Step in line with the stylish Swiss.
Enjoy Switzerland's spectacular scenery by walking along some of the 50,000km (31,000mi) of designated walking paths. You can also appreciate the country's mountainous beauty at dozens of ski resorts in the Alps, pre-Alps and the Jura. You can water-ski and windsurf on most lakes, while bungy jumping, canyoning and other high-adrenalin sports are widely practised.
The roar of water, the tang of salt spray and the chatter of hordes of day-trippers announce the presence of Europe's largest waterfalls. The Rhine Falls might not give Niagara much competition in terms of height (23m or 75ft), but it's a stunning sight when you arrive to see people standing on the tall rock in the middle, with the Swiss flag patriotically flying above.
www.rhinefalls.com
bus 1, 6 or 9 to Neuhausen; get off one stop after Migross in the centre, then follow signs leading to north bank of river
These Roman ruins by the Rhein are Switzerland's largest, and the last remnants of a colony founded in 43 BC that had grown to 20,000 citizens by the 2nd century. Today, restored features include an open-air theatre and several temples, plus the Roman Museum, which features an authentic Roman house among its exhibits.
(near Basel)
tel info 061 8162222
bus bus from Basel to Kaiseraugst then 10-min walk
| full | Swiss Franc 5.00 |
A great cream cake of a museum, this mammoth but riveting turreted affair built in 1898 is a tough job to digest in one visit: The permanent collection takes visitors on a heady tour of Swiss history while temporary exhibitions entice the curious with a colourful clutch of local subjects such as Hermann Hesse or Swiss archaeology.
Museumstr 2
www.musee-suisse.com tel info 044 2186511
| full | Swiss Franc 5.00 |
This extraordinary, oval-shaped castle was brought to the attention of the world by Lord Byron, and the world has been filing past ever since - they say the castle receives more visitors than any other historical building in Switzerland.
Occupying a stunning position on Lake Geneva, the 13th-century fortress is a myriad of courtyards, towers and halls filled with arms, period furniture and artwork. The landward side is heavily fortified but lakeside it presents a gentler face as a princely residence. Chillon was largely built by the House of Savoy and then taken over by Bern's governors after Vaud fell.
www.chillon.ch tel info 021 9668910
| full | Swiss Franc 10.00 |
| child | Swiss Franc 5.00 |
| concession | Swiss Franc 8.00 |
Perhaps the Great St Bernard Pass should be renamed the Great Alsation Pass. It might save the local rescue dogs at the local hospice some embarrassment. These days the affable Alsatian breed does the rescuing. The museum explains the importance of the monks' rescue work and religious vocation, which dates back to the 11th century.
Martigny
www.gsbernard.ch tel info 027 7871236
bus twice daily from Martigny, Jun-Oct
| full | Swiss Franc 7.00 |
| child | Swiss Franc 5.00 |
| concession | Swiss Franc 6.00 |
We know what you're thinking, but honestly this is not the boring banking capital it's reputed to be. In fact Zürich is - whisper it softly - surprisingly hip and trendy. Hundreds of new bars, restaurants and clubs have opened since planning laws were changed in the late 1990s and Zürich now hosts Europe's largest annual street party.
Admittedly, the first impression, of a small, clean and orderly metropolis with church steeples above a crystal-blue river and lake, is pleasant rather than exciting. But then you're struck by the happy noise of the cobbled Niederdorfstrasse, on the eastern riverbank, and won over by the hedonism around the lake.
You'll be bowled over by the many galleries. You'll discover the waterside lido bars, the chocolate salons and the hip Züri-West district's shops, restaurants and clubs. A policeman cuts a striking figure on rollerblades (an occasional summertime sight). Bankers ride home on Italian scooters. And by the time you start musing how cool but easy-going and unpretentious this place is, Zürich has converted you.
Nope, Geneva is not Switzerland's capital, despite what many think. This chic, sleek, cosmopolitan lakeside city is, in fact, only Switzerland's third-largest city and has an overwhelmingly international feel: 43.4% of the population is from elsewhere.
The city is crowded with museums, has many excellent cultural events and is ideally placed for quick hops to the Swiss and French Alps. Basking in the sunshine of its peaceful setting on Lake Geneva's banks, this acclaimed neutral territory displays an obvious self-confidence. It is in pristine condition, clean, efficient and safe, yet spirited in its style and love of adventure.
'Lucerna' in Italian, 'Luzern' in Swiss-German, 'Lucerne' in French. 'Alpine splendour' in all languages. Lapped by scenic Lake Lucerne and surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains - a picture of this once small fishing village and its striking skyline epitomises the very essence of Switzerland.
Charming Lucerne has an 'Old Town' centre of 15th-century buildings with painted facades, towers, a 17th-century Renaissance town hall, old squares and postcard-perfect medieval bridges adorned with rooftop art. When tour guides in medieval costume appear, Lucerne is occasionally vaguely reminiscent of Venice, but it rarely gets too busy with tourists. There are also some fine art galleries and museums. Northeast of the city centre is the poignant Lion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss soldiers who died in the French Revolution.
February is carnival time, or Fasnacht, in many towns, but Basel really funks it up with elaborate parades beginning at a bleary 04:00 . The Zürich techno Street Parade in August is becoming one of the biggest annual street parties in the world. In the lower Valais, from March to October, cows battle it out in the Combat de Reines (cow fighting) to see which beast is most suited to lead the herd up to the summer pastures. The world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival takes place in July. National Day (August 1) is celebrated with fireworks throughout the country, and Swiss wrestling in the Emmenthal area east of Bern. On the fourth Monday in November, Bern hosts its famous Zibelmarit (Onion Market), where traders take over the whole town centre and many a tear is shed.
A light and insightful look at Switzerland's social and political life.
A sobering exposé of greed and arrogance of some of Switzerland's biggest banks.
A weighty, reflective novel set in the Alps.
The famous children's story, set in the Maienfeld region, just north of Chur.
Can Mickey's magic tame toddler tantrums? All is revealed in our recent trip to Disneyland Paris
Discover whale-watching, bear spotting and extreme mountain-biking with the Winter Olympics hosts