Switzerland Travel Guide: a trip to a snowy heaven

Get ready to explore the Swiss Alps, the mesmerizing landscapes, and more!

SWISS LAKES EXPLORED

SWITZERLAND UNESCO SITES VISITED

SWITZERLAND NATIONAL PARKS VISITED

Why should you travel to Switzerland?

With famous mountains, expansive greenery, numerous ski resorts, and other tourist destinations, Switzerland is a location that every traveler would love to visit. Previously known as Helvetia, Switzerland is a country with a rich history, culture, and several key industries. Switzerland is in South-Central Europe. It is a country that offers several outdoor adventure options, as well.

Through this Switzerland Travel Guide, we will walk you through the best time to travel to Switzerland, things to know before planning your trip, things to do in Switzerland, and other interesting facts as well!

Switzerland has 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 18 National Parks. Apart from the landscape and natural beauty, Switzerland also offers a wide range of artistic avenues. Basel has around 40 museums and galleries. Zurich is a place that provides you with a treat of art, culture, nightlife, and designs. You can get in touch with folk entertainment and music while in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.

Interesting Facts Switzerland

Flag of Switzerland

Switzerland's National Animal

No National Animal, but named the big 4: cow, ibex, marmot, and Saint Bernard

Switzerland National Dish

Rosti, Muesli, Raclette, Fondue

Currency in Switzerland

Swiss Franc (CHF)

Switzerland Time Zone

Central European Time Zone or CET (GMT+1)

Sunrise Bettmerhorn mountains, Bettmeralp Switzerland

Europe Best time to visit: weather and climate

Best time to visit Switzerland

Switzerland has different shades depending upon the seasons. Summer is the peak season to travel to Switzerland, which extends between June and August. In summer, the temperature ranges from 19 to 32 degrees Celsius. You can explore countless lakes and other sites during this season. There are other activities, festivals, and other programs organized in the peak season. Montreux Jazz Festival from June to mid-July is an event that you can enjoy during Summer. In the Autumn and Winter months, the temperature is pretty low and is not suitable for traveling.

Things to know before you travel to Switzerland

Safety in Switzerland

The crime rates in Switzerland are low. However, pickpocketing and petty theft occur on busy trains, buses, and parks. It is essential to take care of your belongings while traveling. Do not carry anything valuable and avoid flashing the money you have. Chances of kidnapping, scamming, and mugging are low in Switzerland. Switzerland is by and large one of the safest places to travel to in Europe. There haven't been any incidents of terrorist attacks as well. However, in some regions, identity theft occurs when you make payments via credit cards.

Visa requirements for Switzerland

People traveling from countries belonging to the European Union do not need to have a Visa to travel to Switzerland. You can use your valid passport or identification card instead. There is no issue with the duration of stay. It is because Switzerland is part of the Schengen System. If you hold a Schengen Visa, you can travel to countries that are part of the program. However, if you wish to remain for an unlimited period, you have to inform the local authorities. People from Canada, Malaysia, Barbados, New Zealand, the US, and Australia can stay in Switzerland for 90 days without a Visa. You can find more information on visa requirements for Switzerland through the Official Swiss Visa website, where you can also apply for an online visa.

Responsible Travel in Switzerland

Switzerland is a country that promotes sustainability. They focus on reducing carbon emissions by encouraging people to use bicycles. Switzerland also has carbon-neutral trains, buses, and other such transportation facilities. Davos, a ski resort in Switzerland, supports people relying on public transport while traveling to their place. Switzerland also highlights the development of a sustainable economy by empowering the local people and their businesses. The tourism sector in Switzerland focuses on organic farming and green tourism, as well. Valposchlevo, Southeast of Switzerland, promotes these elements in tourism. In some mountainous regions of Switzerland, there are volunteers to clean the paths. It is because travelers litter a lot of garbage. To become a responsible traveler, you have to avoid disposing of waste carelessly!

Vaccinations & anti-Malaria tablets for Switzerland

The WHO and CDC recommend different vaccinations depending upon the country from where you hail. However, some of the most common vaccines you can take while traveling to Switzerland are for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Measles, Mumps, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Chickenpox, Shingles. You can also get other regular vaccines for Pneumonia, Influenza, Meningitis, and Polio. There is no Malaria in Switzerland.

Spoken languages in Switzerland

The citizens of Switzerland speak around four languages. They include German, French, Italian, and Romansh. They generally communicate in German. However, it is different from the German spoken by people in other parts of the world. They vary in their words as well as pronunciation. You can talk in English because most Swiss citizens can communicate in English. The travel guides, drivers, and others associated with the tourism sector can speak in English. In case of any emergency, you can always use Google translators or other such platforms for better communication.

Things to do add to your bucket list while traveling to Switzerland

Oeschinen Lake

Located in Kender Valley, Switzerland, the Oeschinen Lake surrounds the Swiss Alps. From December to May, the lake remains frozen. Ice fishing and skiing are other options you have to enjoy while you are traveling to Oeschinen Lake. However, you can always go for a swim in the summer season. This alpine lake has crystal clear turquoise water as well. You can reach the lake via the electric car shuttle that starts from Gondola lake. If you are someone who loves hiking, biking, and skiing, Oeschinen Lake will offer a great experience.

Lucerne

Located in the foothills of the Swiss Alps, Lucerne is an elegant region that suits best for a romantic getaway. Lucerne has a German-speaking community and is an excellent destination for explorers and adventure seekers. The tourist spots in Lucerne are very close to each other. You can reach these destinations in about 20 minutes walk. You can also board a city bus that shuttles within Lucerne. You can explore the old town of Lucerne. The architecture and the street passages can amaze you. Do visit the Chapel Bridge, which is the oldest wooden bridge in Lucerne as well. There are a plethora of buildings with interesting paintings and drawings.

Golden Pass Line

Through the Golden Pass Line, a train route that starts from Lucerne and ends in Montreux, you would see the Simmen Valley, the Upper-Class Gstaad, Lake Geneva, Bernex, and Oberland. As it is not a direct train route, you would have to board another train from Interlaken and Zwiesimmen. The entire trip offers you marvels of scenic beauty and is about five to six hours. You can take these trips any time during the year.

Train to Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe

You can reach Jungfraujoch by boarding a train from Interlaken Ost Station or Grindelwald. It goes via the Bernese Oberland Railway Station. Through the trip, you can admire the beauty of the Swiss Alps and other scenic beauties in the region as well. Jungfraujoch is at the Top of Europe, and through your trip, you can get mesmerized by the snowy mountains and streams.

Interlaken

Interlaken is a place in the Alps. It offers a variety of activities like sky diving, paragliding, bumper jumping, skiing, and river rafting. There are several lakes in Interlaken. Some of the major lakes include Lake Thur, Lake Brienz, and Aare River. You can also visit St Beatus Caves in Interlaken and enjoy the Giessbach Waterfalls.

Zermat and Matterhorn Mountains

Skiing is a well-known sporting activity in Switzerland. Zermatt is a Ski or mountain resort in Switzerland that offers several Winter sports. It is a picturesque travel destination with Matterhorn Mountain as the backdrop. Matterhorn Mountain is one of the highest peaks in Switzerland. The ranges offer incredibly challenging experiences for rock climbers. Pack your bags to explore the snow-kissed mountain ranges and mesmerizing landscape of Switzerland. You can always browse back to our Switzerland Travel Guide for any clarifications!