 minutes to the starting point for many exquisite hikes with memorable views. Consider the Rigi Panoramic Trail with cliffside paths, the Planet Trail from the Uetliberg to Felsenegg with a discussion of the solar system featured along the way and the Trail Pfannenstiel which leads to the town of Meilen on Lake Zurich where you can dine at an inn before returning.

[caption id="attachment_1010038" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/157524442-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /> ifish / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>6. Prime Tower View and Hardbrucke</h2>
A more modern panoramic view, by about a thousand years, than the local church towers is the Prime Tower which was built in the 21st century. For a while it was the tallest building in the country. It offers food and drink with a view of the lake, city, old town and the nearby 4,430-foot Hardbrucke bridge which crosses the city from north to south.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1010044" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/shutterstock_397729420.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>7. Viadukt Action Under the Arches</h2>
The 1894 railway viaduct has dining, club life, shopping, and a popular marketplace under its arches for visitors to explore. It's a very different feel from the old town, worth seeking out during the day for exploring. Pick a restaurant or club that looks good and then return at night for a bit of Zurich's energetic nightlife such as the El Social which features Argentine Tango.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/531074461-1024x680.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="680" />Rafael_Wiedenmeier / Getty Images
<h2>8. Zurich's Chinese Garden</h2>
Take a break from city life and relax or stroll around the Chinese Garden. It was a gift from the city's partner town of Kunming, and is located right by Lake Zurich at the Zurichhorn river delta. It's designed as a temple garden and said to be one of the best outside China. Inside the garden's wall visitors can enjoy the peace, the art and the natural beauty including the Water Palace which provides a focused and meditative perspective on the gardens.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1010047" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/shutterstock_840862541.jpg" alt="" width="1100" height="733" />


<h2>9. Swiss National Museum and Zurich Art Museum</h2>
The National Museum and Zurich's Art Museum or Kunsthaus have wide-ranging art collections. The Kunsthaus features major European works and Swiss works from the middle ages to current times. The National Museum includes historical exhibits and coverage of current events -- from 2019 to 2029 it features "Simply Zurich" with some of the more offbeat and controversial aspects of life in the city and surrounding canton. An archaeological exhibit provides access to the area's many millennia of civilization.<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/497635955-1024x699.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="699" />Borisb17 / Getty Images


<h2>10. Lake Zurich</h2>
A day or two on the water is a refreshing counterpoint to city life. Visitors can enjoy boating, a dinner cruise or other lake tour. Driving along the shore, local dining and small inns provide a great way to experience Swiss life and food more intimately.

[caption id="attachment_1010041" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/830299582-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" /> PhotoLondonUK / Getty Images[/caption]

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