There is no doubt about it, Switzerland is one of the most, if not the most beautiful country in the world. It is so beautiful that the word Switzerland has become a synonym to describe a place that has stunning mountains, pristine lakes, and absolute beauty.
“This place is like the Switzerland of Thailand“, “this mountain town is the Switzerland of Albania“, “the lake is the Switzerland of Azerbaijan.” There are countless places all over the world that describe themselves as the Switzerland of their respective countries, but why is that? Is Switzerland really that beautiful?
Well, that is what we will be finding out in this article. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 10 best places in Switzerland that you should visit, all mapped out below:
Best Places to Visit in Switzerland Map
1. Zurich
Zurich is probably going to be the first city you will visit in Switzerland, and this place will leave you with one hell of a memorable first impression. The city is located right by the bank of the Limmat river, where you will find all these colorful houses perfectly lined up along the riverfront of the Old Town.
From the beautiful cobbled streets of Zurich‘s Old Town to the countless museums and art galleries you can visit, the city is full of beautiful tourist attractions, museums, and stunning old European architecture all around.
Zurich is such a beautiful city that it is often considered to be among the most livable cities in Europe. It is also not too far from Lake Zurich, another stunning pristine lake that you can explore, and Uetliberg, a mountain where you can take in the beauty of the city from above.
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With so many beautiful crisscrossing streets surrounded by magnificent tourist attractions in and around Zurich, the city definitely deserves a spot on my list of beautiful places to visit in Switzerland.
2. The Matterhorn, Zermatt
Next up is the Matterhorn, one of the most iconic mountains in Europe. Located near a small mountain town called Zermatt, the Matterhorn is one of the most prominent peaks in the area where you will be able to see it straight from Zermatt, towering over the town without any obstruction.
The Matterhorn offers plenty of opportunities for travelers to explore all the beautiful nature spots around the mountain peak. There are plenty of hiking trails for you to witness this beast of a mountain up close and surround yourself with nothing but stunning lakes and mountains.
I spent over 12 hours hiking on my first day in Zermatt, starting from the town all the way to the Hörnli Hut, the last mountain hut before you actually have to climb the Matterhorn. It was an extremely long but very rewarding hike that took me through some of the most stunning landscapes I have ever seen in my life.
You also have the option to take the cable car to many of the viewpoints around the Matterhorn to appreciate the beauty of this iconic peak up close, without hiking. This makes it one of the most accessible and beautiful places to visit in Switzerland.
3. Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is one of the most beautiful mountain villages in Switzerland. It is located in the middle of the U-shaped Lauterbrunnen Valley near Interlaken, with two stunning cliffs on both sides of town, and the iconic 300m-high Staubbach Falls that have become the poster child of Lauterbrunnen town.
Lauterbrunnen offers travelers an abundance of beautiful sights to see and plenty of extreme activities to do, from hiking to Wengen, another small mountain village where you will be able to take in the view of Lauterbrunnen and its valley from up high, to seeing base jumpers jumping off these stunning cliffs.
You can also go paragliding along the Lauterbrunnen Valley, take one of the many cable cars or hike up to all the viewpoints around Lauterbrunnen, or you can even take the train up the highest railway in Europe to Jungfraujoch, the 3,463-meter-high mountain for a sweeping view of the snowy mountain ranges around the area.
Lauterbrunnen is a wonderful place to visit in Switzerland and definitely deserves a spot on this list. It offers plenty of opportunities to engage in various activities and truly experience why Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
4. Seealpsee, Appenzell
Seealpsee is one of the most stunning alpine lakes in Switzerland that you have probably never heard of. It is located over 1,140 m above sea level in the middle of the Alpstein Mountain Range near Appenzell, where you can hike to.
This stunning, pristine lake is surrounded by lush alpine forests and beautiful cliffsides, similar to those in Lauterbrunnen but more remote with fewer people.
You can easily take the train through the mountains from Appenzell to Wasserauen, and it takes as little as 30 minutes to hike to Seealpsee lake. Due to how easy and accessible it is to get to Seealpsee Lake, not to mention how few tourists there were when I was there, Seealpsee Lake is a true hidden gem that deserves a spot on this list.
5. St. Gallen
Located in the northeastern part of Switzerland, not too far from Appenzell, St. Gallen is a natural stopping point for people who are looking to visit Seealpsee Lake by train. This quiet town offers a chance for you to experience a more authentic Swiss town, full of well-preserved traditional houses with highly detailed facades, colorful paintings, and several odd-looking decors that are hard to come by nowadays.
The old town of St. Gallen is full of these intricately designed houses, and you will find it hard to walk along the street without bumping into something, as there are so many stunning details to see as you walk along.
You can also check out St. Gallen Cathedral, one of the last few Baroque-era churches left in Switzerland, and its pastel-colored interior, which is something you don’t often see in a European church.
I spent approximately 3 hours walking around St. Gallen, and I was surprised to see how beautiful the place is and how few tourists were there visiting this awesome town. So, if you are looking for a beautiful, authentic Swiss town to visit, St. Gallen is highly recommended.
6. Bern
Bern is a UNESCO-listed capital city of Switzerland. Even though it is not as popular a tourist town as Zurich, it still has its charm that is unique to the city, which you won’t find anywhere else in other cities.
Located along the Aare River, Bern’s old town rightfully deserves its UNESCO status title with its stunning old and colorful medieval buildings, crisscrossing cobbled stone streets, and beautiful open spaces and parks for you to take it all in.
