switzerland tourism facts

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The essential guide to Switzerland

Here’s everything you need to know about exploring the “Playground of Europe”—when to go, where to stay, what to do, and how to get around.

Why you should visit Switzerland

Skiing in the   Alps.   Swimming in crystal clear lakes. Modern cities with medieval old towns. All that chocolate and cheese.

Best time to visit Switzerland

Spring: Hike along low-elevation trails through forests, past gorges, waterfalls, and lakes. Take the Glacier Express panoramic train across the Alps. Basel is a party city during its three-day carnival, Basler Fasnacht .

Summer: Most mountain areas are open from July. (Many resorts close between the skiing and summer seasons, usually April-June.) Europe’s largest jazz festival, Montreux Jazz Festival , takes place on the banks of Lake Geneva . Swiss National Day (August 1) is celebrated nationwide with bonfires and fireworks.  

Autumn: Try regional Swiss cheeses at Lucerne’s Cheese Festival . Celebrate the start of the grape harvest in Neuchâtel at the lively Grape Harvest Festival (Fête des Vendanges). The Food Zurich festival   features food tours, markets, and culinary events.

Winter: Switzerland’s mountain resorts are a magnet for winter sports enthusiasts. Watch international artists carving huge blocks of snow at the Grindelwald Snow Festival . Enjoy mulled wine and twinkling lights at Christmas markets .

Lay of the land

Cities: Bern’s old town has nearly four miles of medieval shopping arcades. Stylish Zurich offers a flourishing food scene and vibrant nightlife. Cultural hotspot Basel is the gateway for Alpine skiing. Geneva is the cosmopolitan capital of high-end watchmaking. Head to Lugano   for Mediterranean-style squares and sub-tropical gardens. Charming car-free Chur is Switzerland’s oldest city.

Central: Surrounded by mountains, lakeside Lucerne is famous for its 14th-century wooden bridge. Lake Zug is a picturesque spot for swimming and watersports in summer. Come winter, Engelberg-TITLIS ski resort offers some of the country’s best slopes—and the world’s first revolving cable car .

( Ice melt and a new cableway are reshaping the Eiger experience .)

Northeast: Head to family-friendly Thurgau to camp on the shores of Lake Constance and cycle or hike through its meadows, orchards, and forests. The magnificent Carolingian Abbey of St. Gall is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

East: Spot ibexes, marmots, and golden eagles in the Swiss National Park (Parc Naziunal Svizzer). Grisons ’ Alpine resorts offer abundant snow-filled fun, from snowboarding to horse-drawn sleigh rides. The exclusive St. Moritz is renowned for its world-class pistes, luxury shopping, and high-end restaurants.

South: For Mediterranean-style architecture and delicious gelato, head to Italian-speaking Ascona on Lake Maggiore. Hike through Valais’ vineyards and learn about local wines at the Musée du Vin . Take the cable car to the Eggishorn viewpoint for magnificent views of the Great Aletsch Glacier . High-altitude Alpine resorts, including Zermatt and Verbier , offer guaranteed snow.

West: Lausanne’s Olympic Museum houses the world’s largest archive of modern Olympic artifacts. The Vaud wine region is known for its diverse range of wines. Visit the peaceful town of Gruyères for its medieval hilltop castle—and its Gruyère cheese. The subalpine Jura Mountains straddle the Swiss-French border.

North: Use Zurich or Winterthur as a base to visit Europe’s largest waterfall. Art Basel, the prestigious contemporary art fair, features artists from five continents. The idyllic Aargau-Solothurn region is off the radar for international tourists: indulge in some me time at one of its numerous thermal baths.

Getting around

By train:   Switzerland’s train network is as safe, clean, and efficient as you’d imagine. Mainline trains are primarily run by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB in German, CFF in French, and FFS in Italian), with local and regional routes covered by private operators. Tickets can be bought at bahn.com, but domestic journeys don’t need to be booked ahead, and most trains don’t require a reservation. Good-value rail passes can be purchased from the Switzerland Travel Centre .

By car: Switzerland’s motorway network includes the A1, which runs east-west from St. Margrethen to Geneva, and the north-south A2, which connects Basel with Chiasso. A vignette   (road tax) is required to drive on the motorway. Winter tires are advisable during winter; snow chains may be necessary in Alpine regions. Driving in Switzerland is on the right.

By plane: Domestic flights are quick but expensive. Switzerland’s so small there’s no need to fly.  

By bus: Low-cost Flixbus offers several domestic routes.

Know before you go

Hours: Except at airports and train and gas stations, most stores are closed on Sundays. Some stores, restaurants, and attractions also close on public holidays, but unlike other parts of Europe, Switzerland doesn’t shut down in August.

Languages:   Switzerland has four national languages: German is the most widely spoken, followed by French, which is spoken in the west of the country. Italian is predominantly spoken in the southeast. Rumantsch is a Gallo-Romance language indigenous to Grisons in Switzerland’s east.  

LGBTQ+: Same-sex marriage is legal in Switzerland. As of 2020, transgender and intersex Swiss citizens over 16 can adjust their legal name and gender marker by self-declaration at the civil registry office. Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, and Lausanne are known for their LGBTQ+ scenes. Pride (known as Christopher Street Day, or CSD) events are held in major cities and some smaller towns. Popular queer-friendly ski destinations include Zermatt, Lenzerheide , and Arosa .

Tipping: It is customary—though not obligatory—to round the bill up or tip approximately 10 percent.

How to visit sustainably  

Outdoors: Explore natural landscapes outside peak season and enjoy spring flowers or colorful fall foliage. Stick to hiking and cycling trails, keep noise to a minimum, and take your trash with you. Use designated campsites or check with local authorities before wild camping. Use SwitzerlandMobility   to select hiking trails coordinated with public transport.

Shopping: Browse flea markets in Zurich, Basel, and Geneva for vintage clothing and jewelry, books, and antiques. Stores such as the Schweizer Heimatwerk in Bern and Kolorit in St. Gallen sell Swiss-made souvenirs. Visit small-scale cheese dairies and wineries, and purchase chocolate from independent makers such as Garçoa and Taucherli , who produce fully traceable, organic, fair-trade bars.

Dining: There are vegetarian and vegan restaurants aplenty—supposedly the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant is in Zurich—and the Swisstainable logo highlights restaurants committed to sustainable practices. Regional, seasonal produce is standard. Switzerland’s drinking water is very safe and clean—bring a reusable bottle and refill it at any tap.

( Here’s how to spend a meat-free culinary weekend in Zurich .)

What to read  

Swiss History in a Nutshell, by Grégoire Nappey. A concise summary of the most important historical events in Swiss history.

Heidi , by Johanna Spyri. This story of an orphan sent to live with her grandfather in the Alps is responsible for the romantic image of Switzerland held around the world today.

Swiss Watching: Inside the Land of Milk and Honey , by Diccon Bewes. This exploration of Switzerland goes beyond its stereotypes to prove there’s far more to the country than banking, skiing, chocolate, and cheese.

( For more tips on what to do in Switzerland, see our   Switzerland Explorer’s Guide .)

Related Topics

• FAMILY TRAVEL
• TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE
• TRAIN TRIPS

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40 interesting, fun and astonishing facts about Switzerland

There are many interesting facts about Switzerland that you probably don't know yet. If you want to get ready for your trip to Switzerland, here are 40 fascinating, useless, interesting and fun facts about Switzerland. You'll be perfectly equipped to show off your knowledge. Or did you know that guinea pigs should never be kept alone in Switzerland? Or that the Lord of the Rings was inspired by Switzerland? Read on and widen your knowledge base.

Before visiting a new country, it can’t hurt to brush up on some facts. Be that for your next trivia night, a random chat with someone on the train or just to show off to your friends.

While Switzerland may be small on the map, it still packs its punch in terms of facts. Here is a list of 40 interesting, weird and fun facts about Switzerland.

• Switzerland is expensive

This is very old news. But it still needs to be said. Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world and it helps to be aware of this before coming here. This means that grabbing the odd Starbucks, eating out, going on day trips and getting groceries will set you back more than you might be used to.

Once you’ve embraced that fact, your 7 USD Big Mac and your 8 USD Chai Tea Latte at Starbucks won’t knock your socks off anymore. And on the plus side, whenever you go back home, things will seem all that much cheaper for you.

Unless you live in Norway, Bermuda or Iceland, of course.

Swiss Activities Tip: If you're looking for ideas on how to save money in Switzerland , we recommend our article on this topic.

• Switzerland is small

With just over 40’000 km2 in size, Switzerland is a comparatively small place. Sweden is 10 times, Australia 188 times and Canada 243 times bigger. This often leads to Switzerland being underestimated in terms of how much time you need to factor in for your visit.

For a country half the size of Lake Superior, you wouldn’t expect there to be much to see. But let us assure you, even if you can technically cross the whole country six times in just one day by train or by car, only a few days in Switzerland just won’t cut it. Even though it is possible, as we show you in our itineraries for Switzerland .

• Switzerland has four official languages

Can you name them all? German, French, Italian and Romansh. With roughly two thirds, German is the most widely spoken one. Followed by French with around 23 %, Italian with 8% and Romansh with only 1 %. This is one of the reasons why the Swiss grow up learning foreign languages. Apart from English, it’s mandatory to learn at least one other national language in school. In our article about Swiss languages , you’ll learn more about this interesting topic.

• Swiss German is not a language

In case you were wondering why we didn’t specifically mention Swiss German above as one of the official languages, here’s why. It’s not actually a language. Swiss German is a very complex phenomenon and more of a dialect than an actual language. Or a collection of dozens of separate dialects. How many there are can’t be said for sure.

Swiss German is only spoken, not officially written. It doesn’t follow any strict grammatical rules. Therefore, the constant fights between people speaking different dialects on who says it right are just not leading anywhere. Not that this would stop us from carrying them out, of course.

• Switzerland shares borders with five countries

The five countries bordering Switzerland are Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. This explains why the French part of Switzerland is in the west, while Italian is spoken in the southern part in Ticino.

• Switzerland is land-locked

You find lots of activities on the menu in Switzerland. Be that hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, paragliding, canyoning, rock climbing, kayaking and lots of other cool things. Sadly, whale watching and scuba diving aren’t on that list. Switzerland is completely land-locked and the only access we have to the sea is through our rivers. So leave your snorkel at home and bring your hiking boots instead.

• Forests are protected in Switzerland

Back in the 19th century, the dramatic cutting down of trees and forests led to several disasters such as landslides and avalanches. This motivated the Swiss to put their forests under protection. When the new law came out in 1876, it was revolutionary. It said, and still does today, that forests can only be cut down in one place if the same amount is re-planted elsewhere in Switzerland.

• Switzerland is big on cheese…

You’ve been wondering when we would bring up Swiss cheese, haven't you? Well, here it is. There are over 450 different types of cheese in Switzerland. As you might guess, this goes far beyond those sloppy cheddar slices with a hole punched through it. Or whatever it is they try to sell as “Swiss Cheese” these days…

If you’re interested in how Swiss cheese is being made and where you can watch the process of cheese production, head over to our Swiss cheese dairy guide .

• … and chocolate

Just like the Swiss love their cheese, they also love their chocolate. So much so that they consume over 10 kg per capita per year. It’s no wonder that visiting a chocolate factory is a very popular pastime in Switzerland. After all, it’s the country where milk chocolate was invented.

To find out more about Swiss chocolate and where you can watch it being made, head over to our Swiss chocolate factory guide .

• … and watches

Punctuality is something that the Swiss pride themselves on. Or at least the majority do. This might just have something to do with Switzerland’s rich history in the watchmaking industry. Geneva, Neuchatel, La Chaux-de-Fonds and other places in western Switzerland played a big role in turning the Swiss watchmaking industry into what it is today.

Some of the big names like Rolex, Patek Philippe, Zenith, TAG Heuer, Swatch, Omega, Breitling and IWC are Swiss. You’ll find plenty of watch museums in Switzerland, if this is something you’re interested in. Like for instance the Watch manufacture Zénith in Le Locle .

• The Swiss love their trains

With over 5300 km worth of railway tracks, Switzerland is a country of train riders. No other nation in Europe travels more kilometres on the train than the Swiss do. This comes as no surprise, as Switzerland has one of the densest railway networks in the world. To find out more about public transport in Switzerland , read our article on that subject.

• Switzerland has a square flag

Apart from the Vatican State, Switzerland is the only country in the world with a square flag. We can find the reason for that, like is often the case, in history. All the way back in the 14th century, Swiss soldiers would use the white cross on a square, red background to recognise each other in the field. This symbol stuck around and in 1848, the white cross on red background became the official Swiss flag.

• Switzerland has the most valuable banknote

No other banknote in the world is worth more than the purple 1000 CHF bill. It’s not a common means of payment that you come across often in your everyday live, though. Lots of people use it to store cash in a safe or to pay big amounts in cash. Technically, you could pay your groceries with a 1000 CHF bill. But don’t expect this process to be as smooth as if you were paying with a 100 CHF bill. The person at the cashier might have to go get your change in the save and chances are your bill gets checked for its authenticity.

• More than half of Switzerland is made of mountains

A whopping 60% of Switzerland is made up of the Alps. The Jura mountains increase this proportion by a further 10%. A good three-quarters of Switzerland thus consists of mountains. However, this part is only inhabited by one tenth of the population.

The mountain regions with their wealth of beauty and nature are important for Swiss tourism. They are habitats for endangered animal species and sometimes rare mountain plant species. With a bit of luck, you will discover the cult alpine flower Edelweiss, a symbol of Switzerland.

• 48 Swiss peaks are over 4000 metres tall

The choice of high altitudes in Switzerland is enormous. Over 2000 mountains are considered 2000m peaks. Just over 1000 are 3000m and almost fifty mountain peaks exceed the 4000m mark. At a lofty 3454 metres above sea level, you enter Europe's highest railway station on the Jungfraujoch.

Because of its fatality rate, the Matterhorn is one of the world's 10 most dangerous mountains. This includes the almost 4000 m high Eiger with its 1800 m steep north face.

Here are the top ten Swiss peaks above 4000 metres:

• Dufourspitze | 4634 m above sea level | Valais
• Dom | 4545 m above sea level | Valais
• Liskamm | 4527 m above sea level | Valais
• Weisshorn | 4505 m above sea level | Valais
• Matterhorn | 4478 m above sea level | Valais
• Dent Blanche | 4357 m above sea level | Valais
• Grand Combin | 4314 m above sea level | Valais
• Finsteraarhorn | 4274 m above sea level | Bern/Wallis
• Zinalrothorn | 4221 m above sea level | Valais
• Alphubel | 4206 m above sea level | Valais
• Europe’s longest glacier is found in Switzerland

With its 23 km, the Aletsch Glacier in the canton of Valais is the longest glacier in Europe. Between the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountain massifs, this giant of ice winds its way through breathtaking landscapes. In the heart of the Alps, the Aletsch Glacier is part of the largest contiguous glacier area on the continent.

As the tip of a climatic iceberg, the gigantic Aletsch glacier is melting away. In 80 years, small glaciers will have disappeared and large ones will have lost substance. This Swiss natural UNESCO World Heritage site is facing major challenges.

• There are 13 UNESCO sites in Switzerland

Unique natural and cultural properties are under the care and protection of all humanity. This is the basic idea behind the UNESCO World Heritage List, which comprises around 1200 selected properties in almost 170 countries. There are 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Switzerland.

• Old town of Bern | inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983 | cultural heritage site
• Monastery of St. Johann in Val Müstair GR | inscribed in 1983 | cultural heritage site
• Abbey District of St. Gallen | 1983 | Cultural Heritage
• Castles, fortifications and city walls of Bellinzona | 2000 | cultural heritage site
• Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch | 2001, 2007 | Natural heritage site
• Monte San Giorgio | 2003, 2010 | Natural heritage site
• Lavaux vineyard terraces | 2007 | cultural heritage site
• Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona | 2008 | Natural Heritage
• Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina region | 2008 | Cultural heritage site
• La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle, urban landscape of the watchmaking industry | 2009 | Cultural heritage site
• Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps | 2011 | Cultural Heritage
• Le Corbusier's architectural work | 2016 | Cultural heritage
• ancient beech (primeval) forests in regions of Europe | 2021 | Natural Heritage/Extension
• Switzerland is Europe’s water castle

More than 1500 lakes and 60,000 km of watercourses provide a good part of the Swiss territory with precious water. 6% of Europe's drinking water comes from the Alps. Local springs feed large rivers such as the Rhine, the Rhone and the Inn, as well as the Po Valley. This natural reservoir makes you realise that Switzerland is the water castle of Europe. It all begins in the Swiss Alps. Bubbling springs, abundant precipitation and plenty of meltwater provide the abundance of water. In summer, lakes, rivers and streams invite you to swim.

• Switzerland is specialised in tunnels

Switzerland is a tunnel nation. As early as 1707, the Ticino engineer Pietro Morettini built the first traffic tunnel, the "Urnerloch". Since then, over 1300 such structures have been built, with a total of 2000 km of roads and rails.

There is no doubt that the Swiss enjoy a reputation as excellent tunnel builders. Since 2016, the world's longest railway tunnel with its 57 km has been running through the Gotthard massif. The construction of the Gotthard Basis Tunnel is impressive: 2400 workers, 17 years of construction, 11 billion construction costs. Every day, 260 freight trains and 65 passenger trains pass through.

The tunnel’s 28 million m3 of excavated rock are partly recycled as railway ballast or aggregate for concrete. When you drive through, you will find the excavated rock as shotcrete on the inner vault. As you can see, Switzerland is also specialised in recycling tunnels.

• Switzerland has seven heads of state

Switzerland is a country with seven heads of state. The office of Head of State is held jointly by the seven members of the Federal Council of the Swiss government.

The office of President of the Swiss Confederation is assumed by a different member of the Federal Council each year. This function consists only of representational duties as well as individual presidential duties. Otherwise, the President of the Confederation is on an equal footing with the other members of the Federal Council.

The seven-member Federal Council is a distinct collective authority. Its decisions are represented by each individual member even if they do not correspond to his or her own opinion or party line. You see, consensus and collegiality are a Swiss speciality.

• Switzerland has 26 cantons

The Confederation was formed in stages from the merger of sovereign territories. Switzerland therefore has 26 cantons. Even today, they have their own constitution, laws, government and police. On the smallest territory, you will find 26 school systems with different holiday and timetable schedules.

In the beginning, the Swiss cantons were states with their own currency and armed forces. In the 19th century, they grew into a confederation of states and finally into today's federal state.

Here you can find a list of the individual cantons with their year of accession and some information:

• Zurich | 1351 | largest canton: 1.5 million inhabitants
• Bern | 1353
• Lucerne | 1332
• Schwyz | 1291
• Obwalden | 1291
• Nidwalden | 1291
• Glarus | 1352
• Fribourg | 1481
• Solothurn | 1481
• Basel-Stadt | 1501 | smallest area canton: 37 km2
• Basel-Country | 1501
• Schaffhausen | 1501
• Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1513
• Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1513 | smallest canton in terms of population: 16.000 inhabitants
• Saint Gallen | 1803
• Graubünden | 1803 | largest area canton: 7105 km2
• Aargau | 1803
• Thurgau | 1803
• Ticino | 1803
• Vaud | 1803
• Valais | 1815
• Neuchâtel | 1815
• Geneva | 1815
• Jura | 1979
• The Swiss vote four times a year

In many countries, voters are only allowed to go to the polls every four or five years. The Swiss vote four times a year - a consequence of direct democracy. As the highest political authority, the Swiss people has the final say on substantive issues.

Citizens have a say in the affairs of state through referendums and popular initiatives. Until 2041, the Federal Chancellery has already planned one vote per quarter. Voting days are scheduled for February/March, May/June, September/October or November. The contents of the vote, which will gradually emerge from everyday political life, remain open.

• Life expectancy is high in Switzerland

Although the elixir of life does not (yet) exist, life expectancy in Switzerland is constantly increasing. The average life expectancy for men is currently 82 years, for women it is 86 years. In 1900, the life span was 46-49 years, with hardly anyone reaching the age of one hundred. The main reasons for the high life expectancy are: minimal infant mortality, good nutrition, better living and hygiene conditions, and modern medicine.

Rising life expectancy is putting pressure on the national pension system. Fewer and fewer working people are shouldering the increasing number of pension beneficiaries. Nevertheless, you are left with the certainty that high life expectancy is a great achievement of our time.

• Unemployment is low in Switzerland

Unemployment in Switzerland reaches record lows. Switzerland's low unemployment rate puts it in first place. Economically strong EU countries record twice as much unemployment, while EU laggards exceed 15%. You ask why? Surely the robust Swiss economy and smart economic policies play a role.

In Switzerland, employment offices help the unemployed find jobs and pay for training. The Swiss embody values such as work ethic, reliability, responsibility and education. In one of the world's most innovative countries, economic life flourishes with virtually no unemployment.

• 33 Swiss inventions that will amaze you
• The Lord of the Rings was inspired by Switzerland

A young Englishman undertook an Alpine tour through Switzerland in 1911. It was the famous writer J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), author of the global success "The Lord of the Rings". Inspired by the Swiss mountains, he created the home of the Elves and Hobbits. The Bernese Silberhorn is considered the model for the Misty Mountain "Celebdil". In Interlaken on Lake Brienz you will find the "lakeside town" attacked by the dragon "Smaug".

If you look at the Matterhorn, you recognise "Erebor", the home mountain of the dwarves. "You do know that without Switzerland, the 'Hobbit' would never have existed?" says the founder of the world's largest "Middle Earth" museum in Jenins, Grisons. True fans don't shy away from the compulsory pre-registration. In return, you'll get an expert guided tour through Tolkien's legendary magical world.

• Charlie Chaplin died in Switzerland

A special museum experience awaits you in "Chaplin's World". The "Manoir de Ban" near Vevey houses Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin's (1889 - 1977) life's work. The film legend spent the last 25 years of his life in this stately home. The first world star of cinema enjoyed being able to move about undisturbed in Switzerland. He loved country excursions and enjoyed walking to Vevey for dinner with his children. Charlie Chaplin died in Switzerland at the age of 88.

