Switzerland is a place that is blessed with natural beauty. From the towering Alps to the pristine lakes, there is something for everyone to enjoy. It should come as no surprise, then, that Switzerland is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

There are many tourist places that people love to visit in Switzerland. The primary reason is the country’s natural beauty. From the Matterhorn to Lake Geneva, Switzerland is blessed with an abundance of stunning scenery. In addition, Switzerland is home to a number of world-famous ski resorts, such as Zermatt and St. Moritz. Another draw for visitors is the country’s rich cultural heritage. Swiss cities like Zurich and Geneva offer a wealth of museums, art galleries, and historic landmarks. And, of course, Switzerland is also known for its delicious chocolate and cheese! No matter what your interests are, you’re sure to find something to love in Switzerland.

Here are just a few of the places that visitors love to explore:

St. Moritz:

For over 160 years, St. Moritz has been considered the birthplace of modern winter sports. In the autumn of 1864, Johannes Badrutt bet four of his English summer guests that they should return to St. Moritz in December for the winter season and, if they did not enjoy their stay, he would reimburse the travel expenses. The guests were skeptical as they knew the dark, cold English winters too well, but returned – and stayed until Easter. Badrutt won his bet, and winter tourism was launched.

As the news of winter holidays in the snow spread, more and more English people came to spend holidays in St. Moritz. In the 1890s various winter guests were keen to develop new sports using ice tracks – and so Skibobbing, skeleton bobsled, and Cresta emerged. Soon, competitions for all these sports were held in the vast Kulm Park. The Winter Olympic Games of 1928 and 1948 were also opened there.

Today, the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz a member of Swiss Deluxe Hotels is still home to the historic St. Moritz Tobogganing Club and Cresta Club, and the hotel hosts the Olympia Bob Run St. Moritz-Celerina every year. True to form, Kulm Country Club was the setting both for the opening ceremony and the medal ceremonies at the 5th Alpine World Ski Championships in 2017.

Zermatt:

I visited Zermatt by taking a train through Switzerland during my first trip to Europe. Needless to say, it was quite an adventure! We ended our trip with a day trip to Zermatt to catch a glimpse of the infamous Matterhorn (or so we hoped). While many visits specifically to see the majestic mountain, the city of Zermatt itself is worth visiting no matter the weather.

Zermatt is a small municipality with a population under 6k. Accessible by a winding train ride through the Alps, the city itself is car-free. It truly feels like you’ve traveled in time while you’ve traveled through the mountains, with horses offering the primary source of transportation and streets lined with gingerbread buildings.

Even though we weren’t able to see the Matterhorn during our visit, I highly recommend a visit to Zermatt.

Lucerne:

Lucerne is an absolutely stunning medieval city ideal for anyone who wants a European adventure with easy access to nature. Set on a gorgeous lake, it is perfect for any fan of the outdoors, as you can also enjoy a boat cruise, transportation to the top of Mount Pilatus, a day trip to Jungfraujoch, and even a day trip to the Grindelwald Region. There are options for a chocolate factory tour and tasting, cheese adventures, and even hikes in the mountains amongst the sounds of cow bells.

As many travelers are gravitating to the outdoors, especially in the past two years, Lucerne offers Swiss culture, beauty, and charm, with culture and outdoor adventures. It is easily accessible by train from Zurich, it is a great jumping-off point for many Swiss adventures.

Lake Lucerne:

Besides that, you can find the city on Lake Lucerne, which is one of the largest lakes in Switzerland. The lake has crystal-clear water and there are mountains that surround the lake, which makes the lake very beautiful. Also, there are many (resort) hotels next to the lake that offers a very pretty view of the lake and its landscape. What’s great as well is that you can go for a boat ride on the lake, as there are passenger boats. When I was in Luzern, I went on a boat ride and the landscape was unlike any other landscape I saw in other places in Europe.

