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Places to Visit in Switzerland

TeamAckoMay 3, 2024

The world knows Switzerland for its scenic landscapes, charming towns, cheese and chocolate. Wherever you go, you can experience nature’s beauty, the history of the land, and mouth-watering cuisines. Therefore, if you are planning an international gateway to Switzerland, it will be fascinating! On this occasion, checking out the finest places to visit in Switzerland is essential to make a perfect itinerary for the trip.

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So, go through the list of places below and their crucial details.

Contents

Top 10 Places to Visit in Switzerland
The Bottom Line
Frequently Asked Questions

Top 10 Places to Visit in Switzerland

Go through the list below and choose your favourite spots to visit in Switzerland:

Stroll Around Zurich

Zurich is a name that brings up images of the stunning and immaculate beauty of the breathtaking Swiss meadows, mighty Alps, alpine forests, and serene mountain lakes. River Zurich forks the city into Old and New Town areas.

You can see proof of the Renaissance era in the Old Town with its century-old churches, residencies, and cobbled streets. In addition, you will notice in the architecture here the beautiful imprints of Italy, Germany, France, and Liechtenstein cultures.

Location: North-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich
Operational Timings: NA
Best Time to Visit: June to August
Price per Person: Rs. 4,871 approx.
Major Attractions: Swiss National Museum, Lindenhof, Kunsthaus Zürich, Grossmünster, Zoo Zürich, Fraumünster Church, Zurich Opera House, Museum Rietberg, Bahnhofstraße, Uetliberg, etc.
Nearby Hotels: Crowne Plaza Zurich, Holiday Inn Express Zurich Airport, Radisson Hotel Zurich Airport, B&B Hotel Zurich East Wallisellen, ibis Budget Zurich Airport, etc.
Pro Tip: Taxi rides in Zurich can be expensive in Zurich, with an average of Rs. 1667.24 per kilometre. Use public transport to save money.

Explore the Surroundings of Lucerne

Situated at the heart of the country, Lucerne is one of Switzerland's best places to visit. Lucerne may feel straight out of a picture postcard to you with its emerald-green meadows marked with church spires and charming houses, and around the glistening lake, Lucerne's ancient towers edge around with lofty mountains in the background.

Location: Kapellbrücke, 6002 Luzern, Switzerland
Operational Timings: NA
Best Time to Visit: May to September
Price per Person: Rs. 17,818 approx.
Major Attractions: Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, Swiss Museum of Transport, Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre, Spreuerbrucke, Sammlung Rosengart, Glacier Garden of Lucerne, etc.
Nearby Hotels: Radisson Blu Hotel, ibis Budget Luzern Hotel, Hotel Monopol Luzern, ibis Styles Luzern City, Ameron Luzern Hotel Flora, etc.
Pro Tip: Try to book your accommodation at the centre of Lucerne and this way you can walk to almost all the notable places and avoid paying expensive taxi fares.

Visit the Chapel Bridge

The Chapel Bridge is one of the most historically significant and iconic places to visit in Switzerland. You will learn on your visit that it was built in the 14th century, and it is Europe’s oldest wooden bridge that connects newer parts of Lucerne with the old town.

Keep your eyes open for the appealing triangular paintings portraying local history and mythology that adorn the Chapel Bridge, spanning across the quaint River Reuss.

Location: Lucerne, Switzerland
Operational Timings: Open 24 hours
Best Time to Visit: Year-round
Price per Person: Free
Major Attractions: Spreuerbrücke, Swiss Museum of Transport, Lion Monument, Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre, Church of St. Leodegar, etc.
Nearby Hotels: Hotel de la Paix, Hotel Des Alpes, Hotel Chateau Gutsch, Hermitage Lake Lucerne, etc.
Pro Tip: This is the most photographed spot in Lucerne, so do not forget to click the photos of this historic bridge.

Take a Tour of Grindelwald

The little city of Grindelwald is close to the Bernese Alps and will offer you a perfect abode in the lap of nature. It is one of the most scenic locations in the country, with its clear skies and alpine beauty of prominent mountain peaks towering in the backdrop.

You will find Grindelwald as one of the unique places in Switzerland with its rolling green valleys, magnificent flower-clad hiking trails, and shimmering clear skies.

