Things to do in Switzerland

25 things to do in Switzerland

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Hike the Eiger Trail beneath the North Face

  Walk directly underneath the notorious Eiger North Face on a high Alpine trail offering breathtaking views of the Grindelwald Valley and the Wetterhorn.

  Grindelwald, Bernese Oberland

• Ride the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz

  Travel on the world's slowest express train across 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels, with panoramic views of the Swiss Alps.

  Zermatt to St. Moritz

• Marvel at the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen

  Stand on viewing platforms just meters away from Europe's largest waterfall, feeling the spray of 600,000 liters of water per second.

  Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Schaffhausen

• Explore the Old Town of Bern, a UNESCO World Heritage site

  Stroll through medieval arcades, see the Zytglogge clock tower, and admire the sandstone buildings in Switzerland's capital.

  Bern

• Savor a fondue moitié-moitié in a Gruyères chalet

  Dip bread into a pot of half Gruyère and half Vacherin Fribourgeois cheese melted with white wine, in the medieval hilltop village of Gruyères.

  Gruyères, Canton of Fribourg

• Visit the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne

  Cross the iconic 14th-century wooden bridge adorned with 17th-century paintings, flanked by flower boxes, with the octagonal Wasserturm at its side.

  Lucerne

• Ski the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise year-round

  Ride the highest cable car in Europe to 3,883m for summer skiing and panoramic views of the Breithorn and Monte Rosa massif.

  Zermatt, Valais

• Attend the Montreux Jazz Festival on Lake Geneva shores

  Listen to world-class musicians perform in intimate venues along the lakeside promenade during this iconic two-week summer festival.

  Montreux, Vaud

• Discover the Swiss National Park's unspoiled wilderness

  Follow marked trails in Switzerland's only national park, spotting ibex, marmots, and golden eagles amidst pristine alpine landscapes.

  Zernez, Graubünden

• Take a boat cruise on Lake Lucerne

  Sail past rugged mountain panoramas and historic bays on a vintage paddle steamer, with views of the Rütli meadow where Switzerland was founded.

  Lucerne

• Walk the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, a UNESCO landscape

  Hike through steeply terraced vineyards overlooking Lake Geneva, tasting local Chasselas wines along the way from Lutry to St-Saphorin.

  Lavaux, Vaud

• Explore the car-free village of Mürren via cable car

  Arrive by gondola to this cliffside hamlet facing the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, then take the funicular up to the Schilthorn Piz Gloria.

  Mürren, Bernese Oberland

• See the Lion Monument of Lucerne

  View the poignant stone carving of a dying lion commemorating the Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution, hewn into a sandstone cliff.

  Lucerne

• Ride the Jungfrau Railway to the Top of Europe

  Take the cogwheel train through the Eiger and Mönch mountains to the Jungfraujoch at 3,454m, where you can walk on the Aletsch Glacier.

  Jungfraujoch, Bernese Oberland

• Taste Läderach artisanal chocolate at its flagship store in Zürich

  Sample freshly made truffles and giant slabs of single-origin chocolate at this renowned Swiss chocolatier's main shop on Bahnhofstrasse.

  Zürich

• Wander the medieval Castelgrande in Bellinzona

  Climb the ramparts of this UNESCO-listed castle with stunning views over the Ticino valley, part of a trio of fortifications.

  Bellinzona, Ticino

• Cruise on Lake Geneva and visit Chillon Castle

  Combine a scenic boat ride with a tour of the island fortress that inspired Lord Byron, complete with dungeons and lakeside towers.

  Veytaux, Vaud

• Hike the Five Lakes Trail in Zermatt

  Walk past five shimmering alpine lakes, each reflecting the Matterhorn from a different angle, on a day hike accessed by Sunnegga funicular.

  Zermatt, Valais

• Stroll through the rose garden of Bern's Rosengarten

  Admire 223 rose varieties and a panoramic view of Bern's medieval skyline from this hilltop park, a former cemetery turned public garden.

  Bern

• Experience traditional Swiss wrestling at an alpine Schwingfest

  Watch brawny athletes in burlap shorts grapple in a sawdust ring during a local festival, accompanied by alphorn music and cheese vendors.

  Varies (e.g., Appenzell or Emmental)

• Visit the thermal baths of Leukerbad, Europe's largest spa

  Soak in mountain-view hot springs with thermal waters of up to 51°C, surrounded by the Valais Alps.

  Leukerbad, Valais

• Marvel at the Abbey Library of Saint Gall, a rococo gem

  Enter a breathtaking Baroque hall filled with 170,000 old books, stucco ornamentation, and a celestial globe in this UNESCO World Heritage site.

  St. Gallen, St. Gallen

• Toboggan down the Preda–Bergün sled run

  Race along a 6 km illuminated track on a wooden sled at night, after a traditional fondue dinner in an alpine hut.

  Bergün, Graubünden

• Explore the open-air museum of Ballenberg

  Walk through over 100 original historic buildings from all regions of Switzerland, with artisan demonstrations of cheese-making, weaving, and pottery.

  Hofstetten bei Brienz, Bernese Oberland

• Take in the view from Harder Kulm above Interlaken

  Ride the funicular to the top of Interlaken's local mountain for a panoramic platform jutting out over Lake Brienz and Lake Thun.

  Interlaken, Bernese Oberland