Top 10 Things to Do in Switzerland

Planning a trip to Switzerland and wondering what to do. Here are the top 10 things you can do in Switzerland

Here are some of my favorites things to do in Switzerland

1 Trail of Lake Zermatt (ideal for hiking)

It is also known as five foot lakes and considered by tourists as the Mecca of hiking. All over the world, hikers prefer to come to Switzerland in the summer for hiking. Stroll through the shadow of the legendary Matterhorn on the Zermatt Lake Trail, explore the history of the country on the Swiss Lake Lucerne Trail or discover native animals such as the mountain goat or groundhog through the Swiss National Park Graubünden. Switzerland Tourism offers a free iPhone application detailing 32 routes of the country. Tip: Sturdy walking sticks and hiking boots help prevent ankle sprains and knee injuries on rough terrain.

2 Cheese in Friborg

The fact that the Swiss only eat fondues in winter does not mean that they can not enjoy all year round. The best is in Friborg, where Gruyère cheese and Vacherin frutourois are paired with white wine, garlic and kirsch (cherry brandy). Other cheese-based dishes to try include raclette and alpine magronen (macaroni and alpine cheese). Do not miss regional grape varieties such as Sbrinz in Central Switzerland, Emmental in Bern or Bundner Bergkase in Graubünden.

3 Geneva

The Swiss mountains attract attention, but the lakes of the country are equally impressive. The glacial blue waters and coastal vineyards create excellent photographs. Local fish is a specialty of many menus. Sail along the cascading Water Jet and the imposing Chillon Castle on the shores of Lake Geneva, go for a historic rowing boat, past the Rutli meadow and the Wilhelm Tell chapel on the shores of Lake Lucerne or cross the Italian border Lake Lugano. The inhabitants of the city of Zurich refresh themselves by diving in Lake Zurich and birdwatchers flock to Lake Neuchâtel.

4 Picturesque villages of Chateau d’Oex, Wengen, Murren and others

If you want to slow down and relax, leave the city and head to one of Switzerland’s smallest towns. Château d’Oex, a peaceful resort in the Lake Geneva region, is an ideal base for fans of hot air or outdoor ballooning. Wengen and Murren, two hilltop villages overlooking the Lauterbrunnen valley, offer access to the Bernese Oberland peaks without the crowds of Interlaken. And the quiet Gandria, on the shores of Lake Lugano, has winding lanes and an Italian flair.

5 Gruyères or Appenzell (Best known for cows and cheese)

Most likely, when you travel to Switzerland, you have some sort of interaction with cows, from cheese production to hearing the sound of bells on the ground. Meet the cows on a hike or visit a dairy farm near Château D’Oex. Or join the seasonal processions in Gruyères or Appenzell when the cows are driven to and from the hills to graze. In autumn, the cow fighting in Martigny is a popular event: the cows close their horns but do not hurt themselves.

6 Folk marches, the local festival

Visitors can easily discover local traditions and national recreation. Every Saturday, from mid-July to August, the Vevey Folk Marches feature Swiss folk music, horn presentations, crafts and wine tastings. During the fair of Martigny in Valais, watch the Swiss fight, the flag or the stone, or Hornussen (like golf and baseball) or go to Appenzell on the last Sunday of April to attend the open-air elections on the village square.

7 Learn some languages

Switzerland has a linguistic impact for a country of this size. Travel between four cultural regions without crossing the border and speak French in the west, Italian in the south, German in the north and in the center of the country and Romansh in the Grisons to the east, where there is an enclave of the traditional language. Most Swiss also speak English, but to greet people with the appropriate local term: hello, boungiorno or gruezi (Swiss German) will take you far.

8 Local wines on the Lake Geneva, Ticino or Valais

Whether white wine made from Chasselas grapes on the shores of Lake Geneva, Merlot de Ticino or Pinot Noir from Valais, take the opportunity to savor local brands. Most Swiss wines are not exported, so it is difficult to leave the country, but that does not mean that quality is not enough. In the canton of Vaud, browse the protected vineyards of Lavaux: the steep terraces offer breathtaking views.

9 Peaks in Piz Gloria

The views from the peaks of Switzerland are spectacular and you do not have to be a mountaineer to enjoy it. Gondolas, funiculars and trains take you up to thousands of meters from observation stations and restaurants located at the top of the mountain. Visit the lair of a James Bond villain at Piz Gloria, a restaurant on top of the mountain. Schilthorn, breathe the cold air on the terrace of the Sphinx at Jungfraujoch or take the steepest rack railway in the world to the top of the mountain. Pilatus near Lucerne.

10 Contemporary art in Gruyères or Basel

Home to fantastic classical collections, Switzerland is also a favorite place for avant-garde contemporary art. Gruyères, a medieval town famous for its cheese, is an amazing art center: stroll through the castle to see modern works inside a 13th-century castle, or visit the nearby Giger Museum.