Location: Interlaken-Oberhasli, Bern, Switzerland
Operational Timings: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday) and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Best Time to Visit: June and October
Price per Person: Rs. 20,055 approx.
Major Attractions: Ice Palace, Jungfraujoch peak, lakes of Brienz and Bachalpsee, Glacier Canyon, Männlichen, Grosse Scheidegg, Wetterhorn, Pfingstegg, Faulhorn, First Cliff Walk by Tissot, Grindelwald First, etc.
Nearby Hotels: Alpinhotel Bort, Hotel Gindelwalderhof, Hotel Cabana, Hotel Sonnenberg, etc.
Pro Tip: Even in the significantly warmer weather, you should carry protective clothing along with your sunscreen.

Go for Hike Beside the Bachalpsee Lake

When you see the Bachalpsee Lake for the first time, its astounding beauty will strike you. Nestling in the Bernese Oberland region, it captivates you with its incredible mountain backdrop and crystal-clear emerald-green waters.

If you love hiking and exploration, Bachalpsee Panorama Trail will welcome you with panoramic views of surrounding alpine vistas and the lake. Moreover, if you are all in for a peaceful atmosphere and idyllic beauty, this is one of the top attractions in Switzerland for you.

Location: Grindelwald First gondola Dorfstraße 187, 3818 Grindelwald
Operational Timings: Rail service is available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and it is 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends
Best Time to Visit: June or September during morning hours
Price per Person: Gondola tickets of Rs. 5356.85 approx.
Major Attractions: Eiger Express, OUTDOOR - Glacier Canyon, Luftseilbahn, Grindelwald, Pfingstegg, Männlichen, etc.
Nearby Hotels: Alpinhotel Bort, Hotel Gindelwalderhof, Hotel Restaurant Spinne, etc.
Pro Tip: The best ‘value’ option is hiking from First to Bachalpsee to First. The hike is a bit uphill but fairly easy.

Explore the Valley of Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen will be your spot if you want to spend time in a valley among thundering waterfalls and lofty cliffs. It will offer you a breathtaking panorama of alpine splendour with cascading waterfalls.

In Switzerland, this is one of the major conservation areas where you will also get various hiking trails and cross-country skiing opportunities. Located in the Swiss Alps, the dramatic beauty of Lauterbrunnen is waiting to evoke a sense of rejuvenation in you.

Location: 1.1 Km away from Lauterbrunnen Station
Operational Timings: Wednesday to Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday and Tuesday closed)
Best Time to Visit: April to August
Price per Person: Rs. 9,014.35 approx.
Major Attractions: Staubbach Falls, Wengen, Piz Gloria, Trümmelbach, Talmuseum, Sulwald, etc.
Nearby Hotels: Hotel Silberhorn, Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn, Hotel Regina Wengen, etc.
Pro Tip: Invest in a travel pass so that exploring the region via trains, buses, cable cars, and boats becomes less expensive.

Visit the Sphinx Observatory

Does a prominent mountain-top observatory at an elevation of 3,571 metres interest you? It sure does! The Sphinx Observatory in Grindelwald on top of the Jungfraujoch is famous as the ‘Top of Europe’.

It is one of the most popular tourist places in Switzerland, where you can reach by using the Jungfrau Railway and enjoy the spectacular views of the Aletsch Glacier and the peaks surrounding it. At this high-altitude research centre's terrace, you can have a surreal experience of savouring the exceptional beauty of the glacier-carved mountainscape.

Location: Eigergletscher-Jungfraujoch, 3818 Grindelwald, Switzerland
Operational Timings: 7:53 a.m. to 3:17 p.m.
Best Time to Visit: May to October
Price per Person: Rs. ₹61,559.96 approx.
Major Attractions: Alpine Sensation, Ice Palace, Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven, etc.
Nearby Hotels: Hotel Jungfraublick, Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn, Hotel Regina Wengen, etc.
Pro Tip: Carry some snacks, water, and winter essentials so you do not have to spend exorbitant prices there.

Explore the Famous Swiss Alps

The alpine region of Switzerland, lying east of Lake Geneva, is one of the most famous places in Switzerland. With its verdant valleys, shimmering lakes, and majestic peaks, it manifests the classic Swiss beauty.

Moreover, the Swiss Alps offer many opportunities if you want to indulge in skiing. It also has a wide range of excellent sign-posted trekking trails, minimising any chance of getting lost in the mountains.