• The internet (as we know it today) was invented in Switzerland

The World Wide Web was born in the Swiss research institute CERN near Geneva. CERN is one of the world's most important centres for basic research in physics. We owe today's Internet to the intellectual fathers and inventors Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau from CERN. You can find out more about Swiss inventions in our article on this topic.

On the threshold of the new millennium, mankind entered a new era. On 13th November 1990, CERN put the first website online via its own web server: info.cern.ch. The world as we knew it changed fundamentally.

• James Bond’s mother is Swiss

Agent 007, alias James Bond, is Ian Fleming's famous novel character and thus a fictional person. According to sparse novel references, James is the son of a Scottish engineer and Monique Bond from Vaud. A Swiss mountaineer. In real life her name was Monique Panchaud de Bottens. She was attractive and engaged to Ian Fleming for a while. Fleming considered her the Coco Chanel of Switzerland.

• The Dalai Lama owns a vineyard in Switzerland

The world's smallest vineyard stands like a spread-out towel in the village of Saillon in the Canton of Valais. These 1.6 m2 with only four vines belong to the Dalai Lama. The highest Lama became the owner of the vineyard in 1999, when the Catholic Abbé Pierre gave it to him. Twenty years earlier, it was built in honour of the "Robin Hood of the Alps" Joseph-Samuel Farinet. In the 19th century, he had helped the poor with counterfeit money.

Once a year, the Tibetan leader auctions off 1000 bottles of "peace wine". The few decilitres from the tiny vineyard are bridged by surrounding winegrowers' colleagues with their grapes. The Dalai Lama uses the proceeds of the auction, which amount to around 20,000 Swiss francs, to help the needy of this world. This makes him the smallest landowner in Switzerland.

• The red cross was founded in Switzerland

In 1859, the Geneva businessman and humanist Henry Dunant (1828-1910) witnessed the Battle of Solferino. The misery was enormous and hit the devout Dunant hard. An all-important phrase began to make the rounds: "Siamo tutti fratelli" - "We are all brothers".

Whether friend or foe, the inhabitants of the nearby town of Castiglione cared for all victims regardless of who they were. Dunant actively helped on the front line. His call for multinational aid societies became unmistakable. In 1863, he presented his ideas to the "Non-profit society" in Geneva. This was the birth of the International Committee of the Red Cross, today's ICRC.

The kinship of the Red Cross badge with the Swiss Cross was therefore no coincidence. Geneva became and remained ICRC headquarters. Worldwide, ICRC missions have multiplied to the present day in over 100 countries. The number of staff rose to the current 20.000 and the number of volunteers climbed to over 10 million at present. In 1901, the Swiss Henry Dunant received the first Nobel Peace Prize together with the French pacifist Frédéric Passy.

• Guinea pigs aren’t allowed to live alone in Switzerland

Did you know that "Popcorning" stands for “a happy guinea pig's leaps of joy”? Like corn kernels in a hot pan, those fluffy little animals jump around when they are excited. The following sentence from our Animal Welfare Act gives them more than enough reason for this in Switzerland: "Animals of socially living species shall be allowed appropriate social contact with conspecifics". Guinea pigs definitely fall under the category of these socially living animals.

They make friends and take care of their old and sick friends. Our hairy "Meersäuli" live in a harem if you let them. It is also forbidden to expose them to excessive noise; after all, their hearing is a lot more sensitive than ours.

By the way, the same rule applies to animals such as pet birds, rats, mice, chinchillas and parrots.

• You can’t name your child whatever you want

"A letter is not a first name”. A Zurich court rule:, "nothing more than a gimmick by the parents". The judges thus spared the unasked-for baby the mono-letter name "J". All baby names in Switzerland are subject to approval by the civil registry office.

If you invent names, it becomes problematic. The decisive factor is the best interests of the child, which is why bizarre or absurd names are considered unreasonable. A Swiss musician was not allowed to name her daughter "Lexikon". Also rejected were:

• Biblical villains such as Cain or Judas
• Brands like Chanel, Porsche or Bentley
• Girls' names for boys and vice versa
• Place names like Paris, London or Tokyo
• Brand new fantasy names from euphoric parents

So some US celebrity children would have different first names in Switzerland. Brad Pitt's & Angelina Jolie's creations would be put to the test in this country: Maddox Chivan, Pax Thien, Zahara Marley, Shiloh Nouvel, Knox Léon, Vivienne Marcheline. Creativity in naming may be lost, but the children will probably thank you.

• You find Europe’s highest railway station in Switzerland

Top of Europe is the name of the terminus station on the Jungfraujoch at 3454 m above sea level. It is the terminus of a spectacular train route. Every year, a million visitors arrive at Europe's highest railway station at the exit of a 7 km long tunnel. Countless hands literally hammered it into the rock for 16 years in the late 19th century.

The construction of the Jungfrau Railway through the mountain massif, realised by the Swiss industrialist Guyer-Zeller, is considered a pioneering work and technical masterpiece. Before that, the mountain in the eternal snow and ice of the Bernese Alps remained hidden from the general public. Before arriving at the Jungfraujoch, the train climbs 1400 metres in altitude, with stops in between to acclimatise to the altitude.

Your ultimate Alpine experience begins at the Top of Europe. From the railway track you reach the viewing platform. There, the thin air and a mountain panorama with 200 Alpine peaks will take your breath away. You look down on Europe's longest glacier, the Aletsch, in the middle of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch.

Apart from Europe's highest railway station, you will encounter a whole series of other railway superlatives in Switzerland:

• Europe's highest adhesion railway (not a rack railway): Bernina Railway over the Bernina Pass | 2253 m above sea level.
• Longest railway tunnel in the world: Gotthard Base Tunnel | 57 km long
• World's slowest express train: Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt | 37 km/h average speed
• Oldest mountain railway in Europe: Vitznau-Rigi Railway | Opened in 1871
• Longest cogwheel railway in Europe: Wengernalpbahn | 19 km long
• Steepest cogwheel railway in the world: Pilatusbahn from Alpnachstad to Pilatus | 48 % gradient
• Europe's shortest funicular: Marzili funicular in Bern | 105 m long
• Steepest funicular in Europe: Stoos funicular in the canton of Schwyz | 110 % gradient

• … and the world’s longest staircase

The longest staircase in the world earned its spot in the Book of Guinness World Records. It is in Switzerland - more precisely: in the Bernese Alps. Across Lake Thun, 11.674 steps lead up to the 2362 m high Niesen . But you'd better take the rack railway.

As a service stairway next to the rails of the Niesen railway, it is used exclusively for maintenance work. It takes a normal mortal five hours to climb these steps. 300 power women and power men from 20 countries come together for the annual Niesen Run to storm the stairs. The current record holder, Emmanuel Vaudan, managed the 1643 metres of altitude in just under an hour in 2011.

• The Swiss flush their toilet with drinking water

What do you do when you wake up thirsty at night in your Swiss hotel? You drink water from the tap. Switzerland is one of the top ten countries in the world with the best water quality.

Thanks to favourable climatic and geological conditions, Switzerland has clean water in abundant quantities. A sustainable water protection policy also gives Swiss tap water drinking water quality. What comes out of the supply network into taps, showers and toilets is drinking water.

• The Swiss don’t refrigerate their eggs

While eggs are stacked unrefrigerated on Swiss shelves, you'll find them in the refrigerated sections of US supermarkets. Regulations there require thorough washing after laying. This breaks down the outer protective layer of the shell, which is why the washed eggs are kept in cold storage. In this way they remain germ-free.

The Swiss do not refrigerate eggs. Egg washing is banned throughout Europe. This means that the eggshell retains its protective coating, but this can cause mould if refrigerated. As much as one egg is like another, these two approaches to hygiene are opposites.

• Switzerland has a lot of banks

They are never far away: the numerous banks are considered a relevant branch of the Swiss economy. With more than 300.000 employees, they manage around 7000 billion Swiss francs as global market leaders. That accounts for a quarter of the world's cross-border assets.

Why are Swiss banks popular? Reasons can be found in Switzerland's economic and domestic political stability as well as its foreign policy neutrality. The advantageous tax system and strict banking supervision increase the attractiveness of the financial centre. High professionalism and reliability earn Swiss financial institutions international trust.

• Military service is mandatory in Switzerland

Early on, Switzerland had to assert its sovereignty against great powers. Until the end of the Cold War, the Swiss militia army was a mass army of 600,000 soldiers. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 brought peace and neighbouring countries abolished conscription.

What has remained is the federal militia concept: every citizen is a soldier. Despite a reduced army, Switzerland still has compulsory military service. It begins between the ages of 18 and 30 with an 18-week recruit school and lasts 10 years. During this time, there are six refresher courses of three weeks each.

If there are reasons of conscience against armed military service, you have to do civilian service for a longer period of time. Increasingly, women are doing voluntary military service. Today, every soldier is still allowed to keep his weapon at home. This proof of trust, unique in the world, is part of the traditional militia concept of a Switzerland that is willing to defend itself.

• Gun ownership is high in Switzerland

More than two million firearms are stored in Swiss households. The Swiss militia system and partly liberal gun legislation make this possible. In Switzerland, there are strictly observed rules for the handling of firearms and an obligation of good conduct when purchasing them.

Although gun ownership is widespread in Switzerland, it remains peaceful. In the gun-friendly United States, there are 5 shootings per 100,000 inhabitants; in this country, the figure is 0.02 cases.

• The Swiss love their Sundays

1700 years ago, Emperor Constantine declared Sunday a day of rest. The "Lord's Day" began as a religious rule and developed into a tradition. The Swiss love their Sunday and see this work-free day as a fundamental right. Proposals to loosen Sunday restrictions are regularly rejected by the electorate during votes.

Sunday work is expensive for employers in Switzerland. Cost reasons and regulations keep the shops closed. Shopping is only possible at railway stations, airports, petrol stations, exceptional Sundays and in some tourist destinations. Consideration for neighbours and Sunday peace are highly valued in Switzerland. Mowing the lawn or doing noisy handicrafts in the house are frowned upon.

Have these 40 interesting facts about Switzerland aroused your curiosity? In the destination of superlatives, beautiful, cheerful and exciting things await you in the smallest space. You will benefit from short distances and a rich offer of unforgettable travel experiences.

Table of contents

Discover leisure activities, top destinations.

• Grindelwald
• Lauterbrunnen
• Brienzwiler

Top Activities

Top attractions.

• Harder Kulm
• First Cliff Walk
• Jungfraujoch
• Museum of Transport
• Mount Titlis
• Lake Lucerne
• Schynige Plate
• Eiger Glacier
• Lake Geneva
• Grindelwald First
• Chillon Castle

17 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in Switzerland

Written by Becca Blond and Joni Sweet Updated Mar 20, 2024

Switzerland's natural beauty is as addictive as its mouthwatering chocolates – one taste and you'll be left craving more. Whether you are on the hiking trails outside Zermatt, laying eyes on the iconic Matterhorn for the first time, or marveling at the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains schussing down a ski trail beginning atop the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland seduces quickly.

This landlocked central European country is home to two mountain ranges, the Alps in the south and the Jura in the northwest. But Switzerland's natural attractions don't stop with peaks and glaciers. You'll also find glimmering turquoise lakes, emerald valleys where tingling bell-wearing cows and sheep graze, charming chalets, and flower box-filled villages that look ripped from the pages of a fairytale storybook.

Amid all this natural beauty are also some fantastic urban diversions and places to visit. With four official languages (French, German, Italian, and Romansch), Switzerland has a multicultural sophistication to its cities, which all offer something different when it comes to history and culture.

French speaking Geneva is home to four major offices of the United Nations and has a large international population. German speaking Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and financial center, known for its shopping, museums, and nightlife. The capital city of Bern boasts a medieval old town with a famous moving puppet clock tower and a stunning riverfront locale.

Switzerland is a four-season destination with countless things to do for outdoor adventurists. In winter you can partake in snow sports at world-class resorts, while summers are perfect for hiking, biking, climbing, and paragliding.

Getting around Switzerland is easy. Although you can rent a car and drive, we recommend utilizing its excellent train system that goes almost everywhere in the country. Trains are fast, mostly on time, and allow you to just sit back and soak up the stunning scenery.

Explore in more depth by checking out our list of top attractions and places to visit in Switzerland

1. The Matterhorn

3. jungfraujoch: the top of europe, 4. interlaken, 6. lake geneva, 7. chateau de chillon, montreux, 8. st. moritz, 10. lake lugano and ticino, 12. the rhine falls, 13. swiss national park, 14. the albula/bernina railway line, 15. oberhofen castle, 16. swiss grand canyon, 17. gruyères, best time of the year to visit switzerland.

You'll never forget the first time you see Switzerland's most symbolic mountain, the Matterhorn. Maybe you arrive in the charming village of Zermatt, at its base , on a clear blue day and the 4,478-meter high , tooth-shaped mountain looms clearly in front of you. Or maybe it is spitting rain when you first set foot in the car-free town, and it isn't until the next morning that you witness the emblematic peak emerging from a sea of dissipating clouds. Whichever way you first see this legendary mountain, it will remain seared into your memory for years to come. It's that impressive.

One of the highest mountains in the Alps, the Matterhorn sits on the border with Italy. It has four steep faces rising to its craggy tip. Climbers have been intrigued by this mountain from the first successful summit in 1865 by British climber Edward Whymper and his team. The trip still ended tragically when four of the climbers fell to their deaths during the descent.

Today, thousands of experienced climbers come here in a summit bid each summer. There are several routes to the top of this mountain, which is not accessible by cable car. The easiest route is the Hörnligrat, which begins in Zermatt.

Things to Do at the Matterhorn

If you don't have the skills to summit the Matterhorn, there are still plenty of ways to experience the mountain. One top excursion is to ride the Gornegrat Bahn cog railway to the summit of the 1,620-meter Gornergrat mountain for stunning Matterhorn views. Europe's highest open-air cog railway, and the first fully electric train of its kind, departs from Zermatt station multiple times per day.

The ride itself is also bound to leave you speechless. Taking 33 minutes and climbing 1,469 meters it crosses dramatic bridges, passes turquoise-hued mountain lakes, and at times clings to the side of the mountain with views down into rocky ravines.

Once you reach the mountaintop, you'll find an observation deck with views in all directions including a view of Switzerland's highest mountain and the second biggest glacier in the Alps. Keep an eye out for wild ibex near the viewing platform in summer.

Europe's highest-altitude hotel, the Kulmhotel Gornegrat is also here. Besides lodging, it has a restaurant and shops open to the public. There is excellent hiking in summer, while Switzerland's highest sledding hill provides winter fun.

At the foot of the Matterhorn, lies the charming village of Zermatt, a top international resort that is one of the most popular ski destinations in Switzerland , and a hiking, biking, and climbing paradise in summer.

Laid out along just a few main streets with a surreal-looking blue river running through it, motorized vehicles except for official electric taxis are banned to preserve the air quality and the town's peaceful ambiance.

Zermatt can also only be reached via helicopter (very pricy) or the Matterhorn Gotthard railway via the towns of Visp or Brig. If you drive to the region, you'll need to park your car down the valley in the town of Tasch, and then continue by train. As such, staying in Zermatt truly feels like you hiked into a remote mountain paradise.

In the winter, skiers can play on more than 300 kilometers of slopes accessed via a funicular and the Blauherd and Rothorn gondolas. In the summer, these slopes turn into hiking and mountain biking trails.

The Five Lakes Trail is one of the most popular hikes, beginning at the top of the Blauherd gondola and eventually taking you back to town via a series of five lakes, three of which you can see the reflection of the Matterhorn in on a clear, windless day. If you want to paraglide, this is also available.

Back in town, you'll find dozens of shops, restaurants (order Raclette, a cheese and potato dish that is a regional specialty), and hotels. If you are interested in history, pay a visit to the Matterhorn Museum , which tells the story of the mountain village turned international holiday resort. It also provides facts and photos from the Matterhorn's first ascent.

• Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Zermatt & Easy Day Trips

Since 1912, tourists have been making their way to the fairytale-like village of Grindelwald for an excursion to the Top of Europe (also known as Jungfraujoch). As its name suggests, it's the highest train station in Europe.

It offers panoramic views of the UNESCO-recognized Jungfrau region that will make your jaw drop. The Sphinx Observatory, an astronomical observatory that looks like a Bond villain lair perched 3,454 meters above sea level, is the best place to see the magnificent Aletsch Glacier and the 4,000-meter peaks that flank it. With snow 365 days per year, it's also a prime spot to get a break from Europe's heat in the summertime.

This famous attraction has come a long way in the last 100 years, giving tourists lots of things to do at the top. Step into the 360-degree cinematic experience room for a closer look at the glacier and the Swiss Alps (perfect for ensuring you still get a wonderful view on a foggy day). Walk through a 250-meter-long corridor with artifacts and exhibits on the history of the miners who built the railway to Jungfraujoch—the antique mining equipment hanging on the walls will give you a deeper respect for these early pioneers.

Peek inside a giant snow globe that depicts the region with charming moving figures, like yodelers and gondolas. Then, glide through the Ice Palace. Frozen from floor to ceiling, it features smooth, icy hallways filled with ice sculptures of animals, including several penguins around an igloo.

Jungfraujoach's highly sustainable cable car, the Eiger Express , shortened the journey between Grindelwald and Jungfraujoch from 45 minutes to just 15 minutes when it opened in late 2020. That makes it possible to summit the Top of Europe on a day trip from Interlaken or even Zurich, but if you have time, it's worth sticking around Grindelwald to hike for a few days .

The trails here are among the most beautiful in the world and most trailheads are easily accessible through the town's network of cable cars and gondolas. The aptly named Panorama Trail takes you along paths lined by wildflowers with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks, while the Grindelwald First cable car station puts you on the path to the world-famous Bachalpsee lake.

You can also break up your days of hiking with adventure activities. Grindelwald First is home to a zip line that soars at 80 kilometers per hour and a mountain cart attraction that lets you race down winding gravel paths, plus a trail you can tackle on a "trottibike"—a unique cross between a scooter and a bike that's surprisingly fast.

Nestled on a strip of land between two glassy lakes, Interlaken looks like a postcard brought to life. The enchanting resort town has been a popular vacation destination for centuries, giving tourists a home base to explore the Bernese Oberland. Visit in the spring or summer to take in the striking sight of the town's lush gardens blooming with the snow-dusted Eiger, Jungfrau, and Mönch towering in the background.

Interlaken's proximity to Lake Thun to the west and Lake Brienz to the east, along with soaring alpine mountains, has helped it become the "Adventure Capital of Europe" —and it offers thrills for any taste.

Want to hike? Take a 10-minute ride on the Interlaken Harderbahn, a funicular railway that's more than 100 years old, to the Harder Kulm (Interlaken's closest mountain). A brick path lined with quirky Swiss statues takes you to the trailhead for the Harder Kulm Circular Path , a relatively easy, forested path that opens up to panoramic views of Interlaken.

From mountainside slopes, you can also take the sky on a paragliding adventure in the summer, or slip on a pair of skis and zip down fresh powder in one of five winter sports areas around Interlaken. It's also a lovely place to get out on the water. Rent kayaks, row boats, and pedal boats for a serene experience on the lakes. Or challenge yourself to wakeboarding, windsurfing, or water skiing.

The beautiful part about Interlaken, though, is that it's as much a place for excitement as it is for a laid-back retreat. Once you've gotten your share of adrenaline, wind down with a stroll on the Höheweg , Interlaken's main boulevard, or find a moment of peace at the Garden of Friendship, the country's first Japanese garden.

• Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Interlaken & Easy Day Trips

Imagine a sparkling blue lake surrounded by mountains, a car-free medieval old town, covered bridges, waterfront promenades, frescoed historic buildings, and sun-splashed plazas with bubbling fountains. No wonder Lucerne (in German, Luzern) is a top spot for tourists.

Famed for its music concerts, this quintessential Swiss town lures renowned soloists, conductors, and orchestras to its annual International Music Festival . The Culture and Convention Center is home to one of the world's leading concert halls.

One of the city's most famous landmarks is the Chapel Bridge , built in the 14th century. In a small park, lies the famous Lion Monument , a poignant sculpture of a dying lion, which honors the heroic death of Swiss Guards during the attack on the Tuileries in the French Revolution. History buffs will enjoy the Swiss Transport Museum with extensive exhibits on all forms of transport, including air and space travel, railroad locomotives, and a Planetarium.

For beautiful views of Lucerne, the Alps, and the lake, ride the funicular to the Dietschiberg on the north side of Lake Lucerne; cruise up Mt. Pilatus on the cableway; or head to the Rigi , a famous lookout point.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Lucerne

Lake Geneva, Europe's largest Alpine lake , straddles the Swiss/French border, and laps at the shores of some of Switzerland's most popular cities. The city of Geneva (in French Genève; in German Genf) sits between pretty snowcapped peaks at the point where the Rhône spills into Lake Geneva.

This French-speaking "capital of peace" is the European seat of the United Nations and exudes a pleasing blend of French joie de vivre and Swiss structure. Promenades, parks, and gardens surround the lake, and the old town is a lovely spot to stroll among the historic buildings. The Jet d'Eau , a fountain in Lake Geneva shooting water 150 meters into the air, is a famous landmark. Cultural attractions include the Opera House and the Grand Théâtre , which stages international acts.

Also on the lake, about 62 kilometers from Geneva, Lausanne boasts lovely views over the surrounding region and the lake, with the Alps rising in the distance. Take a stroll through the medieval old town with its cute cafés and boutiques and stunning Gothic cathedral. At the foot of the Alps, on Lake Geneva, Montreux hosts the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival in June/July.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Geneva

On the shores of Lake Geneva, near Montreux , the Chateau de Chillon (Chillon Castle) has inspired artists and writers for centuries. Lord Byron, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Victor Hugo are among the luminaries who have written about this architectural treasure.

