Top 20 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland

The landlocked European country is known for its attractive cities, which are ski-chic, and famously idyllic mountain scenery, complete with cuckoo-clock houses and bell-adorned cows—Switzerland is still a place where you can imagine Heidi skipping through the Alpine meadows!

From my many visits to this breathtaking country, here are my favourite beauty spots…

1. Lake Geneva

Switzerland is often called the country of mountains and lakes – it harbours around 1500 lakes, and I think all are beautiful! My favourite, though (and many others!), is Lake Geneva, the largest lake in the Swiss Alps and the second-largest freshwater body in Central Europe.

It fascinates with its pristine beauty and apparent waters and has even been compared with a mirror! This natural mirror reflects picture-postcard mountain peaks, vineyards, tall spruces, buildings, and medieval castles scattered across the slopes.

You can even go on a beach holiday here, where you sunbathe whilst admiring snow-capped mountains!

2. Zurich

Located on the northern shores of the eponymous lake, Zurich wins hearts with a magnificent panorama of the snow-covered Alps on the horizon.

The city centre is bristling with tourist attractions, sights, and exciting things to do – more than 50 museums, 100 art galleries, boutiques, and a vibrant nightlife will keep you pretty busy.

Architecture lovers will appreciate centuries-old buildings adorned with fresco paintings and plants in flowerpots. When visiting the Old Town of Zurich, I suggest looking closely at St. Peter’s Cathedral, which has Europe’s most prominent clock face!

If you prefer recreational activities outside of city confines, you can boat on the lake or hike along the scenic Uetliberg Mountain trails.

3. Lucerne and Lake Lucerne

Lucerne, located at the foothills of picture-perfect Mount Pilatus, is a quintessentially Swiss city beloved by many visitors. It is home to traditional town squares, historic buildings, painted facades, and narrow cobbled streets lined with shops selling traditional goods.

The gorgeous city is also famous for its beautifully preserved medieval bridges, one of which dates back to 1333. There are many things to see and do in Lucerne; add extra visiting time for the picturesque Lake Lucerne.

It’s a vast, irregularly shaped lake encircled by towering mountains – an area often said to be similar to Norway’s famous fjords.

4. Swiss National Park

Switzerland has only one national park, but this one is pretty special, and I’m a huge fan! It is located in the Western Rhaetian Alps in eastern Switzerland and’s part of the UNESCO biosphere reserve.

It’s home to beautiful scenery, wildlife, and 80 kilometres of paths that allow visitors to explore the carefully preserved alpine environment. Expect to see winding, wild, azure rivers, stunning peaks, and dense areas of beautiful alpine forest.

5. Chateau de Chillon

Lake Geneva is one of the world’s most famously beautiful lakes, but if you want to crank up the fairytale factor, head for Chateau de Chillon. This medieval castle lords over Lake Geneva from its rock island, offering gorgeous views inside and out.

The remarkably well-preserved castle displays over a thousand years of history, and the building has inspired the works of famed writers Jeans-Jacque Rosseau and Lord Byron—if you visit, you’ll see why!

6. Zermatt and the Matterhorn

This is Switzerland’s highest ski resort in southern Switzerland’s Valais canton. Zermatt is a car-free Alpine village famous for its picture-postcard prettiness and close location to the imposing Matterhorn.

The steep slopes of this famous mountain once intimidated hikers from even attempting to scale it. Since the first successful attempt in 1865, many more brave mountaineers have reached the top of the famed mountain.

I love this place, but this kind of scenery comes at a price – accommodation in Zermatt is among the most expensive in the country! 

7. Bern

There are many stunning cities in this country, but I personally think Bern, which is located near the country’s centre, stands out! It’s Switzerland’s capital but one of Europe’s smallest capitals. Bern’s Old Town’s medieval streets are particularly scenic and have earned them a UNESCO World Heritage status.

It’s a compact, relaxed city where time moves slowly, and the locals don’t seem nearly as busy as in other cities.

Expect to see covered arcades, whimsical fountains, cobbled streets, world-class galleries, fantastic urban swimming, and traditional architecture, all framed by rolling hills and the glacial Aare River. 

8. Wengen

The Alpine village in the Bernese Oberland region is seriously picturesque! Wengen is an impossibly perfect example of an Alpine village where traditional timber chalets cling to the slopes of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

It’s been developed into a car-free resort town with an exclusive upscale feel and a fine collection of belle époque hotels. In winter, the high altitude and gorgeous scenery attract a discerning skiing crowd; in fact, Wengen has so many skiers at this time that its population has increased almost tenfold.

9. Lake Oeschinen

Located in Switzerland’s Kander Valley, this stunning lake is fed by the glacial brooks of three surrounding mountains.

It’s a beautiful and tranquil spot where nature lovers come to swim, row, hike, and – in winter – ride the 3.5-kilometer-long toboggan run, which travels from the lake to the gondola station.

The surrounding area is also known for its rich flora and fauna – orchids, gentian, edelweiss, and herds of grazing sheep and cows all call this place home.

10. Interlaken

This is a traditional resort town located between two Alpine Lakes. However, it’s not so much the town that has earned itself a place on this list as the surrounding area—Interlaken follows the footsteps of the most beautiful alpine range in the country and arguably the whole world.

The scenery is breathtaking, with snowcapped mountains sprinkled with waterfalls, glacial lakes, and lush green alpine meadows. It’s also the main transport gateway to the region’s mountains and lakes, making it an excellent base for exploring.

Expect stunning mountains, dense forests, alpine meadows, and glaciers, which are great for hiking and skiing.

