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Travel guide to Switzerland

Switzerland is a small landlocked country right in the heart of the Alps, bordered by Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Liechtenstein. Although Switzerland has plenty of cultural attractions, with world-class museums, vibrant cities and renowned festivals, most people visit the country for its ravishing mountain scenery. Sitting on the “rooftop” of the continent of Europe, Switzerlands wows its visitors with breahtaking mountain peaks and mammoth glaciers which serve as the source of powerful rivers such as the Rhine and the Rhône. The Swiss Alps, glitzy ski resorts, pristine lakes, and green rolling pastures offer unbeatable winter adventures and summer outdoor experiences. The variety of different sights to see in Switzerland is truly incredible, ranging from giant glaciers, epic mountain peaks, and wild rivers, but also vibrant cities, world-class museums, and scenic train journeys.

Get the most out of your (luxury) trip to Switzerland with my travel guide. Find out more about:

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The climate in Switzerland is moderate with no excessive heat, cold or humidity. From July to August the daytime temperature range is 18 to 28 °C (65° – 82° F) and from January to February the range is -2 to 7 °C (28° – 45° F). In the other months, the daytime temperature range is 8 to 15 °C (46° – 59° F). This range may vary depending on the altitude.

Switzerland has four, clearly distinguisable seasons:

Overall, the best time to visit Switzerland really depends on what you want to do, see and experience:

For a month to month weather report in Switzerland (with regional variations), check this website.

HOW TO GET THERE 

Most visitors reach Switzerland by car, plane or train. Although located in the heart of Europe, be aware that Switzerland is not part of the European Union and therefore, border control is still in effect: duties and taxes are applicable at all borders, no matter the mode of transportation you choose to travel to Switzerland.

A large number of airlines fly to/from Switzerland. The country’s main airport is Zürich and will be the point of entry for most visitors, followed by Geneva. There are also smaller airports in Basel, Bern Belp, and Lugano.

For travelers arriving by road, Switzerland is linked to Europe’s extensive motorway network. However, to be able to drive on Switzerland’s motorways, you need to purchase a Swiss Motorway Vignette (Tax Sticker). This is mandatory for all motorized vehicles and trailers up to a weight of 3,5 t (vehicles weighing more will have to be assessed). The sticker costs EUR 36.50 and can be purchased on gas stations and Autobahnraststätten (motorway service stations and kiosk) shortly before the Swiss border (coming from Germany, France, Austria, Liechtenstein and Italy), at German post offices, from your automobile club, at the Swiss border directly or online from the official Switzerland tourism website.

Visitors wishing to travel to the Alpine nation by train benefit from a multitude of excellent connections. Whether from Germany, Austria, Italy, France or the Netherlands, each day plenty of international trains arrive in Switzerland. TGV Lyria, for example, travels between Paris or Marseille and the Swiss cities of Geneva, Lausanne, Basle and Zurich several times daily. Most international trains offer a dining car or a bistro, power outlets and newspaper service, rendering the journey by rail exceptionally comfortable. The timetable for international trains can be found here.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

In principle, everyone needs a valid travel document to enter Switzerland, although the country may allow EU/EFTA citizens with expired travel documents to cross the border. Travel documents of third-country nationals for a short stay not exceeding 90 days in any period of 180 days, however, must:

The date of issue of the travel document is what counts, regardless of any official extension. In some cases, you may also need to obtain a visa. To find out if you need to obtain a visa and if there are any requirements for your travel documents, you can check the online Swiss authority.

Make sure you read my 10 tips to plan a worry-free trip.

GETTING AROUND

Switzerland has one of the best public transport systems in the world, and I highly recommend to make use of it, unless you come with your own car. Comprising rail, bus and boat travel, the Swiss Travel System will bring you hassle free from the larger cities to the tiniest hamlet.

All trains, busses and ships – be they privately operated or by the State – are connected through the Swiss Travel System and you can use one pass for everything. Several passes are available to the traveling public and can be purchased here. Discounts are offered on select cog railways and funiculars, as well as some special events and festivals.

In case you want to rent a car, you’ll be glad to know that all of the major car rental agencies have offices in the main cities and airports. To rent a car in Switzerland, you generally must be at least 20 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Overall, renting a car in Switzerland is more expensive than using the public transport, unless you are traveling with a larger group. Also keep in mind that some high-end hotels, such as the Dolder Grand in Zurich, provide complimentary rental cars or have exclusive car services for their guests at limited or no additional charge.

No matter how you get around in Switzerland, just be sure not to miss two of the world’s most scenic train routes – the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express – which both cross through breathtaking rugged mountain landscapes. This is where you might want to splurge and buy seats in the observation cars for unobstructed view of the Alps.

INSPIRATION, HIGHLIGHTS, & TRAVEL TIPS

There are several reasons why you should put Switzerland on top of your bucket list:

The following, comprehensive articles may also inspire you and help you plan a holiday to Switzerland:

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES 

Switzerland is a small country and it’s very easy to get around, so it’s possible to see a lot in a time frame of one to two weeks. I hereby share with you a schedule based on my own holidays in Switzerland.

For the planning of your own travel itinerary in Switzerland, I highly recommend the website MySwitzerland.com, which boasts plenty of helpful information. In addition, for more ideas, I suggest the excellent Switzerland itineraries as provided by The Lonely Planet and Frommers.

RECOMMENDED LUXURY HOTELS (+ REVIEWS)

I recommend to visit my top 10 list of the most fabulous hotels in Switzerland if you are eager to know how I rank Switzerland’s top hotels, based my own experience.

Below, you find my reviews of hotels in Switzerland (with pros, cons, & tips to save money per hotel).

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