Find places in Switzerland

Must-Haves

• Swiss National Museum (Hauptbahnhof)
  A fairytale castle beside the station that tells the whole story of Switzerland.
• Kunsthaus Zürich (Heimplatz)
  A superb art collection from old masters to Giacometti, Monet and Munch.

Fun for Everyone

• FIFA Museum (Enge)
  Interactive football history with games and a pinball hall that kids love.

Off the Beaten Path

• Museum Rietberg (Enge)
  World art from Asia, Africa and the Americas in villas set in a lakeside park.

Must-Haves

• Grossmünster (Altstadt)
  The twin-towered church where Zurich's Reformation began, with a tower to climb.
• Fraumünster (Altstadt)
  A medieval church with glowing stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lindenhof (Altstadt)
  A quiet tree-shaded square on a hill with a classic view over the old town.

Fun for Everyone

• Zurich Zoo and Masoala Rainforest (Zürichberg)
  A large zoo with a full indoor rainforest hall and an elephant park.

Fun for Everyone

• Uetliberg (Zurich)
  The city's own small mountain, a short train ride up, with views to the Alps.
• Rhine Falls (Neuhausen am Rheinfall)
  Europe's most powerful waterfall, with boats to a rock in the middle of the falls.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Flussbad Oberer Letten (Kreis 5)
  A free river swimming spot where locals float down the Limmat in summer.

Must-Haves

• Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten (Altstadt)
  A guild house restaurant for classic Zürcher Geschnetzeltes and rösti by the river.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hiltl (Sihlstrasse)
  The world's oldest vegetarian restaurant, with a huge buffet paid by weight.

Great for Date Night

• Kronenhalle (Rämistrasse)
  A storied brasserie with original works by Picasso, Miró and Chagall on the walls.

Must-Haves

• Confiserie Sprüngli (Paradeplatz)
  The home of Luxemburgerli, light Swiss macarons, since the nineteenth century.

Fun for Everyone

• Im Viadukt (Zurich West)
  Independent shops and a covered food market under old railway arches.

Off the Beaten Path

• Freitag Flagship Store (Zurich West)
  A tower of stacked shipping containers selling bags made from truck tarpaulins.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bürkliplatz Flea Market (Bürkliplatz)
  A Saturday flea market by the lake for vintage finds in the warmer months.

Fun for Everyone

• Frau Gerolds Garten (Zurich West)
  A colourful urban garden with outdoor bars and food stalls by the railway.

Must-Haves

• Street Parade (Lakeside)
  A huge summer techno parade of love mobiles and dancers along the lake.

Fun for Everyone

• Sechseläuten (Sechseläutenplatz)
  The spring festival where a snowman figure is burned to predict the summer.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Storchen (Altstadt)
  A historic hotel right on the river with terraces facing the old town.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Zurich Youth Hostel (Wollishofen)
  A modern, clean budget hostel a short tram ride from the lake.

Must-Haves

• Chapel Bridge (Old Town)
  The fourteenth century covered wooden bridge and water tower that symbolise the city.
• Lion Monument (Löwenplatz)
  A moving dying lion carved into a cliff to honour fallen Swiss Guards.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Musegg Wall (Old Town)
  Walk the medieval town wall and climb its towers for free in the warmer months.

Fun for Everyone

• Lake Lucerne paddle steamer cruise (Lakefront)
  Historic paddle steamers glide between mountain villages along the lake.

Must-Haves

• Mount Pilatus (Alpnachstad)
  The world's steepest cogwheel railway climbs to a dramatic summit above the lake.
• Rigi (Vitznau)
  Easy panoramic walks on the Queen of the Mountains, reached by Europe's first mountain railway.

Fun for Everyone

• Mount Titlis (Engelberg)
  Year-round snow, a glacier cave, a rotating cable car and a suspension bridge.

Off the Beaten Path

• Stanserhorn (Stans)
  An open-top double-deck cable car to a summit with views over ten lakes.
• Bürgenstock Hammetschwand Lift (Bürgenstock)
  A historic outdoor lift up a cliff face high above Lake Lucerne.

Fun for Everyone

• Swiss Museum of Transport (Lidostrasse)
  Trains, planes, a planetarium and chocolate, the best family museum in the country.

Must-Haves

• KKL Luzern (Europaplatz)
  A striking concert hall on the lakefront and home of the Lucerne Festival.

Off the Beaten Path

• Rosengart Collection (Pilatusstrasse)
  An intimate museum with outstanding works by Picasso and Paul Klee.

Must-Haves

• Wirtshaus Galliker (Old Town)
  A traditional tavern for Luzerner Chügelipastete and hearty Swiss classics.