Once the stronghold of the Counts and Dukes of Savoy from the 12th century, the complex encompasses about 25 buildings clustered around three courtyards. Highlights include the Great Halls, with magnificent views of Lake Geneva; the Gothic underground rooms; the Chapel , adorned with 14th-century paintings; and the Camera Domini , a bedroom occupied by the Duke of Savoy decorated with medieval murals.

St. Moritz is a city of firsts. The world's first electric light clicked on here in December 1878. In 1889 it hosted the Alps' first golf tournament and in 1935 began operating one of Switzerland's first ski lifts. Additionally, the town is considered the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism after a hotelier convinced British summer guests to winter here in 1864. It went on to host the Winter Olympics twice (1928 and 1948).

In the Upper Engadin region in southeast Switzerland, in a valley surrounded by the Alps, today it is one of the world's most ritzy ski resorts , favored by billionaires and celebrities. It has 350 kilometers of ski and snowboard runs with some of Switzerland's steepest terrain.

Winter sports run the gamut, from skiing, snowboarding, skating, and bobsledding to tobogganing. One of the oldest natural ice runs for toboggans on the planet is found here, the famous 1.2-kilometer-long Cresta Run . There is also a snowboard fun park and 150 kilometers of winter walking and cross-country ski trails.

In summer, St. Moritz attracts hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and rock climbers. If you prefer to golf, you can play four courses with fantastic mountain views. You can also enjoy the iron-rich natural mineral hot springs here year-round. They were discovered about 3,000 years ago.

Adding to all this spectacular mountain scenery, St. Moritz is a cultural crossroads. Romansch, German, Italian, French, and English are all spoken in the surrounding areas, not to mention the different languages of the many well-heeled international visitors and expats.

The town is divided into two parts: St. Moritz Dorf sits on a sunny terrace overlooking the Lake of St. Moritz. The other part of town, lakeside St. Moritz Bad on the valley floor, is a health resort with less expensive lodging.

• Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in St. Moritz & Easy Day Trips

In a stunning location, perched on a peninsula of the River Aare, the Swiss capital of Bern exudes old-world charm, and the city's medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strolling along the cobbled streets, visitors can explore the tallest cathedral in Switzerland, with panoramic views from its tower; 16th-century fountains; the Zytglogge medieval clock tower with moving puppets; and six kilometers of shopping arcades, called " Lauben " by the locals. The Rose Garden (Rosengarten) offers beautiful views of the old town center.

Bern has many tourist attractions waiting to be discovered, including excellent museums. Art lovers will appreciate the impressive galleries, including the Zentrum Paul Klee, the world's largest collection of works by this famous artist, and the Bern Museum of Art (Kunstmuseum).

Don't miss the markets, held in the Bundesplatz (parliament square) with views of the elegant Renaissance-style parliament building (Bundeshaus). Families will also enjoy a visit to the Bear Park.

Lake Lugano lies on the Swiss/Italian border in Ticino, Switzerland's only official Italian-speaking canton, and offers a tantalizing taste of the Mediterranean. Citrus, figs, palms, and pomegranates flourish in the mild climate here–even as snowcapped peaks beckon in the distance.

In the towns around Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore to the west, the feel of Italy is unmistakable in the architecture, the piazzas, and the passion for fine food, which spills over the Italian borders from the south, east, and west.

Visitors can explore the area by touring the lake on one of the white steamers or renting a boat. For a panoramic overview, Monte San Salvatore offers one of the most spectacular vistas of the surrounding countryside, lake, and snow-capped peaks.

Lugano , a financial center and the largest and most significant town in Ticino, is a popular summer resort. Northwest of Lugano, in sun-drenched Locarno on Lake Maggiore, Swiss lakeside living takes on a subtropical touch with warm days, blossoming gardens, and palm-studded estates. In Bellinzona , capital of the canton, three magnificent castles are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Lugano, Locarno, and the Ticino Region

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city, a major transportation hub, and a top starting point for travelers. The city lies at the northwestern end of Lake Zurich astride the river Limmat. Beyond its buttoned-up façade, this affluent banking capital boasts a rich line-up of cultural treasures.

A great place to begin a walking tour is the cobbled streets of the Old Town with its quaint shops, cafés, and galleries. Mile-long Bahnhofstrasse , one of Europe's finest shopping strands, beckons with designer stores selling fashion, watches, and jewelry.

Venturing away from the boutiques, visitors will find more than 50 museums and 100 art galleries, as well as many other tourist attractions . A top pick is the Kunsthaus Zürich , the museum of fine arts, with an impressive collection of art from the Middle Ages to the present day. Another favorite is the Rietberg Museum , which focuses on non-European art with many works from China, India, and Africa.

A short stroll from Zürich's main station, the Swiss National Museum , in a Gothic chateau, spotlights Swiss cultural history. Families will love the Zurich Zoo with an elephant park, penguin parade, and Madagascar pavilion. From the city, take a train ride to Uetliberg Mountain for panoramic views of the city and countryside.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Zürich

Spanning 150 meters, the Rhine Falls (Rheinfall) at Schaffhausen are the largest falls in Europe. The best time to visit is during June and July when the mountain snow melts, and the falls swell in volume to spill over a 21-meter-high ledge of Jurassic limestone.

Boat trips up the Rhine provide excellent views of the falls, as do the viewing platforms on both sides of the river.

Founded in 1914, Swiss National Park in the Engadine Valley is the oldest reserve in the Alps. The park sits right on the border with Italy and encompasses more than 170 square kilometers of flower-dotted hollows, fast-flowing rivers, and limestone crags. The scenery is especially dramatic in winter when the forested mountains are covered in a blanket of snow, and the views from the cross-country ski trails are stunning.

Nature lovers can explore the region on the large network of trails, though veering off these paths is forbidden in an effort to preserve the natural ecosystems. More than 5,000 species of wildlife call the park home, including marmot, red deer, chamois, ibex, fox, and more than 100 species of birds.

One of the very few railway lines in the world designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listing, the Albula/Bernina line on the Rheatian Railways offers a majestic ride not to be missed. The route extends throughout the Albula and Bernina landscapes, covering 122 kilometers and winding through almost 200 bridges, the Graubünden mountains, and a number of tunnels and viaducts along the way.

A ride on this train means panoramic seats that overlook unspoiled mountain landscapes, including the Piz Bernina, the highest mountain in the Eastern Alps at just over 4,000 meters tall. The train operates all year long, and the views are just as magical in summer as they are in winter.

Right on the shore of Lake Thun and surrounded by a 2.5-hectare park, this 13th-century castle is one of the most breathtaking in Switzerland. Because Oberhofen Castle changed hands many times through the centuries, and new owners kept adding rooms to it, the result is a magical mix of many styles: Bernese Baroque-style buildings, Romantic-style facades, and Prussian-inspired exotic new areas (including a library and a smoking room).

The castle also houses a living museum showcasing the times and lives of feudal societies that called the castle (and its surroundings) home from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

The Ruinaulta (also known as the "Swiss Grand Canyon") is a deep gorge surrounded by expansive meadows and forested cliffs. Located in Eastern Switzerland, it was created over 10,000 years ago–when the Ice Age Rhine Glacier retreated, it led to a chain of events that resulted in a massive rockslide in the Rhine Valley. As the Rhine River seeped through the rock walls, the gorge was filled with water.

Today, the Swiss Grand Canyon is not only one of the most beautiful areas in Switzerland, but also a preferred destination for hikers, bird-watchers, and nature lovers. It's possible to raft the rapids here between May and October, or rent a canoe or kayak for a gentler route with stunning views of the steep cliffs all around.

Even if you don't know anything about this small medieval town, you've probably heard about the hard yellow cheese that made its name famous. Today, that's one of the town's main attractions. Visitors can tour a cheese factory, sample the local specialties, and wave to the cows that call the surrounding green hills home. If cheese isn't enough, the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory also operates in town.

Gruyères might be tiny – it covers an area of just 28.4 square kilometers and is home to around 2,000 permanent residents – but it makes up for it with plenty of things to do, including the 13 th -century Castle of Gruyères and its two small arts and regional museums, as well as Saint-Germain Castle, which was bought by Swiss surrealist painter and sculptor H. R. Giger, and it now houses a museum dedicated to his work. The Tibet Museum, housed in an old church in town, is also worth a visit.

Stunning landscapes surround Gruyères, including the Gorges de la Jogne (favorite with hikers) and the nearby Mont Moléson, popular with climbers in the warmer months and home to ski and snowshoe trails during winter.

The best time to visit Switzerland depends partly on why you're going there. If you're going for the skiing, then of course winter is the best time to visit. For mountain hiking, summer is best, as it's warm even high up in the mountains, and you won't encounter much rain to disrupt your outdoor plans.

If your visit to Switzerland will include a bit of everything, then the months between April and June are your best choice . You'll still find some snow if you arrive early in this period, and warm days if you arrive later on.

Temperatures vary between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius, and you'll get a bit of rain, but you'll also see long days with plenty of sunshine, perfect for hiking and sightseeing . May is the most unpredictable month weather-wise – you might see rain and cold evenings or sunshine with temperatures in the low 20s.

Since the summer crowds don't arrive until July, and the winter crowds are long gone, you'll get more privacy and a chance to grab better deals on flights and accommodations .

More on Switzerland

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Visit Switzerland

Take a scenic train ride, experience a quaint village, hike to a mountain glacier, craft your own chocolate, visit a museum and eat like the locals. Discover unique Switzerland experiences you won't want to miss.

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For a perfect holiday, choose from affordable accommodation all the way through to exclusive 5 star hotels. Pick a suitable Swiss Travel pass that gives you the benefit of exploring the country by all modes of public transport. Indulge in the many activities and experiences that Switzerland has to offer - from mountain excursions, sunset cruises to paragliding.

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Suggested Itinerary

• 8 Days / 7 Nights
• 7 nights in Lucerne
• Jet Boat in Interlaken
• Harder Kulm
• 4 nights in Lucerne
• 2 nights in Zermatt
• 1 night in Zurich
• Stanserhorn
• 7 Days / 6 Nights
• City tour of Geneva
• Chillion Castle
• Chocolate Factory
• Aareschlucht Gorge Funicular: Cable Car to Grindelwald
• Botanical garden in Mainau
• 1 night Zurich
• Rhine Waterfalls
• Boat ride in Leman Lake

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The 11 most incredible places to visit in Switzerland: be inspired

Nov 24, 2023 • 8 min read

Switzerland, it really is this stunningly beautiful © scaliger / Getty Images

Nowhere is perfect, but let’s face it,  Switzerland gets pretty darned close. 

The Alps ripple across 60% of the country, and the landscapes and towns look like they have been dreamed up by a particularly imaginative child. We’re talking glacier-capped peaks, crash-bang waterfalls, turreted castles of the fairy-tale kind and lakes in the most surreal shade of turquoise blue. Red trains curl up mountains to improbable heights and clanging cowbells ring out across hilly meadows that you can skip down with Heidi-like glee.

Even the culture-filled cities have magnificent backdrops of vineyards, lakes or rivers, and the mountains are never more than a whisper away. As natural beauty goes, Switzerland is off the charts. That makes it a joy to travel around , whether by train, bus or car. Here are the 11 best places to visit in Switzerland.

1. Jungfrau

Best for outdoor activities

The idyllic Jungfrau region is the icing on the Alpine cake of Switzerland’s  Bernese Oberland . Sky-high peaks, glaciers and thundering falls elicit gasps of wonder wherever you go. Grazing the 4,000m (13,123ft) mark are Switzerland’s "big three:" Eiger (Ogre), Mönch (Monk) and Jungfrau (Virgin), enshrined in mountaineering legend.

Take a once-in-a-lifetime ride up to the everlasting snow at Europe’s highest train station, 3,454m (11,332ft)  Jungfraujoch . Hike, ski, sled and zip-line among mountains of myth in  Grindelwald , enjoy waterfalls galore in  Lauterbrunnen  and tackle every kind of extreme sport imaginable in  Interlaken (skydiving, ice climbing, glacial bungee jumping – you name it). The Jungfrau region is the great outdoors on a blockbuster scale.

Planning tip:  Rush this region and you’ll regret it. Allow a week or more to dive in deep if you have the time. It's worth it. 

Best for stepping back in time

Bern often pops up in those I-can’t-believe-it’s-the-capital trivia questions, but frankly, Switzerland’s first city deserves more love. The cobbled, flag-bedecked medieval  Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage treat, with 6km (3.7 miles) of covered arcades, cellar shops and bars, fantastical folk figures topping 16th-century fountains and the eye-grabbing  Zytglogge . Framed by wooded hills and split in two by the turquoise Aare River, this red-roofed city looks good from pretty much every angle. It’s pure storybook stuff for kids, too, with its giant who snacks on children (the  Kindlifresserbrunnen ) and  resident bears .

Sights-wise, you’ll be drawn to big-hitters like the  Einstein-Haus  (where the genius and Nobel laureate developed his theory of relativity), the  Kunsthaus  (with its outstanding fine arts collection) and Renzo Piano’s wavy Zentrum Paul Klee (Bern’s answer to the Guggenheim).

In summer, the action’s on the water with swimming, tubing, rafting and paddleboarding along the Aare River.

3. Geneva and Lake Geneva

Best for a cosmopolitan city experience

In Switzerland’s western crook, crescent-shaped Lake Geneva  (Lac Léman to Francophones) is a joy to behold with its mountain backdrop, spirit-lifting views, vineyards and shoreline necklaced with handsome cities and castle-crowned towns.

Marked by its rainbow-kissed  Jet d’Eau fountain and Mont Blanc peeping up on the horizon, Geneva wraps around the lake’s southern shore. The worldly city makes an excellent launchpad for exploring with big-hitting museums and galleries to absorb, botanical gardens to stroll, lidos to swim at, Old Town cafes to hang out in and bright-yellow mouettes  ferrying locals across the water – surely one of the world’s most scenic commutes.

Planning tip: It’s a quick boat or train hop to  Lausanne , which can culturally give Geneva a run for its money, especially with its  Plateforme 10 arts district , the lovely terraced vineyards of the  Lavaux  wine region (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and flower-draped  Montreux , host to one of the world’s most famous jazz festivals, with the picture-perfect  Château de Chillon right on its doorstep.

Best for hiking, skiing and rock-climbing

No peak has more pulling power than the 4,478m (14,692ft) Matterhorn, a terrific, gnarled fang of rock that flings up above the seductive, timber chalet-filled Alpine resort of Zermatt . It's Switzerland’s mountain icon, so beloved by the nation that it inspired the pyramid shape of Toblerone chocolate.

Zermatt is more than a one-mountain wonder. Climbers have been rocking up here since the mid-19th-century, and it’s still a magnet for challenging summit ascents today. Otherwise, come to hike, ski and gaze over a sea of glaciers and 4,000m (13,123ft) peaks at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise . 

5. Swiss National Park 

Best for wildlife (and wildflowers) spotting

Switzerland has just one national park? Yes, we know it’s a shock, but trust us it’s a good one. Snuggled away in a remote corner of the country’s southeast on the border with Italy, the 172-sq-km (66-sq-mile)  Swiss National Park is the Alps in overdrive: a nature-gone-wild spectacle of high moors, forests, wildflower-freckled pastures, waterfalls, jewel-colored lakes and mountains as high as the sky, where ibex, chamois, marmots, deer and golden eagles roam and fly free.

Planning tip: Start off on the right foot with the inside scoop on walking trails and ranger-led guided hikes at the visitor center in Zernez.

6. Bellinzona

Best for piazza dining

With medieval castles rising high and the Alps rearing beyond, good-looking Bellinzona in Ticino is a taste of the best of Italy's best food and culture in Switzerland. You’ll find a generous splash of Italian flair in its historic center, woven with flower-draped alleys, Renaissance churches and cafe-rimmed piazzas that brim with life, laughter, clinking glasses and the out-of-tune toll of countless campaniles. 

Planning tip:  Top of any wish list is seeing the castles, among them hilltop Castelgrande , which can be drawn out into a full day’s activity (bring water and comfortable shoes). 

7. Jura Mountains and Lac de Neuchâtel 

Best for road tripping

In the dark forested hills along the French-Swiss border, the Jura Mountains are a natural wonder. This peaceful region has a beauty all its own: meadows of green, ancient forests, rocky outcrops overlooking a trio of lakes against an Alpine backdrop and slow-paced villages and valleys little changed in centuries. 

Begin with a road trip . Kick off at the Jura Vaudois Nature Park for hikes with dress-circle views of Lake Geneva and Gruyère cheese tastings at rustic Alpine huts. Swing north to Lac de Joux, the watchmaking village of Le Sentier, and Vallorbe, honeycombed with Switzerland’s biggest (and most impressive) limestone caves.

Tag on a trip to Lac de Neuchâtel and you can bathe in the thermal waters of Yverdon-les-Bains, tiptoe off the map in the lushly rolling Val-de-Travers (birthplace of absinthe) and the crescent-moon canyon of Creux du Van . Cultured Neuchâtel is a fitting climax with its fantasy of a lavishly turreted château.

8. Lake Lucerne

Best for sunset promenades

Reclining on the shores of its glittering namesake  lake ,  Lucerne  is a walkable, medieval dream of a city that has a magic you can’t quite put your finger on. It will grab you when you are strolling along the promenade as the sun sets in a blaze of gold and pinks or as you cruise across its waters to mountains of myth: 2,132m (6,995ft) Mt Pilatus, where Wagner raved about the Alpine panorama and Queen Victoria trotted on horseback, and 1,797m (5,896ft) Rigi, with a light so sublime Turner painted it in three different moods.

The little city punches far above its weight culturally with its iconic medieval Kapellbrücke  bridge leaping across the Reuss River and the Jean Nouvel–designed  KKL arts center and  Sammlung Rosengart  harboring a prized private collection of Picassos. Ambling past the belle époque hotels lining its shores, the same views that captivated Goethe, Queen Victoria and Wagner in the 19th century will hold you in their thrall.

Planning tip: With more time on your hands, you can really get out on the lake. Cruise across fjord-like, mountain-rimmed Lake Uri for a taste of Switzerland’s geographical and spiritual heartland. Boats ply the glassy turquoise waters to  Rütli , birthplace of the Swiss nation.

9. Appenzell and northeastern Switzerland

Best for a bucolic Swiss experience

Northeastern Switzerland might not have the in-your-face drama of higher realms of the Alps, but it nevertheless delights in its own serene, deeply rural way with dairy country unraveling to meet the mountains and half-timbered, gaily muralled towns all fit for a postcard. This pocket-sized region is perfect for a family vacation with a hit of culture and gentle adventure.

Begin in St Gallen, with a spin round its World Heritage  Stiftsbibliothek (Abbey Library), a literary marvel and a feast of rococo art and architecture. Move on to folksy, ridiculously pretty Appenzell, popping into the  Schaukäserei to sample regional cheeses.

Muscling further south into the Alps, head on up to Säntis at 2,501m (8,205ft) for views embracing six countries and then go to  Werdenberg , a tiny speck of a medieval hamlet home to Switzerland’s oldest timber chalets.

Planning Tip: Close by is  Vaduz ,  Liechtenstein ’s princely, castle-topped capital on the banks of the Rhine.

Best under-the-radar city experience

Popularity-wise, poor old  Basel barely gets a look. But that’s a mistake. Straddling the Rhine, this city has everything going for it: world-class art in some of the country’s best galleries, a hot food scene, avant-garde buildings bearing the hallmark of Pritzker Prize–winning architects and an upbeat cafe culture.

Allow several days for a satisfying romp of the center, where must-sees include the  Kunstmuseum and its fine arts collection, the Renzo Piano-designed  Fondation Beyeler and the Frank Gehry-designed  Vitra Design Museum .

Planning tip: Basel endears itself most to those who look beyond the trophy sights, with sundown drinks by the river or a wild swim in the Rhine. Rent a Wickelfisch (a fish-shaped waterproof bag) at the tourist office, strip to your swimming suit and go with the flow, floating downstream past the city’s landmarks.

Best place to live

Regularly landing at the top in quality-of-living surveys, urban dynamo Zürich never seems to miss a beat: from cool waterside bars on the banks of the Limmat River to its alley-woven Old Town, where the twin-spired Romanesque Grossmünster shines with Augusto Giacometti’s rainbow of stained glass. Le Corbusier’s boldly colored architectural creations and the edgily post-industrial Züri-West neighborhood notch Zürich's culture cred up even further.

Planning tip: In mid-August, Zürich throws one of Switzerland’s wildest parties: the techno-pumping Street Parade. 

This article was first published Sep 20, 2021 and updated Nov 24, 2023.

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139 Interesting Facts About Switzerland

Last updated on March 16th, 2022

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country situated in western, central, and southern Europe. It has an area of 41,277 square km. Bern is its capital and Zürich is its largest city. German, French, Italian, and Romansh are its official languages. Swiss franc (CHF) is its official currency . Its five land bordering countries are Austria , Liechtenstein, France , Italy , and Germany .

It is geographically divided between the Alps, the Jura mountains, and the Swiss Plateau. The majority of the Swiss population lives in the plateau. With these 139 facts about Switzerland, let’s learn more about its traditional culture, people, economy, history, tourism, mountain ranges, cities, and more.

1. Switzerland is slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey .

2. Zurich and Geneva are among the top ten most livable cities in the world. They rank second and eighth on the list , respectively.

3. The Swiss franc is the official currency of Switzerland.

4.  Geneva, Switzerland is also home to the second-largest of the four major office sites of the United Nations.

5. Swiss consumption of  chocolates per capital  is the highest in the world. They have invented techniques like conching and tempering to help them produce world-class chocolates.

6. Mountaineering, snowboarding, and skiing are some of the  popular sports in Switzerland.

7. Half of the  luxury watches  produced  in the world come from Switzerland. Brands like Tissot, TAG Heuer, Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Longines are all Swiss.

8. The large Hadron Collider in  the world’s largest particle physics laboratory – CERN – is in Switzerland. It has been established under the ground.

9. Bern is the  capital  of Switzerland. Zurich is its largest city.

10. Switzerland shares a land border with Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy, and France.

11. Switzerland has  enough underground bunker capacity  that it can hide its entire population in case of a nuclear war.