Thun

Thun is a historic city on the eastern bank of Lake Thun. The city, which was primarily created in the 1100s, comprises a lovely ancient town, which is guarded by the towered Thun Castle, which was built around 1100. It is without a doubt one of Switzerland’s most popular tourist destinations. The octagonal Bell Tower of the 14th century Stadtkirche Thun (city church) and its baroque hall are among the many architectural highlights. Along with the Aare River’s flow, you may go trekking, canyoning, and rafting. Take a guided city tour or sign up for a delicate Culinary Tour to learn about the local cuisine. Many family-friendly attractions are available in the city, including a field, donkey rides, and a child-friendly ski school. Lastly, it has an estimated population of 43,615.

St.Gallen

St. Gallen is located on the Bodensee (Lake Constance), a beautiful area in eastern Switzerland that offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities throughout the year. History buffs will enjoy strolling around the picturesque, traffic-free ancient town, which features stunning architecture and numerous stained-glass windows. The UNESCO World Heritage Abbey Precinct, which dates from the 7th century, is located here. In the summer, you may enjoy water sports on Lake Constance or take a boat excursion around the lake, stopping in neighboring Germany and Austria. This has an estimated population of 76,306 and covers an area of 39.39 km².

Saas-Fee

The small town of Saas-Fee, located in the heart of the Saas Valley, is particularly beautiful, with no less than 40 mountain pinnacles surrounding it. In the winter, the entire area transforms into a playground for all types of snow activities, and professional skiing teams visit this location to ski on the glacier almost all year. You can access the locations by a fantastic network of ski lifts, and in addition to skiing and snowboarding, ice climbing, winter trekking, and curling are all available. In the summer, the valley is ideal for trekking, and most of the cable cars are free. Saas-Fee offers a variety of lodging options as well as a good après-ski scene. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,800 and 3,573 m.

Grindelwald

Trotti bike has to be one of Switzerland’s most bizarre activities. It’s one of the zaniest things I’ve ever done! In Grindelwald, Trotti biking is extremely popular. To get to Grindelwald, take the gondola. First, take a hike through the beautiful scenery and stop by the nearby lake. Instead of taking the gondola, you can spend the entire day there and then make your descent a thrill ride.

The Matterhorn:

The Matterhorn has captured the imagination of anyone who has attended Disneyland, with many surprised to learn it’s a real place! Only when you visit the actual mountain you won’t be chased by the Yeti (probably). Luckily you don’t have to be an expert climber to get a stunning view of the gorgeous peak. A few miles away, catch the gondola up the Klein Matterhorn, which is the highest altitude reached by tramway in all of Europe. Plus bring your skis – the area has snow all year round. Switzerland is world-famous for its alps, so the Matterhorn is not to be
missed on your next trip.

Jungfrau Region:

While there are so many places that people love to visit in Switzerland, I have to go with the Jungfrau Region. This mountainous region is located all along the Swiss Alps and is one of, if not the most scenic region of the country. Within the region, you will find valley towns such as Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, as well as car-free mountain towns such as Wengen and Murren.

The whole region is full of waterfalls, glaciers, rivers, hikes, mountains, and plenty of viewpoints to enjoy. There is a never-ending list of things to do and highlights to see all throughout the region. Each town offers different options for visitors, so you can really mix and match your trip while in the area.

Lauterbrunnen:

Lauterbrunnen is known as the valley of the 72 waterfalls. Just taking a walk through the valley is going to be one of the most beautiful portions of your trip. Murren offers the chance to head up to the top of Schilthorn Mountain by cable car. Here you will find several lookout points of the entire region as well as Bond World (a James Bond movie was filmed here). Wengen sits in the middle of the region and is a perfect place to enjoy some hikes like the famous Panorama Trail. Lastly, Grindelwald sits on the opposite side of the region and makes it easy to access hikes, viewpoints, and activities in the area around First.

A few helpful stats to consider:

1). There are over 300 miles of hiking trails in the region.
2). If you visit in the winter time you will find 150 miles worth of ski runs and 60 miles of winter hiking trails.
3). There are 6 mountain transport companies that run upwards of 40 different lifts and cable cars connecting the region.

