10 Best places to visit in Switzerland I think you should see at least once 

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Appenzell

(pronounced: AHP-en-tsel)

Appenzell gave me a glimpse of the Switzerland I'd pictured long before I actually visited. Green hills rolled away from the village, cowbells carried across the countryside, and the centre was lined with beautifully painted buildings in pink, yellow and green.

I started by wandering through the village itself, where the decorative façades and small shops made even a simple walk interesting.

Food was definitely part of the experience too. I couldn't come to Appenzell without trying its famously strong local cheese, and tasting it here somehow felt more appropriate than ordering it elsewhere in Switzerland.

The highlight, though, was heading into the Alpstein mountains.

I took the cable car towards Ebenalp and followed the trail to Aescher, the historic guesthouse tucked directly beneath a huge cliff. Seeing it in person was far more dramatic than the photographs I'd seen.

What stayed with me most was how closely village life and the surrounding mountains seemed connected. Appenzell didn't feel like an Alpine resort built around visitors.

The farms, food, dialect and traditions all felt rooted in everyday life, which gave this small corner of Switzerland a character entirely its own.

How Appenzell fits into your Switzerland itinerary

I'd place Appenzell near the beginning or end of a Switzerland trip, particularly if you're travelling through Zurich or Austria.

It's around an hour and a half from Zurich by train, and I'd stay overnight if possible so you have time for both the village and the Alpstein mountains without rushing.

Rhine Falls

(pronounced: RYN FAWLZ)

I could hear Rhine Falls before I had a proper view of them, and that first glimpse immediately put their scale into perspective.

They aren't particularly tall, but seeing that enormous volume of water crashing across the 150-metre-wide falls was far more impressive than I expected.

I definitely wouldn't skip the boat trip. Getting out onto the Rhine brought me much closer to the power of the falls, with spray blowing through the air as we approached the central rock. I loved being right in the middle of it rather than simply watching from the riverbank.

We picked up lunch from a local café and found a spot near the falls for a picnic afterwards. Sitting there with the sound of the water in the background was such a nice way to enjoy the setting without immediately rushing on to the next attraction.

I also made time for nearby Schaffhausen. Its medieval streets, colourful painted façades and distinctive oriel windows gave me another reason not to treat Rhine Falls as a quick photo stop.

For me, that combination of the boat, picnic and old town turned a famous waterfall into a really enjoyable half-day out.

How Rhine Falls fits into your Switzerland itinerary

Rhine Falls works particularly well as a half-day trip from Zurich, with trains making the journey north straightforward. I'd combine the falls with Schaffhausen rather than travelling back immediately, then return to Zurich later in the afternoon.

Lugano

(pronounced: loo-GAH-noh)

Lugano brought out a side of Switzerland I hadn't experienced anywhere else. Palm trees lined the waterfront, Italian food filled the streets, and sitting outside with a coffee felt much closer to northern Italy than the Alpine Switzerland I'd been exploring.

I loved walking along the lakefront before wandering into the old town, where narrow lanes opened onto piazzas filled with cafés and restaurants.

There was a slower rhythm here that encouraged me to linger over meals rather than keep checking what I needed to see next.

For the views, I headed up Monte San Salvatore. Looking down over the twisting shoreline of Lake Lugano, with mountains rising in almost every direction, gave me a completely different perspective on the region.

My favourite experience, though, was taking the boat to Gandria. The little village seemed to tumble down the hillside towards the water, with ochre houses, stone lanes and terraces squeezed into the slope. I stayed into the late afternoon before returning across the lake.

Watching the mountains catch the last light from the boat was a beautiful way to end the day, and probably the moment that best summed up Lugano for me.

How Lugano fits into your Switzerland itinerary

I'd give Lugano two nights and include it when travelling between central Switzerland and Italy or as a southern detour from Zurich. The train journey through the Gotthard route also makes the transition into Ticino part of the experience rather than simply a transfer.

Geneva

(pronounced: jeh-NEE-vah)

Geneva was one of those cities where I enjoyed looking beyond the image I already had in my head. I knew about the UN, luxury watches and the Jet d'Eau, but I found much more history and science here than I expected.