12. Assisted suicide  in Switzerland is legal. It is also legal in  China , Belgium ,  Canada , and other few countries. There is, however, different legislation regarding the circumstances under which this is legal.

13. Switzerland provides nearly all  CO2-friendly electricity  to its citizens. 39% of electricity comes from nuclear power plants, while 56% is generated by hydroelectric power plants.

14. A giant three-legged chair in Geneva, Switzerland is dedicated to the opposition of using land mines. It is known as  “The Broken Chair.”

15. The “Anti PowerPoint Party” is a political party in Switzerland that works to  decrease the use of PowerPoint  in professional presentations. They claim that the PowerPoint software is economically harmful.

16. Animals are also represented by lawyers in Switzerland’s courts. Once, a fisherman was  prosecuted  for taking too long to catch a Pike.

17. 23% of Switzerland’s  total population of almost 8 million consists of foreigners.

18. The  divorce rate  in Switzerland is about 43%, and people marry late: men at the age of 31.8 years and women at 29.5 years.

19. The average age for Swiss  women to have their first child  is 30.4 years, which makes them the oldest women in Europe to do so.

20. One hundred tons of hash and marijuana  are used in Switzerland every year by 600,000 people.

Map of Switzerland

21. Highly skilled people form the basis for Switzerland’s  economy.  Sectors such as banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, microtechnology, etc. employ these skilled people.

22. Switzerland: the best place in the world  to be born , according to a recent quality-of-life index.

23. It is funny to note that there are  more banks in the Switzerland than dentists.

24. Fuel economy in Switzerland is measured in “quantity per distance”  (liters per 100 km).

25. If you were a  teacher in Switzerland,  you would enjoy at least 12 weeks’ vacation, and you would be paid highly: on an average – $68,000 per year (est. 2014).

26. There are 5 hospital beds per 1000 people in Switzerland (est. 2011).

27. Bank tellers are protected by  bulletproof glass  in Switzerland.

28. Drivers of public busses can be ticketed for traffic violations.

29. Since 1815, Switzerland has not been involved in any military conflict. It has strong relations with its neighboring countries and is also a part of some international and UN organizations.

30. Almost half of its population possesses guns. In spite of this fact, there were just 0.5 murders per 100,000 compared to five per 100,000 in the U.S.

31. Heavy snowfall in Switzerland during the night time will often accumulate enough snow on the roads to make them unusable. However, the roads will always be cleaned by 8:00 in the morning.

32. Switzerland is one of the two countries in the world to have  a square flag.  The other is Vatican City.

Flag of Switzerland

33. A ring made entirely out of diamonds was sold by a Swiss jeweler for a whopping $68 million.

34. Swiss chocolatiers Peter and Henri Nestlé  invented milk chocolate  in 1875.

35. The very  first Nobel Peace Prize  was awarded to Jean Henri Dunant, a Swiss, in 1901. He is the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Sixteen people from Switzerland have won the Nobel Prize in various fields. To see the full list of the Nobel Prize winner by country, visit this link.

36. Switzerland does not have a president as chief of state.

37. “The World’s Smallest Toolbox” – the Swiss Army knife – was invented by Karl Elsener. There are four different models available, and they can have a barometer, altimeter and even a USB memory card.

38. The famous equation  E=MC2 was devised by  Albert Einstein in 1905,  while he was in Switzerland.

39. Charlie  Chaplin spent  the last 25 years of his life in Switzerland.

40. The  world’s largest nuclear shelter,  the Sonnenberg Tunnel, is in Switzerland. It can house up to 20,000 individuals for an extended period of time during a nuclear emergency.

41. Switzerland’s defense is well prepared for the event of an attack. It has already deployed technology to block access via roads, bridges, and railways across 3000 locations.

42. The smallest vineyard under the  ownership of Dalai Lama  is located in Switzerland.

43. The  World Wide Web  was invented by Tim Berners Lee in Switzerland in 1989.

44. More  films produced by India  are shot in Switzerland than in any other country.

45. The  first waterproof watch  was invented by Rolex in 1927 in Switzerland.  

46. Nescafe,  the world’s first instant coffee, was invented in 1938 in Switzerland, too.

47. In Latin, Confoederatio Helvetica is Switzerland’s official name, which is why  Switzerland’s abbreviation is CH.

About solar-powered flight made in Switzerland

48. Switzerland is also the only country in the world to have built an airplane that is powered by solar energy.

49. The plane named “Solar Impulse 2”,  is the first plane in the world to have completed 40,000 kilometers without a single drop of fuel.

50. The aircraft—Solar Impulse 2–was in flight for consecutive 5 days and night, and by doing so, it became the first solar-powered aircraft to accomplish an oceanic crossing.

51. Abu Dhabi, UAE ’s capital city, was chosen as the start and finish city for the first solar powered flight completed by Solar Impulse 2. The city was chosen for its climate and infrastructural benefits that were required to complete the flight. Learn more at their official website here.

Facts about people and society in Switzerland

52. Switzerland’s resident population has grown from 3.3 million in 1900 to 8.3 million in 2017.      

53. Today, there are almost 2 million resident foreigners in Switzerland.

54. In 2017, almost 18% of the Swiss population is above the age of 64 years.

55. Did you know that the Italians are the largest foreign community in Switzerland, followed by German, Portuguese and French communities?

56. To apply for Swiss citizenship, one must have lived in Switzerland for at least 12 years.

57. Three-quarters of Swiss population lives in towns and cities, making the country mainly urban.

58. Swiss people are process oriented.

59. People also like to go outdoors more often than not. Swiss people trek, ski, jog, walk, run, and engage in many other outdoor activities.

60. Switzerland is a small but a famous country in the heart of Europe.

61. Switzerland has the highest nominal wealth per adult and it is one of the most developed countries in the world.

62. Switzerland was not involved in any of the two world wars; World War I (Jul 28, 1914 – Nov 11, 1918) and World War II (Sep 1, 1939 – Sep 2, 1945.)

63. Air and water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and acid rain are some environmental issues in Switzerland.     

64. Switzerland’s crime and unemployment rates are amongst the lowest in the world. The country is also famous for its technological innovation and strong banking system.

Facts about prominent mountain peaks, Alps and Swiss Alps

65. Most important peaks: Monte Rosa (most elevated), the Finsteraarhorn (most prominent) and Piz Bernina (most isolated) are the three most prominent peaks of Switzerland.

66. Switzerland has a whopping 4400 summits (peaks) that are over 2000 m in height.

67. The total area of the Alps is 192,753 square kilometers, of which only 14% is in Switzerland.

68.  The Alps is credited with being the youngest, largest, highest, and most densely populated mountain range in Europe. It is estimated to have formed some 45 million years ago.

69. The region of the Alps which falls in Switzerland is referred to as Swiss Alps.

70. Switzerland is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe as 65% of its total land mass is covered under the Alps.

71. The majority of the highest peaks, 48 out of the 82, that are higher than 4000 m are in Switzerland, and the remaining are also within 20 kilometers of the Swiss border.

72. The first international group of travelers visited Switzerland in 1863. The group was organized by Thomas Cook.

Facts about railways, famous Swiss tunnels

73. Jungfraujoch railway station , the highest railway station in Europe, is in Switzerland. It is built at an altitude of 11,332 ft above sea level. It began its operation in 1912.

74. Switzerland has built plenty of rail tunnels to ease transportation, which was most affected because of its geographical features.

75. They built the Gotthard Rail Tunnel (connecting Switzerland – Italy, Switzerland – Germany, and Switzerland – Austria.)

76. The Simplon Tunnel connected Rhone valley with Italy in 1906.

77. The Gotthard Base Tunnel– the world’s longest rail tunnel –opened in 2016 goes through the Alps. It is 57 kilometers long. It can effectively reduce the travel time between Zurich and Milan by at least 30 minutes. The Gotthard Road Tunnel in Switzerland which is 16.9 kilometers long is the second longest road tunnel in the world after the  Lærdal Road Tunnel in Norway which runs for 24.51 km.

78.  Switzerland contains  3,100 miles of the railway network .

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Top Things to Do in Switzerland

Top Things to Do in Geneva

One Week Itinerary

Most Scenic Train Routes

Switzerland's Nature Parks

How to Go Skiing

The Top Hikes

Matterhorn Complete Guide

The Most Beautiful Lakes

Foods to Try

Best Restaurants

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Switzerland Airports

Getting Around

Places to Visit in Switzerland

The Best 17 Places to Visit in Switzerland

It's no secret that Switzerland has scenery in spades. The small European country is big on towering, snow-capped mountains, shimmering lakes, storybook villages, and vibrant cities. For active vacationers, Switzerland offers virtually every winter sport, including, of course, some of the world's best skiing, plus hiking, biking, climbing, hang-gliding, and other temptations for adrenaline junkies. There's also plenty to fill a more leisurely vacation, with hearty cuisine, including what some say is the world's finest chocolate, high-end shopping, first-rate museums, and, at every turn, another gobsmacking panorama.

Switzerland is a year-round destination, and it would take many, many trips to see all that it has to offer. But assuming you don't have a lifetime to explore the country, here's our list of the top 17 places to see in Switzerland.

TripSavvy / Michela Sieman

Switzerland's largest city is a stunner—at once historic and modern, cosmopolitan and bohemian. Divided by the Limmat River and wrapping around Lake Zurich's shores, Zurich offers some of Switzerland's best museums, Swiss and international dining , and Bahnhofstrasse—rightfully called the world's most expensive shopping street. Plan to spend much of your time in the Altstadt, or Old Town, and enjoy at least one traditional meal in a restaurant housed in a former medieval guildhall. Many a tour of Switzerland begins or ends here, as the city is seamlessly connected to the rest of the country and Europe, thanks to the ultra-efficient Swiss Rail System .

©GenèveTourisme; ©www.geneve.com 

Switzerland's second-largest city, French-speaking Geneva sits at the southwestern end of Lake Geneva and has a long lakefront promenade on two shores offering views of the famous Jet d'Eau fountain. Geneva is one of Europe's most expensive cities in which to live; that prosperity is felt in its elegant streets and parks, high-end shopping avenues, and five-star hotels with luxury sedans parked out front. But the city is also rich in history, as the center of the Swiss Reformation and, today, the home of the International Red Cross and the United Nations.

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson

The Swiss capital of Bern sits on a sharp bend in the River Aare in the western part of the country. Its Altstadt, or Old Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to so many well-preserved medieval buildings. But the undisputed star of the show is the Zytglogge, the fascinating astronomical clock that Einstein is said to have studied when developing his Theory of Relativity. Bern Minster has the tallest church spire in Switzerland and a stunning main portal. Those with more modern tastes can head to Zentrum Paul Klee, a museum dedicated to the country's most famous artist.

Like so many Swiss cities, pretty, walkable Lucerne occupies a magnificent setting—this time on Lake Lucerne with the Alps as a backdrop. The 14th-century wooden Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) is one of the most photographed sights in Switzerland, and Lucern's medieval Altstadt (Old Town) looks much the same as it did hundreds of years ago. The innovative Swiss Museum of Transport  is the most visited museum in Switzerland.

Lake Geneva

 MontreuxRiviera.com

With one shore in Switzerland and one shore in France, Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) is a sparkling, half-moon shaped international playground. On the Swiss side, it offers the elegant city of Geneva; relaxed Montreux , famous for its jazz festival; and Lausanne, home of the International Olympic Committee. The terraced vineyards of the Lavaux wine region are a UNESCO World Heritage Site—some date back to the 11th-century. Last but definitely not least, 12th-century Chillon Castle is everything a castle should be—complete with a (partial) moat, dungeons, and a keep.

David Hanson/GettyImages 

The smallest Swiss canton, Appenzell Innerrhoden is set in the rolling hills south of Lake Constance. This is storybook Switzerland, complete with villages of brightly painted houses, folk traditions, and residents in traditional costume. In the fall, the cows literally come home, as herdsmen bring their cattle—decked out in bells and flower garlands—down from the mountains for the winter. Appenzell's car-free village is a center for folk-art, traditional festivals, baked goods, and yes—yodeling.

St. Moritz & the Engadine

Francesco Meroni / GettyImages

St. Moritz ranks as one of the world's top winter playgrounds for the jet set, and its palatial hotels, luxury shopping, and tony apres-ski scene are fun to dip into. Non-one-percenters might prefer some of the smaller, more down-to-earth towns and villages of the sunny Engadine Valley, known for its glaciers, snowy peaks, glacial lakes, forest, and folk culture. Listen closely, and you may hear Romansch being spoken—the ancient Latin-based language is still taught in the Engadine schools. The area is also a summer paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, and windsurfers.

Interlaken & Jungfrau

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove

Set between lakes Thun and Brienz, the pleasant town of Interlaken is the most convenient base for exploring the towering peaks of the Bernese Oberland—the region of glaciers, craggy mountains, and pristine lakes that offer postcard views at every turn. From Interlaken, a system of trains, cable cars, and cogwheel rails connect to the region's major ski areas and the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. For more than a century, it’s been the highest railway station in Europe. There, a high altitude playground awaits, with observatory platforms offering multi-peak views, the Eispalast (Ice Palace) walk inside a glacier, plus restaurants, and, of course, more skiing.

Lugano and Ticino

You'd be excused for thinking you've crossed over into Italy once you reach Ticino, the region wedged between the Alps and the Italian border. There's a distinctly Mediterranean vibe here, and Italian, not Swiss, is the first language. Lakes Lugano and Maggiore shares shores with Italy and offers a summertime playground for hiking, sailing, and swimming, with a touch of la dolce vita thrown in. Lugano's lakefront city is the bustling regional hub, but climb—or take a cable car—up any mountain to discover sleepy, rustic villages, clean air, and traditional country inns and restaurants.

raymondchan photo / GettyImages 

Something looms large over the car-free, stylish-yet-traditional mountain town of Zermatt—the Matterhorn. Europe's most famous mountain peak draws hordes of visitors to this otherwise sleepy town in the valley for skiing, ice-climbing, and arduous summer hikes and mountain biking. There's plenty of passive sightseeing to do here as well, and the views never disappoint. A mountaineering museum, traditional restaurants, luxe spas, and cozy—if not cheap—hotels can keep you pleasantly occupied here for a few days.

Stuart Dee/GettyImages

Near Lake Constance and the border with Liechtenstein, historic St. Gallen has a car-free center, a UNESCO-listed abbey and cathedral, and a textile-making tradition more than a thousand years old. The Rococo-style abbey library, stocked with 170,000 priceless volumes and documents, is a must-see here. There's a full cultural program in this important university town, as well as easy access to biking, hiking, boat rides on Lake Constance, and jaunts into Germany, Liechtenstein, and Austria.

Andrew Bain / GettyImages 

Pass the cheese, please. Though there's more to this charming medieval town than its namesake cheese, it would be a shame to leave Gruyères without sampling traditional raclette or fondue and visiting the Maison du Gruyère, where they make—you guessed it. In-between bites of cheese, visit the imposing 13th-century Gruyères Castle and take in the pastoral countryside. Oh, and did we mention there's a chocolate factory here, too?

Great St. Bernard Pass

irisphoto2 / GettyImages

Connecting Italy to Switzerland, the Great St. Bernard Pass has been a strategic gateway for the continent—long before the Romans first laid claim to it. The St. Bernard Hospice is still here, as are the iconic St. Bernard dogs—though they perform fewer mountain rescues than they once did. You can drive over the scenic pass or spend the day crossing it on foot, stopping at cozy village inns for hearty sustenance along the way.

Rhaetian Railway

 Dirk von Mallinckrodt / GettyImages

It's all about the journey rather than the destination when you climb aboard one of the Rhaetian Railway trains, the network of scenic Alpine train rides that includes the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express . Panoramic train cars allow for sweeping views of passing glaciers, glacial lakes, mountain passes, and dense forests. The astonishing engineering feats of these high-altitude train tracks are reason enough to make the trip on at least one leg.

Trümmelbach Falls

Catalin Daniel Ciolca / GettyImages 

If you're visiting the Jungfrau, be sure to stop and see where all that spring snowmelt goes. Trümmelbach Falls are a series of falls that crash through a scenic gorge, carrying waters of the Jungfrau as they roar through underground caverns and pools. A series of elevators, bridges, and pathways puts visitors right in the spray of the mighty falls, which are closed in the wintertime.

Ayhan Altun / GettyImages

Palm and lemon trees give Locarno a nearly tropical feel. Switzerland's warmest city sits on Lake Maggiore and is the relaxed alternative to busy Lugano. Wandering the narrow streets of the town, strolling along the lake, and having a coffee or aperitivo on Piazza Grande—these are the simple pleasures of Locarno. A hike or funicular ride up to the Madonna del Sasso pilgrimage church rewards with breathtaking views of the lake, the town, and the surrounding mountains. From there, explore the villages and streams and waterfalls of the surrounding Valle Verzasca.

 Alexander Spatari / GettyImages

Literary Lausanne has inspired writers and artists through the ages, no doubt inspired by Lake Geneva's views, the city's pedestrian-only medieval center, and, perhaps, its mighty Gothic cathedral. Divided between upper and lower towns connected by a subway, Lausanne the smallest city in Europe with a metro system. It's the International Olympic Committee's home and a sporty vibe pervades—as evidenced by all the bikers, walkers, swimmers, and sailors.

Switzerland Travel Guide

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The Top 20 Things to Do in Switzerland

One Week in Switzerland: The Ultimate Itinerary

Your Trip to Switzerland: The Complete Guide

A Guide to Airports in Switzerland

The Most Beautiful Lakes in Switzerland

The Best Time to Visit Switzerland

Getting Around Switzerland: Guide to Public Transportation

The 5 Best Day Hikes in the Swiss Alps

The 12 Best Hikes in Switzerland

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Your Trip to Zurich: The Complete Guide

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Tourism in Switzerland 

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Tourism in Switzerland is big business. But why is this industry so important and what does it all mean? Read on to find out…

Tourism in Switzerland

The geography of switzerland, the tourism industry in switzerland, statistics about tourism in switzerland, the most popular tourist attractions in switzerland, the most popular types of tourism in switzerland , the economic impacts of tourism in switzerland, the social impacts of tourism in switzerland, the environmental impacts of tourism in switzerland, faqs about tourism in switzerland, to conclude: tourism in switzerland.

Switzerland, nestled in the heart of Europe, is renowned for its stunning alpine landscapes and precise craftsmanship. This article unpacks the intricacies of Switzerland’s tourism sector, discussing its paramount importance to the national economy, while spotlighting the charm of its snow-clad mountains, luxurious watchmaking towns, and multicultural cities.

Switzerland is a landlocked country located in Central Europe. Here are some key points about the geography of Switzerland:

1. Location: Switzerland is situated in the heart of Europe and is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.

2. Landscape: Switzerland is known for its stunning mountainous landscape. The Swiss Alps dominate the southern part of the country, while the Jura Mountains stretch along the western border. The Swiss Plateau, with its rolling hills and fertile plains, occupies the northern and central regions.

3. Alps: The Swiss Alps are one of the most prominent mountain ranges in the world and cover about 60% of Switzerland’s total land area. This region includes famous peaks such as the Matterhorn, Eiger, and Jungfrau. The Swiss Alps offer breathtaking landscapes, skiing and snowboarding opportunities, and picturesque alpine villages.

4. Lakes: Switzerland is also known for its beautiful lakes, which dot the landscape throughout the country. Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), Lake Zurich, Lake Lucerne, and Lake Maggiore are among the largest and most popular lakes in Switzerland. These lakes provide scenic beauty, water-based activities, and charming lakeside towns.

5. Rivers: Several major rivers flow through Switzerland, including the Rhine, Rhône, and Aare. These rivers not only contribute to the natural beauty of the country but also offer opportunities for river cruises, water sports, and picturesque riverside walks.

6. Climate: Switzerland has a varied climate influenced by its diverse topography. The high Alpine regions have a cold and snowy climate, while the lower areas experience mild summers and cold winters. The climate is also influenced by the Mediterranean in the south and the continental climate in the north.

7. Biodiversity: Despite its small size, Switzerland boasts significant biodiversity. The varied landscapes support diverse ecosystems, including alpine meadows, forests, wetlands, and glacial regions. The country is home to numerous plant and animal species, including chamois, ibex, marmots, and various bird species.

8. Natural Parks: Switzerland has several national parks and nature reserves dedicated to preserving its natural heritage. These protected areas, such as the Swiss National Park and the Aletsch Glacier, provide opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, and nature conservation.

9. Transportation: Switzerland has a well-developed transportation infrastructure, including an extensive network of trains, cable cars, and roads that make it easy to access different regions of the country. The famous Swiss railway system is known for its efficiency and scenic routes.

10. Tourism: The unique geography of Switzerland, with its mountains, lakes, and charming towns, attracts millions of tourists each year. Visitors come to enjoy outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and mountain climbing, as well as to explore cultural attractions, historical sites, and picturesque landscapes.

Overall, Switzerland’s geography offers a diverse and breathtaking environment, making it a popular destination for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and those seeking picturesque scenery.

Switzerland has a thriving tourism industry and is known worldwide as a popular travel destination. Here are some key aspects of the tourism industry in Switzerland:

1. Scenic Beauty: Switzerland is renowned for its stunning landscapes, including the majestic Swiss Alps, picturesque lakes, charming towns, and lush green valleys. The country’s natural beauty attracts visitors from around the globe.

2. Outdoor Activities: Switzerland offers a wide range of outdoor activities throughout the year. In winter, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing are popular, with world-class ski resorts such as Zermatt, Verbier, and St. Moritz. In summer, hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, and water sports on the lakes are among my favourite activities.

3. Cultural Heritage: Switzerland has a rich cultural heritage that attracts tourists interested in history, art, and architecture. The country is home to numerous castles, museums, art galleries, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Cities like Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, and Bern offer a blend of historical and modern attractions.

4. Wellness and Spa Tourism: Switzerland is famous for its wellness and spa resorts, offering relaxation, rejuvenation, and therapeutic treatments. Places like Baden-Baden, Davos, and Leukerbad are renowned for their thermal baths, wellness retreats, and health resorts.