Great for Date Night

• Old Swiss House (Löwenplatz)
  A timbered restaurant known for Wiener schnitzel prepared at your table.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Rathaus Brauerei (Riverside)
  A riverside brewpub under the arcades with house beers and simple food.

Great for Date Night

• Bar 59 Hotel Montana (Adligenswilerstrasse)
  An Art Deco hotel bar with one of the best lake views in town.

Must-Haves

• Lucerne Carnival (Old Town)
  Days of brass bands, masks and parades that start before dawn.

Fun for Everyone

• Lucerne Festival (KKL Luzern)
  A summer classical music festival with the world's great orchestras.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lucerne Weekly Market (Riverside)
  A riverside market along the Reuss for fruit, cheese, bread and flowers.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern (Schweizerhofquai)
  A grand lakefront hotel with a long musical history.

Must-Haves

• Zytglogge (Old Town)
  The medieval clock tower with moving figures that perform just before the hour.
• Bern Minster (Old Town)
  The tallest church spire in Switzerland and a tower climb over the rooftops.
• Federal Palace (Bundesplatz)
  The domed Swiss parliament, with free guided tours on many days.

Off the Beaten Path

• Thun Castle (Thun)
  A white castle above the lakeside town of Thun, half an hour by train.

Fun for Everyone

• BärenPark (Nydegg)
  A riverside park where Bern's bears roam a large natural enclosure.

Great for Date Night

• Rose Garden (Altenberg)
  The best view over the old town, with roses, a pond and a terrace restaurant.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Marzili Aare baths (Marzili)
  Free riverside baths where strong swimmers float down the Aare in summer.

Off the Beaten Path

• Gurten (Wabern)
  Bern's local hill, reached by funicular, with meadows and Alpine views.

Must-Haves

• Zentrum Paul Klee (Schosshaldenstrasse)
  The largest Klee collection in a wave-shaped building by Renzo Piano.
• Bern Historical Museum (Helvetiaplatz)
  History collections plus the city's major Einstein exhibition.

Fun for Everyone

• Einstein House (Kramgasse)
  The flat where Einstein lived while working on special relativity.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kunstmuseum Bern (Hodlerstrasse)
  The oldest art museum in Switzerland, with Swiss painters and modern masters.

Must-Haves

• Kornhauskeller (Old Town)
  A vast vaulted cellar restaurant under a former granary.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Altes Tramdepot (Nydegg)
  A brewery restaurant by the bear park with house beers and Swiss dishes.

Great for Date Night

• Restaurant Rosengarten (Altenberg)
  Dinner with a view over the old town from the Rose Garden.

Fun for Everyone

• Cellar bars of the old town (Old Town)
  Duck through street doors into vaulted cellars for drinks and small concerts.

Must-Haves

• Bundesplatz market (Bundesplatz)
  A Tuesday and Saturday market in front of parliament for fresh local food.

Must-Haves

• Zibelemärit (Old Town)
  The November onion market with onion braids, confetti and onion tart.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Schweizerhof Bern (Bahnhofplatz)
  A classic grand hotel opposite the main station.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bern Youth Hostel (Marzili)
  A simple hostel by the river below the Federal Palace.

Must-Haves

• Harder Kulm (Interlaken)
  A funicular to a viewpoint over both lakes and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
• Jungfraujoch (Jungfrau region)
  The highest railway station in Europe, with glacier views and an ice palace.
• Trümmelbach Falls (Lauterbrunnen)
  Glacier meltwater thundering through caves inside the mountain.

Fun for Everyone

• Staubbach Falls (Lauterbrunnen)
  A tall, free waterfall at the edge of the village you can walk behind.
• First Cliff Walk (Grindelwald)
  A gondola ride and cliffside walkway, with an easy hike to Bachalpsee.

Fun for Everyone

• Lake Brienz boat cruise (Interlaken Ost)
  Turquoise water and village stops between Interlaken and Brienz.
• Paragliding over Interlaken (Höhematte)
  Tandem flights with licensed pilots landing on the central meadow.
• Grindelwald First trotti bikes (Grindelwald)
  Ride scooter bikes down mountain roads from Schreckfeld in summer.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ballenberg Open-Air Museum (Brienz)
  Historic farmhouses from across Switzerland, with crafts and farm animals.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hüsi Bierhaus (Interlaken)
  A relaxed beer hall with a long list of beers and simple food.

Great for Date Night

• Piz Gloria revolving restaurant (Schilthorn)
  Lunch while the room turns slowly past dozens of peaks.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Coop and Migros supermarkets (Interlaken)
  Supermarkets for picnic supplies before a mountain day.