Location: 6780 Airolo, Switzerland
Operational Timings: Open year-around
Best Time to Visit: June to August
Price per Person: Rs. 12,884.60 approx.
Major Attractions: Swiss National Park, Matterhorn, Zermatt, Saint Moritz, Bern, etc.
Nearby Hotels: The Chedi Andermatt, Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, Hotel des Alpes, etc.
Pro Tip: You can use trains and buses to go everywhere, whether in a city, a little town, or a mountain pass.

Snowboard on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is an extraordinary destination nestled atop the legendary Matterhorn. You can reach this spot via Europe’s highest cable car while enjoying the panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks.

It is one of the most important places to visit in Switzerland. It has an observation deck, allowing you to indulge in skiing and snowboarding and experience the Glacier Palace and its intricate ice tunnels and sculptures.

Location: Schluhmattstrasse 28, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland
Operational Timings: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Best Time to Visit: June to October
Price per Person: Rs. 14,304 approx.
Major Attractions: Gornergrat, The Matterhorn, Riffelsee, Zermatt Bergbahnen, Breithorn, Rifugio Guide del Cervino, Gorner Gorge, etc.
Nearby Hotels: Hotel Mountain Paradise, 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat, Riffelhaus 1853, etc.
Pro Tip: Enjoy the views of Matterhorn and its surroundings from near a glacial lake, which you can walk to after reaching the Trockener Steg cable car station.

Visit the Rhine Falls

Rhine Falls, the largest plain waterfall in Europe, is more than 15,000 years old. The Niagra Falls of Europe gets tremendous footfall each summer when water inflow gets more powerful and creates mesmerising cascades.

Do you like the idea of a boat ride along the river and reaching the giant rock formation right in the middle of this waterfall? Or, do you prefer viewing platforms (such as the Känzeli viewing platform) to behold the falls from a stunning vantage point and feel the reviving spray on your face? You can have it both as it is one of the cheapest places in Switzerland.

Location: 8212 Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland
Operational Timings: Throughout the year
Best Time to Visit: May and June
Price per Person: Rs. 455.51 approx.
Major Attractions: Smilestones, Schaffhausen Altstadt, Munot, etc.
Nearby Hotels: Hotel-Restaurant Edelweiss, Vienna House zur Bleiche, Schaffhausen, Selda’s, etc.
Pro Tip: You should reach Schloss Laufen am Rhine Falls first and walk across to Neuhausen Rheinfall. After spending time there, you can take a train to Schaffhausen.

The Bottom Line

Now that you have an idea of what the ‘Land of the Alps’ has to offer, it is time to mark the best places to visit in Switzerland. Plan your itinerary and experience Switzerland’s rich history, high-quality life, and, most of all, the breathtaking beauty that goes beyond one’s admiration.

It is worth mentioning that you should opt for travel insurance to protect your travel duration from any emergencies. For example, a flight delay, trip cancellation, or medical emergencies can throw your trip and budget way off track. To prevent that from happening, protect your trip financially and experience a stress-free international getaway.

Obtain a proper travel insurance policy today and get ready to enjoy the trip to its fullest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions concerning places to visit in Switzerland that people ask frequently:

Is Switzerland a family-friendly destination?

With so many pristine rivers and lakes, perfectly decorated slopes and snow parks, astonishing museums, action-packed toboggan runs and rope parks and much more, Switzerland is a place for the family to enjoy their holidays unforgettably.

Should I opt for a visa to visit Switzerland?

Yes, the Switzerland government provides a variety of visas depending on the purpose of the visit. For example, if you want to visit Switzerland for a trip, you should opt for a Switzerland tourist visa.

What currency is used in Switzerland?

The Swiss Franc is the currency Switzerland uses. The ISO code is CHF, and the symbol is ₣. Currently, 1 Swiss Franc is equivalent to 91.21 Indian rupees.

When is the best time to visit Switzerland?

Between June and August is the best time to visit Switzerland to experience the coveted white Swiss Alps, with shimmering nights and glistening snow. However, you can witness this snowy heaven in different shades as seasons change.

Why is Zurich so popular?

Zürich has been a prominent name for business and banking. Still, it is revitalised by the emerging art scene, newly popular neighbourhoods, and the influx of immigrants contributing to its diversity and youthfulness.

What are the most visited places in Switzerland?

Switzerland's most visited tourist attractions are the Rhine Falls, the Berne Bear exhibit, and Zoo Basel.

How long should we stay in Switzerland to explore it?

If you want to experience everything Switzerland has to offer, a 7-day trip is ideal. However, if you want to spend time doing outdoor activities like skiing and hiking, you should extend it to 10 days.