Switzerland travel guide: plan your trip
Travelling in Switzerland means exploring alpine mountains, clear lakes and tidy villages by train, boat and cable car, with four cultures and languages in a small area. Cities such as Zurich, Bern, Lucerne and Geneva combine easily with valleys like Lauterbrunnen and peaks like the Matterhorn.
When to go
June to September is hiking season, with flower-filled meadows and lakes warm enough for a swim; the highest trails are usually snow-free from July to September. December to April is ski season in resorts such as Zermatt, Verbier and St. Moritz. Spring and autumn are quiet, though many lifts close between seasons for maintenance. Ticino and Lake Geneva enjoy a milder climate than the high Alps.
Where to go
Lucerne and Lake Lucerne
Lucerne pairs the wooden Chapel Bridge, its old town and the Lion Monument with a lake ringed by mountains. From here, trains and cable cars climb Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus for views across the central Alps.
Bernese Oberland
Interlaken, set between two lakes, is the gateway to valleys such as Lauterbrunnen, with its waterfalls and sheer rock walls, and villages such as Grindelwald and Wengen. Mountain railways climb to the Jungfraujoch, facing glaciers and peaks like the Eiger.
Zermatt and the Matterhorn
This car-free village at the foot of the Matterhorn is a classic base for summer hiking and winter skiing. The Gornergrat rack railway offers one of the best-known views in the Alps, surrounded by glaciers.
Lake Geneva
In French-speaking Switzerland, Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux look out over a large lake backed by the Alps. Between Lausanne and Vevey, the terraced Lavaux vineyards slope down to the water, and Chillon Castle rises from the shore.
Ticino
South of the Alps, the Italian-speaking canton has palm trees, arcaded squares and a Mediterranean feel. Lugano and Locarno face their lakes, and the Verzasca Valley, with emerald water and a stone bridge, is ideal for a day outdoors.
What to do
Scenic alpine trains
The Glacier Express links Zermatt and St. Moritz over passes and viaducts, while the Bernina Express descends from the Engadine glaciers to Tirano in Italy. Even regional trains offer superb views of mountains and lakes.
Hiking among the peaks
Switzerland has a well-signposted trail network, with walking times at every junction. Try the Five Lakes Walk at Zermatt, the paths above Lauterbrunnen or a night in a mountain hut with a shared dinner.
Fondue, raclette and cheese
Share a cheese fondue or raclette in a mountain restaurant, try rösti and cheeses such as Gruyère and Emmental. In Gruyères you can visit a cheese dairy and the medieval village with its castle.
Thermal baths at Leukerbad
In Valais, Leukerbad is a spa village surrounded by towering rock walls. Its outdoor hot-water pools let you bathe with mountain views even in winter, ideal after a day of skiing or hiking.
Lake steamers
Regular boats sail on Lake Lucerne, Lake Geneva, Lake Brienz and others, some of them historic paddle steamers. They are a relaxed way to link villages, children love them and they connect easily with trains and cable cars.
Practical tips
- Switzerland has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh; the language changes by region, so learn a greeting for each.
- The currency is the Swiss franc, not the euro; some places accept euros, but prices are set in francs and change is usually given in francs.
- Sockets are type J; slim two-pin European plugs usually fit, but thicker grounded plugs need an adapter.
- Trains, buses, boats and mountain railways run on coordinated timetables, making it easy to tour the whole country without a car.
- Mountain weather changes fast: check the forecast, start long hikes early and always carry a warm layer.
As a couple, family or with friends
Switzerland is best enjoyed with a few bases and day trips, for example Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland and Zermatt, linked by train. With children, boats, mountain playgrounds and short trails work very well. For groups, an alpine apartment is practical. In Gata you can save ideas and decide together where to stay.
Save ideas and stays and decide as a group with the Gata app.
Frequently asked questions
Can you travel around Switzerland without a car?
Yes, and most visitors do. The network of trains, PostBuses, boats and mountain railways reaches almost every village on coordinated timetables. Villages such as Zermatt and Wengen do not allow private cars, so the train is the natural way to arrive.
How many days do I need for a first trip to Switzerland?
One week lets you combine a city such as Zurich or Lucerne with the Bernese Oberland and Zermatt. With ten to fourteen days you can add Lake Geneva, Ticino or a scenic train. Staying several nights in each base works better than moving daily.
Where should I stay to see the Alps?
Interlaken and the Lauterbrunnen Valley are convenient for the Bernese Oberland, with easy access to Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren. Zermatt is the base for the Matterhorn. Lucerne works well if you prefer a lakeside city with mountains close by.
Is Switzerland worth visiting in winter if I don't ski?
Yes. You can take trains up to snowy viewpoints, walk prepared winter trails, go sledging, soak in thermal baths and visit Christmas markets in cities such as Basel and Montreux. Snow-covered alpine villages have plenty of charm.