I started around the lakefront, where the Jet d'Eau was impossible to miss, before walking uphill into the Old Town. The narrow streets felt remarkably removed from Geneva's international side, and Saint Pierre Cathedral was one of my favourite stops. 

I especially enjoyed exploring the archaeological site underneath it, where Roman mosaics and early Christian remains revealed layers of the city I'd never have noticed above ground.

The experience I wouldn't skip, though, is CERN. Visiting such an important centre of scientific research gave my time in Geneva an entirely different dimension, particularly after spending the previous day exploring centuries of history.

I also found the city's international character fascinating. Seeing institutions such as the Palais des Nations alongside historic neighbourhoods, busy cafés and the lake made Geneva feel much more varied than its businesslike reputation suggests.

By the end, I was glad I'd given it two days rather than treating it purely as an arrival point.

How Geneva fits into your Switzerland itinerary

Geneva works particularly well at the beginning or end of a Switzerland itinerary because of its international airport.

It's also very easy to travel to France from Geneva, with flights to Paris in just over an hour.

Bern

(pronounced: BEHRN)

Bern was a city I enjoyed most on foot.

The historic centre curves around a bend in the Aare River, and I loved wandering beneath its long sandstone arcades, occasionally stepping out to explore fountains, little shops and streets that seemed remarkably intact for a modern capital.

I stopped at the Zytglogge to watch its astronomical clock come to life before the hour, then continued along Kramgasse. 

Knowing Albert Einstein once lived and worked along the same street added another layer to a city already packed with history.

What really made Bern memorable for me, though, was seeing it from above. I walked across the river and up to the Rose Garden towards the end of the day.

From there, I could see the rooftops and medieval towers wrapped inside the turquoise curve of the Aare, with the Alps appearing in the distance on a clear day.

I stayed as the light softened over the sandstone buildings, and it became my favourite view of the city.

Bern may be Switzerland's capital, but I liked that it never felt dominated by that status. It remained compact, historic and wonderfully easy to explore.

How Bern fits into your Switzerland itinerary

Bern's central location makes it one of the easiest cities to incorporate into a wider Switzerland trip.

I'd give it at least a full day, or stay overnight before continuing towards the Bernese Oberland, where the scenery shifts dramatically from medieval city streets to the Alps.

Lucerne

(pronounced: loo-TSERN)

Lucerne was one of those places where I understood the appeal almost immediately. The combination of lake, mountains and old-town architecture gave me that classic Swiss scenery I had been hoping to find.

I started around the Reuss River and Chapel Bridge, crossing beneath its painted roof before wandering through the old town.

I loved the colourful buildings, waterfront views and the way the mountains seemed to appear at the end of streets when I least expected them.

The Lion Monument was a quieter stop, and seeing the enormous lion carved directly into the rock was much more moving in person.

The next day, I swapped the city for the mountains and headed towards Mount Pilatus. 

Getting up there was part of the fun, but it was the view from the top that stayed with me: Lake Lucerne winding between mountains far below and Alpine peaks stretching across the horizon.

I'd also make time to get onto the lake itself. Seeing Lucerne from a boat completely changed my perspective, especially once the city disappeared behind me and the mountains began closing in around the water.

Two days felt right because I could enjoy both sides of Lucerne without cramming everything into one sightseeing marathon.

How Lucerne fits into your Switzerland itinerary

Lucerne is only about an hour from Zurich by train, so I'd place it early in a Switzerland itinerary before continuing deeper into the Alps.

Two nights gives you enough time for the historic centre and lakefront plus a separate day for Mount Pilatus or a longer boat journey on Lake Lucerne.

The Engadine Valley

(pronounced: en-gah-DEEN)

The Engadine Valley was where I really wanted to put on my hiking boots and spend entire days outside. 

St Moritz may have the famous name, but it was the trails, lakes and mountains surrounding it that made the biggest impression on me.

One of my favourite hikes took me above the Upper Engadine lakes, where I could look down over Lake Sils and Lake Silvaplana from the mountainside.

The higher I climbed, the wider the valley became, with turquoise water below me and peaks stretching into the distance. I loved stopping along the trail simply to take it all in.

