Best Things to Do in Switzerland 2024

Switzerland is an extremely diverse country. Apart from sea access, you will find almost everything your heart desires here. Besides stunning landscapes for all kinds of outdoor activities all year round, you will also find medieval cities, interesting museums, historic castles and much more.

But Switzerland is also known for inventions like milk chocolate, the Swiss army knife and big banks. Don't let the manageable size of just over 40,000 square kilometers fool you. Even if you travel through the country for two weeks, you will never see everything and you will definitely not get bored.

Swiss Waters

There are over 1500 lakes in Switzerland, which means you’re never more than 16 km away from one, mathematically speaking. A great number of these lakes are interconnected by rivers, streams, and canals, which together stretch around 61,000 km.

Many lakes, such as Lake Constance, Lake Geneva, Lake Lucerne, Lake Thun, and Lake Brienz, to name just a few, can be explored comfortably aboard a passenger ship. Switzerland also boasts plenty of mountain lakes to fill up your camera storage.

On the rivers, besides canyoning, rafting, or kayaking, there’s one activity that stands out: boating. On sunny days, inflatable unicorns and SUP boards are prepared for the water in their hundreds, letting the current take them downstream. The most popular river for boating is undoubtedly the Aare. However, the Rhine, the Rhone, the Thur, and many other rivers are great for this activity too.

Switzerland doesn't skimp on waterfalls either, just like it doesn’t on cheese varieties. The Lauterbrunnen Valley is known as "the Valley of 72 Waterfalls,” and with the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen, Switzerland is home to the widest waterfall in Europe. Whether in melted, liquid, roaring, still, or flowing forms, Swiss waters are a delight to visit all year round.

Nature Switzerland

Apart from water and mountains, Switzerland offers a wealth of natural beauty. One such highlight is the UNESCO World Heritage site in Lavaux. Over 800 hectares stretch along the north side of Lake Geneva, forming the largest contiguous wine-growing region in Switzerland. Additionally, you'll find numerous nature parks, caves, gorges, grottos, wetlands, and swamps, all of which provide plenty of opportunities for varied visits.

Cities in Switzerland

The diversity doesn't stop with the natural wonders; it continues in the cities. Bustling cities like Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Lugano shape the image of Switzerland, alongside baroque Solothurn, dreamy Locarno, the frequently visited Lucerne, and cozy Schaffhausen.

La Chaux-de-Fonds and the capital Bern have both made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage list. St. Gallen has also secured a spot on this prestigious list with its charming Abbey District.

Let's not overlook the countless little towns that exude an impressive amount of charm. The narrow streets of Stein am Rhein, Gruyère, Rapperswil, or Appenzell will make you forget the world around you for a moment and whisk you away to a fairytale land.

Attractions in Switzerland

The variety of attractions in this small country is truly diverse. With over 1000 museums across the nation, a remarkable range of scientific, cultural, artistic, and other themes is covered. Whether it's the Technorama in Winterthur, the Museum of Communication in Bern, the Swissminiatur in Melide, the Transport Museum in Lucerne, or the numerous natural history and art museums.

On the culinary side, chocolate factories, cheese-making demonstrations, wineries, and breweries adorn the landscape. And if you like castles and palaces, you’ll also find plenty to enjoy in Switzerland. The Chateau Chillon on Lake Geneva is a must-visit if you're in the area, and in Aargau, you'll find a wide array of castles waiting for you.

A popular attraction that's not in Switzerland but easily reachable for a day trip is the Europa-Park in Germany. This amusement park leaves no wish unfulfilled when it comes to roller coasters, and the newly opened water world “Rulantica” is a dream come true for water lovers.

Culture and History Switzerland

The first traces of human settlement in Switzerland can be traced back to the Paleolithic Age. But it is only with the end of the last ice age that a larger number of sedentary people is detectable in Switzerland. They have left their traces in the almost 60 discovered sites of prehistoric lake dwellings in Swiss lake landscapes. Today, these are part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. On Lake Zug in the canton of Zug alone, there are remains of around 50 settlements.

After settlement by some Celtic tribes, the Helvetians in the Swiss Plateau and the Raetians in eastern Switzerland being among the best known, the Romans also extended their empire over Switzerland and Romanized the population.