5. Culinary Experiences: Swiss cuisine is known for its cheeses, chocolates, and other delicious specialties. Visitors can enjoy authentic Swiss dishes, wine tasting, and culinary tours. Additionally, Switzerland has a strong tradition of fine dining, with many Michelin-starred restaurants.

6. Adventure Tourism: Switzerland attracts adventure seekers with activities like mountaineering, rock climbing, canyoning, and glacier trekking. The country’s challenging terrain and well-maintained infrastructure make it an ideal destination for thrill-seekers.

7. Rail Journeys: Switzerland is famous for its scenic rail journeys, offering breathtaking views of the Alps, lakes, and countryside. The Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and GoldenPass Line are popular train routes that provide unforgettable travel experiences.

8. Shopping: Switzerland is known for its luxury watches, chocolates, cheeses, and other high-quality products. Cities like Zurich and Geneva are shopping hubs, offering a wide range of boutiques, department stores, and renowned Swiss brands.

9. Sustainability and Ecotourism: Switzerland places a strong emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly tourism. Many hotels, resorts, and tourism operators in Switzerland adhere to eco-friendly practices, promoting responsible tourism and preserving the natural environment.

10. Events and Festivals: Switzerland hosts various cultural, sports, and music events throughout the year, attracting visitors from all over the world. The Montreux Jazz Festival, Basel Carnival, Fête de l’Escalade in Geneva, and Swiss National Day celebrations are among the popular events.

The tourism industry in Switzerland plays a significant role in the country’s economy, providing employment opportunities and contributing to local businesses. The Swiss government and tourism organisations continuously promote Switzerland as a desirable destination, ensuring that visitors have memorable experiences while preserving the country’s natural and cultural heritage.

Now lets put things into perspective. Here are some statistics about tourism in Switzerland:

1. In 2019, Switzerland welcomed a record-breaking 12.5 million international tourists, representing a 1.9% increase compared to the previous year.

2. Tourism contributes significantly to the Swiss economy, accounting for around 2.9% of the country’s GDP.

3. Switzerland is known for its high tourism receipts. In 2019, the tourism industry generated approximately 18.8 billion Swiss francs (CHF) in revenue.

4. The number of overnight stays in Switzerland reached 38.8 million in 2019, with domestic tourists accounting for 18.8 million stays and international tourists for 20 million stays.

5. The average length of stay for international tourists in Switzerland is around 2.6 nights.

6. Germany is the largest source market for tourists visiting Switzerland, followed by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and China.

7. The Swiss Alps are the most popular tourist destination in Switzerland, attracting visitors with their stunning landscapes, ski resorts, and outdoor activities.

8. The cities of Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, and Basel are the most visited urban destinations in Switzerland, offering a mix of culture, history, and modern amenities.

9. Switzerland has a well-developed tourism infrastructure, including an extensive network of hotels, resorts, transportation options, and tourist facilities.

10. Switzerland is known for its commitment to sustainability and eco-tourism. Many tourism operators and accommodations in Switzerland have implemented eco-friendly practices to minimise their environmental impact and promote responsible tourism.

Please note that these statistics are based on pre-pandemic data and may vary due to the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry.

Switzerland is known for its stunning landscapes, charming cities, and cultural heritage. Here are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Switzerland:

1. Zermatt and the Matterhorn: Zermatt is a picturesque Alpine village located at the foot of the iconic Matterhorn, one of the most famous mountains in the world. It is a popular destination for skiing, hiking, and mountaineering.

2. Lucerne and Lake Lucerne: Lucerne is a beautiful city situated on the shores of Lake Lucerne. It offers a blend of historic architecture, such as the Chapel Bridge, and breathtaking natural scenery. Visitors can also take boat cruises on the lake and explore nearby mountains.

3. Geneva: Known as the international centre for diplomacy, Geneva is a cosmopolitan city with a rich history. It is home to numerous international organisations, including the United Nations. Visitors can explore the Old Town, visit museums, and enjoy the scenic shores of Lake Geneva.

4. Interlaken: Nestled between two lakes and surrounded by the Swiss Alps, Interlaken is a popular destination for outdoor activities. It serves as a gateway to adventure sports such as paragliding, skydiving, and canyoning. It also offers easy access to the Jungfrau region, known for its stunning mountain landscapes.

5. Bern: The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is known for its well-preserved mediaeval old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city offers attractions like the Bear Park, the Rosengarten, and the Zytglogge (Clock Tower).

6. Zurich: Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich, is a vibrant metropolis with a mix of modern and historic attractions. Visitors can explore the Old Town, visit museums, enjoy shopping on Bahnhofstrasse, and take a boat cruise on Lake Zurich.

7. Lausanne and Lake Geneva: Lausanne is a picturesque city located on the shores of Lake Geneva. It is home to the International Olympic Committee and offers a blend of history, culture, and beautiful scenery. The Olympic Museum and the Lausanne Cathedral are popular attractions.

8. The Swiss National Park: Located in the eastern part of the country, the Swiss National Park is a nature lover’s paradise. It is Switzerland’s oldest national park and is home to a wide variety of alpine flora and fauna. Visitors can explore hiking trails and enjoy the untouched beauty of the Swiss Alps.

9. Chillon Castle: Situated on the shores of Lake Geneva near Montreux, Chillon Castle is a well-preserved mediaeval fortress. It offers stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains and provides insights into the region’s history and architecture.

10. The Aletsch Glacier: The Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier in the Alps and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in the Jungfrau region, it offers breathtaking views and opportunities for hiking and mountaineering.

These are just a few examples of the many wonderful tourist attractions Switzerland has to offer. The country is renowned for its natural beauty, outdoor activities, cultural heritage, and welcoming hospitality.

Switzerland attracts a diverse range of tourists due to its natural beauty, outdoor activities, cultural heritage, and well-developed infrastructure. Here are some of the most popular types of tourism in Switzerland:

1. Alpine Tourism: Switzerland is renowned for its magnificent Alpine scenery, making it a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. Skiing, snowboarding, and mountaineering are major attractions in places like Zermatt, St. Moritz, Verbier, and Davos.

2. Adventure Tourism: The country offers various outdoor adventure activities, including hiking, cycling, rock climbing, paragliding, and river rafting. The Swiss National Park, Jungfrau Region, and Engadin Valley are popular destinations for adventure tourism.

3. Cultural Tourism: Switzerland has a rich cultural heritage with diverse traditions, languages, and historical sites. Cities like Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Lucerne offer a blend of mediaeval architecture, art galleries, museums, and music festivals. Château de Chillon, the Abbey of St. Gallen, and the Old Town of Bern are notable cultural attractions.

4. Wellness and Spa Tourism: Switzerland is famous for its luxury wellness retreats and thermal spas. Places like Bad Ragaz, Leukerbad, and Scuol offer rejuvenating spa experiences, thermal baths, and wellness treatments set amidst scenic landscapes.

5. Nature Tourism: Switzerland’s picturesque landscapes, including its lakes, waterfalls, and scenic hiking trails, attract nature enthusiasts. The Swiss National Park, Lake Geneva, Lake Lucerne, and the Aletsch Glacier are popular natural attractions.

6. Train Tourism: Switzerland’s efficient train network, including the famous Glacier Express and Bernina Express, offers panoramic views of the country’s stunning landscapes. Train enthusiasts and travellers seeking scenic journeys often opt for these picturesque train rides.

7. Culinary Tourism: Swiss cuisine, known for its cheese, chocolate, and fondue, is a draw for food lovers. Visitors can explore cheese factories, chocolate factories, vineyards, and traditional Swiss restaurants to indulge in the country’s culinary delights.

These are just a few examples of the popular types of tourism in Switzerland. The country’s diverse offerings cater to a wide range of interests and preferences, making it an attractive destination for travellers from around the world.

Tourism in Switzerland plays a significant role in the Swiss economy and has a substantial impact on various sectors. Here are some of the economic impacts of tourism in Switzerland:

1. Employment: The tourism industry in Switzerland is a major source of employment. It creates job opportunities in hotels, restaurants, transportation, tour operations, travel agencies, and various related sectors. Both direct and indirect employment is generated, benefiting the local workforce.

2. Revenue generation: Tourism in Switzerland contributes significantly to the country’s revenue. International tourists spend money on accommodation, food and beverages, transportation, shopping, attractions, and other tourism-related services. This expenditure leads to the generation of income and tax revenues for the government.

3. Small business development: The tourism industry in Switzerland provides opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive. Local artisans, craftsmen, souvenir shops, and family-owned businesses benefit from the influx of tourists, helping to diversify the economy.

4. Infrastructure development: The demand for tourism infrastructure, such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, and transportation facilities, drives investment and development in these areas. The construction and maintenance of infrastructure create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth.

5. Regional development: Tourism in Switzerland helps in the development of rural and less-developed regions of Switzerland. When tourists explore different areas, they contribute to the economic growth of those regions, encouraging investment and development beyond major cities and popular tourist destinations.

6. Cultural preservation: Tourism in Switzerland often fosters the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. Historic sites, museums, traditional festivals, and local traditions gain recognition and support due to tourist interest. This helps preserve Switzerland’s cultural identity and can have positive economic impacts on communities.

7. Multiplier effect: The tourism industry has a multiplier effect on the economy. When tourists spend money, it circulates through the economy, benefiting various sectors and creating a ripple effect. For example, money spent by tourists at a hotel can generate income for the hotel staff, local suppliers, restaurants, and shops, leading to further economic activity.

However, it’s important to note that tourism in Switzerland also brings challenges and potential negative impacts, such as overcrowding, environmental concerns, increased living costs in tourist areas, and seasonal fluctuations in employment. Sustainable tourism practices and careful planning are necessary to mitigate these issues and ensure the long-term benefits of tourism in Switzerland.

Tourism in Switzerland has a significant impact on Swiss society, both positive and negative. Switzerland is known for its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and well-preserved historical sites, making it a popular tourist destination. Here are some of the social impacts of tourism in Switzerland:

1. Economic benefits: Tourism in Switzerland contributes significantly to the Swiss economy by generating revenue and creating employment opportunities. It supports various sectors such as accommodation, transportation, restaurants, and souvenir shops, providing jobs for locals and boosting their income levels. This economic stability positively affects the standard of living and social welfare of Swiss residents.

2. Cultural exchange: Tourism in Switzerland brings people from different parts of the world to Switzerland, fostering cultural exchange and understanding. Visitors have the opportunity to experience Swiss traditions, language, cuisine, and customs, while locals gain exposure to diverse cultures and perspectives. This interaction enhances mutual respect, tolerance, and appreciation for cultural diversity.

3. Preservation of heritage: Tourism in Switzerland plays a vital role in preserving cultural and historical heritage. The revenue generated from tourism often goes towards the restoration and maintenance of historic buildings, museums, and landmarks. This ensures the preservation of Swiss heritage for future generations and promotes a sense of pride among the local population.

4. Promotion of local traditions and crafts: Tourism in Switzerland encourages the promotion and revitalization of traditional Swiss crafts, such as watchmaking, chocolate production, cheese-making, and textile manufacturing. Visitors are interested in experiencing and purchasing authentic Swiss products, which helps to sustain local industries and traditions. This contributes to the preservation of cultural identity and supports local artisans and businesses.

5. Infrastructure development: The tourism industry drives the development of infrastructure in Switzerland. To cater to the needs of tourists, there is a continuous improvement in transportation networks, accommodation facilities, and recreational amenities. These developments benefit not only tourists but also residents, making travel and access to various services more convenient and efficient.

6. Environmental concerns: The influx of tourists can put pressure on Switzerland’s delicate ecosystems and natural resources. Popular tourist destinations, such as mountainous regions, may experience increased foot traffic, leading to erosion, pollution, and habitat disturbance. Sustainable tourism practices and responsible visitor behaviour are crucial in minimising these negative environmental impacts.

7. Seasonal employment and seasonality challenges: Tourism in Switzerland is often seasonal, with peaks during summer and winter. This can create a challenge in terms of employment stability, as many jobs are tied to specific seasons. Seasonal employment opportunities can be beneficial for local residents, providing them with additional income. However, the reliance on seasonal employment may lead to economic uncertainties and fluctuations in local communities.

To maximise the positive social impacts and mitigate the negative ones, Switzerland focuses on sustainable tourism practices, responsible tourism education, and conservation efforts. The government, local communities, and tourism industry stakeholders work together to strike a balance between economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental protection.

Tourism in Switzerland has both positive and negative environmental impacts. While the industry promotes appreciation for the country’s natural beauty and supports conservation efforts, it also poses challenges to the environment. Here are some key environmental impacts of tourism in Switzerland:

1. Carbon emissions: Travel to Switzerland, especially by air, contributes to carbon emissions due to the burning of fossil fuels. Tourists coming from distant locations often rely on air travel, which is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. This can contribute to climate change and impact the fragile alpine ecosystems of Switzerland.

2. Overcrowding and habitat disturbance: Popular tourist destinations in Switzerland, particularly in the Alps, can experience overcrowding during peak seasons. Increased visitor numbers can lead to habitat disturbance, trampling of vegetation, soil erosion, and damage to fragile ecosystems. It can also disrupt the natural behaviour and breeding patterns of wildlife.

3. Waste generation and pollution: Tourism in Switzerland generates a substantial amount of waste, including plastic bottles, food packaging, and other disposable items. Improper waste management can lead to pollution of water bodies, soil, and scenic landscapes. It is crucial to promote responsible waste disposal and recycling practices to mitigate this impact.

4. Water consumption and scarcity: Tourism in Switzerland places demands on water resources, particularly in areas with limited water availability. Hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities require water for various purposes. In regions already facing water scarcity or during dry periods, increased tourism can exacerbate the strain on local water supplies and ecosystems.

5. Ski tourism and landscape modification: Switzerland is renowned for its ski resorts, attracting winter sports enthusiasts from around the world. The development of ski infrastructure, including ski lifts, trails, and snowmaking systems, can lead to landscape modification and habitat fragmentation. This can affect the natural flow of water, soil erosion, and disrupt wildlife habitats.

6. Wildlife disturbance: The presence of tourists in natural areas can disrupt wildlife behaviour and disturb sensitive species. Activities such as hiking, skiing, and wildlife viewing, if not conducted responsibly, can lead to stress, displacement, and changes in animal behaviour. It is essential to promote guidelines and regulations to minimise wildlife disturbance and protect biodiversity.

7. Energy and resource consumption: The tourism industry requires significant energy and resource consumption for transportation, accommodation, and other services. This includes energy-intensive activities like heating and cooling in hotels, water consumption, and the operation of recreational facilities. Encouraging sustainable practices, such as energy-efficient infrastructure and renewable energy sources, can help reduce these impacts.

To address these environmental concerns, Switzerland has taken steps to promote sustainable tourism practices. The country emphasises the use of renewable energy, waste management initiatives, protected area management, and the development of eco-friendly infrastructure. Efforts are made to raise awareness among tourists and encourage responsible behaviour, such as minimising waste, using public transportation, respecting wildlife, and following designated trails. Additionally, Switzerland actively participates in international collaborations and agreements to address climate change and protect biodiversity.

Now that we know a bit more about tourism in Switzerland, lets answer some of the most common questions on this topic:

1. Q: What is the best time to visit Switzerland?

   A: Switzerland is a year-round destination, offering different experiences in each season. Summer (June to August) is ideal for outdoor activities and exploring the scenic landscapes, while winter (December to February) is perfect for skiing and winter sports enthusiasts. Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

2. Q: Do I need a visa to visit Switzerland?

   A: Whether you need a visa to visit Switzerland depends on your nationality. Citizens of certain countries can enter Switzerland for tourism purposes without a visa for a limited period (usually up to 90 days). It’s recommended to check with the Swiss embassy or consulate in your country for specific visa requirements.

3. Q: Is English widely spoken in Switzerland?

   A: While Switzerland has four official languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansh), English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and major cities. You should have no trouble communicating in English, but it’s always helpful to learn a few basic phrases in the local language.

4. Q: How do I get around in Switzerland?

   A: Switzerland has an efficient and well-connected public transportation system. Trains, trams, buses, and boats cover most areas of the country. The Swiss Travel Pass offers unlimited travel on public transportation and can be a convenient option for visitors. Rental cars are also available, but they may not be necessary if you plan to primarily rely on public transport.

5. Q: Are the Swiss Alps only for experienced hikers?

   A: The Swiss Alps offer a range of hiking options suitable for all skill levels. While some trails may be more challenging, there are plenty of easy and moderate routes that can be enjoyed by beginners and families as well. It’s important to choose trails that match your fitness level and come prepared with proper gear and information.

6. Q: Is Switzerland an expensive country to visit?

   A: Yes, Switzerland is known for its high cost of living, and tourism expenses can add up. Accommodation, dining out, and activities can be relatively expensive compared to other destinations. However, there are ways to manage costs, such as opting for budget accommodations, self-catering, and exploring free or low-cost attractions.

7. Q: What are some must-visit attractions in Switzerland?

   A: Switzerland offers a wealth of attractions. Some popular ones include the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Lake Geneva, Jungfraujoch (the “Top of Europe”), Lucerne and its Chapel Bridge, the Rhine Falls, the Chillon Castle, and cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Bern. Additionally, exploring the scenic landscapes and charming Swiss villages is highly recommended.

8. Q: Can I drink tap water in Switzerland?

   A: Yes, tap water in Switzerland is generally safe and of high quality. You can drink tap water without any concerns. It’s a great way to stay hydrated and save money on buying bottled water.

9. Q: Are there any cultural etiquettes or customs to be aware of?

   A: Switzerland has a rich cultural heritage, and it’s appreciated when visitors respect local customs. It’s customary to greet people with a handshake, dress modestly when visiting religious sites, and observe quietness in public places. Tipping is not mandatory, but leaving a small amount as a token of appreciation for good service is common.

Switzerland is renowned worldwide for its stunning Alpine landscapes, luxury watches, and world-class chocolate. The tourism sector plays a vital role in its economy, attracting visitors to its ski resorts, scenic train journeys, and cultural cities. As tourism thrives, it brings both positive economic influx and challenges, especially in terms of sustainability and maintaining the pristine nature of its environments. In closing, Switzerland continually works towards blending its deep-rooted traditions with the demands of modern tourism, ensuring a harmonious experience for both visitors and residents.

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Facts about Switzerland

Switzerland

Central Europe Population 8,287,000 (2015) Coordinates: 47 00 N, 8 00 E Area Total: 41,290 sq km

Capital: Berne National Holiday: August 1 Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)

Bordering Countries: Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein

Languages: German, French, Italian, Romansch

Information about Switzerland

To begin, you should know some interesting facts about Switzerland. The capital of Switzerland is Berne. The Swiss Confederation (conventional name of Switzerland) is a federal republic divided into Executive, Legislative and Judicial branch. The country is split into 26 administrative divisions (cantons). The Swiss Confederation was found on August 1, 1291 and the Swiss celebrate this 1 of August as their National holiday.

With the help of an experienced travel guide planning your Swiss vacation, Switzerland is an exhilarating place. The diversity of the landlocked, mountainous country is the essence of Switzerland and gives the country its unique identity. Along with its attractiveness as one of Europe's main tourist destinations, it is best known for its financial institutions, fine cheeses, and chocolate, the watchmaking industry, for its scenery and an excellent network of public transportation.

The renowned Swiss obsessiveness with cleanliness, punctuality and hard work, coupled with the highest standard of living in Europe, make Switzerland one of the most desirable and least problematic of countries in which to travel. The tourist infrastructure is highly developed, and the Swiss themselves are unfailingly courteous and proud of the beauty of Switzerland. You will leave with lasting memories of a great Switzerland vacation. Most Swiss speak English, and at least one of the other Swiss languages - French, German, Italian, or, in the extreme southeast, Romansch.

One of the best things about Switzerland is its untouched nature and in general, people are careful with it with many efforts being undertaken to protecting the environment. As a result, Switzerland is far advanced in recycling waste material. Chemicals, paper, carton, glass, plastic, cans, textile, oil and cooking fat are all collected separately. For most tourists, our recycling measures are relatively drastic. However, you will get used to it quickly and the advantages are clear: Switzerland is a very clean country. You will not find a lot of street litter along your way. Read on for more information about Switzerland and our Swiss travel guide.

Switzerland Attractions and Activities

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Switzerland takes up an area of 41,295 square kilometers and is home to 7.4 million people. More than 60 percent of the country is mountainous and a quarter of it is covered with forests. Our country boasts breathtaking mountains, picturesque lakes and charming cities and towns that are full of culture and history. Switzerland is landlocked and situated on the crossroads of northern and southern Europe. Along with southeastern France and northern Italy, Switzerland contains the highest elevations in Europe.

Swiss Regions

Bernese Oberland The Bernese Oberland is one of the most spectacularly beautiful regions of Switzerland. It is well worth a visit, especially during the summer months. The combination of snow-capped mountain peaks, fresh air, summer heat, jagged rocks and lush rolling green hills will quickly fascinate you.

Graubunden There is something special about Switzerland's alpine canton of Graubunden, which is only an hour away from Zurich and offers a lot of excitement for every taste. Succulent green fields, spicy mountain air, dreamy mountain lakes and tanning summer sun: plenty of reasons to spend your summer holidays in Graubunden. And not to mention all the winter sports opportunities! This is one of our Swiss travel guides' favorite destinations!

Engadin The Engadin extends from the Maloja Pass to Martina on the border with Austria. A popular travel destination for a Swiss vacation, it is divided into the Upper and Lower Engadin and features a different scenery from the other valleys of the Swiss Alps. The Engadin boasts lovely landscapes with dark blue mountain lakes and a continental mountain climate that make it a hiker’s paradise.

Appenzellerland The Appenzellerland is known for its gently rolling green hills, flowery meadows and rugged mountains. The Alpstein massif in the eastern region of the Appenzellerland is one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Switzerland. Tourists seeking culture and customs come to Appenzell to discover the immense wealth of tradition of painting, music and cheese-making.