I also hiked towards the Morteratsch Glacier from near Pontresina. It was an easier walk, following the valley towards the ice, but the markers showing where the glacier had reached in previous decades made this one particularly thought-provoking.

Between hikes, I enjoyed exploring villages such as Sils Maria and noticing the intricate sgraffito decorating traditional Engadine houses. It gave the valley a cultural identity that felt just as distinctive as its scenery.

Three nights gave me enough time to alternate longer walks with slower afternoons, although I could easily have stayed longer with so many trails still unexplored.

How the Engadine Valley fits into your Switzerland itinerary

I'd allow at least three nights for the Engadine rather than treating St Moritz as a quick stop. It works especially well as the southeastern Alpine section of a longer rail itinerary, with connections through Chur making the journey into the valley part of the experience.

The Bernese Oberland

(pronounced: BEHR-neh-zeh OH-ber-lant)

The Bernese Oberland was the Switzerland I'd been waiting to see. I'd already spent plenty of time in the mountains, but nothing quite prepared me for how enormous everything felt here.

I based myself between Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen and spent as much time hiking as I could. Walking beneath the Eiger was a particular highlight.

From around Kleine Scheidegg, I followed trails with the North Face towering beside me, occasionally stopping simply because the scale of the mountain was difficult to comprehend while moving.

The trails above Grindelwald were equally memorable. Hiking higher into the landscape gave me huge views across to the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, with green valleys dropping away beneath the path.

Lauterbrunnen offered something completely different. I walked through the valley with sheer cliffs rising on both sides and waterfalls spilling from seemingly impossible heights. Staubbach Falls was impressive, but I loved how waterfalls kept appearing as I explored.

I also made the journey to Jungfraujoch, where the snow, ice and enormous Aletsch Glacier made the landscape feel almost otherworldly.

Four nights still left me wanting more. For anyone who loves hiking, this was easily one of the parts of Switzerland where I found it hardest to leave.

How the Bernese Oberland fits into your Switzerland itinerary

I'd make the Bernese Oberland the main mountain section of a first Switzerland itinerary and give it at least four nights. Bern makes a natural stop beforehand, while Lucerne works well before or after it if you're building a route through central Switzerland.

Zurich

(pronounced: TSYOO-rikh)

Zurich was much more than a convenient place for me to start or finish a trip through Switzerland. 

Once I stopped treating it as a transport hub, I found a city where I genuinely enjoyed spending a couple of days.

I explored the Altstadt on foot, wandering along both sides of the Limmat and crossing back and forth between its historic streets.

The twin towers of the Grossmünster were almost always somewhere in view, while the Chagall windows inside the Fraumünster were one of the details I was particularly glad I hadn't rushed past.

I also made time for the Kunsthaus. After so much mountain scenery elsewhere in Switzerland, spending a few hours surrounded by art gave me a completely different kind of day.

What I liked most, though, was Zurich's relationship with the water. I walked along Lake Zurich in the morning, watching boats move across the lake with the Alps in the distance, and understood why locals make so much use of it in summer.

In the evening, I headed towards Langstrasse for dinner. Its mix of restaurants and livelier atmosphere felt far removed from the immaculate shopping streets I'd seen earlier.

Zurich gave me a much broader impression of Swiss city life than I'd expected.

How Zurich fits into your Switzerland itinerary

Zurich is an easy place to begin or finish a Switzerland itinerary because of its international airport and excellent rail connections.

It's a natural stopping place for those road-tripping from Germany. I'd stay for two nights rather than immediately heading for the mountains, then continue towards Lucerne, Appenzell or the Engadine depending on your route.

Zermatt & The Matterhorn

(pronounced: TSER-mat / MAT-er-horn)

Seeing the Matterhorn in person was one of those travel moments I'd built up in my head for years, and somehow the real thing still exceeded it. 

No photograph quite prepared me for how dramatically that familiar pyramid rises above Zermatt.

I visited in December, and the village itself was every bit as memorable.

With snow covering the rooftops and streets, warm lights glowing from the chalets and no regular cars passing through, Zermatt genuinely felt like I'd stepped inside a Hallmark Christmas movie.