Not to mention, it has one of the best nightlife scenes in the country, with many awesome tavern-style restaurants, jazz pubs, and clubs all waiting for you to indulge yourself in. If you are looking for a nice Swiss city that has a perfect blend of architectural beauty and fun activities to do in the city, Bern is the best place for you.
7. Lucerne
Lucerne may be one of the most populous cities in Central Switzerland, but for some reason, it doesn’t feel crowded at all here. Located right on the shores of Lake Lucerne, surrounded by green open spaces, snow-capped mountains, and beautiful architecture, Lucerne is truly one of the most beautiful places to visit in Switzerland.
The Chapel Bridge with its rich and rather tragic history and the crying Lion Monument dedicated to the fallen soldiers during WW2 are some of the most well-known landmarks in Lucerne, if not in Switzerland.
The place is filled with historic buildings like the 17th Century Hofkirche St. Leodegar Chapel, the cobbled shopping street full of souvenirs for you to buy, and the overall laid-back lakeside vibe of the city makes Lucerne one of the most beloved places among travelers.
In fact, I first visited Switzerland when I was a child, and I barely remembered anything from that trip except Lucerne and its beautiful Chapel Bridge and the Crying Lion Monument. For some reason, I remembered Lucerne quite vividly, and I was able to recall all the little details of the place and retrace my way around the city when I visited again in 2015.
There is something magical in the air around Lucerne that I can’t quite explain, but it leaves quite an impression on me. I believe it will do the same for you, so be sure to visit Lucerne when you are in Switzerland.
8. Lugano
Located on the shore of Lake Lugano in the southeastern part of Switzerland, near the border between Switzerland and Italy, Lugano is one of my favorite places to visit in Europe during the summer.
The city has clearly been influenced by its neighbor, with a much more laid-back and warmer weather vibe that you often experience in Italy. The pristine Lugano lake offers an infinite amount of activities for you to enjoy, unlike any other place in Switzerland.
You can go for a swim, rent a kayak, and explore the beautiful scenery around the lake. You can also go hiking, or walk across the border to Italy. There, you can buy all the cheap, delicious Italian food and ingredients at the Lavena Ponte Tresa Saturday Market, and come back to Lugano to cook a feast without having to spend a ton of money compared to buying it in Switzerland.
I spent several days just relaxing by Lugano Lake, swimming in the lake in between walks to Italy to buy ingredients, and spending the day having BBQ parties with local friends. It is one of the most memorable moments of my time in Switzerland, and if you have the time to spare on your trip, I highly recommend you spend that time and enjoy a slower-paced life here in Lugano.
9. Basel
Located near the border between Switzerland and Germany, Basel is a beautiful city divided by the Rhine River. It has quite a lot to offer in terms of beautiful, unique architectures and interesting experiences that you won’t find anywhere else in Switzerland.
For once, due to its geographical position, you can easily visit Germany (Lörrach) by hopping on a tram in the morning and come back to Switzerland and spend a night in Basel all in one day.
Basel is also full of beautiful and unique architecture that blends the artistic Swiss decor with the German traditional architectural style, all concentrated on the Minster Hill, waiting for you to explore.
For an interesting activity that you can do here, try crossing the Rhine River using one of the many non-motorized ferries that harness the natural power of the Rhine’s strong current to take you across. There are also several museums, from the bizarre art installations of the Jean Tinguely Museum to the Kunstmuseum, which is full of an ancient art collection to occupy your entire day.
As you can see, there are countless beautiful places and interesting things to do here in Basel. If you are looking for the best place to visit in Switzerland, be sure to include Basel on your list of places to visit.
10. Swiss National Park
Last but not least, the Swiss National Park is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Switzerland that you may not have heard of. Hell, even my local Swiss friend didn’t know about this place until I told them.
The Swiss National Park is located in the southeastern part of Switzerland, near the border between Switzerland and Italy. It boasts numerous hiking trails that can be explored for days on end, with some even crossing the border into Italy and back.
The national park is huge, and you will have to utilize local transportation to get to many of the trailheads within the national park. But I assure you, the views from these hiking trails are unlike anything I have seen in Switzerland.
The scenery around Swiss National Park maintains its stunning beauty, as you would expect from Switzerland, but it feels more remote and rugged than other places. I didn’t meet any tourists when I was hiking around the national park, only a few local hikers who have spent years exploring the national park, and they have yet to complete all of it.
If you are looking for a place full of stunning nature to lose yourself in (not literally, please), then you will love the Swiss National Park and all the beautiful hiking trails it has to offer.
Switzerland Travel Videos
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Further Reading for Switzerland
I hope you found this guide helpful in your trip planning. If you want to read more about Switzerland, I have written a few more travel guides, all listed here:
Are you traveling to Switzerland as part of a bigger Europe trip? Be sure to check out my 3-month itinerary for Europe from Portugal all the way to Sweden.
Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe is extremely daunting. Here’s a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe – The Essential Packing List.
Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here’s a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter – The Essential Packing List.
Switzerland is best seen on foot, especially in Zermatt and the Matterhorn area. Here’s the ultimate one-day hiking guide to the Matterhorn Trails in Zermatt, Switzerland.
The Swiss National Park is such an off-the-beaten-path destination in the Swiss Alps that some Swiss don’t even know it exists. Here’s the ultimate hiking guide to the Swiss National Park.
Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
You can also watch my Switzerland travel video here: “Helvetia – The Great Switzerland” travel video.
To view all the articles about Switzerland, visit the Switzerland Travel Guide page.
Looking for a place to go after Switzerland? How about Germany or France? Visit our Germany travel guide page and France travel guide page for more.
Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Western Europe Travel Guide page.
For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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