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Aerial view of Lauterbrunnen village beneath cliffs and a waterfall

Switzerland · Alps

Switzerland

Cog railways and cable cars lift visitors from village streets to glaciers within the hour. Summer is for hiking, winter for skiing.

Best months
Jun–Sep · Dec–Mar
Signature peak
Matterhorn, 4,478 m
Fly into
Zurich (ZRH)
Destinations
12
Explore Switzerland Best time to visit

Destinations in Switzerland

Where to go in Switzerland

12 of 12 destinations · Main season Jun–Sep · Dec–Mar

The Matterhorn lit by alpenglow above a still mountain lake Best Jun–Sep · Dec–Apr

Valais

Matterhorn & Zermatt

A car-free village below the Alps' best-known peak, with lifts up to 3,883 m.

4,478 m · Jun–Sep · Dec–Apr · Moderate

Good for: Trekking · Snow & ski

Stays Flights Tours
Aerial view of Lauterbrunnen village beneath cliffs and a waterfall Best May–Oct

Bernese Oberland

Lauterbrunnen Valley

A sheer-walled valley of waterfalls, including the 297 m Staubbach Falls.

795 m · May–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Villages & culture · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Snow-covered peaks above the First mountain restaurant near Grindelwald Best Jun–Oct

Bernese Oberland

Grindelwald and First

A Bernese Oberland village under the Eiger north face, with a gondola to the high lake of Bachalpsee.

2,168 m · Jun–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking · Snow & ski

Stays Flights Tours
The Jungfrau rising above the glacier snow at the Jungfraujoch Best Year-round

Bernese Oberland and Valais

Jungfraujoch

Europe's highest railway station, reached by a rack railway through the Eiger and Mönch, with views over the Aletsch Glacier.

3,454 m · Year-round · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Snow & ski

Stays Flights Tours
The village of Saas-Fee below glacier-capped peaks in the Valais Best Jun–Oct

Valais

Saas-Fee

A car-free village ringed by 4,000 m peaks and glaciers, with the highest underground funicular in the world.

1,800 m · Jun–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Snow & ski

Stays Flights Tours
The Aletsch Glacier curving between mountains in the Valais Best Jun–Oct

Valais

Aletsch Glacier

The longest glacier in the Alps, seen from the car-free villages of the Aletsch Arena.

2,927 m · Jun–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
A lakeside path beside Lake Sils in the Engadin valley Best Jun–Oct

Graubünden

St. Moritz and the Engadin

A high valley of blue lakes and bright light, with the glamour of St. Moritz at one end and quiet villages at the other.

1,822 m · Jun–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Lakes · Snow & ski

Stays Flights Tours
Lake Lucerne and the city seen from the heights of Mount Pilatus Best May–Oct

Lucerne, Central Switzerland

Mount Pilatus

A jagged peak above Lake Lucerne, with the steepest rack railway in the world and a cable car from the edge of the city.

2,128 m · May–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Red rack railway carriages at the Rigi Kulm station below the summit hotel Best Apr–Oct

Central Switzerland

Rigi

A gentle, lake-ringed mountain reached by Europe's oldest mountain railway, with huge views from the top.

1,798 m · Apr–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Lakes

Stays Flights Tours
The resort village of Verbier in its mountain setting in the Valais Best Jun–Sep

Valais

Verbier

A sunny mountain resort above the Rhône valley, with big skiing in winter and long trails and bike routes in summer.

1,500 m · Jun–Sep · Moderate

Good for: Snow & ski · Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
A Rhaetian Railway train crossing alpine meadows near Davos Best Jun–Sep

Graubünden

Davos and Klosters

The highest city in Europe and its quieter neighbour, with long ski runs in winter and lakes, trails and trains in summer.

1,560 m · Jun–Sep · Easy

Good for: Snow & ski · Scenic views · Lakes

Stays Flights Tours
The Säntis summit station and transmitter tower under a blue sky Best May–Oct

Eastern Switzerland

Säntis and Appenzell

A rocky summit above rolling Appenzell farmland, with a cable car, a cliff-edge guesthouse and a lake in a forested hollow.

2,502 m · May–Oct · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Lakes · Villages & culture

Stays Flights Tours

About Switzerland

Switzerland at a glance

Switzerland packs the Alps into a small, well-connected country. Trains, buses and cable cars reach most mountain villages, so a trip can be built around public transport without a car.

Zermatt sits beneath the Matterhorn (4,478 m), while the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland is a deep glacial trough lined with waterfalls. Both work as bases for day hikes at almost every level.

Hiking trails and mountain lifts are at their best from late June to September, and ski resorts typically operate from December to March or April. Switzerland is expensive, so book rooms early for July and August and for the ski season.

Getting there

Zurich (ZRH) and Geneva (GVA) are the main international airports, with fast rail connections to the mountains. Zermatt is reached by train via Visp, and Lauterbrunnen via Interlaken.

Getting around

The Swiss rail, bus and boat network is dense and punctual. Passes such as the Swiss Travel Pass can reduce costs, and many mountain railways and cable cars have separate fares.

Entry and safety

Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area. Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check the official government information before you travel.

Mountain weather changes quickly. Check the forecast and lift operating times, carry layers and water, and follow marked trails.

Official sources

Last reviewed October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Where to stay

Where to stay in Switzerland

Hotels in Switzerland are coming soon

We are adding the hotels, guesthouses and lodges that local owners register with us. Each one is reviewed before it appears here. Meanwhile, you can compare stays on our partner sites.

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From the journal

Planning Switzerland in more depth

Snow under tall trees at Nathia Gali

Seasonal · · 3 min read

Winter in the mountains without skiing

Snow walks, quiet villages and clear-sky viewpoints, plus the safety habits that matter in cold, short days.

Read article

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Everything you need for Switzerland

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