After the Romans came the Franks, then the Swabians, the Burgundians and the Alemanni. As early as the 13th century, a 1st Confederation was formed from the original cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, which had united to protect their freedoms.

The Rütli Oath - Founding of Today's Switzerland

The founding date is considered to be August 1, 1291, which is why August 1 was designated as Switzerland's national holiday. The letter of alliance issued at that time as a founding document is kept in the Bundesbriefmuseum in the municipality of Schwyz.

After the end of the so-called Sonderbundeskrieg and with the Federal Constitution of 1848, Switzerland began its rise to a modern federal state, which today is one of the 20 largest economies in the world.

The Swiss Confederation is characterized by direct democracy, a high degree of regional and local autonomy, special participation of the population in joint decision-making, and the principle of self-imposed neutrality. The government consists of a Federal Council with seven Federal Councillors, headed by a Federal President. The office of president changes every year, which means that a different federal councilor always takes office.

Customs of Switzerland

Many customs have a long history and are an integral part of Switzerland. From alphorn playing to the story of Heidi, and ending with flag-waving, traditions run deep here and often have a strong regional connection. While Fasnacht is an important folk festival in some cantons, other regions celebrate events like the alpine ascent or yodeling with great enthusiasm.

Music Festivals in Switzerland

The Swiss Top Events calendar features festivals across all music genres each year. For classical music, there’s the Lucerne Festival, and we must also mention the annual Jazz Festival in Montreux.

One of the oldest festivals in Switzerland is the Open Air St. Gallen, held on the last weekend of June. The Zurich Street Parade, the largest open-air techno party in the world, attracts millions of visitors. Additionally, traditional federal festivals featuring typical alpine folk music are a key part of the Swiss events calendar.

Folklore evenings, alphorn concerts, shepherd festivals, and alpine descents take place in the rural areas of Switzerland. If you enjoy costumes and loud music, you should come during Fasnacht. From Ash Wednesday onwards, the streets come alive with carnival parades and Guggen music.

Languages in Switzerland

Regarding the languages in Switzerland, there’s no typical Swiss dialect. There are four official languages, and it seems like every village and valley has its own dialect.

The western part of the country, bordering France, speaks French, while the southern region, near Italy, is Italian-speaking. There are also a few small areas in the southeast where Romansh is spoken.

The majority of Switzerland, about 17 cantons, use German as their official language. Some cantons are bilingual or multilingual. However, Swiss German is quite different from “standard” German. The dialects can vary significantly from written German, making it hard for northern neighbors to understand Swiss folks.

To illustrate the language diversity: in German-speaking Switzerland alone, there are 5 different ways to order a small beer of 0.3 liters – Becher, Chübeli, Kleines, Rugeli, or Stange.

Family Outings with the Stroller

Planning a family outing in Switzerland that's stroller-friendly isn't always easy. That's why we've done the research for you and categorized all the activities you can enjoy with your stroller. On this page, you’ll find a selection of stroller-friendly outings to help you plan a day out with your family. You'll be amazed at how diverse your options are. Not only can you take most mountain cable cars to a scenic summit, but activities like urban golf, city tours, escape games, or tuk-tuk tours (if your stroller is foldable) are also on the agenda.

Excursions with Wheelchairs

A wide range of destinations in Switzerland are wheelchair accessible, so no one has to miss out on recreational activities. Unique adventures like paragliding, urban golf, and fishing are also possible. Of course, you can also enjoy the usual classics like city tours, excursions to mountain peaks, or scenic boat trips.

You can find all activities in Switzerland that can be booked through Swiss Activities and are marked with the “Wheelchair” tag on our page with Excursion Ideas with Wheelchairs. By the way, you can find a collection of barrier-free hiking trails in this overview from Schweiz Mobil.

Ideas for a Children's Birthday Party

It's the highlight of the year for (almost) every child: their birthday! If you're looking for a unique idea for the next children's birthday, you'll find the inspiration you need here. From a visit to a chocolate factory to a monster scooter descent, a hike with fluffy alpacas, or a muffin baking course, there's something for everyone. Get inspired by our ideas for a children's birthday party and plan an unforgettable celebration for your child.