Ticino The Ticino is Switzerland's only Italian-speaking canton. The areas around its two lakes, Lago di Lugano and Lago Maggiore, enjoy a distinct Mediterranean climate where palms and citrus trees grow; figs, olives and vineyards are cultivated, and other tropical vegetation flourishes. The architecture throughout Ticino is Renaissance and Baroque, and the atmosphere is very Italian. This is an area that shows how special and diverse Switzerland can be.

Valais The Valais is an L-shaped valley between Lake Geneva and the heartland of Switzerland. This Swiss Alps vacation area is most famous for the Matterhorn, the longest Glacier in Europe and 47 peaks over 4,000m in elevation.  The people are proud of their top class resorts, delicious specialty wines and the charm of their towns. This is a gorgeous area that any Swiss travel guide will recommend.

Baselbiet The Baselbiet is in very close proximity to Basel and is one of the best-kept secrets of Switzerland! Softly rolling hills which are part of Switzerland's second mountain range invite to hike, bike and have fun. This region of Switzerland is also a great place for families with smaller children. From its highest peak, the Passwang, you will have gorgeous panoramic views of the Mittelland and the Swiss Alps.

Switzerland Museums

Museum Pass Switzerland is covered with museums of all sorts and kinds. Many of the best European museums and collections are exhibited in Switzerland. The Museum Pass provides access to about 500 museums in Switzerland. The museum pass is included with a Swiss Rail Pass. A few private museums are not included, but some offer a discount of 50%.

Location and Map

Switzerland is located in Central Europe and is landlocked. Its neighbors are Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. The main 3 airports are Zurich (ZRH), Geneva (GVA) and Basel-Mulhouse (BSL / MLH).

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Destinations

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About Switzerland

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Travelling to Switzerland? You will find all the information you need here to plan and organise your holiday. In addition you will find travel tips and suggestions for travel preparation.

Custom and Tradition

The Swiss have always maintained and nurtured their own local customs, and because of this, Switzerland is a country with an enormous wealth of cultural activity and living tradition.

Much of the territory covered by present-day Switzerland is mountainous. For this reason, the Alpine passes have played a significant role in the development of the country, as have the powers that sought to control these important communication and trade routes.

As a country where diverse traditions and cultures meet and interact, Switzerland has been a melting-pot in the heart of Europe since time immemorial. This is why cultural life in cosmopolitan Switzerland displays such enormous variety.

Best Hospitals & Clinics in Switzerland, Europe

Find information about the best Swiss hospitals and clinics and their range of high-quality treatments.

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Switzerland Facts

Written by Maci

Modified & Updated: 28 Apr 2024

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

• Chocolate Facts
• Luxury Facts
• Skiing Facts

Of all the beautiful places in Europe, Switzerland stands out for its stunning alpines. Aside from being the land of refined chocolate, people also visit Switzerland for its fine cheese and luxury brands. 

Additionally, Switzerland captures awe for its beautiful natural scenery that makes up the majority of the country as a whole. Over the years, Switzerland remains to be popular among tourists and other European countries . Find out more about this country and its majestic beauty with these Switzerland facts.

• As of 2019, Switzerland has a population of 8.545 million people. 
• Switzerland has a total area of 41,285 square kilometers.
• The country of Switzerland ranks as the 132nd-largest country in the world by area.
• As of 2020, Switzerland has an estimated $854 billion GDP total in purchasing power. 
• The largest city in Switzerland is Zurich.
• Switzerland is officially known as the Swiss Confederation.
• As a member of the Federal Republic, the country of Switzerland is composed of 26 cantons.
• Switzerland borders Italy in the south, France in the West, and Germany in the north. 
• Switzerland also occupies crossroads located along with the Germanic and Romance Europe.
• The majority of residents in Switzerland speak the German language. 
• Switzerland is known to have a strong policy on armed neutrality.
• The country of Switzerland joined the United Nations in the year 2002.
• Switzerland also birthed the International Committee of the Red Cross. 
• The majority of Switzerland’s territory is made up of the Swiss Alps. 
• Switzerland is also the founding member of the European Free Trade Association.
• In Switzerland, citizens drive on the right side of the road. 
• The calling code of Switzerland is +41.
• The default date format in Switzerland is by date of the day, month, then a year.
• The local currency of Switzerland is called the Swiss franc. 
• Switzerland’s timezone follows UTC +1 in Central European Time.

Coffee in Switzerland is 400% more expensive than the average rates in the world.

For years, coffee culture has grown significantly and spread throughout all sectors of the world, but one of the most unique coffee experiences can be found in Switzerland In the city of Zurich, coffee prices at local specialty shops and cafes are brought up to nearly a 400% increase and is also considered to be the most expensive coffee sold in the world. 

On average, a cup of coffee can cost nearly 4 USD according to the data from the 2016 Coffee Price Index. Additionally, coffee from known franchises such as Starbucks is considered to be the most expensive choice compared to other local shops and specialty stores. 

Switzerland has strict regulations for baby names.

According to Swiss law, parents of newborn children cannot give their child a particular name that is not approved by the proper authorities in Switzerland. The law states that these baby names must all be pre-approved before recording it on official documents such as the child’s birth certificate.

Under this law, the Swiss government can reject harmful or offensive baby names. These baby names must also be seen fit for the respective gender of the child and cannot be named after famous brands, evil characters in religious text, as well as famous places and landmarks. 

The average Swiss person consumes over 36 liters of wine per year.

According to a 2012 study, drinking trends have decreased in Switzerland over the last 30 years. However, Switzerland continuously remains to have one of the highest alcohol consumption rates among other countries in the United Nations. 

According to the data, around 20% of the total population of Switzerland drink heavily, but 54% of all their consumed beverages involve some type of alcoholic base. Additionally, research has also suggested that this may be due to Switzerland’s lower tax rates on spirits, as beer and wine have no type of taxation whatsoever.

A Swiss chemist named Albert Hoffman discovered LSD.

In 1943, Swiss resident Albert Hoffman accidentally experienced the first acid trip in history. While conducting tests on a type of medication designed to cure migraines and other severe headaches, Hoffman absorbed the LSD compound by mistake through his fingertips. 

At the time, Hoffman conducted this project as a part of a fairly large research program that aimed to look for useful alternatives to ergot alkaloids. After a few years, the world fully understood the so-called psychedelic properties of LSD thanks to Hoffman’s little accident.

Switzerland ranks among the most innovative countries in the world.

As of 2019, the United Nations has reported Switzerland as one of the world’s most innovative countries. Additionally, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has ranked Switzerland in the first place when it comes to global innovations. 

According to the report, Switzerland excels in technology due to the country’s research system, as well as its economic and human capital. Due to these factors, many studies create successful partnerships between the universities and the local economy of the country. 

Heart diseases cause around 33% of deaths in Switzerland.

According to a death survey conducted by the Federal Statistical Office in Switzerland, around a third of the tidal deaths that have occurred in the country in 2013 was due to various forms of heart complications and diseases. Out of 21,512 deaths, around six to seven thousand individuals suffered from various forms of heart complications. 

Additionally, the Federal Statistical Office stated that despite this large number of cases for heart complications within the country, this value is considered to be significantly lower compared to the statistics from 20 years ago. A few other common diseases and complications found among the Swiss population include terminal cancer and dementia.

Switzerland has the highest railway station in all of Europe.

Found in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland, the Jungfraujoch underground railway station stands 3,454 meters above sea level. That said, this railway station ranks as the highest in Switzerland, but in all of Europe. 

The Jungfraujoch railway station lies close to the summits of 3 mountains, namely Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. To get to this station, passengers must switch to the Wengernalp rack railway towards the Kleine Scheidegg area, which will lead them to the Jungfrau railway as a direct stop. Definitely one of the Switzerland facts you’d want to see for yourself.

Switzerland ranks high in terms of quality of life.

According to the 2020 Mid-year Quality of Life index, Switzerland ranks 2nd in terms of quality of life index, with a final score of 190.92. Additionally, this ranking is based on the country’s general infrastructure, public transportation, personal safety measures, high earning potential, and how easily accessible nature is from major cities. 

Among the world’s best cities in terms of quality of life, 3 come from Switzerland. Aside from being its best cities,  Zurich, Bern, and Geneva are also the most expensive cities in Switzerland. Due to the successful growth of its economy over the years, companies based in Switzerland are more open towards new applicants and entrepreneurs.

School systems in Switzerland rank highest in science and math subjects.

According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (ORCD), the school system in Switzerland produces the 8th-highest science and math scores in the world.

Additionally, a survey conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) further supported this data by showing how Swiss teens excel in the two subjects more compared to students from other European countries. Despite a few criticisms regarding this topic from other countries in the United Nations group, there is no doubt that Switzerland produces some of the world’s brightest minds and ideas. 

The famous Swiss army knife is one of Switzerland's proudest inventions.

Manufactured by the company Victorinox in 1891, the Swiss army knife is a pocket-sized multi-tool made exclusively in two factories located in Switzerland. Over the years, the designs of the pocket knife have varied to cater to multiple other uses and situations.  According to the Victorinox company, Switzerland sells over 15 million pocket knives each year on average. How’s that for interesting Switzerland facts?

Switzerland is approximately 1/10th of the size of the U.S state of California.

Despite its world-famous reputation and long history, Switzerland is considerably smaller compared to other European countries. It is estimated that the country of Switzerland spans approximately 41,277 square kilometers in size.  

Generally, natural formations such as meadows, rivers, and the mountain ranges like the Swiss Alps make up a majority of Switzerland. This only adds to its appeal, as visitors from all over the world often travel to witness Switzerland’s natural beauty.

Switzerland is also home to several nuclear fallout shelters.

Swiss law, grants all citizens of Switzerland access to a nuclear fallout shelter within or near their properties. It has also been stated that the Swiss army continuously stocks these artillery bunkers with essential supplies, making it comfortable enough for regular citizens to stay in. 

The government of Switzerland also ensures that the fallout shelters found within the country can accommodate the entire population of the country. When these bunkers are not in use, they are typically disguised as country homes at the center of populated cities and villages in Switzerland. 

The world’s tallest gravity dam is found in the Swiss Alps.

Completed in 1961, the Grande Dixie Dam lies along the Dixence River next to the Swiss Alps in Switzerland. As a gravity dam, it stands 285 m tall and spans a total of 695 ft wide from the crest, holding a volume of 7,848,000 cubic yards.

The Grande Dixie Dam also impounds a reservoir of around 325,000 acre-feet, making it the tallest dam in the world until 1980. By this time, the Nurek Dam’s completion in the Soviet Union took its title. For its construction, the Grande Dixie Dam was built in annual stages due to the Alpine’s short working season. 

Switzerland has one of the lowest rates of obesity among other European cities.

With around 14.9% of its adult population having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and higher, Switzerland has one of the lowest rates of obesity in the world. However, over the recent years, obesity in Switzerland has slowly increased, and has now been cited as a major health issue within the country, especially within Zurich. 

On average, the BMI in Switzerland is 25, which resembles that of South America and Africa. This makes the average BMI still fairly low compared to other parts of Europe and the United States. Compared to other countries, Swiss women especially have slimmer body shapes than any other country in Europe. 

The city of Zurich and Geneva is considered to be some of the most livable cities in the world.

Each city in Switzerland has a worldwide reputation for its museums, galleries, parks, and other cultural destinations. These cities have ideal living conditions in terms of leisure, education, housing, and public safety, making it one of the most desirable locations in the world to settle in. 

Additionally, the city of Geneva is also surrounded by the Swiss Alps in the south and other chocolate mountain formations. These cities in Switzerland also host one of the largest financial centers in the world, with various forms of work available for its residents. How’s that for interesting Switzerland facts?

The main access points in Switzerland are wired to explode in an event of an attack.

As part of the country’s defense strategy, each main access point in Switzerland is wired in a way that is set to explode in the event of an attack from foreign enemies. Located in over 3,000 different locations across the country, this defense mechanism will destroy each main road, railroad, and bridge in Switzerland, upon triggering.

This is also considered to be one of Switzerland’s main forms of national defense from foreign enemies and attacks, hidden by a closed panel that would pop open to extend the internal canons. Additionally, the explosions would close off mountain tunnels to act as a nuclear-proof shelter from air raids.

Switzerland is also known as the Confoederatio Helvetica (CH).

The official name for the country of Switzerland is the Swiss Confederation. However, to avoid being favored in any language, the Swiss government officially recognized Switzerland with the Latin term Confoederatio Helvetica , which serves as its official name when used in particular subject matters. 

Additionally, it can also be considered as the Helvetic Confederation, which avoids being regarded as one of the four official languages of Switzerland. While the official name for Switzerland is in Latin, it also has a version in languages such as French, German, Italian, Romansh, and more. 

The Swiss typically marry later compared to other European countries.

Over the years, marriages in Switzerland have slowly experienced a decline, as more of its citizens are losing interest in the concept of civil partnerships and marriages . Figures from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office show that marriages in 2019 experienced a steady 6.2% decrease compared to the previous year.

Additionally, this figure also represents marriages and civil partnerships among all types between Swiss, foreign, and mixed Swiss and non-Swiss couples. Through this survey, individuals that reside in Switzerland also stated the survey that they value their personal space and independence more which pushes them further away from the idea of getting married in the future. 

Switzerland is also home to the longest staircase in the world.

Known as the Niesen Mountain Railway, the longest staircase can be found in Switzerland. With a total of 11,674 steps, the staircase is open to the public for hiking purposes once a year during the Niesen Run. 

Built alongside the railway, the staircase spans a total of 3.4 kilometers long, at an altitude of 1.669 meters while climbing. This famous Swiss staircase is also considered to be one of the scariest staircases in the world, attracting several people looking to conquer the challenge of climbing to the top. 

Swiss women gained the ability to vote at a federal level in 1971.

In Switzerland, women only gained the right to vote in federal elections after a particular referendum that occurred in February 1971. Due to this, women could only vote starting from the Federal Assembly’s election on October 31st, 1971.

Additionally, the first Swiss woman to take on the role of a position in office was Trudy Spath-Schweizer, who was elected to the municipal government of Riehen in 1958. From here, she served in office for a total of 16 years on the Burgerrat. At the time, this council was considered to be the executive branch of the Burgergemeinde or the citizen’s community, responsible for certain issues that involved solely citizens of Riehen such as social services.

Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

The country of Switzerland is considered to be one of the safest places in the world due to the low crime rate that the country experiences on average. According to statistics, Switzerland has one of the lowest homicide and robbery rates in the world mainly due to the 26 different types of authorities that the country upholds throughout the 26 different regions of Switzerland. 

According to official statistics in 2017, Switzerland experienced a crime rate of 0.50%, with a 0% increase from the previous year and a 28.57% decrease from the crime rate recorded in 2015. Additionally, the police force in Switzerland has around 23,000 members including communal police forces and Swiss guards located all around the country’s borders. 

Switzerland has an unemployment rate of 4.8% as of 2017.

Since the 1990s, Switzerland has been one of the world’s safe havens for investing. As a fairly prosperous country, it also has a stable economy with low unemployment rates. Each year, it averages around 4%, making it one of the world’s biggest economic leaders. 

Primarily, Switzerland’s economy thrives on its service sector, which profits from a large amount of tourism that the country receives annually. Switzerland also possesses a relatively high level of education, which allows the majority of its citizens to attain better levels of productivity and efficiency. 

In Switzerland, assisted suicide is considered to be legal.

In 2014, Switzerland experienced a total of 752 cases of euthanasia with 330 of the cases came from men and 422 of the cases came from women. Additionally, the number of euthanasia organizations found in Switzerland has been most widely used by foreigners that have the elderly as its concerning party. 

Despite being generally legal in Switzerland, these organizations continue to face criticisms from those who label this act as suicide tourism. Additionally, the Swiss law also requires specific situations and reasons before undergoing the act. 

Any law in Switzerland can be challenged by citizens if it is passed by parliament.

According to the Swiss government, any citizen of Switzerland has the right to challenge a law passed by the parliament. As long as that citizen can gather a total of 50,000 signatures against the passed law within the first 100 hours of its implementation, a national vote will be held to determine the law’s status. 

This national vote is scheduled and announced at a specified date where all Swiss citizens are free to partake in and vote according to their opinions. Swiss citizens can then vote at designated polling stations in several cities, or choose to vote in advance by sending their ballots through the mail. 

Tuition fees for universities are considerably cheaper in Switzerland.

On average, the overall cost to receive a bachelor’s degree in Switzerland reaches around 18,500 Swiss Francs for the average 4-year program. However, it is safe to assume that enrolling in a university program in Switzerland costs between 5,000 to 24,000 Swiss Francs, depending on the institution or university. 

Additionally, tuition fees for a master’s degree can also vary greatly depending on the program such, as a general master of arts program to MBA courses. Switzerland also offered tuition fee-free universities for International students that enroll in select educational institutes within the country. 

In Switzerland, Sundays are considered to be a sacred day.

In Switzerland, Sundays serve as a rest day for Swiss citizens, with several stores and banks closing to allow workers to rest at home and enjoy peace. Additionally, every Sunday of the week is considered to be sacred in respect of the Sabbath day. 

Similarly, Sundays are observed as rest days in other European countries such as Germany, France , and many more. During this day, residents are generally expected to refrain from creating loud noises, most especially after a certain time at night.

Switzerland has a total of 4 official languages.

The four official national languages of Switzerland are considered to be German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Despite being widely spoken, the English language is not seen as an official language of Switzerland. Instead, English only caters to foreigners.

According to historical claims, Switzerland has a total of 4 national languages due to the different territorial dominions from its early invasions of the German and settlements of the French in the past. 

More than half of domestic electricity in Switzerland is produced mainly by hydroelectric plants.

Switzerland relies on several energy sources for its main power such as oil, nuclear power, hydropower, and power converted from natural gasses. Switzerland has also been known to use renewable energy sources since 2005 such as ambient heat, wind power, solar power, and also biomass power. 

According to official statistics by Switzerland, hydroelectric power provides 59.9% of the country’s power, followed by 33.5% of nuclear power and thermal power at 2.3%. Due to these alternative sources of energy, Switzerland’s average power usage per person has continued to drop significantly by 14.5% since 1990.

There is a high gun rate ownership in Switzerland.

Despite the low crime rate that Switzerland experiences, this country has a relatively high gun ownership rate with 2.332 million citizens in the country owning some form of a firearm. With a population of over 8 million residents, around 28 people out of every 100 are confirmed to own a gun or other forms of firearms in their homes. 

Over time, gun ownership became a culture of its own within the country, which served as a form of national identity during the post-Napoleonic Restoration of the Confederacy. Additionally, both foreign and Swiss residents may be issued a permit to carry firearms, despite not having a permanent residence address within the country. Essentially, this gives Switzerland one of the most liberal firearms acquisition laws in the world.

Switzerland is ruled by a seven-member executive council instead of one head of state.

The country of Switzerland operates through an executive council made up of 7 major members in place of a single head of state. As per Swiss law, this council is responsible for leading the federal administration in Switzerland, with each of the council members acting as the head of each executive department.

Additionally, the position for the president of the Swiss confederation is changed each year in a rotation among the seven members of the executive council where the vice president of the previous year will become the president in the following year. Typically, the members of this council also serve four-year terms, where each member is elected through a confidential ballot. 

Switzerland is also noted for its luxury watch brands and timepieces.

Over the years, Switzerland has become almost synonymous with luxury watches due to the number of top Swiss luxury watch brands that come from the country. Since the early 1840s, several Swiss watchmakers have honed their craft and have produced top of the line luxury pieces of higher quality than any other watch brand could produce. 

Many critics state that the reason why Swiss-made watches come in such high quality is due to the specially developed mechanisms and 316L surgical steel that go into each timepiece. Additionally, the abundance of high-quality watches in Switzerland makes it generally cheaper to buy authentic timepieces in the country than anywhere else in the world. 

As of 2012, tobacco consumption in Switzerland is considered to be widespread.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco smoking has been noted to be growing more common among residents and citizens where the average number of smokers per city has increased slowly over the years. A Zurich University study also showed that around 3 Billion Swiss francs are spent on average for health treatments regarding tobacco consumption as of 2015.

To lower further health risks for its citizens and reduce harm to the environment, Switzerland implemented an anti-smoking law in May 2010. This law forbids smoking in enclosed public areas such as restaurants, offices, restrooms, and public transport. Those who are caught violating this law will undergo reprimand and also have to pay a penalty fee.

Switzerland holds a nine-day long hot air balloon festival each year.

The international hot air balloon festival first began in 1979 and has been celebrated annually in Chateau-d’Oex, Switzerland towards the end of January. Each year, an average of 100 hot air balloons feature in the event. For 9 days, the event also showcases contributions from over 20 different countries. 

The event is most especially famous for taking place in the snowy valleys of Switzerland, best highlighting its famous night glow event on the 7th day of the celebration. Typically, visitors must pay an entrance fee per day of the event, but can also opt for a nine-day pass if they wish to stay for the entire duration of the celebration. 

Around a quarter of the population in Switzerland is foreign.

According to the Federal Statistics Office, foreign residents in Switzerland make up nearly a quarter of the total population of the country as of the end of 2017. Additionally, the collected data also states that the population of foreign nationals residing within Switzerland is more than 2.13 million individuals where Italians make up the largest group followed by German nationality and Portuguese. 

However, the Federal Statistics Office states that there are about 20,000 fewer people of foreign nationality compared to the date in 2016. Additionally, this figure also  does not include those of foreign nationality who later on become citizens of Switzerland. 

Switzerland’s economy is considered to be quite stable.

For years, the Swiss government has steadily kept the economy of the country stable thanks to its international outreach and considerably powerful intertwining with the economy of foreign countries as well. Due to this, Switzerland steadily experiences long-term monetary security along with political stability. 

Switzerland also has one of the largest rates of exports in terms of gross domestic product percentage, as the European Union (EU) serves as its main trading partner. Switzerland has several large sectors that help continuously drive the Swiss economy including the service sector and its medical research institutes. 

Swiss male citizens must undergo mandatory military service.