11. St Moritz

One of the oldest ski resorts in the world, it is the highlight of the Engadin Valley and tends to attract a well-heeled crowd. While its counterparts often suffer from unpredictable weather, St. Moriz boasts 322 sunny days yearly.

This is likely why royal dynasties, politicians, billionaires, and celebrities prefer St. Moriz as a resort of their choice. The high cost puts many people off St. Moritz, but those who get here benefit from a kind of ski’ business class’. Skiing (sledging, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing) is the best reason to visit these parts, but not the only one.

St. Moritz-Bad is a famous health resort with many spas, thermal pools, massage salons, beauty parlours, mud baths, and saunas.

12. Brienz

Brienz is a traditional village in the middle of towering mountains and on the shores of the brilliant turquoise Lake Brienz. It’s located near Interlaken but deserves a special mention of its own.

For a touch of romance, head for Brunngasse, which was once awarded the title of the most beautiful street in Europe. Here, most of the houses are wood-carved and date back to the 18th century, giving them a chocolate box prettiness.

13. Villars-Sur-Ollon

Sitting on the sunlit southern terrace in the Rhone Valley, the gorgeous upscale resort town of Villars-sur-Ollon offers breathtaking views of the Dan du Midi, Mont Blanc massif, and Lake Geneva.

The world-famous ski resort boasts 25 kilometres of premier snow slopes and 44 kilometres of cross-country ski trails. Besides that, it has three snowparks, a snow kindergarten, sledging hills, numerous winter hiking trails, not to mention the lively après ski activities! 

I would also recommend trying out one of my many wellness centres in the thermal spring area. In summer, the main activities of Villars-sur-Ollon are hiking, mountain biking, and golf.

You can explore over 300 km of marked trekking routes and 150 km of mountain bike trails. One of the most exciting routes leads to the pretty mountain lakes Lac de Chavonne, Lac de Bretaye, and Lac Noir.

14. Grindelwald

One of Switzerland’s most famous ski resorts, Grindelwald, sits in the shadow of three magnificent peaks: Jungfrau (4158 m above sea level), Mönch (4099 m), and Eiger (3970 m).

Nature skillfully crafted this one-of-a-kind landscape consisting of steep rocks, neat plateaus, and gentle slopes. No place in Central Europe has glaciers so close to the valley, and they are easily accessible for snow enthusiasts.

Besides skiing, you can explore the mysterious Blue Ice Grotto and the sublime Glacial Canyon, which is just a stone’s throw from Grindelwald. However, in my opinion, the main highlight of this place is the cogwheel railway nestling on the summit of the Kleine Scheidegg Mountain.

15. Basel

Divided in half by the Rhine River, Basel, the third-largest Swiss city, proudly sits between Germany and France. It owes its cultural diversity and bizarre mixture of architectural styles to this unique geographical position.

This is perhaps the only place on Earth where you can travel to another country (more precisely, to two foreign countries) by tram! 

If you focus only on Basel’s centre, you’ll have much to see and do. Head to the market square with its richly embellished government buildings and the Gothic cathedral to soak in history or visit one of the 40 local museums – concrete proof that Basel is a city of arts.

16. Lake Constance

Situated at an altitude of 400 meters in northeastern Switzerland, this lake is also known as Lake Constance, Bodensee, and the Swabian Sea.

The vast reservoir, about 65 kilometres long, is the third-largest lake in Europe. Thanks to its enormous size, it washes the shores of three countries – Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

The picture-perfect landscape around the lake is a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Water sports, hiking, roller-skating, and biking activities lure tourists worldwide. While you are here, I highly recommend cruising across the azure waters! 

17. Seebergsee

The Seebergsee Lake,  in the canton of Bern, seems almost like a pond compared to other Swiss lakes. However, while being inferior to its counterparts in size, it is not defective in beauty.

This oasis of tranquillity offers several routes for cyclists and backpackers running across ravishing green foothills. Picturesque grassy landscapes framing the lake are ideal for picnics, sunbathing, and chilling out.

Feel free to plunge into these calm waters and swim across the lake (remember to keep safe!). Afterwards, you can climb cliffs, lending epic views of the Seebergee and the surrounding mountain terrains.

18. Jungfraujoch

A journey to Jungfraujoch Mountain is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those who love mountain peaks, clear air, crystal clear sky, and chilling wind. You can get there by the cog railway Jungfrau, running 9 km from the Kleine Scheidegg pass to Jungfraujoch.

By the way, the Jungfraujoch station, housed at 3454 meters above sea level, is the highest in Europe. It offers fantastic panoramic views of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountain peaks and the longest glacier in the Alps.

Spend a few minutes enjoying these divine views and then plunge through a tunnel to reach the Ice Palace, which exhibits an extensive collection of ice sculptures. Afterwards, you can climb the Sphinx observation terrace or stroll along the Alpine Sensation circular underground walk.

19. Spiez

Spiez is a small town in the picturesque bay of Lake Thun. In the summer, the city is charming, filled with lush greenery and flowers. Unlike many other cities in Switzerland, Spiez does not have an ancient core—except for an old castle dotted with small but lovely low-rise buildings.

However, the local nature is worth visiting Spitz on your trip to Switzerland. The skyy waters of Lake Thun are surrounded by the towering Swiss Alps, which carefully protect the lake from calm winds.

The stunning greenery of Swiss nature and vineyards complement the blue-ish colour palette. I would suggest trying the local wineries’ products as they’re delicious!

20. Appenzell

This pretty region is a place where traditional Swiss culture and tradition is still very much alive! It’s only 66 square miles in size, yet it’s packed with charm and cultural richness!

Protected by the surrounding mountains, gorgeous villages dot the rolling hills, and historical pastimes like folk music and traditional dancing are still a regular occurrence here!