Must-Haves

• Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel (Höheweg)
  A historic grand hotel facing the Jungfrau across the meadow.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof (Interlaken)
  A friendly hostel in a villa with mountain views.

Must-Haves

• Gornergrat Railway (Zermatt)
  An open-air cogwheel railway to a ridge facing the Matterhorn and glaciers.
• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (Klein Matterhorn)
  Europe's highest cable car station with ice caves and summer snow.
• Five Lakes Walk (Blauherd)
  A half-day trail past lakes reflecting the Matterhorn.

Fun for Everyone

• Sunnegga (Zermatt)
  An underground funicular to a family lake area with Matterhorn views.

Off the Beaten Path

• Riffelsee (Gornergrat)
  The famous Matterhorn reflection, a short walk from a Gornergrat stop.

Must-Haves

• Matterhorn Museum (Kirchplatz)
  The dramatic story of the first ascent, told in an underground village.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hinterdorf (Zermatt)
  The old quarter of dark larch barns raised on stone stilts.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mountaineers' Cemetery (Kirchplatz)
  A sobering garden of graves of climbers lost in the mountains.

Fun for Everyone

• Glacier Express (Zermatt station)
  The slow panoramic train from Zermatt to St Moritz through the Alps.

Must-Haves

• Whymper-Stube (Bahnhofstrasse)
  A cosy, classic spot for fondue and raclette in the village centre.

Great for Date Night

• Chez Vrony (Findeln)
  A mountain restaurant on the slopes with sun terraces facing the Matterhorn.

Fun for Everyone

• Hennu Stall (Furi)
  A lively après-ski bar on the run down to the village.

Must-Haves

• Riffelalp Resort (Riffelalp)
  A mountain hotel on the Gornergrat line with Matterhorn views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Zermatt Youth Hostel (Zermatt)
  A budget hostel with Matterhorn views from some rooms.

Must-Haves

• Jet d'Eau (Lakefront)
  Geneva's giant fountain, with a jetty you can walk out along.
• St Pierre Cathedral (Vieille Ville)
  Calvin's church, with towers to climb and an archaeological site below.
• Palais des Nations (Ariana Park)
  The UN's European headquarters, visited on guided tours with a passport.

Off the Beaten Path

• Broken Chair (Place des Nations)
  A giant sculpture of a chair with a broken leg, a protest against landmines.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Reformation Wall (Parc des Bastions)
  A long stone monument to Calvin and the Reformers in a leafy park.

Must-Haves

• International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum (Pregny)
  A powerful, beautifully designed museum on humanitarian action.

Fun for Everyone

• CERN Science Gateway (Meyrin)
  A free science centre at the home of the Large Hadron Collider.
• Olympic Museum (Lausanne)
  A lively museum of the Olympic Games in a lakeside park.

Off the Beaten Path

• Patek Philippe Museum (Plainpalais)
  Centuries of watchmaking and enamel art in a quiet museum.
• Château de Chillon (Montreux)
  A medieval island castle on Lake Geneva, an easy train trip from Geneva.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bains des Pâquis (Pâquis)
  A public lake bath with summer swims, winter sauna and simple fondue.

Fun for Everyone

• Parc La Grange (Eaux-Vives)
  A lakeside park with a famous rose garden and open lawns.

Off the Beaten Path

• Salève (Near Geneva, France)
  A mountain just over the French border with a cable car and views over the city.

Must-Haves

• Lavaux vineyards (Lavaux)
  UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards above the lake with walking trails.

Must-Haves

• Café du Soleil (Petit-Saconnex)
  One of the oldest inns in Geneva, known for its fondue.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Les Pâquis food streets (Pâquis)
  A diverse quarter of small Lebanese, Eritrean, Thai and Portuguese restaurants.

Must-Haves

• Chocolaterie Du Rhône (Rue de la Confédération)
  A historic chocolatier for Geneva's chocolate tradition.

Fun for Everyone

• La Clémence (Bourg-de-Four)
  A café terrace on the oldest square of the old town.

Must-Haves

• Carouge (Carouge)
  A Mediterranean-style quarter of artisans, boutiques and markets.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Plainpalais Flea Market (Plainpalais)
  A big flea market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Must-Haves

• Escalade (Vieille Ville)
  A December festival of costumed parades and chocolate cauldrons.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Beau-Rivage Geneva (Quai du Mont-Blanc)
  A historic lakefront hotel facing the Jet d'Eau.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Geneva Hostel (Pâquis)
  A large, central youth hostel near the lake and station.