According to Swiss law, all able-bodied male citizens of Switzerland are required to take part in mandatory military services when they reach the age of majority. Due to this law, conscripts make up the majority of the armed forces in Switzerland’s armed forces. 

Women, on the other hand, may join the Swiss armed forces voluntarily and can also apply for any available position in any of the sectors for the armed forces. However, on the 22nd of September in 2013, Switzerland released a referendum stating the abolishment of conscriptions which later on failed with over 73% of its electorate voting against it which shows the strong support among the Swiss for the conscription in Switzerland. 

Switzerland experiences typically cold weather.

If the snowy alps are any indication, Switzerland constantly has cold winters within its mountain area, while maintaining an average temperature of 1 °C  below zero throughout the country. During the summer, Switzerland also experiences hot weather typically above 25 ° C during the summer around its plains.

Wintertime in Switzerland also causes precipitation which falls in the country each year. Typically, the country experiences its coldest month in January. 

The European Organization of Nuclear Research is located on the border of Switzerland.

In 1954, the European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN) was established and set along the Franco-Swiss borders close to Geneva. This organization is also considered to be one of the first joint ventures in Europe, with 23 member states such as Switzerland, France, Germany, Greece, Sweden, Norway, and Belgium 

Additionally, CERN operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world that helps its teams research nuclear compounds and other related matters. As of 2016, the organization has more than 2,500 staff members divided into scientific, technical, administrative, and other roles. 

Approximately 208 mountains can be found within the area of Switzerland.

Among its natural wonders, Switzerland stands out for its towering mountain formation, averaging at 3,000 meters high. According to world statistics, Switzerland also has the most number of high peaks than any other country found in the European region, with around 48 of its peaks reaching over 4,000 meters high. 

Today, visitors can also come and hike up these famous Alpine treks and sign up for a classic 12-day tour that can bring you up to the most well-recognized areas of the Swiss Alps. Apart from the number of mountains that the country holds, several great lakes add to the appeal of the surrounding location.

Swiss meat is considered to be one of the most expensive in the world.

According to global statistics, meat in Switzerland costs 1.5 times higher than that of the global average, which makes it more expensive than any other place in the world. Additionally, studies have also shown that the country’s high prices for meat cuts have driven out businesses such as marketplaces for catering. 

One of the reasons why Swiss meat often comes more expensive compared to other countries is due to the processes that increases its quality. Additionally, nearly 80% of all meat sold and consumed in Switzerland is grown and prepared within the country, which subjects it to higher standards than any other country in the world. 

The Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland is considered to be the longest tunnel in the world.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel runs underneath the Swiss alps right between the towns of Erstfeld and Bodio in the north and south. Apart from being the longest in history, this tunnel is also considered to be the deepest running tunnel in the world. 

The tunnel measured around 57 kilometers long and reached a depth of around 2,300 meters, which took 17 years to complete before being opened to the public. According to the construction details, this tunnel was designed to shave off around an entire hour off of travel time between the city of Zurich and Milan. 

Nearly half of marriages in Switzerland eventually file for divorce.

In Switzerland, around 40% of registered marriages result in a divorce as of 2019, with the average marriage lasting 15 years. At this rate, it is estimated that 2 in every 5 marriages are more likely to end in filing for divorce.

Due to this, more and more couples are less appealed by the idea of marriages and civil partnerships due to their value of independence and freedom that cannot be granted while in a committed marriage.  Additionally, the same is also the case among same-sex couples where civil partnerships are mostly avoided. 

The national anthem of Switzerland was written and composed in 1841.

Switzerland’s national anthem was composed by the musician Alberich Zwyssig, who passed away in 1854. Since the composition of the song, it had often been used by several groups and was frequently sung during patriotic events and such which led it to, later on, be officially recognized by the Federal Council as the official anthem of the country.

The national anthem of Switzerland is more commonly referred to as the Swiss Psalm titled ‘ When you call us, Fatherland .’ Generally, it is sung in the tune of the song ‘ God Save the Queen .’ According to historical records, the current Swiss anthem was first performed in the year 1841.

Switzerland is also considered to be one of the most expensive countries to live in.

According to numerous statistics reports and studies, Switzerland is considered to be one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in followed by Norway, Iceland, and Japan. On average, the cost of living index ranks Switzerland with a score of 122.4, with the rent index is set around 50.25. 

For example, staying in the capital of Switzerland, Bern, can cost an average of 1,366 USD for a month including living costs and accommodation, while overnight stays can cost as much as 86 USD per night. Additionally, Switzerland is also considered to be one of the hardest countries for foreign nationalities to move into and gain citizenship. 

Switzerland also has the highest chocolate consumption and production rates in the world.

According to the federal statistics office, approximately 54% of the country’s total chocolate supply was consumed by Swiss citizens in 2000. Additionally, Switzerland also has the highest per capita rate of chocolate consumption in the world which is equivalent to around 30 pounds of chocolate each year. 

Switzerland also produces around 80% of the world’s global cocoa production, with forastero growing more quickly with a higher yield compared to any other variety of cocoa. This allows Switzerland to produce chocolates of higher quality which is also one reason Swiss chocolates are one of the most famous in the world.  

The average life expectancy in Switzerland is considered to be quite high.

As of 2019, the average life expectancy in Switzerland is 83.7 years old, which is a 0.17% increase from the previous records in 2018. From this statistic, this ranks Switzerland first for countries with the highest life expectancy in Europe. 

Additionally, studies have also shown that the reason for this high life expectancy is due to the low rate of fertility among the Swiss population compared to that of other European countries. Furthermore, there is also a societal appreciation for preventative health and for healthy aging among the Swiss. 

There is a Swiss law that states that the minimum pet ownership is 2.

According to Swiss law, those who reside in Switzerland and wish to get a pet must buy a minimum of two pets to keep each other company in the absence of its owner if they are considered to be social species. Additionally, dog owners will also have to take classes and seminars that explain to them how to properly feed and care for their pets.

The Swiss government has also stated that this law is practiced as a means of widening laws on animal rights and to protect the best interest of animals in the country. Additionally, these laws on animal care also apply to farmers who use animals to harvest food and supplies. 

There is also an anti-powerpoint presentation party in Switzerland among politicians.

The Anti-PowerPoint Party was established by the Swiss political party to prevent national-economic damages to the economy of Switzerland. Additionally, this is also implemented as a means of ultimately increasing the quality of presentations made during official meetings and discussions among the political parties of Switzerland. 

The Anti-PowerPoint Party was formed by Matthias Poehm before the 2011 federal elections. With his former work as a software engineer, Poehlm aimed to initiate a national referendum seeking prohibition of the use of PowerPoint during presentations. The Anti-PowerPoint Party also states that it further seeks to raise awareness on this matter among citizens of Switzerland and in other countries as well. 

Nearly 15% of the Swiss Alps in Switzerland is considered Swiss.

The famous Swiss alps cover approximately 60% of Switzerland’s total geography, which gives it the title of the most alpines of any country. The Swiss alps are also considered to be one of the highest and the most extensive mountain range systems located completely in Europe. 

Due to this matter, visits to the location are considered to be quite expensive, most especially when the preferred destinations are Matterhorn and Jungfrau due to the specific transportation needed. However, despite the heavy price needed to see the scenery, it is also considered to be one of the most beautiful and isolated places in the world. 

The Swiss are considered to be highly eco-friendly.

For years, Switzerland has been considered to be a highly eco-friendly destination due to its strict green legislation and the widely spread general public awareness on this matter. In the majority of the towns found in Switzerland, improper trash disposal can lead to fines, which also sustains the country’s excellent recycling system. 

Additionally, Switzerland is also considered to be one of the cleanest places in the world, even having the cleanest water in the world. Furthermore, many companies and groups in Switzerland also adhere to strict eco-friendly laws and practices. 

Tourists can experience the Heidi Myth in Maienfeld, Switzerland.

The Heidi Myth is a famous story originating in Switzerland, which tells the story of a young orphan Swiss girl named Heidi who finds her happiness in the Swiss alpine. First published during the 1880s, the story has since then transformed into a popular and iconic Swiss figure recognized all over the world. 

Due to the popularity of the tale, Swiss tourism has also managed to turn the myth of Heidi into a popular tourist attraction when coming to see the Swiss Alps. Additionally, the tour also includes visiting sites of the alpine as mentioned in the story, which gives visitors an authentic fairy tale experience. 

As of 2015, Switzerland is still considered to be lacking in terms of chances for gender equality.

Among all the countries found in Europe, Switzerland is considered to be the last country to establish gender equality in terms of marriages and individual rights. As a result, several Swiss women have often been forced to stand up against gender discrimination and protest against the old reforms regarding the issue. 

Additionally, due to gender inequality in Switzerland, many women also experience hardships in finding suitable employment with regards to salary value and available positions. Furthermore, other known issues regarding violence against women and fertility and reproductive rights have also been a common recurring subject when it comes to discussing how equal gender rights can be established. 

There are more than 900 museums located in Switzerland.

The country of Switzerland is home to numerous natural sites and is also filled with an abundance of culture and history. Over the years, these notable bits of information and history have been collected, stored, and preserved in several different types of museums to which Switzerland is home to more than 900 within the borders of the country. 

This is equivalent to a ratio of 1 museum per 7,500 people in Switzerland as of the total population recorded after the end of WW2 . Additionally, historians also note that many of these museums preserve the history of the many small local villages found all over the country. 

The country of Switzerland has over 7,000 lakes.

Due to the distinct land formation of Switzerland, its geography includes several thousand natural bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and streams. According to geographical studies, Switzerland has around 103 lakes that go beyond an average area of 30 hectares. Meanwhile, over 58 lakes in Switzerland have an average area of 1 square kilometer, while 17 lakes occupy a little over 10 square kilometers. 

Among all the lakes found in Switzerland, around 5 of them occupy an area over 100 square kilometers, which makes them among the largest lakes found within the borders of the country. Moreover, many of the lakes found in the country are also considered to be popular sites for recreational activities such as swimming , fishing, and camping. 

Switzerland has one of the highest rates of cannabis consumption in the world.

According to Swiss law, cannabis remains widely illegal throughout the borders of the country, with the possession and use of the product punishable by law. However, in 2012, several cantons in Switzerland began allowing its adult residents to begin cultivating and using their homegrown cannabis, but was later on shut down by the federal court due to no prior legalization of the use of the product. 

As of 2016, Switzerland has estimated that around half a million adults regularly smoke the product out of the entire population of the country. While the use of cannabis remains illegal for most cases, some exceptions made in Switzerland include smoking for medical and therapeutic use.

Switzerland also has incredibly low rates of poverty.

Since 2007, Switzerland has noted that the national poverty rate has been steadily decreasing each year, with only 4.6% of the population living under cases of extreme poverty. Due to the low poverty rate, Switzerland also ranks in third place among the highest amount of disposable income in all of Europe. 

As of 2018, the poverty rate in Switzerland means that 660,000 people in the country experience some form of income poverty and live poor lifestyles. Over the years, research has also shown that the low poverty rate in Switzerland could also be due to the number of innovative businesses and methods that the country uses.

Switzerland’s flag is found to appear similar to the logo for the Red Cross.

The flag of Switzerland is famously known for its white cross symbol embedded on the center of the flag, which is surrounded by a red background that resembles the symbol of the famous Red Cross group. The famous white cross on the center of the flag is also known as the Swiss cross where its arms are equally measured to a length to width ratio of 7 to 6. 

According to historians, the white cross found on the flag originates from three competing Swiss legends: the Theban Legion, the Arma Christi, and the Reichssturmfahne. Additionally, the symbol has been sewn onto the clothing of the combatants for centuries, with its most notable usage during the battle of Arbedo in 1422.

Albert Einstein developed his most famous formula while he was in Switzerland.

Albert Einstein changed history with his contributions to the scientific field, namely for his theory of relativity and many other pillars of modern physics. Notably, Albert Einstein was also most famously known by the general public for developing his mass-energy equivalence formula known as E = mc 2.

One of the coolest Switzerland facts is that the famous scientist fully developed his formula while in Switzerland. Upon gaining citizenship, he received his diploma in teaching from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich. 

Switzerland is also known for being active in the global academic field.

Over the years, Switzerland has shown notable progress in raising the quality of its educational system. Additionally, several universities found within Switzerland are also home to numerous Nobel Laureates as well as notable Nobel Prize winners and scientists. 

Due to the numerous achievements collected over the years, Switzerland’s contribution to the academic field has also turned into one of the strongest integral parts of Swiss culture. Additionally, several buildings have also been named after the academic achievements of some of Switzerland’s most renowned scientists, researchers, and notable developers. 

In Switzerland, you can be taxed for owning a pet dog.

According to Swiss law, those who are currently residing in Switzerland and wish to own a pet dog must also pay an annual dog tax as part of its requirements. Additionally, your pet dog must also be registered in the municipality that you are currently staying in, with each pet dog taxed individually. 

According to the Swiss Federal Council, the tax for pet dogs is dependent on the weight and size of each dog. Additionally, it has also been noted that expats in Switzerland also typically pay a higher tax fee compared to those of Swiss nationality. 

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42 Fun Facts About Switzerland You Had No Idea Of

Sure we all know Switzerland as the country of chocolate, watches, and banks, but we bet you had no idea of these 42 unusual facts about Switzerland. Learn what makes Switzerland unique and explore interesting Switzerland facts for kids. These are some Switzerland culture facts, their quirks, inventions, and more.

1. The Swiss Marry Late

Based on a report by the United Nations, the average marriage age for Swiss men is 31.8 and 29.5 for women. On the other hand, The Local CH reports that the divorce rate in Switzerland is about 40%, and as per the Central Intelligence Agency’s publication , the average age for Swiss women to have their first child is 30.4 years, which makes them the oldest women in Europe to do so.

2. Cern Is Located Within Its Borders

The world’s leading particle physics laboratory CERN is located within Switzerland’s borders. Finding universities in Switzerland for international students will be an excellent and easy choice because Swiss degrees in STEM are prestigious and they offer many scholarships.

3. University Is Cheap-Ish

E.g. In the distinguished University of Geneva, tuition fees are at 500 CHF per semester, which means 1000 CHF for a single academic year. This price range is generally seen in public universities, but you can easily find more expensive private ones. Still, comparing it to colleges in the US, it’s a bargain!

4. Switzerland Has 7000 Lakes

Switzerland’s lakes are the best ones to swim in and you have plenty to choose from. With an area of 580.03 km2 (224 sq mi), Lake Geneva is the largest lake in Switzerland .  It is shared with France (40.47% is within French territory) where it’s known as Lac Léman. The largest lake completely within Switzerland is Lake Neuchâtel with a surface area of 218.3 km2 (84 sq mi). For the most part, the freshwater is so clear that you can drink out of rivers and lakes. Only if you cannot see the bottom of a lake is it considered dirty.

5. Owns Lots of Guns, but Has the Lowest Crime Rates

Amongst industrialized nations, Switzerland has one of the highest rates of gun ownership. However, that does not necessarily have to lead to more crime; Switzerland has nearly half the gun-related deaths the United States has. Switzerland actually has one of the lowest crime rates of all industrialized countries. 

It’s important to be noted that the reason for this great amount of people owning guns in Switzerland is since this country has mandatory military service. After they finish their service, all of them are supposed to take their assault rifles or pistols at home, however, without ammunition.

6. The Most Innovative Country in the World

In 2018, Switzerland ranked first for the eighth consecutive year as the most innovative country in the world in The Global Innovation Index .

In particular, the canton Vaud’s economy has undergone some major transformations. Based on a study by the Observatoire BCV de l’économie Vaudoise , from a farming-based economy in 1860 to a land of Start-Ups today, Vaud’s economy is now one of Switzerland’s biggest and fastest-growing, thanks to its ‘large services sector, diversified manufacturing base, and focus on niche markets.”

7. It’s Very Small

Switzerland is approximately 41,277 sq km and its population is 8.67 million. Comparing it to U.S. states, California is almost 10 times bigger than Switzerland or nearly the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. It’s still known for a lot more things, though.

8. 25% of the Population Is Foreign

As stated by swissinfo.ch, Switzerland has one of the highest proportions of internationals among all nations, about 24.6% in 2015. More than 80% of the foreigners living in Switzerland are from European countries and almost half of them come just from France, Germany, Italy, Portugal. With 19 entries per 1000 inhabitants on average in 2014, Switzerland is leading the European immigration countries, far ahead of Germany (11), UK (9.8), Spain (6.6), and France (5.1).

9. One of the Countries With the Highest Quality of Life

Switzerland may have some of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, but its citizens get value for money. According to the Social Progress Report , “medical”, “nutritional” and “access to basic knowledge” is where the country shines. Its index is  88.87 out of 100.

10. The Least Obese European Country

It might’ve never crossed your mind, but another reason Switzerland is a good country to live in is for a fit life . According to the World Health Organization , the Swiss country is the least obese European country with only 17.5% of the population being obese. If you lived in the U.S., you’d be double more likely to be obese since 33% of the country is.

11. One of the Most Expensive Places to Live In

Both the Worldwide Cost of Living Survey and the Mercer Cost of Living survey found Zurich to be the world’s third most expensive city . Zurich is also the most populated canton with 402,762 inhabitants.  The median home price there is CHF 13,000 ($13,036) per square meter, while the average monthly rental price: CHF 2,324 ($2,330) for a three-bedroom apartment. However, the average salary is CHF 103,296 ($103.298), so it’s not like they can complain.

12. Is Home to Two of the Most Livable Cities in the World

The concept of liveability assesses which locations around the world provide the best or the worst living conditions. They look at five broad categories of Stability, Healthcare , Culture and Environment, Education , and Infrastructure. Two of the most livable cities turn out to be Zurich and Geneva.

13. It’s a Nobel Prize Machine

Switzerland is not only known for its banks but also for being a global player in the academic field. Based on Wikipedias lists (1) (2) , Swiss universities have produced numerous Nobel Laureates, and most of these Nobel Prize winners are scientists.

14. They Drink a Lot

The Swiss population consumes 36 liters of wine, 56.5 liters of beer, and 8.4 liters of pure alcohol per person per year. And these are new data which show consumption has actually gone down! It’s normal for 20% of the Swiss people to engage in binge drinking (4-5 drinks in a sitting) at least once a month.

As a result, there are 1600 alcohol-related deaths in Switzerland each year. Some are the result of booze-fuelled accidents, while others are caused by the long-term effects of alcoholism such as liver problems. As stated by Addiction Monitoring in Switzerland , there are about 250,000 alcoholics in Switzerland – or 3% of the population.

15. They Have Four National Languages

Their four national languages are French (20.4%), German (64%), Italian (6.5%), and Romansh (just a little over 1%). So you can feel comfortable as a foreign visitor or resident since it’s perfectly acceptable to not understand what someone says to you because the Swiss don’t understand the Swiss anyway.

16. Switzerland Is Aging—Life Expectancy Is High

In the 1950s the median age was 33 years old, but it’s growing every year. In 2015 , the median age of Switzerland’s population was 42.2 years. On the other hand, Switzerland claims the highest percentage of people over 100 in Europe and has the second-highest life expectancy after Japan. Of course, they’re going to live long having in mind the cleanliness of the air, the abundance of walking trails , and the availability of high-quality health care.

17. Less Than 15% of the Alps Are Actually Swiss

The Swiss Alps are the highlight of any tour to Switzerland. Even though less than 15% of the Alps lie within Switzerland, it’s the country that people most closely associate with the Alps.

18. Low Unemployment Rates

In 2017 statistics, Switzerland’s unemployment rate amounted to around only 4.8%. This low number is due to its fairly prosperous and stable economy. ‘The majority of employed workers in the country possess a relatively high level of education and are specialized, which essentially allows for the country to offer high-end jobs with higher wages, and often guarantees a higher level of productivity and efficiency.’

19. Highest Salary and Job Security

As a result of its economic stability, based on an OECD publication, Swiss adults have on average the most amount of money compared to the average amount around the world, beating out countries such as the U.S. Switzerland has the third-highest salary and job security out of all OECD countries. 

20. Switzerland Has 208 Mountains and the Highest Peaks in Europe

Switzerland is home to numerous mountains over 3,000 meters high. A beautiful experience for in-shape hikers is the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route, a 12-day classic Alpine trek that will bring you straight to the well-recognized Matterhorn. Switzerland has more high peaks than any other country in Europe with 48 that are above 4000 meters.

21. Assisted Suicide Is Legal and It Attracts ‘Suicide Tourists’

According to Swiss law, anyone who is of sound mind and who has, over a period of time, voiced a consistent wish to end their life can request a so-called assisted voluntary death or AVD. However, people must commit suicide by their own hand, for example by taking the medication themselves.

This has lead to an influx of people called ‘suicide tourists’ who come to Switzerland, mainly to the Canton of Zurich, for the sole purpose of committing suicide. A total of 956 (539 women and 426 men) people made use of these services in 2015 according to official figures, up from 187 in 2003. There is a steadily rising trend, although assisted suicides are still only a tiny proportion of all deaths in Switzerland. The total cost is therefore 7,500 francs without a funeral and administrative services and 10,500 francs with those services – usually payable in advance.

22. 1/3 of All Deaths Are from Heart Disease

The latest cause of death survey from the Federal Statistical Office showed that 21,512 – or one-third of all deaths in Switzerland in 2013 – could be traced back to heart disease. That figure, however, has decreased since 20 years ago, when it stood at 41%. Cancer was responsible for another 26% of deaths. Lung cancer, shown to be the most deadly form of the disease in Switzerland for more than 40 years, claimed about 3,200 lives in 2013.

Due to Switzerland’s aging population, the number of deaths linked to dementia is on the rise. In 2013, nearly 6,000 deaths in the country were a direct cause of dementia, while in 1995, that figure stood at 2,100.

23. Swiss Meat Is among the Most Expensive in the World

It is 124% more expensive than the average European price. Half a kilogram of meat is about CHF 12-14. A 200 gram Kentucky rump steak at a Swiss restaurant near Zurich airport will set diners back CHF 37.50 ($38), while a larger 250 grams of Argentinian rump steak in a steakhouse just over the German border in Singen costs €20.90 (CHF22.90 or $23). That’s double the price, gram for gram, in Switzerland.

