Lucerne is frequently cited as the nicest city in Switzerland, offering a perfect blend of fairytale architecture, a stunning lakeside setting, and dramatic mountain views. For a mix of urban luxury and scenic beauty, Zurich is top-rated, while Lugano offers a Mediterranean, sun-soaked charm, and Bern provides a historic UNESCO-listed old town.
1. Lucerne. Located in the heart of Switzerland, Lucerne is cradled between snow-capped mountains and an icy-blue lake. For the stunning lakeside views alone, Lucerne is easily one of the best cities to visit in Switzerland (and one of the most breathtaking cities in the European Alps).
If you love the great outdoors, it goes without saying that one of the best places to visit in Switzerland is the Swiss Alps. Your journey through this marvellous mountain range will be all the more memorable if you travel on the world-famous Glacier Express.
Choosing between Geneva and Zurich is a personal decision. If you are drawn to international diplomacy, French culture, and a relaxed lakeside environment, Geneva is the perfect match. If you prefer a vibrant job market, structured city life, and quick access to Europe, Zurich is the better choice.
Where should I go for my first time in Switzerland?
Switzerland is nature at its most dramatic and for the first time visitor we recommend that you choose to stay in the calm and beauty of the Lake Lucerne region or the majestic mountains of the Jungfrau region. Both these areas have so many wonderful excursions that you could stay a month and not see them all!
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. A destination that needs no introduction – the Great Barrier Reef has long topped lists of the world's most beautiful places.
Lauterbrunnen is an astonishingly pretty village in a valley at the foot of the Bernese Alps. It is easily one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, with its quaint wooden chalets, traditional church and spectacular mountain scenery.
Gstaad is known for its luxury hotels, among them the Grand Hotel Park, the Alpina Gstaad, the Gstaad Palace, the Grand Hotel Bellevue, the Hotel Olden, and the Arc En Ciel.
Though Zurich was beautiful, my boyfriend and I quickly ran out of things to do, so we decided to take a short train ride to its neighboring city, Lucerne. If I thought Zurich was a pretty place, but it was nothing compared to Lucerne. Lucerne has superb architecture and its scenery far exceeded my expectations.
As a tourist in Switzerland, don't be loud in public, assume everyone speaks English, or be late; instead, be punctual, keep voices down on transport, greet people, respect queues and quiet zones, pack proper hiking gear, buy groceries on weekdays (not Sunday), and be mindful of fire bans and local customs like proper waste disposal and not cutting in line. Avoid planning too much in a short time, and always have correct currency (Swiss Francs) and travel insurance.
How much money will I need in Switzerland for 10 days?
We've created an itinerary for budget trip to Switzerland to prove that you don't need to be crazy rich to experience the best of Switzerland. With a budget of less than $2000 per person, you can explore six captivating Swiss cities and enjoy a diverse range of experiences.
Entry: UK citizens do not require an entry visa for Switzerland for either short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen Area) or for long stays (over 90 days).
Ultimately, choosing between Grindelwald and Interlaken comes down to the experience you want to have. Grindelwald offers breathtaking scenery and a peaceful village atmosphere while Interlaken provides convenience, variety, and easy access to many destinations.
Switzerland's biggest issues revolve around healthcare costs, environmental concerns, retirement security, and immigration/EU relations, with rising costs of living and geopolitical shifts adding pressure, according to recent surveys like the UBS Worry Barometer. Healthcare premiums are a top concern, closely followed by climate change and pension sustainability, while debates on migration and the country's relationship with the EU significantly impact the national mood.
Florence, Italy. An incredibly gorgeous city of squares, churches and towers highlighted by the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (known as the “Duomo”), the Ponte Vecchio and some of the world's most famous museums (the Uffizi and the Academia). Florence is a living museum as well as a very attractive city.
The warmest location in Switzerland is Lugano with an average annual temperature of 13.0°C. The highest temperature recorded in Switzerland was from the very hot summer of 2003 at the weather station in Grono (GR) at the southern opening to the Misox (41.5°C).
