Travel to Switzerland

Grüezi.

Switzerland is a European country steeped in history. Travellers flock to the beautiful country for its outstanding museums and galleries, historical buildings, vibrant music festivals and stunning peaks of the Alps. The lakes and mountains are Switzerland's greatest pride. World-famous for chocolate, cheese and watches, Switzerland also makes a great skiing and winter destination with the Alpine mountains stretching across the Balans to France. Switzerland is a hiking paradise during the summer due to its breathtaking landscapes.

1. Matterhorn

Out of all the mountains in the Swiss Alps, the Matterhorn is undoubtedly the most well-known and most photographed mountain in the world. This prominent Swiss landmark is situated on the border between the canton of Valais and Italy. The legendary almost perfect pyramid-shaped peak has a long and varied history. The famous summit has been used for chocolate, cheese and muesli packaging worldwide. It is no surprise that the Matterhorn is on many travellers’ bucket lists. To admire the mountain, there are various viewpoints to choose from. The most famous is located on Kirchbrücke (the church bridge) or the Riedweg road in Zermatt.

2. Jungfraujoch

The Jungfraujoch is an Alpine wonderland that fully deserves its nickname of the Top of Europe. In the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, there are three famous peaks: Eiger, Jungfrau and Monch. Though when you visit Jungfraujoch, you are not actually going to the top of Jungfrau Mountain, you are going to a viewpoint that is known as Joch. Basically, you will be visiting the low end of a saddle between two mountain peaks, Jungfrau and Monch. The view from the Joch is nevertheless superbly astounding.

Jungfraujoch is the location of the highest train station in Europe, at 3,454m above sea level. Jungfraujoch offers you a panoramic view of the majestic snow-capped mountains, a chance to indulge in winter activities and entrance to a sparkling ice palace where you can admire frozen sculptures of bears, ibexes and eagles.

3. Interlaken

Interlaken is a midsize town in the center of Switzerland, surrounded by the Bernese Alps and is situated on the valley floor, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The small city gained high popularity among tourists in the early 19th century owing to its picturesque sceneries. The popularity further heightened between 1890 and 1912, thanks to the completion of the Oberland Bernese and Jungfrau railways.

Known as the adventure capital of Switzerland, Interlaken is the adventure seekers favourite spot. Interlaken commands a magnificent view of the Jungfrau to the south and is a starting point for many Alpine excursions. Whether you’re into river rafting, canyoning, hiking, skydiving or bungee jumping, Interlaken is simply one not to be missed.

4. Lucerne

Lucerne is located at the heart of the country. The beautiful city in Switzerland is known for its well-preserved medieval architecture, amid snow-capped mountains on Lake Lucerne. One of the top attractions in Lucerne is definitely the iconic Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge). The covered wooden footbridge with interior paintings on the roof of the bridge depicts the lives of the people in Lucerne way back in the 17th century.

Many of Lucerne’s attractions are located in the Old Town and easily accessible. It is a delightful place for a stroll, especially if you follow through some of the narrow side streets. To escape the hustle and bustle of the Old Town, you can take a boat ride on the famous Lake Lucerne.

5. Rhine Falls

The Rhine Falls is an amazing spectacle and the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe. Located on the border between Schaffhausen and Rheinfall Village, the world-famous Rhine Falls is around 15,000 years old. The reason behind the creation of this miracle was the tectonic shifts during the Ice age. Visitors are blown away by the sheer power of the Rhine Falls, where the water flows at the rate of 23 metres over a breadth of 150 metres. The tub’s depth is 13 metres, and the average torrential is 600 metres per second. You can choose to take a boat ride along the Rhine river to the rock formation or simply marvel at their magnificence from the numerous trails and the viewing platforms constructed for this very purpose.

6. Bernina Express

The Bernina Express is a legendary train ride that is often hailed as one of the most scenic in the world. This panoramic train runs between Switzerland’s oldest city, Chur and the Italian town of Tirano. Traversing through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges and viaducts, the landscapes and sceneries are a feast for the eyes. Moreover, you’ll not be on one but on two amazing railways: the Albula Line and the Bernina Line. Both lines have been considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2008, with the trendy town of St. Moritz in between.

This eight-hour train ride is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, not to be missed when you are in Switzerland. This attraction is stunning all year round! And you simply can’t take a bad photograph on the Bernina Express.

7. Rhine Gorge

Often referred to as Ruinaulta, also known as the Swiss Grand Canyon, the impressive gorge is one of the most magnificent and diverse landscapes in the Alps. Created about 10,000 years ago by a landslide, the gorge walls reach heights of up to 300 metres. The people of Switzerland, who speak the Romansh language, named this pass “Ruinaulta”, which means high rubble pile. The strange rock formations, cliffs, and blue-tinted water make the Rhine River and the gorge one of the most unique attractions in Switzerland. This is a wild gorge with raging waters, steep white walls, and extensive forests admired by train passengers, hikers, bikers, kayakers, and river rafters from all around the world.