High Swiss tariffs on food and drink imports are designed to protect local farmers who generally have smaller farms than international competitors and the steep costs of ‘high price island’ Switzerland.

24. Low Rates of People Living in Poverty

Some 530,000 people in Switzerland are listed as living on the poverty line , based on a monthly income of CHF2,219 ($2,275.40) for single people and CHF4,031 for families of two adults and two children. That’s 6.6% of the population – compared to 9.3% in 2007.

The proportion of the Swiss population living in extreme poverty (4.6%) is one of the lowest in Europe (18.6% average). Some 9.7% of the Swiss population cannot afford a week’s holiday abroad – the European average is 36.9%.

25. 4  Out of 5 of the Most Expensive Cities for Coffee Are Swiss

Geneva, Bern, Basel, Zurich.

Starbucks was selected as a factor in the Index as it is the most most widely available, premium-priced coffee chain the world over, and as such offers an interesting economic barometer between countries. The difference in the price of a Grande Latte ranged from £1.21 in Brazil to £5.72 in Switzerland, nearly a 400% price increase.

26. Switzerland Is Prepared for Nuclear War

There are enough nuclear fallout shelters to accommodate its entire human population, due to laws that require everybody to have access to a shelter in their building or nearby. The Swiss military keeps fully stocked artillery bunkers, disguised as quaint country homes, in the middle of populated villages.

27. Place of Watches

You probably know this one too, but here’s the story behind the watches we use and love… When Calvinists banned jewelry from use in 1541, goldsmiths and jewelers in Geneva brainstormed the invention of watches, since a functional timepiece was acceptable. Since then, it has proven to be one of the most successful industries of the country, reaching the present status as Switzerland’s fourth-largest exporter.

28. They Make & Eat a Lot of Chocolate

It’s no wonder Switzerland is known internationally for its high-quality chocolate, but do you know just how much chocolate is made and consumed there? Approximately 180,000 tons of chocolate is made , and about 11 kilos of chocolate per person are eaten per year. there is even have a chocolate train!

29. Is Eco-Friendly

Switzerland is one of the world leaders in recycling and waste management. The Swiss successfully separate and recycle organic and recyclable waste whilst converting the rest to energy. Moreover, Switzerland provides nearly all CO2-friendly electricity to its citizens. As FDFA reports, since 2011, Switzerland has commenced an energy transition process ( “Energy Strategy 2050”), aiming to phase out of nuclear power step-by-step

30. Birthplace of the Red Cross

You might’ve not known but Switzerland’s flag resemblance with The Red Cross is not a coincidence. Its flag is simply a color-switching of the Flag of Switzerland , showing proud Swiss roots. The Red Cross has 97 million volunteers and was founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland where its headquarters still remain today.

31. LSD Was First Made by a Swiss Chemist

Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann took the first acid trip in 1943 while he was conducting tests for a migraine cure in Basel when he accidentally absorbed the LSD compound through his fingertips. According to Wikipedia, LSD was first synthesized on November 16, 1938[84] by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann at the Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland as part of a large research program searching for medically useful ergot alkaloid derivatives. LSD’s psychedelic properties were discovered 5 years later when Hofmann himself accidentally ingested an unknown quantity of the chemical.

One hundred tons of hash and marijuana are used in Switzerland every year by 600,000 people.

32. You Can’t Name Your Child However You Want

In Switzerland, it is prohibited to give a child a name that could damage the child’s interest. This right was exercised when authorities banned Swiss musician Christine Lauterburg from calling her daughter ‘Lexicon’ (an ‘object’, not a name); ‘Djonatan’ (the phonetic spelling of Jonathan) also got the thumbs down, as did ‘J’ as a child’s fourth name based on the potential for it to be misunderstood and pronounced incorrectly in German (as ‘yot’ and not ‘Jay’ as intended).

33. Switzerland’s Gotthard Tunnel Is the Longest in the World

Switzerland’s Gotthard tunnel is the longest in the world measuring 57km in length (it is 7km longer than the Channel Tunnel between England and France). It took 17 years to complete it.

34. It’s Home to Einstein’s Most Famous Formula

Albert Einstein developed his famous formula for Mass–energy equivalence E=MC2 in Switzerland. He developed his theory of relativity while studying and living in Bern , after renouncing his German citizenship to avoid military duty.

35. Europe’s Highest Railway Station in Switzerland

The highest railway station in Europe is in Switzerland, on top of the Jungfraujoch at 3454 meters.

36. Home of World’s Longest Staircase

This staircase has 11,674 steps and a height of 1,669 m (5,476 ft) which makes it the world’s longest stairs. It is not open to the public, but there is a public run once a year to enjoy this sight (and sweat a little).

37. One of the Smartest Countries in Math and Science

Switzerland came in 8th in a new report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranking countries’ school systems based on students’ math and science test scores.

38. There Is a Hot-Air Balloon Festival

Each January, a colorful nine-day-long hot air balloon festival takes place in the Château-d’Oex in the Vaud Alps. It started in 1979, and every year this festival includes kid’s day where balloons are in the shape of cartoon characters, hot air balloon rides, and a nighttime show.

39. Home of Heidiland

You can actually visit the wine village Maienfeld to experience the infamous Heidi Myth. This region has been associated with Heidiland since 1881 when author Johanna Spyri published novels “Heidi: Her Years of Wandering and Learning” and “Heidi: How She Used What She Learned.” This vacation region has hiking and skiing trails for those who seek adventure.

40. The Tallest Gravity Dam Is Located in the Swiss Alps

With a height of 285m and with a total weight of 15 million tonnes, The Grande Dixence is the world’s highest gravity dam . It collects melting water from the surrounding glaciers and can hold up to 400 billion liters of water. This dam took 10+ years to construct and it is heavier than the great pyramid of Egypt.

41. Sundays Are “Sacred”

Sundays in Switzerland mean no mowing the lawn, no laundry hanging outside, no hammering, or anything that neighbors can hear, see or overall disturb the peace. It is frowned upon to work on Sundays, so just commit to being lazy, lock the doors, and read a book or spend a quiet day with friends and family.

42. Owning a Dog Has Some Rules

Switzerland is a very animal-loving country. Your dog is allowed with you practically everywhere—in restaurants and while you shop. However, they are taxed (in some cantons depending on the dog’s size and weight). Dog-owning rules include that they must be able to exercise, have daily contact with humans, and get microchipped by a vet.

Switzerland is, indeed, a country of wonders. Did these facts make you want to go there even more?

Sources: un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/dataset/fertility/wfr2012/Data/Data_Sources/TABLE%20A.1.%20Mean%20age%20at%20first%20marriage.xlsx

thelocal.ch/20190226/divorces-among-foreign-couples-in-switzerland-skyrocket-in-2018#:~:text=Overall%2C%20Switzerland’s%20divorce%20rate%20currently,in%20divorce%20at%20some%20point.

cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/352.html

eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/umwelt/geografie/seen-und-fluesse.html

myswitzerland.com/en-ae/experiences/lake-neuchatel/

smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/H-Research_Notes/SAS-Research-Note-9.pdf

encyclopedia.com/articles/countries-with-the-lowest-crime-rate-in-the-world/#:~:text=Switzerland%20has%20one%20of%20the,there%20are%20different%20legal%20authorities.

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21379912

thinksport.org/media/document/0/2016_06_30_study_vaud_rhymes_with_grow_bcv.pdf

worldometers.info/world-population/switzerland-population/

cia.gov/librarY/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print_sz.html

mylifeelsewhere.com/country-size-comparison/switzerland/california-usa

swissinfo.ch/eng/migration-series-part-1-_who-are-the-25-foreign-population-in-switzerland/42412156

swissinfo.ch/eng/willkommen-bienvenue_switzerland-land-of-european-immigration/42941390#:~:text=More%20than%2080%25%20of%20the,years%20of%20immigration%20in%20Switzerland.

euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/243328/Switzerland-WHO-Country-Profile.pdf

swissinfo.ch/eng/drinking-dropsadd-the-underlineswiss-alcohol-consumption-declines/36573912

suchtmonitoring.ch/de/2.html

oecd.org/economy/switzerland-prepare-for-population-ageing-to-maintain-high-living-standards.htm

ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy

statista.com/statistics/263707/unemployment-rate-in-switzerland/

gbnews.ch/11-7-kilos-per-person-of-swiss-chocolate-food-for-the-gods/

alpenwild.com/staticpage/history-of-chocolate-in-switzerland/#:~:text=Annual%20revenues%20of%20chocolate%20production,and%2061%25%20is%20sold%20abroad.

eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/wirtschaft/energie/energiepolitik.html

read.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/environment-at-a-glance-2015_9789264235199-en#page53

ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/history/#:~:text=The%20Red%20Cross%20was%20born,inverse%20of%20the%20Swiss%20flag.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_lysergic_acid_diethylamide#:~:text=The%20psychedelic%20drug%20(or%20entheogen,the%20psychedelic%20properties%20were%20found.

admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19070042/index.html

myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/gotthard-tunnel-experience/#:~:text=Measuring%2057%20km%20in%20length,railway%20tunnel%20in%20the%20world.

bern.com/en/detail/albert-einsteins-city#:~:text=WhatsApp-,Einstein%20Museum,history%20of%20the%2020th%20century.

myswissalps.com/jungfraujoch

Beautiful I love Switerzland more then my life If I get chance I want to work in Switerzland

I love Switerzland’s each and every place more then my life. I want to work in Switerzland

We have written articles regarding working in Switzerland that could be of help.

You can find them here: How To: Find Work in Switzerland How To: Find Jobs in Switzerland as an English Speaker (Without Speaking German) How To: Get a Work Visa in Switzerland

Best wishes!

I am from switzerland, if you give me a child you can live and work in the swiss.. sounds great right? call me 😉

I want to hear more about living there.

What’s your number ???? or which social media do you use ?

this is fucking hilarious

this country is so interesting hope i can visit this country later.the facts that this country have many nature scenery make me more love this country.

We hope you get to visit Switzerland one day.

Best wishes.

Thanks, this is amazin

Thank you Patrick,

We’re glad you liked it.

Have a good day!

this is helping mw with my homework (80 days around the world) and this week is Switzerland and the alps tysm!

Guys always remember almost everything has a dark side. No place on earth is haven. But you can have some good time in Switzerland. That’s for sure.

I’ve been to Switzerland before. (P.S. I’m only a 9 year old kid.)

It’s been my long time dream to live and work in Switzerland. Swiss! hmmmm my second home.

I love Switzerland so much.

How do you copy this link so I can show others?

That is sooooooooooooo cool! I love Chocolate!

Switzerland is amazing!.. its nature is really breathtaking. I hope I can study there someday.

I’ll love to study and work in Switzerland ????????, any good information would be appreciated.

I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO WORK IN????????

WOW I MY NEXT IS SWITZERLAND BUT I.LL SAVE UP 4820K

WOW.!!! SWITZERLAND ???????? is really a place of pride God bless the Switzer’s ,God bless me…

I’m working on a girl scout project and this is really helpful ???? ????

Greetings from Switzerland (In Swiss German we say: Liäbiiii Grüäsliiii 🙂

Sounds a little boring I guess .

I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

VERY USEFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

ADRIAJSMITH, what do you mean by that?

I love your Switzerland facts! They really helped me with my school project! Thank you!

This is the place which I wanted to visit from the time I knew about it. But don’t know will I be able visit or not. I only have hope that one day I will visit.

I will love to study and work in Switzerland any good information will be greatly appreciate

so interesting! very different to Australia

It’s great am hoping to study in the university

super fed artikel!!!!!!!!!! love it

I really want to live in Switzerland.I wanna job in there.I can speak English & Japanese.Now,I’m working in Japan as civil engineer. I’m interesting Landscaping subject.How can I get a job,please tell me.

Wow so lovely ???????????? I will like to work in Switzerland ????????

I am doing a project and I pulled out Switzerland from the jar and these facts make it really interesting. Also I never thought of visiting Switzerland until know, which is after I did my research for my project. lol

i Everybody, I am very thankful that I am finally here, I have to admit that I am relatively new to all this and I am a young cheerful person . . . Really appreciate everyone comment love to have a friend from Switzerland. . . We could connect with each other . . . With the little time spend and preview I would be very appreciative coming to Switzerland work and settle down . . . Just a close friend . . .

A beautiful country indeed. I would love to live in Switzerland. Thank you for the great facts.

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Switzerland Facts

Interesting facts for kids.

Here are some interesting Switzerland Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

• Population : 8.6 million people live in Switzerland (2021)
• Capital : Bern with about 500,000 inhabitants.
• Official Name : Swiss Confederation. From “Confoederatio Helvetica” in Latin, which means Swiss Confederation, thus the country code abbreviation is CH.

• Government : Federal republic with 26 cantons
• President : Guy Parmelin (2021)
• Language : German, French, Italian and Romansh
• Religion : Most people are Christians (66%)
• Currency : 1 Swiss franc = 100 centimes
• National Day : 1 August

• Swiss Flag : square flag with white cross on red background
• National Anthem :  Schweizerpsalm  (Swiss Psalm)
• National Motto : "One for all, all for one"
• National Symbols : Helvetia (personification), Edelweiss (national flower)

Switzerland Facts | Geography

Switzerland is located in Europe. Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe.

The country shares a land border with Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy and France.

The capital city of Switzerland is Bern. However, the largest city of Switzerland is Zürich with a population of 1.3 million inhabitants.

Switzerland is about half the size of Austria or slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey/USA. 

A flight to Switzerland's main airport in Zurich takes less than 2 hours from London/England, 7.5 hours from New York/USA.

Switzerland Facts  10 Geo Superlatives

Here are some fascinating Switzerland facts and stunning superlatives:

1. Switzerland has  the highest  mountains in Europe . 48 of the mountains are over 4,000 metres/ 13,120 feet high.

The Swiss  Aletsch Glacier  is the  longest glacier in Europe . The glacier is about 23 km/ 14 miles but shrinking every year. See here a 3D model of the shrinking Aletsch glacier.

3. The  highest mountain  summit in Switzerland is the  Dufour-Spitze  of Monte Rosa with a height of 4,634 m/ 15,203 ft. 

4. The steepest cog railway in the world is going up Pilatus mountain in Lucerne. The gradient of the track reaches up to 48%. Take a peek of the mountains on this webcam - official Pilatus website here.

5. Switzerland’s longest river is the Rhine River with about 375 km/ 233 miles. The Rhein river's source is in the Swiss Alps. 

6. The Rhein Falls are the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. They are 23 m/ 75 ft high and 150 m/ 470 ft wide.

7. The deepest lake of Switzerland is the Lago Maggiore in the southern part of Switzerland.

8. Switzerland’s largest lake is called Lake  Neuchâtel  which is less than half the size of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), that is shared by Switzerland and France.

9. Switzerland’s Grande Dixence Dam is not only the tallest dam in Europe but the tallest gravity dam in the world. The dam wall  is 285 m/ 935 ft high.

10. The world's longest and deepest rail tunnel is the Gotthard tunnel and the rail track is 57 km/ 35 miles long. 

Switzerland Facts Five Swiss Landmarks to Know

Switzerland Facts: Switzerland's most famous landmarks are: 

The most famous Swiss mountain is the Matterhorn near Zermatt. Matterhorn is 4,478 m/ 14,692 ft. high and is located near the village of Zermatt. Did yo u  know that since 1970 the Toblerone chocolate bar's logo depicts the Matterhorn?

The Jungfraujoch is one of the highest mountains in Switzerland with 3,454 m/11,332 ft. This mountain also spots the highest railway station in the world, a museum and an ice palace that are carved into the mountain.

This Swiss landmark, also called   Kapellbrücke  with the Water tower are located in Lucerne. The famous footbridge in central Switzerland is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. In 1993, parts of the bridge burned down and almost two thirds of the painted panels that are affixed inside the roof were destroyed and only 30 paintings could be fully restored.

The Geneva  Water Fountain, also called Jet d'eau, jets water as high as 140 m/ 460 ft. and can be seen also when flying over the lake at a hight of 10,000 m/33,000 ft.

The CERN Globe of Science is a visitor centre of the European Center for Nuclear Research. The site houses the largest particle physics laboratory in the world and six particle accelerators. The globe is huge, it is 27 m/ 89 ft high and has a diameter of 44 m/ 144 ft. 

Switzerland Facts | Family Attractions 

Switzerland is great for families. There are outdoor and nature barefoot trails, extensive bicycle trails throughout the country. If your family is an outdoor family, then that’s the place to be. You can walk, run and there are tons of playgrounds! 

If you like museums and middle-aged cities, then you should go to the north. There are many old fortresses and modern and historical museums, so if you're a history buff, take a quick visit to the north like the city of Basel. Nearby is the famous Augusta Raurica, which is a roman archeological site and an open-air museum. This is the site of the oldest Roman colony on the Rhine. It was founded in 44 BC.

In the south, there are lakes and palm trees. You can swim, take boat rides and much more fun. If you want to see palm trees and take a swim, south is the place to be. The region is called Ticino  (or Tessin in German) and its main language is Italian. Lake Maggiore has at least two islands and Brissago island has a botanical garden on it that can be visited.

Zip lining and various aerial adventure parks as well as the Glacier Express train, which runs trough scenic mountain landscape, can be accessed in the center of Switzerland.

The main attraction in the East is Heidiland, have you ever heard of the book or movie of Heidi? Well, then go to the East to see where they filmed Heidi.

Famous Swiss People

• Johanna Spyri : Author of the children’s book “Heidi” which tells the adventures of a little girl that is raised by her grandfather on an alm high up in the mountains. This popular novel written in 1881 has been translated into more than 50 languages.
• Henry Dunant : funder of the red cross. 
• Auguste Piccard : Swiss physicist, inventor and explorer known for his record-breaking helium filled balloon flights.
• Roger Federer : tennis player
• Martina Hingis : tennis player 

Switzerland Facts  People in Switzerland

The northern part of Switzerland is more populated than the southern part of the country due to the high mountains. The least populated canton is Graubünden which is located in the Alps.

The biggest cities in Switzerland are: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne.

The Swiss people like skiing, soccer, ice hockey, tennis and basketball. Winter sports were developed in Switzerland as one of the first countries. The Swiss like to be active and one in four people belong to a sports club.

Some of the special sports in Switzerland are flag swinging, Summer bobsledding and Schwingen, which is a type of Swiss wrestling as you can see in the image above.

Some people also practise Alphorn blowing and participate in yodeling choirs. 

Switzerland Facts | Swiss Food

Food in Switzerland is very rich in taste and they have many specialties like fondue, swiss chocolate, raclette, muesli and alplermacaroni. They say, there are over 450 different kinds of cheeses in  Switzerland! 

In most Swiss homes, you will find always an assortment of yogurts in the refrigerator. Bread is an important staple and is usually eaten for breakfast and dinner. The Swiss prefer artisan breads with seeds and nuts.

Each region of Switzerland has its own specialty. For example, flour soup in Basel ( Basler Mehlsuppe) , cherry cake in Zug ( Zuger Kirschtorte ), spiced sausage in Neuenburg/Neuchatel ( Neuenburger sausage) or  honey cake in Bern ( Berner Honiglebkuchen ).

P opular food in Switzerland :

• Fondue : When eating a fondue, people sit around the pot of melted cheese and with a special long-handled fork dip a small piece of white bread into the cheese and then eat it.
• Raclette : A half cheese round is heated and the melting cheese gets scraped onto the plate. 
• Rösti : thinly grated potatoes and pan fried until crisp and golden. Rösti is the Swiss version of hash browns. Rösti is one of Switzerland's national and iconic dishes. Traditionally, farmers would eat it for breakfast.

• Geschnätzlets : veal strips in creamy mushroom sauce
• Spätzli : dough noodles
• Bircher Müesli : soft breakfast cereal made with pre-soaked oat flakes, grated nuts and grated apple
• Ricola : sweets made from a blend of 13 different herbs

And of course, there is chocolate.  Chocolate in all its variations, white, brown and black chocolates. It is not uncommon to find a shelf in a grocery store with about 154 or more different chocolate products.

En guede ! Enjoy your meal! Bon Appétit! 

Switzerland Facts | Animals

When you think about animals in Switzerland, you most probably will immediately come up with cows and sheep. And maybe you remember the famous St. Bernard dogs as well. The Alpine Mountain Dogs that are still popular working dogs on many farms in the Swiss Alps.

In the Alpine regions you will most certainly encounter marmots. Marmots live in groups of up to 15 family members and these cute mammals can be seen regularly when hiking in the Alps. They whistle and quickly hide when people get to near to them or they feel threatened.

In Switzerland's forests, there are squirrels and deer, rabbits and foxes. And if you are around Zermatt, you might see the domesticated Valais Blacknose sheep.

Golden eagles are among the biggest birds of prey in Switzerland. They can grow up to 2 m/ 7 ft.

More Switzerland Facts? - Yes, please!

If you want to learn more interesting facts about Switzerland, go to our second page with great facts about Swiss inventions, special Swiss traditions and celebrations in Switzerland. Click here or on the image below.

Popular Pages

Switzerland facts | resources.

• United States Central Intelligence Agency. "Europe: Switzerland."  World Fact Book .  Updated 16 February 2021. Last accessed 19 February 2021
• Switzerland Tourism. "UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau Aletsch." My Switzerland . Accessed 11 February 2021
• Mondelez. "Toblerone - Geschichte." (German and French only)  Toblerone.ch . Accessed 11 February 2021
• The Local. "Watch: 3D Models Show How Climate Change Could Shrink Swiss Aletsch Glacier."  @TheLocalSwitzer . 12 September 2019. Accessed 11 February 2021
• Switzerland Tourism. "Recipe for Rösti" Switzerland Tourism. Accessed 11 February 2021

Many thanks to Layla and Salome Affhalter who created this page and contributed their insights on this page about Switzerland. Your support of our project is very much appreciated!

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