Top 21 places to visit in Switzerland

At the heart of Europe, Switzerland isn’t just the land of chocolate but also of mountains and breathtaking panoramas. Here’s a list of 21 areas to visit in the heart of the Queen of the Alps!

In this mountainous country of Central Europe, you can perform a large number of activities: put large amounts of money in an account, like a fondue, go greet the cows at the green meadows or… find the terrific landscapes, whatever the year you’re planning to stay. This is precisely the point of this manual: to help you decide on the best spots to respect in the center of the very special country, we have briefly described some of the greatest destinations to discover. Best start!

1- The Jungfrau

The Jungfrau, the highest peak in the Bernese Alps, is located in the Bernese Alps, at an altitude of over 4150 meters! Here it is possible to admire a gigantic glacier that sadly melts year after year, or practice typical mountain activities like skiing, mountaineering, or paragliding.

2- The Jungfraujoch

The neighboring Jungraujoch is a pass linking the Mönche and Jungfrau, in the heart of the Bernese Alps between the cantons of Bern and Valais. It’s 3471 meters high and can be reached through an astonishing railway line, and you can also eat there at a delicious restaurant offering a stunning view of the surrounding mountains.

3- The Eiger

The Eiger is a 3,970-metre summit, also in the Bernese Alps, whose north face was among those”three great problems of the Alps” for experienced climbers, who often died there! These days, many tourists come to admire this vertiginous individualized summit, or even try its ascent.

4- The Glacier Express

Not really a place, but instead a journey: the Glacier Express is a train from St. Moritz to Zermatt through the cities of Chur, Andermatt, and Brig. Throughout summertime, two trains make the trip: one leaving from Disentis and another from Davos, but in either case, the spectacular scenery you will pass through will leave you with unforgettable memories!

5- Lake Lucerne

This glacial lake is situated in the center of Switzerland, bears its name seriously because it’s presently split between the cantons of Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, and Uri! Measuring almost 38 kilometers long, it’s situated at an altitude of 434 meters and attracts many people searching for things to do in Switzerland, and may provide many fun activities in winter and summer!

6- The Matterhorn

The Matterhorn is one of Switzerland’s best-known mountains and is also among the nation’s emblems, appearing on the logos of several Swiss brands!

At a height of 4478 meters, its north face is, like that of the Eiger and Grandes Jorasses, regarded as among those three great north faces of the Alps. If you come to see Switzerland, do not miss out on a trip!

7- The Rhine Falls

Located downstream from the city of Schaffhausen, in the canton of the same name near the German border, the Rhine Falls are the biggest in Europe: they’re nearly 150 meters wide and 23 meters high and represent the imperial power of the river because of their immortalization by Turner. A boat trip can be organized there and is a must when searching for something to do in Switzerland.

8- The Aletsch Glacier

This colossal glacier is quite simply… the biggest glacier in the Alps: if you’ve come to see Switzerland and are passing through the southeast of the country, in the canton of Valais — among the most beautiful in the nation, by the way — it could be a great shame not to stop there to find the beauty of the breathtakingly large place!

9- The Titlis

This summit of the Uranian Alps, at an altitude of nearly 3238 meters, is certainly not the biggest or most esteemed in the nation, but it does provide the opportunity to enjoy winter sports because it’s an essential component of the Titlis ski area, considered by some to be among the very best in Europe. Ideal when you’re searching for what to do in Switzerland during the winter season!

10- Lake Thun

From the Bernese Oberland, Lake Thun is extremely near the city of the same title: this alpine body of water welcomes people who come to enjoy the many water sports facilities in the surrounding region, and will also delight hiking tourists that come to see Switzerland.

11- The Kleine Scheidegg

The Kleine Scheidegg is actually a railway pass linking the Eiger and Lauberhorn mountains in the Bernese Oberland in an altitude of over 2061 meters. Between Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, cities valued by base-jump and paragliding enthusiasts, you can enjoy a great train ride when you come to see Switzerland!

12- The Gornergrat

Nevertheless, in the canton of Valais (as you have been told, we love this Mecca of alpine culture), the Gornergrat is a summit perched at an altitude of 3135 meters, just under the hotel of Zermatt, involving the Findel and Gorner glaciers. Fans of trekking and mountaineering are also thrilled to learn what to do in Switzerland!

13- Lake Brienz

Lake Brienz lies just north of the Swiss Alps, in the canton of Bern — the capital of the nation. Its title comes from the city of the same title, which is situated on the north coast of the stretch of water where you can enjoy fishing, water-skiing and kayaking in the summer! If you’re searching for something to do in Switzerland and you have kids, we strongly suggest that you take a dip.

14- The Mönch

The Mönch is a 4107-meter-high summit between the Eiger and Jungfrau rivers in the Bernese Oberland. It’s an excellent chance to increase through this sublime mountain area during the summer when you’ve come to see Switzerland and need to breathe some of the purest air in Europe while enjoying the great scenery!

15- The Little Matterhorn

No, there is no confusion: this summit in the Valais Alps “just” peaks at 3,883 meters. Its big brother, the Matterhorn (or Matterhorn for the German-speaking Swiss), is seven kilometers to the southwest: in both cases, stop by the area to admire both of these giants once you come to see Switzerland!

16- The Trümmelbachfälle

These waterfalls are located on the class of the Trümmelbach, a river in the Bernese Alps, in the heart of the Lauterbrunnen valley and approximately fifteen kilometers from the splendid municipality of Interlaken: there are about ten of them and their height could reach… 140 meters in places! Enough to take your breath away when you’re searching for something to do in Switzerland.

17- The Aare Gorge

The Aare? This 288 km long Korean river, a tributary of the Rhine, offers, quite near the municipality of Meringen from the canton of Bern, splendid limestone gorges with an ingenious — and lively — set of tunnels and footbridges letting you explore the place thoroughly: perfect if you wish to see Switzerland while enjoying a really original activity!

18- The Gotthard Pass

The Gotthard is a mythical place: this Swiss Alpine pass perched at an altitude of 2108 meters joins the town of Andermatt at Canton Uri with Canton Ticino in Airolo. The cause of this is that the location is important in the exchanges between Switzerland and Italy, but above all for the many points of interest that occur there: let us mention that the Tour de Suisse biking race, which doesn’t fail to stop there, along with the innumerable hiking trails that abound in the region!

19- Pointe Dufour

Little known, the Dufour Point is using its 4634 meters of elevation, the maximum summit in Switzerland and the second highest in the Alpine series after our Mont Blanc! Overlooking Monte Rosa near Zermatt, it’s just a few hundred meters away from Italy — provided you’re an experienced climber. So, ready to scale among the most gorgeous mountains in Switzerland?

20- The Bernina Pass

The Bernina Pass is a pass in the Swiss Alps, in the canton of Graubünden, at an altitude of over 2300 meters. It joins the Engadine with the Balteline in northern Italy and remains popular with motorcyclists and backpackers brought on from the pass’s unique opening conditions. Yes, regardless of the awful weather, the Bernina Pass stays open throughout the year, because of this exceptional road infrastructure and the tireless work of these officers responsible for its state.

21- Lake Biel

Biel/Bienne is a city that’s a bit different: situated in the west of the country, the city is regarded as 100% bilingual. French and German-speaking Swiss discuss the municipality in harmony, making the town a symbol of the nation’s unique linguistic mix, which surprises those who would like to see the city! Lake Biel is a place to find, known by fishing fans who come here to enjoy the serene waters and the abundance of new fish. Familiar and friendly, particularly in summertime, it would be a shame to search for what to do in Switzerland while passing by this peaceful and relaxing place during summertime!