I loved simply walking around in the evening and soaking up the atmosphere.

The mountain was never far from the experience. I headed up towards Klein Matterhorn for enormous views across the surrounding Alps, where the scale of the landscape was completely different from down in the village.

What I especially liked about Zermatt was that I didn't need to be skiing or tackling a serious mountain route to enjoy being here.

Slowing down, wandering the car-free streets and looking up whenever the Matterhorn appeared between the buildings were experiences in themselves.

Winter gave Zermatt a completely different character from Switzerland's summer hiking destinations, and that snowy December atmosphere became one of my favourite memories from the trip.

How Zermatt fits into your Switzerland itinerary

I'd give Zermatt at least three nights because reaching the end of the Mattertal Valley takes some time and mountain weather can disrupt carefully made plans.

It pairs naturally with other stops in Valais or with the Bernese Oberland if you're building an itinerary around Switzerland's most dramatic Alpine scenery.

Switzerland's rail network made it tempting for me to keep adding stops, but I found the country much more enjoyable when I gave each region enough time rather than changing hotels every night.

For a shorter trip, I'd concentrate on one part of the country. With seven or ten days, you can start combining cities, lakes, and Alpine regions without spending too much of the trip in transit.

Switzerland itinerary 5 days

Why this route? I like this itinerary because the scenery builds as you go. You begin with Zurich's old town and lake, move into the mountains around Lucerne, and finish surrounded by the huge peaks and waterfalls of the Bernese Oberland.

*Five days goes quickly, so I wouldn't try to squeeze Zermatt or southern Switzerland into this route. I'd rather have two proper days in the Bernese Oberland than lose valuable time travelling between distant regions. 

Switzerland itinerary 7 days

Why this route? This itinerary gave me three very different versions of Switzerland without trying to cover the entire country.

Geneva brings the international and French-speaking side, Bern adds medieval history, and Zermatt finishes the trip with the Matterhorn and a completely different Alpine atmosphere.

*I'd especially like this route in December, when Zermatt covered in snow felt like I'd stepped inside a Hallmark Christmas movie. In summer, you could use the same itinerary for hiking and high-mountain excursions instead. 

Switzerland itinerary 10 days

Why this route? This is the itinerary I'd choose if I wanted to see just how varied Switzerland can be.

Appenzell's green hills and traditions felt completely different from the high Alpine landscape of the Engadine, while arriving in Italian-speaking Lugano brought another dramatic change in scenery, architecture, food, and atmosphere.

*Ten days gives you more breathing room, and I'd use it. The Engadine in particular deserves several nights if you enjoy hiking, while Lugano is somewhere I'd slow down and enjoy the lake rather than treating it as another sightseeing stop.

Why Switzerland deserves a trip beyond its famous cities

Zurich, Geneva, and Lucerne are all worth exploring, but some of my favourite experiences in Switzerland happened once I headed deeper into the mountains and smaller communities.

I loved how quickly the country changed as I travelled through it, from hiking beneath the enormous peaks of the Bernese Oberland to exploring the turquoise lakes of the Engadine Valley and experiencing Zermatt covered in snow in December.

Switzerland's regional differences were a huge part of what made it so interesting to me. Languages, food, architecture, landscapes, and local traditions could change considerably within just a few hours of travelling.

If you're planning a trip to Switzerland, I wouldn't stick entirely to the major cities. Make room for at least one Alpine region or smaller town, because that's where I really started to appreciate just how much variety Switzerland packs into such a small country.

FAQs about travelling to Switzerland

Ready to explore Switzerland? Optimise Travel is here to help

Switzerland may be relatively small, but deciding how to divide your time between its historic cities, Alpine villages, mountain valleys, lakes, and different cultural regions can quickly become the hardest part of planning a trip.

At Optimise Travel, we create personalized travel itineraries based on your interests, travel style, and budget.

Whether you're dreaming of seeing the Matterhorn above Zermatt, hiking through the Bernese Oberland, exploring the lakes of the Engadine Valley, wandering Bern's medieval streets, cruising Lake Lucerne, or experiencing the Italian-influenced atmosphere of Lugano, we'll help you build an itinerary that makes the most of your time.

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