The Main Attractions of Switzerland
The Matterhorn above Zermatt certainly is the most famous of all Swiss mountain peaks and is a must for every visitor to Switzerland. Upon spotting the Matterhorn, which is part of the loftiest Alps in the Valais, you will be overwhelmingly excited by its impressive beauty. Experience the breathtaking scenery in this charming, traffic-free mountain resort - and to get there, consider getting on the Glacier Express, one of Switzerland's famous scenic trains.
The Bernese Oberland invites you with a great variety of attractions. An appealing countryside is speckled by enchanting lakes and flanked by impressive mountains, most importantly the Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau peaks in the Jungfrau Region with its well known resorts Interlaken, Grindelwald, Wengen and Muerren. Other popular destinations include the Simmental Valley with its famous cows, the Saanenland with several mountain resorts including Gstaad, and the Lake Thun region with the medieval town of Thun and its castle. And also Bern, the nearby Swiss Capital which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is well worth a visit. Consider exploring the Bernese Oberland by the scenic Golden Pass Train.
The fame of Lucerne as a tourist destination is legendary and the city is often considered to be the "true Swiss Capital". This charming and attractive town straddles the Reuss River on the western edge of Lake Lucerne and with its proximity to lakes and mountains makes an excellent base for various excursions. A good way to see Lucerne and Central Switzerland is from the Pilatus, a towering monument of a mountain with a view like a vision. It only takes one hour to reach the famous landmark of Lucerne - consider getting up there by taking Europe steepest coq wheel train. Lucerne also is the starting point of the scenic trains Golden Pass as well as the William Tell Express which includes a Lake Lucerne cruise on a paddlewheel steamer.
Switzerland's southernmost region, the Italian-speaking Ticino, can seem a world apart from the rest of the country - especially the lakeside resorts of Lugano, Ascona and Locarno, with their Mediterranean Riviera like atmosphere and climate. The romance that surrounds the southern part of Switzerland makes it a special visit.
The isolated mountain valleys of Graubunden, in the eastern corner of the country, provide the setting for numerous mountain resorts like the famous St. Moritz and Davos. The Engadin (valley of the Inn River) lets you experience lovely panoramas of great, deep valleys, fiercely blue mountain lakes and endless rows of white mountains, all blessed by the sun. Graubunden is home to several scenic trains such as the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express.
Zurich, the largest city of Switzerland, is famous for its financial institutions and shops on the "Bahnhofstrasse" as well as for its superb art galleries - all coexisting happily side by side. Zurich offers a wealth of history, architecture, and culture and is an absolutely charming, interesting and beautiful place to visit. The pedestrian streets of the Old Town contain most of the major sights, and Zurich and the surrounding region is home to the biggest number of museums and exhibitions in Switzerland.
In the west, the cities lining the northern shore of Lake Geneva - Geneva, Montreux and Lausanne - are surrounded by rolling hills covered with woods and vineyards which shelter them from the north and east winds. The Lake Geneva Region makes up the bulk of French-speaking Switzerland. Geneva is unquestionably one of Switzerland's most privileged cities on account of its exceptional location. Visitors will be delighted by opulent mansions, the harbor and its fountain, and the shimmering shores of the lake, set against a backdrop of lush vegetation and wooded mountains. Near Lausanne, the Lavaux Vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and near Montreux, the Chillon Castle, Switzerland's most visited historic site, are just two of the many attractions the Lake Geneva Region has to offer.