The Swiss Alps:

The Swiss Alps are without a doubt one of the most beautiful places on Earth and it’s no wonder that they’re one of the top tourist destinations in Switzerland. With their towering peaks, pristine snow-capped slopes, and breathtaking views, the Swiss Alps are a must-see for any traveler.

Lake Geneva:

Lake Geneva is another one of Switzerland’s top tourist destinations. This massive lake, which is shared with France, is the largest lake in Western Europe and is renowned for its beauty. With its clear blue waters and picturesque surroundings, it’s no wonder that so many people flock to Lake Geneva each year.

Zurich:

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and is home to a plethora of tourist attractions. From its world-famous museums and art galleries to its lively nightlife and stylish shops, there’s something for everyone in Zurich.

Chateau de Chillon:

The Chateau de Chillon is a fascinating landmark that I urge you to go and see. It is located on the coast of Lake Geneva near the town of Montreux and even without its exciting history is it a sight to see. An old castle, looking like something out of a fairy tale, sitting on a lake with sturdy 12th-century walls and a great view of the lake.

The castle was an inspiration to some of the most famous writers in history, including Lord Byron and Victor Hugo. The castle is open till 6 pm to the public and has a host of different events throughout the year.

Kapellbrücke:

The most iconic sight of the city is the Kapellbrücke. This is a unique wooden bridge that spans the Reuss River. Moreover, it is Europe’s oldest wooden covered bridge and it dates back to the 14th century, which is amazing. Also, inside the bridge, you can see historic paintings. When I walked on the bridge, it was very special to realize the bridge is such an old structure.

Luzern:

Another reason why Luzern is a great place to visit in Switzerland is that the Lucerne Summer Festival takes place in the city. This is an international festival that is all about classical music and during it you can experience symphony concerts and other events.

What’s great about Luzern as well is Lucerne Old Town. This is a beautiful part of the city with quaint streets, small shops, and medieval architecture. Going for a stroll in this part of the city was an amazing experience, as it felt as if I went back in time.

Another sight that you can find in Lucerne Old Town that is definitely worth a visit is the Musegg Wall. This is a medieval city wall with 9 towers that protected the city in the past. It is amazing to see this wall, and it is also possible to get to the top of a tower. From there, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city.

Gstaad:

In the summer, the top tourist places are typically related to the mountains and/or hiking in and around the mountains.

Hiking in the Swiss Alps has to be the most important and popular activity in Switzerland in the summer.

Hiking around Gstaad in the magnificent Alps.

-You can ride the gondola from the Wispile parking lot to the summit.

-There are many cows scattered throughout the mountain wearing bells and grazing on the fresh grass.

-The hike leads over the ridge of the Wispile and offers breathtaking views over Saanenland and the 3000m peaks.

-It is a family-friendly mountain.

-For the more adventurous there is a longer hike to Lake Lauenen which begins at the mountain station.

-A must-see is Gstaad’s annual Cow Parade.

-“Return of the cows” – Once per year, the dairy farmers bring the cows down from the mountains wearing traditional outfits and wearing flowers and bells.

-Take the cable car from Col du Pillon, ascending 3,000 meters to the highest point in the Vaudois Alps.

-When hiking, stop for lunch with fresh cheese and charcuterie at an alpine chalet overlooking a lake.

The mountain railways at Destination Gstaad are the starting point for over 300 kilometers of marked hiking trails and numerous other leisure activities in the Great Outdoors. They also provide access to warm and welcoming mountain restaurants with breathtaking views of the Gstaad summit panorama.”

Each year, in late summer, Switzerland’s dairy cows descend from their high alpine pastures to the chalet-studded villages below. In Gstaad, this annual cow parade, known as the züglete, is an all-day affair.

In the end, if you are planning to visit Switzerland then know the details about these beautiful places so that you can make your trip more enjoyable and memorable. The landmark and destination many people imagine when thinking of Switzerland is the Matterhorn, and for good reason!  Switzerland is the most famous travel destination as it has been the hub for shooting Bollywood movies. Some of the most classic and famous Bollywood movies were shot in Switzerland. Interlaken also has a bronze statue honoring legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra, which makes the town a privilege to visit for Bollywood lovers.